Twitter, Tweets, and Updates

I'm always looking at statistics at work and for my hobby. At work, I track and report on all kinds of performance measures. I did that in health care too in Milwaukee - as a clinician and as a regional director.  A lot of decisions were and can be made using this objective data. It's a full time job keeping up with social media related to my digital painting websites. Last week the views in my Etsy shop were significantly higher than "typical." I really couldn't figure out why. Then I got the weekly twitter update and that also showed a spike in views. I had posted a picture of us sitting on the Capitol steps watching the concert for valor on my iPhone. The photo happened to be of Jennifer Hudson with the Washington Monument in the background. Using the hash tag #concertforvalor, it became a part of the thread the evening of the concert, and received a lot of attention. Because my twitter page is linked to my Etsy site, some folks jumped from one site to the next. I don't have a lot of twitter followers, but have been working on that this past month. Whenever my blog is picked up by DC Blogs, the number of visits always increases. So what does this mean? I need to try to connect with key events, get smarter using hash tags, and keep working on all these websites. So if you are reading this blog, check out the links and be a part of a statistic! I'm keeping my eye on all of them!

Concert for Valor Preparations on the Mall

Although they promised, we didn't see any of the performers that would be doing dress rehearsals this morning. Of course, it was probably a bit too early. As usual, we went for our Monday morning walk along the mall. For the past many days, preparation has been ongoing for the HBO Concert for Valor tomorrow night at 7 PM. Today, most of the streets and Mall are blocked off, metro transit police are making the rounds, the helicopters are flying overhead, the jumbo trons are in place, and sound checks are being made. The stage begins near the Air and Space Museum and the crowd can assemble all the way down to the Washington Monument. In the middle of all this - in front of the Smithsonian Castle - it is blocked off due to ground restoration work. Where restoration has already occurred, it is covered to protect it from the hoards of footsteps. It's amazing that some folks don't know what is going on..."what are you preparing for?" is a frequently heard question of the concert staff that are stationed every so many feet around the perimeter. The portapotties are the most obvious but necessary distraction in front of the Smithsonian Museums. I'm not sure if we will venture out tomorrow evening to actually see any of this, but it's nice to know we have that option. Maybe we will walkabout this evening and again tomorrow morning. The crowds are expected very early on - and maybe we will finally catch Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen, Carrie Underwood or who knows who doing a practice run. 

Fall in Washington

Everyone comes to Washington to see the cherry blossoms. Yes, they are spectacular. But the city is also beautiful in autumn. I always liked fall, and my husband prefers spring. The landmarks take on a very different perspective this time of year. The sky is unusually blue with puffy, brilliant white clouds that cascade quickly by with the brisk winds. The Tidal Basin looks remarkable even though the crowds are significantly less. The scaffolding going up around the Capitol dome for renovation and restoration has almost reached the top. I looks like it may be encased in a white tarp? The leaves blend in with the brick work, and appear to be more brilliant with a sprinkling of raindrops. The GW Parkway and Rock Creek Parkway are great places for a car ride. The Smithsonian African American Museum construction seems to be on track for an opening in 2016? Along Independence Avenue, the Library of Congress looks as regal as usual. The steeple of St. Peter's Church in the neighborhood stands tall against the blue sky with branches now devoid of their leaves. And the Mall is getting prepared for the big Concert for Valor on Tuesday. The fall in Wisconsin was also gorgeous, but the backdrop was very different. Luckily for us, winter won't be quite as long. And that is a season I don't care for at all.