Library of Congress Work Anniversary

Around this time in August eighteen years ago I started my second career as a program analyst at the Library of Congress in the infrastructure support services. If you had asked me if I would ever work at the Library or live in Washington DC I would have thought you were nuts. After thirty years in health care in the Midwest, we decided to move to DC if I could find a job. We bought a tiny condo near our family on Capitol Hill that would be used for visits but we never thought we would ever LIVE in 500 square feet. So I started looking for employment that was within walking distance and submitted resumes to the Architect of the Capitol and the Library. It was a very tedious process but eventually paid off with a phone interview, and then an in person interview. I worked at the Library for ten years! I still don’t believe it. We still drive in to town to attend programs. It gives us an excuse to see the beautiful Jefferson Building where I walked on every afternoon break on my way to the Capitol visitor center through the underground tunnels. Looking back it was a great experience - but while I was working there I didn’t always feel that way. So every August I remember that first day of work. It’s strange how things turn out. 

Retirement Party at the Library of Congress

It’s been a while since I visited the Library of Congress. I worked there for ten years and retired two plus years ago. One of our friends - and my colleague - had a retirement party yesterday. He sent us an invitation and we thought it would be nice to go. We have a few things in common. He went to Florida State, as did I; both of his brothers played Major League Baseball - my brother was drafted by the Orioles; he grew up in West Palm Beach - I grew up on Florida’s east coast; we are about the same age; and we ended up working in the same department at the Library. So we had many morning coffee breaks together and have since become good friends. So my husband and I walked on over after lunch. The affair was in a Congressional Reasearch room on the second floor - the same floor my office was on. From the minute we got there I saw so many familiar faces and I was happy to finally introduce my husband to so many people he had heard about. All I  can say is that it feels so much better visiting than working. And I’m hoping we will see more of Mike now that he’s retired. 

Separation Clearance and Long Hallways

The countdown is on! I have two more working days until my retirement. The closest thing I've come to this experience is when I left my last job in the corporate office ten years ago in the Midwest. All told it was over thirty years in healthcare. It was a weird feeling to walk out of the building one last time, get in the car, and drive home. But I was heading to a new job in DC at the Library of Congress and only had three weeks off to move to a new town and get prepared. Yesterday I began walking the "separation papers" through all three of the Library of Congress buildings obtaining signatures to verify I don't have any books or open accounts. The last stop will be tomorrow afternoon when I turn in my badge and keys. It was another weird feeling. I've passed through all the halls many times over the years and saw a few familiar faces. It feels a bit surreal now that it is happening - but in a good way. I've been thinking about it for quite some time and am looking forward to another new adventure. This one does not include another job in another place. This time my husband plans to meet me at the door and walk me home. Who could ask for anything more?

My Favorite Announcements - Red is the Best!

Over the last week, we endured a blizzard the likes of which we never saw living in Wisconsin for thirty years. But in Milwaukee, I don't ever recall getting a snow day. In healthcare, there is no such thing in a twenty four hour a day operation. But here, working for the federal government, it's just not that unusual. So for over the last few days I've been checking the Office of Personnel Management for status updates. I particularly like the red posts - no work. That happened both Monday and Tuesday. But today reality set in, but at least there was a three hour delay. But it hardly matters anymore. I just need to get my retirement papers processed - which is the main reason I went to work. 

Congratulations Merrily

Longworth House Office Building Post Office

It is a rare event for us to have to mail anything these days. We try
to avoid it at all costs. Usually my husband will walk down
Pennsylvania Avenue to the Post Office, or go just around the corner
to FedEx. This time I thought it might just be easier to use the
services in the Longworth House Office Building. I was introduced to
it via my colleague here at the Library. The interesting thing about
it is that one reaches the destination through the basement, then the
tunnels that connect the buildings on Capitol Hill. The Longworth
Building is reached by first traversing the Cannon Office Building.
Along the way are cobblers, snack shops, the old entrance to the
Capitol Visitor Center, and a lot of Congressional staff. Every once
in a while I see familiar faces from Wisconsin, like Paul Ryan or Gwen
Moore It is very convenient and the errand fit right in to my
afternoon walk. Not a bad thing at all- even if it is a Monday.

The iPhone 4S

We got our first iPhones a little over two years ago. I got the 3GS, and my husband got the 3G. I remember it well because it was February and we had 2 snow storms within a couple days that left 2 feet of snow. Wisconsin NEVER had that much at one time! The Federal government was shut down for a week. With my new iPhone, I played a really neat interactive adventure game app called Broken Sword that got me hooked from that point. Since then, the iPad has literally changed my hobby life. I've written two children's books apps published through StoryChimes, started this blog, created a website called LIT Digital Art and Such, was a winner in The New Yorker Eustace Tilley contest, and have 2 digital art pieces on display at the Library of Congress. I'm waiting for the iPhone 5 to replace my phone, but thought the 4S would work well for my husband. It really has amazing functionality - reminds me of all the futuristic gizmos that were tauted at the World's Fair in New York back in the 60's. It's even more interesting to hear Siri actually respond to an accented command. I have always loved gadgets. And when we are together, I use his phone to get even better photos for my blog. I really wonder what the future holds - is there really a need to learn to spell and type? I'm beginning to wonder.


Converting over to the new phone

It really is amazing

Waiting for the iPhone 5

The Supreme Court Health Care Decision

As I was unable to attend the event because I had to work, my husband diligently took some photos in front of the Supreme Court this morning while on his daily walk. He walks with me from our house to work, which is 2 blocks down the street to the Library of Congress, and then he continues on past the Capitol near to the Washington Monument and back. He's been walking just about every morning since he retired. But the landscape changed from Milwaukee and Grant Park and Lake Michigan, to the sidewalks of the Capitol City. Today was a great example of actually being a part of living history. He generally passes behind the Supreme Court. But the activity was well on it's way this morning, and he promised to pass by the front. I'm not sure exactly what the decision will mean to us. But I have a feeling we won't get any breaks. We both spent our careers in health care, and have never seen spending decrease for anything. Luckily I don't have to deal with that anymore in the work setting, but as a comsumer, we all will have to- whatever that eventually means.

Jane Lewisohn and The Golha Project

The Library of Congress offers a lot of lectures and seminars that are free to the public. We often times attend those events related to Iranian topics. It's not so much the speaker or the subject, but rather the idea of my husband joining me at work, walking through the tunnels from the Madison Building to the Jefferson Building, admiring the beautiful Middle Eastern section of the building, enjoying the beautiful Jefferson Building in and of itself, and having lunch back in the Madison cafe- where the view from the 6th floor is outstanding. This time, the topic was a history of classical Persian music on the radio between the years of 1956- 1979, and then we stopped to see the gallery of art hanging on the 6th floor in the Madison Building, where I have two digital entries on display in the exhibit. I used to have lunch once a week with my husband back in Milwaukee. He would pick me up, we would drive over to Harry's Bar and Grill on Oakland Avenue, and he would drive me back. Even though we don't do this every week, it sure is very different and much more interesting. And it is all within walking distance from our house.

The events are always recorded

The speaker Jane Lewisohn

Must have had little sleep the night before

Posters are scattered throughout the buildings

I always love walking through the Jefferson Building

An interested tour group

Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain

My husband came by the Library this afternoon to attend a lecture at the Jefferson Building, check out my art hanging on the 6th floor of the Madison Building, and have a quick lunch. It was relatively uneventful, except when we got in the cafe, there were about 50 grade school kids who all entered right after us with their crossing guard belts on- so we hurried to get ahead of them in the check out line! When he left, my husband called to say that Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain were standing in front of the Capitol Hill Club, which is right across the street from the Madison Building and the Capitol South metro stop. There were a lot of cameras and crowd. (Awhile back we saw John Kerry and Nancy Pelosi going to Bullfeathers). This is the path we take to get from work to home, so there was no avoiding it. I am most proud that he took pictures of the subjects. Often times he talks about what he sees as he walks the city during the day, but this time he captured the moment. Maybe I'll turn him in to a photographer yet! 

In front of the Capitol Hill Club

You never know who you might see

Living history of sorts

Which is one reason we like living in DC