I love autumn.
And I love the cherry blossoms.

There isn't anything environmental or having to do with nature that I love more than autumn and the cherry blossoms.

The sheer and absolute beauty encapsulated by the changing colors of the leaves and the blooming of the cherry blossoms just simply can't be beat.

I mean, I love snow, flowing rivers, beaches, and mountains-- basically any picturesque nature scene. But there is nothing as accessible and as absolute and definite than autumn and cherry blossoms, at least in DC.

For as long as I can remember, the end of summer meant the leaves would inevitably change from green to yellow, orange, and red. It is the truth of autumn in these areas; you don't have to do anything, and it's there. The same with the cherry blossoms. As winter turns to spring, the cherry blossoms bloom pink and white, and the Tidal Basin transforms into an even more gorgeous landscape. Again, I have no role in this; it just happens.

So nothing thrills (and distracts) me more than an autumn drive along the George Washington Parkway. Even now, halfway thru November, you are enveloped in the rustic colors of fall and the absolute intensity of the trees against the backdrop of the Potomac River and Georgetown. I drove this the other day and was in absolute awe of the beauty surrounding me. Just a few weeks ago, we went to West Virginia for the weekend just to see the changing of the leaves, but who knew that this splendor was right here, five minutes from my home?

If you have a free moment and a car, jump in it and just drive. Drive north on the GW Parkway and pull over into one of the scenic overlooks and just take in what's around you. You won't regret it.

I*Gorman

I love I*Gorman.

Who is I*Gorman, you ask?

I*Gorman is the best jewelery shop in town. Bar none. Ask anyone who's shopped there before and they'll agree. You walk into I*Gorman and all you get in friendly, personable, understanding service. They don't try to pressure you into a purchase and they have patience you'll never see in professional sales.

I*Gorman is a family-run business. They sell absolutely gorgeous jewelery, pieces from designers you won't find in many other stores. They are unique, special, one-of-a-kind, simple yet elegant. And beautiful. We've already bought three pieces from them: the necklace you see here and our wedding bands. When the day calls for a special gift to someone special, I will buy from them again.

After leaving the Social Security Administration offices this afternoon, I realized I was one block from I*Gorman; one of the coils on my necklace was fraying, so why get it fixed? I stopped in and immediately was welcomed by Nicole Gorman. I showed her the necklace and without even a blink of an eye, she said that she'll check to see if the necklace was in stock and would replace it for me right away. While I was waiting, she offered to clean my rings and necklace pendant.

I*Gorman has a very simple satisfaction guarantee: if you bought it from them, and it broke, regardless of fault, they will replace it, for the lifetime of the product. No ands, ifs, or buts. No one asked me how the coil frayed or when we bought it. They replaced it, brand new, simple as that. Can it get any better?

I've already recommended to a handful of people to go there. 95% of them have ended up buying something. Two haven't: one who found an engagement ring cheaper someone else (and when you're buying a diamond, you go for quality and price over everything else, so that's understandable), and the other, who just hasn't yet gone in; but he will, I know for sure. Regardless of reason though, all of them only have good things to say.

So next time you are in the market to buy something special for that special someone, or even to indulge yourself in something new and unique, go to I*Gorman. I'm not getting any kickbacks (though I probably should!) for this; it's just the simple truth: shopping for beautiful jewelery has never been easier. And you'll never stop hearing the compliments from others marveling at that new piece you've got on; it's been over a year, and I still get compliments on my necklace.

The Voting Rights March

I just registered to participate in the Voting Rights March, which will take place on April 16, DC Emancipation Day.

Like many others living in DC (and hopefully around the country), I was shocked and dismayed at the Republican derailment last week of legislation to give DC residents full voting rights in the House. The bill has bipartisan support (one of the bill's co-sponsor is a Republican from Virginia, Thomas M. Davis III) but the White House and Republican leadership believe it to be unconstitutional. Truth is, I just don't think they care much and that they'd rather not hand the Democrats another victory.

I have no problem with people believing that the bill is unconstitutional- there's serious debate as to whether the bill, as it is currently written, can withstand a constitutional test. But, what about alternatives? If the White House truly believes that the only issue with the current bill is that it is unconstitutional, why not work with legislators- Democrat or Republican, I don't care- to write up something that can pass muster? Or, why not just leave it to the courts to decide?

Here, we have a President who travels all over the world talking about rights and democracy, invades a country and sacrifces the lives of thousands of American soldiers, promising to bring them those rights, and yet, he actively denies citizens of his own country the basic right to vote. And don't forget all the parts of the Constitution that he's stomped on and trashed the last six years. And now he pulls out that very same Constitution to deny 500,000 citizens of his own country the right to vote. It's inconceivable to me that such hypocrisy could exist so blatantly!

So, on April 16, I will participate in my first rally. (I've never been to a rally or a protest before, but that's for another day.) Because this isn't about politics or about left and right. It's about right and wrong. It's about a basic right that I lost once they shredded my NY license at the DMV making me a full-fledged DC resident. A right that was given to me and every other citizen of this country over 200 years ago (well, actually, the right was given to me personally in 1919 and to everyone else who's not white in 1870, but you know what I mean). A right that Iraqis now have, but I don't. And I live in supposedly the freest country in the world.

Join me. If you live in DC, you have no excuse not to march, unless you really don't care about not have a true representative in Congress (for that, you should be ashamed!). If you don't live in DC, use it as an excuse to come visit the nation's capital.