Tuesday, February 04, 2025

Travel Tuesday: Meetings in The City

I had a couple of meetings in the City, as in Washington DC a month ago, and thought I would take you along for the ride. 
Bundled up on my way in DC, King Street in Alexandria a couple of stops from home. 

Lots of open seats at 9:30 on a Monday morning

A little ice on the Potomac River


A line to get into the White House on the waning days of the Biden Administration 

My office was in this building for a few years, around the right side, at the top of the colonnade. 


The EPA is on one side, the IRS on the other. 

Skating in the National Gallery Sculpture Garden 


Presidents are temporary 

The Willard Hotel, waiting in the lobby to talk with politicians and policy makers living in the hotel, is the origin of the American term, lobbying. 



 

24 comments:

  1. I've never thought about the word 'lobbying', but I now understand.

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  2. I recall the hookers in a hotel once. I think their term of "lobbying" meant something different altogether.

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    1. I just had a flashback to New Orleans.

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  3. The Willard Hotel link to the term "lobbying" makes for a nice story but... "The term "lobbying" originated in the British Parliament, where people would meet with members of Parliament in the lobby before and after debates."

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    1. Interesting point, did we invent it, or perfect it?

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    2. Oooooo! An etymology question; I'm on it! Combining data from Webster's and the OED, it appears that the verb lobby and the noun lobbyist have different origins. The verb does indeed go way back to the English parliament. But those who did so were called "lobby members" or some such. The word "lobbyist" for such folk is far more recent, and does appear to go back to Grant and the Willard Hotel.

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    3. Ah, the OED often has the answer.

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  4. I never knew where the term lobbying came from so now I've learned a new thing. Good way to start the day!

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    1. If we learn one new thing each day,

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  5. Hahahaha, I like your commentary under the STD poster!

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    1. I knew that photo would come in handy for something.

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  6. Thanks for sharing your day in DC. It's such a great walking city...so much to see and do!

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    1. And a great subway system, I should do a post about how to get around in DC.

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  7. Clever idea for a post. 😘

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    1. Thank you! I am thinking about doing a day in the life post.

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  8. What a great tour of your ride into the city. That ice on the water gave me a little shiver. I feel for those rescue workers diving into that cold water.

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    1. The ice had mostly cleared by the time of the crash, but the water temp was in the 30's.

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  9. You certainly know your way around. Is it business as usual or is there a tension in the air in Washington, DC? Such craziness going on - I wonder how the people who actually work and live there feel.

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    1. The Federal government is currently leadership by chaos. No one knows what will happen next, and how soon yesterday's insanity will be flip-floped on. Add to that a plane crash, and it is very crazy at the moment.

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    2. I also wanted to mention that I like your selfie!! :)

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  10. Wonderful photos and tour!

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    1. I should do this more often, it looks like the deep freeze has broken, I will try to get out soon.

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  11. A couple of meetings? You’re doing retirement all wrong, buddy! *smirk*

    Sassybear
    Https://idleeyesandadormy.com/

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