Welcome to Washington

Among the many new things I'm discovering here is the fact that people are very nonchalant about the seriousness of this place. I guess it's the way you have to be to keep sane.

I mentioned in a previous entry about the reporter at the State of the Union who actually said her prayers that we wouldn't get blown up. Last night, a motorcade was coming down the street, and pedestrians were crossing in front of it, like it was no big thing. Where I come from, we'd be too afraid that we'd get tackled or even shot for doing such a thing. We fear the Secret Service --- here, many people just tolerate them.

The most startling thing I've discovered is my "emergency duffel bag." It's a small bag underneath my desk in which there is a gas mask, a chemical suit and some rubber gloves. I asked our bureau secretary what that was all about, and she said it's in case we need to evacuate in the event of a biological or chemical attack. Oh, of course.