Karen Sandler

Tag: dc

  • Mrs. Sandler Goes to Washington

    After a short weekend visit to NYC to attend the winter conference of the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators, I took the train down to DC to visit family. Since I’m under deadline on REVOLUTION, the third book of the Tankborn trilogy, I’ve had to spend time every day working. But I decided to set aside a day to go to the Capitol and check out the Senate and House.

    I dropped by the Hart Building office of one of my two senators and picked up passes for the two chambers. Then I hiked over to the Capitol building a couple of blocks away. Police had the usual entrances blocked off. Apparently Vice President Biden was on his way, and the Capitol was in temporary lockdown. Luckily, a lady I’d struck up a conversation with knew another way in, and she escorted me and a visiting friend inside.

    Another even better stroke of luck happened shortly after I reached the Senate chamber. The members present were pretty sparse–many empty chairs. One of the senators was speaking passionately about the Violence Against Women Act–it’s up for renewal. It doesn’t seem like one of those things that requires a lot of discussion (uh, pass it already), but I guess that’s how Congress works.

    Then the magic happened. It turned out I had timed my arrival perfectly (although in total ignorance). In walked several senators who I immediately recognized–Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, Al Franken, Patrick Leahy, Elizabeth Warren, and John Kerry. The young woman sitting beside me (who works for a senator) pointed out Mo Cowan. Then Joe Biden arrived in the Senate chamber.

    Vice President Biden called Mo Cowan forward and swore him in as the new senator from Massachusetts. Historic enough–the new Senator Cowan is one of only two black senators currently serving, and yes, two is a record number. But then we all started applauding (we in the gallery took our cue from the floor). Then even more incredibly, everyone on the floor and then in the gallery rose. A standing ovation for Senator Mo Cowan.

    I found out later that applause, let alone a standing ovation, is Just Not Done on the Senate floor/gallery. I was so thrilled to be part of that historic occasion, and it was just by lucky timing. I’d intended to leave for downtown an hour earlier. Instead I spent an hour working and left later. If I’d kept to my original plan, I would have missed Senator Cowan’s swearing in.

    There were more adventures–after my Senate visit, I was escorted via the underground walkways and shuttle to the Senate dining room (again, sheer chance–I happened to talk to the right person). I had a very yummy lunch there (I had no idea you could make mashed cauliflower taste just like mashed potatoes) followed by the incredible Senate Bread Pudding topped with vanilla sauce. My senator walked right past me (didn’t quite have the nerve to say hello). And I had quite an interesting time getting back to the Capitol via the  above ground route to get the jackets I’d checked in the coat room.

    History, democracy, and bread pudding. What a heady mix.

  • Micro Booksigning in DC

    I just got back from downtown DC where I  toured the Capital and had lunch with my son. No trip to a big, unfamiliar city would be complete without at least one episode of me getting completely lost. There was some mini-confusion when I emerged from Union Station and wasn’t sure which way the Capital building was. My daughter-in-law had nicely printed off a map of the relevant area, including Union Station, the Capital, and my son’s office. As I was gaping at it, mystified, I realized I’d have to snag a local for some help. After the woman I’d asked pointed at a large dome in the distance thrusting up through the trees and said, “That’s the Capital,” I knew even I’d have no trouble finding it.

    It was after the tour when I exited the Capital building that I got myself totally turned around. I had no idea how to turn the map to coincide with the street names I was seeing. Even the recourse of asking a local was only partly successful. It wasn’t until I’d fulfilled my obligation to go off half-cocked in the wrong direction before finally, finally figuring out where I was that I was able to get on the right track. The funny part is, my son had asked me at 11:30 if I could wait until noon for lunch. Since I needed time to get lost before I got found, the extra half hour was appreciated.

    After lunch, I walked over to the downtown Barnes and Noble to autograph shelf stock. There are two B&N in DC, one in the Union Station Metro, and the downtown one on 12th & E. With “get hopelessly lost” ticked off on my agenda, I had no trouble locating the 12th Street store. They’d ordered in three copies of Tankborn, but along the way to the store, I met a woman who was headed to B&N to buy books as a birthday gift to herself.

    When she found out I was an author and that I was glad to autograph a book to her, she insisted on buying one of the three copies. Whee! Thank you, Tracy. And thanks to Ruth, the wonderful, helpful B&N sales associate.

    Fun day for me. How has your week been going?

  • Hurricane Virgin Update #Sandy

    I think I might still be a hurricane virgin. If there’s an opposite end of “got the worst of it,” that would be us here in NW DC. The wind shook the house a bit, the rain was getting close to horizontal, but other than a couple puddles in the basement (the walk-out door blew open), we were high and dry. I called my cousin in Brooklyn and all is well there (although her sister in Staten Island has no power). I’m worried about my Manhattan friends. I hope they all check in over the next couple days.

    Here’s some video of what it was like here. As you can see, kind of boring. I guess that’s the best way to go through a hurricane.

    It got a little worse after nightfall, but not much. Glad to be spared, and sending good thoughts to those who went through storm surge, flooding, and power outages.