Friend of DC Metblogs Tohubohu Productions and former DC Metblogger Julia Montgomery have teamed up on an entry for the National Film Challenge which is entitled “Homemade Hero” (Quicktime 7 required) and it’s an outstanding short film.

The NFC requires that the film be entirely created in 48 hours; writing, directing, acting, shooting, cutting, editing, production, the whole nine yards in a two day span. Each team in required to use specific objects and categories as part of their entry, to be assigned on the opening day of the competition. This year’s entry required Tohubohu to come up with a superhero movie on a shoestring budget in less than 48 hours and they’ve done an outstanding job.

Nicely done, Julia and Tohubohu!!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The White House Historical Society, as many of you probably know, releases commemorative Christmas ornaments each year. The ornaments benefit the work of the Society, which was founded by Jackie Kennedy. If your family is like mine, stuff like this is a godsend for holiday shopping, especially since I’ve got my future in-laws to think about this year as well, i just hope I’m able to find a macys promo code online this year.

My grandparents are impossible to shop for- when they want something, they just go out and get it. But you can’t just run out to the local mall in Pittsburgh to pick up a White House Christmas ornament. Sure, there are places to get them online, but for the most part, this is a nice little only-in-DC kind of gift. Your out-of-town family might enjoy being the only people they know to have such a thing.

The Historical Society also wisely chooses nice, non-controversial subjects for its ornaments each year. Afraid your feisty, left-wing auntie might not want a White House ornament because she hates George Bush? Not to worry- this year’s ornament commemorates President James Garfield. Not only can you not get all politically worked up over a guy who was President more than 100 years ago, he also didn’t have time to do anything really offensive- he was assassinated 6 months after taking office.

And they’re inexpensive, too. So go get your grandma an ornament. Show her that you’re thinking of her, even from hundreds of miles away. She can say to her nosy neighbor who asks, “Oh, my granddaughter who lives in WASHINGTON got that for me. She walked over to the White House on her lunch hour and picked it up, because she works near there, you know.”

And do it now, because after Thanksgiving, the line will be out the door and around the block.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Last night’s commute was the worst I’ve had that didn’t involve some sort of crazed lunatic making threats. No, everything was hunky dorry in the city last night, except for the idiots in the vehicles. I realize it’s now dark when folks leave work and this means an adjustment, but I did not expect that that meant my commute going from 25-30 minutes to well over an hour last night. It’s not like we’re going to Springfield or Takoma Park or Leesburg for crying out loud, we’re going to Fairlington! But there we sat, as idiots clogged intersections and blocked the precious box, as lights began to mean less and less the closer you got to downtown’s core.

Please, folks, don’t let this happen again. You wouldn’t like me angry.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

At around 8pm I blew out the candle in my jack-o-lantern and turned off the front light. I’d run out of candy, so trick-or-treating was done for my house.

This Halloween night was a banner one, seeing twenty-five costumed youngsters clamouring for candy starting at 6pm – an unheard of number in my neighborhood. The first few years we’ve lived here I felt lucky if I saw two. Though I celebrated Halloween the adult way, with a crazy house party on Saturday, I still love the idea of trick-or-treats and really try to answer the door every time it rings with a smile and a handful of chocolate goodies. It’s my civic duty, in a way.

This year, I had a pretty miserable Halloween day as I spent it in bed with a rotten cold, but I grumbled and got myself up and dressed to meet the kids anyway. I don’t even especially like children, but I remember how sad it was growing up in a neighborhood where there was no other kids and no tricks-or-treats, so I aim to give them what I didn’t get…

Apparently my spending all day in bed turned me into the scariest lady on the block, for one small boy of four years old or so was absolutely terrified of me. He was dressed in a skeleton costume and backed away in fright when I opened the door, trying to hid next to the pumpkin. I didn’t think I looked that hideous but then again, kids always know your true nature. I was the Evil Frightful Witch of S Street to him. The conversation went something like this:

Skeleton’s sister: Say “trick-or-treat” to the nice lady!
Skeleton: (shakes his head and backs away)
Sister: Come on, she’ll give you candy. Don’t you want any candy?
Skeleton: (barely whispering) No.
Sister: (shocked) You don’t want any candy???!!!
Skeleton: No.
Sister: Well, apologize to the nice lady for wasting her time.
Skeleton: (looking up at the lady with big eyes) S-s-sorry. I’m sorry.
Evil Frightful Lady: Awwww….. come on, open your bag. I forgive you. Here’s some candy anyway.

And so the terrible witch of S Street’s cold heart was melted. Maybe kids aren’t so bad after all…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs