John Kelly's Washington Live

Free-for-all Discussion

Post columnist John Kelly (The Washington Post)

John Kelly writes five times a week about the joys and annoyances of living in Washington. He aims to show readers the Washington (and Silver Spring, Alexandria, Manassas, Bowie ...) that they know and take them places they don't know. He wants to make them see familiar things in unfamiliar ways and unfamiliar things in familiar ways. ("We may occasionally end up seeing unfamiliar things in unfamiliar ways," John says, "but such are the risks of the job.") His columns take a cockeyed view of the place the rest of the planet knows as the Capital of the Free World but that we all call home. John rides the Metro for fun and once kidnapped an Irishman to see what made him tick.

Fridays at 1 p.m. ET John's online to chat about his columns and mull over anything that's on your mind. This week's columns:
A Victory Lap on the Road to Annandale , (Post, Oct. 22)
Let's Hit the Streets for Croaking Terrace, (Post, Oct. 21)
A Few Tidbits From the Files , (Post, Oct. 20)
Sniping Across the Great Divide, (Post, Oct.19)
Answer Man: Right Church, Wrong Street , (Post, Oct. 18)

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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John Kelly: I know it looks as if I'm in cahoots with Metro, such that they always have a meltdown right before these chats, but I swear that's not the case. As a columnist I'm delighted that they keep providing me with fodder. As a commuter, I'm as irritated as the next guy. And we have a lot of next guys queing up to take a swing at Metro this afternoon.

But before we get to that, let me refresh your memories about this week's columns. Monday was about the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church which is, naturally, on 16th Street. Tuesday was about the great Bush/Kerry divide, as illustrated by warring yard signs. Wednesday was about some of the artifacts readers send me. Thursday was a letter from the principal of Croaking Terrace Elementary announcing the start of the school's annual fundraiser. And today, among other things, I successfully negotiate Seven Corners.

Which leads me to ask people to share their DRIVING to work horror stories, too. I don't want to end up too subway-centric today.


Oh, and do me a favor: If you have kids who are obsessing over what they should be for Halloween, can you shoot me an e-mail at kellyj@washpost? I'm looking for kids who change their mind every other day, first wanting to be a Power Puff Girl, then Madame Chang Kai-Shek, then Johnny Damon, and drive their parents crazy.

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Centreville, Va.: Greetings Mr. Kelly:

Regarding your column this week on vanity plates, what do you make of this VA plate that I have seen several times in the past week:

ME&666

Signed,

Pondering in Purgatory

John Kelly: The driver didn't look like John Cassavetes from "Rosemary's Baby," did he? Or Damien from "The Omen"? are you sure it didn't say "ME&66"? That could be someone who commutes on I-66 from Manassas everyday.

Anyone else care to speculate on the meaning? Could it really be...Say-TUHN?

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Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C.: I'm sure you'll be getting lots of questions/comments about Metro's most recent example of its sterling performance this morning. I know that the Metro managers aren't going to actually perform adequately, and I certainly expect that there will never be any accountability at Metro (seriously, why not do a story on the last person in management actually fired at Metro for performance reasons), but there are two things that are quite aggravating that I think are within Metro's level of competence to fix. First, when you enter and exit at the same station, you still pay a minimum fare. Second, Metro's E-Alerts are highly deceptive. This morning, for example, the alert stated that there was a delay between Judiciary Square and Glenmont. That was patently false. The entire Red Line was delayed. And there is a relationship between these two problems. Because riders have no idea what a delay is actually like until they reach the platform, there is no way to gain that information without paying a fare.

In my dream world, Metro would also make announcements in the stations and on the trains about what is going on and when the trains will be moving. And I don't mean the garbled announcements that they presently make, I mean the ones that you can actually understand.

What a way to start the day!

John Kelly: Those are both good suggestions and I hope Metro is listening. I happened to hear on the radio about the delay while I was ironing a shirt this morning. I took an S bus down 16th Street rather than mess with the Red Line. Plenty of other people were stuck, though. All these problems--don't forget the flood in the Mount Vernon station!--make me wonder if we really need to get on an emergency footing. Call in the National Guard or something.

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Fairfax, Va.: Earlier this week my commute via Metro took 65 minutes from Vienna to L'Enfant Plaza compared to the normal 35 minutes because of a sick passenger. I find this ridiclous. What is the Metro policy for dealing with sick passenger that results in all this waste of time of thousands of passengers? There has to be a more efficient way.

John Kelly: I've often wondered the same thing. Can't you just toss them out and get a move on? There is one thing I learned after talking with Metro, though: Some sick passenger incidents require a bit of, uh, clean up. It's not always something nice and neat like a migraine or a heart attack. If you need to hose out a car, that could take a while. Plus sometimes a sick person shouldn't be moved by anyone but paramedics.

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Silver Spring, Md.: So, another rush hour fiasco on Metro. Did you see their commments to the media?

""We're treating this with the highest level of urgency,"

Uh, anywhere else but Metro wouldn't this be a given and go without says? With a major fire, does the DCFD even need to mention that they're deploying trucks? No, comments are confined to HOW they're dealing with it, not WHETHER they are.

Its reached a truly sorry state.

John Kelly: Here's what Metro's chief operating officer for rail, Steven A. Feil, told The Post's Lyndsey Layton after the station flood fiasco: "I don't know why this is happening, but, no, it's not a systemic problem. It's a good system and it has some problems but it's not beyond being able to run it. . . . I'm going to make sure the people who are charged to run the control center are doing just that and are doing it to the highest standards."

But you've got to wonder if it IS a systemic problem. I'm reminded of "Jurassic Park," where the mathemetician warns that everything moves toward entropy. Chaos ensues. How else to explain Metro's woes?

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: Hi John -- I have to thank you for the chuckle I had over your article about Seven Corners. I lived near there for many years and can still drive through it like it was nothing. But my poor husband is terrified of it and I don't blame him. Giving people directions through Seven Corners is no picnic either, especially with all those crazy service roads too.
So congrats on your successful navigation! Thanks again for the fond memories.
- Ceilidh

John Kelly: I was a delivery driver in college and so would occasionally find myself in Seven Corners. But it had been years since I'd tangled with the beast. I want to go back now and try all its permutations: On at Wilson Boulevard, off at Broad Street. On at Arlington Boulevard, off at Hillwood. On at Route 50, off at Sleepy Hollow Road. I'm sure a mathemetician could tell us how many variations there are.

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Anonymous: Trapped on Red Li NE: So how did you get to work this morning, John? Were you among the thousands of helpless Red Liners wandering the streets dazed in search of a way to work?

I tell ya, I tend to be VERY tolerant of Metro's flaws... I'm nearly Levey-esque in that regard, but I think I'm reaching my breaking point...

John Kelly: What will it take to get you to stop? It looks like we average about one embarrassing incident a week. If it was two a week, would you drive? Or three a week? Metro ridership is at an all-time high, despite the problems. Which of course is probably adding to the problems.

I pondered driving in, then I took the bus. And I'm glad I did, because as we turned from Alaska Ave. onto 16th Street I saw that there was road construction everywhere. If I'd been driving I'd have been fuming behind my wheel. Is it true that you just can't win unless you work at home?

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Bethesda, Md.: Metro Red Line -- AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

Just had to get that out.

John Kelly: I hope that was a silent scream. You could've been arrested for doing that in a Metro station.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: What are they building-doing on the west side of the US Botanical Gardens. The area is fenced off and it looks like they are grating the dirt. Are they building another wing or planting more gardens?

John Kelly: Anyone? When I did a column on how they dispose of police horse poop a reader wrote into say that there's quite a stench from bomb-sniffing dog poop on Capitol Hill. I noticed when I took a cab the other night it was really rank near the Botanic Garden, but that was on the south side of Independence Ave. Maybe they're building a poop disposal facility.

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Crystal City, Va.: John: Loved your column this morning.. manuvering the Mixing Bowl at 7 Corners is a challenge..
Who are you picking to win the World Series?
I'm for Boston.. It's their time.

washingtonpost.com: A Victory Lap on the Road to Annandale, (Post, Oct. 22)

John Kelly: Well I hope the Red Sox win, if only to put an end to the ceaseless handwringing that we go through every year at this time. Though I usually go to a few games every summer, I'm embarassed to admit that I am not a tremendous baseball fan. I like it, and played T-ball as a youth, but don't follow it as closely as some. (I explored this deficiency in a story I did in Outlook once.)

I have been to Fenway, though, when I lived in Cambridge. We were there with some Greek friends. It was the time of year when they hand out Allstar Game ballots. The Red Sox fans sitting next to us could hear us explaining the game to Dmitri and Angelika and I guess decided we weren't worthy of a vote. They passed the ballots AROUND the four of us!

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Washington, D.C.: John, hello on this dreary fall day.

Business as usual on the Metro with major delays this morning. However, I was intrigued at the news their officers will be taking verbal judo classes to de-escalate confrontations with riders.

My work places me in daily contact with the U.S. Capitol Police and sometimes the officers from the Secret Service. These are the nicest, most respectful men and women I've ever met. They always have a kind word, they speak even before they are spoken to and they always say "have a nice day" or some other pleasantry.

While being a tourist one day in the Rayburn Building, I struggled to get my son's stroller up the stairs after the elevators had gone kaput. An Capitol Police officer picked my young son up, handed him to me and proceeded to pick up the stroller and hike it up two flights of stairs.

If they were to ask me to put away my cell phone or walk naked and backwards down Constitution Avenue, I'd do it because they garner respect because they GIVE respect.
Both Metro police and the Metropolitan police would never get that response from me. They are rude and off-putting.

John Kelly: Funny you should mention that. I went to a seminar yesterday given by The Post's security department on how to deal with homeless people begging for money. It was led by an ex-Capitol Police officer. A lot of what he talked about was defusing potentially dangerous situations, or exiting from them completely. Now, cops can't do the latter. But the ones who are skilled at the former should really be appreciated. You might laugh at Metro's "verbal judo" classes--I did at first--but I think you're on to something when you say that how a police officer deals with the public has a big influence on how the public perceives the officer.

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Laurel, Md.: John, I must confess I was determined not to like your columns out of loyalty to Bob Levey, but I must admit you do have a wonderfully, jolly sense of humor! I now must admit I look forward to your column every day. (Sorry, Bob!) Actually, your column today was eerily like conversations between my husband, son and myself! Keep up the great work.

John Kelly: Bob would want you to like me. And I want Bob's readers to like me. I want to keep the old ones and get some new ones.

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License plates: I was between two cars during my commute this morning - one had the license plate SPED KILS, and the other had BUCL UP. I took it as a sign to take it easy in traffic today.

John Kelly: My colleague Tim Dwyer saw one that said HATE DMV, which I thought was pretty sporting. I can't imagine the DMV liked handing that one out.

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Washington, D.C.: How come the New York City subway works and ours doesn't?

John Kelly: I'm no expert, but off the top of my head I would say first off it doesn't suffer from Metro's main problem: only two sets of tracks. You can't shunt trains around to bypass problems in DC like you can in New York. And New York has the benefit of experience. The system is 100 years old this year so they've got it down. Ours is 30 and had to be built around a lot of existing construction. What else? Anyone out there a Big Apple expatriot? Are we giving the NYC subway too much credit?

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Alexandria, Va.: You drive a Mini? I have nothing against them, I guess I just didn't picture you in one...

John Kelly: I should have pointed out that it's My Lovely Wife's Mini. I drive it as much as I can, or as much as she'll let me. What did you picture me in? A Dodge Dart? Lincoln Town Car?

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Montgomery County lifelong resident: After your article today, I may try to venture back to Seven Corners once again after years of careful avoidance. But who truely knows what jurisdiction to call if one needs help (Arlington? Fairfax? Annandale? Alexandria? Falls Church?). I think I'll just call Montgomery County Fire and Rescure and have them medivack me back to the promised land.

And could somebody please answer me why in Virginia the signs tell you what street you're crossing but not what street you are on???? For each venture into NVA, I go armed with maps and cell phone.... it ain't enough!;!;!;

John Kelly: I'll bet people in NoVa feel the same way about the Maryland burbs. Rockville Pike, for example, is a horrible wonder to behold. I think we should put roundabouts everywhere, like they have in Britain. Several times when we were there for vacation last summer I would just go around the traffic circle two or three times while My Lovely Wife consulted a map. I also did it five or six times once to shut up my kids, who were complaining about us taking them to some site of natural beauty when they wanted to go shopping.

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Beltsville, Md: John, I kind of envisioned you driving an old Dodge Aries K car. Maybe even a Chevy Impala.

John Kelly: A K car! Oh the humanity. Well mainly I'm in a Mazda MPV. I also have an old Datsun convertible, which is how My Lovely Wife lobbied for the Mini. "YOU have a fun car," she said. "Shouldn't I have one?"

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Petworth: Did you find your armoire?

I've been looking for 2 of them myself, and I found one in Annapolis the other day. Now I only need one more!;

Oh, and I did love the description of driving in VA today. It's an exact match for my experience, except that I drive a slightly larger car (but it's only a sedan, so I'm still lost in the herds of SUVs and minivans.)

John Kelly: Where did you get your armoire? I'm also looking for two. I don't want to turn it into an entertainment center, the fate that befalls so many, but use it in the way god intended, to hold my suits, hats and collection of English riding crops. There are a bunch in Kensington, but none were deep enough. And there's a place in Frederick with a nice selection, but way too rich for my blood.

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Red Sox Nation: So...speaking of vanity plates, mine reveals that my favorite team is from the Boston area. I am planning on driving from DC to Boston. How fast does one suppose I have to drive through NY? Friends have suggested a circuitous route including Canada and Maine.

John Kelly: Just don't break down on the Cross Bronx Expressway. It'll be Bonfire of the Vanities in no time. They'll need dental records to ID you.

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Woodley Park, DC: John, you need to get your mack on: Try Seven Corners in a white 1966 T-bird with leopard-print seats and a set big chrome rims ... although, now that I think about it, that might be more Leiby's style.

John Kelly: I've seen Leiby's car. It's a Honda Accord. Now it may have a glasspack exhaust and nitrous, along with a neon underbody kit. I couldn't tell. It was day time.

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Washington, DC: Why do people spend thousands of dollars on dogs only to name them things like "Champion Candyfloss Lord Wilton"? Why all the horrid names with show dogs? I'm sure they never personally have to yell "here Candyfloss" in a crowded area, but could they think of the people they hire that do?

John Kelly: I gather there is some sort of convention for naming show dogs. Maybe someone out there can explain. I think if it's from a champion you can tack Champion onto its name. And it's often shortened to just "Ch." Then I noticed that the purloined Pomeranian came from the Candyfloss Kennels, so that might explain that part of the name. Lord Wilton is just trying to be pretentious. And succeeding!

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John Kelly: Don't forget that I'm looking for kids' Halloween costume stories. E-mail me at kellyj@washpost.com. I think my older daughter is going to be one of the Fantinas, you know those ladies who go "Fantafantafanta" in the ad at the movie theater.

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Ontheredli, NE: I ride from Shady Grove to Dupont Circle and back every day. This morning it took me an hour and a half to get to Adams Morgan, where I got off and walked the rest of the way.

Big fat hairy deal. This is the first major delay I've seen in months. Quit whining, you big babies. Let's see YOU reroute all the trains and fix a broken track and have it all going again before noon.

Nice day for a walk, too.

John Kelly: If this is your first major delay, then you've been living a charmed life. You're right that running a Metro system is "hard," though. So is sending a man to the Moon, inventing an artificial heart and writing a daily column. And yet humans have done ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS!

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Washington, D.C.: Shopping for an armoire with a mini cooper? What a wonderful image!

John Kelly: Well I hadn't thought about what I was going to do if I actually found one. Paid someone to move it, probably. Supposedly they break down into hundreds of little pieces.

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Arlington, Va.: John,

You are a wonderful addition to the comics page! Not a week goes by where I don't identify with something you've written about, and today, it was Seven Corners. I hate it, and almost feel like just closing my eyes and pointing the car in one of those directions just to get somewhere. I grew up in southeastern Fairfax County (near Mt. Vernon) and know it very well. We moved to Annandale and are about to move to Arlington, so I've been forced to move beyond my Parkway boundaries.

Do you like the Mini Cooper? I would love to have one, but the husband prefers bigger cars.

John Kelly: Thankuverramush.

I actually like Seven Corners, since it's such a wonderful example of just how creative humans are.

And, yes, we love the Mini even though it's had lots of annoying problems: seats, windshield, transmission. If we didn't love it so we'd be pretty PO'ed. It's funny, the Consumer Reports thing on the Mini shows it with a dreaded black circle for repairs/reliability but a desirable red circle on what owners think about it and whether they'd get another one.

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Just-in Metro info: Apparently Metro is reducing OFF-peak fares on the red line for the rest of the day ... how about reducing the PEAK fares for we hapless commuters, who were primarily affected by this morning's delay??? Metro gets it wrong again.

John Kelly: Maybe they're expecting us to put in an extra two hours, to account for the time we lost this morning. and then when we finally leave work it will be off-peak time.

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Silver Spring, Md.: ... "get your mack on?" What'm I missing?!

John Kelly: I believe that means "to strut in an extremely fashionable manner." I'll ask Leiby.

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Re Red Sox Nation: I too have a New England-based license plate (football, not baseball). And I've seen a car in my neighborhood with an REDSX04 plate. Why don't we all drive to Boston together via NY and make one big car congo line?

John Kelly: Looks like we've got ourselves a convoy. Breaker-breaker.

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Channeling Dr. Gridlock: you can skip NYC by going through Pennsylvania and picking up I-84 near Scranton. It goes through NE Penn., the Hudson Valley and eventually Hartford. Once you get to Hartford, you're on your own.

John Kelly: Godspeed, good Bostonian.

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Ben in Washington, D.C.: BoSox Nation - Try taking the Tappen Zee Bridge - doesn't go through the heart of NYC - and leads you to the Merrit in CT... Even though you beat my beloved Pinstripers, I'd be willing to help you with directions.

John Kelly: You mean there really is a Tappen Zee Bridge? I thought it was something made-up for a Fountains of Wayne song.

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MTA vs. Metro:: NYC MTA has a dedicated funding source. Of coruse that doesn't stop them from gouging straphangers every time they get, and hitting us with 33% fare hikes, as they did last year.

John Kelly: The $1.5 billion that Metro is getting can't arrive fast enough, although it sounds like it will be too late. Whether it's too little remains to be seen.

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Washington, DC: I think the poster above got the Metro info wrong. I think it's that they'll be charging off-peak fares for the rest of the day, including rush hour. At least that's how I read it.

John Kelly: I think you're right. This is from Metro's official release:

"Metro's General Manager/CEO Richard A. White, in consultation with Board Chairman Robert Smith, implemented a new policy to offer reduced, off-peak fares for the remainder of the day due to the unprecedented nature of the rail problem (including the 3 to 7 p.m. peak travel hours)."

So go wild! Ride Metro during rush hour!

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Red Liner: I bought an iPod last night. Spent the evening uploading most of my library. Today's Metro delay didn't bother me one bit, although I need something else to read on the way home.

John Kelly: I suggest you buy a copy of The Washington Post. Or two, just to be safe. You can also sleep on it, if things get rough.

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Furniture Barn: The armoire only breaks down into little pieces if you run into it with the Mini.

John Kelly: Well, I'm looking for a big armoire. It might be the Mini I'd be sweeping into a dustpan.

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Petworth, Washington, D.C.: You live in an old house too, don't you? We're the only ones who need armoires for clothes any longer - no big closets in old houses.

Ok, ideas.

I found one last weekend in Annapolis - Affordable and in good shape. The store's name is Featherstone and they're on route 50 this side of the bay bridge.

I've also seen wonderful armoires in PA. There are a lot of good antique places in PA. There's a town called Anneville where I found a lot of stuff. I've seen good armoires therem for good prices, but none of them the right style for my house. There are also a number of good antique and junk stores along route 30 between Gettysburg and York - some expensive, some not.

Best of luck!

John Kelly: Thanks! I'll gas up the minivan this weekend.

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Dog names: Pure-bred dogs are named after the kennel where they were bred, then usually some variation on their parents names, just like race horses. The "Champion" (or "Canine Good Citizen) designations that indicate achievement in the show ring, or obedience or sporting contests, come after the name and are called "degrees" (just like the ones people get for graduating college).
The reason the names get so weird is that the American Kennel Club, the main registering organization, requires them to be unique. So the weirder they are, the more likely they are to pass muster.

John Kelly: Thank you. You have a bit of the Answer Man about you. So showdog owners could take names from that garbage at the bottom of spam messages: Fruitbat Lumbago Oxidize Poprivet.

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No VA: 7 Corners would be fine if people around here had a clue. My commute brings me to 7C via Wilson. Wilson is 2 lanes entering the intersection, where it divides into 4 lanes, 2 for 50/7 East, 1 for 50 West, and 1 for 7 West. The number of times I've nearly been sideswiped by some fool trying to go right from the left lane amazes me.

Oh, and the dog name thing, papered dogs require unique names, I believe, so they may be officially named Champion Fluffy Von Twinkletoes, but they're really called Max.

John Kelly: Um, that fool was me.

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Irvine, CA: Re: armoires, I would try Ellicott City. They have a number of great antique stores, and it's a charming town.

John Kelly: Irvine speaks! Thanks for the tip!

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Arlington, Va.: Enjoyed the story of your Seven Corners adventure. I live north of Lee Hwy and every so often need to get to one of the stores that can only be accessed from the Leesburg Pike side of the shopping center. What looks so easy on the map usually results in my feeling as though I've narrowly escaped... something. Also appreciated your comments re keeping the "dog-napping" in perspective; in a similar vein it's been interesting to see some of the sports announcers trying to wean themselves from war metaphors.

John Kelly: Yes, I think that every time we reference the terrorists in an inappropriate way...the terrorists win.

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I HATE METRO: A normally 1/2 hour commute on the Red Line took 2 hours today. It was chaos. They were running trains on opposite tracks but neglected to inform people in what direction the trains were going. (Half of my subway car bounded out when we told them they were on the right train which was going in the wrong direction.)

Also, the METRO worker who caused the flooding of the Mt. Vernon station is "punished" w/ a ONE day suspension w/o pay. What is this??? He or she should be fired. And still no explanation from METRO as to why the alarm was ignored. This is the same group that ran 1 train an hour after a Redskins game. What is the problem w/ the operations control center. This is also the same group that let a conductor abandon a packed train which idled for 30 minutes because she wanted to go home. Today's article said this group is the "brain" of the subway." No wonder Metro's "management" and excuses for lack thereof are so LAME.

John Kelly: The National Zoo got rid of Lucy Spelman after all those animals died. Dan Snyder got rid of Spurrier (Turner, Schottenheimer, etc. etc.) when the Redskins didn't win. There is such a thing as accountability. No one wants to be let go unfairly, but it does seem that Metro employs some people who simply can't do their jobs. It can't be fun for those employees. They should have the chance to try new careers that might suit them better, like rodeo clown or show dog handler.

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Montgomery County lifelong resident: OK, following your success, I'll venture back to NVA - 7 corners - mixed-up bowl. I also will be looking for an amoire to use as an entertainment center. I gotta do something since I slipped one of those 50" widescreen past the "My Lovely Wife" ... on her birthday no less .... Will it fit?? Or is that what you did and now you're looking for two amoires, one beside the other .... for the picture beside a picture effect??

John Kelly: Either side of a window because we only have one closet. And I admire your chutzpah. A 50-inch widescreen, huh? That's brave.

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Cardinals Rule: Well, all those going to Boston should carry their crying towels because they are surely going to need them. You may have overcome the curse of the Yankees, but remember that the Cards beat you twice in the World Series!;

John Kelly: Despite such partisan bickering, I hope that we can all get behind Washington's team when it arrives. The Washington Delays on the Red Line?

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Red Liner w/ipod mini: So were you the guy sitting next to me listening to "Barracuda" WAAAAY too loud on his ipod?

John Kelly: Hey, why are you complaining? You got to hear Heart without having to pay 200 bucks for an iPod.

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Falls Church, Va.: You had a Datsun convertible?!; One of those old Fairlady roadsters?!; If so, my opinion of you has risen dramatically. You are welcome to drive in my Broyhill Park neighborhood at any time: Rt. 50 west from Seven Corners, to Annandale Road, to Graham Road.

John Kelly: Yup, a 1968 2000, with Solex carbs.

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NYC Subway: I'm a native Washintonian who went to school in NYC in the late 90s and now I live in NoVA. And I can say that I never suffered on the subway there like I do here. Yes, trains were often crowded. But do to proper pole placement, people knew to move in to the center of the cars. Plus, with the side bench seats, rather than the 2-seat rows, there was a lot more room for more people in each car. AND, if you missed a train, you never had to worry about waiting 15 minutes DURING RUSH HOUR for another. Yeah, you had to wait a while at 3 am, but, oh wait, our subway doesn't even run then!;

Yes, I saw two rats in the NYC subway in 4 years, and I've only seen 1 here. And yes, one of those rats was on the platform. But you know what? I'll take one rat a year for convenience, speed, and the ability to eat food on the train!;

John Kelly: And there we have it: Another reason for Washington to feel inferior to New York. We can't get an egg cream at 2 in the morning and our subway sucks.

Oh well. Maybe things will be better next week. Thanks all for dropping in today. Let's keep our fingers crossed for the afternoon commute. I'll see you in the paper on Monday. And if you have any column ideas, don't hesitate to drop me a line: kellyj@washpost.com.

PS to the person who asked how leaves change color: Send me an e-mail and I'll send you a story I did for KidsPost a few years back.

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Get you mack on: John, get your mack on means as follows: Mac Daddy, as in too cool for school, as in too fabulous for words. But with a cool tip and a hip 'tude.

Imagine Billy Dee Willimas in the Colt 45 ads of yore.
Hope this helps love the chats.

John Kelly: Thanks for the quick linquistics lesson. I urge everyone to keep their macks about their persons this weekend.

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