Back from Alexandria

Spent the last week with my sister Karen in Alexandria. We had a really nice time. Very relaxing. We just shopped, went to movies, ate out a lot, and visited with people who are friends of Karen's. Saw Akeelah and the Bee (excellent, surprisingly fresh, good acting) and Friends with Money (much better than I expected; Jennifer Anniston very similar to her role in The Good Girl; surprising ending; great acting by Frances McDormand, Joan Cusack, and Catherine Keener). Went to visit Virginia Theological Institute, just a drive around. Really beautiful. Clearly a lot of money there. The Episcopal high school next door was really posh.

Flowers were really spectacular in Virginia: azaleas and rhododendrens everywhere, really lush. Took part in the ralley against genocide in Darfur on Sunday afternoon. I wish I had been with someone I knew. The people around me were nice, but it's just not the same. The program began about 2:30 pm. There was some good music. The sound system was excellent as was the video system. Lots of speakers. Religious leaders at first. Many Jews in the crowd and many spoke. Holocaust legacy. Incredible urgency on their part. Not much progress in the Sudan today. Something has to happen soon. This is beyond belief crazy. When Barak Obama spoke, the crowd went wild. It was interesting to see. Nancy Pelosi, Al Sharpton, and Dick Gregory all spoke. I decided to leave and forgo Mr. Clooney, but he came on just as I was going to leave. He looked great. Thin and gorgeous. His Dad looked good too and gave the best speech of the day: emotional and very effective. Enough for today. More soon.