theparkerfamily⁽³¹⁸⁾

I just (today) left my job at a small, progressive little online communication firm for hippies — and in four years, i did a lot of good stuff.

I was responsible for online presences for a number of political offices including House Leader Nancy Pelosi, House Whip Steny Hoyer, Rep. Dick Gephardt, Rep. John Lewis, and Rep. Nick Lampson.

i launched over 75 efforts for progressive non-profit causes, including campaigns for the Planned Parenthood, Campaign For America’s Future, True Majority, US Soccer Foundation, National Parks and Conservation Association, Common Sense about Kids and Guns, and the Communication Workers of America.

but, one of the great perks of the job was being allowed to host my personal web servers on a company IP address.

God, I love hippies.

Now that I am leaving (to join a progressive non-profit cause no less) however, I am screwed.

Way back, when I used to have a house and a reliable internet connection (versus living in a 500 sq ft basement apartment) I served up pages from a server in my house.

Now, I have to sign contracts with scary hosting companies whose websites make them seem like fronts for the Russian mob.

So, I chose blindly. I think mt stab in the dark was called Exabytes. They have servers in Texas … and Banglore (India, not Maine) so I am guessing I won’t get a lick of support that isn’t in Hindi.

wonder if they have conservationists in India.

The Washington Nationals played the first baseball game in Washington DC since the Senators left in 1971. The Nats beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3.

National’s Opening Day:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1150952/

This blog is now brought to you by the Apple Powerbook G4, which replaces a decade old G3 that just couldn’t take it any more.

Went to Dallas for a wedding, but managed (being the pol that I am) to make a pilgrimage to Dealey Plaza and the rest of the “historic” area.

Dallas, Texas:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1151020/

On my way back from Chicago I tripped on a fog covered swamp behind my doctor’s office in Bowie, Maryland. Only reason I had my camera was because I still had all my luggage with me.

Swamp in Bowie, Maryland:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1151035/

Trip to Chicago for NTEN 2005. Got out a couple of times to take pictures of a very cold, dark city.

Chicago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1151062/

At the last minute, I got invited to see Wicked in NYC. The performance happened to coincide with the close of The Gates in Central Park (by that guy who seems to have made a career out of wrapping things). Ran out of the show, which was about 6 blocks south, and managed to get some shots before dark.

The Gates, New York City:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1151112/

Took another stab at the site design, but this time I am pretty please … and think it might stick for the long haul. LOVELY color schema this time through (IMHO), and I have managed to keep the vast majority of the site architecture intact.

Wandered around the zoo for a few hours. While it was unseasonably warm, it was still much too cold to be out there without some sort of natural fur coating.

National Zoo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1151140/

Some friends came up from Texas for the Bush 2.1 inauguration. Couldn’t let the man be swarn in without rubbing it in the hippie’s face…

Inauguration Day:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1151182/