I keep trying to put on my I [heart] Social Security bracelet in the mornings, but Cianna always says "Pretty!" and grabs it from me to wear (1). She gets irate when I ask for it back. Such a girl.

Today was a morning of chasing "issues" all around the office and then a crowded ride on Amtrak (2) back to Baltimore for an afternoon of working with contractors (3) at the house.

Our row house is 80% empty of furniture, 95% repainted and pretty clean from top to bottom after a cleaning service made a final pass today. The big public open house is this Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow afternoon, we'll continue house hunting in Montgomery and Calvert County. House shopping in the spring is supposed to be fun, but today's grey skies and cold temps could sap some of that feeling if repeated tomorrow.

- mike lee - baltimore