Apparently, in parts of Georgetown, it's still 1985. I found myself walking behind a pair of guys, one of whom was wearing a baby blue polo shirt with the collar turned up, but it was his buddy who really had me looking around for the acid-wash and penny loafers: pale pink oxford cloth shirt, (slept all night in wrinkled, natch) with no lie, pale yellow Bermudas with palm trees and brown dress loafers, fashionably scuffed and no socks (of course).

Seriously, it felt as if I'd dropped into a time warp.

Riding the Metro in D.C. is also a great experience in cultural anthropology. For whatever reason, unlike New York, the tourists are much, erm... louder in D.C. (I think in New York they tend to be a bit more intimidated by the locals-- not so much in D.C.) Anyhoo, I observed a flock of The Young and Shallow.

Girl 1: Where'd you get your dress? It's soooo cute!

Girl 2: Forever21.

G1: Oh, I can never find anything there. I see people with really cute things and they're always from 21, but then I can never find anything when I go look.

G2: Well, you do have to look.

G1: How's the quality?

G2: (shrugging) Doesn't really matter. I only wear anything for about a season, then I get rid of it.

G1: That's such a WASTE. You could spend the same money buying something really good and classic and it'll last forever.

G2: (clearly shocked) But then it'll be totally out of style.

G1: Hence, the buying classic pieces. A good BCBG Max Azria dress will look great in five years.

G2: But then your wardrobe is totally boring and predictable.

G1: (obviously getting exasperated) Not if you know how to accessorize.

I was trying really, really hard not to crack up. At one point the Hub leaned over and said, "You wanted to ride the Metro just to people watch, didn't you?"

Well... yeah.

I also had the opportunity to observe the native creatures-- i.e. the mating rituals of the Young Political Professionals. Very polished and pretty creatures these are with a charming, coy dance of attraction. (Come to think of it, he was wearing a pale pink oxford cloth shirt as well. Huh.)

It'll be interesting when the conference actually starts.

Oh and in a final bit of news, I'm officially the mother of a teenager.

Hold me.