The death of chivalry

It's not like it's a new thing; I think chivalry's obituary was probably published in the New York times a few decades ago. But now that I am obviously pregnant, and don't just look fat, I have been noticing it more. Particularly on the Metro, which I ride every morning and afternoon, Monday through Friday. I have been offered a seat exactly twice - and once by someone I knew. Both times the offerers were women, and both times they were seated near young, seemingly able-bodied men who clearly saw me, but made no attempt to get up.

I don't think that the duty to give up your seat to the elderly, disabled or pregnant falls only to men, but I do think it astounding that the offerers seem to be exclusively women. (I've confirmed this with women friends who have ridden the Metro while pregnant). Shame on you, baseball-hatted-i-Pod-listening-boxers-showing guy! And shame on you, too, graying-templed-suit-wearing-reading-the-Wall-Street-Journal guy!

The Washington Post had an article about this a couple of weeks ago. You can read it here, but if you don't want to bother, the gist is that no one on the DC Metro gives up their seats anymore. They interviewed a blind woman who gets on the train with her seeing-eye dog, and often sits on the floor. Sometimes there are empty seats, but even then, no one will tell her where they are. It's outrageous.

And then I think back to my own behavior. Last fall, I was standing in a crowded Metro car, and there was a very obviously pregnant woman standing near me. Of course, no one offered their seat. I considered asking someone to do it. But I didn't. I didn't want to embarrass her by causing a scene. Thinking it over now, though, I have decided that if that opportunity were to present itself again, I'd do it. Not because it would change the behavior of this city's rude residents, but because it might make some Wall-Street-Journal or boxers-showing guy a little uncomfortable. And that might make me feel just a little bit better.

Still alive!

Blogging fell somehow to the wayside in the last few months as we moved into our house, Jeremy started his Foreign Service training, and we contemplated the real meaning of impending parenthood ...

With each week, the house looks less box fort and more home sweet home. On June 8, we will find out where we are heading next (and when!). Options literally range the world, from a number of dusty Mexican border towns to Casablanca to Antananarivo to Moscow to Manila to Beijing. I'm hoping we'll get to stick around for at least another eight months, if not a year. If that happens, we may get our house into good enough shape to post pictures eventually.

Jeremy's Peace Corps class from Armenia had their five-year reunion over Memorial Day weekend. It was a fun, if exhausting time. I think many will agree that this was the highlight of the weekend:


That would be Jeremy, getting down with the belly dancer at Marrakesh restaurant in DC. Lacking a real camera, I had to use my cell phone to capture these images. You get the general idea. I unfortunately missed Jeremy's shimmy - for sure the best part of the dance.

Big news x 2

Seems we've got two bits of major news to share.

News the first ...

God willing, the traveling Richarts will be blessed with a new addition come late September! I'm about 16 weeks pregnant and finally over much of the morning sickness (all of which Jeremy conveniently missed). The little one currently bears the name "Figlet," though we are pretty sure that will change once he/she becomes an outside baby. At the moment, we believe it's a boy, though we don't plan to find out the gender ahead of time.

News the second ...

Jeremy has accepted an offer to join the Foreign Service. He'll start his training in mid-May and we should be overseas again within about a year. We can't wait to see his bid list; if things haven't changed in the five years since I did my orientation training, he should get it on the first day of class.

Now I just have to wait, somewhat impatiently, for two and a half more weeks until Jeremy comes home.

Kabobs and Rain

We recently took a trip around the PRT to visit some projects. It was raining, but we were still able to stop and get some kabobs at a local restaurant. They make the best pepper kabobs in the area.



Just remember: Mud and Rain probably don't mix. Good luck guys!

Tony Soprano arrives in Panjshir

Where Tony Soprano can be found after HBO canceled the show: In Panjshir. The PRT team with the Governor, Haji Bahlol.

Myself and Tony Soprano