Next week, the Assembly reconvenes for our transportation session.  That means weekly conference calls with the Senate caucus about unfolding plans, while rival sound bites appear in the local media.

My letter to the Connection with my position is here: http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=315994&paper=61&cat=110

While that occurs, life goes on. 

Yesterday morning, I'm at the gym at 5:30 am for a run and lifting session.  After exercise, I drive up to Old Courthouse Road in Vienna to meet a constituent and review first-hand some traffic and safety issues during morning rush. 

I arrive at my Fairfax City law office around 9 a.m. and spent the morning doing my job -- preparing a lawsuit in one case, while answering client phone calls in a dozen more.

At noon, I drive back to Vienna to speak before the Rotary Club.  There are forty people there and everyone has questions and comments, especially on the upcoming session.  I stick around to answer every one.  I get back to the law office at 2:30 pm.

The afternoon is another four hours at legal work, as well as a meeting with Kathy Neilson, my Senate Chief of Staff, to discuss constituent issues and sign thank-you letters.  There's a quick break at 5 pm to pick Tommy up at day care and take him home.

At 7:10 pm, I'm home for good.  Sharon is there with our three kids and a friend.  We drive to Van Dyck Park in Fairfax City where Cox Cable is sponsoring an outdoor movie.  We park the classic 1999 Dodge Caravan and the kids spill out.  The girls head for the ice cream stand.  Tommy is mesmerized by a model train.

I walk through the crowd and shake hands.  I know a lot of people there, including Fairfax High classmates whose kids now go to school with my kids. 

At 8:30 pm, I welcome the crowd to tonight's movie "Shrek 3."  I rejoin my family in the back of the audience and grab a seat in a lawn chair.  It's getting dark and I close my eyes ... but it's starting to rain.

The crowd hesitates for a few minutes, and then reluctantly begins to leave (except those who brought umbrellas).  We pack up the kids and chairs in the van and drive home.  Fortunately, we have "Shrek 3" on video so the kids aren't too disappointed. 

I go down to my office to check emails and review my schedule for tomorrow.  I briefly check Sportscenter.  Tiger is down for the year -- will anyone now watch the British Open?

At 10 pm, I'm fast asleep. 





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