It's Sunday night.  We're trying to arrange a conference call with the Senate Caucus members, while a thunderstorm rages outside and the power surges on and off.  Tomorrow morning we will back in session.

I have my notes for the special session spread out on my law office desk.   I have been saving relevant letters, articles and memos for the past 3 months.  Everything from an administration slide show on state funding to a CNN.com article on the decline in vehicle miles traveled.  I will be packing tonight with the expectation of spending several days in Richmond.

How to spend the last couple days in Fairfax?

Saturday began with the "Losing to Live" 5K at Capital Baptist Church in Annandale, home of Steve "The Running Reverend" Robinson.  After the race, I jumped in the car and drove out to Centreville for the opening of the Sri Venkateswara Lotus Temple off Braddock Road.  www.svlotustemple.com 

After receiving traditional garlands and fruits from the temple chairman, I then drove to Manassas to participate in another summer ritual -- playing in the annual "Battlefield Sevens" rugby tournament at Signal Hill Park.  Our "old boys" team won two games to finish a respectable ninth (at my age, anything is respectable).

Saturday night, I appeared with the wonderful Mt. Zion Baptist Church choir at Swanson Middle School in Arlington for a fundraising rally for Barack Obama.  The best part was that the choir let me join their bass section for the final song.

Sunday has been taking care of family issues and preparing for the special session.  In the morning, I'll be heading south on Ox Road again.