Day 26

I slept very late today and didn't get up until after 10:00. My main objective was simply to buy a new pair of walking shoes, since my current pair has threadbare soles and the top stitching is pulling apart. I hate shopping, especially for clothes; but shoes are an important adjunct to my new walking life so I took the Metro to Pentagon City to visit its multiple Department and Shoe stores. The Pentagon City Fashion Mall is a typical over-the-top destination for the those addicted to spending more money than they should on things they usually don't need. Palm trees in the food court are a good indication of the sense of unreality that pervades such places.

Despite multiple sales in progress I had no luck at most places. Macy's had nothing of interest. The Walking Company less (it's shoes are certainly not for people who actually walk anywhere). The only pair I liked at Nordstrom's was listed at $340! FOR SNEAKERS. Most others looked like something a pimp would wear. I was finally successful at Rockport, much to my surprise.

I hadn't intended to walk today since my legs and feet still hurt from walking to Arlington yesterday, but I really wanted to see the movie "Earthdays" playing at the E Street Cinema, so I headed out for downtown late in the afternoon. I really wanted to like the film but it was only so-so. Apart from being a minor but interesting slice of the late 60's and early 70's counter culture, the film never quite figures out what it wants to do. The most telling part of the film are the clips of all presidents from JFK to Dubyah giving their 'we must put the environment first' pitch. What was missing was a graph or other means of showing how things had gotten worse with each, despite the promises. Forty years of lip service but the movie was silent about where we stand now compared to where we were when JFK made his pitch. The talking heads assembled for narration were rather weak and my overall assessment of the film is that it is pretty bloodless. No passion, and this topic demands passion.