Zyrtec.  Singluair.  Benadryl.  Claratin.  Are you catching a pattern here?  It's officially pollen season.

According to studies online, the leading pollen cities are as follows:

1)     Lexington, KY
2)     Greensboro, NC
3)     Johnson City, TN
4)     Augusta, GA
5)     Jackson, MS
6)     Knoxville, TN
7)     Birmingham, AL
8)     New Orleans, LA
9)     Little Rock, AR
10)   San Diego, CA

Why D.C. is not high on this list I am not sure.  They are 51st on the list.  FIFTY FIRST.  Are you kidding?  My nose, eyes, and throat all beg to differ. 

Yes, the cherry blossom trees here are gorgeous.  And the tulip magnolias are so amazingly underrated.  But apparently the pollen is underrated too.

A man this morning on the Metro thought that I was emotionally distraught.  I kid you not.  He even offered me his handkerchief.  I simply explained to him that pollen season is usually a rough time of year for me. 

So with swollen eyes, I continue my daily routine.  Wake up at 6:45 am, pull myself out of bed by 7:15 am, Metro at 8:00 am, work 9-5, home by 6:00 pm, and then stay awake for as long as I can (and yes Connor, 9:00 pm is late these days).

The past few days I stayed particularly busy as I was able to attend a prestigious energy conference for my office.  The Canadians have a strong interest in clean energy, and therefore my supervisor encouraged me to go to the 2010 Energy Conference hosted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration and Johns Hopkins University. 

I saw speakers such as the Dr. Steven Chu (Secretary of Energy), Joseph E. Aldy (National Economic Council/Office of Energy and Climate Change, The White House), Dr. Lawrence H. Summers (Director of the National Economic Council), and others who are well known in their field.  If you are interested in energy, then this conference would have been heaven.  But now that the conference is over, I am officially on energy overload.  I see everything in terms of how energy is being used and how it could be used once plans like smart grid takes effect. 

After the conference, I even feel guilty for turning up my air-conditioning at night!  Although I will say that it is absolutely necessary.  I do not pity you summer Washington-Center kids because it is going to be hot as Hades here.  Today it was 90 degrees and since I am originally from Atlanta I thought it felt great.  But if it is already 90 degrees in early April, I do not want to think of what it will be like in July.  Especially when the humidity builds up.  D.C. is, afterall, a swamp.  Yeah, enjoy that. 

I only have about 5 weeks left with the program, so the weather should be perfect from here on out.  The semester has been so busy that I have honestly lost track of time.  It’s bittersweet.  And I have so much left that I want to do!  The pollen will not stand in my way.

Que Sera Sera.