Food find: The free food plate runneth over

Today was a great day to be in DC. I went over to the National Archives and saw the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. It kind of made me feel all tingly to see it up close and personal. In an age where we rely so heavily on technology and digital communication, it's comforting to know that we still cherish the written word, just pen and paper. Just like in the movies, the documents are displayed in dim light and lowered into a nitrogen chamber at night to preserve them.

On my way over there, I was super annoyed because helicopters were buzzing the area and I got stopped on Pennsylvania Avenue for an extended amount of time. I knew it was to make way for President Bush and his guest, the Dalai Lama, to proceed from the Capitol Building to the White House after the Dalai Lama received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor. But I didn't expect how huge the convoy would be -- the two helicopters, several cops on motorcycles, the limo itself, numerous Secret Service SUVs, more cops and an ambulance!

To cap off the day, I went to a panel discussion of a group of mid-career journalists who are all editors at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue. They talked about the specific challenges facing women in the writing workplace, specifically the fact that sexism is still prevalent within the field and our sources. Another interesting point is the fact that perhaps female journalists are not assertive enough because of a lack of confidence. This manifests itself in a variety of ways -- getting nervous at a job interview, not asking and fighting for a raise, not tracking down a source, not pitching a story effectively, etc.

In addition to the great advice bestowed upon us, The New Republic sprung for some delectable bites. So there's watermelon, kiwi, hummus on pita chips, brie, Swiss cheese on crackers, veggies and fruit, chocolate covered almonds and these delicious brownie bites. The bites were so moist and rich. I also really like bite-sized food too. Also, I really enjoyed the chocolate-covered almonds, they were delicious and filling. And maybe I just haven't had snap peas in a while but these were divine. I'll be picking some up at the Eastern Market this weekend, that's for sure.

Good food, good sites and good advice. What more could a girl want?