If the past is indeed prologue, traffic in the Washington, D.C., is going to be awful today. And tomorrow and off-and-on probably until next August.

Tens of thousands of vacationers — many of them government workers — returned to work last Monday.  Today’s second round, the first day back in a long time, is because Congress is finally back. So are area school kids, some of whom had to return last week.

When Congress leaves town lots and lots of people follow.  That includes the tens of thousands who work directly for a member of the House, Senate or on committees or support jobs. It also includes large chunks of the media who get time off when the politicians they cover take off. That in turn frees up thousands of lawyers, lobbyist and public relations types who head for the hills (or beach) along with Congress.

Bottom line:  For people left behind (or who chose to stay in the D.C. area in August) it is a much quieter, slower-moving and many would say nicer place to be.  Starting with a resumption (at 100 percent levels) of our worst-in-the-nation traffic.  It’s back.

If you have been away you may want to play catchup:

• Shutdown. Are we heading for an October suprise? What happened the last time?
• January Pay Raise: Who gets what, when, where and why?
• While You Were Gone: How we missed you and what the town was like without you
• A COLA for Retired Feds/Social Security? What are the odds of a January inflation-catchup?
• Sequestration. Remember that legislative stink bomb? So is it still around?

And last but not least on your need-to-know catchup list is this:

• Are You Hot, or What? Do you know the 10 reasons why you are among America’s most desirable, as in mate-material, people? It’s true

Nearly Useless Factoid

By Michael O’Connell

The original lineup for the progressive rock band Traffic was: Steve Winwood (singer, keyboardist, guitarist); Jim Capaldi (drummer, vocalist, lyricist) Dave Mason (guitarist) and Chris Wood (woodwinds).

Source: Wikipedia

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