Byline: John Kelly

John Kelly writes five times a week about the joys and annoyances of living in Washington. He aims to show readers the Washington (and Silver Spring, Alexandria, Manassas, Bowie ...) that they know and take them places they don't know. He wants to make them see familiar things in unfamiliar ways and unfamiliar things in familiar ways. ("We may occasionally end up seeing unfamiliar things in unfamiliar ways," John says, "but such are the risks of the job.") His columns take a cockeyed view of the place the rest of the planet knows as the Capital of the Free World but that we all call home. John rides the Metro for fun and once kidnapped an Irishman to see what made him tick.

Fridays at 1 p.m. ET John is online to chat about his columns and mull over anything that's on your mind.

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John Kelly: Finally, Friday. There's nothing nicer than typing those words. The weekend is almost here. I don't have any big plans. I've had to work the last few weekends but this one lays before me like a blank page. I want to putter. And tinker. I'd like to see a movie and rent a video. I should mow the lawn. I'd like to see a band play rock and roll. I'd like to play rock and roll. I may do all of these things.

But I must put that out of my mind until I get home from work tonight, because I haven't finished Monday's column yet. And I should really try to chip away a little at the rest of the week too. Oh well. All in good time.

Wassup with you? How bout that MEtro series this week? Pretty incredible huh? I was actually over at Metro this morning, watching an elocution lesson. They're training some of their people how to say things such as "Judiciary" and "L'Enfant." Look for a mention next week.

And away we go....

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Frederick, Md.: John, I'm on vacation next week! Other than drink lots of beer, what else should I do?

John Kelly: You should bring a book. You don't necessarily have to read it. You can just carry it around. Or sit in a comfortable chair with a beer and pick up the book and START to read it. You may not finish the book, but I bet you finish the beer.

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