One of These Things is Not Like The Others: Why I Love DC and the MLB Equally Right Now

Stephen Strasburg will make his second Major League start and his road debut today. As I write this, Sports Center is taking about Strasburg live and I myself have just come back from a morning spent reading The Washington Post and USA Today with coffee in hand.

Growing up with baseball in your life, especially loving a team that is the physical definition of underdog (aka the Cubs -- and don't worry, I'm not disillusioned, I know their horrid this year. Let's not discuss it further), is what got me into the game.

That's why this morning was so much fun.

I walked into Starbucks on New Mexico Avenue near American University in a Nationals shirt (this is my first real Nats t-shirt with a player's name on the back ... I bought it on Strasmas Day, but I promise my next Nats shirt will be Josh Willingham to hand next to my new Strasburg prize). The barista and I proceeded to have a semi-lengthy dialog about how the Nats are so fun this year. She asked if I was going to the game today.

All I could do was smile.

I refrained from mentioning the fact that I follow the team daily as part of my tenure as one of two Nats beat writers for We Love DC. I stuck to the always believable and undeniable truth that I am a baseball junkie and knew they were playing in Cleveland today. The exchange was fun though. Nice to hear even the least sporty of folks talking baseball on a Sunday morning in NW DC.

Now to get to the photo that started off this post -- this is the true purpose for posting. Does that photo not scream CHICAGO TO DC? The only thing that would scream it louder would be a photo of Stephen Strasburg with Jim Riggleman and Kerry Wood at today's game in Cleveland.

That would be my best convergence off all things I now love -- Chicago, DC, the Cubs, the Nats, and Major League Baseball as a whole.

Happy Memorial Day - Chicago to DC Updates

Some of you who consider yourself to be Chicago to DC faithful might have noticed the increase in video posts this month. It's true -- music is more than important to me. It's probably the most important thing to me, only to be followed by writing, baseball, and ...breathing.

Some of you might be asking, "Rachel, where has all the writing gone?" Well, the answer is simple. The writing has "gone" to We Love DC. Local and National music coverage, Nationals baseball beat, random news around the District -- if you're looking for it, I've got it covered.

That's why I'm writing this post.

If it's news related to something I'm passionate about, I'm all for it. Problem is I feel I'm lacking that "personal touch" I know I have the ability to bring to any piece of writing. I had been filling that void in my life through Chicago to DC before starting with We Love DC. While I don't feel I've "lost" the personal touch, I do think I need a reality check -- hence the increase in video posts this month.

My music is my lifeline. It brought me up when I was down, gave me solace at my loneliest, and has never left my side since I first picked up a trumpet and guitar at the age of 9.

If you're a fan of anything I've ever written, I beg you give a listen to my recent video uploads either here on this blog or on my YouTube Channel.

Enjoy your holiday weekend. Use it to relax. Maybe listen to a couple tracks while you're at it? Let me know what you think!

Best,

Rachel Levitin

Happy New Year from the Chicago to DC POV

I never understood why New Year's Eve is such a big deal. It's another day of a week of a month of a year of a decade of a century, etc. What's so special about it?

The sequin dresses, over-the-top partying, and ball drop never did much for me. I'm more of a "seeing the symbolism" behind the holiday rather than a "let's get wasted and forget the year" type of person.

It is with this thought that I urge you all to enjoy your New Year's Eve. Get wasted if you have to. Kiss someone had midnight if you feel so inclined. Get down witcho bad self. Do whatever it is you've gotta do to get through the night. But -- at the end of it -- remember what New Year's Eve means.

A dictionary definition won't provide any insight. You've got to do a little detective work of your own. Pick that brain apart. It might do you some good!

Cheers! I wish you a happy and healthy 2010.

Here's to hoping the next year is better than the last.

How Old Are You Now?

Well -- it's official -- after 90 posts (that's including today's) and one year, The Chicago to DC POV is still going strong.

We've seen the Cubs botch another post-season, a Presidential Election that was down to the wire, the inauguration of our nation's first black president, Randy Johnson's 300th career win, the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the third season of VH1's Rock of Love with Bret Michaels, the re-building of the Yankee Stadium, the Jonas Brothers nomination for Best New Artist at the 2009 Grammy Awards, Wrigley Field's first Ice Hockey game and commemorated 9/11.

We've learned that South Park is still funny after 12 seasons.

We've reminisced about the days when MTV still played music videos.

And we've also cried a pretty decent amount about the harsh realities of familial tragedy. On a personal note, this blog has taken a positive turn since my father's passing on January 17. My writing is full of far more passion than I could ever hope for -- and for this, I'm thankful.

To all of my loyal readers: thank you for your unconditional support with this project. It means a lot to me and I assure you that this is just the beginning of things to come.

To all of my soon-to-be-loyal-readers: you've got some good things to look forward to, so stick with it.

Today's post and every post from here on out is therefore dedicated to the following family members who passed away in 2009:

Dad (Steven Levitin)

Coco

Grandma Irene

and Bubbe (Marilyn S. Levitin)

...without them, none of this would have been possible.

Best,

R.H. Levitin
The Chicago to DC POV

V.2.0 Updates -- Where To Find The New Photos

September 30 is a special day for The Chicago to DC POV.

We'll be celebrating the one year anniversary of our internet invasion.

To commemorate this occasion, Chicago to DC has taken the liberty of adding pictures to the website because we all know that pictures make everything a little bit easier to read!

In addition to the most recent updated entry ("Romance, Circumstance, and Happenstance"), here's a list of other pieces that have been "re-mastered" for your viewing pleasure:

1. Wells, The New Wood? -- This Year's Rookie Makes His Mark (September)
   
2. Fly Me To The Moon (July)
   
3. The Graduate: A R.H. Levitin Reflection (May)
   
4. Disposable is the new Digital -- No, I'm not Kidding (April)

There are other posts that currently contain photographs. Feel free to parooze the blog for those if you like.

The blog is your oyster -- or at least something like that.

Best,

R.H. Levitin
The Chicago to DC POV

The Chicago to DC POV v.2.0

That's right Chicago to DC faithful, we've had a makeover.

We're sporting a new look for fall in the anticipation of our one year anniversary on September 30.

This isn't just about vanity though.

Chicago to DC's very own R.H. Levitin has re-visted previous posts and added photos from her personal collection in order to enhance your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy the new layout, check out the new photos, and keep on reading.

Best,

R.H. Levitin
The Chicago to DC POV

NEW IN 2009: A Monthly "One-Liner for the Road"

Dear Faithful Readers,

You may have noticed my most recent post "A One-Liner for the Road". Get excited folks! There's more where that came from.

When the ball drops Dec. 31 concluding the year that was 2008, "The Chicago to D.C. POV" will start a new series of entries called "A One-Liner for the Road".

Look for a new "One-Liner for the Road" each month in addition to weekly opinion posts.

A lot happened in 2008, who knows what will happen in 2009! Stay tuned and thanks for reading.

All My Best,

R.H. Levitin

Preface of What's to Come

Hello internet viewers!

My name is Rachel and I'm currently a student. Recently, I enrolled in a class that Nick Clooney (yes, that's Rosemary Clooney's brother and George Clooney's father) teaches. It is because of this class and his feedback that I feel strongly enough that I could post any of my work on the internet for reader consumption.

So, sit back and enjoy the musings. You'll be getting everything from real news, music news, CUBS news, album/concert reviews, etc. It'll be worth your time as long as I stay committed to updating. So, I'll let you know.