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Walking the Golden Gate Bridge

Winnie and me just returned from a week's trip to Oakland, California. I was there on business and on this trip Winnie accompanied me, the first time she's traveled with me on my business travel. It was a nice week together, and gave both of us a bit of vacation. Better yet, I had the chance to do something different; walk the Golden Gate Bridge

A Weekend of Snow

Our local newspaper is calling it "Snowzilla." Other news media are calling it "Snowmaggedon" and "Snopocalypse." Yet other helpful news sources are calling it "number 4 in recorded history for D.C.". Whatever our media chooses to call it; I call it 30 hours of watching the snow fall, interspersed by periods of going outdoors and shoveling the winter wonderland off the sidewalks, driveways, and cars. When all was said and done, this past weekend we had 21 inches of snow pile up on top of the six inches left from the week before. With the weather services predicting more to come over the next several days.

Is summer here yet?

Happy New Year 2010!

Happy New Year 2010, the end of one decade and a fresh start for the next!

If I may say so, the first decade of the 21st century couldn't end soon enough...

A Snowed-in Saturday Morning Multi-cultural Music Fun

It's early Saturday morning here in our nation's capital, and we're having the storm of the century. It started snowing early last night and it's still snowing this morning even as I write. Judging by the snow piled up on the picnic table, visible just outside our basement door, we already have at least six inches and more to come.

So, what to do on a snowed-in Saturday morning? How about a little multi-cultural music fun?

A Few of My Favorite...Christmas Songs

Well, it's that time of year again. The time of year when everyone suddenly finds value in acting good and nice towards their fellow persons. Almost as if someone like Santa Claus was watching. Besides the delightful (not!) cold weather, we have the wonderful opportunity to listen to yet another go-around of music designed to get us into the holiday spirit.

About Taxes

I wrote this column in August, with the intention of submitting it as freelance to our local newspaper "InsideNoVA.com." I never submitted it, as a result of my previous submission on the immigration resolution not being published. Perhaps I should have anyway, but I can also use the excuse that Winnie and I were just too busy in the final throes of rebuilding our second property.

A Happy Thanksgiving to All - 2009

Once again, it's Thanksgiving day and my favorite holiday of the year. While I'm waiting for the turkey to finish up cooking (as we all know, a turkey always cooks in its own time) and the guests to arrive, I want to reflect for a minute on all we have to be thankful for.

80 Percent OK With Discrimination

Awhile back, I submitted a column to our local newspaper, now named "InsideNoVa.com," formerly "The Potomac News." My column submission was triggered by a report that about 80 percent of Prince William County were "OK" with the way our police department were handling the anti-Hispanic immigration resolution passed by our Board of County Supervisors back in 2007.

I was deeply offended by this information, and submitted my column.

This and That - 2009 Catching Up Edition

I suspect that our many loyal readers may have noticed that I haven't posted much of anything over the past year. Well, there was a reason for that, and not just because I didn't feel like writing.

Winnie and I were pretty much blocked up with Home Improvement, Part IV - "Remodeling on Steroids" This past year.

The Birds

We had an interesting nature call this past spring. It seems a pair of birds decided to build a nest, lay their eggs, and raise their young right over the outside light next to our basement patio door.