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This and That, Summer 2010

Here it is already September, the long hot n' Dry summer almost passed. Although I enjoy warm weather, these past two months were almost too much of a good thing. And in the category of "here we go again," we have a hurricane watch just days after the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

The more things change...

A Different Kind of Boating

I've really been missing not having a boat of my own these past few months. Sure, I've gotten out on the water sailing several times, but being in a rented sailboat is not quite the same thing as having a boat of my own. I've also been looking at doing something different for a while now, a different kind of boating.

Well, last week Friday, I took the plunge, and with Winnie's approval bought a single-seater sporting kayak.

Oregon or Bust!

I've just returned from nearly two months working in Portland, Oregon. It was somewhat frustrating on a professional level, but my work there gave me a wonderful opportunity to experience a part of the country I'd never been in before. All-in-all, I really enjoyed being in Portland.

Come Sail Away!

A few weeks ago I achieved something I've been wanting to do for many years. On May 8, I gained an American Sailing Association (ASA) certification on basic Keel Boat 101. Thereby announcing to the world that I in fact know jibing and tacking and boom vrangs and lots of other fancy-sounding nautical kind of words.

Boatless!

Last Friday I did something that a couple of years ago would have been unthinkable. Yesterday I sold my beloved little boat "Sea Dreams," the boat I purchased in Long Beach, Mississippi on October 26, 2002. This would be the boat that I lovingly maintained, repaired, hauled up to northern Virginia, restored, and occasionally even took out onto the water for a brief day's cruising and fishing over these past 7-1/2 years.

I've heard that the two happiest days in a boat owner's life is the day they buy a boat, and the day they sell it. I'm still not so sure about the 'selling it" part.

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.