Good Grief, Charlie Brown

Today was the Smithsonian's 42nd Kite Festival. You may recall that I went last year and I was very upset that I didn't have a kite to fly. This year, we brought one. If you can't see, it is shaped like a tree frog, so it is only appropriate that it got taken by the kite eating tree. We actually had a second kite, shaped like a ladybug, but we accidently left one of the cross pieces at home.

So, after our run in with the tree, we walked down to the World War II memorial and from there down to the Tidal Basin to see the cherry trees. We ended the day with a short cruise on the Potomac from the Washington Harbour past all the monuments. It was a bit chilly, but we had a great day.

Bad Wednesday

So, in terms of preferred ways to spend 'hump day", talking to the police would be very low on my list.

Overnight, some entered our office and stole two laptops and an LCD projector. This is the second robbery on our floor in a week. The group that we rent our space from had laptops taken sometime over the weekend. They notified the building management, who assured them that they would alert the tenants and security, neither of which they did. The door wasn't forced, so someone has a working key card, which is kind of scary.

Fortunately, I lock my computer in the desk when I leave at night, but one of the stolen ones we ordered just a month ago.

Hopefully, this is the bottom point for the day.

Happy Easter

Hi, everyone. This is a picture of the cross of flowers that we did at church on Sunday. It starts off as a basic wood form and is wrapped in chicken wire, with a few pieces of greenery added. Then everyone came up and added their flowers to it and just turns into something beautiful.

After church we went to brunch at Bistro-Bistro in Shirlington. The food was terrific, but we probably won't eat there again, because they never answered my email about reservations, so I called to make it. Then, when we got there, they didn't have our reservation. Fortunately, they were able to seat us right away. The brunch buffet was wonderful. Between the two of us, we sampled grilled veggies, feta and pesto pasta salad, cold grilled salmon, cold asparagus, blacken tilapia, bacon, eggs benedict, roasted potatoes, waffles and prime rib. The for dessert there were lemon tarts, cheesecake, chocolate cake, coconut cake, banana bread, chocolate chess pie, some kind of german chocolate tart thing, bread pudding and my favorite, creme brulee. Then we went home and passed out. That is a successful brunch.

Spring is in the Air

I know that spring is in the air because I want to do 'projects', the winds have picked up to 30 or 40 miles an hour, I spent Saturday having a pedicure and a hair cut and it's Cherry Blossom time.

Of course, Sunday started with rain and today it was all of 35 degrees when I left my apartment. This is also a clear indicator of spring in the nation's capital.

Plans are shaping up for us to be home over Memorial Day - we are going to spend a couple of days in Athens and a couple in Chattanooga visiting Jim's brother. Overall the trip will be from May 22 - May 26, but I don't know what days will be spent where yet. I'll keep you posted and hope to see some of you then.

This Sunday we saw Juno (yes, I know I am behind in my movie watching). This is possibly the sweetest movie I've seen in the last ten years. It is smart and funny and sad and I highly recommend it. Next weekend, we are going to a new restaurant for Easter brunch, so keep an eye here for a food review.

Subscribe to the Blog

Ok, I've added a box in the right side bar that says subscribe. Just type the email address at which you want to be notified and click the box that says subscribe. Yes, I know you can barely see the button - I'm working on it.

Google Groups will send you a confirmation email. Just follow the link in the email and you will be signed up. Then whenever I make a blog entry, you will get an email from Google Groups.

I hope you all join.

New Blog Format

Hi Everyone,

I am trying out a new blog site. I am trying to find a way for those of you who want to know about my life in D.C. to sign up and be notified when I add a post. I'm tired of bulk mailing all you, not that I don't love you, and half the time I forget to add the link to the site. So, once I figure out how to do that, you'll get one more blog update email from me and then you're on your own.

I think I like this format. I was able to put my 101 Goals in 1001 Days list in a side bar so that it is easier for you all to keep me accountable. I updated the status of the list and I've tried another new restaurant. Today was a Dine Out fundraiser for the only organization in D.C. that provides hot meals to people with HIV/AIDS, so I tried Grillfish, which is a block and a half from my office. I had the shrimp po boy, which was so big I couldn't get it in my mouth and ended up just eating the shrimp out of it.