Today, after work, I walked the the 2.5 miles from the hospital to the Apple Store. Where I inspected the new iPad Pros. The one I like, all tricked out like a Vegas showgirl, would cost a tad over 1K. I retreated to the nearest Starbucks for a mandatory time out. The screen is to die for. The animations are buttery smooth. Then I remembered. Snail Internet! Wouldn’t I be better off if I just got my own FIOS or cable internet? And keep the vintage iPad Mini.
free wifi isn’t even worth what it costs!
So, I returned home, sans shiny new toy. But, tomorrow is another day for toy shopping.
I can not complain. This is a first class problem. Grateful to have such problems.
Just an ordinary day. But, everyday should be special. I should have learned that from Mr C – he squeezed every last ounce of joy out of every one of his last days. Those were our “enjoy every sandwich days” with nod to Warren Zevon.
A tale from last night’s dinner.
One of my Asylum Sisters told us about her scolding. Seems this friend was having lunch alone and enjoying the company of her Kindle. She was accosted by a resident who wanted her to know that it is illegal to have a cell phone in the restaurant. The resident was just giving my friend a “warning”. Then she rolled off to continue making the dining hall safe from Kindles!
The wild carrot plant in blooming. And this plant is especially fun because it produces lots of umbels with a single red flower in the center.
Daucus Carota
I think the little red thing is an actual flower – but it might be a leaf or some other plant part.
More about this fine weed as the season progresses.
Today we had a little “food fair” at the asylum to encourage “healthy eating”. I actually helped. I was a booth bunny – pushing salmon ceviche. There was a red wine station, a dark chocolate station, a blueberry station, also a kale smoothie booth and a beet and cauliflower station. Oh and a egg and avocado sandwich station. All things considered, my booth wasn’t as popular as the wine and chocolate stations but it did a good business.
But. Note to staff:
napkins covering red spots on the carpet – large red spots
Red wine, beets, blueberries don’t work too well as old folk finger foods. Unless you have maroon carpets.
This just in – my candidate lost. But, I’ll be 100% behind and beside the Democratic team in November.
Today was another hot one. It was 97° and at 830 it is still 94°. So, I didn’t spend any unnecessary time outside. And, I am grateful to Willis Carrier who invented the air conditioner in 1902 in Buffalo, NY – which really doesn’t make much sense. You’d think he invent the snow blower!
Going to try again tonight to see the rocket launch from Wallops Island. But, you don’t have be be a rocket scientist to believe that it will be cancelled again tonight. Too much cloud and hazy. “They” are trying to make red and blue clouds for the scientists to look at. Well, let us be more precise. According to NASA it is a mission to spawn artificial glowing clouds over the U.S. East Coast. So, I am waiting already!
So, what I did on my Sunday. At about 10am, I hopped on the 16P bus and headed to the Metro.
American Indian Museum – 1948 Indian Bike
Stopped in at the Indian Museum – I must tell the truth – mostly to check out the very fine jewerly in the gift shop.
Pride Festival
Then, stop and check out the Pride Festival on the Mall. I good time was being had by all. The air was saturated with eau de spray on sunscreen. Many of the celebrants had on way too few clothes for the first really sunny day of the season.
Time for a little shade and water break – so, I head to the Botanical Gardens.
Botanical Gardens – The Chocolate Tree.
After a suitable rest period – and a quick inspection of my favorite rooms in the conservatory – it is off to
The Capital
The Capital and the main reason for going into DC – the King Kamehameha Lei Draping Ceremony.
This year’s ceremony had a distinct edge to it. The theme as taken from the King’s “Forward, young brothers, drink the bitter waters, there is no turning back…” All of the members of the congressional delegation was there except for Senator Schatz. The Mayor of Kauai was there. There was more oli (chanting) than usual – that sort of went with the Imua/Forward theme. There was the usual talk about who went to high school where – even among the Representatives and Senator.
kamehameha day US Capital
The statue before –
kamehameha day –
Some of the lei.
The decorated statue
Then, I went back to Virginia
silver line to reston
On the Metro and back to the Asylum by bus just in time to meet up with friends for dinner at 630PM.
What I learned is that I can still be out and about all day in hot weather – but – I must get out of the heat and sit a spell every hour or so. A much hated concession to aging. But, it beats staying home in front of the A/C.
2 busses+2 subways+95°+6.35 miles = 1 very tired old woman.
I’ll tell you what I saw and what I did tomorrow. I had a great time. Topped off by a fine dinner with my asylum sisters. Lots of laugh induced endorphins. And, it wasn’t even a free wine night.
I’ll try to stay awake for another 15minutes. NASA is firing a rocket from Wallops Island VA between 2105 and 2120. I used to be able to see the night time launches. Will see if I can see them from the Old Bat Cave. Note: launch was scrubbed. Maybe next time.
Went out looking for interesting insects. But, the most interesting thing I found was the rogue onion growing in one of the garden boxes.
Nice weather today – so, the fitbit logged 10,000 steps with normal coming and going. And, I continue trying to moderate my eating. At the rate I am going I will weigh 150 pounds before the end of the year!
Which brings up the recent 5.3 earthquake on Big Island. According to the USGS: the quake was caused by the island settling from its own weight. Who knew that islands have weight issues?
In typical DC fashion – bars opened early for today’s political festivities. It was a nice sunny day – so – the sidewalk cafes were in full swing. But, the viewing was better in big screen sports bars. I am sure many folk did what I did and watched from their phones.
My take:
Trump is a liar.
The Republicans are in denial.
John McCain is ready for “The Memory Terrace”.
BTW, how about those election returns from Great Britain?
As I said, nice day today. Got my steps in just coming and going. And, had nice cocktails, conversion, and dinner with friends.
OH, I am thinking about a technology upgrade. Just because.
The Airness – 4 years old this december
The iPad Mini – 5 years old this october
Shamu the Phone – 2 years old
The Kindle – 2.5 years old.
No reason to replace the Kindle. And, I kinda like Shamu the phone. The Airness’s battery is shot. The iPad is just old.
Not ready to give up the computer. Lightroom and Photoshop. Shamu is on the last supported Android upgrade. And, I am pretty sure that neither the Airness nor the iPad will be upgradeable come this fall.
And, I am still perfectly happy with all my camera gear.
Here it is chilly and damp again with 95 degree plus days promised starting Sunday. And, my sinuses are acting up big time – bring on the Sudafed.
Well, most of the area is on alert for tomorrow’s Senate hearings. Some of my most vivid memories are of Senate hearings.
The first being the Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954. I remember it being on our family’s giant Zenith short wave radio. We were in France then.
And, of course Watergate in 1973 – I had just moved to DC and was working as a contractor to the Navy and the White House Communications Agency.
Next I remember Iran Contra Hearing and Oliver North ca 1987. Was later happy to vote against Ollie when he ran for the Senate.
In 1991, there was Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas at the Judiciary Committee Hearing.
The Clinton impeachment hearings in 1998-1999.
Will this one match the others in drama. And great lines. “Have you no sense of decency?…” “What did the president know, and when did he know it?” “It depends on what the definition of is is…”
Laissez les bons temps rouler(Sorry Laurent, I don’t think this is good French – but it is good Cajun.)
According to Google, this is what my day looked like.
According to Peggy, this is what my day looked like.
Waiting for the 41 bus.
And after I wandered around Clarendon for a while…
Waiting for the west bound Silver Line.
And finally,
My Little Closet – after decluttering.
I went to the hospital today for yoga – not for work.
Everything came out of the little closet. And nothing went back in that hadn’t been used since I moved in. Seems like a reasonable approach.
Overheard at The Asylum: “Did anybody die yesterday?” – This was at breakfast this morning and the answer was “I don’t know, I didn’t get the mail yet.” (The Asylum posts pictures of the newly departed in the mail room. Sort of like the Most Wanted Posters in the Post Office.)
Woke up this morning to find the clouds and damp had returned. “They” say it will be this way most of the week. The garden box will like that.
Palms of Artichoke. A house speciality!
No, I didn’t have the mahi with palms of artichoke for dinner. And before you ask, NSA Cheesecake is not your Granny’s very secret recipe cheesecake – it is No Sugar Added cheesecake.
Been thinking about lamps. Why is it that lamps in pictures never have cords?
Thinking about buying a new lamp. All of my lamps, well over the years Carlton and I acquired them by urban recycling. I think I am old enough to buy an LED lamp and be pretty sure that it will outlast me!
