Because Tom's an idiot and can't find the left-hand link entitled, "My Comic Strip" I give you this: http://ehowton.livejournal.com/tag/comic
◾ Tags:
Unlimited access. Its freeing, really. No more RJ45 wired networks, no being tethered to infrequent wi-fi hotspots. No sir, all that's behind me now. Sprint's new Broadband Mobile Aircards provide DSL speeds anywhere there's a cell phone tower. These cards come in PCMCIA for last-millenia technology such as laptops (even my ultra-sleek X1 seems outdated now) to CF cards for truncated operating systems such as found on Palm & PocketPC devices. Mating the Novatel Ovation U720 USB modem with the Sony Vaio UX280P, however, provided me limitless connectivity wherever I happened to find myself adjacent
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
photogoot this past weekend. A full-version O/S with Broadband, anywhere. Of course his most extraordinary home was equipped with wireless throughout, mitigating the necessity of such a device indoors, I was able to check emails, blogs, whatever no matter where we were. In the car, in the country, in the store, or even on Solomon Island, where the majority of our picture-taking took place this visit. Freedom isn't by any means free, but if you have the ways and means, I highly suggest this combination if your inner technogeek is screaming for release from the ties which bind you.
Limitations: As I've mentioned here before lack of solid tactile response on the keyboard is unsettling. It includes a stylus & touch-screen functionality if you're into that sort of thing, but for hard-core, several-hour-long-blogging sessions (such as this one done entirely on the UX280P) becomes tedious, and I found that lengthy responses weren't really comfortable. Certain framed sites (such as Yahoo! Mail Beta) lack full functionality in framed view (as the widescreen display is only 1024x600) but the video quality & widescreen layout more than makes up for this inconvenience.
I threw it in my backpack, brought only it, the USB modem and power supply, and was able to access web-versions of my business Outlook & Lotus Notes, and compete work-capable environment without carrying a laptop bag or anything else. In a word, ideal.
More pictures of our Solomon Island visit can be found here:
http://darkvoyager.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=8269
◾ Tags:
I've returned from DC, once again with a tale to tell. The last time I was here, I was afforded a stay at the monumental Washington Hilton, where President Ronald Reagan was shot in an attempted assassination. This time, I was not afforded such affluence, ending up in the hotel in which crack-smoking Mayor Marion Barry was arrested with a prostitute in the very seedy hood of South Capitol. The KFC/Taco Bell establishment next door had a counter completely surrounded by bullet-proof glass, and food was served through a similarly configured safety box. Most unsettling. And unlike most cities where the North/South, East/West demarcation lines are other, usually primary roadway, this street was divided by the Capitol itself, a logistical nightmare to navigate. Next time, I'm staying at the George, across the street from the Hall of the States, where I worked. The good news was that I saved myself a four-hour round trip to the VP's house in Mclean, but Friday was no wash either as I was there much later than I had anticipated.
I had mentioned to
photogoot that not only was I planning on doing very little over the weekend, I also reminded him that I didn't expect him to entertain me 24 hours a day while I was there. It turns out he took my request to heart and ignored me Friday and Saturday, spending most of his day napping in front of the television. But seriously, we had dinner at a Tex-Mex & Authentic Spanish restaurant which was quite nice, replete with the left-over Asian wall art of the Chinese Take-Out place it replaced six months ago. The place was packed. Later, we shopped for Scotch. We visited the same friendly Indian gentlemen from my first visit there and found a Dalmore Cigar Malt. I've been wanting to try the Dalmore, but I'd never before seen the Cigar Malt variant. Though it struck me as gimmicky, it had quite the bold and unique taste, and yes, we had it with an Arturo Fuente. However, since this was an unknown variable, so photogoot chose to also purchase a Glendfiddich. How very awesome of him! I'd wanted to try the Glenfiddich 15-year (Solera Reserve) recommended by bsdcat, alas, they did not carry it. During our extended lounging period at the house, and for reasons I cannot recall, I chose to change the colors on my site. The current scheme was initially created to emulate a VT100 green terminal console. That's why, when it came time to create the links color, I chose amber, the only other VT100 terminal color. I don't remember why (and it was no doubt due to
photogoot's persistence) I swapped my colors, creating an amber site with green links. No one liked it.
At one point Friday, I was trying to download drivers from Sprint's web page. I couldn't find any. Perplexed, I made a few calls. Four of them in fact, all to Sprint. And was transferred no less than six times. Most of the people I spoke to didn't know what a device driver was. I explained, "You sell equipment which requires operating system drivers in order for them to work. There is no link to these drivers on your page." Finally, I reached a salesman who gave me the following link: http://sprint.com/downloads. "Thank you," I began." "This solves all of my issues but one. Why do you not link them to Sprint's webpage?"
"I don't know." He responded.
Sunday we took a drive out to Solomon Island where we didn't just talk the talk, we walked the walk. It was the perfect end to a perfect visit. Thank you.
photogootThe Rack is Back! Special thanks to
unixwolf and drax0r for finding, coordinating, and retrieving my beloved Sun rack. Thank you, thank you, thank you! In fact, this was pivotal in my latest decision - I was asked if I wanted the Sun Ultra 60 in a deskside or rack-mount option. I don't have to tell you which one I chose. Mr. Maddog is being quite generous...
In other cool news, I was able to work ceaselessly online with Sprint's new mobile broadband USB modem plugged directly into the UX280P. What an awesome tool to have! Granted the modem is fully 1/5 the size of the Vaio, but it works so well, and with the USB port out of the way, its truly the mating of the two which allows me to reach geekdom. Pictures to follow.
Speaking of pictures, dear
irulan_amy has conspired with my interests, blog entries, and um...sarcasm, to create two unique icons for me:I love them both, thank you!
After a busy day at work (and being an hour off all day due to setting all my devices except the UX280P to EDT,
photogoot began to arrange logistics for our meeting this evening. He drove to Union Station (I was working across the street at the Hall of the States) where we dined at the same restaurant he and his (then) wife took my wife and I for dinner the day we were married. I had the fajitas (right next to the fluffernutter with fries on the menu). We came back to the hotel with some Yuengling beer, where we caught up on some visiting until he drank so much he began making overtures to galinda822 then passed out.Just like old times...
◾ Tags:
I'm so very excited, that this is difficult for me to type. I only found out about it yesterday, and I'm unsure of the breadth of my discovery - in fact I'm unsure of quite a few things right now, but this much I know - Chipotle is coming to STL!
That's right, coming here! I verified this on their website, and I've heard one person talking about building one close to her location...what I have yet to do is triangulate that posistion in relationship to my own. I may pack the kids in the car and drive out to the site to see for my own eyes this wonder-of-wonders over the weekend.
I've signed up for the STL mailing-list on Chiptole's site, hoping the next announcement will detail numerous locations throughout this area. Oh such anticipation!
Outside the Georgetown Chipotle
That's right, coming here! I verified this on their website, and I've heard one person talking about building one close to her location...what I have yet to do is triangulate that posistion in relationship to my own. I may pack the kids in the car and drive out to the site to see for my own eyes this wonder-of-wonders over the weekend.
I've signed up for the STL mailing-list on Chiptole's site, hoping the next announcement will detail numerous locations throughout this area. Oh such anticipation!
Outside the Georgetown Chipotle
DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME!
And speaking of
photogoot, his mother once told me a story about her (then ex) husband. "When he was in the military and I was a stay-at-home mom, I spent hours each and every day slaving over the iron pressing his uniform. It wasn't until after we'd been divorced did I find out that all the time I was doing this, he could have had his uniforms pressed and starched on base for $3.00. THREE DOLLARS!" Yet my wife bitches because she has to drop off my dry cleaning...AND pick it up. *sigh*
Thanks again to
irulan_amy for suggesting Big Bad Toy Store for my new Viper Mk. VII!
I remember the first time I had a Harry Ramsden's battered sausage. My heart exploded and burst out my chest. It was fantastic. Welcome back
somebritinmass.◾ Tags:
I saw and did many things while I was in D.C. last week, but number one on my schedule was to visit the Korean War Memorial, as it was dedicated while I was serving in Korea (my Korean post is still on hold pending an 8mm camera I can burn tapes to DVD's with for screen shots).
I would say I'm not one to get teary-eyed over memorials, but my reaction several years ago to the Oklahoma City Memorial especially surprised me, since I had no connection whatsoever to the event (I think it was all those empty children's chairs laid out that did it, that and the fact it happened on American soil).
( Behind the Memorial, with the Washington Monument )
As it turned out, I had no such reaction to the Korean War Memorial, but as soon as we arrived, I knew I had to see it at night, hence my 16-hour day in our Nation's Capitol had begun. Here, you get a sense of the dark imagery the Memorial convey's with its use of lighting. Truly, the best way to experience this is to see the entire thing after sunset - a haunting story unfolds, very different from the stark contrast of the daytime visual.
( Identical Soldiers, Day & Night )
To me, the most visually stunning aspect of the night shots was the ghostly images which seemed to appear and float above the wall. During the day, very light etches could be seen of servicemen and women. Soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen. But when night fell, the wall was transformed, and made an eerie impression. I assure you, the images here do not even touch the effect.
( 'The Wall' )
One part of the wall announced, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.photogoot took three shots. One, he used the circular polarizer to completely opaque the wall, another keeping my reflection entirely in focus in the wall and the last he used a wider aperature f-stop setting to blur the background while maintaining focus on the wall. I used these three images to create the effect you see here.
Of course none of this could have been possible without the tireless efforts ofphotogoot and his magic camera bag. Thank you sir, for helping me record this moment. My moment.
( Goot @ Night )
I would say I'm not one to get teary-eyed over memorials, but my reaction several years ago to the Oklahoma City Memorial especially surprised me, since I had no connection whatsoever to the event (I think it was all those empty children's chairs laid out that did it, that and the fact it happened on American soil).
( Behind the Memorial, with the Washington Monument )
As it turned out, I had no such reaction to the Korean War Memorial, but as soon as we arrived, I knew I had to see it at night, hence my 16-hour day in our Nation's Capitol had begun. Here, you get a sense of the dark imagery the Memorial convey's with its use of lighting. Truly, the best way to experience this is to see the entire thing after sunset - a haunting story unfolds, very different from the stark contrast of the daytime visual.
( Identical Soldiers, Day & Night )
To me, the most visually stunning aspect of the night shots was the ghostly images which seemed to appear and float above the wall. During the day, very light etches could be seen of servicemen and women. Soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen. But when night fell, the wall was transformed, and made an eerie impression. I assure you, the images here do not even touch the effect.
( 'The Wall' )
One part of the wall announced, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
photogoot took three shots. One, he used the circular polarizer to completely opaque the wall, another keeping my reflection entirely in focus in the wall and the last he used a wider aperature f-stop setting to blur the background while maintaining focus on the wall. I used these three images to create the effect you see here.Of course none of this could have been possible without the tireless efforts of
photogoot and his magic camera bag. Thank you sir, for helping me record this moment. My moment.( Goot @ Night )
- Best of 2006
![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lehah Mix
◾ Tags:
Its a good thing
photogoot and I don't try to write down the events we wish to accomplish while we're together to any sort of granular detail; the reason for this being of course, is that it would pale in comparison to the situations we seem to find ourselves in all on our own.Several times over the last week things just seemed to fall into place to the point that we never could have expected for things to go as well as they did. One thing always seems to lead to another and before you know it we're riding the wave much more quickly than had we planned it.
Case in point, we were watching a DVD I had made him some weeks ago, and had paused it to rewind. Wouldn't you know that it stopped exactly on the one-second spot in which I had earlier posted a screenshot. You can't write this stuff people! It just happens.
We took advantage of the opportunity with a photograph:
Three cheers for Monkey Boy!
Vietnam War Memorial
Our first stop was the Vietnam War Memorial. Though I have no real attachment to that memorial, I wanted see it. It wasn't as sobering as I had expected it to be (I cried like a baby at the Oklahoma City bombing Memorial) I was able to get a German soldier touching the wall. There were many veterans there making rubbings of the names, and many veteran volunteers standing around answering questions. After
photogoot left active duty, his reserve unit washed the wall monthly.( German Soldier )
Lincoln Memorial
Our next stop was at the Lincoln Memorial which was enroute to the Korean War Memorial. Though I've seen pictures of it a thousand times, it was quite imposing seeing it in person. The picture here is one I took when we came back after dark to shoot the massive statue bathed in light.
( Lincoln Memorial )
Korean War Memorial
The Korean War Memorial was better than I had expected. For many reasons, however, I chose to shoot the majority of it after hours. This required we stayed in DC until after nightfall. I will make a complete post on the Korean War Memorial in a separate entry.
( Korea Memorial )
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument was everywhere. At every turn, it was in nearly every shot. It is the center of D.C. and everything surrounds it. Though I wasn't particularly interested in photographing it, I realized my vision with this shot, from the steps off the Lincoln Memorial, behind the WWII Memorial, across the still Reflecting Pool.
( Washington Monument @ Night )
World War II Memorial
photogoot had taken a series of photographs of the WWII Memorial back in August, but was ultimately disappointed in them. I suggested he rectify this since we were set up for a night shoot, and make a detour on the way back to our car. Though it cost us an hour or so, the results were very satisfying. This was a fantastic memorial to the men, women, and countries involved in World War II, and though visually breathtaking at night, I found it to be the most formidable of the Memorials, and at night, the most haunting, probably due to its lighting, and sheer scope.( WWII Memorial )
United States Navy Memorial
This was one of the best laid-out, more comprehensive, and well-done memorials I've ever seen. It included the entire history of the US Navy done through a combination of yard arms, flags, blue water fountains, and brass three-dimensional reliefs. It was tasteful and articulate. As we were just passing through, we didn't stop to take any photographs, but if I ever visit again, I'll be sure to. Here's a stock photo:
( US Navy Memorial )
United States Air Force Memorial
What a fantastic coincidence that the dedication of the Air Force Memorial was the same free weekend I was planning on spending in the metropolitan area taking pictures of memorials! Of course this meant an additional 30,000 people being there for the dedication, so we chose to skip the official part of it, and visit it later that evening when it would be lit in all it's glory. According to the locals, there's been quite a bit of controversy surrounding the memorial, as it is the largest man-made structure in the area, now dwarfing the historical Washington Monument - and it's even on a hill! We showed up about 2200 and unlike every other memorial there, this one was secured by a gate guards controlling a gated environment. We pulled up and I rolled down my window. "May I help you?" The guard asks.
"I'm here to see the memorial." I inform him, as if there were any other reason to be there.
"Memorial's closed. It will open again on Monday."
Not to be outmaneuvered, wee set up in an adjacent parking lot and took a series of photo's. Major kudos to
photogoot for being able to pull off an impromtu bulb-job with his tripod and DSLR. These are, I'm quite sure, unmatched in their quality.
As always, some of the images are linked to the original full-resolution picture @ PBase.com/GoodHillPhotography.
Stats:
1 chipotle burrito eaten
2 beers guzzled
6 memorials visited
15 miles walked
16 hours in DC
900 pictures taken
4.2 GB of raw photos
◾ Tags:
My rental reservation said, "FULL SIZE: Monte Carlo or equivalent." I had no idea that a Hyundai Sonata was 'equivalent', and I would have never voluntarily driven a Hyundai, but...This was one nice sedan. And the integrated 6-speaker mp3 compatible CD-Player prevented me from swallowing my own tongue during the 40 mile trip which took me a full two hours to drive, as this was the first time I was able to listen to the disc I brought. I greatly enjoyed All the King's Men, which, at times sounded a lot like Parcher's Theme from A Beautiful Mind so as you can imagine, I was thrilled. Followed that up with half of Masada and half of Serenity before concluding with STRIPES.
I dropped off my rental and walked to Chipotle meeting a recently work-released
photogoot and for the second time since I've been here, enjoyed a tenderly hand-created organic burrito as big as my head. It was very satisfying. My wife called from Wichita; she's picking up little girl and will then beat me back home, and photogoot drove me to the mall so I could buy a new pair of New Balance. This turned out to be a challenge. "I'd like to find something in a 600-Series New Balance." I would say. "Can't help you, all we carry is the 631."
Hmmmmm.
I finally said to one salesman, who was sorry he had only had the 612 & 650, "Yes, those would fall between 600 and 699. Thank you."
A cow in a field staring at me with only a look a cow can give would have better understood my words.
And poor photogoot - he'd forgotten how particular I was. "All the times I've accused you of being gay, I was kidding. Until this very moment..."
I like white, leather, New Balance in the 600-series for tennis shoes. Nothing else.
My first pair were 608's. From there I bought a pair of 663's and then two-pair of 609's. My most recent pair were 620's. But they had such a small selection across the five stores I visited, I ended up with something I never though I would buy, the 451 - Light, inexpensive, and good for walking around D.C. all day Saturday without killing me after my 17-hour days on my feet this past week:
 608 |  663 |
 609 |  607 |
 451 |
A stop at the liquor store so I could purchase a bottle of scotch for us to sip on, and we were back home. After photogoot's comment in LaPlata about where they have a real marching band which plays there during special events, and reminding me of STRIPES I'd heard later that day, I put the score on for him, and he loved it. That led us to watch the movie last night on Video-On-Demand, and I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time, and made him a CDDA copy he could enjoy in his car on his drive in. I'm turning people onto scores one at a time.
I listen to XM Radio channel 866 exclusively at home. photogoot's comcast broadcasts an opera channel! It's playing throughout the house now. I feel I need an opera channel too. I used to run an opera shoutcast server, but I only put up my full sets, and full sets are expensive. I have under a dozen. Just puttering around the house today, playing with the dogs and eating on this gigantic pan of lasagna photogoot's wife made the evening I arrived from the tomatoes she grew
in her garden. As always, it is fantastic. So I'm doing boring things like dishes and laundry, only I've very excited about doing these things because I'm not working. Of course to maximize me staying off my feet, I've been low-crawling around the house from room to room. If anyonoe were watching, I'm sure it would look quite strange.
I did eventually put on my new shoes and walk down to the creek behind the house.
I used the word 'boobs' in front of two female co-workers, one I had just met that day. I would not have normally used that word, but we were talking about the drag queens...They didn't seem to notice, but I felt it imperative to convey to them that I would never had used it in their presence normally, but without having a suitable replacement word for the phenomenon, I was at a loss. When I discussed this with
photogoot's wife, she backed me up on this saying that she too, would likely use the word "boobs" in describing a cross-dressing male's...well, boobs.Last night we loaded up 700 people onto 11 buses and had dinner at the National Building Museum as it is one huge structure, and held us all, plus a live brass band, and a dancefloor. There was an open bar and a waitstaff which waited on us hand and foot. It was magnificant! I started my evening off with a fine double-scotch as RCIO's and VP's filled the table around me. At one point I became uncomfortable with all the attention, and went to 'mingle.' I sat at a table with three Sisters and introduced myself. Unfortunately, they had all heard of me as well, and so the questions began. The bell chimed eight and they all excused themselves, leaving me at the table alone. I gave
photogoot a call, and he headed my way to pick me up, half an hour he said. I popped in a scooby-snack and headed outside - to bedlam! People were streaming outside to board buses, and not doing so in a very methodical manner. I quickly organzied things and got four full buses loaded before photogoot showed up. I jumped in the car and we took off. By the time we made our way back to the hotel, the first bus was arriving. Yes, someone saw me in the passenger seat and yelled, "Hey look, Eric's too good to ride in the bus!" How quickly they can turn on you. photogoot procured some cigars and we spent the evening sitting in the hotel bar drinking P.U. on tap and smoking with a couple of our smoking buddies from STL. It was a nice time, but I didn't get to bed until 0100.
Java Virtual Tour of the Ballroom.
- I was staffing a table outside a conference and the occasional individual would come out with a question or concern and we'd slip in later with the answer on a folded sheet of paper. One of our more distinguished Sisters exited the conference room to ask me the score of the Cardinals game...
- The Bishop arrived to hold evening Liturgy. He was a very impressive man, and yes, I ironed his vestments in my room prior to his arrival.
- The Bishop gave me half a bottle of non-consecrated wine after his Liturgy for personal consumption. Good man, the Bishop.
- The hotel bar has Pilsner Urquell on tap. None of the Sisters joined me.
- One of the Sisters found a large screw in the floor and handed it to me. I ignored all the usual implications and said simply, "Thank you."
- And lastly, A Sister came down with her arms crossed and her hands hidden in the opposite sleeve grasping her wrists, Eskimo-style. One of the staff asked if she was cold. "No, it's just a habit." she replied.
"No pun intended?" I quipped. *bada-bing* She didn't get it.
I called Dillard's in a bit of a panic. I explained to the sales guy that I had requested four pairs of slacks be delivered in D.C. and that I only saw the charge for one on my checking account. I impressed upon him the importance of having those slacks in D.C. when I arrived. He gave me his name and extension and asked that I call him back. When we spoke again, he told me he had contacted the individual who'd made the shipment, she'd acknowledged her mistake, and that they would pay for 2-day delivery to get them there by Monday (which is fine - I don't require them all this weekend). I was grateful they were able to correct this on such short notice, as the scenario I'd played out in my head prior to contacting them concluded much differently. Sometimes I'm too hard on people.
I was blessed with an empy seat between myself and the other passenger on my row. I smiled, she smiled. It was a moment of perfect understanding. Until she moved to sit directly next to me in the middle seat! What's up with that? Then, in a perfect example of life imitating art, this young, thin, woman pulls out her GIGANTIC Inspiron, and I pull out my tiny X1.
It dawned on me only after I was asked for ID upon check-in, that I was still using my expired driver's license. I showed my busted, split (from the Civil War Watervliet stamp) expired license no less than three times to get on the plane. And though thankful for that, I'm curious if it's going to hinder me getting back. I mean, I can see trying to board a plane with an expired license as being probable cause for Homeland Security to detain me. I would have brought my passport if I thought that would have done any good, but it too, expired earlier this year. Maybe I'll just walk the earth, like Kane in Kung-Fu.
My flight was half an hour late.photogoot showed up an hour early to greet me. As soon as he saw me he threw me the keys. "I've been in the bar for nearly two hours, you're driving." After many U-turns leaving the airport we parked the car and walked several miles winding through Crystal City smoking cigars. We ended up at Ted's for bison burgers & scotch. Another cigar on the long walk back. He'd reserved a room at the Doubletree in Crystal City - 7th floor, overlooking the Washington monument, the Capitol building, and the Pentagon. We sat in front of this panaramic view drinking Pilsner Urquell and visiting until 0300.
0900 wake up, shower, dress, Starbucks. Packed, we hit Georgetown and walked several miles downhill, snapping pictures along the way. At the bottom of the hill, Chipotle. There was no question. We entered, and dined. This was his first time, but I'd walked him through the process the night before and followed up with a mock-order so he could definitively outline his choices. It was grand! I had two scoops of hot and lost structural integrity about a quarter way through. It was very nice. Lunch gave me the energy to march straight up those couple of miles of hill we'd previously come down and photogoot expertly navigated me to the Washington Hilton.
After I'd unpacked, ironed and put away my clothes, I went straight to work. The highlight of the evening was when the large group of elderly Nuns came out of their meeting, and ran smack-dab into the 300+ drag queens who were having their annual beauty contest in the same hotel! It was quite a show.
After all the walking I've done since I hit DC, I was feeling rather restless after work, so I changed clothes and hit the streets. I kept up a very face pace as I trekked down Connecticut Ave and then back up in a 30-minute round trip identifying a Chipotle within walking distance, and stopping to buy a toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash - three items I'd failed to pack. I'll head the other direction tomorrow night and see what else turns up!
The entire set of Goot originals can be found here.
I was blessed with an empy seat between myself and the other passenger on my row. I smiled, she smiled. It was a moment of perfect understanding. Until she moved to sit directly next to me in the middle seat! What's up with that? Then, in a perfect example of life imitating art, this young, thin, woman pulls out her GIGANTIC Inspiron, and I pull out my tiny X1.
It dawned on me only after I was asked for ID upon check-in, that I was still using my expired driver's license. I showed my busted, split (from the Civil War Watervliet stamp) expired license no less than three times to get on the plane. And though thankful for that, I'm curious if it's going to hinder me getting back. I mean, I can see trying to board a plane with an expired license as being probable cause for Homeland Security to detain me. I would have brought my passport if I thought that would have done any good, but it too, expired earlier this year. Maybe I'll just walk the earth, like Kane in Kung-Fu.
My flight was half an hour late.
photogoot showed up an hour early to greet me. As soon as he saw me he threw me the keys. "I've been in the bar for nearly two hours, you're driving." After many U-turns leaving the airport we parked the car and walked several miles winding through Crystal City smoking cigars. We ended up at Ted's for bison burgers & scotch. Another cigar on the long walk back. He'd reserved a room at the Doubletree in Crystal City - 7th floor, overlooking the Washington monument, the Capitol building, and the Pentagon. We sat in front of this panaramic view drinking Pilsner Urquell and visiting until 0300.0900 wake up, shower, dress, Starbucks. Packed, we hit Georgetown and walked several miles downhill, snapping pictures along the way. At the bottom of the hill, Chipotle. There was no question. We entered, and dined. This was his first time, but I'd walked him through the process the night before and followed up with a mock-order so he could definitively outline his choices. It was grand! I had two scoops of hot and lost structural integrity about a quarter way through. It was very nice. Lunch gave me the energy to march straight up those couple of miles of hill we'd previously come down and photogoot expertly navigated me to the Washington Hilton.
After I'd unpacked, ironed and put away my clothes, I went straight to work. The highlight of the evening was when the large group of elderly Nuns came out of their meeting, and ran smack-dab into the 300+ drag queens who were having their annual beauty contest in the same hotel! It was quite a show.
After all the walking I've done since I hit DC, I was feeling rather restless after work, so I changed clothes and hit the streets. I kept up a very face pace as I trekked down Connecticut Ave and then back up in a 30-minute round trip identifying a Chipotle within walking distance, and stopping to buy a toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash - three items I'd failed to pack. I'll head the other direction tomorrow night and see what else turns up!
The entire set of Goot originals can be found here.
Packed.
I've made my 'Washington' CD. I've decided upon an mp3 CDROM this time around in hopes I can enjoy it in my room. Included are the following:
I'm going to walk with my wife to pick up the boy, say my goodbye's during the walk home, get in my car which is already loaded, and leave. I'll stop by work to park, have one last scooby-snack withgalinda822, and catch the shuttle to the airport. I'm pretty excited about delving into "Until I Find You" again, as I haven't picked it up since I returned from NY.
It's cold in DC, so I put on a long-sleeve back Polo. I chose to wear the boots and pack the shoes to save space, and I've been moved back from the Marriott across the street from the Hilton Washington, to the Hilton Washington, where I hear our convention coincides with a convention of transvestites. Should be fun!
I've made my 'Washington' CD. I've decided upon an mp3 CDROM this time around in hopes I can enjoy it in my room. Included are the following:
- All the King's Men
- Masada
- Serenity
- Something Wicked This Way Comes
- STRIPES
- The Black Dahlia
- The Nun's Story
I'm going to walk with my wife to pick up the boy, say my goodbye's during the walk home, get in my car which is already loaded, and leave. I'll stop by work to park, have one last scooby-snack with
galinda822, and catch the shuttle to the airport. I'm pretty excited about delving into "Until I Find You" again, as I haven't picked it up since I returned from NY.It's cold in DC, so I put on a long-sleeve back Polo. I chose to wear the boots and pack the shoes to save space, and I've been moved back from the Marriott across the street from the Hilton Washington, to the Hilton Washington, where I hear our convention coincides with a convention of transvestites. Should be fun!
