Random Musings... again

SO I got a little older . My birthday shares dates with William Jefferson Clinton (boo or cheer appropriately as you wish), along with National Aviation Day, and what apparently I thought was Penguin Awareness Day, but alas, I cant find the culprit website that told me that. Well nevertheless I had a penguin birthday cake.

Thanks to all the well wishers, to Megan & Stefanie (with me in the pic) for not one but TWO delicious cakes and to Carmel for taking some great photos !

A Wedding Trip & Reunion

SO last week I went to Boston in about 15 years. I really dont remember much from that trip other than visiting the actual Cheers Bar (called the Bull & Finch back then before they changed the name over) , touring the U.S.S. Constitution, and seeing the fireworks in celebration of troops returning home from Operation Desrt Storm (yes, me a loooong time ago).

SO this was kind of a reunion, in more than one way. it all started with having to endure the worst airport/airplane experience EVER (you don't really want to read a boring rant now do you) - and mind you I have flown ALOT since my mom worked for the airlines for a while. So my first experience as I step off in mid August and its 65F !! What is that! Luckily it got warmer after that......... Needless to say I got to see a bit, even if it was the rushed tour through the lens of my camera.... no big deal I have done it before, most notably on my first trip to Paris when I was in the N.A.V.Y.

But I'll live. I get to experience the "T" to my hotel where they promptly loose my reservation. Luckily I convince them to give me a room at the reservation rate. Yet another minor hurdle solved. SO I get dressed and head over to the Hilton by the airport for the main purpose of my visit (about time I get to it!) my brother Carlos Miguel's wedding. Ok technically on Friday its only the rehersal party. But still its great seeing my Dad and Chata, my godmother (Madrina) and cousins, etc. I hadn't seen most of them snce my last visit to Puerto Rico about 2 years ago.


Siblings, a parent and a niece: Raul, Carlos Miguel, me, Dad, Ana Marie & Alexia -->

The wedding itself was wonderfull - the reception lots of fun (one can always count on my Madrina and her kids to really get the party started!) Its good to see how well my Dad has porgressed in recovering from cancer, and it really warmed my heart. You can call & talk all you want, but actually seeing , is a relief, and it makes you really want to thank whatever powers that be are out there.

Somehow this weekend, Boston really made an impression with me. What an amazing city, what history, architecture, and the PEOPLE!! It feels more personable than DC for sure.... maybe what I miss from the OLD Miami. A little more laid back, genuine, etc. in the end I should really find a job in the carribean somewhere... I think it truly fits my style more...

Linda & Carlos Miguel ---->

Ok so I have a running dialogue of my trip around Boston, just clicky here as usual.

Things happen way too fast

So I know I am SO far behind here, I must apologize - Since July I have just found myself lacking time to do much on here. Since then a few highlights have been:

• Seen the Decemberists with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (amazing!)

These guys are great! I hopefully introduced a few fans (and one snob) to this amazing group. Maybe its a bit highbrow for some, but the lyrics (of which **I** Need a dictionary for some words) are smart and often tell neat stories. You know how music was often used in olden days to keep history.

• Took an incredible beach camping trip where I got to go in the water with bioluminescence!

Not since my trip to Puerto Rico 2 years ago (actually in Vieques) have I seen this. And surprisingly this far north! I always thought it was mostly in the carribean, although at Assateague (The Maryland side of Chincoteague from a few weeks earlier) it was not as bright as in Vieques. I was lucky enough to have a new moon though. Of course hanging out wth great freinds was awesome. More pics are ------> here <------

• Took my real first Kayaking trip on the Rappahanock River, thanks to my awesome friend Megan! Scott took some amazing photos, which is all I have left since I seem to have misplaced mine. Still somehow I was fascinated by the boathouse on the river... I must have taken a WHOLE bunch of them of that alone. Hopefully in late September I get another chance at more photos

There are a few more things but I'll details those seperately.

(at the Rappahanock with Dana, Carmel, me, Bill, Megan & Scott - dont forget to ask about the "Baconator"!!)

Folklife Can't Really Suck this Much Can It?

Ray and me went two weeks ago to the Folklife festival.... My Gawd!! Who thought of the lineup of Virginia for this thing?? If you want to see Virginia , go 10 minute South!! Or get this - The CALL CENTERS or Ireland!!!! Brilliant Geniuses! Even the Mekong River Area was annoying... Puppet theaters with no shows, and a Tea House with no Tea......

Thank goodness that friends make an outing fun, yes despite it all we had fun, mostly because we made it ourselves..... plus I actually managed to not crack my head open on a bike ride with Ray...... NEAT!!!

Here are more pics that Ray took

Tubing, Rockin, Its All so "Beaching"

WOW what a way to have to catch up on everything!

1) Tubing on the Shenandoah River with Hilary (Visiting from L.A.) , and the peeps on the 4th of July!! Gotta thank Jon for organizing this one! Of note was the awesome spot in front of the Netherlands Carrilion for the fireworks.... next year I am biking down... getting back was insane!

(pics from Darrens awesome waterproof digital Olympus camera , of which I want one, are -->here<-- Pic above is of George, me & Joel)

2) Carbon Leaf Concert - Of course Carbon Leaf Rocks - unexpected was how cool Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers were. Awesome on the stage - later as we listened to the album - is wasn't as high energy.... sad.

3) Day Trip to Chincoteague: Somehow this trip was soooo much fun! was it the company, was it because it was my first trip to the beach? was it Eric falling asleep?? Actually Its ALL of the above!! ... I miss the beach though & just lounging around, the warm feel of the sand and sun, and getting in the water when I please. I highly feel part of the euphoria was my first beach trip with my friends.
(thats Eric & Jon with me at the entrance of Chincoteague Island)

Things of note - even if they don't all make sense to everyone:

• Beware playing Journey or Air Supply on long car trips...
• Eric reads books while listening to Books on tape
• Seaweed necklaces RULE!
• I can still body surf just as good as those dumb body boards
• bring money when biking parks.... I couldn't go up the lighthouse because it cost $4 and I didnt have it on me.
• I had forgotten how funny Eddie Murphy's Delirious was.....
• My camera sucks.. I need a new one
• BEACH TRIPS RULE!!!!
  

Oh yeah I took home 2 lbs of shrimp for cheap!! Oh was that good! Thanks to those on these trips that made them all FUN!!!

more pics of Chincoteague here!

Not A Crabby Time

Well why else would it not be crabby when you eat at the Quarterdeck ??? My amazing friend
Hilary (w/ Ray in pic) came all the way from L.A. just to visit..... well mostly for her sister :) But yet we ate out with some MEETin people and Kara, Karoline, and of course the ever prevalent Ray! (no one else of note really other than "mumbles" who tried stiffing the rest of us on the bill....)

But that was just dinner with an amazing gal!!!! We headed to Dremo's afterwards - yeah that place wont be there long (Spring 08 actually) - We need more High rise condo's after all - forget about the establishments that made the neighborhood cool in the first place..... Anayway it was good to hang out with my peeps (Yusef, Stefanie, Megan, Dana, Liz, Kevin and a surprise showing by Wayne & Annie who had just come in from NYC!!!). Despite wanting to get home early, At Ray's insistence we continued to show Hilary the "historical evening tour"of Court House/ Clarendon area with a visit to Mario's Pizza...... yep.... greasy cheap good pizza...... Ok time to go home-

In a rip off to Rays "Whammies", I give the Quarterdeck two claws out of five... 1 for yummy food, and 1 for atmosphere, but nothing for the slow service (so what if they were filled to capacity) , and apparently cant keep a nice selection of crabs sizes for us... oh yeah beer selection sucks.....

Good News Comes in Droves!

YES!! It happened!! I got a NEW job! And a much better job in many ways. Ok sure I wont be doing something as directly productive as helping communities like I was doing at HUD, but heck, the paycheck is WAY better, and I was just being a data monkey (thank Cat for the terminology) and a bad writer (never my strongest suite). Now I’ll just be a data monkey doing quality control for the tech help desk for our government entity that oversees the Enron’s or Exxon’s and Jonathan Lebed's of this country. Yeah exciting stuff, but interesting (or so I hope).

Combine that with a week of great activities - and that makes me a happy man!!!