Weekend Update

Saturday dawned cool and bright. For those running the National Marathon it was a perfect day. I was sad that my training (or lack of) did not allow me to be ready for the National Half. But it is time to get ready for my PT test in April and then for the GW Parkway 10 miler at the end of April. Running buddy and I did about 5.5 miles in the cool air. Running Buddy’s predecessor was in the neighborhood house sitting and ran with us. The family he was house sitting for has a dog that looks like a big fat sausage with legs and she ran with us. She made it the entire route and was not worn out. I wish I could look like a sausage with legs and be able to run like that.

Saturday night was a night of wine, pasta and Rocky. The Bride made a very tasty dish of baked ziti for some friends of ours. After dinner and basketball we all watched Rocky. One of friends had never seen the movie. How can anyone be over 40 and never have seen Rocky.


Sunday morning after breakfast we headed out the super pet expo at the Dulles Expo Center. We never made it inside because we could not find a parking space. I don’t wait in a line to eat much less see jumping dogs. So we headed over to the Manassas Battlefield Park. My nephew is studying the War of Northern Aggression and he has chosen his historical figure to be Stonewall Jackson. What better place to get him information on BG Thomas J. Jackson than the place where he earned his nickname.

As usual the National Park Service volunteers and Rangers provided great information. The walk we were a part of was the history of the First Battle of Manassas. Below are some photos I took during the afternoon:


As a former Artilleryman, I just love cannons.

Finally, my question for this post. How do you deal with people who (yourself included) who allow emotions to over come logic? Feelings can be based upon false premises and causes you to have invalid emotional responses. Comments.....

Weekend Update

I think I have finally gotten my head above water. I have caught up at work as much as I can be caught up and army stuff is moving right along. I luckily have my 1SG on orders for a few weeks so he can assist in over-seeing the day to day running of the unit.


Friday was dawned rather chilly at 37 degrees. Running buddy and I completed a slow 4.25 miles and commented on the fact that the weatherman had predicted snow. However, there was no snow on the ground nor was it falling. Toward the end of the run we had very light rain, that you saw in the headlights rather than felt. I got home, showered and when I walked out the door to go to the car it was actually snowing hard. WTF? None of stuck, but it was rather humorous after our bantering.

Saturday morning I was up early and Running Buddy and I hit the road for our first long run of the year--all 5.25 miles of it. Well, you have to start somewhere. It was a good run that actually felt much better than the day prior. It will start coming back (or so I tell myself). Can I be up to 10 miles in another 45 days?

My mother-in-law came to visit for the weekend. After the run, the rest of the day was pretty lazy. We watched a lot of basketball and then headed out to Del Merei. For those you in the Washington DC area I highly recommend this restaurant. It is not crowded during the week, but if you go on the Friday or Saturday night, please make reservations. Mary, the owner, would love the business during the week.

Sunday we headed in to DC to play tourist. We forgot that the St. Patrick's Day parade was going on so we had to park 15 minutes away from the American History Museum. It has re-opened after a 2 year closure. They have made some of the exhibits more interactive. At the Greensboro Diner an actor takes you through training for a non-violent sit-in. It was VERY well done. There is also an expanded exhibit on Abraham Lincoln.

This is a photo of Abe's actual hat. I thought that was pretty cool.

This was Abe's actual pocket watch. I really would like an opportunity to go in the Museum after hours with a tripod and my my flash and actually get to take some really good shots of the exhibits.

The was Harry Trumans key to the White House. I bet the locks are a little more modern these days.

Your's truly making my only inagural address.

As we were walking back to the car I caught this Corvette with a large Guinness taped to the back. You just can't beat a fast car and pint (just not at the same time).

Finally, this morning I weighed myself for the first time in ages. My weight was 185. I have three weeks to loose 10 lbs to get under my maximum for the Army. Keep my ass honest. If I don't post my weight weekly, call me out on it.

Marine Corps Museum

One of the really cool thing about living in the DC area is all the museums and other things to see and do. We had been talking about heading down to the Marine Corps Museum for the last couple of years, but for one reason or another just never made it. So today we headed down I95 to the museum and then to go furniture shopping for the living room (don't ask).

The Marine Corps Museum is very well done and tells the great story of the Marine Corps. The other two service related museums I highly recommend are the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL and my favorite, the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, NC.

The picture above is from the Tarawa exhibit. I did a black and white version of this picture and it looks almost real.

This exhibit is in the main lobby of the museum.

This marine is talking to the crew of an M4 Sherman Tank.

Here is another marine fighting his way on to Tarawa.

Finally, we have a this marine engaging Japanese aircraft on Guadalcanal.

After our trip to the museum we made it Haverty's to look for some new furniture for the living room. We have been re-doing the house for the past year. Last winter, it was new windows, this past summer we had the entire house painted, in November we came into the 21st century with a flat screen HD television, and now it is time for new living room furniture. Tomorrow is back to work. I hope that everyone had a great Holiday Season and are ready to return to the grind.

Anniversity Weekend

This weekend the bride and I went to Williamsburg, VA for our wedding anniversary. This is the second year in a row that we have gone to Williamsburg for our anniversary. We try to get out and visit some of the historic areas near our area. I highly recommend that everyone get out and visit the historic areas in your local areas. It is very enlightening for yourself and especially for your children. History has been giving a bad rap and so many people see history as boring. Just remember, if you do not know and understand history you are bound to repeat it.

We departed the DC area about noon and headed south about noon on Friday. We stopped at Bass Pro Shop just north of Richmond. If you have never been to a Bass Pro Shop it is, a man’s playground. Everything from rods and reels, to boats, to out door clothing, and camping equipment. We wandered around the store. The bride was fixated on the little pink four-wheeler. It is amazing how woman flock to things that are pink.

We checked in to the hotel, rested and then headed over to a great restaurant, which we eat at every time we are in the area. Food for Thought has very good food at a reasonable price. I recommend the Steak Salad. Friday night was rainy and dreary, so we just headed back to the hotel to watch some TV and turn in.

Saturday morning we had our free breakfast (you have to love all the perks you get with travel) and then we headed off the Yorktown Battlefield. The drive down the Colonial Parkway was absolutely breath taking. The trees were changing colors and just an incredible orange and yellows. I will not rehash the battle, but the Park Ranger that led the discussion of the battle was absolutely incredible. Just by his words and actions, he made the battle come alive. If you make it to Yorktown ask for Ranger Mac. He was incredible.

Saturday night we saw the new Bond movie. If you have seen Casino Royale, then you can follow the movie and it is pretty good. However, the movie does not stand-alone. The rest of the weekend was great and we headed back home to prepare for this week. I hope everyone else had as a good as weekend as I did.

Weekend update

The only problem with beautiful fall weekends is that it means winter is coming. This weekend was one of those beautiful fall weekends that just make me happy. I started off the weekend by making my chili. The first cool Saturday of the fall I make my chili and watch college football. I was a total bum yesterday, but it felt good and the chili was delicious. Oh, and my Dawgs beat Vandy too.

Today was much more productive. I started the day off with a nice 5.5 mile run with my running buddy. It was still pretty cool and the wind was blowing about 15 mph out of the north, but it was crisp and the hills and miles passed quickly. When I got home the bride was laying on the couch with a funny look on her face. It turned out she had started the selfing cleaning function on the stove and a fire had developed in the oven. I had just missed the firemen. :) I had never really given it much thought, but the reason that an oven door locks during the self cleaning function is that if a fire develops then it starve it's self of oxygen. Good to know.

We then went to Pentagon City to update our cell phones. We saw a sale on glasses and we each got new glasses. I typically just my glasses at night after I take my contacts out. I haven't seen this good through glasses in years. The rest of the day was taken up with cleaning the house, grocery shopping and finally catching up on email. I am ready for bed.