Category: Personal

Apparently the contractor who was scheduled to do the Alexandria fireworks canceled at the last minute, so they had to cancel the show.  At least that was the rumor on King Street.  The show was definitely canceled though, so I got to watch no fireworks this Fourth of July.  Fortunately, I got to go to my favorite Thai restaurant in the area, Mai Thai.  I’m a fan of their Thai Drunken Noodle with mixed seafood.  I’ve been meaning to try their curry dishes, but so far I’m a fan of their noodle dishes.  Back home I have a few good Thai places I like to go to, but if you’re ever in the DC area, Mai Thai is pretty good.

Bitter and I visited the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria today. Sadly, it was raining when we got to the top of the tower, which spoiled the rest of the view. They have a lot of interesting George Washington artifacts there.

I do have to say, no offense to anyone who is a Freemason, but Masonry is really friggin weird. I mean, before I kind of had that feeling, but after having it explained by the tour guide, it didn’t make it any less weird.

“To encourage member’s moral development, we reach back to the traditions of the stone masons who built medieval cathedrals, and use their tools as metaphors and symbols.”

Or something along those lines. Maybe I’m not understanding something here, but when I think “moral development” I’m pretty sure that medieval cathedral builders don’t even make the top 100 list.

“Kings Solomon’s temple plays an important role in masonic imagery as well.”

Color me confused. Couldn’t you guys come up with a less weird excuse to wear aprons and get away from your wives? Maybe a bowling league?

I showed Bitter some new settings to use on her digital camera that allow setting the exposure time to a few seconds and opening the aperture a little.

Just twirling your standard sparkler. We’re sitting out on the patio watching what little fireworks the neighbors are bringing out. Bitter needs to move farther south where I can crack out shotgun launched pyrotechnics without having to worry about the police showing up.

Posting might be kind of light around this holiday and on into the weekend.  I’m taking Thursday and Friday off, and will be spending it in Virginia.   Work is letting out early today, but I have a flurry of things I need to do before I go.   Getting vacation is painful for me, because there’s really isn’t anyone else in the company that can do my job.

July is National Ice Cream Month.   Bitter and I kicked it off a bit early last night with a really fantastic vanilla shake.  After making some home made vanilla whipped cream, we made up a nice, thick shake, and then added two ounces of caramel flavored Bailey’s and two ounces of Godiva While Chocolate Liqueur.  It’s a great way to make a milkshake.

John Lott’s Freedomnomics in my spare time, which sadly is not as plentiful as I would like.  Now I’m off to Virginia to see Bitter.

Glenn is recommending The Transparent Society.   I’ve read it, and would highly recommend it.  It definitely makes you think about the consequences of living in world pervaded by information systems, tiny cameras, and global computer networks.  Brin’s essential argument is that we’re better off living in this society where surveillance and information technology are in the hands of everybody, rather than the privileged few, even if it means having to give up some degree of privacy.

I’ve always enjoyed seafood.   If I had been born a Jew, I wouldn’t be a very good one, because my favorites are shellfish.   I love scallops, crab, lobster, mussels, clams, and oysters.   All good stuff.  One of my big food weaknesses is shrimp.   There’s nothing that makes me happier than sticking a dozen or so shrimp in the broiler and sprinkling some old bay seasoning on them.

Bitter planned to make a shrimp recipe for a party we threw up here, but she decided to cut out that particular recipe.   That means I have a whole lot of shrimp in my freezer, which delights me to no end.   I have a dozen or so in the toaster oven now, and soon I will peel and dunk into some cocktail sauce, and I will be in seventh heaven.

My ex-girlfriend Joy’s graduation was today (no, I’m not that much of a pervert, she’s on the six year program, and is only a little bit younger than Bitter), so her whole family is here from Iowa, where she’s originally from.  Her parents are divorced, so her dad is staying with me here, and her other set of parents were staying with her in Philadelphia.   I’ve been doing a bit of entertaining.   Visited the Atwater Kent Museum in Philadelphia.  Took Joy’s brother shooting.  Walked the Delaware Canal towpath.   Did a few other things.

I don’t generally mind playing tour guide.