February 26, 2010: Ropa Vieja

You can't go wrong with Ropa Vieja for lunch.

February 25, 2010: Working Late Again

February 24, 2010: So Old and Boring I Shouldn't Post It

I had a very busy February, complete with all nighters with this terrible view.  

February 22, 2010: I found your bike

As the epic snow receded, all kinds of lost items were discovered in DC, one of which was this bike.

February 19, 2010: Ready For Spring

As I stood on the platform waiting for a train at the King Street metro station in Alexandria, bracing myself against a cold wind, I realized that I've officially reached the point of being tired of winter. I know some people dislike winter to the point that they look forward to Spring as soon as the weather cools in the fall. I suggest they move to Miami or San Diego. I like winter, but I have more use for it when I can ski. That doesn't really happen for me in DC, but I still like winter, and I really enjoyed the snow here while it was falling, but now, bring on spring! The Masons must be expecting spring soon; if you look closely, you'll see they only shoveled a narrow path up the steps to their landmark temple.

February 18, 2010: The Homeless People Are Gone

When it's warm, these benches are filled with people eating lunch and homeless people who wish they had lunch. In the wake of DC's epic storm, broken trees and a lot of snow take the people's place. The snow was heavy; according to news reports, the ornamental cherry trees around the tidal basin took a hard hit.

February 17, 2010: O-Dark Thirty--FAIL

This is what the gym looks like when I lay in bed for 30 minutes after my alarm goes off, debating the relative merits of going back to sleep versus going to the gym. I finally peeled myself from the mattress, got to the gym later than I wanted to, but had a great workout anyway. I like being home in the evening when work cooperates with that goal, so I think I'll try the morning workout thing again tomorrow.

February 16, 2010: Not Even Four and Already Growing Up Too Quickly

My baby girl, dolled up for her preschool's class Valentine's day party that was postponed until today due to all the snow and school cancellations last week. I don't think she looks three years old here. I'm sure I have a lot of years to look forward to feeling like she's growing up too quickly.

February 15, 2010: A Five Year Old Fan of Chevy's

When L was a baby, J would occasionally meet me for lunch at the Chevy's at Pentagon City for lunch.  We went there fore several reasons: 1) we love their salsa, 2) it's located on top of a metro station, and 3) baby L liked the beans.  Indeed, black beans were among L's first foods.  Today, he doesn't want the beans, but Chevy's easily wins as his favorite restaurant.  He chowed down on a big soft taco today, pausing when he noticed an onion, resuming when I removed said onion and assured him that it was "probably the only one."

February 14, 2010: A Valentine for the Neighbors

Let the flow of junk mail resume! Yes, I dug out the mailbox we share with our neighbors from the snowy tomb that for a blissful week curbed the incessant flow of junk mail onto too many horizontal surfaces where it normally accumulates in my house.

February 13, 2010: High and Tight, Not Quite

I got a long overdue trim off the top today at my favorite local barber shop, the aptly named Lorton Barber Shop. A lot of people wait until they can sit in the owner's chair, but I'm usually happy to let anyone there give me a trim. Jack Nguyen, the owner, is among the nicest guys in the world and supports a lot of youth sports teams.

February 12, 2010: I'm a Rat

People often refer to the daily routine of commuting and toiling away behind a desk as "the rat race." Until I come up with a better way to keep the bills paid, I'm a rat. Nothing makes me feel more like one of those rats than days like today--I spent over three hours of my life today just trying to get to and from work. That's a pathetic way to spend a day. This picture shows all of us rats lined up to exit the metro gates, a metro that was maddeningly slow and overcrowded. There's nothing like cozying up with hundreds of strangers to make a fella daydream about how to get rich quick to escape the daily race.

February 11, 2010: Are You Serious?

According to the scale, I now weigh more than I have since I was 19 years old. I know I'm fatter this time, because today I did working sets of bench presses with more than 100 pounds less than I was able to lift back then. Oh well, my strength is improving nicely since I returned to the gym, and I can tell I've put on some muscle, so I'll just have to do a better job of curbing my gluttonous tendencies. But 227 lbs? Are you serious?

February 10, 2010: Finally, A Clear Sky

It finally quit snowing just before dark. This is a shot to the southwest out my back door.

February 9, 2010: Take the Munchkins Bowling

We "celebrated" another snow day by taking the kids bowling. The little monsters/sweethearts needed to get out of the house, and with another storm hitting as I type, they'll be home from school and cooped up inside again tomorrow. L bowled a bumper assisted 78; I attempted to figure out how real bowlers get the side spin going. I threw more strikes in one game than I ever have, but I also threw it in the gutter at least as many times, so the final score wasn't very impressive. I went to the gym tonight; I'm guessing I'll regret that choice as I'm shoveling snow again tomorrow.

February 8, 2010: The Aftermath of the Storm in a Very Big Pile

I had to snap this shot in the Costco lot today. The picture doesn't do it justice, but the pile is probably 25 feet tall. Is this really Virginia? They say another 10 to 20 inches is coming in the next couple of days, and yes, the federal government is closed again, which means my office is too.

February 7, 2010: Superbowl Sunday

Superbowl Sunday is my third favorite holiday. Somehow, in the chaos of helping prepare food, trying to get in front of a TV for the game, and all the rest that goes with it, I never got a picture of the food and fun. This picture was actually taken after the game/party, and it's probably only interesting to other communications lawyers and nerds, or, perhaps there is no difference between the two. We had two TVs going this year. This was the upstairs TV, where the ladies chatted while managing too many kids, and yes, those are digital rabbit ears, and they worked great. Uncompressed HD--good stuff.

February 6, 2010: Snow, Snow, and More Snow!

My wife grew up in sunny Florida; she's not a huge fan of being cold. It therefore makes sense that she doesn't typically rush outside when the snow flies. Maybe it was the historic quantity of snow, maybe she felt bad for me, but this time she suited up in a huge coat I've had since high school and attempted to shovel some snow. This picture was taken right after she purposely did a back flop from our steps into the snow. She thought it would swallow her and she'd be able to really see how deep it was. It was too heavy and wet for that--despite its two foot depth, she only sank about 8 inches into it--she was a human snowshoe.

Febrary 5, 2010: The Snowpocalypse Strikes

A shot of heavy equipment staging in a grocery store parking lot near our house, waiting to tackle the storm that started at 10:00 a.m. on the dot, just as forecasted.

February 4, 2010: Preparing for Snowmageddon

I snapped this picture of a woman in the grocery store buying what I thought was ridiculously overpriced firewood, especially considering that we seem to live in the tree capitol of the world. Then we lost power during the storm, and this lady seemed much wiser than she did the day before. People went absolutely bonkers raiding the grocery stores before the storm. It occurred to me that if a real disaster struck this area, 90% of people would be starving within a day.

February 3, 2010: Almost Not a Wimp

It might not be much, but finally doing dips with more than body weight feels amazing.

February 2, 2010: A Valuable Life Lesson

My little girl learned one of life's universal truths today--don't run with your hands in your pockets unless you're OK with using your face to break a fall.  It breaks my heart to even think about her running along with her friends, probably with a big grin on her face, looking so cute in her white hooded vest, and then...  Dads are softies when it comes to their their little girls.

February 1, 2010: Daylight at the End of the Workday

Escaping the office to go home with some daylight left is a victory. Accomplishing that feat on February 1st, when the days are short, is even better. This is the beginning of a train of irritated drivers that stretches from I Street, NW, in the District to somewhere around Fredericksburg, Virginia.