Square One

Old school, yo!


"One Million is Big, One Billion is Bigger"


"The Mathematics of Love"

"Holy, Holy, Basketball Song"

Angela tries to introduce new songs to Mia before bedtime. Currently, the favorite spot for singing songs is in our recliners in the family room. Angela recently introduced "Holy, Holy, Holy" and Mia caught on very quickly. She also loves "For the Beauty of the Earth."

Now, after Ang sings the first verse of "Holy, Holy, Holy" Mia will say: "Holy, Holy, Basketball Song." HUH? She wants to hear the second verse. Her favorite part is "cherubim and seraphim, falling down before thee..." We haven't figured out how any of the words translate to basketball (except maybe I had the tv on one time during singing time). Regardless, it's incredibly cute.

Oh, and "Holy, Holy, Holy" comes out as "Ho-ye, Ho-ye, Ho-ye!" =)

Idol Finale

I was on the road during the Idol finale and got in my hotel room as soon as the winner (DC, baby!) was announced. And yes, my two votes for DC pushed him over the edge (except for the other 11,999,998 votes).

I think the finale this year (even though I didn't see it live) was a great show - made the rest of the season (and waiting) worth it. Performances included:

DC with ZZ Top
Archie with OneRepublic (that'd be a great style for Archie to stick with, so he doesn't end up in Disney singing to 8 year olds)
DC and Archie singing Hero - yeah, the song is meant for DC, but Archie made it work
Syesha and Seal (woo!)

Cray times happenin' in the Idol world. YouTube is also a good friend (I just wish they'd filter the comments - I can't justify linking to videos when the comments are laced with expletives). So - if you go watching, just keep your eyes on the video.

This is DD, out!

(sorry, that was lame)

Tornadoes from another perspective

Nice video: Link

Another (check out how the tornado just whips the cars around)

Ladybugs

Here's a sweet video of Mia reading a book (reciting by memory is the more correct description, but who cares). Click the link for a QuickTime video.

Link

Diapers

We have created an understood rule in our household. Only one child
will be in diapers at a time. As such, with "Daniella2" on the way
shortly, we had to begin getting "Daniella1" (aka - Mia) out of
diapers.

We began the process of potty-training over a year ago. Very slowly,
we got Mia comfortable sitting on the potty and, as possible, going
pee-pee (sorry for all our friends w/out kids - these are the topics,
and language, of import once you create a child).

Finally we decided we had to take the plunge. This past weekend was
potty-training weekend, and all indications are that Mia is a pro. She
has actually resisted her pull-ups, which we only use for nap and
bedtime. We wouldn't mind leaving her in training pants during
naptime, but we aren't yet prepared for wetting the bed. That's in the
works.

I should be clear - whenever I used "we" in the account above - I
really meant "Ang." She has been reading, planning, and talking up the
wonderful aspects of this venture. I was more the follower and
faithful supporter ("whatever you think is best, dear"). Ang has
devoted herself to this, and it has paid off. We will temporarily gain
about $100 a month in savings, until we begin buying diapers again in
August.

--
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The Best Sandwich $5 Can Buy

Grilled Chicken in a balsamic vinegar marinade, chipotle mayo, pepper jack cheese, AVOCADO, and lettuce. Mmmmmmm....

If you're in Leesburg, check out Courthouse Deli (www.courthousedeli.net) - one of the best in town!

(If I hadn't spent $3 on my drink, I'd be looking at an economical meal!)

Why smokers die young...

[subtitle: "Or at least some rambling thoughts from a non-smoker."]

...ignore the toxic chemicals entering their systems, clogging their lungs, and cutting off blood-supply. I've discovered something truly revolutionary in the habits of smokers: They stand outside, anywhere from 3-10 times a day, in the FREEZING COLD - shivering, shaking, and altogether icing over - and are sucking in INCREDIBLY HOT air. How could this be good for you??

You know how during Spring and Fall you often get sick because of the crazy change in weather (temps going from 80 one day to 45 the next). Isn't this the same thing? They basically are creating a thunderstorm inside their lungs - hot air from the cig, cold air from breathing (a necessary function), and - BAM! - it roils up inside.

Batta-bing! Call me a scientist (well, at least I have the "observation" part down).

On another note - what is the effect of smoking on said smoker's productivity at work? Let's say they take 4 smoke breaks a day (not including over lunch). That's probably 10 minutes a smoke. Then, there's the 5 minutes before the smoke, thinking about how much they need a smoke. And then there's the 5 minutes after a smoke, washing hands or grabbing water. And quite possible another 10 minutes if you are waiting on your friend to smoke with you, or if you get caught up in a great conversation. None of this considers the break in momentum of critical thinking/workflow that may occur.

So potentially 30 minutes a smoke in lost productivity. 4x a day = 2 hours. I'm not saying there's a way to address it, but should an employee's habits interfere with their time dedicated to work? Hmmmm....

Murphy's Law re: Shopping in a Hurry

"When in a hurry, the person with the fewest items will take the longest time to check out."

A corollary would be:

"When in a hurry, the shortest line is always the longest line."

Eye on the ball

Seen at the bottom of a box score from a baseball game:

" *struck out looking for D Marte in the 9th "

Maybe if he hadn't been looking for "D Marte" he wouldn't have struck out. Silly baseball players.

My social ineptitude

I like to think that I handle myself pretty well at social events. This past Thursday night, our Economic Development Dept. held a "VIP Reception" for the important business leaders in the County. As my duties include significant interaction with this constituency, I naturally attended.

I don't think I said anything too stupid. I didn't stand around awkwardly without anyone to talk to (about 220+ people there - I probably knew 70% or so?). I tried not to talk with my mouth full. I even got to introduce some folks who needed to meet.

Finally, after about 2 1/2 hours, it was time for me to get home. I was walking to my car, reached in my pocket, and realized I had 3 or 4 crumpled napkins in my left pocket. And then it hit me. I'm a napkin-hogger.

Plain and simple, I will take a napkin every time the hors d'oeuvre tray comes around. I never want to have any remote chance of being without a napkin. And, I'll wipe my mouth 15 times to make sure I didn't leave any chocolate on my lips (chocolate fondue fountain - YUM!). I guess there could be worse habits.

On a funny note - about 10 minutes into the event, someone caught a napkin on fire. Almost could have been a scene out of a movie: tried to dump it in a glass, but they could stuff it far enough down. Tried to shake it out. Tried to blow it out (but just blew ashes all over the table). Finally, someone (with a PhD in science - I'm serious) grabbed two plates, put the burning napkin on one, and put the other on top. Close off the oxygen source = fire goes out.

And finally (this post ended up longer than expected) - someone had sponsored for a duo from NE Tennessee to come and preform "background" music. Absolutely phenomenal. One website compared them as a blend of Allison Krauss, Nickel Creek, and a little pop of Chris Rice. Anyway - worth a listen (although I haven't downloaded the CD yet from iTunes). Check out Alathea.

How Government Gets in the Way

Link

Burma

Interesting thoughts: http://www.slate.com/id/2191196/

But in one very narrow sense, the cruel, power-hungry, violent, and xenophobic generals who run Burma are not irrational at all: Given their own most urgent goal—to maintain power at all costs—their reluctance to accept international aid in the wake of a devastating cyclone makes perfect sense. It's straightforward, as the Washington Post's Fred Hiatt put it Monday: "The junta cares about its own survival, not the survival of its people."

Live Blog NOW!!

Stay tuned for live updates from the Broadlands Annual HOA meeting.

Talking.
Talking.
Talking.

Well, that's it. Thanks for tuning in!!

Long Lunch

Driving home from work a couple weeks ago, I called in on a radio station giveaway and won 4 free burritos from Chipotle. Sweet.

Then, the bad news: You had to pick them up from the station. On a weekday. Between 10-6. Oh, and about 40 miles from where I work.

I was going to plead with them to just mail it to me, when I happened to call in the same station two days later and won an Alexander Ovechkin "action figure." [Technically you're not supposed to win more than once in a 30 day period, but the guy interpreted that as the same prize, not "winning" in general.]

That prize was not going to fit in an envelope, so I definitely would have to go pick it up. I decided to take a long lunch. Amazingly, I was there in about 40 minutes (out the Toll Road, up the Beltway, up 270, Montrose Road, Rockville Pike, BINGO!). With no parking to be found, I put on my hazards and left it in a "No Parking" zone. I spent 15 minutes waiting on the prizes, just hoping I wasn't going to get a ticket (or worse, towed).

All in all, the trip took about 2 1/2 hours (stopped for lunch at Chick-Fil-A, and at 2pm on a weekday afternoon, the drive-thru took almost 15 minutes). The Chipotle coupons turned out to be two free pizzas from Papa Johns (they gave me the wrong prize). The Ovechkin figure sells for $10.99 at Toys 'R Us.

With tolls, gas, and mileage, I probably came out on the losing side. But, I have a story to tell, I can now say I've been to Rockville, and the pizzas were pretty good.

The sickest she's been

Our little girl woke up Wed morning with a slight fever, and to be safe we called the doctor. Even though she was running around as chipper as ever, Mia had a double-doozey: a double ear infection and strep throat. Sure enough, she woke up the next morning with a 103 fever.

She's still slept great through it all, which has helped her get better. That, and the medicine, which might have been the worst part of it all. She can't stand the medicine, and even though we mix it with orange juice, she still fights it down. [On a brief note, we tried "forcing" it down with the syringe, but that got her gag reflex going, and...well...it wasn't a pretty sight.]

Amazingly, this isn't related to her sickness, but our silly little girl won't touch pizza. She used to gobble it down, and now she doesn't even want a bite. I figure that just means more for me. =)

You know news is slow when...

..."Lawsuit: Pizza War in Lansdowne"

(Say it ain't so!)

http://www.loudountimes.com/news/2008/may/06/lawsuit-pizza-war-lansdowne/

Run for the hills!!

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2008/05/report_earthquake_in_annandale.html

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has confirmed a ... earthquake ... 8 on the Richter scale occurred in Annandale, Va. at 1:30 p.m.

...shaking from the quake could be felt throughout ... Virginia ...

There have been ... reports of damage. More coverage: DCist, WTOP and Washington Post.

[please note liberal use of ellipses before worrying about our safety. just to show that bloggers can make the news say anything they want.]

Nats edge out the Gnats

I had a hard time adjusting to the Nationals being referred to as the "Nats," as that moniker has been previously adopted by the Savannah Sand Gnats. But I think the DC version has a bit more going for them - oh, say, a $611 million stadium and something called the "Major League."

This is a roundabout way of getting to the point (isn't that the problem with bloggers? They take up way too much time trying to just put up some dumb pictures). So yes, the point. Which is to say - we took our first jaunt down to Nationals Park (who'd have thunk??) and enjoyed an 80+ degree Saturday afternoon at the ballpark. Only S got sunburned, as she thought she was immune to the burning sphere in the sky.

Our seats were 3 rows from the fence in left field - just perfect. Food and bathrooms just a few steps away (if you were willing to pay more for your food than for your ticket). And getting to the stadium on a Saturday would have been a breeze - if they hadn't decided it was a good idea to close TWO lanes of the 14th St. bridge an hour before game time for construction. Have we heard of midnight, people??

Again, you've been expecting pictures, so I guess I shouldn't let you down. But it's Mia's bathtime, so if you have Google Reader sending you text messages when I update my blog, and you check it out immediately, you won't find the pics. Otherwise, come back around....8:30 tonight....and the pics will be live.

Edit: Here they are!!

I passed this on Sunday morning...

...and then it blew me away after the toll booth.

http://www.jaguarusa.com/us/en/xk/models_pricing/models/xkr_coupe.htm

Not too shabby. And under $87,000! Who'd have thunk??