Today I invited some friends out to eat with my niece and mom. Our plans digressed from Italian to Greek to Chinese. Finally, we ended up at Young Chow's 312 Pennsylvania Ave SE. I always have a good time talking and eating, but it felt a little surreal with my mom and my friends at the same table. They got to know my mom a little and my mom got to know them. Casey Smith, my former professor, even told my mom I was a good student in his class. Becky talked about charismatic baby squirrels. I talked about nursing baby rabbits with an eye drop bottle. Andrew talked about the niceties of living in Capitol Hill. Maris, about France. My mom, about being in DC fifty years ago. We all walk away with only one burning question ... what is the difference between Orange and General Tso's Chicken?
I went to see an improv comedy act at the District of Columbia Arts Center on 18th NW, in Adams-Morgan. The troupe that played tonight was known as Jackie's Pronto; when I laughed beer came out of my nose. It was a unique experience because I had met a few of the players before but never knew they acted. Because I was introduced to them by my smart friend Matt I took them for strictly scholars. If you haven't taken in a show go now while it's inexpensive ... once they've broken a certain amount of legs (theatre talk for performing) expect to pay Broadway prices. Either that or they'll move to the crowded improv neighborhoods of Manhattan, where there's so many actors I forgot to laugh.
My niece Becky has been getting cabin fever in my apartment since she came up here from Florida with my mom to escape the hurricanes. She wanted to get out and go have a drink somewhere in DC. I took her to a few bars. First we walked down to the Xchange at 17th and G Sts NW. After there we stopped by my friend Don's in Washington Circle, Lulu's on 20th, and the Brickskeller at 22nd and P (over 1,000 beers available). I also took her to my new favorite joint in DC, the Big Hunt on Connecticut just south of DuPont ... this place has never been so friendly to me until recently (best hot wings). Finally, we stopped off at Kramer's Books to get a last drink and check our email at the bar. For your knowledge Kramer's is not the place to use the restrooms. They should have their Zagat rating revoked just for this reason ... great place though.
One of my friends, Mike was throwing the 'ol silver Frisbee around today.
My mom, niece, and me woke up early this morning because that's the best time to visit the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. If you're not there before 8am you miss the freedom of walking through the zoo with only morning joggers to compete with for a view. I took them to my favorite group of friends in the center of the zoo ... the Pandas, giraffes, and elephants. The zoo keepers suspect the female Panda is pregnant. We started some friendly conversation with one of the keepers and we were invited into the Panda House hours before it opened to get an up-close view of the male Chin. The elephants are very close to the Pandas. The nearly-3-year-old baby elephant Kandula might be more affectionate than a Panda. I took this picture while he was under behavioral observation by a zoo volunteer. Kandala is so special they even record how many times he poops.
This is my mom at the Women in Military Service to America Memorial. She is holding up a picture of herself taken fifty years ago outside the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) Barracks aboard Norfolk Naval Air Station, Va. A few years ago she donated to the memorial's construction and is a charter member, but this is the first time she has visited the memorial. She was in the Navy from 1952 to 1955. As a Sailor in the Navy's Military Air Transport Service she flew throughout the United States and Mediterranean Region in logistical support of the Korean War.
Today before I took my shower I was looking at my teeth in the mirror. Then I decided to take a picture of myself looking at my teeth. Then I realized I could take a picture of me yelling at myself.
I went to the National Building Museum with some friends today. The highlight for me was the museum building itself. There was also a neat exhibit on concrete, and another on historic ironworkers. One of the coolest things was translucent concrete.
Here is another piece of political graffiti. Its been on a construction site wall at 17th and K Streets NW for about 4 months now. For a paper poster it is standing up to the elements, well ... better than Florida. The hurricanes there have people evacuating every other week. My sister Patti and her family evacuated to Georgia with her horses. My mom and my oldest niece Becky are on their way here to visit me during the evacuation.
Friday mornings I have a History of Photography class. After class today I went into Swing's Coffee Shop, the place my friend Andrew runs. I practice shooting without looking through the viewfinder. It's harder to aim using a telephoto lens. I took this lucky shot "from the hip" with a 200mm ... Andrew trying to stay awake after the morning caffeine rush.
This is Mike at his apartment getting ready to watch President Bush speak to the Nation. We watched about 5 minutes of it, then went to play Frisbee in Washington Circle.
