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I love having a balcony from the bedroom. I can roll out of bed and onto the balcony, after throwing on some shorts of course, and enjoy the early morning sun and views of Washington.
Despite the fact that I am in the middle of Columbia Heights and U Street Corridor, it is actually kind of peaceful. There was one person stretching and running around the track at the high school across the street. Now I need to get myself to the gym and start the day.
My brother took some on-line personality test which compelled me to do so also. The test said I am a leader. See detail below. However, I think the fact that I took it only because my older brother did calls into question the results...
My Results:
James, you are a Leader.
Individuals who are Leaders exhibit a high task-orientation while also enjoying people. They will typically be very good at recruiting people for teams or organizations. Leaders are friendly and like to involve others, but they also like to see the tasks done right. Because of their desire to do things correctly, they sometimes appear domineering and aggressive as pressure arises in a situation.
During this test you answered questions which measured four important aspects of your personality - Dominance, Influence, Stability and Compliance. Based on how you scored on each of these factors, we could conclude that your personality profile is that of a Leader.
If you want to follow my lead and take this test, click here. Be warned, you have to sign up and they will try to sell you a full report. Just say no - unless you want it.
Frames, not lenses, I mean. What is a good reason for moving on to new frames? My frames now make me look old? Older? Like my mother's brother and not her son? They are out of style? I am just plain bored with the current ones?
I have had my current pair for a couple years now. I like them, but I am getting a bit tired of seeing them in the mirror all the time. And yes, I do look in the mirror fairly often.
Tonight, Dr. David and I were strolling around the Gayborhood, the weather was amazingly pleasant, and we stopped into Blink on P street to check out some new frames. I think I found a pair I like. It's not either of the two above.
It was really good to have an unbiased "expert" - the shop girl - help me out. She picked out a few pairs that I would never have even glanced at. I like what she picked out.
Glasses are not cheap. I am hoping my new health insurance is good.
I am gonna chew on it for a couple days and then decide.
Merv Griffin died yesterday.
Since I have been blogging there have been many famous comings and goings. Merv's death is the first one that has moved me to write a post. I have not even thought about Merv Griffin for years. And years. He hadn't really been in front of the camera for ages.
As a kid I used to watch his show all the time. I would get home from school and watch it with my mother. I think it was on from 430-600pm. Then dinner. I have a mental image of sitting on the floor - maybe near the sofa or chair where my mother was sitting. It's dark outside. It is Maine and late in the day.
I had no idea who many of his guests were. I still don't. But i liked them. Dody Goodman. Totie Fields. I guess they had been famous for something in entertainment at one point. I just thought they seemed interesting and funny.
Of course Merv went on to become a billionaire - rich from his entertainment and hotel empires. I will always remember him for his talk show.
Montgomery, Frederick, and Howard counties. 
Today Vijay and I did a 43 mile ride through those 3 Maryland counties.
It was one of of the most scenic rides that we have done yet. It was all farmland - lots of corn and sunflowers - and tree lined back roads. Also very, very, VERY hilly.
I am a lover of hills when on two wheels. I think conquering a steep hill is 80% mental and 20% physical. I am pretty good at them and really enjoy a hilly ride. Today's ride was approaching too hilly even for me. Probably less because of the hills and more because of the sun and heat. The ride would be perfect in October. Not as perfect in August.
Here are a few pics of me, Vijay, and the scenery.
Today I went to the Hill to see a "Sampler" of G&S performed by a gay arts group here in DC.
For the past couple of weeks, the GLBT Arts Consortium and the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop have been presenting favorites from seven of Gilbert & Sullivan’s popular operettas.
I went to see Daryl perform. He was in several numbers and had some solos as well. He was wonderful as always. He even got to do some dance while he was singing.
The songs though. Hmm. My father really seems to dig Gilbert and Sullivan. I find the songs and the music and shows all together to be a bit of a snoozefest.
Can someone let me in on the secret?
Tonight I metro-ed down to China Block to see the Bourne Ultimatum. Very fun.
I think Matt Damon is incredibly good as an adventure hero. I read someone's blog - maybe the Flickr guy whose pic above I lifted - said these Bourne movies and Matt are better than Bond. I know I like them better. At least better than the last few generations of Bond.
I saw Matt on the Jon Stewart show this week. They were talking about the pacing of the action. It is very fast. Very choppy. I felt like I was almost getting a wee bit dizzy from it all. I think that was the intent.
Almost as much fun as the movie, maybe even more so actually, is being in China "town" these days. It is overwhelming the change. Just a few years ago there was nothing down there but crime. Now the streets are bustling late into evening and some of the best restaurants and entertainment are down there. Amazing. All thanks to Abe Pollin caring enough to spend his own money to build a new basketball arena there when no one else would invest a penny. I really enjoy it there now.
Yes, 109 degrees. 42 celsius for those of you outside the US.
That is the temperature on the thermometer on my balcony. It was 330pm today when I got home. The thermometer was in the shade.
That is the straight up temperature Tut. Not the heat index. THIS is heat. Tut had been complaining about the 80 degree heat in Maine last week.
I did do a quick analysis of the heat index - how hot it actually feels. At that temperature and with the dew point at 70 degrees as it was, the actual heat mid afternoon in DC on my balcony was 121 degrees. That is 50 degrees celsius. Uh huh. You read it right.
This heat wave reminded me of the animated Christmas tv special and the Heat Miser. Very appropriate today. See below.
This is a pic of the Calligaris table that I ordered (and paid for in cash) MONTHS ago.
Coffee tinted glass top on wenge wood. Italian designed and made. I bought it through my decorator who got it through Skynear in Adams Morgan.
Tonight the delivery people for Skynear left for the THIRD time with a defective table. It was delivered the first time with white paint splashes on the dark wood and a glass top that did not fit the table.
The second time it was missing its 4 legs. Shouldn't a table have legs? Isn't that really what makes it a table. Four legs for the top to sit on? The legs are kinda the essence of the table. Think of your kindergarten drawings of the table at Thanksgiving.
The third time - tonite - meant to be a charm, yes? Not exactly. It was delivered with a gouge and several scratches on the dark wood. I sent it back. Again. And demanded my cash back. We shall see. Skynear is on notice. They better do the right thing.
On a more happy note - Dr. David and I had dinner at my place and watched The Prestige. Good movie. I had seen it before, but enjoyed it again. So many plot twists and details that made a second viewing fun.
Today we all just hung out at home. It was beautiful out. We were out in the backyard the whole day. From breakfast with the paper through lunch and a BBQ for dinner.
I really seem to relax up here in Maine in a way that I just don't at home in DC. I think it's because hanging out with my parents has a calming effect on me (even you tut) and in part because when I left Maine for Seattle and grad school, coming home became a real retreat for me. It has remained that ever since.
Pics and video of our quiet Sunday are below.
Me and the Sunday NYT - heaven.
Deanna & Tut relaxing - coffee and a good read.
Deanna and I also took advantage of some quality time with Ma to do some knitting. Deanna to get some more advanced technical advice. I had to relearn. I learned originally in Norway when I was an exchange student in high school. I periodically knit things then forget how to start up. I am in the mood again. Here are a couple video clips of our Augusta knitting circle today.
It just doesn't get any better than this!
