My Oyster

In Seoul...

The Seoul of a Sunset, originally uploaded by Stuck in Customs.

...wiped out. Door to door it was a 24 hour trip.

I liked this pic of Seoul though. It's not mine. And actually, I am nowhere near it. I think I am at a hotel out by the airport - which is where my conference is.

Hotel is a bit...sketchy. It reminds of my days traveling to Utica and those upstate NY cities. The hotels up there were naaassty. Eek.

More to come. Going to bed now.

Sunday in Shaw...

This weekend there were several organized walking tours of Washington. 

I didn't do any of them. 

But Jean and I did take a nice early morning walk through Shaw.  You can see it was pretty early - cuz one of my neighbors was still in "bed".  See above. 

This was the first early morning guy passed out on the pavement that I have had to step over since I left Mount Pleasant almost 1.5 years ago. I called the police to be sure he was ok.

Shaw is the neighborhood immediately south of my Columbia Heights.  These days it is home to more and more bars and restaurants and shops.  I hadn't really taken a stroll through the area recently, so Jean and I hit the streets not long after sunrise.

Here are some highlights...

I liked the name of this restaurant.  I think it has closed though...

 

We were able to pick up some fun facts with these guides to Shaw...

We ate breakfast at this cafe- my first visit. Very good... 

 

I have always known Duke Ellington was from this neighborhood, but it wasnt until until today that I stumbled across his actual house...

The Boys & Girls of South Columbia Heights...

The Loughran Boys & Girls Club is a cornerstone of South Columbia Heights.  It is my neighbor.  

 

The Club is in need of some neighborly attention.  A few weeks ago I blogged about the rise in crime in this part of the city and how I felt a need to be a better neighbor.

 

Tonight I went over (with a couple others from my building) to meet the Director and learn about how I can volunteer there.  She was fantastic.  Committed and talented.  Wanting to make a difference for the boys and girls and for the neighborhood.  She has some great ideas for strengthening the Club.

We talked about volunteer opportunities (there are many) in their 5 programmatic areas; Character & Leadership, Education & Career, Health & Lifestyle, the Arts, and Sports & fitness.

Much of what the Director said tonight was insightful and caring.  Two things in particular stuck with me…

1. She said these kids need hope.  They need to know that there is something for them beyond Columbia Heights.

2. She also said that what gets the kids to take the leap of stepping inside the Club is not the gym or the programs or the snacks.  What gets them in the door is  the relationships they make with the people inside the Club – including the volunteers.

I am excited to start spending some with the kids at the Club.

Boulder Bridge...Slowly...Over the Rock Creek...

I have been running and cycling and even occassionally driving regularly in Rock Creek Park for 16 years now.

When I decided to move out of Mount Pleasant a little over a year ago, my only real realty requirements were that I wanted to be above U street and I had to be near Rock Creek Park.  I love it.  I am still very near it (and above U too).

I realized today, early this morning, that while I have been across the Boulder Bridge hundreds of times, it is usually while moving pretty fast.  Never at a leisurely pace to enjoy the sights and sounds and smells.

Today I slowed it down.

Jean and I picked up some coffee and breakfast and went for a walk in Rock Creek.  We sat on the Boulder Bridge and had our breakfast.  We read the Post and watched everyone else zipping by.

Here are some snaps...

Another Reason I Love Living in Washington...

films..., originally uploaded by Quelle night....

The E Street Cinema is showing this movie for a week only. I saw it tonight at a sold out show.

If you are in DC - go see it.

If you are in DC tomorrow - go see it at 4:40 or 7:20 - because the director and producer will both be there to answer questions after the showing.

And that is what I really loved. The diversity of the sold out show tonight was amazing. The interaction of the moviegoers and the moviemakers was a real treat that you can't get just anywhere...

All types of religions and sexualities and nationalities watching the same move but with very different life-stories and perspectives and then sharing them with each other and the very open and giving artists.

I actually blogged about the movie, when it was in production, more than a year ago. For more info go here.

But go to the movie.

The things I put in my mouth...

Think, food., originally uploaded by Jean-Marc Rocher.

I have tried a lot of foods.  Maybe without thinking. 

I got this meme from my sister Suz's blog.  I have seen similar ones on other blogs.

I did not even realize that I had eaten many of these foods, until I clicked on the link to find out what it was.   

What have you put in your mouth?

Try this out.  It's fun and maybe a bit surprising:

1) Copy this list into your own blog, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Post a comment here once you’ve finished and link your post back to this one.
5) Pass it on!

1. Natto
2. Green Smoothie
3. Tofu Scramble
4. Haggis
5. Mangosteen
6. Creme brulee
7. Fondue
8. Marmite/Vegemite
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Nachos
12. Authentic soba noodles
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Taco from a street cart
16. Boba Tea
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Gyoza
20. Vanilla ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Ceviche
24. Rice and beans
25. Knish
26. Raw scotch bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Caviar
29. Baklava
30. Pate
31. Wasabi peas
32. Chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Mango lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Mulled cider
37. Scones with buttery spread and jam
38. Vodka jelly
39. Gumbo
40. Fast food french fries
41. Raw Brownies
42. Fresh Garbanzo Beans
43. Dahl
44. Homemade Soymilk
45. Wine from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Stroopwafle
47. Samosas
48. Vegetable Sushi
49. Glazed doughnut
50. Seaweed
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Tofurkey
54. Sheese
55. Cotton candy
56. Gnocchi
57. Piña colada
58. Birch beer
59. Scrapple
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Soy curls
63. Chickpea cutlets
64. Curry
65. Durian
66. Homemade Sausages
67. Churros, elephant ears, or funnel cake
68. Smoked tofu
69. Fried plantain
70. Mochi
71. Gazpacho
72. Warm chocolate chip cookies
73. Absinthe
74. Corn on the cob
75. Whipped cream, straight from the can
76. Pomegranate
77. Fauxstess Cupcake
78. Mashed potatoes with gravy
79. Jerky
80. Croissants
81. French onion soup
82. Savory crepes
83. Tings
84. A meal at Candle 79
85. Moussaka
86. Sprouted grains or seeds
87. Macaroni and “cheese”
88. Flowers
89. Matzoh ball soup
90. White chocolate
91. Seitan
92. Kimchi
93. Butterscotch chips
94. Yellow watermelon
95. Chili with chocolate
96. Bagel and Tofutti
97. Potato milk
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Raw cookie dough

What makes for a good facelift?

andrea_mitchell, originally uploaded by wsu_cic.

I have been watching a LOT of MSNBC over the past few months. It is campaign season, after all.

One thing I have noticed is how good Andrea Mitchell looks. I like her political analysis. I like her devotion to Tim Russert. I like her on-air manner.

But man, I like her flawless nip/tuck. She looks fantastic.

Now, as I go on and on about Mitch's lift, I am reminded of one that is more catastrophic - Priscilla Presley.

PP was on Dancing with the Stars last season. I am not exaggerating, but...every time I saw her, I cringed. Her face no longer looked 3 dimensional or truly human. She looked cartoonish.

Priscilla Presley, originally uploaded by lkalamujic.

How can the results of facelifts be sooo radically different?