On Saturday the 3rd, we went to my dad’s house in Chesapeake Beach for a second Thanksgiving (since he wasn’t around for the first). He made us a nice feast with some roasted duck.
After lunch, we walked over to North Beach where their Christmas parade was going on, and Nina got to see her first Santa.
On the way back home, we stopped at Bojangles for takeout, then had it when we got home. A coworker swore it was the best biscuits and mashed potatoes fast food has to offer, and I have to agree. The next day we picked up our Christmas tree from a lot on Centreville Road (at West Ox) where Gerald Jones and his family grows trees from pinecones, it was an easy experience (even with Nina).
Monday the 5th it was our first big night out. My mom came over to babysit Nina, and we were off to DC, first we had dinner at Taberna del Alabardero (many wonderful Spanish dishes), then Tori Amos with the Appollon Musagete Quartet (the string quartet made it one of my favorite shows by her.
Saturday the 10th we held our annual holiday party. We started at a much more kid friendly time of 4PM and had one of our biggest crowds. Attendance ebbed and flowed, and much beer was consumed (nobody at all wanted wine that night).
The Wednesday the 14th I managed to get Nina successfully to sleep on my own while Jill whooped it up with the knitters in Reston Town Center (usually she would feed her to sleep). As a reward, the next night I had a night all to myself as Jill and Nina are away visiting friends Kelly and Chris and their new little one. But what did I do? Work until 8:30 (little short on hours this pay period), go shopping for a potluck lunch, make said dish, then make dinner, and then start relaxing at 12:30, and then it was time to go to bed.
Thursday the 22nd we went to see Todd Wright mc-ing his annual Claus-ter-f&#%. That was the plan, but Mom called before they played their first note as Nina was crying hysterically, and we headed home to find a perfectly calm baby. After Jill put her to bed, she bailed on returning and I went solo – glad as they played some of my favorite Christmas tunes (including this one).
Christmas morning we slept in, then I made a baked French Toast with strawberry sauce before we opened presents after noon. Probably never going to be able to sleep that late again. Christmas evening was fun at Mom’s with Dad and Sharon, but ended way too late with a super fussy and tired Nina, but happily she got back to sleep ok after we got home.
Thursday the 29th Jill’s mom arrived for her two month stay with us. The next day I took a long lunch at Dogfish Head (with a Palo Santo Marron) and worked late, but it was worth it. On New Year’s Eve, we had dinner at Harth (in the Tysons Hilton) with a lovely meal of small plates, then on to Native Run‘s NYE blowout at Jammin’ Java (which included a Brindley Brothers reunion, very happy to see that) before retiring for the evening to the Comfort Inn in Fairfax, which I chose solely because it was the closest place with a jacuzzi tub (we were super classy and rang in the new year from there).
I love The Jayhawks so much, and was thrilled with their first new album since 2002 and the first one with co-founder Mark Olson since 1995′s masterpiece Tomorrow The Green Grass.
A water main break at the building where I work meant I worked half the day from home on Tuesday the 1st. The 3rd we headed over to The Barns at Wolf Trap to see Girlyman put on a great show (hadn’t seen them in a while and they’ve got some great new songs). Nina sat that one out with Grandma. The 5th brought a house concert in Herndon, featuring Stuart and his friend Sue opening for Maura Jensen (Jill and Nina made a brief appearance).
On Friday the 11th, I was off and picked up Dominic and Melissa from Dulles. They came down as they’re Nina’s godparents and that weekend was her christening.
That night, we ordered takeout from 100 Degree again; the first time I was disappointed in a meal from them (but in retrospect shouldn’t have expected excitement from a “lamb casserole”). Saturday Sharon came in and I picked her up at Dulles as well. That evening she ran out to visit a friend, but Jill’s dad and his wife came to visit. After socializing ran later than expected, it was a little late to cook so we did takeout again, this time from nearby Flippin’ Pizza (best chain pizza around).
Sunday was the big baptism, and we got to church early so Nina could be dressed and we could take pictures outside. She was remarkably well behaved during the event (although I took her out soon after when she started to fuss), and was happy to be walked around the rest of the morning. After we shared cake and other treats with the congregation, we headed home where we had more food with all our families.
Later that afternoon I returned to Dulles (which was the most crowded I’d ever seen it), and tried a Peruvian chicken recipe for us and Sharon. Sharon flew out of National the next day, so I got up early to get her on a bus over there.
Our first big road trip with Nina started on Saturday the 19th. We’d planned on trying to get an early start after her last feeding during the night, but all of us slept in, not getting up ’til 7 and not hitting the road until 9AM (I’d dropped off Illa at the kennel the previous afternoon). The first five hours of the drive went pretty well as Nina slept in her seat. We stopped at a NJ Turnpike rest stop to feed her (and get Nathan’s for us), then stopped again at a White Castle just before Newark (area was a little sketchy, but ok).
Once we passed into Connecticut, Nina was awake and unhappy and let us know. Eventually Jill was forced to sit in the back seat next to her (which forced an interesting luggage reconfiguration). We finally arrived in Boston around 6PM. The Cannons were just finishing dinner, and had made enough tasty chili to feed us as well. We got to socialize a bit before the kiddos all headed to bed, and then some more after that before we all were feeling the exhaustion.
Sunday morning Jess made pancakes, then Chris and I took his two older girls to the playground at their nearby school (and I found out I can still do at least one pull-up). For lunch, we were recommended to try Anthonys Roast Beef & Pizza. I went with the roast beef since it’s what they’re known for, and Jill had the fish sandwich.
Once we got on the road it was a quick trip to Holyoke. In the afternoon, Jill’s mom Sue hosted a bunch of family and had a cake to celebrate Nina’s baptism, then we had pizza for dinner. Nina got to meet Gram, her first great-grandparent.
Monday we headed over to Jill’s grandparents on her dad’s side where her dad and his wife met us and we all had lunch together. Nina saw her two remaining great-grandparents, and many pictures were shown and taken. Later on Sue was tired (her hours are crazy this time of year) and I cooked breaded pork chops for dinner.
Tuesday I picked my Mom up from the Hartford Airport. We picked up dinner at Antonio’s in Easthampton (Jill and I both had some spicy wings).
Wednesday we went and took Jill’s nephew Jake out. We had lunch at and then shopped for books at. Table and Vine. Sharon and Robin came around dinnertime and Sue made Shepherd’s Pie.
Thursday was Thanksgiving. Sue was the chef, so I mostly stayed out of her way. The dinner was the classic lineup, the stuffing was particularly good, as were the pies (way too many to count). After dinner I got to disassemble both turkeys, which took quite a while. Most people came after dinner for dessert, and after that there was a round of board games.
Friday we went to Northampton for breakfast with Robin at Sylvester’s, where I had a nice Eggs Benedict. After that, Jill shopped at Webs with Nina, while I shopped in Turn It Up. We visited Robin in her new house and got the tour, then visited Jill’s friends Jude and Jen and their daughter and son. For dinner, we headed to Opa-Opa and got some tasty meat and all their wonderful seasonal beers (the pumpkin and Winter Warmer are recommended).
Saturday was picture day, and all kinds of folks were over in their nicest clothes. Afterwards Sue had made pasta, and we cleaned her out (I only got a half serving since I had salad first, had to fill up on leftover pizza).
Sunday we had an early Christmas at Jill’s sister’s house. Nina’s not quite ready for gifts (she likes sparkly lights much better), but I got a couple nice ones, including some Rush playing cards. Dinner was homemade spaghetti and lasagna.
Monday morning we tried to make another early start, and did leave by 5AM. We skirted around New York City, and had an early lunch at a Sonic in Edison, NJ (it must truly be the fast food mecca: both a White Castle and a Sonic). We had to stop at the last three rest areas in Jersey as Nina was awake and fussy, so once again Jill sat with her. But after that the trip went smoothly – we even took a free ride on the ICC to skip Beltway traffic. We made it home by 3PM and I went and picked up Illa from the kennel
It was a pretty good month, but it closed on a sad note. On Tuesday the 29th, I went to a funeral for the born too soon and too ill daughter of my friend Eric. The coffin was just too tiny, but at least the rain seemed appropriate.
The month started off slowly. Weather wasn’t great on Saturday the 1st, so we cancelled outdoor plans (also Nina wasn’t interested in doing much between being fussy, feeding, and sleeping). Sunday Jill let me sleep in while she and Nina went to church, then Nina slept on my lap through the Skins game while Jill went out for lunch.
On Saturday the 8th we went to the Reston Oktoberfest. Nina slept through a fair amount of it (including through the polka music as we waited in the beer line). The brats from Clyde’s were good (as was the Old Dominion Octoberfest brew), but the find was Pollo Peru – great charcoal cooked chicken and sauces.
Friday the 14th I went to see Terry Pratchett at the National Press Club. He’s fading now, but still is funny. The next night Mom came over for a trial babysitting run, and we went to Paradise for Indian (not bad, but I think there’s better Indian restaurants in Herndon).
On Thursday the 20th, I needed to get my car serviced, and Jill and Nina came out and had lunch with me at Pollo Campero in Manassas (they do very nice fried chicken). For my birthday, we took a road trip to Charlottesville on Sunday the 23rd. We went down in the early afternoon, and checked into the Omni right on the Pedestrian Mall. We went out and had dinner at Zocalo where our friend Jeremy is maître d’. Luckily it was warm enough to eat outside, as Nina was unsettled. A great dinner and tour of Southern cuisine – Jill even liked the grits. Next we headed next door for a show by the reunited Jayhawks. It was great, and Nina and Jill stayed long enough so I could dance Nina around during “Blue”. The next morning we had a quick breakfast of paninis at the Calvino Cafe before heading home. Nina traveled well, which made us very happy.
Saturday the 29th we headed over to my mom’s house to celebrate my birthday with her and Dad. She made one of my favorite meals, her homemade egg rolls and moo shu pork wraps, along with her homemade applesauce and Cold Stone cake for dessert. Monday was Halloween, and although Nina dressed up nicely (as a chili pepper) and we had lots of candy, we only got 6 trick or treaters.
September was a bit of a blur, neither of us got a lot of sleep and didn’t do too much. On Thursday the 8th I was up even later than ever as Hurricanes Lee and Katia combined to unload on us and water started coming up in the unfinished part of our basement.
The next night was Nina’s first public outing (and concert) as we went to Wolf Trap with Sue to see eddie from ohio, as well as the Jewells and Chris Chin. We used our encore circle tickets so that everyone but me had a nice place to sit during the opening act. A fine show, good times.
Jill’s sister Robin came down the next weekend. Saturday the 17th we went to the Younce’s housewarming, had a great time, but didn’t stay too long because someone was getting fussy. The next day I went to the Skins game with Dad, got club seats for the first time. A nice win vs. the Cardinals, plus a Ben’s chili dog = nice day.
On Friday the 23rd I went over to GMU with Melanie to see Stephen King. First we got to see him at a reception, then he gave a talk, finally he signed books. Very entertaining storyteller.
Here’s the talk, the best part being a reading from The Shining sequel, Dr. Sleep:
Jill’s niece Maddy came down for the weekend so she could keep Sue company on the drive home, and on Saturday we all went out to the Plane Pull at Dulles.
On Wednesday the 28th we headed over to Jammin’ Java to see Séan McCann (from Great Big Sea). We weren’t able to stay very long, but it was nice to see him in such an intimate venue (and he played “Wandering Ways”.
Jill’s dad and his wife finally got a chance to visit on the last 2 days of the month, so all grandparents got a visit in the first month.
On Thursday, September 1st, Jill and I decided to celebrate our anniversary early. We had dinner at Bazin’s on Church in Vienna, sharing a lot of tasty appetizers (standouts were the crab roll and the mac and cheese with truffles). I wanted to get some sleep to be well rested for the next day, but finishing off tasks and dealing with an anxious dog due to storms meant I didn’t get to bed until 3AM, and then I needed to get up at 6AM. But we were right on time at Fair Oaks Hospital, although there was a backup and we didn’t get admitted until nearly 9AM (good reason for a backup: 19 babies born that day).
Jill was induced a little after admission. After contractions started getting intense in the early afternoon she had a rough patch, but before that and after she had her epidural, we mostly sat around and slept, napped or read. Her mom had joined us before noon, and I got a chance to go downstairs for a quick lunch. Everything kicked into high gear around 5, but it went as smoothly as it could go, and Nina Grace was born at 5:36PM. She was 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and not happy about it, but calmed down when she got back to her new mom.
After a little wait (and a visit from my mom), they moved us to the postpartum room. Jill got some dinner, and there was a lot of visits from staff before things finally calmed down after 8PM. Sue and I were hungry, so I headed out to 100 Degree Chinese, a new Hunan place nearby, for some carryout (pork dumplings for Sue, Cumin lamb for me, both fantastic). Sue headed to our house for the night, while I got as comfortable as I could in the fold out chair (not very).
Nina was in the nursery for the first night so Jill could get some rest, but they had some bad news for us in the morning: she had jaundice. That meant for the next day Nina spent her time under special lights in the nursery, and Jill only saw her for feedings. Not the best way to spend her time, and I headed home for a while while Sue stayed with her during the day, then I came back to spend the night.
On Sunday they had good news: the jaundice was on the decline, and we’d be discharged on time anyway (the early diagnosis may have been a blessing in disguise, as if it had happened a couple days later as it usually does, they would have had to readmit Nina until she was cured). We headed home, and Illa got his first look at our new addition (first impression: meh). Mom came over for a visit, and we started settling in to a routine.
The next day was Labor Day, so I got another day to adapt (and a little more sleep). Dad came to visit with his girlfriend, Patricia, but it was an early night for all of us.
For those curious about her name: on our weekend trip to Luray in July, I packed a pile of CDs to listen to, and one was from Veruca Salt. We talked about the band, one of whom was Nina Gordon (and later solo fame), and Jill asked me what I thought of the name. I liked it, and we liked the meaning (which is similar to Jill) and the popularity ranking.
On Tuesday August 2nd, my coworkers got Jill to come in and surprised me with a baby shower. It was such a surprise I didn’t even go at first – I was told it was a meeting, and I was finishing my lunch. I caught plenty of flack for that, but it was nice, the cake was good and they got us a pack and play and a lot of nice toys.
Wednesday my company had tickets for Taylor Swift at Verizon, so I took one (Jill said she was done with DC for a while). I headed down early and had dinner at Chop’t – had the El Diablo Cobb salad, nice and spicey. The show was quite a spectacle, more show than concert at points, but pretty good. And I never mind a good Tori Amos cover:
Saturday the 6th I did a bit of home improvement, then we were planning on going out for dinner and a concert. The Korean BBQ at Honey Pig was good. But Jon Carroll in Leesburg was a wash out and we headed home. Sunday we did the last of the baby shopping by getting everything left on our registry at Great Beginning, then had time to make a big dinner: pork marinated with orange and worcestershire sauce, black beans with green onions, cole slaw and corn on the cob. Plus fresh blueberry pie for dessert, all homemade (except the pie crust).
Tuesday the 9th I had been planning on seeing the Steve Miller Band all summer, already had a lawn ticket. But the weather was perfect and Jill decided she was feeling good, so she got us subs from Santini’s and chopped veggies and fruit for dinner. We upgraded to seats in the Loge and had a fun time – nice to knock what’s likely the final band off my summer concert bucket list.
Friday the 12th I went to see Drivin N Cryin at Iota. First time seeing them in 16 years (though I’d seen the singer solo since), and they rocked hard, played all the songs I wanted to hear.
We had dinner at Don Pablo’s Saturday – I had a craving and a coupon and it was our last chance to have queso without splitting it 3 ways. And it’s been a long time since I had El Matador – a long time favorite platter.
Sunday the 14th Jill’s mom and her sister Melissa came down (and brought us Sonic diet cherry limeades). Jill’s initial due date was the next day, so they wanted to be on hand. Jill’s last day of work was the 12th, so Melissa and her were basically on vacation. Monday we ran over to Dairy Queen for dessert after dinner, Tuesday we got takeout from Lakeside Asia Cafe and Wednesday we got ribs from Uncle Fred’s BBQ Smoke Shack after taking in a matinee of “Bridesmaids” (funny, but the first floor theaters in Reston aren’t well run).
Saturday the 20th Jill’s mom took Melissa to BWI for her flight home (she could only come down for a week, a little sad that the baby hadn’t arrived before she left). In the evening we were invited over to the Larsens along with the Hreczucks and the Norwoods. Lotsa kids, good food (very tasty smoked turkey) and fun, but we had to call it an early night.
Tuesday the 23rd we (along with everyone else on the East Coast) experienced Virginia’s strongest earthquake in 100 years, one of 5/8 magnitude. Jill and her mom were at home, I was at work and my building swayed before it stopped, but everyone was ok and no apparent damage to our house.
The next day my mom was off and wanted to get together for a late lunch, so we all met up at Reston Town Center and settled on Jackson’s. Scrumptious rolls (as usual), delicious lobster rolls, good beer, fun times.
Saturday the 27th we braced for Hurricane Irene. We weren’t too concerned as we were predicted to be just on the edge of the affected area, but Mother Nature can be unpredictable, so we still stocked up on water and batteries. The biggest project I had to tackle was dig a trench for one of the downspouts in back to stop the water from coming back towards the house – I noticed after the first band of rain it was still filling up, so i had to go expand it. The night was pretty uneventful and the next day was really nice.
No baby yet, even though she’s late, but it hasn’t been too bad. Jill’s been relaxing, and the weekends have been fun, sitting around reading, watching TV, going out on the dock and eating good meals with her and her mom.
It’s true – after 10 years I’m wearing glasses again. I got LASIK in 2001 and enjoyed the results immensely, but it wasn’t meant to last forever. A couple months back I started getting eye strain more often than usual (an occupational hazard) and headaches, and it had been a couple years since my last eye exam. It confirmed my suspicions that my distance vision had faded somewhat, but it was nice that my close vision was fine.
The eye doctor was hosting my eye surgeon, so it was convenient to go in and get a consultation (since they had offered a lifetime guarantee). Two problems: first, the cut they made for LASIK meant that another operation would have to be with PRK (which means more pain and a longer healing time) and second, the operation would destroy my close vision.
So based with a decision that I’d need to get glasses no matter what, I went with no surgery and got glasses (and several pairs since now you can get really cheap and not-as-cheap-but-not-as-flimsy online). So far I’m only wearing them at concerts, watching TV and sometimes at the end of the day at work. When I previously wore glasses I wore them all the time – I’m not sure if I’ll do that yet.
Friday, July 1st we went out for Jill’s birthday to Hooked (where the sushi was still good – everything else, meh), then went to Friendly’s for ice cream. The next day I went to see Beth Patterson at a house concert in Maryland. She was funny as usual, and a lot more blue then her usual shows at the Old Brogue (which I enjoyed).
Sunday we took Illa over to my Dad’s house in Chesapeake Beach, where he and Patricia hosted us. We had lunch, then hung out on his deck for most of the day. His neighbor had a party that night, and invited us over for some good pulled pork and great grilled wings. Later on, we went out into the rain that had started around dark to watch the fireworks from Dad’s dock.
The next morning was July 4th, which both of us had off, but we didn’t sleep in. We headed home after breakfast, and had plenty of chores to keep us occupied until it got dark, and folks started setting fireworks off. This was the first 4th we’ve had our floating dock, and it was fun to see the fireworks going off on and around Lake Thoreau.
On Friday the 8th, I got out of work early to attend a childbirth class with Jill that the OB/GYN offered. I thought it would go quicker with only one other person, but we ran long. That was what I feared since we were about to head west on 66 during rush hour, but somehow the storm that happened during our class and accidents prior to where we got on 66 combined for fairly light traffic, and we got to Luray, VA a little early.
We had dinner at Rancho Viejo, which unfortunately served Jill’s dinner cold, earning a thumbs down from her. Too bad, as we both enjoyed the salsa and my carnitas dinner was awesome. We finally got to Piney Hill Bed & Breakfast around dark, and settled in.
Our innkeepers were Wiley & Hank, and they served us a quiche and amazing cinnamon rolls for breakfast. We weren’t in a rush, so checked out the place in daylight, then read on the porch for a couple hours.
I’d made everything that day a surprise for Jill, so first we headed west on 211, then north on Route 11. My first thought in the area was Route 11 Potato Chips, and while the factory isn’t the most impressive thing on Earth, it’s always neat to see what you’re going to eat, plus you could sample any of their chips. Also, I’d managed to route us through the only covered bridge I’ve seen outside of New England.
We had lunch at Southern Kitchen in New Market, splitting a fried chicken platter. Not as great as the last time we road tripped for chicken, but the best in the area. After lunch we returned to Luray for some shopping.
After we rested for a bit, we headed over the mountains for dinner to Washington, VA, but not the fanciest place there. This time we went to The Blue Rock Inn, and it was just elegant enough. Jill enjoyed her fettuccini, and I really liked my lamb – wasn’t the least surprised when I found it was from the farm that delivers mine. We elected not to have dessert as there wasn’t something on the menu we loved, plus our innkeepers had made us one in the afternoon we hadn’t had room for, and it was very good.
The next morning we had French Toast for breakfast, then headed back, stopping in Front Royal for cheap gas and cider donuts. It was Jill’s birthday present, but it was a nice and relaxing weekend for both of us.
That night we went over to my Mom’s for dinner with Dad, as we celebrated Father’s Day and Mom’s and Jill’s birthdays. We had grilled chicken and ice cream, and chatted with Sharon on the phone.
Friday the 15th we headed over to Tysons Corner for dinner at Da Domenico Ristorante for a nice dinner, then attended our first show at the 1st Stage Theatre for the Michael Clem Trio, a fun show (punctuated by free beer).
The next day we were back in Tysons at the mall to see the final Harry Potter movie (I’d wanted to see it at Udvar-Hazy like we’d seen the last several, but when tickets went on sale they couldn’t confirm they would be showing it). The 3D was decent, and the film itself was a great conclusion to the series. We had to hurry home and take Illa out before going out to Countryside for Janice’s surprise birthday party. We had a good time (and excellent food thanks to her brother), but couldn’t stay out all night.
Dad came over on the morning of Friday the 22nd, and I dropped him at Udvar-Hazy for the day. I picked him up after work and we shopped at Whole Foods, where I picked up fried chicken and a summer salad pack for dinner (I just had to cook the green beans).
For the first time since we started going in 2003, we didn’t go to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival for obvious reasons (and the heat this year would only have made things worse). It hit triple digits around here on multiple days, but we mostly stayed indoors. Except on Saturday the 23rd, when Dad and I went out to see the 150th Anniversary Commemoration Battle of Bull Run Civil War Reenactment, and we got plenty of warmth, even though we were headed home by noon.
We had prepared with lots of water, ice wrapped bandanas, sunscreen and a mister, so we were mostly able to enjoy the reenactment. And it was pretty impressive – while they didn’t hit the 30,000 in the original, seeing 8,000 folks fighting is quite a scene. My favorite picture is below, but there are lots more here.
That night (after naps all around), we went to see Tim Minchin at the Warner. A musical comedian with elements of George Carlin and Eddie Izzard, I really liked him while Jill found him part funny and part offensive.
Friday the 29th I joined the Jewells for Lloyd Dobler Effect at Friday Night Live!. It was beastly hot, but I like those guys and it was only the second time I’ve made it out this year (although I’m not a big fan of the cover bands they usually book).
Saturday the 30th we went to Mad Fox for lunch, and found we should have gotten the pizza earlier – it’s really good (and the beer is still great). That night I headed up to Frederick and the 2nd Outlaw Jam. A biker themed festival was not my favorite thing in the world, but I wanted to see Mötley Crüe (especially since the original four are still there and kicking). I skipped Poison, but did see some of Shooter Jennings before getting in position for the Crüe. And they did not disappoint – a night full of classics.
We closed out the month with a good house cleaning, then hosted the Jewells for dinner (they brought pork loin and a wicked cocktail, I made slaw, corn on the cob and fruit salad). Later we went out on the lake on the dock, then we had Jill’s peach cobbler when we got back. A nice, quiet evening with friends – may be the last of those for a while.
Wednesday, June 1st we were worried as some tornadoes came close to Jill’s family in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Jill was doubly worried as she flew up there early the next morning, but there wasn’t as much damage as we feared. She was there for the weekend and her first baby shower.
Meanwhile I was home, and spent the majority of the weekend at the Herndon Festival. Willie Nile and Paul Thorn at the Depot Stage on Thursday and Friday were really good. I took Illa on a long walk all around the lake Saturday, so he could nap while I was out for a long time at the festival. Stuart and I continued the tradition of a mid-afternoon break at O’Sullivans during the Herndon Festival with a round of shots of Jameson’s and beers with Lorna and Dave. I also liked their appetizer of corned beef, potato and cabbage deep fried together.
Sometimes I forget how much I like the Dave Matthews Band until I hear the crack of the snare during “Ants Marching”. It was a cover, but a damn good one (Billy Bauer Band also covered “All Along The Watchtower”, but with a jam band feel and an electric violin, the influence was obvious). A perfect summer night finished off with bluegrass (courtesy of Bearfoot) and fireworks. I was back briefly on Sunday to see The Family Stone bring the funk, but it was too hot to do anything but sit.
Jill returned Monday night, and once she was back we inquired about a floating dock a neighbor was selling, then promptly offered him full price (the motor and battery alone was worth the price).
Thursday the 9th we headed into DC. We had dinner at Tosca where we had some tasty pasta (tagliatelle for me, lobster risotto for her), then got our Gleek on. We’re both fans of the show, and I was surprised how faithful the live versions were without noticeable autotuning.
Saturday the 11th we had a game night. We did our usual party thing – got appetizers and drinks, and other folks showed up and we had fun. Apples to Apples is always fun, teams for Trivial Pursuit went pretty well, and Fluxx is interesting to introduce to new players.
Sunday the 12th we found out the master bath tub has a leak. The good news about getting a plumber, was that he could connect the new sink downstairs, which I was planning to do that day. He did, and I was happy about that, but the bathtub needs ripping out and replacing, and while we were planning on remodeling the bathroom, we thought it would be a couple years before that happened.
Jill was working nights, and begged off seeing Elvis Costello at Wolf Trap on Wednesday the 15th for member appreciation night. But Stuart appreciated the low price of free, and after I made it through the worst traffic ever on the way there, Elvis (and the excellent food) had not left the building. Elvis put on a great show (loved his spinning wheel of requests and cover of “Roxanne”), plus we were seated next to Bob and Cathy McNichols.
Illa has gotten worse over the years with thunder, but once he started peeing inside the house during it, got him Xanax. The first time was the 17th, and every time he’s gotten it in time he’s been fairly calm during storms (vs. his usual panting in your face). Also that day I had the shortest visit to a doctor’s office ever. Probably because I didn’t see a doctor, just a nurse to get a vaccine. And finally felt the baby kick for the first time that night.
Saturday the 18th was gloomy during the day, but the rain held off, so we went to Leesburg to Windy City Red Hots for Chicago dogs, now saw Todd Wright on the Town Green with Linda. Jill had a craving, so we hit Maggie Moo’s on the way home.
On the 19th we went to a child and infant CPR class on E St. in DC in the morning (tough when E St. is closed for a triathlon), then had a nice lunch at BGR now (Jill doesn’t like their house sauce though).
Wednesday the 22nd we through Springfield for takeout from Firehouse Subs and a sweaty show from The Pietasters in Alexandria. On the way home there was a power outage in Kingstowne and we crawled through traffic before returning to civilization.
Thursday the 23rd we were back in DC. We stopped at Chef Geoff’s to meet someone for an extra ticket (because I was a dunderhead and had purchased one ticket and one book) and had a drink, then went over to the National Press Club and got in line. Neil Gaiman was doing a talk, part of the 10th anniversary of American Gods tour. He read a couple sections from the book, answered questions, and was funny and charming as usual. He was signing books afterwards, but it would have taken a couple hours, and we had reservations at Central. We had an excellent dinner there – this time I went with his standards, the fried chicken and the chocolate bar. Yum.
The next day I achieved my 15 seconds of internet fame, as I got retweeted by Neil Gaiman after I sleuthed out the first illustration from his new children’s book, based on hints he’d given the night before.
Saturday the 25th we went to Alexandria to see emmet swimming at the Del Ray Music Festival. Their website described food available, but when we got there we didn’t see any. Yelp came to our rescue, and we zeroed in on the Chinese food at Tsim Yung, both of us had enormous portions of delicious chicken dishes that we both got seconds out of. And the band was in a great mood, Tamer teasing some Rush songs and singing “99 Red Balloons” at the end, which I hadn’t seen him do in at least 10 years.
The next day we went our separate ways, me to my company picnic (where I hit balls at the driving range with Matt, then Jess schooled us both at mini golf), while Jill went to her second baby shower.
January 27th, 2012
Food, Music, Personal
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