Month: October 2008

Books I’ve read, week forty-one

65. Superman: Ruin Revealed
Writers: Greg Rucka, Nunzio Defilippis and Christina Weir Artists: Karl Kerschl, Renato Guedes, Darryl Banks and Adam Dekraker
I picked this up at a booksale on a whim. I have enjoyed some of Rucka’s work and thought it would be interesting. Unfortunately it’s a collection of issues during Identity Crisis, and you’d be pretty lost without knowing what was going on. C-

Reunion weekend

With a packed weekend coming up, what happened Friday? My nose started running. Still, that was the worst thing to happen to me, so not bad. We kicked off the weekend with a marching band reunion, at a member’s house in Annandale. Right across the Beltway from Fairfax Hospital where Jill’s working this week, so it was a breeze for her. Not so much for me, as I needed to head home, walk Illa and pick up the drinks that were chilling, then make it to Annandale in rush hour. Still we got there not to long after it started, and it was nice to see (and recognize) so many people. Chris had flown down in the morning and spent the day with his mum, and we caught up to him there. We left staggered, too, and all got some much needed rest that night.

Saturday Jill was out running errands and beautifying herself while Chris and I hung out. I made some eggs for breakfast, we walked Illa, watched a bunch of TV, and went to Fuddrucker’s to get some lunch since Chris wanted a burger. In the evening we got all dolled up and went over to the Hyatt in Reston for my 20th high school reunion. It was tougher there, as I had a hard time recognizing folks I should have remembered. We even had a mini elementary school reunion in one of the side rooms, so odd to realize I’ve known some of those folks almost as long as Chris.

Reunion

Sunday morning Chris headed out and we drove over to the Skins game with Dave and Hannah and tailgated a bit before heading in. Unfortunately the Rams did not live up to their creampuff status, winning in the literal final second. It was still a fine afternoon, marred only by the amount of time it took to get home after the game, nearly three hours. I actually got to the front of the line of the season ticket waitlist, but I don’t think I’m going to go for it – I don’t really want to spend an entire day at every home game, would rather go to 2-3 games a year and get some really good seats.

We both had some work to do in the evening, I had some auctions ending but didn’t have the energy to start a new round, plus I needed to clear some space on the DVR for this week’s shows. My dad showed up around 10, but he’d had a full day and wasn’t up for too long. Today I stopped at Safeway after work and picked up some steaks, then grilled them and made a Caesar salad to accompany them. We had a nice long dinner, then Jill had some more schoolwork and I watched some TV with Dad (everyone can appreciate Chuck).

Busy weekend ahead

Saturday is my 20th high school reunion, preceded by an informal marching band reunion tomorrow. I’ve given in to peer pressure and joined yet another social networking site, and I’m currently in the middle of making a DVD of the marching band highlights (we’ll see if there’s demand for that to go up on YouTube as well).

And Sunday we’ve got tix to the Skins game against the Rams, who look like a cupcake opponent right now. We’re going with friends, so may go out to dinner afterwards, then my Dad is in town and staying with us that night and the next two.

So don’t expect too much in the way of updates over the next couple days.

Matt Nathanson

Tuesday night Jill fixed us a quick Chinese meal of egg rolls and lo mein, then I headed down to Chinatown – to the synagogue, of course. They’ve started doing concerts there, and I was curious. Plus I hadn’t seen Matt Nathanson in a couple years, and he’s finally getting some traction.

I’ve seen him a number of times, mostly as an opening act, and he’s always been entertaining and self-deprecating. It was kind of a shock to hear girls screaming for him, and he looked a little weirded out by it. But it was a great show. I like his new album, and he played a good portion of it (I really like “Gone” besides the singles). He’s always picking great covers, and last night was no exception, with a transcendent version of “Take On Me” (almost a gospel feel with voices raised to the heavens) and a hushed version of “All I Have To Do Is Dream” (Everly Brothers).

The synagogue has decent acoustics, and I’d go back for another show. It’s right near the phone booth so maybe next time I’ll have the chance to do dinner.

Matt Nathanson

Another review and better photos here.

All request weekend

Friday Jill had requested I get a haircut, so I did. Came home and made some tasty fish and chips for dinner, then caught up on most TV.

Saturday Dad had requested we visit, so we obliged, ’cause we just hate hanging out by the bay. Illa was in a state of high anxiety thinking he’d be left behind like the last time we went out of town, and was very happy to be included. He wasn’t as happy that we forgot his lead, and when we got to Dad’s the chain he had didn’t give him nearly as long a reach along the piers. Dad had made a shrimp salad and fruit salad for lunch, and we enjoyed that on the deck.

We went out in the afternoon to see Dad’s other piece of property, which has a couple barns he stores cars in. Illa was thrilled that there were goats nearby he wanted to meet, but after they went away he was still pretty crazy. We soon found out the reason for that was in half of the one of the barns Dad’s tenant was housing a cat rescue operation, and Illa wanted very badly to see for himself (we didn’t let him).

Dad, Jill & Illa at Dad's barn

For dinner we went out to the Fabulous Brew Cafe in Friendship. From the outside I would have guessed it was just a coffee shop, but it was a full service restaurant. I was in the mood for seafood and had the seafood platter, which was ok (liked the scallops and fish, shrimp and crab cakes weren’t great), but Jill really liked her chicken imperial topped with crab imperial and Dad enjoyed his Reuben, so I’d try it again. Plus it was nice to have a glass of Beamish with the meal.

We read some when we got back, then Dad broke out some family pictures he wanted to give to me, including some real old ones. I’ve done some work on our family tree, but I’m not sure if there’s any software that will incorporate pictures the way I’m thinking of.

Dad made apple nut pancakes and turkey bacon for breakfast the next morning, which we ate outside and relaxed a little more before driving back. Jill went out while I watched the game (another tough win), then it was auction time for me again. I grilled Thai lemon chicken for dinner, then we watched some Simpsons and Gavin and Stacey before Jill headed to bed.