Chantilly, VA (USA)

[class in Chantilly - worked very late to make up some hours - easy drive home]

Fort Worth, TX (USA)

[up very early - everyone went with me over to DFW - no problems with my flight (a reward trip with American Airlines - all good) - arrived at Reagan around 1245L - took a little bit of time to catch a Blue Line train back to my car at Franconia-Springfield station (I was relieved to see it there) - did some errands on the way home - spent the rest of the day getting unpacked and re-organized for work...]

Davis, OK (USA)

[most exciting day of the trip - couldn't get the Twins out of bed early, but took Mollie back to the Arbuckle Mountains in Oklahoma for some fun - no traffic on I-35 all the way to the Red River (Mollie train whistle) - stopped for gas in Marietta, Oklahoma - continued without delay to Turner Falls in Davis (arrived at 1000L) - we were early enough there were very few people - waded in the lower pool (very cool water) and explored up the river - lots of little water falls - after a few hours, we had some lunch - after that, took a shuttle ride up to the HUGE falls (there was another pool there) - more and more people coming all day - after waiting for a VERY long time for a shuttle bus back to our car, decided to walk - it was very crowded and there wasn't much fun left by that point - Mollie had wanted to return to the nearby Arbuckle Wilderness, but we already been there (see MAR 2011) - instead, we drove north again and visited the G. W. Exotic Animal Park - what a treat! - we got the "works" package and (in addition to the spectacular exhibits of bears, lions, tigers and monkeys) we were able to go "behind the scenes" to hold baby animals and see some rare Ligers, Tigons and Taligers (cross breeds between Lions and Tigers) - we had a great time and wouldn't have left at 1700L except that it was nearly two hours back to Fort Worth - made great time back to Texas - before the end of our trip, we did a couple of errands (including picking up some presents for the Twins) - back at the house, we celebrated a belated birthday for Erin and Brenna (complete with Nicky's homemade cake) - relaxed for a while (watching NASCAR race - Coca Cola 600) - packed and got ready for bed (late)]

Fort Worth, TX (USA)

[an even lazier day today - kids still being "sticks in the mud" - watched "War Horse" (good) with Mollie in the afternoon - had some fun in the afternoon and evening when we played games together (Uno, computer games) - bed early]

Fort Worth, TX (USA)

[had an early morning annual medical checkup (first since I left the Navy) - stayed around the house all day - kids slept late and we had to wait for Mollie to get out of school - movie after dinner ("Bolt")]

Keller, TX (USA)

[up early for dental checkup and cleaning - over to the Twins' Robe and Candle Ceremony (at the School) - took them over to Fort Worth for lunch (Applebee's) - after that, stopped by to see old friends at Carswell - back to our house and took a short nap before dinner - dressed up to attend the Mass for Erin and Brenna's graduation from 8th Grade - party afterwards - home late]

Fort Worth, TX (USA)

[after work, I made my way to Reagan National to catch my (American Airlines) flight from DCA to DFW - we took off on time (2015L) and the flight was relatively uneventful - it was nice to have my family there to meet me when I landed (2230L) - it took a little while to get back to the house - ended up staying up late, mostly because it was my first chance to see everyone in several months...]

Woodbridge, VA (USA)

[explored west side of the Potomac - Lorton, Coldchester, Woodbridge, Occoquan (including the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge) - Prince William County Parkway (to VA-28) - I-66 back to Fairfax County Parkway - home]

Rockville, MD (USA)

[meeting in Rockville all day - afterwards, drove to Chantilly for class]

Gaithersburg, MD (USA)

[meeting in Rockville - lunch in Gaithersburg - visited with Pat, Mike and Aileen for dinner]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[manager training course - happy hour at Marriott Westfields Conference Center]

Charles Town, WV (USA)

[Charles Town races and visit with Phil - also Harpers Ferry]

Alexandria, VA (USA)

Tim and I haven't had a chance in a while to get together, so he suggested we get together on the way home from work in Old Town. We'd previously found a place ("Duke's") in the Embassy Suites next to the Metro Station (good Happy Hour) but when we reached it today (1730), it was closed for construction. Undeterred, we moved next door to Joe Theisman's restaurant. We spent a few hours relaxing there during their Happy Hour - never had dinner, just appetizers. But, from just those, I'd definitely return (good service and great food presentation). Around 2045, we headed back to the Metro and retrieved my car from Huntington Station. By this point, the traffic back-and-forth on the Wilson Bridge is much more manageable. Took Tim back to National Harbor and then returned home via I-495 and Van Dorn Street. A nice break from the normal commute!

Washington, DC (USA)

Kim told me a few weeks ago that she would be playing in an organ recital in Downtown DC - so I had it on my calendar for today. It was another matter to get away from the office, but I eventually ducked out the back door for the lunch hour and caught the Metro from L'Enfant to McPherson Square (after a long wait for a train...). I'd been there recently (see MAR 2012), so I knew where the station escalators would let me out - near the north end of Lafayette Square. The recital was in historic St. John's Episopal (built in 1816). The little building was dwarfed by the buildings around it, but the view from one of the side windows was the green park and slight glimpses of the White House. From the history I read, I learned that every U. S. President since Madison has attended services at the little church - there was even a pew (#54) with a plate on the armrest that designated "The Presidents' Pew." The musical event was part of the "First Wednesdays" series offered by St. John's from Fall to Spring. The recital started at 1210, and Kim began with a Bach Fugue, which sounded familiar (probably banked in my brain since about 1989...). In between other pieces (all an "Homage to Bach"), she gave background information on the stories of the composers - the remaining music was influenced (but not composed) by J. S. Bach. At one point, she pointed out that musical notes had alphabetic correlation, which formed the basis (via the letters B. A. C. H.) for the final piece (by Liszt). She did a great job - and just watching her play the complex music (including multiple foot pedal sections) was really something. The performance lasted almost an hour, so I only had a few minutes to congratulate her before I headed back to the office. It was a real treat, though.