Potomac, MD (USA)

[Bob gave a me a pass to the Quicken Loans National golf tournament at the Congressional Country Club (near Potomac, Maryland) - it was good for the whole week, but I hadn't been able to use it until today (3rd round) - Tiger Woods didn't make the cut on Friday, so I figured it wouldn't be too busy on Saturday... - I got up around 0730 and drove up to the Country Club in I-495 (traffic already - mostly passing through the DC area, though) and VA-190 - I located a parking lot (actually, someone's yard) with a lower price than what had been advertised on the website and then walked down the street to the Connolly School to catch a shuttle bus - it was a pretty short ride but I saw some amazing estates near the course - after being dropped off, I walked to the main entrance and had no problem getting in - tried out some products (e.g., deli meats, granola bars, etc.) and then walked inside - it was still very early (around 0830) and most of the players were still on the front nine - it was warm but breezy, no clouds - I found several places where fans could watch the last few holes: some were based on loyalty programs (e.g., United Airlines, credit card companies, etc.) and others were pay-for-entry - with no action at that point, I kept walking towards the Clubhouse in the middle of the course - I watched some action on the 10th hole and got yelled at for taking a picture (not allowed) - I signed up for a Quicken Loans VIP upgrade (free stuff all day on the course) but never won anything - eventually, I found the front nine and located Bob at the fourth hole - he has been volunteering (finding balls in the rough, asking for silence on the tee and green, using hand signals for drives, etc.) at the course for a few years - I stuck with him for several hours and watched several golf pairs come through the 4th - saw some great shots - Bob rotated around the hole (fairway, green and tee again) before he got a lunch break - he had saved lunch tickets from earlier in the week and I was able to get lunch from one of the concession stands for no charge - we sat in the shade (getting much hotter by now) and watched action on the 7th and 9th Holes - more great action - Bob had to go back to work, so I walked over to the back nine, which was much busier at that point - watched several of the golfers whose fortunes had changed through the day (better and worse) and explored the 11th fairway fan village - around 1400, decided to head for the exit - crowds much bigger by then, glad to be leaving - had to wait for a bit to get a shuttle ride back to my car - there were even (what appeared to be) locals who were volunteering to drive people away from the (largely closed off) course area - finally, I was at my car and was able to get back to the interstate pretty easily and made my way back to Alexandria - got transmission service at Jiffy Lube before I called it a day at home - what a great time: thanks, Bob!]

Washington, DC (USA)

[long work day, but able to escape around 1600 to go to Cantina Marina - this event was to say farewell to my boss (Chris) - many of our staff, along with former employees, were there - we ordered lots of food and drink and I managed the growing tab - the weather on the Potomac was great and our group got larger and larger by the evening - I didn't leave until around 2030 - timed trains well and made it home before 2200 - fun night!]

Washington, DC (USA)

[almost didn't make it, but I got away from work around 1700 and headed to Cantina Marina so we could have a farewell happy hour for a departing business development expert (Jim) - the group mainly consisted of our Division leadership and everyone was in a hurry to go home - still, there were a couple of die-hards (including Jim, himself) and we didn't leave until around 2100 - it was a bittersweet day: sad farewells, but fun times had by all who attended]

Alexandria, VA (USA)

[our normal watering hole, Vie de France, decided to fire their best bartender about a week ago - since then, we have been trying to locate a new place - first, we visited the 21st Amendment (near work) and had a few drinks - the cost was so steep, though, that we left early - instead, Bill drove several of us down to Old Town and we had drinks at a place along the Waterfront (near the end of King Street) called Virtue Feed and Grain (an old factory-style brick building) - we had a great time with drinks and snacks until well past dark - I walked from there back to the Metro (perhaps a mile) around 2130 and then headed home]

Beltsville, MD (USA)

[woke up very early (0630) and drove to Beltsville to see Brother Jim - when I arrived at La Salle house, I met up with an undertaker friend of his and we chatted about the shrinking Christian Brothers' ranks - it was sad, really - later, I worked with Brother Jim to fix his computer issues and set up social media accounts - we had lunch before I departed (another good meal, as usual) - on the way home, I ran some errands - took a break (1600-1800) at home and then drove to Annandale (I-495 to Little River Turnpike) - I met up with folks from work (Kevin H., Dave M. and Sabrina) at a restaurant called "Kogiya" (it means "This is Meat") - the small parking lot was packed (and adjacent businesses threatened to tow any "trespassers") - we had to wait around two hours before we could sit down - it was worth every minute! - Kevin spoke Korean with the staff and ordered us an amazing assortment of food: various meats, all cooked on the grill at our table - we had all kinds of other side dishes (including a kimshi pancake) and Kevin demonstrated how to wrap the meat and season it for amazing flavors - we had Korean beer, too - the night seemed to go on and on (in a good way) and we ate nearly everything at our table - the room was smoke-filled, loud and happy - just before we finished, I was asked to help jump-start a lady in the parking lot (since I was parked next to her) but I was unsuccessful (not a battery problem ?) - our meal concluded with an after-dinner drink (sort of a cold coffee) - Kevin had been telling us the words for everything throughout, but I have forgotten already... - we parted ways around 2200 and I drove home - another outstanding evening!]

Warrenton, VA (USA)

[today, I had to go out to Warrenton for job turnover (my boss is leaving) - after waking up early (0530), I first drove to Chantilly (I-495 and I-66) and worked for several hours at our corporate office - around 0930, I left for Warrenton - I drove west through Manassas (and located the Battlefield entrance) - got back on I-66 there and used US-29 to get to our customer site - spent around five more hours working there (intros, support for our staff), interrupted by a nice lunch at a nearby restaurant (Covert) - around 1515, I left Warrenton and drove back to I-66 (used I-15 to get there) - exited at the Fairfax County Parkway and found the Fair Oaks Mall area (it took a bit of backtracking to get to the right place) - at around 1600, I sat down on a stool for happy hour at Coastal Flats in Fairfax (south of I-66) - to start, I had a Key Lime Martini (complete with pie crust on the rim of the glass) - met up with friends from work (Kelly and Sandy) and had a great time talking with all of the patrons as we watched World Cup games - eventually, had dinner (various appetizers) and more drinks - it was a great night of relaxing! - extra bonus: I avoided the traffic on I-66 and the Beltway - arrived home around 2300]

Arlington, VA (USA)

[Tim and I have been trying to meet up with each other for lunch or happy hour several times during the last few months - it finally happened today - after work, I took Metro to Pentagon City and met him at Chevy's (Mexican Bar & Grill) - we had a great time drinking margaritas and eating their great food - I also saw lots of other folks from work (George M., Tasha, Kristen C.) - departed for home around 1900]

Alexandria, VA (USA)

[for Father's Day, Mollie and I ate dinner near Van Dorn Street Metro - the place was called Satay Sarinah (Indonesian) and we tried all kinds of delicious dishes they offered (chicken and shrimp satay and a fruit dessert) - afterwards, we drove over to Old Town and walked laps around the "track" at Washington Middle School - we also explored the new bike/foot path that parallels the Metro track between Braddock Road and Crystal City - it was another nice evening and we got a lot of exercise before we had to go home]

Triangle, VA (USA)

[Mollie and had another adventure today! - we actually left the house without a specific plan (we just wanted to get away for the day) - we initially drove south on US-1, all the way to Dumphries, and talked about what we should do all the way - Mollie said she was getting carsick (and I was getting tired of the non-stop lights), so we stopped for lunch at China 1 Star - they had great food and we were completely re-charged after the meal - we headed south again and formulated a plan (to visit Prince William Forest National Park) - I had heard many good things about the place and the weather was nice enough for some outdoor activity - at Triangle, we found the road that took us to the entrance (it was actually the same one that leads to the entrance to Quantico) - we stopped at the Visitors Center (1300) and asked for a Junior Ranger booklet - the requirements this time were extensive (I actually didn't know if we could complete it in one day) - but, as usual, we were persistent! - Mollie and I took several hikes, following clues from people who used to live in the area (farm boy helped us find his farm, miner helped us find a pyrite mine and an Indian girl helped us find other local flora) - the weather was so nice and we enjoyed the remoteness of the trails - we saw several animals (box turtle, wild turkeys, lots of birds) and marvelled at the amazing variety of trees - we also located a pretty boardwalk and learned about how the land was reclaimed over the last few years - the climax of the activities was a "geo cache" type search for a special stamp (instead of GPS, we used a series of pace counts - ala "Treasure Island") - overall, it was a great day and Mollie completed her Junior Ranger Badge - the rangers were so impressed that she got it done that they gave her a special book about trees (Mollie was very proud) - we drove around a bit more in the park before leaving and found the little waterfalls/cascades on the north end of the park (pretty) - Mollie was a daredevil by this point (hopping stones and tree limbs to cross the river) and it was all I could do to keep her from getting wet - after leaving the park, we explored the nearby Quantico National Cemetery and then drove on the Marine Corps Base - we ate dinner at McDonalds and watched several Marines come in for their evening ice cream... - we also saw another ground hog or woodchuck, something we seem to find at each base we visit - Nicky started calling persistently, asking when we would be home, so we got on I-95 and we went back to Alexandria - just as we arrived, I saw Brenna walking towards a party with her friends - I gave her a ride before heading home]

Alexandria, VA (USA)

[around lunch time, Mollie and I drove over to Eisenhower Avenue and had a delicious meal at Delia's Mediterranean restaurant - we had some great conversations before crossing the street to the AMC Theatres - we saw the movie "Maleficent" (and got a special pin for Mollie to wear) - afterwards, we headed home]