Saturday, September 29
After two months of neglect, I am back to blogging.
Stay tuned as I fill in the gaps and post some neat photos :)
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Sometimes I Cook
Saturday, September 29
Twice a week or so, I aspire to cook hearty, healthy meals.
Tonight I made Salsa Shrimp with rice, courtesy of Giant:
I was pleased with how this turned out. I used two cans of corn and added some salt and pepper to the recipe. In addition, I squeezed one fresh lime and used Newman's Own Mango Salsa. Yum!
Earlier in the week, I attempted Peach Poppy Chicken with couscous:
I put three chicken breasts, 12 ounces of peaches (with juice), and half a bottle of Briannas Rich Poppy Seed dressing in my little crock pot. I cooked the mixture on LOW for 11.5 hours (8 to 10 would have been ideal, but I had to work late).
This recipe (which I devised after looking at similar crock pot chicken dishes) disappointed me. The tanginess of the poppy seed dressing was lost, and the peaches were a tad too mushy. Definitely still edible, but not outstanding. I doubt that reducing the cooking time would retain additional flavor, either. Oh well...
Twice a week or so, I aspire to cook hearty, healthy meals.
Tonight I made Salsa Shrimp with rice, courtesy of Giant:
I was pleased with how this turned out. I used two cans of corn and added some salt and pepper to the recipe. In addition, I squeezed one fresh lime and used Newman's Own Mango Salsa. Yum!
Earlier in the week, I attempted Peach Poppy Chicken with couscous:
I put three chicken breasts, 12 ounces of peaches (with juice), and half a bottle of Briannas Rich Poppy Seed dressing in my little crock pot. I cooked the mixture on LOW for 11.5 hours (8 to 10 would have been ideal, but I had to work late).
This recipe (which I devised after looking at similar crock pot chicken dishes) disappointed me. The tanginess of the poppy seed dressing was lost, and the peaches were a tad too mushy. Definitely still edible, but not outstanding. I doubt that reducing the cooking time would retain additional flavor, either. Oh well...
Books & Gardens
Saturday, September 29
Today I went to the 2007 National Book Festival, held on the Mall:
While this event was CROWDED, it also was a lot of fun. Target was a Distinguished Benefactor of the Book Festival; Bullseye was in the house to represent:
After saying hello to this professionally trained Bull Terrier, I sauntered by the Magic School Bus (BEEP BEEP):
Ms. Frizzle and Liz were there, too:
By this point, I was done with the Book Festival and ready to move onto something new. Luckily for me, the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden was 10 feet away. I had a lovely time strolling through the garden and took way too many pictures. Here's the best of the best:
These photos are from around the Hirshhorn Museum:
Next, I wandered through several of the Smithsonian Gardens. These photos are from the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden, between the Hirshhorn Museum and Arts and Industries Building:
The Arts and Industries Building is currently closed for renovation:
This is the Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden, right by the Smithsonian Castle:
Check out the birds:
I continued to visit the Enid A. Haupt Garden:
The Haupt Garden is actually a rooftop garden. Here is the entrance to the S. Dillon Ripley Center, which sits three levels below:
I spent a little bit of time in the Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Galleries. This is a courtyard inside the Freer Gallery:
I was not in a museum mood today, so I walked through L'Enfant Plaza to the Potomac River instead:
All that walking tired me out, and I set out for home (via Metro, of course). The end.
Today I went to the 2007 National Book Festival, held on the Mall:
While this event was CROWDED, it also was a lot of fun. Target was a Distinguished Benefactor of the Book Festival; Bullseye was in the house to represent:
After saying hello to this professionally trained Bull Terrier, I sauntered by the Magic School Bus (BEEP BEEP):
Ms. Frizzle and Liz were there, too:
By this point, I was done with the Book Festival and ready to move onto something new. Luckily for me, the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden was 10 feet away. I had a lovely time strolling through the garden and took way too many pictures. Here's the best of the best:
These photos are from around the Hirshhorn Museum:
Next, I wandered through several of the Smithsonian Gardens. These photos are from the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden, between the Hirshhorn Museum and Arts and Industries Building:
The Arts and Industries Building is currently closed for renovation:
This is the Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden, right by the Smithsonian Castle:
Check out the birds:
I continued to visit the Enid A. Haupt Garden:
The Haupt Garden is actually a rooftop garden. Here is the entrance to the S. Dillon Ripley Center, which sits three levels below:
I spent a little bit of time in the Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Galleries. This is a courtyard inside the Freer Gallery:
I was not in a museum mood today, so I walked through L'Enfant Plaza to the Potomac River instead:
All that walking tired me out, and I set out for home (via Metro, of course). The end.
Coventry Night Out
Tuesday, August 14
Tony Nally is in town for a couple of days, so John and I met up with him for dinner tonight! We went back to Coventry, our old stomping grounds, for burritos in the dungeon at Chipotle. (Quite the nerdy/requisite Case thing to do.) Afterward, we went to Big Fun and chatted with Jen, Andy, baby Jason, and Sarah for a bit.
To document the occasion for posterity, Tony decided to take some photographs. The scenery is courtesy of the Coventry Parking Garage.
Posing execution style:
Awww, we do like each other:
Gentlemanly handshake:
Mr. Nally, keeping tabs on me for 8+ years:
We made a short stop at Starbucks and ended up at John's apartment. The Indians game on TV must not have been very entertaining:
Yay for a fun evening with two of my bestest buds!
Tony Nally is in town for a couple of days, so John and I met up with him for dinner tonight! We went back to Coventry, our old stomping grounds, for burritos in the dungeon at Chipotle. (Quite the nerdy/requisite Case thing to do.) Afterward, we went to Big Fun and chatted with Jen, Andy, baby Jason, and Sarah for a bit.
To document the occasion for posterity, Tony decided to take some photographs. The scenery is courtesy of the Coventry Parking Garage.
Posing execution style:
Awww, we do like each other:
Gentlemanly handshake:
Mr. Nally, keeping tabs on me for 8+ years:
We made a short stop at Starbucks and ended up at John's apartment. The Indians game on TV must not have been very entertaining:
Yay for a fun evening with two of my bestest buds!
Hooome
Saturday, August 4
Ugly and Puppy are not morning people:
(Why must the cuddle party ALWAYS be in my bed?)
Ugly and Puppy are not morning people:
(Why must the cuddle party ALWAYS be in my bed?)
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
New Camera Meets National Cathedral
Thursday, July 26
Jason, Erica, and I ventured to the Washington National Cathedral tonight. We had quite a hike from the Cleveland Park Metro station and missed the 6:30pm Gargoyle Tour. Regardless, my new HP R927 shot some stellar photos:
Each state's flag is displayed along the Cathedral walls:
Here lies Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States:
The three of us managed to sneak on an elevator and conduct a self-led Gargoyle Tour:
We came back down from the glorious heights, and I snapped some photos at the base of the Cathedral:
Jason and Erica were rather silly on the escalator ride down to the Metro station:
I tell you, watch out for those nuclear engineers ;)
Thursday spending total: $3.80 (CVS run)
Friday, July 27
Boo paper.
Friday spending total: $9.55 (Lunch with Ariel at High Noon)
Jason, Erica, and I ventured to the Washington National Cathedral tonight. We had quite a hike from the Cleveland Park Metro station and missed the 6:30pm Gargoyle Tour. Regardless, my new HP R927 shot some stellar photos:
Each state's flag is displayed along the Cathedral walls:
Here lies Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States:
The three of us managed to sneak on an elevator and conduct a self-led Gargoyle Tour:
We came back down from the glorious heights, and I snapped some photos at the base of the Cathedral:
Jason and Erica were rather silly on the escalator ride down to the Metro station:
I tell you, watch out for those nuclear engineers ;)
Thursday spending total: $3.80 (CVS run)
Friday, July 27
Boo paper.
Friday spending total: $9.55 (Lunch with Ariel at High Noon)
Friday, July 27, 2007
RIP HP R707
Sunday, July 22
A bunch of us took time out from our papers to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum:
The museum as a whole was sobering. The special exhibition "Give Me Your Children": Voices from the Lodz Ghetto was well thought-out and informative. I did not like the permanent exhibition, however; it was way too crowded and presented an overwhelming amount of words, media, and artifacts. Not a fun museum to see, but definitely necessary.
Sunday spending total: $1.60 (Holocaust Museum postcards)
Monday, July 23
Emily, Erica, and I got bored of writing and went on an adventure to Columbia Heights. We scooped up some dessert at Sticky Fingers right before close and proceeded to eat dinner at Logan @ The Heights:
We had a lovely time at this brand spanking new restaurant! My burger with bacon and fresh avocado was delicious...not to mention that it was followed by vegan raspberry cheesecake :)
Monday spending total: $33.13 (dessert at Sticky Fingers and dinner)
Tuesday, July 24
Following a presentation by two gentlemen from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the WISE gang went on a tour of the Capitol:
To be honest, I wasn't overwhelmed by the beauty of the Capitol rotunda. To be even more honest, I think that the rotunda in the Texas state capitol is significantly more beautiful.
The best part of the tour was getting to see the House vote!!! In all seriousness, this is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I couldn't tell you what was more exciting: the illuminated panels with each representative's name and his or her vote, the electric buzz in the air, or people-watching from the gallery. Speaking of, I spotted several Congressfolk including Dennis Kucinich, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Betty Sutton, Steve LaTourette, Rush Holt, Susan Davis, Steny Hoyer, Vern Ehlers, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, David Wu, and Deborah Pryce.
On a random aside, the Capitol South Metro station has the best advertisements ever. Check out Edna, sponsored by Smart Skies:
I also LOVE Dell's new colored laptop ads:
(A REPUBLICAN CHOSE BLUE also exists.)
Later on, Chris, Dave, Jason, Ano, Annie, and I headed to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Here's Dave on the way to Baltimore:
We got to the park just as the Cal Ripken Hall of Fame Send-Off was ending:
Ano, Jason, and Dave were a little disappointed that we didn't get Cal Ripken bobbleheads:
Camden Yards was built in 1992 by HOK Sport, the same firm that brought you Jacobs Field in 1994. I could definitely tell that the two parks were siblings:
As per usual, I was slightly obsessed with photographing this MLB ballpark:
Check out this Camden Yards sunset:
I somehow had a 48-year-old Baltimorean gentleman give me his number at the game. Don't worry, though; he has a 46-year-old internet girlfriend from West Virginia!
Oh, and the Orioles won another pitchers' duel 3 to nothing.
Tuesday spending total: $49.60 (postage, my share of a ZipCar, Orioles ticket, and a hot dog)
Wednesday, July 25
The WISE guys and gals had breakfast with engineering society representatives and a snack with Spanish engineering students later in the afternoon. Outside of that, much more paper writing ensued.
On a high note, I got mango tea and vegan blueberry cheesecake from Java Green.
On a low note, my beloved HP R707 camera died. The zoom and other functions had acted up when I heard Steny Hoyer speak two weeks ago, but my little camera somehow made a valiant recovery for the Philly trips, Washington Monument, and other mayhem around town. Upon turning on my camera most recently, no zoom, no menu, no nothing.
(For those who are wondering, I contacted HP technical support along with several DC area camera shops two weeks ago. The strips in between the manual buttons and internal circuits wore out; these wear down from use and ultimately limit the lifetime of the camera. HP offered me the option of trading my camera in for a newer refurb model, but I instead got a steal of a deal on a new HP R927 from Beach Camera.)
Requiescat in Pacem, my little camera.
Wednesday spending total: $6.90 (tea and cheesecake)
A bunch of us took time out from our papers to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum:
The museum as a whole was sobering. The special exhibition "Give Me Your Children": Voices from the Lodz Ghetto was well thought-out and informative. I did not like the permanent exhibition, however; it was way too crowded and presented an overwhelming amount of words, media, and artifacts. Not a fun museum to see, but definitely necessary.
Sunday spending total: $1.60 (Holocaust Museum postcards)
Monday, July 23
Emily, Erica, and I got bored of writing and went on an adventure to Columbia Heights. We scooped up some dessert at Sticky Fingers right before close and proceeded to eat dinner at Logan @ The Heights:
We had a lovely time at this brand spanking new restaurant! My burger with bacon and fresh avocado was delicious...not to mention that it was followed by vegan raspberry cheesecake :)
Monday spending total: $33.13 (dessert at Sticky Fingers and dinner)
Tuesday, July 24
Following a presentation by two gentlemen from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the WISE gang went on a tour of the Capitol:
To be honest, I wasn't overwhelmed by the beauty of the Capitol rotunda. To be even more honest, I think that the rotunda in the Texas state capitol is significantly more beautiful.
The best part of the tour was getting to see the House vote!!! In all seriousness, this is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I couldn't tell you what was more exciting: the illuminated panels with each representative's name and his or her vote, the electric buzz in the air, or people-watching from the gallery. Speaking of, I spotted several Congressfolk including Dennis Kucinich, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Betty Sutton, Steve LaTourette, Rush Holt, Susan Davis, Steny Hoyer, Vern Ehlers, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, David Wu, and Deborah Pryce.
On a random aside, the Capitol South Metro station has the best advertisements ever. Check out Edna, sponsored by Smart Skies:
I also LOVE Dell's new colored laptop ads:
(A REPUBLICAN CHOSE BLUE also exists.)
Later on, Chris, Dave, Jason, Ano, Annie, and I headed to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Here's Dave on the way to Baltimore:
We got to the park just as the Cal Ripken Hall of Fame Send-Off was ending:
Ano, Jason, and Dave were a little disappointed that we didn't get Cal Ripken bobbleheads:
Camden Yards was built in 1992 by HOK Sport, the same firm that brought you Jacobs Field in 1994. I could definitely tell that the two parks were siblings:
As per usual, I was slightly obsessed with photographing this MLB ballpark:
Check out this Camden Yards sunset:
I somehow had a 48-year-old Baltimorean gentleman give me his number at the game. Don't worry, though; he has a 46-year-old internet girlfriend from West Virginia!
Oh, and the Orioles won another pitchers' duel 3 to nothing.
Tuesday spending total: $49.60 (postage, my share of a ZipCar, Orioles ticket, and a hot dog)
Wednesday, July 25
The WISE guys and gals had breakfast with engineering society representatives and a snack with Spanish engineering students later in the afternoon. Outside of that, much more paper writing ensued.
On a high note, I got mango tea and vegan blueberry cheesecake from Java Green.
On a low note, my beloved HP R707 camera died. The zoom and other functions had acted up when I heard Steny Hoyer speak two weeks ago, but my little camera somehow made a valiant recovery for the Philly trips, Washington Monument, and other mayhem around town. Upon turning on my camera most recently, no zoom, no menu, no nothing.
(For those who are wondering, I contacted HP technical support along with several DC area camera shops two weeks ago. The strips in between the manual buttons and internal circuits wore out; these wear down from use and ultimately limit the lifetime of the camera. HP offered me the option of trading my camera in for a newer refurb model, but I instead got a steal of a deal on a new HP R927 from Beach Camera.)
Requiescat in Pacem, my little camera.
Wednesday spending total: $6.90 (tea and cheesecake)
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