Produce.

In the produce section at Safeway, filling a bag with broccoli. An older guy is next to me filling up a bag with green beans:

"Oh, no no. Broccoli is not for me. None of that cauliflower either. Nuh uh. I'll stick with these here long beans."

Gotta Hand it to 'em.

Good to know that the Arlington Fire Dept. has a sense of humor (and bear drawing skills). I guess a lot of guys were kicking the flush handle?

Still Fresh.

I inherited from my mom a tendency to take pictures of flowers, either growing wild or simply part of a bouquet on the table.

There's probably an obnoxious comment to be made about globalization and the ability to have fresh flowers in DC while there's still snow in the street, but I'll just appreciate these for what they are for now.

Up Again.

Just couldn't resist another beautiful sunrise photo. Makes the morning a lot more bearable.

More Language.

Today in class I learned:

Una persona sin alfabeta; an illiterate person.  But more literally a person without alphabet.  It sounds so much more sad that way.

Royale with Cheese.

Today in class we learned that a Happy Meal in Columbia is called una Cajita de Feliz.  Literally: a little box of happy.

Handle it.

At the DC Superior Court.

A boy, who looks to be no more than 14 years old waiting in line for the security check-in and talking on his cellphone:

"I told you, I'ma make it rain as soon as I handle my business here.  No, I'ma make it rain!  Just let me handle my grown man business at the court."

Girders.

On a beautifully clear and sunny day just before Christmas, I went on a walk with Lydia and her mom along the bay at Crissy Field.  At the end of the walk, located directly under the bridge is Fort Point, an old US Army fort built during the Civil War to protect San Francisco against Confederate or foreign military attack.  (I know, that would have been a way nicer posting during the civil war than say, Antietam.)

Anyway, the fort was open and we were able to walk around inside (it is unsurprisingly spartan) and along the open rooftop where a spread of cannons were once located.  The air was cooler on the roof and a bit of breeze was swirling around under the bridge, so we didn't stay too long.  But before we left I was able to get a few pictures from directly under the bridge.

Pacified.

A few days before Christmas the weather cleared and we spent an afternoon walking along the beach at Half Moon Bay. I like to misquote Tom Robbins on the Pacific as "an ocean that is anything but (pacific)." Not sure if that makes sense here, but we happened to be out on the beach on a day when the Pacific Ocean really lived up to its name. The water was clear and calm as far as one could see.


Anyway, the tide was up and fishermen were casting into the surf from the side of the road.

A little ways further down the beach, we were able to walk along the sand. At one of the fresh-water outlets, I enjoyed checking out the mix of light and dark sands winding down to the ocean and the way the flow of sand mimicked the flow of water.

Chrisma-bot

We headed out West to celebrate Christmas with my wife's family, and as this was my first official Christmas with them there was much concern that I did not have a proper stocking.

My sister-in-law surprised me by knitting this awesome robot stocking which was overflowing on Christmas morning with all kinds of gourmet treats.

I like this tradition.

Priorities.

Today I saw a woman riding a bicycle while wearing a knee length fur coat. I guess I'm glad to see that in these tough economic times, people are prioritizing what's really important in their lives.

Worldly.

Yesterday at the same eye doctor my eye tech was a Sudanese woman who grew up in Lebanon but now has dual Canadian-American citizenship. Her father teaches at a university in Saudi Arabia and after she finishes medical school in the US she is considering returning to the middle east to provide eye care for under-served communities.

Also, my eyesight it better.

Boats, floating.

All week long the highs are in the 30's and now they're predicting flurries; yet here are two guys on their way to the Potomac for some afternoon whitewater fun.

Sun Up

Jingoism?  No, not here.  Just a lovely view outside my window early one morning before work.

Locked Up.

A very cold walk along the C&O canal last weekend, we got to see some of the old locks used to transport barges and boats upriver.

It was cold, but the weather was clear and I really liked seeing how much work went into building a transportation system that is now just a relic.