Okay, I Have Been a Bit of a Slacker #2

Posted on May 10, 2015 by captainjack66

Washington DC is not only one of my favorite cities, but also I would dare say my abode for a decade and I miss it dearly. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job and the opportunity it gives me and my family to move around internationally and explore the world, as well as prove myself every two to three years; if I do not get evacuated from post.

I would be lying if I said I did not miss friends, old haunts, and even the intrigue and politics of the city and the Hill. I guess being gone for a time makes one anxious for a return, which allows one to savor the city and its environs all the more.

Capitol Hill, Perspective #1

The Capitol Dome, Restoration, #1

The Capitol Dome Restoration, #2

Fortunately, work has taken me back to Washington DC twice in the past six months. It has allowed me to explore the city both on the day of arrival and of departure on the weekend – sorry during the other time in the city, work and its obligations is a relentless task master that does not afford much time to explore.

Tulips on the Mall

So I guess any opportunity I get, I will maximize it to the most. This time around I explored everything between old town Alexandria (even hit Starbucks numerous times) to Capitol Hill down through the mall (including the Shackler for a quick half hour visit) and around the tidal basin (including the Jefferson Memorial) and up to the Lincoln Memorial (by way of the FDR, MLK, and WWI and Korea memorials. Experiencing along the way as many of the sights and the characters that make Washington DC so special.

The Percussion King – A Great Street Performer

Tidal Basin Fishermen

Walked by main State, and waved at the security cameras, and got on the orange line and headed out to Georgetown via Rosslyn. I even ran up the hundred or so runs on the mechanical escalator with my pack just for old-time sake, to prove that though a young old fart, I am still in decent shape, and then across the Key Bridge.

Tourists – Blessed Them for Visiting and Contributing to the Economy

On the other side of the river, I even find the time to climb the exorcist stairs, hit GU’s bookstore for a school cap – go Hoyas, and take a picture of the little row house with a view of the Potomac that wifie and I considered buying when we first moved to DC.

Finished the day off as the sun is setting at Pizza Paradiso enjoying the Belgian beers I cannot get in Peru, some pizza Atomica, and all the olives I can eat when I get tapped on the shoulder by a headquarters’ retiree which allowed me the chance to catch up with a friend. Ah, life is good in the nation’s capital.

I am so sorely tempted to make an offer on that little 120 year-old row house, with its English garden with its big trees, its tiny rooms but with a view of the river and around the corner from GU. Guess I will have to wait a while until I rotate back home.

Cheers from an on the road FSO.

Abraham Lincoln, 150 Years Since His Assassination.

Posted on May 10, 2015 by captainjack66

Abraham Lincoln, the man who saved the Union and America’s first martyred president.

Lincoln, Perspective #1

Much has been recently been said and written about Lincoln. The big take away I guess then, as today about Lincoln are best captured by his own words, “let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let, us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.” (Abraham Lincoln, Cooper Union Address, February 27, 1860).

Lincoln, Perspective #2

I will otherwise let the pictures speak for themselves.

Lincoln Memorial on Stormy Spring Afternoon

Diplomonkey, Naughty Monkey

Posted on October 12, 2014 by captainjack66

Having received special dispensation from the powers that be to travel to Washington at the last moment for negotiations, Diplomonkey hit the road running on a fine Lima Saturday evening.

After a plus two-hour drive to Jorge Chavez International Airport, Diplomonkey finally arrives and proceeds to check in for his United Airlines flight to Washington via Newark. Thanks to his foresight he had checked in earlier that day, opting to use some of his hard-earned dollars to buy an Economy Plus upgrade. Unfortunately, United does not currently accept bananas as form of payment.

Running short on time thanks to Lima’s ridiculously heavy traffic, Diplomonkey forewent his usual pre-flight Starbucks coffee mocha with whipped cream and alfajor fix – Diplomonkey sad, so sad. However with security quickly cleared, on board United’s really nice Boeing 757-200, and settled into his plush Economy plus seat, Diplomonkey is enjoying life.

But it gets better. United’s in flight on demand video is great (got to watch 300: Rise of an Empire, Ancient Aliens, and even a Tom Cruise movie – which is always fun to ding) and had a spectacular meal. The food, even in economy, was not just palatable but really awesome this time. The wine was not too shabby either.

So Diplomonkey stays up late, watches movies, gets some work reading done, and gets to see the sun rise over the USA and is so happy. Diplomonkey had until then not seen the sun in nearly two months. Bright blue skies even make Newark look spectacular.

Turkish Folk Festival Dancers

Okay, Diplomonkey clears immigration and customs, collects his bag and catches his connecting flight to Washington.

Upon arrival in our nation’s capital, Diplomonkey drops off his bag at the hotel and proceeds to go exploring. Happens across the Turkish folk festival and gets great pictures with the now well-travelled Nikon D70.

Turkish Folk Festival Ladies

Turkish Festival Dude

Food Dude

Turkish Folk Festival Dancer

After an afternoon of photographinating, Diplomonkey in urgent need of sustenance hops on the subway and makes his way to his old haunt of Georgetown – yeah, go Hoyas – and hits Pizza Paradisso, mecca of great pizza and home to a spectacular collection of craft beers.

My other love, a Duchesse de Bourgogne

Diplomonkey, being the naughty monkey that he is, decides to get immediately re-acquainted with an old Belgian girlfriend of his, and none other than a Duchesse of Bourgogne that is.

With his Duchesse in hand, Diplomonkey compounds his naughtiness and orders wifie’s favorite pizza, an Atomica.

Pizza Paradisso’s Atomica

Trappistes Rochefort #10

Guilt ridden by his peccadillos, Diplomonkey tries to repent by hooking up with a Trappistes monk, ale that is, and orders himself a Trappistes Rochefort #10 (a quadruple ale).

Ah, life is good.

Chimping Explained

Posted on September 2, 2014 by captainjack66

One of the best places to go in Washington, DC with kids, or even by yourself, is the (Smithsonian) National Zoo. While on evacuation from US Embassy Cairo last year, I had the chance to take the little dudes to the zoo. There we came across bronze statutes of a troop of chimpanzee apes; which explains the origin of the picture on the blog’s page header.

Now for the chimping part explained. It is nothing more than a colloquial a term used in digital photography. According to that source of ultimate knowledge, Wikipedia, Robert Deutsch from USA Today first used the term way back then in September 1999 when writing a story for the SportsShooter email. That said, it is nothing more than the bad habit of checking every photo on the camera display immediately after taking the picture.

Ok, I take pictures ( a lot) and do look at these often as these come out. And yes, I also guilty of probably making the funny face (sometimes) and of likely saying something like “Ooo-oo-oo.” But by checking the display on my Nikon, it means that I can get confirmation that I got the shot or that I just need to do it again. Let’s face it, we all mess up shots.

Some purist will use the term as a pejorative. But since the technology is available, I think it would be foolish not to use it to its fullest extent!

So get out there, get the shot and check it. If it comes out good, feel free to chimp away a couple of “Ooo-oo-oos.”

Cheers.

diplomonkey

Chimping around the world!

Tag Archives: Washington DC

Okay, I Have Been a Bit of a Slacker #2

Abraham Lincoln, 150 Years Since His Assassination.

Diplomonkey, Naughty Monkey

Chimping Explained