The Beach

Every time we walk along a beach, some ancient urge disturbs us, so that we find ourselves shedding shoes and garments or scavenging among seaweed and whitened timbers like the homesick refugees of a long war.
— Loren Eiseley

So, I’m back. I had such a great time that I nearly stayed another day, but one thing was pulling me home, and I know I made the right choice. But here is a photo essay of my trip, with a little commentary along the way:

This was the house Aimee’s family is renting for the week – it’s 9 bedrooms and 5 (I think) bathrooms, with a hot tub, a cabana, a big deck on the top, and this beautiful pool:

Saturday we moved our stuff in and immediately headed for the pool, playing with Ben and the other kids. We later dried off and showered, and we were getting ready to go out, when our plans were thwarted because there was no one to watch Ben. So we hung out at the house instead, and I had my first drink of the weekend, which is my new favorite thing:

Here we are on the patio:

Aimee went to bed around 10:30, and I walked across the street to the beach in the dark. I sat down on the sand and stared at the stars and listened to the waves crashing and felt, suddenly, very small. Which was good, because this thing that’s going on that I’m not really talking about feels very big to me and it’s hard sometimes to remember that this is not all there is. I crawled in to bed a little after midnight, tired but happy to be where I was.

Sunday morning, Aimee was up with Ben by 6:15, and she woke me because she knew I wanted to see the sunrise, and I was glad she did.

I went for a little barefoot run on the beach, which was awesome, and then took a nap til about 9. We spent the day at the beach and the pool, and then went down to Beach Street that night to walk around like tourists.

We went to a mirror maze, where they made us wear plastic gloves on our hands so we wouldn’t leave fingerprints on the glass and give away which ones were mirrors. We had a blast – we went through three times, and laughed our asses off the whole time. Here we are in the maze, and we both think we’re looking at the camera:

We walked down to the Boardwalk for a little bit and watched the lightning flash over the ocean, which was very cool. Then we headed to a bar where Aimee ordered a margarita as big as her head and I had something called a Moon Doggie, which was spiced rum, blue curacao, and strawberries in a frozen concoction, and it was yummy.

We headed home exhausted, and I was up again for the sunrise on Monday, although a little later. I saw pelicans dive bombing for their breakfasts, a dead horseshoe crab, some jellyfish, leftover sand castles, and much more.

Then Ben and I hung out for a little bit:

Then I headed to the beach to lay out. I was lying on my stomach, and I lifted my head up for some reason, and all of a sudden, it was like Night of the Living Dead – all the little sand crabs peeked their heads up out of their holes and started skittering around. It was so weird, like the sand was moving. As soon as I reached for my camera, they all darted back underground. Eventually, I was able to capture this little guy on video:

Then, I saw about a million dolphins about 150 yards off shore.

I stood hip-deep in the ocean with tears streaming down my face watching them surface and jump. I probably could have swam out to them, that’s how close they were. And I would have, if I thought they would have let me get close. I like to think that the dolphins would know it was me if I went to them.

After that, I went to the pool for a bit and then showered and got ready to go. We took a few final pictures:

And then I was off. It took me less time to get from the beach back to Northern Virginia than it did to get from Richmond to the beach, which it shouldn’t have, but that’s beach traffic for you. When I got home, I unpacked, and I think Pico wants to make sure I don’t leave without him next time:

What’s Going On

Vacation is what you take when you can’t take what you’ve been taking any longer.
– Unknown

Sorry I didn’t post yesterday – I was hoping to keep my daily streak up, at least until today – but I just couldn’t manage it. But here’s what’s happening in my neck of the woods:

My tomato plants are not well. They were so tall, so I cut them back a couple weeks ago, which I know the guy who sold them to me said I could do, but I think I broke them. And my Alyssum never flowered. I still have just a bunch of seedlings, which are nice enough, but I was promised purple flowers, damn it, and I want them.

Yesterday I was off work for an all-day CLE thing on professionalism that Virginia requires all newly-licensed attorneys to attend within one year of being admitted to the bar. I was bored to tears, but at least I got to get home by 4, which was nice. Then I went for my first real training run outside, which, as the running page details, was both better and worse than running at the gym.

Today was back to work. My boss left at 2:30, and since I was the only one in the office today, he told me (with a knowing smile) that I could use my “discretion” as to when I left. Don’t think I didn’t seriously consider 2:31. But in the end, I held out until 4:15, and was home by 5. I could get used to this. I just went for a swim, and now I’m relaxing, waiting for pizza to arrive, and trying to pack for the beach.

Tomorrow morning, I’m headed down to Richmond to meet Aimee and Ben and the rest of her Richmond family, and then we’ll all head east to Sandbridge where they get a house for a week every summer. I’m staying til Monday, and I cannot tell you how much I need this right now. There are things going on around these parts that are really wearing on me, and I just need to be away from it right now, and hopefully gain some clarity and insight and peace. Tuesday might be the day that provides the resolution, one way or the other, but I can’t be positive.

Depending on what time I get home Monday, you might get an update, but you might not, either. Do try not to miss me too much!

Don’t You Just Love This Face?

There are two means of refuge from the misery of life – music and cats.
– Albert Schweitzer

Love

Does that scare you?
I’ll let you run away
But your heart will not oblige you
You’ll remember me like a melody
Yeah, I’ll haunt the world inside you
— Fiona Apple, Slow Like Honey

I’ve been thinking about love a lot lately, and I want to know:

How do you know you’re in love? When was the last time you fell in love? Was it requited or not? Did you tell the person who inspired the feeling? Have you ever fallen out of love? How did you explain that to the other person? What do you do when you love a person you know you can’t have? Have you ever fallen in love unexpectedly?

You don’t have to answer all of those questions, but I’m interested in whatever you’re willing to share.

Photo Gallery

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.
– Ansel Adams

In an effort to be less drama-oriented around here (though, trust me, there’s still a bit of drama going on at the moment), I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite photographs that I’ve taken over the last several years. I hope you enjoy them!

This is part of an arbor in Central Park. I took several rolls of film there after I got my SLR a couple years ago.

This is the waterfall at Coline du Chateau in Nice, France. To reach it, you have to climb about a billion steps (or take a cab – we climbed), but it, and the whole park, are totally worth it.

This is a little cove off the coast of Villefranche sur Mer, just south of Nice. The kids were locals, and they were climbing the rock and then jumping off into the pool below.

I’ve posted this one before, in a Happy Things post, but it’s one of my favorites that I took in France. I read once that “love is what makes two people sit together in the middle of a bench when there is plenty of room at each end,” and this photo is the perfect illustration of that.

A sand dune at Jones Beach on Long Island. I took several rolls of film there too, in the weeks after I got my SLR.

This is also at Jones Beach – I think I got the composition just right on this one. If you’ve been around a while, you might remember that it used to be my header when I was on Blogger:

Here’s an interesting juxtaposition for you – this was the Umbrella shack in April 2005:

And here’s the Snack Shack in April 2008:

And here’s my favorite photo from Jones Beach:

My Favorite Sign

It’s a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word.
– Andrew Jackson

This sign sits alongside Route 15 somewhere between Harrisburg and the northern border of Pennsylvania. I see it whenever I go visit my parents, and it makes me smile every time.

Life Lessons

Old men are fond of giving good advice, to console themselves for no longer being in a position to give bad examples.
– Francois la Rochefoucauld

I’ve been holding on to this for a little while now, since Lyrically first did it back in April, and I thought I’d go ahead and share it with you now. Remember this spoken word “song” that was popular about 10 years ago (maybe longer)? The words are taken from an imagined commencement address written by a Chicago Tribune writer. Lyrically gave her take on it, and commenters offered some suggestions as well, and I started my own list with the intent to share it here. And here we are.

Never leave home without Chapstick. When the world gets to be too much, spend time with people under the age of 5. Try to laugh at something every day. Sing, whenever, wherever, even if it’s only to yourself. Life is too short to eat fat-free cheese. Read for pleasure – it’s the best way to learn new things and expand your vocabulary. Own a cat, especially if you live alone; it helps to have something to take care of. Always buy what kids are selling at card tables on their front lawns. Smile at strangers – it doesn’t cost anything and it might brighten someone’s day. Always bring socks or stockings with you when you go shoe shopping (otherwise, you’ll end up like me, with multiple pairs of shoes that are *just* too big). Diet Dr. Pepper is the only diet soda that really does taste like the original. When you move to a new neighborhood, find the local public library and get a card as soon as you can. Learn to drive stick. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – how else are you supposed to get the answers? Get unlimited text messaging on your cell phone.

Never wear open-toed shoes without painting your toenails. When making macaroni and cheese from a box, mix the milk with the cheese powder first, and then add it to the macaroni. Floss – your dentist is right (and my dentist is hot!). Be friends with your siblings. Always try to be fair, even when fighting. Don’t let kind things go unsaid. Get to know your grandparents. Recycle, recycle, recycle. Send thank you notes; especially these days, you’ll stand out from the rest, and it’s just the right thing to do. You are never alone, even when you feel like you are. Study abroad in college – you won’t be sorry. Read the newspaper. Learn to love a sport, it’s a great way to connect with strangers. Don’t play games with people’s hearts – be honest about your feelings. Go places by yourself; you don’t always need a wingman. Make your bed every day – it takes 2 minutes and makes a huge difference. Credit cards are not worth the trouble; avoid them if you can. Exercise is good for your body and your mind – make it a habit, but find something you love to do.

Go to therapy – where else can you find someone who’ll listen to you for an hour and not expect to talk about themselves in return? When someone asks you to be in their wedding, only say yes if you can honestly stand up for the relationship. Take lots of pictures. Shave your underarms in both directions; you’ll get a closer, longer lasting shave. The only way you won’t get what you want is if you stop trying to get it. Eat breakfast every day. Never stay with someone who doesn’t believe in you. Follow through when you say you’re going to do something. Share what you have with others, whether it’s money, time, talent, wisdom, or friendship. Be someone’s secret admirer.

So there you go. What’s your advice?

Can You Stand Another Baseball Post?

A hotdog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz.
– Humphrey Bogart

Last night my friend Tigers Fan and I headed up to Baltimore to see his hometown Detroit Tigers take on the Baltimore Orioles. I was psyched, because I’d never been to Camden Yards for a baseball game,* despite having gone to college in Baltimore and having lived there after graduation. Also because, as you might have heard me say once or twice, I love baseball and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be on a summer night than at the ballpark.

We left NoVa around 5, which was a mistake, because then we sat in traffic for a hundred years and only made it to the stadium about 20 minutes before game time. But since it was my first time there, we walked around a bit first, and this is what I saw:

This is the warehouse that sits behind right field. It’s iconic in Baltimore, and it makes me happy.

Between the warehouse and right field is a promenade, with lots of concessions and stuff.  Here, apparently, you have to be careful you don’t get knocked on the head by a home run!  In fact, there are plaques spotted all over the sidewalk in the shape of baseballs with dates and names of the players who hit home runs out there.  I wish I’d taken a picture of one.  Only one person – Ken Griffey, Jr. – has ever hit a ball that actually hit the warehouse.

This was my first glimpse of the field.  I’m kind of short, but Tigers Fan is nearly a foot taller than I am, so he could see significantly more from this vantage point than I could.  He said, “There appear to be some people in period garb down there.”  And, indeed, there were:

More specifically, they were the Yorktown Fife and Drum Corp, and they performed the National Anthem.

Then we headed to our seats.  Baseball tickets are one thing I don’t mind spending money on, and they’re cheaper at Camden Yards than they are at Nationals Park.  We had club level seats, which is code for “fancy.”

So fancy that you don’t even have to go get your own food and beer if you don’t want – they bring it right to you!  (And now that I say it like that, I realize they’ll do that for you in the cheap seats too – the beer vendors and hot dog guys – but this was way better: you just wave your orange menu and someone comes and takes your order – and there’s lots to choose from – and then they go and get it for you and bring it back.  How cool is that?)

Here’s the view from our (larger than average, comfy) seats:

The game itself was exciting – several home runs and lead changes and a near come-from-behind win for the Os in the bottom of the 9th, but in the end, the Tigers held on to win 6-5, and Tigers Fan was a happy guy.

* I have been to Camden Yards before – in fact, I’ve been in the Os dugout and on the field and all around the inside of the stadium.  In college, we had one of our formals there, and we got to go on tours of the park. But this was better.  Way better.

Pssst . . .

Donors don’t give to institutions. They invest in ideas and people in whom they believe.
– G.T. Smith

Wanna buy a journal?

It’s my last item up for bid in the Team GDT auctions (winner gets the choice of covers), and the auction ends Saturday at midnight. But if the journal doesn’t strike your fancy, not to worry: There’s lots more to choose from this week, and every week until mid-August or so – new stuff is posted every Sunday on the Team GDT auction site.

Just a reminder that the total of all winning bids goes directly to Komen to help find a cure for breast cancer.

Thanks for your support!

Workout

I really don’t think I need buns of steel. I’d be happy with buns of cinnamon.
– Ellen DeGeneres

I work out regularly – running, walking, elliptical, and now, with summer, swimming. I work out 5-6 days a week usually, and generally do upper body weights three times a week. My arms look pretty good these days, if I do say so myself. I realized I was neglecting my lower body and abs, though, because I hate the exercises and was only doing them once a week (abs) if ever (legs). Lately, though, it’s become clear to me that I need to do something extra to change my shape, so a couple of weeks ago, I ordered Jackie Warner’s One-on-One Training with Jackie DVD. I’ve never watched her show on Bravo, but I’d heard good things about her DVD, and I haven’t been disappointed.

The DVD has three separate 20-minute workouts – upper body, lower body, and core. I bought it with the intention of doing the whole video as one workout, but it turns out that might kill me, so I’ve taken to doing each part once a week, before or after another piece of my workout (running, swimming, etc), and still doing upper body weights at the gym once a week. Jackie combines strength training with one-minute cardio intervals, and each strength exercise is done for about a minute as well, which is a nice way to keep things moving. The total length of each workout is perfect too – just when I think I can’t do any more, the 20 minutes is up. I still can’t do all of the exercises for the entire time she does (well, not her, because she’s busy “checking the form” of her companions, who do the majority of the work), but hey – baby steps.

She has four of her trainers from her health club along with her, and each one is featured for a segment in each workout. The three girls are all big-busted and tan, and half-naked, of course (I think it’s supposed to motivate you, but I get distracted wondering how they don’t fall out of their skimpy tops) and I just know their six-packs have been given added definition via airbrushing, though I can’t prove it. The lone guy keeps his baseball hat pulled low over his eyes and doesn’t smile much. He is also fully clothed. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that Jackie is a lesbian. But I digress.

For the ab workout, the male trainer demonstrates the more advanced versions of the exercises, and one of the girls demonstrates the lower impact versions, which is a nice touch. Jackie regularly reminds you to focus on your form, which I need, because I tend to get lazy as I get toward the end of an exercise. She’s encouraging, but not overly chipper, and she explains things in a way that’s easy to understand. Overall, I’m very happy with the workout I get, but I wonder if I’m doing the ab exercises wrong because, although they hurt like a mother while I’m doing them, I’m never sore the next day (and maybe that’s a good thing, I don’t know). The upper body workout reaches areas I’ve apparently neglected in my own arm workouts, especially the back (all you’ll need is hand weights). The first time I did the lower body workout, I nearly fell walking down the stairs of my apartment afterwards because my thighs felt like jelly. In a good way.

Anyway, it’s cheap on Amazon – $9, plus shipping (I think I paid $12 total), and it’s a fun, interesting way to spice up your workout life, if you need something to kick start you or motivate you to keep going. I’m enjoying it, so I wanted to share it with you. If you check it out, let me know what you think!