Hanging With The Cool Kids!

I'm about an hour away from Portland but if I had my druthers I'd rather be an hour away from D.C. On the other hand, I know Jake needs his life back and doesn't need his old man getting in the way!

Here's a few odds ands ends that didn't make it into earlier posts:

* The Dubliner was a great place to hang out with Jake and his friends. I learned more about them than I needed to but they're a great group of folks!

* Meg (one of Jake's roommates) is a pretty long-suffering soul. She lives with three guys (although, one is never there, another is reportedly gay and she seems to have some kind of unnatural relationship with the other).

* The whole toilet seat issue is overblown. Meg, here's the rule: Whoever uses the toilet puts the seat where they need it - up or down. Any expectation that it always be left in the optimum position for women is totally unrealistic.

* Brett (another of Jake's roommates) has one of the coolest jobs in the world. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what he does or he'd have to kill us all. Let me just say that if one of his co-workers ever finds a personal hair on their Coke can, the obvious suspect may not be the actual perp.)

* Keep the fake accent Brett! And I suggest you use it in public no matter what Meg says.

* I would have never guessed that Meg was such a fan of the Insane Clown Posse that sometimes she even wears their makeup.

* I'm beginning to think that when Jake and I are out together, more than a few people think I am something other than just his father! (Which I guess is still better than what they think when I'm out with Elizabeth and people wonder if I'm her sugar daddy!)

* Jake would make a fine chauffeur!

Most of all I just wanna say that I love hanging out with all three of my kids! It is always a blast and I am so grateful they let me intrude on their real lives. Jake, you are a great person and I love the adventure you're on right now. Not to mention that I'm more than a little jealous!

I love you man!!!

Dufrain Baby!

Guinness with a shot of espresso! One of the most unique concoctions I've ever had!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

The Washington National Cathedral hosted a pretty cool MLK Day event featuring a variety of performances from soloist to poets to choirs to rappers. Sweet!

Edward Hopper

We snuck in to see the Edward Hopper exhibition at the National Gallery of Art today. Remembering that I don't know nuthin' 'bout no art, here's a couple of thoughts:

1. The guy was mildly pervy. Check out that Summertime pic. Wow!

2. It ain't just Nighthawks that leaves you wondering about the
people he depicts. Most of his stuff has some mystery to it.

3. He lived in the same apartment in Greenwich Village from 1913 until his death in 1967. I hope it was rent controlled.

All in all a cool guy and a great artist!

Alexander Calder

I don't know nuthin' 'bout no art but I recognize this "mobile" as an Alexander Calder piece. (Please send my MFA degree to my home please.)

Ben's Chili Bowl

Although I'm not a fan of chili dogs, chili fries or anything else
smothered in chili, I really wanted to visit this D.C. Institution.

I knew I would love it when I walked in and they were playing the
Isley Brothers. And then I saw a sign that reads:

List of Who Eats Free at Ben's:

Bill Cosby

NO ONE ELSE!

I had Bill Cosby's favorite - the Chili Half-Smoke. It was dang good! But I suspect I may need a Pepcid AC later.

I Am America and So Can You!

For a limited time at the National Portrait Gallery!

The Line

To see America's most popular art exhibit!

Almost Like The Final Four

Our seats for the game are near the top of the arena. But for $18,
what did I expect?

Me and All My Metro Friends!

I gotta move to a city that has cool light rail for its mass transit. Jake and I are headed to the Verizon Center for the Georgetown - Notre Dame game. Taking the Metro is like magic. You go underground, get in a rocket ship and magically appear at your destination.

Union Station

After a fabulous wet-pants-free flight from Minneapolis to Baltimore - and by train to D.C. I connected with Jake outside outside of Union Station. What I at first thought was a Welcome to D.C. police escort turned out to be some kind of sweet police emergency involving a guy with a shotgun and samurai sword. I was so disappointed. But we made up for it by hanging out at a pretty darn good Irish pub for the evening. Three beers later and it's only 6:30 PT!

The Larry Craig Memorial Bathroom Stall

I survived the first leg of my journey to D.C. with wet pants as the only casualty. No, the flight was not all that harrowing but apparently if you fall asleep on the plane with a cup of ginger ale in your hand this kinda thing might happen. The next leg (from Minneapolis to Baltimore) will be boarding soon. I'll be in D.C. in no time!

The Greatest Dog Ever!

As much as I can't wait to visit Jake in D.C. this weekend, I always
hate leaving Rudy behind. The good news is that she always forgives me
when I come back!

Comanche Moon

Comanche Moon is the prequel to Lonesome Dove - my all-time favorite book. The miniseries on CBS wraps up tonight. While it's not as good as the original, it is great to get the backstory. If only I could convince my kids of how great this story is.

Oh, and Steve Zahn can channel Robert Duvall so well it's scary.

Evolution Revolution

If there's any one issue we should use as a litmus test in selecting our next President there's no question in my mind that it should be EVOLUTION! Wanna see where they weigh in on the issue? Check out this article at Reason.com