Arrived in western MA on Wed following a crazy 24 hours of travel from SFO connecting through ORD during massive thunderstorms which blew up everyone’s flight plans. Brought grandkid home after spending a month in CA, including one week at Lair of the Golden Bear, in Pinecrest CA. Go Bears!
Spent last week driving across the country with No 3 to Alexandria, VA because he's starting PT school next week at Marymount University.
Left CA last Tues. The first 2 days were about 11+ hours of driving because we wanted to get to KC by Thurs afternoon to pick up No 2 from the airport and go to a Royals game.
First night was SLC. Left the Bay Area around 9:30 and got to SLC a little after 11 PM. Stopped off in Reno for gas, somewhere East of Reno for a Bojangles biscuit, Elko for gas, and then got to SLC. No 3 wanted In N Out since it would be the last time he would have it before Christmas so we stopped there at 11 PM. Didn't go to sleep until probably 1:30 or so.
Day 2 we left the hotel and stopped for coffee and a bagel. Got gas somewhere in Wyoming and then Costco in Denver. Had Fazoli's, a midwest pasta fast-ish food place, and then drove to Oakley, Kansas and got in after 11 PM.
Day 3 we left the hotel early and drove to KC. No 3 landed at 11:30 but we didn't get to the airport until probably around 1:30. Couldn't get into the hotel until after 3. Ate at Joe's BBQ at the original location in the gas station. Was really good. Got ribs and burnt ends, mac and cheese, and a couple of other things. Went to the Royals Twins game.
Day 4 we went to the Negro Leagues baseball museum, which was the whole reason No 2 flew out to meet us. He really wanted to go. Drove to STL in the afternoon for the Cardinals Rockies game.
Day 5 drove to Louisville and stayed there for the night since the kids wanted to stop and eat there. I met with a friend there for a couple of hours. Their mom happened to already plan a trip there so we grabbed dinner with her and stopped off in the morning before leaving.
Day 6, long drive to Alexandria. Got to our airbnb after 11 PM.
Most of this week has been spent dealing with getting the apt, getting furniture at Ikea, and going to other places to get the rest of it. Still sitting around with the desk and dining room table put together but just a mattress and air mattress to sleep on. The bed, dresser, TV stand all still have to be put together. Other than last night, I think we're working on only like 6+ hours of sleep a night. It's been a long week and a half.
Flying to NYC to stay with HSB for a few nights and then with No 1 and his GF for a couple of nights. Making pizza on Mon night. Come on over!
I was KC for work related training in February of 2005. Went to both the Jazz museum and the NLbaseball museum. Started chatting with an old fellow there, not knowing at the time until I left, that it was Buck O.
I was staying at a hotel in the Country Club Plaza. One morning whilst walking to where the training was I passed by George Brett's Restaurant as I did each day. This day there was guy unloading a pickup truck in the front. I heard a spat of colorful profanity come out of him so I looked over and clearly it was George. I think the restaurant is still there but he has long since sold it.
It was incredible. Bob Kendrick the director was there. We said hi. They were doing the announcement of the new class for the Hall of Game, their HOF. Reggie Smith is one of the inducties along with 2 Negro League players. They have all these displays from the start to the end, including all of the original teams, displays for all the stars. So many pictures and memoribilia. So much history.
I highly recommend it if you're anywhere close.
No 2 really got to know the players and the history because the MLB the Show game had a whole game mode on the Negro Leagues. They have all these mini games on different achievements and he tries to do all of them and will keep buying the game as long as they have the mode.
2 episodes in, it’s still pretty Ted Lasso-ie. I read a review from London that trashed it. Said the sweetness is a bad match for the current day. I don’t agree.
Also, they visit many KC landmarks in episode 1. My wife was excited to see them eating at Gates. She screamed “I’ve been there!”
I took 5 days off. Tues - Mon. Working morning and at night the rest of the week so we can run errands in the afternoon.
I don't mind putting together IKEA furniture either. It does seem that the stuff lately uses regular screwdrivers rather than hex heads. The boxes are damn heavy for as small as they are. Luckily my cousin offered his dolly which made moving into the apt easier since we could each get 1 thing rather than have to make almost twice as many trips.
driving today from Burlington to Portsmouth NH and camp pickup tomorrow.
our younger one is a counselor and the 2 young nieces are campers. they do a nice end-of-session that is very nostalgic after going for last 10+ years.
yeah, summer goes quickly in Vermont, same as in NY's northcountry.
I recall one day in late August on Lake George when the summer staff were packing up to go back to college. Everyone started the day in shorts like we had all summer. By lunch, we had gone back to our rooms to get a sweatshirt. By dinner, we all had on pants. It went from 85 to 55 in about 6 hours. The gods were telling us that summer's over.
Not in DC/VA. Though it is overcast right now and a high of around 85. So maybe 5+ degrees cooler than earlier this week. Haven't gone outside yet, but probably still going to be humid.
I try to wear fun Friday shirts if I know that I am not going to be seen by the public too much. Today, I have a Star Wars button-down short-sleeve shirt that I bought at Disneyland several years ago from the gift shop that you enter after riding Star Tours. It's black with TIE fighters, X-wings, Y-wings, and the Millennium Falcon battling each other.
I used to use Friday to wear a hot weather shirt like barong, guayabara, Hawaiian, or other that I picked up when traveling. Not fun shirts but formal type where I got them.
I was talking with someone about working from home and they mentioned not having to spend money in clothes. My son joked that I never had to spend money on work clothes. Benefits of being a programmer/engineer.
heh, in my spin class for years I dressed with not much though except for utility. Then a couple of years ago, I spruced up my shorts and started wearing athletic polo shirts. A gal I knew for years said..."You know you look so much better, you are much more well put together lately."
But the clothes you are spending money on is for fun, not for work. I'm OK with spending money for that. But for dressing up just so you look nice for work when you don't have to meet customers? That's just wasting money.
What about the whole "dress for the job you want, not the job you have" theory? Like, if someone dresses like a baller, do you think people think of them as such, in a way that people wouldn't if they didn't dress nicely?
I also think there can be value in having a signature look when you work in a big office. Like, I've worked with a bow-tie dude, a tie-clip dude, and a sweater vest dude. Everybody knew them.
Went to a Nepali restaurant, Himalayan Wild Yak in the Ballston neighborhood in Arlington with my cousin. Very very good. They have Yak dishes that are very good. It can be tough but we had something braised and it was really good. Lots of Indian dishes on the menu as well like Butter Chicken. So I guess it's Indian adjacent.
our family owns some land in a small village 3 hours outside Kolkata and there is a 4 yr rotation on which family is hosting and funding the festivities for Durga Puja.
i hear that a few years ago they discontinued the sacrifice of a goat. now it is something symbolic.
Win the Joe Roth game! USC’s 24-14 loss to California on December 4, 2021 was the last time the Bears got one (the game where Jaxson Dart was knocked out with a concussion; Bears were already ahead at that juncture).
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DBD Travel
Arrived in western MA on Wed following a crazy 24 hours of travel from SFO connecting through ORD during massive thunderstorms which blew up everyone’s flight plans. Brought grandkid home after spending a month in CA, including one week at Lair of the Golden Bear, in Pinecrest CA. Go Bears!
Glad you arrived OK!
Spent last week driving across the country with No 3 to Alexandria, VA because he's starting PT school next week at Marymount University.
Left CA last Tues. The first 2 days were about 11+ hours of driving because we wanted to get to KC by Thurs afternoon to pick up No 2 from the airport and go to a Royals game.
First night was SLC. Left the Bay Area around 9:30 and got to SLC a little after 11 PM. Stopped off in Reno for gas, somewhere East of Reno for a Bojangles biscuit, Elko for gas, and then got to SLC. No 3 wanted In N Out since it would be the last time he would have it before Christmas so we stopped there at 11 PM. Didn't go to sleep until probably 1:30 or so.
Day 2 we left the hotel and stopped for coffee and a bagel. Got gas somewhere in Wyoming and then Costco in Denver. Had Fazoli's, a midwest pasta fast-ish food place, and then drove to Oakley, Kansas and got in after 11 PM.
Day 3 we left the hotel early and drove to KC. No 3 landed at 11:30 but we didn't get to the airport until probably around 1:30. Couldn't get into the hotel until after 3. Ate at Joe's BBQ at the original location in the gas station. Was really good. Got ribs and burnt ends, mac and cheese, and a couple of other things. Went to the Royals Twins game.
Day 4 we went to the Negro Leagues baseball museum, which was the whole reason No 2 flew out to meet us. He really wanted to go. Drove to STL in the afternoon for the Cardinals Rockies game.
Day 5 drove to Louisville and stayed there for the night since the kids wanted to stop and eat there. I met with a friend there for a couple of hours. Their mom happened to already plan a trip there so we grabbed dinner with her and stopped off in the morning before leaving.
Day 6, long drive to Alexandria. Got to our airbnb after 11 PM.
Most of this week has been spent dealing with getting the apt, getting furniture at Ikea, and going to other places to get the rest of it. Still sitting around with the desk and dining room table put together but just a mattress and air mattress to sleep on. The bed, dresser, TV stand all still have to be put together. Other than last night, I think we're working on only like 6+ hours of sleep a night. It's been a long week and a half.
Flying to NYC to stay with HSB for a few nights and then with No 1 and his GF for a couple of nights. Making pizza on Mon night. Come on over!
tell us about the Negro Leagues baseball museum. I regret missing it the last time I was in KC.
I was KC for work related training in February of 2005. Went to both the Jazz museum and the NLbaseball museum. Started chatting with an old fellow there, not knowing at the time until I left, that it was Buck O.
I was staying at a hotel in the Country Club Plaza. One morning whilst walking to where the training was I passed by George Brett's Restaurant as I did each day. This day there was guy unloading a pickup truck in the front. I heard a spat of colorful profanity come out of him so I looked over and clearly it was George. I think the restaurant is still there but he has long since sold it.
That's so cool
It was incredible. Bob Kendrick the director was there. We said hi. They were doing the announcement of the new class for the Hall of Game, their HOF. Reggie Smith is one of the inducties along with 2 Negro League players. They have all these displays from the start to the end, including all of the original teams, displays for all the stars. So many pictures and memoribilia. So much history.
I highly recommend it if you're anywhere close.
No 2 really got to know the players and the history because the MLB the Show game had a whole game mode on the Negro Leagues. They have all these mini games on different achievements and he tries to do all of them and will keep buying the game as long as they have the mode.
First episode of the new season of Ted Lasso includes a visit to the Negro Leagues Museum!
I'll start when I get back from NYC. How is season 2?
2 episodes in, it’s still pretty Ted Lasso-ie. I read a review from London that trashed it. Said the sweetness is a bad match for the current day. I don’t agree.
Also, they visit many KC landmarks in episode 1. My wife was excited to see them eating at Gates. She screamed “I’ve been there!”
Awesome. Thanks for sharing
did you basically take 2 weeks off?
i rather enjoy putting together IKEA furniture
I took 5 days off. Tues - Mon. Working morning and at night the rest of the week so we can run errands in the afternoon.
I don't mind putting together IKEA furniture either. It does seem that the stuff lately uses regular screwdrivers rather than hex heads. The boxes are damn heavy for as small as they are. Luckily my cousin offered his dolly which made moving into the apt easier since we could each get 1 thing rather than have to make almost twice as many trips.
driving today from Burlington to Portsmouth NH and camp pickup tomorrow.
our younger one is a counselor and the 2 young nieces are campers. they do a nice end-of-session that is very nostalgic after going for last 10+ years.
HAG is getting to our house in NY this weekend and making pizza on Mon in case you want to come over
First day of school
First day of school here in Albany, NY is September 10th. Sooooooooo late!
My son started his senior year yesterday. Very mixed feelings about his statement that "This semester is going to be EASY!"
Congrats!
Thank you! :)
it can be .. or not. depends how much time college apps and all that stuff take up. 2nd semester on the other hand should be easy.
Orientation for Marymount University PT program is this coming Monday.
my little nieces in Raleigh NC started school this week (1st and 5th grades) early in the south.
our kids are in college now, but NY and northeast schools typically start after Labor Day.
Winter is coming ...
yeah, summer goes quickly in Vermont, same as in NY's northcountry.
I recall one day in late August on Lake George when the summer staff were packing up to go back to college. Everyone started the day in shorts like we had all summer. By lunch, we had gone back to our rooms to get a sweatshirt. By dinner, we all had on pants. It went from 85 to 55 in about 6 hours. The gods were telling us that summer's over.
Not in DC/VA. Though it is overcast right now and a high of around 85. So maybe 5+ degrees cooler than earlier this week. Haven't gone outside yet, but probably still going to be humid.
Roads were wet this morning in the East Bay due to heavy drizzle. Weird.
Did you feel the earthquake yesterday?
Nope. As I understand it, it happened at about 8:30 yesterday morning, and I was dropping my kid off at school at that time in San Jose.
times have changed. growing up in East Bay we expected cold and heavy drizzle pretty much year round.
as a result, no matter where i am, i almost always have a light rain jacket w/ me.
the discussion at the neighborhood cafe today (in Burlington) is "isnt it nice that it finally a little cooler and it seems like winter is coming?"
the days have been hot, but the last few mornings have had a nice chill in the air, 50s maybe
i have been wearing either pants or a light sweater for my morning coffee excursion
Summer Fridays
I try to wear fun Friday shirts if I know that I am not going to be seen by the public too much. Today, I have a Star Wars button-down short-sleeve shirt that I bought at Disneyland several years ago from the gift shop that you enter after riding Star Tours. It's black with TIE fighters, X-wings, Y-wings, and the Millennium Falcon battling each other.
I used to use Friday to wear a hot weather shirt like barong, guayabara, Hawaiian, or other that I picked up when traveling. Not fun shirts but formal type where I got them.
they dont seem so special anymore with Zoom and remote work.
i remember the perks were
- you didnt have to wear a suit/tie
- you could leave work at a normal to early time
- people would gather after work for a beer
I was talking with someone about working from home and they mentioned not having to spend money in clothes. My son joked that I never had to spend money on work clothes. Benefits of being a programmer/engineer.
i dont mind spending money on clothes. in fact i rather enjoy having amazing outdoor gear, cycling/workout specific stuff, going out stuff, etc.
my observation is that some effort on clothes is a great equalizer for being below-average-attractive.
heh, in my spin class for years I dressed with not much though except for utility. Then a couple of years ago, I spruced up my shorts and started wearing athletic polo shirts. A gal I knew for years said..."You know you look so much better, you are much more well put together lately."
you wear polo shirts in spin class? 🤔
Yes. Not "country club or 19th hole polos" but "performance" types.
But the clothes you are spending money on is for fun, not for work. I'm OK with spending money for that. But for dressing up just so you look nice for work when you don't have to meet customers? That's just wasting money.
What about the whole "dress for the job you want, not the job you have" theory? Like, if someone dresses like a baller, do you think people think of them as such, in a way that people wouldn't if they didn't dress nicely?
I also think there can be value in having a signature look when you work in a big office. Like, I've worked with a bow-tie dude, a tie-clip dude, and a sweater vest dude. Everybody knew them.
People were like, "who's Joe?"
"He's the guy who always wears the sweater vest."
"Oh, I know that dude."
Digital diversions
Globle
🌎 Aug 14, 2026 🌍
🔥 1 | Avg. Guesses: 5.92
⬜🟨🟥🟥🟩 = 5
https://globle-game.com
#globle
SEA OF GREENS again and i beat WordleBot skillfully, no less
Wordle 1,882 4/6*
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WordleBot
Skill 99/99
Luck 46/99
Wordle 1,882 6/6*
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WordleBot
Skill 46/99
Luck 47/99
Bad job trying to get back into wordle after almost 2 weeks.
Wordle 1,882 4/6
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WordleBot
Skill 92/99
Luck 36/99
In the regular version, WordleBot got it in 3, so it beat me.
good thing i sent that article about that country changing its name last week
#Worldle #1666 (14.08.2026) 5/6 (100%)
🔥 Current Win Streak: 1 days
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🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🎉
https://worldle.teuteuf.fr/share
Indo-Pak-Bangladeshi restaurants and other related things
Went to a Nepali restaurant, Himalayan Wild Yak in the Ballston neighborhood in Arlington with my cousin. Very very good. They have Yak dishes that are very good. It can be tough but we had something braised and it was really good. Lots of Indian dishes on the menu as well like Butter Chicken. So I guess it's Indian adjacent.
planning a trip to India and Bhutan next fall.
Durga Puja is the biggest festival of the year in Bengal. i have never been because it is in early Oct and perfectly conflicts w/ the US school year
after that we are joining a group who is planning an organized trip to Bhutan.
our family owns some land in a small village 3 hours outside Kolkata and there is a 4 yr rotation on which family is hosting and funding the festivities for Durga Puja.
i hear that a few years ago they discontinued the sacrifice of a goat. now it is something symbolic.
Cal
GO BEARS!!!
Win the Joe Roth game! USC’s 24-14 loss to California on December 4, 2021 was the last time the Bears got one (the game where Jaxson Dart was knocked out with a concussion; Bears were already ahead at that juncture).
CFB week zero is two weeks from tomorrow. I can't hardly wait.
Mendoza shines in debut
PRO
Mendoza shines in debut
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7512569/2026/08/13/fernando-mendoza-preseason-debut-raiders/?unlocked_article_code=1.5VA.qM6s.eOj3MBynyvm2&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta
i dont get the impression that fans have deserted the Raiders en-masse in the same way as the A's.
i suppose it is because of many more years of neglect and maybe already the move to LA and back already
I, for one, think they can both fuck themselves.
(But I was way more upset/depressed when the A's left.)