Deer in the Backyard

Deer come through our yard (or nearby) every day. There is a little patch of swamp between the houses, and I'm sure that's where they live, and then come up the hill to feed during the day. I could track them back to their bedroom, but I prefer to leave them in peace.

Junco Weather

A cold snap in the northeast right now...real junco weather. Here's one of the tribe that lives in our mountain laurel, looking in the window.

Robert Todd Lincoln

I visited the grave of Robert Todd Lincoln at Arlington National Cemetery. He is a fascinating figure - talk about living up to your father! Jason Emerson has written a great book about his amazing life. I enjoyed it very much.

Appearance on Ann Nyberg

Nyberg: "A History of Connecticut Food"

We were pleased to be interviewed by Emmy-nominated Ann Nyberg, and featured on the news yesterday.

Grasshopper Taco

Grasshopper tacos from Oyamel. Delicious.

Inauguration and MLK Day

A day for most of us to rise up above the port-a-potty political culture of Washington D.C., and remember that our process may be messy, but it is far better than the alternative.

On the Faith Middleton Show

Amy and I were honored to be guests on the Faith Middleton Show last month. For those of you who missed the episode focusing on A History of Connecticut Food, here is the link.  

Ben's Chili Bowl

While in D.C. we visited Ben's Chili Bowl, made famous by Bill Cosby's patronage, and made even more famous when President Obama stopped in when he first came to the White House.

As with many 'famous' restaurants of this type, I did not have high expectations for the actual food, though the atmosphere was immediately enjoyable.

However, while waiting in line, the smell of the smoked sausages on the grill began to change my mind.

And then, we bit into the famed chili half-smoke dog. Unbelievable. Really a delicious chili sauce, not too spicy and very flavorful. The sausage itself was complex, as well, far beyond any mere hot dog. Though Amy and I visited several high-end restaurants in D.C., this remained our single favorite dish of the entire trip.

Dinner at The Tombs

While in Washington D.C., we had dinner at The Tombs, one of Georgetown University's classic spots. What may not be known to this generation, as it is to mine, is that The Tombs is most likely the inspiration for the bar called "St. Elmo's Fire" in the movie of the same name.

Watching the film today, it certainly does not have the glorious momentousness that it did at the time, and leaves me questioning my own choice to purchase a poster of said film during my freshman year of college, and to hang it on my dorm room wall. However, my wife and I still enjoyed visiting this spot, it being "of our generation," so to speak. I didn't tell her what the place was until we were inside, and I asked her what other film was set in Georgetown (we had just visited the Exorcist steps). She knew immediately...and knew where we were and felt the mystical resonance of the 1980s take hold.

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Another moving memorial that I had never seen before was the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

The statues are reflected in the wall, making them appear to be ghosts.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

By far my favorite (new) memorial in Washington D.C. was the Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorial. Unlike the large monuments and Greek temples, this was a nearly interactive experience, in which the viewer walks (or rolls) through the long horizontal monument.

A mix of statues, waterfalls, and carved inscriptions, this memorial brought both Amy and I to tears with its power.

Back from Washington D.C.

Amy and I had a great time in our nation's capitol, visiting the White House, a dozen museums, memorials, and more. We ate at some fantastic restaurants, too. In fact, we packed so much into 6 days that I am absolutely exhausted now. I'll post more about some of the specific things we saw in the coming days.

Facing 2013

I am really looking forward to 2013. The past two years have been filled with both triumph and defeat, pain and pleasure. I have never worked harder, but never been rewarded so well for that work. I have never had so many health problems, but I also have never felt stronger. I have never been so worried about the fate of my country and my planet, but also have never been so hopeful. So, here's hoping that the new year will bring more strength and rewards, and fewer struggles, both for me and my family, and for all of our families here on our little blue-green sphere. Cheers!