A bit early …
last update: 04/14 @ 22:51

… but better too early than too late:

The all new, 2025 tax day letter is now available online!

Paper copies are in the mail (or should be in time to get an April 15^th timestamp). If you’d like a hard copy, just let us know we’ll be happy to add you to the distribution list.

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Mini Circus
last update: 04/10 @ 22:25

Sarah took me to the Live at the Library show this evening. Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baily Circus is donating some historical artifacts to the Library and so, they brought some performers to show off what they do now.

Jumping rope with someone on your shoulders who is also balancing someone on their shoulders (they added one more layer after I took this photo) seems very extreme! It was awesome (but scary watching it performed on the marble floor).

Quite the venue for such a show!

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Hands Off!!!
last update: 04/05 @ 17:36

That was today’s protest.

Sarah and I were happy to add our voices and faces to the crowd that was well beyond the capacity of the Sylvan Theater at the National Monument.

We continue to hope that our voices are starting to be heard — but no clear changes from the current administration yet. We’re also holding our breath to see if the judicial system can stand up to the onslaught.

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Cloudy but warm day
last update: 04/03 @ 17:33

We’ve have some crazy warm days lately; today was an example: almost 80. The river is about 3.5 on the gauge so a bit lower than last month. The water is still chilly but it was a very nice afternoon.

No water on the lens this time just because this was early in my time playing around the chutes.

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75 degrees
last update: 03/19 @ 22:35

I can’t turn down a 75 degree day :)

The level was pretty close to the 3.8 from last month — surprising with the lack of rain we’ve had.

But I’m not complaining. It was very nice out (water still chilly, but air was warm).

And I would say the water on the lens is proof of a good time :) A little bit of time both on the Maryland and Virginia chutes and some fun in the center chute as well.

Let’s see how long I can claim the cold water is keeping me conservative on the river…

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Stand Up!
last update: 03/07 @ 16:47

I went to the Lincoln Memorial for the Stand Up for Science protest today.

It was good to see there was a fine turnout, and I thought they could have used another set of speakers further down the reflecting pool as it was sometimes hard to hear where I was. That also strikes me a good sign for the turnout.

The focus of the event was on the current administration’s refusal to understand or pay attention or give credence to science. And all the needless suffering and death coming both short and long-term for both Americans and folks around the world from the actions of this administration.

I do realize one protest will have little effect.

But I hope a steady drum beat of protests will keep the attention of of folks who will help to turn the tide in the mid-term elections.

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Fun Evening
last update: 03/05 @ 20:42

Sarah and I went to see Cory Doctorow at the DC library. He’s doing a book tour for Picks and Shovels, his latest book. And Loyalty Bookstores arranged the stop in DC (I’m not sure how long that link will last — just drop the bookname and try again if it’s broken — and please let me know to correct it).

Cory has his point of view, and he’s had time to find the way he want’s to express it (I’ve been following him for years). It was fun to hear it in person.

And his explanation of how he got into Science Fiction writing, was astounding! Very much right place at the right time.

He had great answers to questions posed but was stumped a bit when asked who he thinks is the best writer on the opposite side of his political / economic spectrum — that slowed him down for bit.

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More modest brag wall
last update: 03/04 @ 16:00

I’ve put a few things from USPTO up at home now. Two notable additions which were not on my office wall:

A flag that Seileen arranged to have flown over the Pentagon in honor of my years in federal service. (She was managing TRICARE for the Pentagon under Biden.)

And a thank you note from President Biden which Pocket (Sarah P.) arranged while she was working at USDS — she’s no longer there; a loss for the country and stressful for her.

On the left: the Silver Medal group award for one of the first web-based performance dashboards in the federal space; my official retirement certificate; the Oval Office photo with President Bush (part of the reward for Bob and I winning a While House News Photographer award back in the day).

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Nice Day!
last update: 02/26 @ 21:00

I couldn’t let a day like today go by without getting out.

The Potomac water was cold but the air was over 60.

And the sky as blue as could be.

It was a very nice change from the polar vortex that we’ve seen a couple of times this winter.

The water was cold enough that I was happy to be very conservative and mostly stay dry.

Let’s see if I can get out at least once a month the rest of 2025.

Sarah says I can count time in a kayak on our Galapagos trip as boating, but I’m not sure I’ll let myself get away with that. (Seems like salt water shouldn’t count.)

(At about 3.8, the Virginia chute wave was really calling to me; but I only surfed across once — I really didn’t want to flip today.)

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Catching up
last update: 02/23 @ 17:10

I realize it’s been a while. I think I’ve been in shock at the level of chaos and confusion the new administration has created.

I support my former colleagues in the federal workforce.

I appreciate those still working, providing services for our country and focused on improving the lives of those who live here. And I’m glad to know some are able to find ways to slow the negative impacts the current admin is having at home and abroad.

I sympathize and support those who have left federal service voluntarily; I know that was a hard decision.

And I’m very sorry about those who’ve been forced out.

Living the last 4 weeks, spending more time than I likely should following the news, has left me shocked and stunned.

Fortunately, we had a visit from Carolee and Doug this weekend.

And that gave us a good reason to enjoy some of the spaces DC has.

We started with a quick trip to the Building Museum — I’m glad to have renewed our membership over Robert’s Christmas break — before the African American Museum. After an afternoon there, I truly regret missing out on the private tour Sarah had shortly after it opened. I was working then; Sarah was working Friday while Carolee, Doug and I toured.

Then on Saturday, Sarah took us to the Library of Congress. It really is a gem, and we had more time and freedom to wander the main reading room than when she took Robert and I in December.

In preparation for the visit, Sarah had also arranged for a Capitol Tour. That was new to me; it’s been decades since I worked for King Broadcasting coveing the Pacific Northwest’s congressional delegation as a TV news photographer.

The main reading room (top two photos) and the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the Capitol helped me feel a little more connected to the government again and provided a sense of long-lasting persistence that I need now.

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