Thank you Robert
last update: 07/30 @ 15:01

For my retirement, Robert gave me this set of Aston Martin F1 lego cars.

Appropriate as we have been watching F1 since Drive to Survive during the pandemic.

And I have a soft spot in my heart for Aston Martin ever since James Bond.

I thought, as a retirement gift, it would be only proper to take the time to build the cars on a normal workday (for those not yet retired).

It still hasn’t really sunk in for me.

I think, mentally, I’m seeing this as a staycation at the moment.

It’s nice to be able to get some normal things done during the week.

And to have time to read the paper and my book.

And Sarah and I are getting excited for two trips: this fall to visit with family in South Carolina and this winter to head the Galapagos!

I have some more retirement photos to post in the next couple days. In between reading, boating and relaxing :)

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Back on the river with Pocket
last update: 07/28 @ 20:22

Pocket was good, she asked “When should I meet you to go to the river?” Not “Should I meet you?”

(Actually, that’s how it was relayed to me. Pocket said she was less forward when talking to SZap.)

It was hot but not horribly humid.

And certainly cooler on the water.

We paddled up from Angler’s Inn to Rocky Island — I don’t recall doing that when there was so little current in the gorge. It really is pretty low.

But there are smiles on everyone’s face.

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I’m not from the Government anymore …
last update: 07/26 @ 17:26

It’s been quite a ride over the last 16 years.

Clearly I had more hair and way less gray. (But the hat helps to hide the missing hair — not that I really had that much more then).

Now I have way more experiences.

And lots of memories of working with a great team on some fun (and less fun projects).

Oh, and I have bionic eyes now since I got new lenses. (Hidden by the overly large sunglasses.)

I’m sure to have more to say and I have some great photos to share as well.

But I wanted to be sure to post this “day of.”

I wasn’t unhappy starting my job at USPTO, but I was much more serious then than on my way out the door for the last time.

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Happy Birthday Alexandria!!!
last update: 07/13 @ 22:27

It was a little hot and steamy out, but a lovely display.

And it’s hard to beat being able to walk down the waterfront to see the fireworks up close.

This time we were in Founders Park, just downstream from the stage and bigger crowds.

That seemed to work out well; but I would have paid for cold bottle of water if there had been any vendors around.

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Brag Wall
last update: 07/11 @ 17:37

I started cleaning up my office this week. I’ve done the first pass of disposal (regular and shredding).

I thought I’d make sure I have a photo of my brag wall before I start to package up personal items to bring them home.

It’s been almost 15 years at USPTO; I feel good that I was able to decorate my wall this well in that time.

The highlight remains the photo with President Bush Sr. from my days in the White House News Photographers Association (many years ago).

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Angler’s Inn
last update: 07/07 @ 21:30

Another hot day on the river.

The level continues to drop a bit as we’ve not had much rain.

But we’re still taking advantage of the river in our backyard.

We heard that yesterday the river (at least the parking log) was pretty full.

Today, parking was easy.

We did see a few other folks out on the river.

But not very many.

On theory: all the Fourth of July visitors were on their way home.

We did see a couple of these guys.

I believe that’s a northern water snake or banded water snake.

Nonpoisonous but, we’ve been told, bitey.

It was hot enough that they were stretched on the rocks just under the water.

When it’s cooler, they sun themselves on rocks (sometimes).

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