Day 293/365 - World's Coolest Lunchbag

That's my badass, pirate-themed, insulated vinyl lunchbag ($10 at Target) framed inside a gussied up old police call box. I set up this shot today on my way over to the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory for lunch.

It was pretty cool sitting at tree-top level in the rainforest while I ate my lunch and read my book. A bit on the humid side, however. I really should've gone over there for lunch when I was reading all about the 'green hell' of the Amazonian rainforest in The Lost City of Z. That would have lent it the perfect atmosphere.

Although, come to think of it, there is a desert room at the Conservatory that would go well with the book set in Egypt that I'm reading now. Dang, I should've thought to sit down there today instead of trekking up to the gantry overlooking the jungle section.

I love themed activities.

(Taken with my Nikon Coolpix S200)

Day 252/365 - In the Bag

I shamelessly stole this idea from Mr. T. in DC, but here are the current contents of the bag I take with me to work everyday:

-- Eagle Creek Vagabond series bag
-- Let's Go! map/guide of Washington, DC
-- Tide stain pen (I tend to be a messy eater)
-- Blue ink pen
-- Mini Mag Lite
-- "Old Man"-style change holder (my Grandpa always carried one of these)
-- Flashing red light (for when I walk home after dark along the Mt. Vernon Trail and don't want to get run over by cyclists)
-- 80 GB iPod Classic with hard shell case and Bose earbuds (got 'em free by using my debit card points)
-- Box of matches (I don't smoke, but you never know when they might come in handy)
-- Washington Nationals pocket schedule
-- Blistex lip balm
-- Listerine strips
-- "Peter the Brazen" book by George F. Worts (collection of old pulp magazine stories from the 1920s about the adventures of a wireless telegraph operator serving onboard a variety of steamships sailing to the Far East)
-- Cheap sunglasses I bought at CVS (I lose/break/scratch them far too frequently to spend much on sunglasses)
-- Steno pad (never know when you might want to write something down)
-- Keys and Washington Nationals keychain
-- Wrigleys Extra peppermint gum (I'm addicted)
-- Ricola cough drops
-- Anacin tin holding Excedrin aspirin
-- DayQuil cold medicine
-- Alavert allergy medicine
-- Nokia cellphone
-- Today's necktie in case I had to go to a meeting (I didn't, thankfully)
-- Reusable water bottle
-- Nikon Coolpix S200
-- 4 GB USB drive
-- Engraved business card case (gift from one of my sisters on the occasion of my being admitted to the Bar)
-- ESPNZone MVP card
-- Hand sanitizer
-- Harris Teeter, CVS, and Borders membership cards on a key ring

And that's what I lugged with me to and from the office today.

(Taken with my Nikon D90)

Day 136/365 - One Day More

Only one more day remains until my vacation starts. Pssst -- don't tell anyone, but I have to confess that my backpack and suitcase were both still empty at the time I took this photo. I have everything that I want to pack laid out, I just haven't packed it yet. It's been taking me longer than I expected to get the programs and security suite on my laptop updated. One of these days I really need to buy a faster laptop.

(Taken with my Nikon D80)