Twice on Sunday Bonus Photo - Fireworks over DC

For this week's extra photo from my archives we have this shot I took of the fireworks bursting over the National Mall in Washington, DC on the Fourth of July. Given that this was the first time I'd ever tried photographing fireworks, I think I did an okay job.

(Taken with my Nikon D90)

Day 249/365 - Ballin'

We had our last regular season kickball game today and we lost as usual. The round of jello shooters we did before the game didn't help us play any better, but the round we did after the game made us feel a little better anyhow. This was the first game I'd been able to make in quite a while. My team did manage to win two of the games I missed -- one by forfeit and one legitimate victory -- so at least we didn't go all season without a win.

We stepped it up at the bar after the game though and were the flip cup all-stars. We were so good at it we started inventing variations on flip cup to keep ourselves challenged. I think the funniest one we did was "drink, spin around, do an '80s dance move, and then flip your cup." That was the highest of low comedy. One guy even dropped down on the floor and did the worm. I lost track of how many pitchers of beer we went through. I think we must have drunk enough beer tonight to float a battleship.

Our next game will be in the division championship tournament two weekends from now. In that one, you play until you lose. In our case, that shouldn't take long. We've already christened ourselves the "one and done" crew. Don't think I'll stay as long at the post-game happy hour next time, though. I'm definitely getting too old for those kinds of shenanigans.

(Taken with my Nikon D90)

Day 224/365 - Driving Me to Drink

The Nats dropped their seventh straight game tonight in a 2-1 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates and their record now stands at 11-28. It's looking like another 100+ loss season is in store for them (and thus, by extension, for me). Fannnnnnnnntastic.

I went to the game but I had to leave after the fifth inning with the score knotted at 1 because my allergies were making me miserable. Like an idiot, I forgot to take any allergy medicine to work with me today. I had gotten pretty lucky thus far this spring with my hayfever, but today it caught up to me. I must have sneezed a dozen times just on the short walk from the ballpark to the Metro. With the way my eyes were puffy and red and watery and my nose was running I must have looked as though I'd been bawling. The way the Nats are playing is certainly enough to make a grown man cry.

As you can see from the photo, I always take a book on baseball to the ballpark with me. Usually it's a book on DC baseball history. There are a surprising number of them out there. There are even a couple DC baseball novels. I like to read before the game starts and then in between innings. I'm also one of those nerd boys who brings a portable radio to the ballpark with him to listen to the broadcast of the game. Yeah, I'm cool like that.

I got home tonight in time to catch the ninth inning and hear the Nats let the Pirates score the go-ahead run and then fail to even things up in their half of the final frame. I turned off the radio, fixed myself a rather stout bloody mary, and put on some Billie Holiday. It's good to remember at times like this that even the blues can be beautiful.

(Taken with my Nikon Coolpix S200)

Day 171/365 - Go Fly a Kite

Today was the Forty-Third Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Too bad the weather was less than optimal for kite flying -- chilly, misty rain, and not much wind. Still, everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves. This is one of those DC events I always mean to take part in but I forget about it until the last minute. This year at least I was able to take photos of it. Next year, I'm buying myself a kite and joining in the fun.

(Taken with my Nikon D80)

Day 12/365 - Reflecting on Greatness

Got this shot of the Washington Monument's reflection rippling across the Tidal Basin as I walked home from work today. Politicians have been routinely badmouthing DC for over 100 years, but the city really gets a bum rap. It's actually quite a beautiful and amazing place to live and/or work (although I only do one of those within the District myself).

Never ceases to amaze me how every election cycle it's the same old thing. There are always a bunch of blowhard politicians running the District down. It's always "Washington is a mess", "Washington is what's wrong with this country," yadda yadda yadda. Yet despite the fact that these bilious buffoons loudly profess their hatred for all things DC, they sure fight like hell to be able to live and work here.

I guess it's a bit like Brer Rabbit pleading with his captors to not throw him in the briar patch. 'Pleeease don't throw me in that briar patch. Oh no, anything but that!'

(Taken with my Nikon Coolpix S200)