Looking back, it’s hard to believe I worked for my DC-based client for as long as I did. It started off as potential 3-6 month project, which then evolved and extended multiple times to almost a year. Just as things were coming to a close, I was then pulled into a totally different project, which also morphed and extended multiple times for another year. Two years! Never would have I guessed I’d be there for that long. Thankfully, it was a very enjoyable tour of duty. Of course, there were ups and downs, just like everything else. But…the people I interacted with were wonderful and the experience accumulated was very much worth while. Of course, I established many professional contacts, aquaintances, etc. But what I take most pride in are the incredible friendships forged along the way; friendships that will undoubtedly last a life time. That, my friends, is what it’s all about. At least to me anyway. continue reading »
Participating in a triathlon has been on my bucket list for quite some time. The endurance aspect always intrigued me, but since I really had no other underlying motivation to do one immediately, there was really no telling when I would actually get around to doing it.
Over the past 6 months or so, I’ve been working with a gentleman by the name of Charles Arnold. He’s a fellow consultant from a different firm who has been working for the same client. He’s exceptionally good at what does, and I genuinely admire him professionally for a variety of reasons. One day, I asked him about his work-out regimen, as he frequently made reference to new ideas he’d have during his morning runs. He then proceeded to tell me about Team in Training, triathlons and his wife, Kate. I was touched. I immediately wanted to get involved without really grasping the actual commitment requirements. Honestly, I didn’t care. Just hearing the passion in his voice had me hooked. Within 20 minutes, Charles was on the phone with the local DC chapter to get me started with the registration process. continue reading »
I’m a few posts behind so I decided to share two posts in one. Back in early April, one of our dearest friends, Nick, made a voyage from Connecticut to our corporate apartment all the way in Maryland. He came with all kinds of goodies…alcohol, cupcakes, and a beautiful present from Tiffany’s. He’s just a class act all the way; generosity aside we just love hanging out with him. His visit was chalked full of laughs and sight-seeing.
More recently (early May), Kathleen and I decided to hit a few special sites that have just plain eluded us since we started our temporary living situation in Maryland. We hit the following hot spots: Arlington Cemetery, Thomas Jefferson Memorial and the amazing George Washington estate in Mount Vernon.
Check out the photos below. Enjoy!
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Washington DC is just a fun place to visit, no question about it. Museums (which I love) are of the highest caliber in the world and all within close proximity of one another. Oh yeah, did I mentioned that they’re all free? Great for the budget traveler. Food is about what you might expect…It’s fantastic. Ambiance? The feeling of historical significance hits you like a 2×4 when you walk the steps of the Lincoln Memorial or any other memorial for that matter. It always get me when I take a moment to stand in very spot that Martin Luther King delivered his “I have a dream” speech. Just incredible. The balance of architecture and open space is quite impressive throughout the district. Quite frankly, it’s visually stunning.
I’ve experienced DC a number of times in the past, but my fiancé (Kathleen) has not. It was really important to me that she felt what the political mecca of the world was all about. As I’ve been working in DC for the past few months, it was just a matter of convincing Kathleen to make the trip – it didn’t take long. I also invited her friend Tara to partake in the weekend’s festivities. They both braved the long drive and we started our excursions on a Friday.
My close friend, Joe, would essentially be our tour guide for the weekend. Not only does he have a heart of gold, he also has an ultra-convenient SUV that easily transported us around the city. What a blast! It might not seem like we experienced alot but I can assure you, we squeezed a lot into our trip.
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Ahhh, nothing beats a home-cooked meal. I take great comfort in a nice meal prepared by myself or Kathleen while relaxing at home. We don’t cook often, but when we do it’s always enjoyable. Part of the reason we don’t cook very often is because I’m usually away from home four nights a week while traveling for work. This means I’m essentially forced to eat out just about every night. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy eating out just as much as the next guy. I really do! But…as you might imagine, it’s not always the healthiest option. Especially when you’re consistently hitting nice restaurants. I don’t know about you, but I almost feel obligated to try the most popular dish when I visit a new place. Most popular doesn’t always equate to the healthiest. And of course…My meal is usually accompanied by banter with colleagues and a few drinks. It can be good times, but it can also get old really quickly. Not the company, but the rich food!
So when my old buddy Joe said his wife Linda wanted me over to dinner, and she’d be cooking, I was thrilled. She’s an amazing cook and I view them both as family, so I knew I would have a great time. I even got to spend some time with their beautiful little boy, Kameel, whom I bonded with over potato chips prior to dinner. What a cute kid! I decided to document this evening as it’s a rare instance where I was actually treated to a home-cooked meal on the road. And in my book, that’s a pretty special occasion. Thank you both for the great night! continue reading »
