Author Archives: JJD
Madrid, Day 1: Exploring the city (or, How to fend off jet lag)
I got to the hotel around 11am and met Amanda in the room. We caught up quickly, congratulated ourselves on being in Madrid, and then I jumped in the shower to freshen up. Once clean and sunscreened, I put some eyedrops in my eyes (it’s easier to pretend you aren’t tired when your eyes aren’t […]
Packed
Just look at those lovelies, sitting there all ready to go. More than enough clothes to last me for two weeks, plus room to spare for market finds in Morocco. I can hardly wait — by this time time tomorrow, I’ll be on a plane over the Atlantic en route to Madrid (then Morocco, then back to Spain […]
The Ride: Beating the scorcher
Today’s forecast predicts temperatures in the 100s. It’s likely to hit 106 F, and if it does, it will break all sorts of records. The high humidity will make it feel more like 110 or so. Needless to say, we’re in an “Excessive Heat Warning”: children, animals and the elderly are advised to avoid the […]
Start the weekend with a ballgame
This afternoon I received a text from my friend Nicole saying she had an extra ticket to tonight’s Major League Baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies — did I want to come? Not only did I want to come, I also felt like I could come. After a busy and stressful […]
July 4, or every kind of day
I hope my American readers had a good Independence Day! I received text messages from the parental units saying that they did another 5K race this morning and were looking forward to 100+ F weather in Las Vegas. I skyped (while driving!) with Teya and Ammon, who told me about their plans to watch fireworks over the […]
The Ride: You mean the hike?
What to do the morning after your neighborhood is socked by a derecho? Go on a long bike ride, of course. Because what better way to express solidarity with your 1.5 million neighbors who are struggling without power than to venture forth into the heat and humidity with a bike and a couple of bottles of fast-warming Gatorade […]
Derecho!
Last night the DC region was hit by a whopper of a thunderstorm. Amanda and I had turned in early (around 10pm) thinking we’d get some rest after a tiring week and be ready for an early start in the morning. Half an our later we were roused from our descent into slumber by what sounded […]
Day at the beach: Assateague Island
Nothing says “summer” quite like a day at the beach. As we move out of the lovely spring coolness and living in Washington starts to feel like camping inside a dog’s mouth, the beach beckons with its breezes, gentle waves, and hours of sun. That said, the beaches here are all at least three hours away […]
The Weekend
I learned a long time ago that so much of leading an interesting life lies in how you tell the story rather than what you actually do. On my mission, in particular, I remember listening to a companion of mine tell someone about a day that had seemed totally ordinary and unremarkable to me — […]
The Ride: Perfect Weather
Lest you think that “cycling” is just a scheme for hurtling about on a metal contraption through a series of crashes, bloody legs and general misanthropy, I would like to say that I just finished a fifty-mile ride through northern Virginia without a single incident — I did not crash, cut myself or even hate anyone. […]
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 