Author Archives: JJD
One of the coolest things about learning another language
is that it’s like having a little radio receiver activated in your head that can pick up signals that had always registered as white noise before. You forget it’s on, and sometimes it’s quiet because there’s nothing to pick up, but then you pick up a signal and you realize that you’re tuned into a whole […]
Where have I been?
The other day Amanda posted some visual travel logs (which she, in turn, got from her sister Rachel), and challenged me to post my own (because, natch, this IS a competition). It would appear that I should have focused more on the big countries like Russia and China — all those tiny Caribbean and Central American […]
Christmas Amaryllis
After an unhappy childhood, my birthday Amarillis has bloomed most lovely. I’d never seen this color pattern in an Amaryllis before. I love how starry it is — so perfect for Christmas.
O, the generosity of clients
[Friday, 5:45pm] Client (email): I have some questions about the contract that may require some changes — how late are you going to be at the office? Me (email): I have to leave the office at 6:30pm, but I’ll probably be back online around 7:30pm or so. [Client calls at 6:00pm] Client: Please do NOT feel […]
Tomatilloes
What on earth are tomatilloes? As I stood in the produce section of my local grocery store yesterday, I realized I hadn’t quite done all my homework. My shopping list called for a pound of tomatilloes — but I had no clue what to look for (and no mobile device to consult Wikipedia). So I […]
Brahms with lamb and a lemon tart
‘Tis the season for holiday parties and benefit concerts. Last night I found myself with the following options: (1) the firm’s holiday party, (2) the ward Christmas party, and (3) a benefit concert of the NIH Philharmonia. The concert by far seemed like the most fun, and it was the only one with a firm starting time, so […]
Hot pot, anyone?
Ever had a Sichuan hot pot? Me neither, until last night. Boy, was it tasty! Mala Tang is a new Chinese restaurant in Arlington that specializes in these hot pots and Chinese street food and has gotten lots of good attention among the food critics. While I was enjoying other delicious food in Paris, Tim (a friend from the […]
Rainy Occupation
Wednesday was dreary and gray, and it rained steadily all day long — one of those rains that never quite qualifies as a downpour but is unquestionably not a sprinkle or a drizzle. We get days like those from time to time here in DC (most often during hurricane season) and I love them. For one thing, […]
Eight Strings
Proving, once again, that she is her mother’s daughter, Ashley has 800 lights on her three-foot Christmas tree. [clapping, wild clapping all round] Over the years there apparently has been an inverse relationship between the size of the tree and the number of lights at the Stuart home: Each year the tree gets smaller but the number […]
Deck the Halls!
This week I received a mystery package in the mail: a small box bearing my address and the Pottery Barn logo but no indication of the sender. With holidays in the offing, this is NOT the season to start opening packages indiscriminately. So I sent a feeler out to my family and got these responses: Dad: Not from me.Lady: […]
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 