Training.

6/13 - bench, chins, dips, seated row, pushups, back xt, stretch

6/12 - mud run

6/11 - stretch

I understand Seasonal Affective Disorder now.

We declare this May the worst EVER for D.C. weather - The Washington Post: "It is almost always cooler than it should be… It has yet to hit 80 degrees, joining just four years without such a day this deep into the month: 1893, 1917, 1935, and 1989. It has reached 70 degrees (or higher) just five times, tied for fourth fewest on record month-to-date. Four days (including today) have had highs only in the 50s, tied for seventh most on record month-to-date."

Lucy Gets It.

Louis C.K. was awesome.

"Of course... but, maybe..." is made of winning awesome.

Louis C.K. in pitch-perfect, standup form at City Center - NYPOST.com: "His closing routine, which he dubs “Of course . . . but maybe,” is an instant classic. It begins with an innocuous statement, such as the Make a Wish Foundation for terminally ill children being a wonderful thing. Then, after a perfectly timed pause, he adds, “But maybe, maybe, giving a beautiful memory to a kid who’s gonna be dead in a week is a waste of time.” He makes us utterly complicit in his wickedness even as we can’t stop laughing."

Scenes from a peaceful protest rally in Virginia.

Really?  Jesus America, you're wildly fucked up.  

Via Scenes from a Militarized America | The Agitator

And from the comments - "You can tell who came to riot by the way they’re dressed."
Truth.  Cops dressing up and playing soldier & the continued failure of law enforcement culture as it creeps towards militarization.

Summer Vacation 2011, Phase IV - Endgame.

D.C. and Busch Gardens, VA.

Beer.  Sausage.  Awesome.

Super Happy Fun Dress Up Play Time!  [Baachan would be proud.]

Roller coasters are the best.

Fear Us.

More pictures here...  

Off to Liberia...

And go!

Bye Max!

Training.

GUTS - PU15 SU25 HS45 SU20 PU10 MILO 20/15 + Bridge20

LA Boxing, Alexandria... gym where I got to train the better part of this last week.  Nice facilities.

Last USA food indulgences - Outback & Trader Joe's.

While still watching carbs and training. I'm awesome.
Outback Curbside Take-Away is genius.


3 days worth of supplies... good stuff.

Relaxed Max is relaxed.

Didn't have the heart to move him come bedtime, so just shifted him and crawled in around him.

Everything's better with bacon.

Satisfying cravings before Liberia.

Bacon wrapped scallops are awesome.  [I'm still dying to try bacon wrapped oysters, which I first read about years ago in the W.E.B Griffin Corps novels.  Apparently they used to be appetizer staples... alas, now not so much.]

And yes, bacon chocolate.  Not bad, and when you got that hit of bacon/salt w/chocolate, awesome.  But ultimately suffered from, you guessed it, not enough bacon.

Lunchin' awesomeness.

No Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits in Liberia either. So, obviously...

Max likes him some warm laundry.

Mission Accomplished - The KFC Double Down.

When I first red about it months ago in Japan, I knew I had to have one when I got back. First, because nanny-state nincompoops were decrying it as the food apocalypse, and two, a bunless sandwich w/chicken, cheese & bacon = MASSIVE WIN.

And also, if you actually look at the FACTS, it's not all that bad for you/better than other fast food. To wit: Fat Head - I Doubled Down And Lived To Tell:

"KFC has added the Double Down to its online nutrition menu, so I looked it up...
Calories: 540
Fat: 32
Saturated Fat: 10
Protein: 53
Carbohydrate: 11

Hmmm … seems to me we’re looking at a high-protein, high-fat, low-carbohydrate meal without too many calories. Compared to a lot of other fast-food offerings out there, it’s actually a pretty good choice. Here’s the nutrition info for a Quarter Pounder With Cheese, for example:
Calories: 510
Fat: 26
Saturated Fat: 12
Protein: 29
Carbohydrate: 40

The Double Down provides a bit more fat, a lot more protein, and barely one-quarter of the carbohydrates. So this is the sandwich that proves KFC wants us all dead? You’ve got to be kidding me. I think it just proves KFC wants us feeling satisfied."

Tasty

Max...

...is not amused.

Also, is always up for a nice round of petting.

My brother is awesome.

My brother ends 29 years of Naval Service - 4 years USNA, 25 USN.

Kickass support crew.

Slideshow of Victory.

Reading the retirement orders.

One of many certificates/plaques/awards this fine day.

Wife and kids awarded for years of faithful assistance and help.


My brother gave one of the most heartfelt, touching and awesome speeches I've ever heard.  I was immensely proud of him and really honored to have been able to have been there.

Pomp and ceremony.

Table o' gifts.

Max is great.

Sandy knows what I'm talking about.

Wife battles Blizzard 2010.

In northern VA.

How my wife keeps busy.*

Impressive, no?
*in tandem with friend/roommate Emily. [Hi Em!]