On Sunday, August 16th, I took the metro down to Washington, DC to have some lunch. Every time I go into DC to see the capital and the monuments I have a good time. And every time I go I remind myself how much I take the area for granted. Growing up around DC made me think seeing the White House was boring. I saw it every year on at least one class field trip and nothing exciting ever happened while I was there.
As a “mature” adult, I’m glad I can appreciate the area more. My brothers and I went down to Union Station, walked around the area and saw all the great sites. These included the Capital, the White House, and the Lincoln Memorial. At the end of the day I promised I wouldn’t wait as long till I made a return appearance.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Oriole Game
On Tuesday, August 11th, I drove up to Baltimore, Maryland to see my favorite baseball team play the Oakland Athletics. What a great time and what a great game! Before the first pitch my buddies and I met up at “Pickles.” Pickles is a bar across the street from the best stadium in Major League Baseball, Camden Yards. I am always grateful to be so close to such an impressive stadium. Every time I’m there I have a blast. This time was no different. Pickles was a perfect start to the night and the O’s winning 3 to 2 in an action packed game was a perfect ending.
During the game, as my 22 year old self was sipping a bud light, a Oriole park patrolman asked me for some identification. All my friends had a good laugh. I guess that’s what I get for looking like an 8th grader.
During the game, as my 22 year old self was sipping a bud light, a Oriole park patrolman asked me for some identification. All my friends had a good laugh. I guess that’s what I get for looking like an 8th grader.
Baltimore Houses compared to Bethesda
On Saturday, August 8th, I drove up to Baltimore, Maryland to visit some old college buddies. At least four of my better college friends landed jobs in the Baltimore area and because I live only an hour away, I will be able to see them a great deal over the next year. Saturday was the first of many trips.
I would like to comment on my buddies’ living arrangements. I, very proudly and just recently moved into a house in Bethesda, Maryland with a few friends. I searched for three months and got the best deal available. The rent is $1,900 a month and the house is in a great location. It is small but it has a wrap around porch and my friends and I have really equipped it with some nice stuff, including picnic tables, a hammock, comfortable furniture, some big TVs, and a fine grill.
I thought I had it nice, and I do, but I was astounded at the places my Baltimore buddies are living in. They are huge! They are paying the same rent that I am and their places are at least twice as big. To be fair, they are in relatively poor neighborhoods were crime is commonplace. So in that respect, I would rather be living where I am. Still, it boggles my mind how drastically the price of living can change even within the same small state.
I would like to comment on my buddies’ living arrangements. I, very proudly and just recently moved into a house in Bethesda, Maryland with a few friends. I searched for three months and got the best deal available. The rent is $1,900 a month and the house is in a great location. It is small but it has a wrap around porch and my friends and I have really equipped it with some nice stuff, including picnic tables, a hammock, comfortable furniture, some big TVs, and a fine grill.
I thought I had it nice, and I do, but I was astounded at the places my Baltimore buddies are living in. They are huge! They are paying the same rent that I am and their places are at least twice as big. To be fair, they are in relatively poor neighborhoods were crime is commonplace. So in that respect, I would rather be living where I am. Still, it boggles my mind how drastically the price of living can change even within the same small state.
Friday, July 3, 2009
My Vermont Experience: The Flying Motor
In my family’s Vermont house, we have two boats. We have a speed boat meant for pleasure cruises and water-skiing and we have a second boat meant for fishing. The fishing boat or the “little boat” as we call it, is a simple aluminum boat with a twenty horsepower outboard motor. Because my brother and I were the first ones to the house this summer, we were responsible for putting both boats in the water. The little boat is usually turned over and left in the woods during the winter months and we store the little boat motor in a safe, indoor facility.
On the day I chose to put the little boat in the water, the lake was especially choppy. There was a strong north wind and the waves were big. Still, the process is not too difficult and with a little help, I had the motor attached to the boat and I was taking the boat on a test drive. Now the little boat was very old and the wooden frame on the back of the boat, which holds the motor, had been deteriorating for years. The boat should have been replaced years beforehand but most of the family, me in particular, had grown much attached to it. For me at least, the boat held countless fond memories of my childhood. It was these memories that I was pondering with a smile as I took the old trusty little boat for its annual test drive. Suddenly, the boat hit a big wave and my left arm, which was gripping and steering the motor, was forced high into the air. I quickly turned around to see the little boat’s outboard motor 2 feet in the air, completely detached from the boat. This was not good. Apparently, the little boat’s wooden frame was so week that it could no longer support the heavy motor. Now, I had an extremely sharp propeller violently turning out of the water about 3 feet from my face. Needless to say I was terrified. My right arm instinctively came around and I grabbed the top of the motor, holding it up with all my strength as I tried to find some way to hit the stop button. Luckily, I was able to lean the motor on the little boat and shut the propeller off without cutting any of my limbs off. I pulled the motor into the boat and sighed at the thought of the long, motor less trip back to the dock.
On the day I chose to put the little boat in the water, the lake was especially choppy. There was a strong north wind and the waves were big. Still, the process is not too difficult and with a little help, I had the motor attached to the boat and I was taking the boat on a test drive. Now the little boat was very old and the wooden frame on the back of the boat, which holds the motor, had been deteriorating for years. The boat should have been replaced years beforehand but most of the family, me in particular, had grown much attached to it. For me at least, the boat held countless fond memories of my childhood. It was these memories that I was pondering with a smile as I took the old trusty little boat for its annual test drive. Suddenly, the boat hit a big wave and my left arm, which was gripping and steering the motor, was forced high into the air. I quickly turned around to see the little boat’s outboard motor 2 feet in the air, completely detached from the boat. This was not good. Apparently, the little boat’s wooden frame was so week that it could no longer support the heavy motor. Now, I had an extremely sharp propeller violently turning out of the water about 3 feet from my face. Needless to say I was terrified. My right arm instinctively came around and I grabbed the top of the motor, holding it up with all my strength as I tried to find some way to hit the stop button. Luckily, I was able to lean the motor on the little boat and shut the propeller off without cutting any of my limbs off. I pulled the motor into the boat and sighed at the thought of the long, motor less trip back to the dock.
My Vermont Experience: The Canoe Trip
Six summers ago, a large portion of my extended family came together for a grand celebration. We were commemorating the Mitchell family’s 50th year in Charlotte, Vermont. 50 years earlier, my grandfather had bought and helped build a lovely wooden vacation home along the shore of Lake Champlain. Since the acquisition, a summer has not passed without my father visiting the lake and since my birth; a summer has not passed where I have failed to visit.
In June of 2009, my brother Boh and I and a handful of friends made the long drive to the summer house for a six day vacation. On the first night, our spirits were high and we decided to have a few drinks in celebration. We had a long, fun night and at 1:00 a.m., just as we were heading to bed, I suggested we take a late night canoe trip. Everyone instantly applauded the suggestion and we headed down to the dock. My brother and his two friends took one canoe and I took a second canoe with my friend. The moon was full or nearly full and as we began paddling farther out on the lake, everyone took their turn in congratulating me on a great idea. “Man this awesome, good call on the canoe trip Dmitch,” said my little brother. Minutes later, he was singing a different tune.
For no apparent reason, my brother’s canoe tipped and with a big splash, all three passengers were dumped into the cold, dark water, more than a half mile off shore. My canoe paddled to the rescue. We carefully pulled my brother and one of his friends into the canoe and since there was no more room, my brother’s second friend, James, was forced to stay in the water and hold onto the canoe as we slowly paddled in. By the time we reached shore, my brother’s water logged phone (which he had in his pocket) was broken, James had caught a cold, and we had lost a paddle. In addition, my friend and I had to head back on a two hour search and rescue mission to recover the overturned canoe. In hindsight, I guess the trip wasn’t such a great idea.
In June of 2009, my brother Boh and I and a handful of friends made the long drive to the summer house for a six day vacation. On the first night, our spirits were high and we decided to have a few drinks in celebration. We had a long, fun night and at 1:00 a.m., just as we were heading to bed, I suggested we take a late night canoe trip. Everyone instantly applauded the suggestion and we headed down to the dock. My brother and his two friends took one canoe and I took a second canoe with my friend. The moon was full or nearly full and as we began paddling farther out on the lake, everyone took their turn in congratulating me on a great idea. “Man this awesome, good call on the canoe trip Dmitch,” said my little brother. Minutes later, he was singing a different tune.
For no apparent reason, my brother’s canoe tipped and with a big splash, all three passengers were dumped into the cold, dark water, more than a half mile off shore. My canoe paddled to the rescue. We carefully pulled my brother and one of his friends into the canoe and since there was no more room, my brother’s second friend, James, was forced to stay in the water and hold onto the canoe as we slowly paddled in. By the time we reached shore, my brother’s water logged phone (which he had in his pocket) was broken, James had caught a cold, and we had lost a paddle. In addition, my friend and I had to head back on a two hour search and rescue mission to recover the overturned canoe. In hindsight, I guess the trip wasn’t such a great idea.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
My First Blog
Hello all, this is my first blog post and I imagine my first of many. I promise my next post will be more exciting.
Cheers,
Dave
Cheers,
Dave
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