A company and DARPA want to hire me and scheduled an interview for right now but nobody told the front desk and I have been politely asked to leave the building. I got dressed up and paid for parking too. This does not bode well…
Navy (ret) Surface Warfare Officer & missile defender with a side of fries. I taught Zach Mayo everything he knows. A perfectly flawed human. Opinions = my own.
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A company and DARPA want to hire me and scheduled an interview for right now but nobody told the front desk and I have been politely asked to leave the building. I got dressed up and paid for parking too. This does not bode well…
Starting week 13 of my administrative leave. So much winning! Has insanity overcome me? Stay tuned to find out…
Suns out, tongues out.
Wish I was a GLG-20
Get a bigger couch, you monster! Let that boy snuggle!
Hope y’all are having a great Labrador Weekend
Why is that sweet boy not on the couch!?!?
Saturday shenanigans
I hope so!
Manassas
You have to go to work. Zola and I have to visit Civil War battlefields. We are not the same.
Never had one. Not my thing. I just love the stupidity behind it all.
Parts of social media right now:
It’s almost time to make apple cider donuts!
I have to admit, I have never had a PSL. But I love fall.
Yes!
Today’s morning temps in Northern Virginia was a crisp 59°F. 66 days till Halloween. Starbucks has released the fall menu and the Pumpkin Spice Latte has made its triumphant return. Circle of Life, y’all. The spice must flow.
No, I have a small Bundt pan.
Yay! And happy birthday to your son.
Chris is great! He made chocolate cake! Cake and ice cream will be served at 6pm promptly. Please form a line at the door.
In 1979, then 8 year old Chris visited Neuschwanstein Castle. In 2025, now 54 year old Chris will build a replica off Neuschwanstein Castle.
The only filters in my life are coffee filters. I think this will be the last float down the Shenandoah of the year for Zola and I.
youtu.be/fd02pGJx0s0?...
Sunrise, sunrise… Looks like mornin' in your eyes…
Get you someone who stares at you like Zola does while I’m eating a burrito.
The face of an ice cream cone thief at Fort Hunt. Stolen from a child. No regrets. Will do it again.
Happy 19th Amendment Ratification anniversary to all who celebrate
I personally wouldn’t try to recreate the pic you posted. Apple compote is hard to deal with. It gives you no idea how it is incorporated. Same with the streusel and the different filling and frosting. It also sounds too sweet with the buttercream frosting, apple compote, and cream cheese filling
Last option: bluejeanchef.com/recipes/appl...
Another option: cakesbymk.com/recipe/the-b...
This is an easy apple cake recipe. You can adapt it. sallysbakingaddiction.com/glazed-apple...
What is stuffing beavers?
We must again ask: Has pumpkin spice science gone too far? The pumpkin spice industrial complex is strong. The spice must flow.
Arise, Arise, Riders Of Théoden! Spears Shall Be Shaken, Shields Shall Be Splintered! A Sword Day... A Red Day... Ere The Sun Rises!
I haven’t played golf in about 20 years. Is that a thing? And if yes, hard agree.
This is your periodic reminder that if you feel the need to play music on a speaker while hiking a trail, you should be hung upside down by your big toes at the highest point or tree and left to rethink your life choices. This goes double for reckless mountain bikers.
I grew up next to a town called Midvale.
Today is cartoonist Gary Larson’s 75th birthday. The Far Side has been by my side since my early teens. Just as hilarious today as they were years ago. Some of my favorites:
Damn them! Damn them to hell!
I got this one from a cooking class at Sur La Table. I don’t add the cream. I use either bacon or guanciale.
As a reminder: If you are making Fettuccine Carbonara you cannot break the pasta in half and you must never add cream to the sauce or the ghost of some Italian Nona will come and haunt your home until you do it right!
Sure.
I’m sorry. It has been difficult, that’s for sure. I’m lucky. I hope you all come out on top. This is my personal hope for you.
Current state of my affairs: - I start another week of admin leave. 9 straight weeks of getting paid for nothing. - I found out late Friday my admin leave will be extended, again. - I’ve interviewed for 8 different positions. I received 1 offer. I may have to delay it. I miss doing the job I love.
Getting up early has its benefits.
Checked out the sunset in search for some inner peace.
I said no to a puppy today. I will be seeking medical attention shortly. Adulting sucks…
If I ever do something that is truly incredible and of historical significance I hope the powers that be make a PBS Documentary about my life, I want Keith David to narrate the story and use this same energy.
I like the way you think!
There are lots of different types of people who visit Mount Vernon. - There are those struck and excited about walking the same ground that the father of our nation & his family did in the 1700s. - There are those who are not excited. - And Zola who likes pooping on the lawn.
Emotional support lunch. By the way, did you know it’s National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day? It should be National Chocolate Chip Cookie Year. But I digress…
Same here! Next time!
Go hiking with your social media friends! Thanks @gpatrick.bsky.social for a great hike.
So damn good!
If you go hiking, you have to stop for treats. Those are the rules.
Adventures with Zola
Me walking on the trail
You know it’s gonna be a good day when you are the first person at the trailhead.
The nice thing about being placed on administrative leave is that I can take a nice long stupid nature hike for my stupid mental health in the early afternoon vice working in the five-sided wind tunnel until the end of the workday.
August 1st… in Northern Virginia. This is wild, y’all! I now must assume something wicked is going to happen.
Zola melted on our short morning walk.
80°F at 5:30am with a dew point of 75°F (around 85% humidity) in Northern Virginia today. “It's gonna be hot and wet! That's nice if you're with a lady, but ain't no good if you're in the jungle!” - Roosevelt E. Roosevelt
Hey, I resemble that!
Pasta night
That was the first class!
This like my 50th class.
Back on my bullshit…
Current conundrum
Capitalism
🚨Public Service Announcement 🚨 30 days until Pumpkin Spice Latte is released. Please heed this warning and take all necessary precautions and implement all safety measures. “The spice must flow.” ~ Harkonnen proverb
If both Melville and Khan can use the line, you know if has to be good
To the mosquito buzzing around my head attempting to get a meal: “To the last, I grapple with thee; From Hell's heart, I stab at thee; For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee.” ~ Herman Melville
I usually don’t add the glaze because it makes it too sweet. If I give it away, I add the glaze.
sallysbakingaddiction.com/lemon-poppy-...
As requested: sallysbakingaddiction.com/lemon-poppy-...
Zola (aka Gorgonzola, aka ZZ Top, aka Hot Mess Express) off to have a cracked tooth removed. Be good, Zola. You may not bite the cute vet techs or the nice veterinarian.
Lemon Poppyseed Bread, anyone? Anyone? No takers? Then it’s all mine…
It’s amazing how much of nature can be found just across the street from where I live: - Northern Spring Peeper - A variety of birds can be heard - A Great Blue Heron - Black-furred Bed Hog Counter Surfer
She had 3 walks today!
She is not amused.
🦇 Ozzy is Gone🦇
Cool!
Ok, that’s cool! Where can one find such greatness?
Amazon
Sure did!
Some say it’s an addiction. Some will say it’s an obsession. And some will quietly say, “Hell yeah”
It’s July 19th… 104 days till Halloween.
One can hope…
Some of you don’t know how to behave at the veterinary clinic and it shows!
Not to take the position. It didn’t make sense to me.
Went back after my friend thought it was injured. Base police is working with animal control to help it.
