Jillian, me, Bertel (Bert XI), Bert and Representative Nye at the Capitol
Jillian and Bertel in front of the Capitol
The two Berts, Bert X and Bertel XI, at the FDR Memorial
Jillian and Dad pose at DC's Newseum (my fave - the museum of the news) at the front page of The Virginian-Pilot on Saturday, June 27th.
Bert at a section of the Berlin Wall, DC's Newseum.
The Big Backyard BBQ on Pennsylvania Avenue!
Jillian and Bertel rock-climb near the Capitol.
Bert and I enjoyed watching Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas of Alexandria compete in Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at MacArthur Center in Norfolk (blocks from our house) on Saturday, June 6th. The place was mobbed!
Thomas, 41, weighs 100 pounds and won the competition by eating 36 hot dogs in 10 minutes, earning her a spot in Nathan's Fourth of July International contest in Coney Island, N.Y. on July 4th. She crushed her 15 male competitors; second place was only 16 hot dogs eaten, a far distance behind Thomas.
I'm proud to say that my stepson (nine years old) has taken a special interest in computers, graphic design, social media, etc. He's on Twitter, started a blog and talks to his Dad and me with Skype video. What a cool kid! Way to go!
My 12-year old stepdaughter makes very cool music videos. She could show me a thing or two! Makes me proud to see such creativity...
I've been a bit busy with several websites and creating a blog for my work at the Hampton Roads Partnership. Be sure to visit SmartRegion.org to learn more about Hampton Roads and sign up to receive the HRP e-News, too.
... sorry, I missed "Thanksgiving." But, better late than never.
My honey, Bert, first and foremost.
My family and friends. New and old, near and far.
My job and the opportunity to work with others who truly want to make a difference in our community.
My geekness; geek is the new "cool."
My job. Did I mention this already? With the walls falling down around us, we should all be grateful to have our health and our ability to learn and adapt. Sure, budgets may not be growing like they once were -- but hey, "flat is the new up." And for all those out there whose jobs may not be secure -- rest assured, this too shall pass.
Hampton Roads really DOES have it all. PolarPlunge is for a good cause, Special Olympics. It's cold, but heart-warming. If you missed it, there's always next year...
Ok, watch this to the end: here's a NY student at ODU who knows the proper pronunciation!
The Inauguration on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 of our 44th President, an African-American man, prompted this post. My prediction of many years ago has come to pass.
I've always said - since I was old enough to understand such matters, i.e. knee-high to a grasshopper - that the U.S. would have an African-American man as President before a woman. Here's why:
The Fifteenth Amendment (Amendment XV) to the United States Constitution prohibits each government in the United States to prevent a citizen from voting based on that citizen's race, color or previous condition of servitude (i.e., slavery). It was ratified on February 3, 1870.
The Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution prohibits each of the states and the federal government from denying any citizen the right to vote because of that citizen's sex. The Nineteenth Amendment was specifically intended to extend suffrage to women. It was proposed on June 4, 1919 and ratified on August 18, 1920.
Voting rights took another 50 years for women after our African-American neighbors; let’s hope voting FOR a woman into office as President doesn’t take that long.
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