Sunday morning pick-up soccer was cold but fun. Great group of guys. Now home in front of the big screen to watch Fulham-Ipswich, then Liverpool-ManU. I’m drinking very good Gustos Coffee grown and roasted on Puerto Rican, gift of my stepbrother.
My tradition for last day of our visits to St. Croix has been to walk down to favorite beach early, set up hammock, and soak in the peace. Today Oliver joined me. A rainbow greeted us. #STX
President Biden and I are vacationing on the same island. Not sure what he did on St. Croix today but I enjoyed the beautifulSandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, open to public Saturday and Sunday. #STX
Today’s view, from the hammock beneath the sea grape trees. #STX
Rainbow for the start of our afternoon rainforest hike. Such a great walk up to Creque Dam. #STX
Wednesday, December 25, 2024 →
Laps in this pool on this day in this place is quite the gift. #STX
The Jan'25 issue of the Atlantic arrived earlier this week, and I immediately read the long feature about Hawaiian independence. I’m fascinated by this. I have a personal recollection of Iolani Palace that I don’t seem ever to have blogged, so must sit to write that soon.
Trying the new photo collections feature for my turtle pics, on this page.
I’m learning the lingo. Asked my daughter (Malia, arrived home last night from semester in Madrid) for a “fit check” this morning (i.e., how is my outfit?). I am wearing my Celtic soccer jersey and green-striped Adidas Sambas. She approved.
Two hours on the soccer pitch this morning, the crisp and cold blossoming into a sunny and warm day. Felt great to move. Been a great weekend so far.
Just back to the hotel after the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team win over Alaska-Fairbanks, 5-2. Was fun to cheer on the Golden Gophers. Tomorrow my brother, Joel, and I will be at the Vikings game.
While I was staying warm in the Mall of America (arrived early in Minneapolis and brother lands later), my daughterer Malia was touring the Atletico de Madrid stadium and sending me a photo of her sitting in Griezmann’s locker room seat and at the media briefing table. Amazing.
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 →
With traffic clogged and bladders full, we stopped at Virginia’s New River Trail state park, Foster Falls access. A nice detour.
I still have a few days to switch my soccer brain off in time for the Vikings game that Joel is treating me to. Not a great sign that I just learned Mack Brown’s story. Turns out he’s a legendary football coach here in Chapel Hill and in Austin, where our brother Nick is a UT football fanatic.
When we were in Napa Valley earlier this month, Erin and I missed out on a table at the French Laundry. Here’s the NYTimes reviewing (gift link) the famous restaurant on its 30th year. Cool to see the cookbook has sold a million copies (co-author Michael Ruhlman is a friend).
Fun to hear Paul and Octavio on WUNC today talking about Los Jets, the mostly Latino NC high school soccer team that won a state championship in 2004. I play pickup soccer with these 2 in Pittsboro on Wednesday nights.
Daughter studying abroad in Spain is having major issues with her iPhone. She’s spent 5 days trying to resolve it on her own, at the Apple store, with me on FaceTime. The device is dearly important but super frustrating to her (and me).
Earlier, I walked up the gravel road in the dark to get the mail. On the way, I stopped to chat with neighbor Kumar, who was setting up his telescope. With Jupiter visible in the clear sky, he let me look and I saw the giant planet with four of its moon. Amazing!
We just watched Joy, the Netflix movie about IVF, and it was beautiful. Great acting, great story, great science.
A very good way to start a Monday: wake early, meditate as the sky brightens into reds, take pot from oven where supper’s chicken carcasses simmered overnight and finish into aromatic stock, drink good coffee, write in journal, make bed, hug wife, rouse the teenager.