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On Saturday, I set off on a four person rafting adventure on the Lower Youghiogheny River in Pennsylvania. It was about a three hour drive from DC to Ohiopyle, PA where the rafting company was located. Once fixed up with our personal flotation devices and some really sporty looking helmets, we boarded a yellow school bus and headed down to the river.  

The stretch of river we were on contained class III and IV rapids, nothing that was too crazy but enough to be fun and challenging for us novices. We guided our own boat with the assistance of a few guides from the rafting company in other rafts and kayaks and there were probably 10 other rafts in our group. Most of the rapids were in short sections with a nice stretch of calm water between them. The calm sections offered a chance to jump in the water to cool off.

All in all, we did quite well and managed to run close to the proper line most of the time. There was an occasional sideways or backwards moment and we did have a couple brief, unintended exits of the raft but those overboard were quickly rescued. It was a great time and plans to return for the significantly more hardcore stretch of the river are already in progress.

It seems pretty clear that someone was shot execution-style in one of my building’s elevators last night. Not good…

Today in Centreville, VA, an internet-based auto related company that deserves no additional mention hosted a promo featuring $2.50 regular unleaded from 7 AM to 9 AM. Hundreds of cars lined up and idled in a slow moving line with the hopes of saving at the very most $30, assuming they were driving an SUV that was almost empty. After waiting 2+ hours, over 100 people didn’t make the 9 AM cut, wasted a gallon or two of gas idling, were pissed off, and were late for work. I understand this was a publicity stunt and that gas prices are having a huge impact on countless families. I still can’t help but be ashamed.

The original plan for the 4th of July was canoeing and kayaking on the Potomac with a front row view of the DC fireworks show. As fate would have it, the weather forecast got progressively worse through out the week and come the actual day, it rained off and on all evening with a chance of thunderstorms. So, we had to go with Plan B: cookout and the local fireworks show in Petworth. Petworth is a neighborhood in NW DC and I was told beforehand that they are known for some crazy July 4th fireworks. I wasn’t disappointed. For at least three hours and from at least every third house within view, rockets, mortars, fountains, roman candles, and what had to have been whole sticks of dynamite filled the sky with a brilliant display of light and my ears with a ringing sound that has almost subsided. The pinnacle of the show was when the multitude of people who had been igniting fireworks constantly for at least an hour straight all scattered simultaneously. This didn’t seem like a good sign. A handgun was then festively discharged in the air. Six or seven shots rang out and then everyone got back down to business. Definitely good times! We eventually retreated to the back yard to play with sparklers. Lots of photos here.

I met up with Constance on July 4th to go check out the Folk Life Festival and holiday craziness on the National Mall. After wading through a sea of people waiting for a parade to come through and then traversing a couple security checkpoints, we finally figured out how to get into the Folk Life Festival. This year featured the country of Bhutan which was really interesting and definitely worth learning more about. Texas was the North American location this year and there weren’t many Texas exhibits. There were two musical venues set up and then food stands. That was pretty much it. NASA was a kind of odd third addition to this year’s line up. They even had a big sign that said “Why is NASA at the Folk Life Festival?” and then explained how they were rooted in American culture. I thought it was funny they felt the need to explain themselves. More pictures here.