Sunday, 15 March 2009
Day 50
Today, Sunday, I had beer in a hard aluminum bottle. It was really weird, it looked like a bottle was made of thick metal. Went to meet friends at One Ocean hotel on Neptune beach, and had a beer as we enjoyed the warm weather. For some reason, they brought be Bud Light in a container that looks like it was designed for holding propane.
Day 49
Saturday, I ran the Gate River Run 15k road race in Jacksonville for the first time.
An annual tradition here, people come from all over the region to run it.
(http://www.gate-riverrun.com/)
Going through downtown Jacksonville, over bridges, and winding through the city's historic neighbhorhoods, the course finishes at the Jaguars' stadium. There were live bands playing along the course. At the start line, they had the Chariots of Fire theme playing in a loop which was kind of motivating early in the morning. Even better, the final mile includes a run across the Hart Bridge, which is a bridge that arches steeply enough to allow oceanliners to pass under it. It's a pretty steep incline, and the race organizers set up speakers going all the way up the bridge blasting Eye of the Tiger.
Some other members of my command ran the race as well, depicted in the photo below. Congrats to LT Russ Lannutti for having the fastest time among us, and good luck to LCDR Dave Gonzalez, on his way to an overseas deployment.
An annual tradition here, people come from all over the region to run it.
(http://www.gate-riverrun.com/)
Going through downtown Jacksonville, over bridges, and winding through the city's historic neighbhorhoods, the course finishes at the Jaguars' stadium. There were live bands playing along the course. At the start line, they had the Chariots of Fire theme playing in a loop which was kind of motivating early in the morning. Even better, the final mile includes a run across the Hart Bridge, which is a bridge that arches steeply enough to allow oceanliners to pass under it. It's a pretty steep incline, and the race organizers set up speakers going all the way up the bridge blasting Eye of the Tiger.
Some other members of my command ran the race as well, depicted in the photo below. Congrats to LT Russ Lannutti for having the fastest time among us, and good luck to LCDR Dave Gonzalez, on his way to an overseas deployment.
Day 48
On Friday, I went to my first training session in the courtroom at NAS Jax. It was a good training session, and a good excuse to play some golf at the course at NAS later in the day.
Day 47
On Thursday, March 13, I cooked a Tuna Steak for the first time. It doesn't taste like tuna. And it doesn't taste like steak. Sort of a misnomer, if you ask me.
Day 46
On Wednesday, March 11 I saw "W" for the first time.
It's a good movie, I recommend everyone see it. It's actually pretty sympathetic to the 44th president, and deals more with the family dynamics and his political rise than anything else. For an Oliver Stone movie, it's not what I expected.
It's a good movie, I recommend everyone see it. It's actually pretty sympathetic to the 44th president, and deals more with the family dynamics and his political rise than anything else. For an Oliver Stone movie, it's not what I expected.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Day 45
Today, Tuesday 10 March, I finished "A Voyage Long and Strange" by Tony Horwitz. A great book, and I'm counting it as a new experience. He's one of my favorite authors, he's got a talent for blending history, travel narrative, and good dialogue. This book is about him following the footsteps of early explorers in america. May sound dull, but it isn't. And he was as repulsed by the fountain of youth tourist trap as I was in his Ponce De Leon chapter.
Day 44
Monday, I went for a walk on a treadmill in sandals.
I went for a walk in flip flops, but then it got dark and I couldn't see. I had my iphone with me and some headphones, so I stopped by the fitness center where I live and continued my walk by listening to new music (found with shazam).
I probably looked a little weird, but got some exercise after a big dinner. And had the new experience of walking on a treadmill in sandals
I went for a walk in flip flops, but then it got dark and I couldn't see. I had my iphone with me and some headphones, so I stopped by the fitness center where I live and continued my walk by listening to new music (found with shazam).
I probably looked a little weird, but got some exercise after a big dinner. And had the new experience of walking on a treadmill in sandals
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Day 43
Today I bought a yoga mat.
I was at the nike outlet returning golf shoes that didn't fit in darien, ga, on my way home from charleston. They didn't have the right size, so I was looking for other things to exchange the shoes for. I don't have a mat for situps at home. I also will probably need to try yoga for this blog at some point. I imagine I'll need a mat.
So now I own a Nike yoga mat.
I was at the nike outlet returning golf shoes that didn't fit in darien, ga, on my way home from charleston. They didn't have the right size, so I was looking for other things to exchange the shoes for. I don't have a mat for situps at home. I also will probably need to try yoga for this blog at some point. I imagine I'll need a mat.
So now I own a Nike yoga mat.
Day 42
Saturday 6 March, I played golf for the first time at an air force base, with friends Robbie and Lauren in South Carolina. I also went to a stadium and watched pro soccer between DC United and Real Salt Lake that evening, with goals scored by a Brazilian known only as "Fred". Gotta love those brazilians with one name. Also saw, Charleston play Toronto FC, and hung out in the Canadian cheering section. Continued the evening with dinner at Queen Anne's Revenge, named after the flagship of a pirate named Edward Teach who once blockaded Charleston. Edward Teach is better known as Blackbeard. Yarrrr: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Teach
Finished the evening with drinks at a rooftop bar in downtown Charleston. Good times.
Finished the evening with drinks at a rooftop bar in downtown Charleston. Good times.
Day 41
Today I went to Chai in Charleston for the first time. It was a cool place, fun outdoor bar vibe and lots going on. Good times. Got to Charleston pretty late after work, so was a calm evening.
Day 40
Today, Thursday, I won money at pub trivia at Lynch's Irish Pub for the first time.
$25 for a beer tab was rich reward, particularly when i threw down the 6 point answer on the last question: what two elements make up 99% of the sun?
For all you Lap 29 readers who remember your They Might Be Giants: "The sun is a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace; where hydrogen turns into helium at a temperature of millions of degrees...."
Boom!
$25 for a beer tab was rich reward, particularly when i threw down the 6 point answer on the last question: what two elements make up 99% of the sun?
For all you Lap 29 readers who remember your They Might Be Giants: "The sun is a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace; where hydrogen turns into helium at a temperature of millions of degrees...."
Boom!
Day 39
I wish this was day 44. You know why? I shot a 44 over 9 holes at the golf course at NS Mayport. This was my first time under 45 ever. I was en fuego. Straight drives, accurate chips, sinking putts.
Day 38
Today, Tuesday, March 3, I had sushi with flying fish eggs for the first time.
Sushi Tama on Neptune Beach is a great place, and they have a roll called 'the ninja' with these eggs in them. Really didn't taste like much.
Sushi Tama on Neptune Beach is a great place, and they have a roll called 'the ninja' with these eggs in them. Really didn't taste like much.
Day 37
On Sunday, March 1, I took my dad to the airport in jacksonville. Sorry, it was a week ago and I don't remember anything else new that happened that day. But that was the first time I've done that.
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Day 36
Saturday night I went to the first play I've ever been to where the audience gives a verdict in a trial.
My dad and I saw a community theatre put on the war crimes trial of Nathan Bedford Forrest at the ABET Theatre in Atlantic Beach. We'd had a great day of golf up in Fernandina Beach, and finished up the day with what ended up being an interesting night of theatre.
The theatre itself is really unique, and the local playwright wrote the play to give a trial that Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest never had. A cavalryman, slave trader, and the first Grand Dragon of the KKK, he's quite obviously a controversial figure. The war crimes case against him is complicated and uncertain though. The play had none other than William Tecumseh Sherman testify in his defense. The play is running a few more months, if you're in town you should go see it.
ABET Theatre
http://www.abettheatre.com
General Forrest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest
My dad and I saw a community theatre put on the war crimes trial of Nathan Bedford Forrest at the ABET Theatre in Atlantic Beach. We'd had a great day of golf up in Fernandina Beach, and finished up the day with what ended up being an interesting night of theatre.
The theatre itself is really unique, and the local playwright wrote the play to give a trial that Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest never had. A cavalryman, slave trader, and the first Grand Dragon of the KKK, he's quite obviously a controversial figure. The war crimes case against him is complicated and uncertain though. The play had none other than William Tecumseh Sherman testify in his defense. The play is running a few more months, if you're in town you should go see it.
ABET Theatre
http://www.abettheatre.com
General Forrest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest
Day 35
Today was the first time I've served as bailff for the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Appeals.
It wasn't an actual case of course, they were in Jacksonville to hear oral arguments for a moot court the Navy hosted this year. The event was organized in large part by the intrepid and motivated LT Lauren Faust, a Lap 29 reader and all-around great American. Those of you who knew me in law school know I've been around a lot of moot court competitions in a lot of different places. This was the best organized event I've ever seen. It's a testament to how hard Lauren worked to make sure things were done right. She's gotten great recognition for the event, and it's the product of hard work and talent meeting opportunity. Go Faust Go....
As bailiff, I got my own gavel and got to say things, in my most authoritative voice, such as "all rise" and "God save the United States and this Honorable Court."
Good times. The judges were great; senior naval and usmc officers, it was really interesting watching them question counsel in military appellate proceedings. Who knows, maybe I'll be answering their questions in DC a few years from now.
It wasn't an actual case of course, they were in Jacksonville to hear oral arguments for a moot court the Navy hosted this year. The event was organized in large part by the intrepid and motivated LT Lauren Faust, a Lap 29 reader and all-around great American. Those of you who knew me in law school know I've been around a lot of moot court competitions in a lot of different places. This was the best organized event I've ever seen. It's a testament to how hard Lauren worked to make sure things were done right. She's gotten great recognition for the event, and it's the product of hard work and talent meeting opportunity. Go Faust Go....
As bailiff, I got my own gavel and got to say things, in my most authoritative voice, such as "all rise" and "God save the United States and this Honorable Court."
Good times. The judges were great; senior naval and usmc officers, it was really interesting watching them question counsel in military appellate proceedings. Who knows, maybe I'll be answering their questions in DC a few years from now.
Day 34
Today was the first time I've eaten alligator.
My dad flew into Jacksonville, and due to Continental bringing him one bag but not the other, we had two hours to kill so we went downtown.
The Jacksonville Landing is the commercial area on the river in Jacksonville, with restaurants, shops, a concert venue, etc. We went to a steakhouse called Benny, which had the best mahi mahi I've ever had. For appetizer, they had seasoned fried gator strips. It was amazingly good. Beyond the 'tastes like chicken' cliche, there was a tanginess I hadn't expected.
I just hope it isn't bad karma for me next time i'm looking around in a pond for a mis-hit golfball down here....
My dad flew into Jacksonville, and due to Continental bringing him one bag but not the other, we had two hours to kill so we went downtown.
The Jacksonville Landing is the commercial area on the river in Jacksonville, with restaurants, shops, a concert venue, etc. We went to a steakhouse called Benny, which had the best mahi mahi I've ever had. For appetizer, they had seasoned fried gator strips. It was amazingly good. Beyond the 'tastes like chicken' cliche, there was a tanginess I hadn't expected.
I just hope it isn't bad karma for me next time i'm looking around in a pond for a mis-hit golfball down here....
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