George Washington Ate Here

Monday, August 4

The hotel in Rockford had free Breakfast stuff. There was something for me.

Yup, Fruit Salad, two Eggs, and decaf Coffee... let me at the world!

We had one meeting, and then met Jennifer for Lunch. We met at Union Station, which is right by the Historic Capitol Building. Everything is by the Historic Something... this was by the Capitol. We went where the Senators go to get our Shoes shined.

Anyway, we had Lunch at Thunder Grill, right in the station. I had a Salmon Burger (it was a piece of Fish, not a patty), with Vegetables. Jennifer had a Burger, and Ed had the Fajitas.

I wouldn't call it Fine Dining, but it was Dining, and it was right near Jennifer's office, and we ate and got a lot of work accomplished at the same time.

In the evening, we took the train back into Washington (our hotel is now in Alexandria), took some bicycles from the Share-A-Ride thingamabobs, and rode around a little. I saw the White House, the Ford Theater (where Lincoln got shot), the house across the street from the Ford Theater (where Lincoln died), and finally, Chinatown.

We also did a bike-by of the Spy Museum, but the photo of that apparently self-destructed.

Ed has a favorite place in Chinatown... Tony Cheng's. Ed described it as "regular Chinese food, but really good Chinese food." That was good enough for me.

I ordered the House Special Soup and Moo Shu Pork. Ed went for an order of Steamed Dumplings (I had one), Egg Drop Soup, and some sort of Shrimp Dish.

The Soup was OK, the Moo Shu was very good, and the one Dumpling that I had was EXCELLENT. It was large, tasty, and freshly made. I would go back and order two types of Dumplings and be good for Dinner. Well, maybe a Bowl of Soup, too.

They brought us some Orange slices with the check. I had two.

That should have been it, but back at the hotel at around 11:00, I got hungry, so I got dressed and went downstairs. There was a bar with Bad Karaoke coming out of it. But they had a kitchen and they were open.

I had an order of Wings.

They were as bad as the Karaoke. That was it for the day. Here's my steps.

SPECIAL REPORT: A Trip to the Mini-Bar

I am staying at the Lorien Hotel & Spa on King Street in Alexandria, Virginia. It's a nice hotel, and aside from the cold stuff in the Mini Bar refrigerator, there's a lot of stuff on the counter above. Let's take a look:

OK, on the left, from the front, we have Peanut M&Ms ($6), Gummi Bears ($6), Beef Jerkey ($9), Almonds ($6), and Upscal Cracker Jack ($6).

In the box, from the bottom, on the left: Two different Snack Bars ($4 and $4.50), two small bags of Crackers ($4 each), a Can of Peanuts ($10), above the Peanuts is something called the (Lover's Intimacy Kit ($28, and includes an Erotic Vibrating Ring, Mini Multi-Speed Vibrator, Two Premium Condoms, and Lubricant), and a big bag of Chips in the back ($7). On the right side: Toothpaste ($5), Razor ($8), two Tins of Mints ($4 each), Toothbrush ($5), a Can of Cashews ($12), a Corkscrew ($8), Shaving Cream ($5), a pair of warm, non-slip Socks ($15), a differ bag of Chips ($4) and a bottle of Water ($7). All prices plus tax.

What did I have from the "Honor Bar?" Absolutely Nothing.

Honest Abe Chopped Down the Cherry Tree (and other historical stuff)

Sunday, August 3

There are a lot of people trying to fill your head with a lot of facts when you are in Washington, DC. Frankly, you don't know what to believe. Believe what you want. But one fact is indisputable: I finally got to go to Washington, DC. Certainly took me long enough. Here's the proof... they built the Lincoln Memorial to match the money.

The day started early. While waiting for the plane at the airport, I had a package of Chicken of the Sea Skinless and Boneless Pink Salmon.

We landed and went to where all the tourist stuff is. You could easily hang out there a week, not leave a ten square block area, and not see half of what's around. And all the museums are free. We went to the Air & Space Museum and saw some cool stuff. We even saw actual Hanging Chads.

Here's me throwing up a []_[] at the Washington Monument, and here's the Monument and its reflection in the (of all things) Reflecting Pool.

And here's Abe, and then back to the food.

It was 3:00 before we made it to Rockville (where tonight's hotel is - the rest of the week is in Alexandria). We were starving, so we went to the first place we saw: BC Steak.

I had the Stuffed Flounder with Broccoli and Mushrooms.

It wasn't very good, but at least it was small. Ed had a Salad and a Filet with  Broccoli. He said that his was delicious. Just proves you shouldn't order Fish in a Steak House.

We finally got to the hotel. Our rooms were upgraded to the Concierge Level, so there were Free Snacks. I had an Orange and Five Wings. They were not breaded and did not appear to be fried.

We were tired, so we later had Dinner at the Hotel. I had the Fried Calamari and a Vegetable Wrap with a Sweet Potato. Ed had the Crab Cakes.

The Calamari was pretty horrendous. Unfortunately, there was a lot of it, and it was topped with Onion Rings. I managed to avoid about half the Rings. As Vegetable Wraps go, mine was fine. It is strange how late in life, I am coming around to Sweet Potatoes. I'm not sure that Ed liked his Crab Cakes all that much... he often doesn't finish his food, but these weren't very large and he left a lot over.

That's it for the day. It was a banner day for steps. Here they are.

Catfish Saturday

Saturday, August 2

Everyday could be Catfish day as far as I'm concerned.

I'm going away tomorrow, so I need to eat what in the refrigerator and NOT buy any more food.

I cut up half of the Watermelon that was left from Friday.

For late Lunch/early Dinner, I cooked up the Catfish that I had bought in my Frenzy at Albertsons Friday night.

I used a can of Diced Tomatoes, some Straw Mushrooms I(because I like Mushrooms), Banana Pepper Rings, Jalapeno Rings, Spices and... Catfish. I heated it all up and... here it is.

I used a little less than half the Vegetables, and I cooked up the other filet.

Around 8:00 pm, I cut up the rest of the Watermelon.

That's it for the day. Here's my steps. It's only 10 pm, but my flight is at 7:00, so I'm going to bed. The rest of the month should be more exciting (or at least more photogenic); I will be in Washington for 5 days and Lima for almost two weeks.

A Fowl Friday

Friday, August 1

There was nothing in the house or the office in the morning (I am going away on Sunday), so I was starving. I went to the Deli Section in Publix and stocked up.

My first item was 12 ounces of Boars Head Blackened Turkey Breast Rollups.

Wondefully excellent. Later in the afternoon, I nuked some Asparagus.

When I got home, I had the Boars Head Buffalo Chicken Breast (8 oz) Rollups.

I was still a little hungry, so I heated up a can of Tomatoes and Okra.

Later in the evening, I went to Albertsons. Now THEY had $3.99 Watermelons. I got one of those and some Wings. I cut up the Watermelon and had some while the Wings were baking.

The Wings came out great.

Turkey, Chicken, more Chicken... Fowl!

Before bed, a little more Watermelon. Here's my steps.

What Gives? Another Vegetarian Day

Thursday, July 31

If you didn't know better, you's think that I didn't like Meat.

A Bowl of Watermelon. That was the last of the cheap Watermelons I bought at Alexa.

Larry, Jeff and I went to Sweet Tomatoes for Lunch. They still don't have the Crazy Meatballs Soup, so we were a little disappointed. Remaining undaunted, I was able to deal with it.

The Salad was Lettuce, Cucumbers, Celery, Mushrooms, Broccoli Chopped Egg with a Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing. The other plate was Banana Peppers and Dill Pickles. The first two Bowls of Soup were Santa Fe Black Bean Chili and Vegetarian Harvest. I liked the Bean Soup better, so I had another Two Bowls. In the battle fo these two Soups, Vegan > Vegetarian.

There was an Albertsons' Bowl of Watermelon in the refrigerator at work, so I had that in the afternoon.

At home, I had a Healthy Choice Portabella Spinach Parmesan for Dinner.

No nearly as delicious as it looks on the package, but passable.

Later, I had some more of the $1 Lettuce from Alexa.

Here's my steps for the day.