Archive for May 2004

Japanese Laterns

My friend Jimmy had a cookout yesterday on his roofdeck. The roofdeck was decorated with strings of lights and Japanese laterns. Hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw and margaritas sent everyone home in a good mood.

Memorial Dedication

Here’s a picture of the WWII Memorial that was dedicated today. I wasn’t there today, obviously, since it was closed off for the dedication. This picture was taken two weeks ago. The rest are here. I watched the dedication on TV, and I am somewhat chagrined to say that I liked Dole’s speech. Readers of www.clifburns.us will know why I am chagrined about that.

[This site, www.clifburns.net, is back up after a problem with Yahoo Domains which shut it down temporarily. I've now redirected the site away from Yahoo Domains and it should be stable.]

My first cicada

This morning one of the 50 kazillion cicadas that have recently emerged from their 17-year hibernation visited the screen on my kitchen window, some eight stories above ground. This is the only one I’ve seen so far, although allegedly they are everywhere. If this one is looking to mate, he’s not going about it very well.

Tunisian Lions

Several years ago the Tunisian Embassy, located down the block from me, built a mysterious annex guarded by two cheap plaster lions, one of which is pictured here. The windows are shrouded by curtains. I have never seen anyone use this annex, and the tiles on the steps are beginning to fall apart. Perhaps these plaster lions have scared everyone away.

Panda-Monet-ium

The pandas have been painted and installed. This one was painted by an attorney at the law firm where I work. Since the panda is covered with Monet reproductions, it’s called “Panda-Monet-ium” or “Pandemonium” for short.

If I were doing a Panda I think I would do the Panda Lisa by Panda Vinci. Or maybe Pandy Warhol, painted like a Campbell’s Soup can.

Click here to see other pictures of Panda-Monet-ium

New office building

Our offices are moving in the fall and today I went to pick out my new office. This was not an easy task since, as you can see, the interior space has not been built out. Still, using the proposed floor plan, I did my best and picked what looked to be a good office, at least when it’s finished

Unsafe at any speed

This spectacularly restored Corvair was on 17th Street last weekend. We had a Corvair when I was growing up and it was a great car until you got on the highway. The wind from every truck that would pass us would cause the car to shake and start to veer off the road. I wish I could say that all Corvairs, rather than just this one, had survived better than their nemesis Ralph Nader.

I added tonight the photos from the Old Dominion Kennel Club.

Another WWII picture

Here’s another picture from the WWII memorial this weekend. And here are the rest

WWII Memorial

I thought that I would hate the new World War II Memorial. It’s not as bad as I imagined. The columns for each state are lame, but the fountain at the end of the reflecting pool is an impressive idea.

Virginia Gold Cup

Yesterday was the annual Virginia Gold Cup. The horse I bet on in this race didn’t even complete the race, so I decided that I should do a favor to the horses in the remaining races and not wager on them.

Click here to see more photos from the 2004 Virginia Gold Cup.