First Day of Second Grade

Geek Girl started second grade at a new school this week. The school was new to all of the second graders, because all the kindergartners and first graders go to one school, and the second, third, and fourth graders go to another school. In the apartment we were out of the walking perimeter and Girl Geek could have taken the bus or walked. Now, we are 0.3 miles away from the school and the bus is not an option. Which is fine with us, since Geek Girl used to suffer from motion sickness on the bus ride to school.

Daddy Geek and Girl Geek at the corner. Daddy Geek would have loved to walked Geek Girl to school on her first day, but he had jury duty.


Geek Girl with her bag of school supplies almost at the school.


Geek Girl in her classroom.

Row, row, row your boat

Last Sunday we rented a canoe from the Thompson Boat Center and cruised the Potomac. We went upstream under the Key Bridge to the Three Sisters Islands for lunch, went a little further upstream, and then furiously rowed back hoping not to get a ticket for exceeding the parking meter time. (We made it in time). Here are some pictures from the adventure.

Daddy Geek and Girl Geek with the Key Bridge behind them.


Some silly geeks.


Lunch Break.


Then we drove over to the Tidal Basin to find a shady spot to read and nap under the trees before coffee and treats on the way home. A lovely Sunday.

Last week of summer vacation

We're on the final stretch of summer break. All of the outdoor pools close on Labor Day. No more sleeping in until 9 am -- we've started waking Geek Girl up at 7:15 am. Tomorrow we go meet her 2nd grade teacher.

Right now we have about a third of the local library on our bookshelves. Here's a picture of Geek Girl reading in the local cafe after a trip to the library. She's reading one of the Cornelia Funke's Ghosthunters books.

Geek Girl Projection of the Earth

Geek Girl received some art supplies in the mail today and she is happily drawing.

Here is one of her creations. Keep in mind that this is a 5 in x 7 in piece of paper.


I'm pretty darn impressed. She's disappointed because she forgot Lake Michigan, but she did this all from memory!

If only there were a way...

Today, I had a lovely experience on my morning commute. I decided to express my displeasure using the WMATA Metro comment system. Here was my letter:

Dear Metro folks,

I am a regular rider of the X and Y bus lines.

Today, at 7:09 AM, I used the NextBus system to check the next scheduled arrival at stops A and B, which are the two closest stops to my house. In a spirit of unrestrained optimism, I believed the NextBus system when it reported a line X bus would arrive at stop B in 9 minutes - perfect timing for my 5 minute walk there. The sheer joy of starting my week with such luck lifted my spirits more than I can tell you.

My optimism was rewarded by a glorious 25-minute wait during which NextBus cheerfully informed me the bus would be there in 5 minutes, then 3, then 2, and then 1 minute. Wonderful, except that the bus it was reporting never actually arrived. I assume the system was tracking the Lost Dutchman bus, which drives Route 29 like a spectre, never actually being seen, but still being reported.

Had I known the real timing, I could have walked (good exercise) or taken a different route, or even perhaps waited to see my daughter wake up. It is exceedingly frustrating to have a "NextBus" system that in fact does NOT report the next bus - which came on time according to schedule - but tracks an idealized version of reality.

Perhaps you could fix this. If only there were a technology available that would allow real-time positioning of moving vehicles, and if that technology were widely available, perhaps even in small hand-held devices that any consumer could purchase for under $100. What a wonderful world this would be.

Sadly yours,

Daddy Geek

I don't know...maybe some kind of global way of positioning one's vehicle...some kind of system...naah, that would never work.

Weather Report

At 6:50 pm it is 95 deg F and 50% humidity -- heat index of 107 deg F!

Daddy Geek was sent on errands this morning and then we spent the late afternoon in the pool.

Did I mention the air conditioning failed yesterday? Thankfully it is working again. Because we need it.

The Importance of Diversification

Scene: Geek Girl's bedroom. Evening. A game of Monopoly Jr. is underway.

Daddy Geek looks down at the distribution of $1, $2, $3, $4, and $5 bills he has. He has no $5, but lots of $2. He decides to swap 5 $2s for 2 $5s.

A Geek who shall remain nameless, um, expels gas.

Daddy Geek: [looking at bills] I think I'll diversify.

Geek Girl: Does that mean fart?

Both parents burst out laughing.