What's in Dave's Head

I’m back from Chicago , the City of Broad Shoulders, the Windy City, the City of Rahm Emmanuel and Kevin Youklis (why on earth did President Obama, in an election year, tick off most of New England with his taunts about the Red Sox?), the City of Three Million People of Whom I Know None. I was at a conference of business communicators like me, learning, making contacts, thinking about how to apply at my organization some of the things presenters are discussing. The usual stuff. It is a beautiful city. The architecture is breathtaking—building towers old and new, made from ornate concrete and sleek glass and steel, and full of character. Millenium Park and Buckingham Fountain, Michigan Avenue, State Street, Lake Shore Drive, RiverWalk, and so much more I didn't get to see.  I thought about going to a Cubs game (one of the conference sponsors was hosting it) and should have, because I would really like to see Wrigley Field, but opted out.  Another...

In a little more than a month I do "Sharkfest," the 1.5-mile swim in San Francisco from Alcatraz Island to the shore at Aquatic Park, next to Golden Gate Park.  I've done the 4.4-mile Great Chesapeake Bay Swim a few times.  While the Maryland swim is a longer distance, the conditions of Sharkfest are supposed to be much more challenging.  The water temperature is expected to be in the upper 50s, the chop is much heavier and the currents are stronger in San Francisco Bay.  Never mind about the sharks.  As I've told my family, as long as I'm a little faster than the slowest swimmer I should be fine! After the swim Donna and I are going to do some sightseeing.  The old Alcatraz prison, Muir Forest, Sausalito and wine country.  That should be a good reward for an hour or so of swimming. I've been training pretty hard this year to prepare.  I swim in a Master's program and try to work out in the pool three nights a week.  1...

Test your food knowledge with this loads-of-fun, purely theoretical quiz: "Dan" is home alone while his wife, "Dora," is away on a cross-country road trip.  Dan uses the occasion to indulge his yen for less-than-healthy dinner choices. Answer these questions to learn your Healthy Food IQ: 1.  Which of Dan's entree parts is made from more wholesome ingredients?      A.  The "all-beef" half-smoked sausages.      B.  The Hormel canned chili ("No Beans") 2.  Which of Dan's side dishes is made from more wholesome ingredients?      A.  Frito Scoops.      B.  Tostidos Salsa con Queso. 3.  Which is the healthier dinner choice?      A.  Chili-cheese dogs.      B.  Frito Scoops and queso dip. 4.  Does the steamed corn on the cob, slathered in butter and salt, qualify as a healthy vegetable serving?  ...

In less than two weeks the Douglasses and Swanekamps will descend on Long Beach Island to kick off the summer!  There is nothing Donna and I enjoy more at the beach than dinners with Lou and Joan and our families.  The jokes, the stories from way back and laughter are our greatest memories.  That, and great food, Jersey corn and tomatoes, breakfasts at Neptune, baking in the sun, reading on the deck off the downstairs den, the smell of salt air and sunscreen, body surfing, dip-tops, bike rides, watching Fourth of July fireworks on the roof, yadda yadda yadda.  Somebody's got to live the dream, right? But first we have to get Donna and Kate back from their road trip on Thursday night.  I have a conference next week in Chicago, then back in time to pack and boom-shacka-lacka.  Right before vacation the Swanekamps are moving to a new townhouse a few blocks from where they are now so they will be pretty busy (crazed actually).  Jack is...

It's Father's Day! What a crazy weekend it's been .  Donna and Kate are motoring across country and arrived at the Grand Canyon this afternoon.  I spent Friday with the Swanekamps, at the famous Hummer's tavern and the Knotty Pine for dinner.  Saturday, Dad and I did our own mini road trip.  We headed down to Washington, D.C.  We went to the Korean War Memorial and the World War II Memorial.  It was moving to see all the veterans and people who owe the vets an enormous debt of gratitude for their service.  We walked about 20 miles (well, maybe not quite but it seemed like it).  While I went to get the car after we had finished our tour of the WWII Memorial, Dad saw Bob and Elizabeth Dole, who were there to celebrate with the veterans.  Sen. Dole was a leader in getting the memorial built, against heavy opposition.  When we got back to Riderwood, where Mom and Dad live, we all headed down to the dining room and had hamburgers....