(Allan Paone, right, a 15-year member of Rolling Thunder, directs bikers to their staging position at Pentagon North Parking in Arlington. Thousands of members from Rolling Thunder chapters across the country participated in the ride through the nation’s capitol. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden). The bikes are headed from all […]

(Jon-without had a challenging day at the office, and Boomer fixed him up with a Bourbon Sling from the Happy Hour Menu to ease into the Holiday weekend. He didn’t stay with that drink long, but you have to admire how he looks with an elegant glass in his hand, don’t you think? Photo Socotra). […]

I am counting down like crazy: Rolling Thunder is coming to town, and the bikes will start roaring in this afternoon. The Hogs hang out in the common area between the two churches across the street, and the sound of the big V-twin engines is a lot like living in the landing pattern of a […]

(Mac with out of town admirers, P&T, at Willow in February 2012. Photo The Lovely Bea.) I have been avoiding it. Not because it is unpleasant. It has just been too raw. I feel the imperative growing, though. I made the mistake of looking at the archive this morning- I happened on one of the […]

I guess the surprising thing was that the Bluesmobile had not spontaneously combusted since the last time I actually had the hood open. That is a problem with cars that are used sometimes as lawn decorations. I forget how it got back up here- I think we took the JG’s Explorer down to the Farm, […]

I was driving the Panzer over to meet Old Jim at the not-Willow bar to shoot the shit and maybe watch the Preakness. It was a lovely day, low humidity and sunny, a splendid day to be alive. By consensus, the old cathode ray tube televisions high atop the bar fixture at Willow was not […]

(Looking forward toward the Amen Corner at the Willow bar. Photo Willow.) Ok- so it’s Armed Forces Day. I assume you are partying your brains out to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the announcement by the second Secretary of Defense, Louis Johnson, that henceforth “Armed Forces Day” would replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and […]

(The chairs are un-stacked, the umbrella is up. The patio is straining with anticipation. Hockey is almost over; the Wizards are out of the playoffs, it is too soon to care about Baseball. There is only one answer. Photo Socotra). I was walking down the passageway to get to the garage this morning and saw […]

(G. Mennen “Soapy” Williams, governor of Michigan). I wanted to write about the way TLB’s hair shimmered with highlights when she walked into Willow last night. Honestly, I don’t think I have seen her look so lovely, and I have to say that Jon-without was at his dapper best. I was doing my best to […]

The morning started out with ennui. I slept well enough, but rose still tired. The temperatures have declined from the sultry first-sweat day of the season. The coffee was good enough, when I remembered to punch the button on the side. I don’t know- there is plenty to be outraged about but somehow I could […]