(The view from the balcony at Big Pink this snowy January morning. Not extreme, but messy. Photo Socotra). It was not an extreme weather event in Arlington last night, which is to say that it did snow, which is unusual for this winter, and it is colder than crap. I wondered if we really were […]

ABSOLUTELY MINT 2004 Jaguar XJ8, perfect champagne paint, like-new factory fresh example inside and out, fully serviced with 4 new tires, none nicer, runs like a dream!! Personally driven by National Treasure RADM Donald “Mac” Showers from his home at The Madison across the street to the Willow Restaurant. Fully optioned with all the luxury […]

Alert reader Heidi saved me this morning, and God bless her for it. Saved YOU, too! hahaha, if I may be permitted internet-speak. In real life, I was reacting to the inaugural festival here in town. It was quite an extraordinary performance. Mr. Obama’s words soared as he outlined all the great stuff we are […]

(The Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial on the National Mall. Hand crafted in China, the memorial symbolizes the legacy of the slain Civil Rights leader. Photo AP.) It is a Day On this morning, not that industry has given us much of a choice about recognizing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King off the […]

It is early here at the farm, the light is not yet up and the stars wink down impassively on our little world. People are flooding into the city for the inauguration, and I am happy to be away from it. They say the crowds will not be as big as they were last time, […]

I was going to flee the capital late yesterday, after the Admiral’s retirement. It was great to be part of it. Norm racked up a series of “firsts” in his 31-year career, which he enumerated. He was the first African American to be selected for a host of key Naval Intelligence jobs- Detailer, Number Fleet […]

(I was still teetering on crutches when Bill made his remarks at Raven and Big Mama’s funeral. His remarks were inspirational.) I got the word when I arrived at the office. My cousin Bill- we knew him as Billie when we were growing up- had passed peacefully the morning before. We had a sense that […]

(Famed director Quentin Tarantino whose hyper-violent comic book movies have inspired a generation. Photo AP). There is cold weather coming this way. It is snowing in Mississippi, they tell me, and in between, the Ninjas may take advantage of the drying air mass to slap more paint on the balcony at Big Pink. It will […]

(I opened up the door on the left side of the media cabinet to stow more junk before the maids arrived and found this. WTF? Photo Socotra). I wasn’t worried that much about whatever it is they are going to do at the White House later this morning. I was prepared for this contingency long […]

(Old Jim’s long suffering bride Mary with a special birthday cake. Photo by the pretty Jamie.) The good thing about Tuesdays are that the morning normally follows a decent night’s sleep, because of Monday, Monday evening at Willow. I was ready for it. The Monday wonderful world of Work was weird. Anyone who depends on […]