Another Nats Game

An absolutely fantastic day for a ball game.

Rendon hits a home run. 

Let's go Nats!

Godzilla — Movie Review

When you get to the monsters the movie really takes off. You see glimpses of Godzilla mostly his back in several early scenes in the movie. The other two creatures are MUTOs, for Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms. They sort of reminded me of cock roaches especially the one that flies.

There is an extensive set up piece that gives the history of the MUTO without really letting you know that it is a MUTO. Actually it is only one that you learn about the other isn’t revealed until later in the movie.

Back in 1999 a discovery is made in the Philippines. Caves are being explored. Something is found with a high level of radiation. There’s several gigantic pods found. One is clearly dead but the other. Whatever is inside escapes and takes a straight line to the ocean.

Cut to Japan and a nuclear power plant. This is where Bryan Cranston and his wife work. Their son is with them too. Strange things start happening at the plant. There are strange readings which look like seismic activity but aren’t because they are too consistent. The wife goes down into the bowels of the reactor. More strange readings happen. Then there is a breach and Cranston races down to try and save his wife but he cannot. The reactor collapses (in one of the cooler scenes in the movie).

Move to present day where the action really starts. The son is all grown up and in the Navy. The father has not been able to get over his wife’s death and continues to investigate what happen. I won’t give away all the plot but sufficient to say son goes to Japan. Father and son explore quarantined area around the reactor. Find out there is no radiation. The MUTO is being hidden here. MUTO hatches. MUTO can fly! Father dies from wounds when MUTO escapes. MUTO heads to Hawaii. Then all of a sudden along comes Godzilla.

MUTO one lands in Hawaii. Godzilla comes along and fights MUTO at airport. But wait there’s more

There’s another MUTO that’s kept in Nevada. This MUTO a female wakes up (that’s the reason for the strange readings they were communicating with each other). Everybody including the military and the son head for San Francisco. Climatic battle ensures. And that’s all you’ll get from me. I will say pay close attention to when Godzilla is about to breath fire so very cool. And the last time he breathes fire is really cool.

The effects are amazing. The MUTOs are really rather creepy. Godzilla is amazing right down to his roar. In fact the monsters are more interesting than the people. Wish there had been more fighting. San Francisco is of course destroyed. Does Godzilla kill both MUTOs? Does Godzilla live to fight another day? Go and see the movie and find out.

I had a couple of problems. Like I said too much time with people. The story lines should have been simplified. One too many subplots. Lots of good actors without a whole lot to do.

But in all a fun film to go to.

Now a little about when I went to see the film. I went to the 9:30 am showing on Saturday. I got to the multiplex which is in Georgetown around 9. There were a couple of people there. The doors were locked. I even tried a couple. A few more people show up. It gets to be about 9:10. I can see that there are people in there but still the doors aren’t open. So I try some of the doors. There are probably at least six sets of double doors. Only one is open. And only one of the doors of the set works.

We go into the lobby area. A person who I can only assume is a manager says to us they aren’t open until 9:30. I say you have three movies starting at 9:30. Then she says they open at 9:15. I think she thought we were going to go back outside but we didn’t. Finally at 9:15, they start selling tickets.

The strange thing is they hadn’t even started popping the pop corn when we came in. I go in and take my seat. The theater is empty. It turned out I had a private screening. No else came in. And that was damn cool.

A Ramp to Somewhere

A couple days ago I wrote about this. I said I was going to go by and take a look and try and figure out what exactly this ramp is for. I went by on Monday. This ramp is going to connect to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro stop.

I did a search about it and this is what I found out:

The Rhode Island Avenue Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge will link the Metropolitan Branch Trail and its connecting neighborhoods to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro Station and adjacent communities. It will create a safe passageway for community members who currently use the Rhode Island Avenue underpass, which is narrow and dark, or who cross the active railroad tracks increasing access to transit and recreation for thousands of residents. 

The truss bridge is designed in the style of an old railroad bridge. Ramps on both sides will provide wheelchair and bicycle access while a stairway on the west side will provide a more direct route. The open design will allow for visibility as well as beautiful city views and 24-hour lighting will enhance safety. The bridge will connect into the open section of the Metro station, providing connectivity even when the station is closed. The design is the result of unprecedented cooperation among numerous stakeholders including DDOT, WMATA, CSX, utility companies and the community.

 Also on the site are construction updates. This is the one from April:

Crews are currently focused on drilling and preparation to install piers on the southeast side of the CSX railroad tracks adjacent to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro Station. A shield has been installed to protect any potential impact to WMATA right of way areas. Crews are also working on the main stairway on the Met Branch Trail side. None of this work is expected to impact the travelling public. Please use caution when travelling along the Metropolitan Branch Trail in this area. The project is projected to be completed on time by January 2015.

I'm still not sure how this is going to work. Seems to me that there are going to have to have fare gates somewhere for people to use. I don't see, right now, where those are going to go. But it will be interesting to see how things develop.

Baseball and Peanuts a Perfect Pair

Yet another hilarious series from Peanuts about baseball. Charlie Brown returns from his injury and has returned to the mound where things are just about as he left them.

Off to the Races a Presidents Race that Is

I love the presidents race at Nats' Park. It is just such a fun part of the game. Here are some picture from Wednesday night's race, Teddy won!

Teddy wins the race.

Wednesday — A Frustrating Night at Nats' Park

Denard Span crossing home plate off his solo home run in the first inning.

Last night certainly started out great at Nats' Park. The second pitch to Denard Span in the first inning and he hits a home run.

That was the scoring highlight for the Nats. Tanner Roark pitched really well. He allowed just two runs over six innings. Chances for scoring came. The bases were loaded in the second and well I think the Post put it best:

The Nationals threatened to expand their lead in the second, but poor execution and unfortunate timing stymied them. Ian Desmond and Tyler Moore started the inning with singles. After Espinosa popped up, Simon walked Nate McLouth to load the bases with one out. To the plate came Roark. Keeping the bat on his shoulder would have been the optimal strategy. Instead, he dribbled a grounder to second with two strikes, and the Reds turned an inning-ending double play.

They got close again in the eighth. Span was up again and hit the ball to left. It was originally called a catch by the Red’s Billy Hamilton’s diving effort. The Nats challenged and, after review, the call was overturned. Span got as far a third but no one could get him home. The final score was 2-1.

The night show cased the things the Nats can do very well. But also showing the problems that beset them at this time too.

On personal note the guys that sat behind us talked the entire game. Well one guy in particular just could not shut up and did indeed talk the entire game. I learned all sorts of things that were going on in his life that I had absolutely no interesting in knowing. What a blessed relief when during the rain delay they went and got food but unfortunately they came back when played resumed.

Yes, it was a frustrating night.

Cat Adoption Fair this Sunday

My friend, Yolanda, is a volunteer with the Washington Humane Society. She's sponsoring a cat adoption fair this Sunday.

The fair will be at Annie’s Ace Hardware, 1240 Upshur St NW, Sunday, May 25th, 12pm – 3pm.

So if you are looking for a furry friend and companion, stop by the fair this Sunday and see all the wonderful cats ready to be adopted.

More about the Humane Society:

The WHS Mission
The Washington Humane Society inspires and creates a community where all animals have secure homes and where people and animals live together with joy and compassion.

About WHS
The Washington Humane Society (WHS), the only Congressionally-chartered animal welfare agency in the United States, has been the area’s leading voice for animals since 1870. As the open-access shelter in the Nation’s Capital, the Washington Humane Society provides comfort and care to over 43,000 animals each year through its broad range of programs and services including sheltering for homeless animals, a comprehensive adoption program and off-site adoption events to find new families for the animals in our care, low-cost spay and neuter for pet owners and other local organizations, an aggressive TNR (trap-neuter-return) program for feral cats (CatNiPP), investigations of each allegation of animal cruelty or neglect through the Humane Law Enforcement, lost and found services to help reunite lost pets with their families, pet behavioral advice to help resolve issues that lead to animals being relinquished to shelters, working with breed rescue groups to find more homes for more animals, volunteer and foster programs to allow other members of the community to help us help more animals and an award winning Humane Education program that teaches kindness to animals to the next generation of animal lovers.

The Ramp to Nowhere

It's almost like the bridge to nowhere but not entirely. I'm sure this is going to go some place but I cannot for the life of me figure out where it will. I have to think that this is some sort of bike ramp. It looks like they are building some sort of stairs or another ramp from the bike path but again it is hard to tell.

The end of the ramp has not been touched since I last blogged about this back in November which was a while ago and you still can't figure out what it is. This weekend I'm going to get on the trail and try and figure out exactly what this is.

Lucy's Science Project — Classic Peanuts

I remember trying to figure out what to do for the science fair. Lucy's come up with a unique idea for her project. Enjoy.

The View from the Top of the Kennedy Center

I went to a program at the Kennedy Center on Sunday. I got there a little early and went up to the roof. Here are some pictures from the top.

A couple pictures look towards Georgetown and Washington Harbor. You can see that the flood gates are up because of all the rain we had Thursday night into Friday morning.

It was a wonderful bright and sunny day. A great day to enjoy the view.

Linus and his ribbon

Here's Linus enjoying his ribbon. It is amazing the places it will turn up. Here it is in the dinning room but often times it ends up in my bed or in the bathroom or on top of my desk.

Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

Yes indeed today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. So of course I had to go out and get one. What else is a person supposed to do.

But I did find out about who invented the chocolate chip cookie. And it wasn't all that long ago. Ruth Graves Wakefield invented the cookie. Here's a little more information on her:

She was a Depression-era owner of the Toll House restaurant in Whitman, Mass., who decided in 1938 to up the appeal of some butterscotch cookies she had been serving alongside dishes of ice cream with some cut-up pieces of chocolate bar. And thus an American dessert icon was born.

That alone should have been enough to earn her place in history. But adding candy to a cookie also made Wakefield a combination dessert pioneer. In these days of Oreo-stuffed cupcakes and Heath Bar ice cream, the idea of hybridizing desserts is banal, but in the late 1930s, it was revolutionary. Wakefield’s recipe led to the invention of one of only a few food products created for use in a specific recipe—the chocolate chip. After Wakefield granted the rights to her recipe to Nestlé, the chocolate chip (née Toll House) cookie also became the most frequently made back-of-the-package recipe. (It still is.)

The rest of the story is just as interesting.

Now if you want to know the rest of the candy holidays (yes there is more than one), then you need to follow this link.This takes you to National Confectioners Association Making Life Sweeter Since 1884 (that's their slogan). As I said go there and find out all the other holidays. My favorite is December 16 which is – National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day or maybe it's August 10 – S’mores Day or just a few days later National Toasted Marshmallow Day. But the best is knowing that June is National Candy Month.

I took the plastic off.