CINCO DE MAYO

Happy belated Cinco de Mayo! I came across these guys in the lobby at work last Monday. The guy on the left really looks like he'd rather be somewhere else (or maybe he's just mad because he has to wear that outfit). Anyway, the building management hired them to play for a couple of hours while some festive foods were being served in the lobby. The owners and building management are trying to stay on our good side because it's looking pretty certain that we'll be leaving the Watergate when our lease is up. Our company isn't saying much right now, but according to this article, we're going to be relocating. While there's no question we need more space, I'm going to miss the Watergate. It's a broken-down old building that has given us a lot of headaches, but it certainly has character... and history...

On a different note, one of the 'Lead Balloons', Joe Orsinger (see SKYDIVING below) just launched a portfolio site at joeorsinger.com. Check it out. Joe does nice work.

SKYDIVING

Anybody that has known me for any length of time knows that I've been wanting to go skydiving for a long time. It's one of those things that I've been saying for years, but up until now, I never went for it. About two months ago, my friend Karen forwarded a message to me describing Operation Freefall which was to raise money and awareness for RAINN (The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). Minutes later, my friend Courtney forwarded the same message to our whole department at work, asking "Ok, who's with me?" Well, this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Not only would I finally get to jump out of an airplane, but I could help support a wonderful cause. Four of us from work (Joe, Courtney, Hillary and myself) decided to take the plunge, and as soon as my brother-in-law, Curtis found out, he signed up too. The five of us (with our team name 'The Lead Balloons') raised just over $3000 in pledges for RAINN.

This past Sunday was the big day. We did a tandem jump, which means that we each had an experienced skydiver from Skydive Virginia! strapped to our backs who talked us through every step. They also provided each of us with our own camera man that jumped right along side of us. If I can arrange it, I'll digitize the video and post it on this site.

The jump itself was absolutely incredible. It's truly hard to describe. I will say that at no point did it ever feel like I was falling. It was more like floating with a whole hell of a lot of wind in my face. Even the landing was surprisingly soft. I can easily see why people get addicted to this. I know I certainly intend to go again.

So a big thanks goes out to everyone who donated money and expressed encouragement for the whole 'Lead Balloons' team. And also, I want to thank those who knew I'd be jumping, but kept it a secret from my parents. You see, I know how my mom worries, and I just didn't have the heart to tell her that I was jumping out of an airplane until after it was over.

DARK ROOM

Yesterday we enjoyed some of the nicest weather we've had yet this year in D.C. Doesn't it figure that I needed to spend the whole day in a windowless room photographing books and brochures for work. Damn the luck!

I DON'T HAVE A WINE RACK

I've had a bottle of wine sitting on my kitchen counter for about three weeks. It was left over from when I had a few friends over for dinner last month. I rarely drink wine, and almost never have any in the house, so I have no need for a wine rack. Tonight I looked at that bottle and decided I had to do something. I couldn't just leave it sitting there and I know that wine bottles have to be stored on their side to keep the cork moist. So, I gathered an aluminum rod and two sets of pliers, and twenty minutes later, I had a storage solution. I think my industrial design professors at CCAD would be pleased.