What I’ve learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0028

1351.  Writing a check separates a commitment from a conversation;
1352.  Negative interactions can harm romantic relationships.  Odds are that the relationship will fail if positive interactions don’t outnumber negative ones by a ratio of at least 5-to-1;
1353.  Mayor (William) Euille (of the City of Alexandria) is a big football fan. . . . He’s a regular at (Joe) Theismann’s (Restaurant) . . . and he doesn’t like blue cheese (dressing) on his wings;
1354.  It’s no joke when the red flags are out at the beach;
1355.  If you ever need a light and you don’t have matches or a lighter, turn on an electric stove and touch some paper to the heating element;
1356.  Cuban cigars are overrated;
1357.  If you like martinis (and you’re in the Bahamas), order the “Casino Royale” (i.e., gin, vodka and Lillet) at the pool bar of the One&Only Ocean Club (OceanClub.OneAndOnlyResorts.com) on Paradise Island. . . . It’s very smooth and probably the best martini I’ve ever had;
1358.  The line between gambling and investing is artificial and thin.  The soundest investment has the defining trait of a bet (you losing all of your money in hopes of making a bit more), and the wildest speculation has the salient characteristic of an investment (you might get your money back with interest).  Maybe the best definition of “investing” is “gambling with the odds in your favor;”
1359.  It’s difficult to pee in the ocean when the waves are rough. . . . It’s hard to get started;
1360.  There’s a different vibe when you’re peeing among the palms of a deserted (Bahamian) island;
1361.  During the off-season, locals go to Rose Island (in the Bahamas) to watch (American) football. . . . Naturally (because of geography), they’re (Miami) Dolphins fans;
1362.  It’s amazing the number of fish you can see when you’re snorkeling. . . . At some reefs, fish are around you as soon as you get in the water;

1363.  Riding in a powerboat is kind of like being on a rollercoaster;

1364.  For some reason, there are a lot of attractive girls at Logan (International) Airport in Boston, Massachusetts;

1365.  I can say I’ve had (New England) clam chowder and a lobster roll in Boston, Massachusetts . . . albeit it was in the airport;

1366.  Megabus (Megabus.com) is a nicer alternative to the Chinatown bus from D.C. . . . Although, it’s not as flexible (i.e., you’re assigned a particular departure time) and, if you’re coming from Alexandria, it’s not as convenient either (i.e., it departs from Union Station);

1367.  The Hard Rock Café in New York City has the front doors from Abbey Road Studios in Westminster, England;

1368.  Hotel concierges (in New York City) can be very helpful.  They can arrange your tours and purchase your theatre tickets;

1369.  “One World Trade Center” was designed to be 1,776 feet in height in reference to the year of the signing of the Declaration of Independence;

1370.  You can get discount tickets (up to 50% off) to Broadway (and off-Broadway) musicals and plays at the TKTS Discount Booths (TDF.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56);

1371.  “Harry Potter” (i.e., Daniel Radcliffe) can (actually) sing and dance;

1372.  The Landmark Tavern (TheLandmarkTavern.org), which opened in 1868, in the Hell’s Kitchen section of New York City, is one of the oldest operating establishments in the city;

1373.  There are cheap places to eat in New York City besides chain fast food restaurants;

1374.  A lot of buildings have water towers in New York City;

1375.  Character is much easier kept than recovered;

1376.  I think people who accuse you of doing something (e.g., drinking too much) that they themselves do more just don’t want to admit or consciously realize that they’re the ones who really have the problem;

1377.  I think it’s rather odd when you go to a bar, order a non-alcoholic drink and people ask you whether or not something is wrong. . . . Shouldn’t people ask you if something is wrong when you go to a bar and order a drink with a lot of alcohol in it and not something without any alcohol?

1378.  I think people who are generally amiable and pleasant when they’re sober who become mean and spiteful when they’re drunk have repressed anger issues;

1379.  Why do some people lie for no reason at all? . . . Some people will even lie about whether they shopped at Target or Wal-Mart. . . . Do they want to be liked so badly that they’ll say whatever they think you want to hear?

1380.  Philosophy begins in wonder;

1381.  Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around;

1382.  Most of the time when you get out of your comfort zone, that’s the time for a lot of personal growth;

1383.  It's funny how we think celebrities (like the president) are so different from us that we're amazed when they do something normal like go to the store to Christmas shop;

1384.  It’s ironic that we can be afraid of actually getting (at least what we think) what we want . . . perhaps it’s a deep-seated, unconscious belief that we don’t deserve it;

1385.  Robbie likes spicy food;

1386.  You can eat cactus. . . . It looks like a flattened green bean and it kind of tastes like one;

1387.  If you ever have a craving for grasshoppers, Oyamel Cocina Mexicana (Oyamel.com) in D.C. has grasshopper tacos, called “chapulines.”  They’re made with sautéed grasshoppers (chopped), shallots, tequila and guacamole. . . . Grasshoppers are crunchy and they taste kind of sour;

1388.  Robbie likes the ballet;

1389.  A wise man once said, the only thing history teaches us is that history doesn’t teach us anything;

1390.  After hearing some very successful people speak about their past experiences, it seems like most people never envisioned where they’d be right now.  Knowledge and expertise play roles in it, but most of the time it seems like they are where they are out of mere happenstance . . . by being at the right place at the right time . . . by sheer “dumb luck;”

1391.  “Yukon Gold” potatoes make better tasting baked potatoes than white, red or “Russet Burbank” potatoes;

1392.  You can get good travel, food and entertainment discounts at Travelzoo (Travelzoo.com);

1393.  If you’re a karaoke fan, the Hill Country (HillCountryWDC.com) in D.C. has karaoke downstairs with a live band (i.e., “Rock ‘n Twang Band”) on Wednesday nights from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM;

1394.  New Zealand cuisine is a mixture of English, Asian and Polynesian dishes and flavors;

1395.  “Bronzini” is another name for Mediterranean rockfish (i.e., sea bass);

1396.  The “Pavlova” is New Zealand’s national dessert.  It’s named after Anna Pavlova, the Russian prima ballerina, who toured throughout New Zealand in the 1920’s.  It’s a meringue cake topped with fresh fruit (i.e., kiwifruit, strawberries, etc.) and whipped cream . . . and it’s pretty tasty;

1397.  It’s funny that if a woman grabs another woman’s breasts, it’s perfectly acceptable.  But if a man were to do the same thing, it’d be sexual harassment. . . . I guess it has to do with the subtext of the act.  Supposedly, there’s no sexual undertone when a woman does it, but there would be if a man were to do it. . . . I guess it’s similar to when baseball, basketball and/or football players pat one another on the butt;

1398.  Some women (especially those who went to Virginia Tech) think a gulp is a “sip.” . . . Don’t let them try your wine;

1399.  There’s a reason that Derrick Rose (of the Chicago Bulls) is the reigning NBA “Most Valuable Player.” . . . He’s just so quick getting to the basket and he’s a great passer too;

1400.  By an act of Congress (on April 27, 2006), the “American Ballet Theatre” became “America’s National Ballet Company;”