What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0242

12051.  Jim Morrison (the lead singer of “The Doors”) graduated from George Washington High School (now George Washington Middle School) in Alexandria, Virginia(, in June 1961);

12052.  Jim Morrison’s father, (Rear) Admiral George (Stephen) Morrison, was in charge of the United States naval forces in the Gulf of Tonkin incident(, the leading pretext used to justify the Vietnam War);

12053.  Delacey said she’s been to Washington, D.C. many times, but her first time performing was on September 25^th, 2025 at the Lincoln Theatre( opening for X Ambassadors);

12054.  Delacey is a Billie Holiday fan;

12055.  Apparently, Billie Holiday used to perform at the Lincoln Theatre( in Washington, D.C.);

12056.  Sam (Nelson) Harris (the lead singer for “X Ambassadors”) brings a lot of energy to his performances/singing;

12057.  Dan Reynolds (the lead singer of “Imagine Dragons”) helped “X Ambassadors” get signed to a record contract/deal;

12058.  Casey Harris (of “X Ambassadors”) plays the keyboard with his eyes closed;

12059.  Casey Harris (the keyboardist for “X Ambassadors”) is Sam (Nelson) Harris’s (the lead singer for “X Ambassadors”) brother;

12060.  Apparently, you have to have a beard to be in “X Ambassadors;”

12061.  Apparently, Casey Harris (the keyboardist for “X Ambassadors”) is blind;

12062.  Seeing Luray Caverns (LurayCaverns.com) in Luray, Virginia, will ruin/spoil any experience at another cavern;

12063.  If you’re a fan of “Route 11 Potato Chips,” (Rt11.com) you can visit their factory in Mount Jackson, Virginia.  They have free samples of all of their chips and you can watch the frying process;

12064.  Apparently, “Route 11 Potato Chips” processes 50,000 pounds of potatoes per day;

12065.  “Route 11 Potato Chips” fry their chips in sunflower oil;

12066.  Apparently, it takes 4 pounds of potatoes to make 1 pound of finished chips (i.e., potatoes have a lot of water in them);

12067.  The cornbread salad (with romaine lettuce, black beans, fire roasted corn, crumbled cornbread, cheese, green onions & ranch dressing) at “The Apple House”/“The Bushel Pub” (TheAppleHouse.net) in Linden, Virginia, is tasty.  The crumbled cornbread adds a nice sweetness to the salad;

12068.  “The Apple House’s” apple butter (cinnamon) doughnuts are good, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get them;

12069.  Research shows couples with prenuptial agreements often have lower divorce rates and greater stability.  Not because the prenup magically prevents divorce, but because the process forces transparent communication about finances and expectations.  Those are the exact things that build long-term satisfaction and reduce conflict;

12070.  Pies will last (way) longer if you refrigerate them instead of leaving them out on the (kitchen) counter. . . . We’re talking (over) a week v. a few days;

12071.  The Wawa soft pretzel is (pretty) tasty. . . . I never thought I’d say that about a pretzel;

12072.  “Bruin,” which means “brown” in Dutch, is an English folk term for (a) brown bear;

12073.  It feels strange/weird riding in a train without a seatbelt( on);

12074.  Philadelphia(, Pennsylvania,) is 20 minutes from Wilmington(, Delaware,) by train;

12075.  Reading Terminal Market (ReadingTerminalMarket.org) in Philadelphia is worth a visit. . . . There’s so much to try/eat. . . . Unfortunately, it’s only open until 6:00 PM( daily and opening at 8:00 AM);

12076.  The United States Mint, currently, has 4 operating mint facilities.  They are located in Philadelphia(, Pennsylvania), San Francisco(, California), Denver(, Colorado,) and West Point(, New York);

12077.  The first United States Mint (facility) was in Philadelphia;

12078.  There’s another gold bullion depository (besides Fort Knox) at the West Point Mint;

12079.  Peter (Jefferson) was a bald eagle, who lived at the Philadelphia Mint.  He was allowed to fly around the mint during the day and was let out at night to fly over the city always returning by morning;

12080.  After Peter( Jefferson)’s death, he was taxidermized and has been on display at the Philadelphia Mint;

12081.  Peter (Jefferson) served as the model for the Gobrecht silver dollar and the Flying Eagle cent;

12082.  The United States Mint makes most of its income by selling its coins at face value to the Federal Reserve Banks;

12083.  The United States Mint also makes income from producing (and selling) numismatic coins, commemorative coins, national medals and bullion( coins);

12084.  Elfreth’s Alley (in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia) is known as the nation’s oldest, continuously inhabited residential street.  It features 32 houses built between 1703 and 1836;

12085.  Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in a rented room on the second floor of a brick house at 700 Market Street in Philadelphia;

12086.  The (traditional) roast pork (sandwich) at DiNic’s Roast Pork (TommyDiNics.com) in Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphi needs a sauce/mustard without (sharp) provolone;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0241

12001.  The (pork) soup dumplings at Kungfu Kitchen (KungfuKitchenVA.com) in Alexandria, Virginia, are tasty;

12002.  The chicken sando/sandwich at Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings (HangryJoes.com) is (pretty) tasty;

12003.  The position of patent examiner was created by the Patent Act of 1836 signed on July 4^th.  The law introduced a new patent numbering system, required the examination of patents before granting them and established a corps of professional patent examiners to do so;

12004.  Others are often too preoccupied with themselves to notice the things you feel insecure about;

12005.  Perfect is unattainable in any facet of life.  Be kind to yourself;

12006.  The Cuban sandwich at Colada Shop (ColadaShop.com) is tasty;

12007.  Landon Barker is looking/ready to party;

12008.  Landon Barker is Travis Barker’s son (the drummer for “Blink-182”);

12009.  “The Strike” sounds like an 80’s yacht rock band;

12010.  Joe King (the cofounder and guitarist for “The Fray”) said they wrote “The Fray’s” debut album, “How to Save a Life,” in their parents’ houses in 2005;

12011.  Apparently, Isaac Slade left “The Fray” on March 12^th, 2022 after a series of onstage panic attacks.  He was the lead singer, main songwriter and cofounder of the band;

12012.  Astro Beer Hall in Shirlington has a great late night special.  Every day from 9:00 PM until last call, you can get an Apollo smashburger (i.e., 2 Pat Lafrieda beef burgers, American cheese, sauteed onions, pickles & special sauce on a toasted Brioche bun) or an Asteroid chicken sandwich (i.e., spicy fried chicken breast, bib lettuce, pickles, jalapeno coleslaw & Astro sauce on a toasted Brioche bun) with French fries, tater tots or a side salad for $5.00;

12013.  The (pork) Shanghai soup dumplings at Tiger Dumplings (Tiger-Dumplings.com) in Clarendon are tasty;

12014.  From 1841 until 1876, the Declaration of Independence was on display at the first Patent Office (now the National Portrait Gallery) along with other historical artifacts from the United States’s founding;

12015.  David Besonen via Instagram sent Ben Rector a saxophone cover of one of his songs.  Ben thought it was good, replied “Cool” and thought that that was the end of it.  When Ben was putting a tour together, he realized he needed a saxophone player and asked David via Instagram if he wanted to go on tour with him.  David replied “Yes.”  At the time, David hadn’t finished his (college) degree in computer science yet and asked Ben if that was a problem.  Ben replied “No.”  While on tour, David took classes and submitted his work online and finished his degree while on the bus;

12016.  There is no going forward without a death of some kind: a death of who we thought we were and were supposed to be; a death of a map of the world we thought worthy of our trust and investment; a death of expectations that by choosing rightly we could avoid suffering;

12017.  Making an espresso martini with Stoli(chnaya) vodka (actually) does make a difference.  It’s smoother and harder to notice the alcohol;

12018.  Art(hur) Fry received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota;

12019.  Art(hur) Fry worked for 40 years at 3M (originally Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company);

12020.  Art(hur) Fry coinvented Post-it Notes in 1974;

12021.  There are 600 or so Post-it Notes products sold in over a 100 countries;

12022.  In “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” the title characters, Romy and Michele, claim to have invented Post-it Notes;

12023.  Art(hur) Fry (kind of) looks like a wizard;

12024.  In 1974, Art(hur) Fry was singing in the church choir.  During one sermon that wasn’t particularly interesting, he became frustrated with his bookmark falling out and thought to himself he needed a bookmark that would stick to paper, but wouldn’t tear it apart;

12025.  The adhesive for Post-it Notes is a layer of sticky microspheres;

12026.  The first test markets for Post-it Notes were Tampa, Florida, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Richmond, Virginia, and Denver, Colorado;

12027.  It took 5 years from the invention of Post-it Notes to its commercialization;

12028.  Post-it Notes were never patented, but kept as a trade secret.  Only the adhesive was (ever) patented;

12029.  Art(hur) Fry celebrated his 94^th birthday on Tuesday, August 19, 2025;

12030.  There is such a thing as white Bordeaux. . . . Apparently, it’s primarily a mix of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon;

12031.  When you make a fist and your thumb is wrapped inside of your fingers, you’ll (most likely) break your thumb if you punch someone/something;

12032.  When you punch someone/something, you’ll (most likely) break your fingers and/or your knuckles;

12033.  When you strike someone/something, use the heel of your palm.  You can deliver forceful blows with less potential for hand injury( compared to other hand strikes);

12034.  In an active shooter situation, do not go to your office’s rally point.  Most active shooters are fellow employees and will know the emergency procedures;

12035.  In an active shooter situation, duck down and run away in an irregular, zigzag pattern;

12036.  In an active shooter situation, do not use the elevator.  You do not want to be trapped in a confined space;

12037.  In an active shooter situation, once you flee the building, call 911/the police.  Don’t assume someone else has.  Also the police want updates on the situation like where the shooter(s) is/are;

12038.  In an active shooter situation, once you flee the building, follow the building’s walls and keep moving away.  A shooter can still hit you 60 yards away;

12039.  There’s a difference between cover and hiding.  Cover means you’re protected from bullets/fire.  Hiding only means they can’t see you;

12040.  In an active shooter situation, lock yourself in a room and hide behind solid core doors.  If the shooter breaks in, use the (solid core) door as a weapon and slam into him/her.  You might be able to injure and/or disarm the shooter;

12041.  Don’t buy over-the-counter medication and vitamins from CVS.  Even with a 40% off coupon and/or B(uy )O(ne )G(et )O(ne) free promotions, CVS is still more expensive than Amazon, Target and Walmart;

12042.  Between what is said and not meant and what is meant and not said, most of love is lost;

12043.  Life hack: If you want a quick and easy way to vacuum your car, open your car’s doors and use a(n) battery-powered/electric leaf blower;

12044.  At Trader Joe’s, you can buy a single can of their drinks( including alcoholic drinks).  You’re even allowed to open packaging to get a can.  At the (cash) register, the cashier will charge you a proportional amount of the (entire) price for the can;

12045.  Christina’s favorite dessert is pumpkin caramel Danish Kringle;

12046.  The Hollensbury Spite House(, located at 523 Queen Street in (Old Town) Alexandria, Virginia,) is only 7’ 6” wide.  It’s often called the skinniest house in the United States;

12047.  “Cat” in French is “chat(te).” . . . “Cat” in Turkish is “kedi;”

12048.  (Shocker,) pumpkin butter is like apple butter, but made with pumpkin;

12049.  The “C(entral )I(ntelligence )A(gency) Patents Board” is an internal(, agency) board (consisting) of 6 voting members that determines the rights of individuals and the agency to inventions made by (agency) employees and contractors;

12050.  The Bold Rock “Paradise Orchard” (seasonal,) hard cider tastes like a nectarine;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0240

11951.  There’s a new dimension to a song when you have 3 drummers all playing it;

11952.  (You know) you’re getting old when you get a white eyebrow hair;

11953.  Nicklas Backstrom (of the Washington Capitals) is a pretty good (golf) chipper;

11954.  T(imothy )J(imothy) Oshie (of the Washington Capitals) is a pretty good (golf) chipper too;

11955.  Apparently, former NHL goalies are good at catching/fielding and throwing softballs( specifically Braden Holtby and Carey Price);

11956.  Shocker, Adam Eaton (i.e., former Washington Nationals outfielder) is good at softball;

11957.  Mike Green (i.e., former Washington Capitals defenseman) is a pretty good first baseman;

11958.  Shocker, Ryan Zimmerman (i.e., former Washington Nationals first/third baseman) is good at softball too;

11959.  Steve Birnbaum (i.e., former D.C. United center-back) is a pretty good softball player;

11960.  Dylan Strome (i.e., Washington Capitals centerman) is a pretty good softball player;

11961.  I hate to say it, but Nicklas Backstrom (of the Washington Capitals) isn’t the best (softball) batter/hitter. . . . He hits into a lot of double plays;

11962.  I think I’m the first person to request Sela Campbell sing, “Get Along,” by Kenny Chesney( specifically at the Rhodeside Grill in Arlington, Virginia, on July 5, 2024);

11963.  Apparently, you can’t whistle a pig to come in the same way you might call a dog;

11964.  Apparently, whistle pig is another name for a groundhog/woodchuck;

11965.  I like the flavors/sauces at Buffalo Wild Wings better/more than the ones at Wingstop;

11966.  The Star Trek Starship Enterprise studio model used in the original Star Trek series is at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C.;

11967.  The Star Trek Starship Enterprise studio model is made of wood, plastic and (rolled) sheet metal;

11968.  The Star Trek Starship Enterprise studio model doesn’t have any detail on its port side;

11969.  Asteroids are most likely the primary source of Earth’s water;

11970.  Apparently, dogs can get poison ivy;

11971.  Charlie (Dog) is allergic to poison ivy;

11972.  Bob Dylan is the only songwriter to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature;

11973.  A croffle is (just) a croissant in the shape of a waffle;

11974.  Hook & Reel (HookReel.com) is like Chasin’ Tails (ChasinTailsss.com) in Falls Church, Virginia, but with different flavors/sauces;

11975.  Kate Peytavin (the singer) sounds like Olivia Rodrigo to me;

11976.  Apparently, Kate Peytavin is from Louisiana;

11977.  Apparently, James Arthur (the singer from “The X Factor”) is an Alex(ander) Ovechkin fan;

11978.  I don’t care for sardines on pizza;

11979.  Apparently, the oil in the candlenut kernel is burned/used for light;

11980.  Apparently, there’s (such a thing as) a salmonberry.  It looks like a raspberry, but has a(n) orange/salmon color;

11981.  Uncooked berries, flowers, leaves, seeds and bark of elderberry are toxic. . . . They contain cyanide;

11982.  There is such a thing as Mexican street corn gelato;

11983.  You can fry scrapple. . . . Who knew? . . . The scrapple fries at the Ocean Grill (OceanGrillDE.com) in Millsboro, Delaware, are (actually) pretty good.  They look like French toast sticks and, when you dip them in (maple) syrup, you have no idea it’s scrapple;

11984.  (To me, )the rocket pop (hard) seltzer from Crooked Hammock Brewery tastes like water downed Gatorade;

11985.  Apparently, (President Joe) Biden has a beach house on Norfolk Street in Rehoboth Beach;

11986.  The dressed oysters at Drift (DriftRB.com) in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, are (pretty) tasty( specifically the Virginia steamboat wharf oysters with corn, Calabrian Chile and sweet basil and the Prince Edward Island black magic oysters with Szechuan peppercorn-orange mignonette, charred pineapple and crispy shallots);

11987.  The espresso martini at Somewhere (SomewhereAtTheBeach.com) in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is a bit sweet;

11988.  (I can say) I’ve eaten/had Australian wagyu beef. . . . The Shorebreak wagyu burger (i.e., Australian wagyu, Vermont sharp cheddar, caramelized onions, house made bacon & garlic, black pepper aioli on a brioche bun with French fries) at (the) Shorebreak (Lodge Restaurant) (ShorebreakLodge.com) in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is (pretty) tasty;

11989.  The supreme Italian hoagie at the Longneck Deli (Longneck-Deli.Restaurants-World.com) in Millsboro, Delaware, is (pretty) tasty;

11990.  The Beijing beef (i.e., crispy fried marinated beef, red pepper, onion, sweet & spicy sauce over jasmine rice) at Bodhi Kitchen (BodhiRB.com) in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is tasty;

11991.  Getting a blowjob at the beach . . . check . . . blowing your load in her mouth . . . (double) check;

11992.  Jam and whipped, cream cheese is a good comb(inati)o(n) to put on a bagel. . . . It’s (kind of) like cheesecake;

11993.  There are quite a few businesses/restaurants closed on Sundays, Mondays and/or Tuesdays in the Rehoboth Beach/Dewey Beach/Bethany Beach/Millsboro, Delaware, area;

11994.  (To me, )the espresso martini at the Big Chill Beach Club (BigChillBeachClub.com) in Bethany Beach, Delaware, tastes like a hazelnut, iced coffee;

11995.  Apparently, John Daly (the golfer) is a fan of the Pat McGee Band.  He sang a cover of “Haven’t Seen for Awhile;”

11996.  Pat McGee (the lead singer of the Pat McGee Band) grew up in Annandale, Virginia;

11997.  Pat(rick) McAloon took a 90-day hiatus from the Pat McGee Band to be on (season 16 of) “The Voice;”

11998.  Apparently, Taylor Swift opened for the Pat McGee Band at a concert at Longwood College (i.e., Pat McGee’s alma mater).  Pat (McGee) said she invited (her) fans to her merch(andise) stand after her set and met fans and signed autographs all the way through their set;

11999.  Pat McGee said he took Taylor Swift (for some food) to the Pizza Hut at the Longwood College dining hall;

12000.  Pat McGee says Taylor Swift hired (away) their bassist (i.e., Amos Heller) for her band;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0239

11901.  You are the buyer not the seller.  You’re not here to sell yourself for approval.  You’re here to choose who you want in your life.  Be willing to be disliked.  Because being liked by everyone means you’re being real with no one;

11902.  And rejection?  It doesn’t mean you’re broken.  It doesn’t mean you’re unworthy.  It doesn’t mean anything about you at all.  It’s just proof that you finally stopped auditioning for people who were never meant for you in the first place.  And that?  That’s freedom;

11903.  Medium Rare (MediumRareRestaurant.com) has a prix fixe steak dinner for $31.95.  It includes (artisan rustic) bread, a mixed green salad( with Dijon dressing), their (award-winning) culotte steak( with their secret sauce) and hand-cut French fries (i.e., pain de campagne, la salade verte, steak culotte, frites et sauce secréte);

11904.  3 questions to ask about money before moving forward in a commitment to dating: 1.  What was the conversation you had about money growing up?  What did your parents teach you about money? 2.  What’s your thoughts around ownership?  What’s your thoughts around debt? 3.  You have a $1,000,000.00 right now.  What are you doing with it?  Bonus question: What do you value most?

11905.  Love is: 1.  Liking someone’s personality; 2.  Respecting his/her values; and 3.  Commitment towards helping him/her get to his/her goals;

11906.  The (jumbo lump) crab cakes at Faidley’s Seafood (FaidleysCrabCakes.com) (in Lexington Market) in Baltimore, Maryland, are (really) tasty;

11907.  The cream of crab soup at Faidley’s Seafood (in Lexington Market) in Baltimore, Maryland, is tasty;

11908.  Cream of crab soup tastes like clam chowder, but with crab;

11909.  If you’re looking for (raw) raccoon, muskrat, alligator and/or frog legs, they sell it/them at Faidley’s Seafood (in Lexington Market) in Baltimore, Maryland);

11910.  Sweet potato cookies (specifically from the Trevon Clark Experience) have a (soft,) cake-like texture;

11911.  Walking around Lexington Market in downtown Baltimore(, Maryland,) feels/seem like an episode of “The Wire;”

11912.  The fried chicken at Super Fried Chicken (LexingtonMarket.com/Merchants/Super-Fried-Chicken) (in Lexington Market) in Baltimore, Maryland, is (really) crispy and pretty tasty;

11913.  Every time you tell yourself, “I should have handled that differently,” you’re projecting today’s awareness onto a version of you that didn’t have it.  It’s not fair.  And more importantly?  It’s keeping you stuck.  Because here’s the truth, regret is just self-attack in disguise.  And no amount of self-punishment will change the past.  You think that if you had just made one different choice, everything would be better.  But how do you know that?  What if things were unfolding exactly as they should?  Think about it.  That struggle, maybe it was shaping you into who you needed to be.  That failure, maybe it was saving you from something worse.  That pain, maybe it was life feeding you broccoli.  Something that didn’t taste good at the time, but was exactly what you needed.  How many times have you looked back at something that once devastated you and later realized that was actually the best thing that could have happened?

11914.  Life isn’t working against you.  It’s working for you.  So stop punishing yourself.  Let go of the guilt.  Decide, right now, that you don’t have to carry this anymore.  You are free to move forward.  You are free to forgive yourself.  You are free;

11915.  If you’re waiting for fear to disappear before you act, you’ll be waiting forever.  Fear doesn’t leave before you act, it leaves because you act.  But not just by forcing yourself through it; by leaning in and then letting go.  By experiencing the discomfort without trying to fight it.  By realizing that the thing you were so afraid of; it was never actually holding you back.  It was your resistance to it that was keeping you stuck.  So stop waiting.  Stop trying to be “ready.”  Start stepping in and letting go.  Because the moment you do, you’re free;

11916.  Apparently, you can make pate with wildebeest and zebra;

11917.  I can say I’ve had wildebeest pate. . . . It’s okay;

11918.  I can say I’ve had zebra pate. . . . It tastes pretty similar to wildebeest pate;

11919.  Brisket burgers are pretty tasty( specifically the Big Bites Grind burger (with ground sirloin, brisket & chuck) at District E (DistrictEDC.com) in Washington, D.C.);

11920.  The 3 most powerful questions you should ask when someone is overreactive, stressed out or overwhelmed in an argument or conversation: 1.  Sounds like you have a reason for saying that? 2.  Tell me more(.  What else is going on?  Is there anything else you want to say?  Are you sure?); and 3.  Are you okay?

11921.  You want to avoid eating sugar on an empty stomach;

11922.  Avoid eating sugar in the morning.  Breakfast should be savory;

11923.  If you really need the sugary snack, put clothing (i.e., proteins, fats or fiber) on your carbs (i.e., bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, oats or sugars);

11924.  Never eat your carbs naked so that they don’t cause as big of a glucose spike.  Because when you put clothing on those carbs, digestion happens more slowly;

11925.  You don’t need to fast in order to be healthy.  It’s much more important to eat well in a way that keeps your glucose levels steady than to restrict your eating window;

11926.  4 top blood sugar balancing hacks: 1.  Eat a savory breakfast – Eating a traditional sweet-and-starchy breakfast on an empty stomach triggers blood-sugar spikes and cravings.  Instead, start each morning with a meal built around protein and fat, like eggs, Greek yogurt or leftover chicken from last night’s dinner – something that will keep you satisfied for 4 hours.  Avoid carbs or anything sweet, other than fruit, if desired; 2.  Knock back an apple cider vinegar shot – Consuming 1 tablespoon of vinegar daily is shown to curb cravings and improve satiety by 144%.  Plus, the liquid’s acetic acid slows the rate that digestive enzymes in the gut can break down starches into glucose, flattening a blood-sugar spike by up to 30% and a fat-storing insulin spike by up to 20%.  One study found that people consuming vinegar lost 3,539% more subcutaneous body fat than those who skipped the sip.  To get the benefits, simply choose “a vinegar and a vehicle” to get it into your body 10 minutes before a meal.  1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 oz. of water, tea or seltzer.  Or you can mix vinegar into foods like pickles or kimchi.  One caveat: Since the goal is balancing blood sugar, avoid mixing your vinegar with a sugary drink like apple juice, which could create an unintended spike.  Tip: Sip vinegar with a straw to protect your tooth enamel; 3.  Enjoy a fiber appetizer – Before eating your most carb-heavy meal each day, first consume a veggie “starter.”  Research finds that lining the gut with plant-based food lowers blood sugar, inflammation and helps curb weight gain.  And soluble fiber helps balance blood sugar.  Eating veggies before a high-carb meal is also proven to slow sugar absorption and reduce the magnitude of a blood-sugar spike.  It’s fine to keep your pre-meal snack simple: Eating 10 olives, some cut-up carrots or steamed green beans will do.  One favorite: “backward broccoli.”  Just pour boiling water over fresh broccoli in a heat-safe bowl, let sit for 2 minutes, drain and enjoy; and 4.  Move after one meal – “Exercise makes your muscles more sensitive to insulin so they ‘soak’ up the glucose and help maintain stable glucose levels,” explains Dr. Gottfried.  A Cleveland Clinic study shows that exercising after a meal slashes blood-sugar bumps by 45%.  Strive for movement within 90 minutes of eating.  And since we lose muscle as we grow older – a change that slows our ability to burn fat – older women should opt for weight-bearing exercise.  Try seated calf raises with a heavy book on your knees, dancing while holding a grandbaby or walking with a weighted bag or hand weights.  Or consider wearing Agogie pants, with strength-training resistance bands woven into the fabric;

11927.  The chicken tenders at “Uncle C’s Chicken & Waffles” (UncleCCW.com) in Alexandria, Virginia, are very good . . . and the fried chicken is pretty good, but the waffles were disappointing;

11928.  The espresso martini at Casa Luna (TheCasaLuna.com) in (Old Town) Alexandria is dangerous.  It’s well-balanced, has a lot of coffee/espresso flavor and you can barely taste the alcohol;

11929.  Don’t be ashamed to need help.  Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish.  And if you’ve been wounded and you need a comrade to pull you up?  So what?

11930.  Spam musubi has a slightly sweet taste;

11931.  If you’re fishing on a boat, bring a jacket no matter what the (weather forecast says the) temperature is supposed to be.  It can be cold and windy on the water especially before the sun comes up;

11932.  To reduce the mess, place/put fish under water when you scale them;

11933.  Fileting fish is a lot harder than it looks;

11934.  You know you’re in the country when the restaurant restroom has a camouflaged toilet paper, paper towel and soap dispensers( specifically Monk’s BBQ (MonksQ.com) in Purcellville, Virginia);

11935.  If you ever go camping, buy a headlamp; thank me later;

11936.  Apparently, you can buy “T.O.E.” jam (i.e.., tangerine, orange & elderberry) at Saunders Brothers Farm Market (SaundersBrothersFarmMarket.com) in Piney River, Virginia;

11937.  If you go camping in the springtime, it’s worth bringing a heavy jacket.  It can get (really) cold at night;

11938.  Knee grinding/humping in a tent . . . check;

11939.  Getting a blowjob in a tent . . . check . . . blowing your load in her mouth . . . (double) check;

11940.  If you’re using super glue to close/seal a cut, make sure to buy the gel or liquid (and) not the pen( specifically the Loctite super glue pen). . . . It’s (kind of) pointless if you have to stab yourself to apply the super glue;

11941.  If you go camping in the springtime, it’s also worth bringing an umbrella and a raincoat.  It can rain a lot;

11942.  In a tent . . . check;

11943.  (To me,) the blackberry cider from Saunders Brothers Farm Market tastes like the grape lollipops you get in bank lobbies;

11944.  Who knew pork and lychee would go together?  The pork and lychee salad at Rose’s Luxury (RosesLuxury.com) in D.C. is (pretty) tasty;

11945.  I don’t normally/usually like cauliflower, but the caramelized cauliflower (with Greek yogurt & golden raisin puree) at Rose’s Luxury is (pretty) tasty;

11946.  Maybe the best burger I’ve ever had was at Rose’s Luxury( specifically “The Adult Happy Meal” with a wagyu burger, French fries dusted in Hidden Valley Ranch powder & a stiff drink);

11947.  The tasting menu (i.e., Chaat: Sev batata puri and sweet potato samosa; Palak Chaat: Crispy baby spinach with sweet yogurt, tamarind & date chutney; Tawa – Griddle: Fish chili, garlic sea bass with burnt garlic in a banana leaf; Tandoor – Kebab: Spicy Reshmi kebab with minced chicken, mint, coriander & green chilies; Classic Curries: Kadhai gosht lamb with ginger, green chilies & kadhai masala, Chicken tikka masala with onion, tomatoes & fenugreek powder, Dal dhungaree with smoked lentils, garlic & tomatoes and Bhindi aloo with okra, potatoes & dry mango powder; Naan, mint paratha and saffron pulao; and Dessert: Date & toffee pudding, Gulab jamun, warm, black rice pudding and Cardamom ice cream) at Rasika West End (RasikaRestaurant.com) in D.C. is enough for two. . . . They give you a lot of (tasty) food for $80.00;

11948.  I can say I saw O.A.R.’s first live performance of “Our Diamond.  Our District.”( at Nationals Park on Friday, May 9, 2025);

11949.  Silver Social (SilverSocialDC.com) in Washington, D.C., has the “mini social” daily from 4 o’clock to 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM to close.  You get a food item (i.e., appetizer, flatbread or sliders) and 2 drinks (i.e., beer, wine and/or house cocktails) for $30.00;

11950.  Maynard James Keenan (the lead singer for Tool, A Perfect Circle & Puscifer) is (a little) strange/weird;