Busy weekend

It has been a very busy weekend. Yesterday I spent the day in DC with my good friend Pat and I am sure it was just about the best day I have had there. My last trip, when I went alone, was great, but being by myself with no one to share with was just not as enjoyable as going with a person like Pat. Pat is by vocation and interest a person well schooled in science, the arts and has enough theology coupled with a strong faith to hold his own in metaphysical discussions. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together. I would like to introduce him to two of my friends who mean so much to me, Arnold and Ray. Pat, among other things is a blacksmith, as is Ray, and being raised a Catholic would bring to discussions on scritpure with Arnold a different viewpoint. And I would love to sit on the side and listen, or play the devil's advocate. I have spent a lot of my years honing that skill!

Pat and I had a late lunch at the very famous Ben's Chili Bowl. What I failed to know was that Saturday was Howard University's graduation. Argh! Ben's was worse than usual. But we didn't spend a lot of time in line, food was awesome and it was a delightful experience again.

The National Cathedral was wonderful. Pat has been acquainted with the work of an iron worker named Samuel Yellin (1885-1940) (Pat is an artist remember) for some 20 years by his own account, and we discovered a lot, perhaps the majority, of the iron work, gates, etc. were done by and under the direction of Samuel Yellin at the National Cathedral. Now how amazing is that? We spent the next hour or so just looking at and making feeble attempts at photographing some of the most exquisite iron work detail I have ever seen (pictures at the top). Another "worth your while reason" to visit the National Cathedral. It really is my favorite man made structure in the world. I love to go there.

Today, Sunday, Jill and Amari accompanied us to church where we were privileged to witness a performance by the Children of the World International Children's Choir.

Then I went to Chad and Lesa's and helped Chad rebuild his front porch steps. Wasn't too bad. Only took about 3 hours because he had done all of the prep work. Just need to add the riser boards and it will be complete for this phase. Next phase is sealing the steps but that has to wait for the boards to cure.


Back to work in just a few hours. Ugh. After a spectacular weekend it's back to the mines. Cheers.