Orioles Magic

My sister and her family took me to a ball game for my 52nd birthday.  Orioles won with a walk-off single in the ninth, which was great.

That's right, I'm 52!

The Wisdom of Crowds

Noticed a lot of these guys around my neighborhood recently.  They're crape myrtles, and the red color is really striking.

I went to Reddit to find out more.  Half the comments swore they were a horrible invasive species for Maryland.  The other half said they were a reliable, low-maintenance tree that gets planted all over the place.  They definitely weren't growing wild.

Take your pick!

Summer

Chingu in Attack Pattern Bookcase.

It's July!  It's hot as hell outside as we move into July 4th weekend!

1)  I'm pet-sitting for the fist half of July for somebody who owns an actual pool.  Yay!

2)  The US has made it into the Round of 16 with a tough game against Belgium ahead.  Did Balogun deserve that red card?  Well, he did step on the guy's ankle pretty hard.

3)  Trump's 250th Birthday for America has been and will continue to be a shit-show.  Never start a land war in Asia, and never plan outdoor events for D.C. in the middle of summer.  Seriously, wouldn't be surprised if people die of heat stroke.

4)  I'm offically looking at houses in North Carolina.  In August I'll actually drive down and look at a few, then buy one.  I am so ready to leave Maryland and Frederick behind.  As the kids say, the vibes are no good.

5)  I turn 52 at the end of July.

6)  I finished the Gene Wolf Book of the New Sun tetralogy.  I might have more to say other than I enjoyed it, and, I'm pretty sure a lot of it flew over my head.  I have the fifth book too but am taking a little needed break.

Enjoy summer!  Drink lots of water, or adult beverages of your choosing!

The Living Is Easy

I'd say for the last ten years my primary reading has been fiction, with some forays into history.  I'm trying to read more poetry these days though, like when I was a much younger man.  In the past year I've re-read Sylvia Plath and Philip Larkin, both very much worth my time.  (I'd forgotten how damn funny Plath is, biography be damned.)  I came upon this poem -- "Places with Terrible Wi-Fi" -- and had to buy the book by J. Estanislao Lopez.  Along with new stuff, I've got plans to reconnect with T.S. Eliot and Emily Dickinson before the summer ends.

And things are good.  I'm going down to North Carolina in August to check out houses.  I'm thinking the US men make it out of the group stage then get crushed (typical, really, and not all that bad for a Football / Basketball county).  It's hot and humid.  Ultimately, I'm just excited to be leaving Frederick.  Some charms, but mostly boring and filled with rednecks.  And while I realize I'm moving to the South, at least I'll have good beaches down there to visit.

The Big Move

It's been two and a half years since my Dad passed.  Believe it or not, we're still dealing with some paperwork issues regarding his finances.  This is a good thing, actually, since he had his money in trust that kept most of it quite safe beyond expected taxes.

So lo and behold, here's me at 51 having my own trust written up.  So much adulting, it hurts.  But it would be crazy now to die without one.

So that's probably my primary task right now, along with some related things.  I'm moving from Maryland to North Carolina, likely in early Fall.  I guess it's best to sell your house in the summer?  Like I said, this is all new to me.  I'm getting things done on my house now (needed a new water heater, a Level Two EV charger, a leaky toilet that's hopefully easy to fix) to get it ready.  In addition to much lower taxes in North Carolina (I know, I know, nice things require tax dollars, usually) I'm basically going to be "flipping" my own house (does that make sense?).  Housing prices are much cheaper down there, and what's a modest three bedroom in Maryland can buy a lot more down south.  And really, I'm only looking for a two or three bedroom with a small yard.  Point is, even with modest expectations of sale price I'll be making a decent amount of money moving into roughly the same type and size of house.

I've got my nephew's graduation coming up, then some pet-sitting in July, and in August I think I'll make my physical trip to North Carolina to choose a place.  (It's amazing how much you can do online these days, of course).

I'm excited!  I wish the wheels were turning a bit faster but in the meantime I've been writing and looking into what it would take to start a tutoring business in my new home state.  I'm qualified to substitute teach down there (like here in Frederick, the standards are quite low) so I'll probably do some of that to get a start.

I'm reading Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun series, and it's nuts.  I'm looking up two or three words every page due to what must have been his deep knowledge of Latin and Greek.  I'm in book three now, and things are clicking into place -- this series is insane.  It's starts off gritty dark fantasy and then, transforms.  The main character is a torturer and executioner with a philosophical streak and a sex addiction.  Not a bad way to spend the spring and early summer!

Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick Maryland

This is the grave of Francis Scott Key, a Maryland born guy who went on to compose the most difficult-to-sing national anthem of all time.

Even cooler to my mind, in the same cemetery this is the grave of a cranky old German lady named Barbara Fritchie.  In 1862 when the Confederates captured Frederick (led by Stonewall Jackson no less) Ms. Fritchie waved the U.S. flag and basically told the secessionists to go fuck themselves.  James Greenleaf Whittier wrote a horrible poem about it.

Anyhow, now that I'm leaving Maryland in a few months I actually do have a bit of a bucket list.  Frederick is pretty damn boring, but the location isn't bad.  In any event, I'd say Mt. Olivet Cemetery is a definite must-visit if you ever come by this way.

Don't Ever Change

Frederick, MD.

A Proper Update

I don't think I've ever mentioned on this here blog that from January to December of 2025 I was working at the local board of elections, making it both a county (Frederick) and a state (Maryland) job.  Things started off well -- I really admired the overall mission, and I liked my coworkers.  However, it quickly became apparent that everyone in management was a) toxic b) very stupid or c) both.

Don't take my word for it!  I went to state level HR multiple times and all of my complaints were considered valid.  Right before last Christmas the director let me know I was being asked to leave.  I got a letter saying it was purely for budgetary reasons and not for cause.  Thing is, that's bullshit because with the 2026 primary and general elections approaching this is actually the busiest time of the year.

Still don't take my word for it?  This past January I was contacted by Maryland HR.  They wanted me to come in for a meeting with two members of the Board of Directors.  A number of other employees were complaining about the a) toxic and b) very stupid atmosphere of the place.  I went in for a 90 minute meeting and said my piece.  The place is run by lazy dummies who are holding on until they qualify for full pensions.

So getting shit-canned (ahem, "let go") sucks, especially right before Christmas.  But I had been applying for other jobs, and got one with the Department of Juvenile Services.  I'll make this even shorter -- I was hired as a juvenile detention warden ("Resident Advisor").  On my second day, with no proper training other than "don't defend yourself if you are assaulted," I was, uh -- assaulted.  The properly trained R.A. who observed the incident started laughing his ass off about it.  I quit that moment.  (This all took place as the beginning of April.)

So anyhow, goodbye Maryland.  I understand that nice things cost taxes, but to pay Maryland-level taxes and actually observe, in two different locations, incredibly shitty levels of competence was a bit of a wake-up call.  Not to mention the fact that while Frederick, Maryland made sense for my dad's needs regarding seeing his family, he's unfortunately gone now.  And honestly, Frederick is a lot more bad than it is good.  With its MAGA criminal sheriff and high schools with unresolved gang-rapes, it's time for a change.  By my back-of-the-envelope calculations, I'll start saving about 30 to 40 thousand a year just in state and property taxes.  (For what it's worth, North Carolina does have state income tax but it's much more reasonable.)

I'm having some work done on my house in preparation for a sale.  I might need to replace the roof, which would be expensive, but that's just the way it is.  This summer I'm going to start looking for a new house somewhere in or west of Wilmington, North Carolina.  It's not retirement, yet -- at the very least I'm qualified to substitute teach down there until I find something else.  But I am in a good position financially, and at 51 I'm planning on retiring long before I hit 60.

I'm excited.  I think my cats are too.  I want to walk on the beach at least three of four times a week and take the same damn picture of the ocean over and over again.  Also, barbecue.

Always more to say, but I think this is a good enough explanation for now.  Wish me luck!

Maryland Diners: Bonnie's at the Red Byrd, Keedysville Maryland

So this one's a little bit of a culinary curveball (baseball season has started!).  I was driving to visit Antietam Battlefield when I spotted this place just outside of Sharpsburg.  I decided I would heartily nosh there after my battlefield visit.  It was good, but weird, as have been most of my Maryland diner visits so far!

Skully

Frederick, Maryland.

Maryland Diners: Kountry Kitchen, Thurmont Maryland

So, I'm noticing a few things as I continue to review Maryland Diners.  (As a reminder, I once reviewed every diner in Whatcom County, Washington.)  Eggs Benedict, my go-to choice for seeing if a kitchen can handle simple but significant orders, are not nearly as popular here in Maryland as they were back in Bellingham.  So my second go-to, the club sandwich (the exhibitionist of sandwiches) has often become my choice since I moved back east a few years ago.  Second, Maryland diners don't play music.  Or at least the ones I've visited don't.  Seems a shame, really.  Anyhow, let's see how things went at the Kountry Kitchen!

Antietam Battlefield

Some pictures from a recent trip to Antietam Battlefield about 20 minutes west of Frederick.  At top is the infamous Cornfield, where the day's fighting started for the most part.  Next is a monument dedicated to Clara Barton who worked to help the wounded and dying throughout the day (and later to found the Red Cross).

Ready for Spring

Snow happens, but as of today the stuff has finally melted away.  It's just been really damn cold.  It's still pretty gray and gloomy but maybe also just that hint of February mud turning to some March sunshine.  Chingu and Mandu are ready to stare out the windows at some birds and wabbits and blue skies.

Snowpocalypse!

Mandu says, "bring it on!"

Hiking in Gambrill Park

Surprisingly muddy!

Inside Ravens Stadium

A relative got some tickets for a PR event at Ravens Stadium.  I've actually never been there, even for a game, and it was a fun time.

Kind of a curveball blogging-wise, but interesting to see the operations of a place like this.

South Mountain National Battlefield

The Battle of South Mountain was a series of engagements that took place just before the Union's costly victory at Antietam to the west a few days later.  It's a nice little park but maybe not the best example of a walking battlefield.  (Try Antietam!)  It also overlaps with the Appalachian Trail.

Maryland Diners: Hub City Diner, Hagerstown Maryland

About 30 minutes west of Frederick is its young cousin, Hagerstown.  And here we are at the Hub City Diner!

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I liked it, but it's funky.  Both funky-good and funky-off putting.  But for sheer value it's not bad.  The clientele definitely veers to the elderly, and it's hard not to notice the three-story hospice right next door.  But how's the food?

Assateague Island

I finally made it to Assateague Island to see the wild horses.  The bad news: The weather was terrible, with cold, sideways rain.  The good news: While the horses were definitely not on the beach, I could hear them in the tree line.  I was able to see two of the beautiful beasts, at least.

I'll have to get back at some point for a fuller experience, but even in October it was worth the visit.

Is It Fall Yet?

My nephew rode brilliantly this weekend in the warm weather.  Nice way to celebrate the end of summer!