Look harder

Those little streaks and flecks you see scattered through the shot?
Yep
Snow

Say what?

This came to my inbox this evening:

Fairfax County Winter Weather Advisory

...The National Weather Service has issued the following WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 PM EDT
SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS
ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 2 AM TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 4 INCHES...WITH THE LOWEST AMOUNTS NEAR
INTERSTATE 95.

* TIMING...RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE BALTIMORE WASHINGTON AREA THIS
EVENING...MIXING WITH SNOW LATE TONIGHT. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL
FALL DURING THE DAY ON SATURDAY. THE ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL END
BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...HEAVY WET SNOW WILL LIKELY ACCUMULATE ON TREES. WITH
FOLIAGE STILL ON TREES...THE SNOW MAY LEAD TO BROKEN TREE LIMBS
AND POWER OUTAGES. HAZARDOUS TRAVEL ON SNOW-COVERED ROADS IS
ALSO POSSIBLE.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 30S.

* WINDS...NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

Snow for Halloween - are we living in Rexburg?

Birthday Bonanza

My birthday fell on a Sunday this year. For the past two years, Jill and I have traveled to NYC to watch the first and second parts of The Lord of the Rings trilogy at Radio City Music Hall, where the music is performed by live orchestra and choirs.

This year, the birthday "celebrating" started early. (I'll explain why "celebrating" is in quotes later). A wonderful friend of ours came over on Saturday evening once CJ had gone to sleep so that Jill and I could slip out for the evening. We decided to use another pair of our AMC passes, so we drove over to the mall to catch a late show. Jill had checked on a few before we left, and -- based on some web-crowd-sourcing -- so we decided to see Contagion.

It turned out to be an incredibly shocking and make-you-think thriller.

You know how most times you leave a great movie and there's a buzz in the theater as everyone is leaving. Not from this show. I guess the way to describe it was everyone was subdued and pensive, slowly shuffling out of the theater. I don't want to spoil the movie in case any of you might go see it; just know that you'll probably want to wash your hands every 5 minutes for the rest of your life and carry hand sanitizer at all times... Hence the "celebrate" -- it was great to get out and spend time with Jill, the movie was well-acted and intense, but it was kind of a downer.

On Sunday, I slept in, then played with CJ before her morning nap. We went to church (although CJ wasn't feeling very well so she and Jill came home early). I got to play the organ in sacrament meeting, and then substituted for the primary pianist during their run-through of the primary program today.

When I came home, Jill had been busy getting dinner ready and setting up our traditional scavenger hunt. I found this taped to the front door:

Which sent me to the Target cube that holds our Wii-motes, where I found this:

Which led me to the kitchen, where Jill recently added homemade chicken soup stock to the freezer:

Which led me to look behind the shower curtain, where I found another card with a note that said "Here's a quarter, nickel, and dime / It's just too bad it's not yours or mine".

Which led me to CJ's piggy bank where we drop in our change.

This clue was the hardest. I had to think back to a conversation Jill and I had about wanting to be more deliberate instead of accidental. The clue took me to this black box we have, that was mostly empty when we moved but somehow ended up on the floor next to the game cabinet - where it has remained. Inside I found:

CJ helped me unwrap the box. The picture below doesn't do them justice, but the one on the left is my new shoe! and the one on the right is my trusty dress shoes that I bought while working the 2008 campaign cycle. I think there's still a little life left in the old pair, but I am super excited about the spiffy new shoes to wear around my new corporate halls...

Then I opened some cards that I received in the mail. The ones below were from BYU-Idaho (a snail mail card and an e-card):

I also got a nice card from my grandparents that included some old photos of when we went to Camp Michigania when I was a wee lad. I had a blast both years I went. I think some of the younger cousins went recently; we need to swap stories.

Mom sent a card, too. She reminisced about the scavenger hunts, piñatas, and themed parties I had as a child.

My dad sent a funny card:

And I also got a card from some nieces and nephews:
(back/front)

Everybody wrote something =)
(inside)

My littlest sister, who's serving a mission in Florida for our church, sent me a funny card:
(inside it says "...Age is Relative")

I also got eCards from two Aunties:

and promptly added them to my Amazon account =) Thx Aunties!

But that's not all!

Jill put our food processor to much use today as she made some fabulous and delectable dishes for dinner and dessert.
Here she is slicing the potatoes for homemade zuppa toscana, a la Olive Garden (except better!).

She also made homemade breadsticks. Yum!

Just when I thought the evening couldn't get any better, she turned off the lights...



...started some mood music...



...and brought out a fancy, two-tiered cake that she made completely from scratch while singing Happy Birthday! (I happened to be on the phone with my dad at the time, so he joined in, too).

It was white cake with Nerds inside. Between the layers were chunks of kiwi. And it was frosted with a mango, buttercream frosting (with more Nerds).

I dove right in and quickly ate my way towards a sugar coma. Definitely ate too much, but couldn't help myself!

(Yes, Jill had some too - this wasn't just all me...) :-P

Spoke with family on the phone this evening and heard from a few friends.

All in all, a pretty incredible birthday, spent with my two favorite people.

Apparently a few things are straggling in the mail, so I look forward to extending this birthday clear through 'till Halloween ;-)

Fair Winds

The elders quorum had a sailing activity, courtesy of several very generous members, out on the Patuxent River (set sail from near Broomes Island).

View Larger Map

Jill & CJ stayed on land (we didn't have a baby life-jacket for CJ) - they swam in the big pool and played with some of the other folks that came. After my quick cruise, we grabbed a bite to eat and headed back to real life: homework for Jeremy and a baby shower for Jill & CJ.

Here are some photos from the trip:

Heading down to the dock

Getting ready to raise the sail

Catching some wind

Tying off the rigging

Heading out on the Patuxent

Getting ready to drop sail

Floating, so we can swim

Self-portrait; on the bow, headed back to the dock

Artsy; passing motorboat

Artsy; channel marker thingy

Flying the US and USMC colors

Another artsy attempt; moored motorboat

What's wrong with this picture?

Headed back to the dock

For better-quality pics, go see the album.

What a fun trip. A BIG THANKS to everyone who made that activity possible.

Don't Worry

DHS Secretary Napolitano tells us of "recent specific, credible but unconfirmed threat information" and urges public vigilance (repeating an earlier warning given by her Press Secretary).

The Washington Post reported yesterday:

U.S. officials are investigating a possible al-Qaeda plot to detonate a vehicle-borne bomb in Washington or New York City around Sunday’s 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

A handful of individuals may have entered the United States in recent days as part of the plot, which officials said originated from the tribal areas of Pakistan along the Afghan border. One of them may be a U.S. citizen.

Numerous officials familiar with the information cautioned Thursday night that while the threat is specific and worrisome, it is based on raw intelligence that is unconfirmed. Law enforcement agencies across the Eastern Seaboard were scrambling to determine how serious the danger is and to find any possible terrorist plotters.

[...]

Members of Congress were also briefed on what law enforcement and intelligence officials described as the first specific and credible threat related to the anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The concern was amplified by the knowledge that before he was killed in May, Osama bin Laden had seemed fixated on attacking the United States again on or around Sept. 11.

Then, the local county alert system sent out this message today:

This weekend will mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001. Residents of Arlington County may be aware of warnings issued by federal, state, and local agencies regarding potential attacks that may occur during this time. Police Chief M. Douglas Scott would like to assure residents that the Arlington County Police Department has plans in place to address needs as they occur. The police department would like to remind our residents of ways that they can assist in preventing future acts of terrorism.

“See Something Say Something”

The Arlington County Police Department joins our federal and local partners in the “See Something Say Something” campaign. The campaign is a simple and effective program developed to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism, crime, and other threats and to emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities. Remember that the suspicious activity does not need to be criminal in nature to report it to the Arlington County Police.

The 7 Signs of Terrorism awareness are listed below:

1. Surveillance: Recording or monitoring activities. May include drawing diagrams, note taking, use of cameras, binoculars or other vision-enhancing devices, or possessing floor plans or blueprints of key facilities.

2. Elicitation: Attempts to obtain operation, security, and personnel-related information regarding a key facility. May be made by mail, fax, e-mail, telephone, or in person.

3. Tests of Security: Attempts to measure reaction times to security breaches or to penetrate physical security barriers or procedures in order to assess strengths and weaknesses.

4. Acquiring Supplies: Attempts to improperly acquire items that could be used in a terrorist act. May include the acquisition of explosives, weapons, harmful chemicals, flight manuals, law enforcement or military equipment, uniforms, identification badges, or the equipment to manufacture false identification.

5. Suspicious Persons: Someone who does not appear to belong in a workplace, neighborhood or business establishment due to his/her behavior, including unusual questions or statements he/she make.

6. Dry Runs/Trial Runs: Behavior that appears to be preparation for a terrorist act without actually committing the act. Activity could include mapping out routes and determining the timing of traffic lights and flow.

7. Deploying Assets: Placing people, equipment, and supplies into position to commit the act. This is the last opportunity to alert authorities before the terrorist act occurs.

Arlington County residents are encouraged to contact the police if they observe suspicious situations by calling 9-1-1 or the non-emergency line at
703-558-2222.

But, don't worry, we're safer now.

[update]
Hearing Rumors of a Plot, Cities Make Their Security Forces Seen (New York Times) - complete with photo of law enforcement armed with automatic weapons by NYSE

Terror threat darkens Pentagon 9/11 ceremony (AP/Boston.com) - "Panetta offered no details on the latest threat."

N.Y., Washington tighten security amid probe of bomb threat (WaPo) -

With the latest news, officials vowed to tighten security even further. D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier said at a news conference that officers are working 12-hour shifts citywide, with 200 to 400 additional officers per shift.

“You will see a heightened level and presence out in the community,’’ said Lanier, who urged people to “keep your eyes open.’’ The city’s heightened reports of “suspicious activity,’’ she said, included people calling about vehicles parked with someone inside.

In Montgomery County, police will be deployed in uniform and in plainclothes. They will monitor “soft targets,” such as shopping malls and government buildings, as well as individuals who live in Montgomery and could be targets, officials said.