❄️ DC had its first snowfall today, which was so much earlier than usual that it surprised even some public school systems, which only had enough time to declare a 2-hour delay at most. DC Public Schools are operating on their regular schedule, because DC DOT can read the weather forecast and knows how to put salt on roads.
But it really wasn’t that early. We had November snow as recently as 2018 (November 15, 1.4 inches), so December 5 doesn’t even crack the the top 20. The earliest? October 10 1979, 0.3".
🚄 On board the next-generation Acela. By looks alone, the “bullet-train” icon was deserved. The trip itself is marginally less rocky and maybe a few minutes faster than the “old” Acela, which was itself a minimal improvement over the Amtrak regional. It’s the tracks not the trains, alas.
🎃 At a friend’s recommendation, our trio of children dressed up as Greg, Wirt and the frog from Over the Garden Wall, a family favorite for over a decade now. To our surprise and delight, they kept being recognized. A group of millennials handing out candy even broke out into song (To Adelaide, then Potatoes and Molasses). “Greg” had some candy in her pockets to throw out each time people guessed, but soon ran out and had to recycle the hard-earned treats from her bag. So, I’d call this Halloween a great success.
🏀 The Wizards are a cursed team with tone-deaf ownership. For a prime example of their cluelessness I would like to refer you to Monumental Sports' corporate website and their tagline, “Where Monuments meet Momentum”, plastered all over the soon-to-be renovated Capital One Arena. The same group of people who thought this sounded good is in charge of running the team. They are also the owners of the Washington Capitals. The Caps have been, may I remind you, employers of the all-time best hockey player for more than 20 (!?) years, and have managed to win a single Stanley cup with him on board. Hope lies eternal that they will become good, but the odds are that the Wizards will turn any good player they get into a mediocrity.
None of this applies to the Wizard’s courtside entertainment crew, from the show runner to the mascot to their three dancing groups (standard, juniors and — the best of all — their senior dancing crew Wizdom). Whoever is in charge of them should take over the whole show.
🍿 A House of Dynamite (2025) was the horror movie of the year — nay, decade — with a soundtrack made for nightmares. It is also the most geographically correct DC movie in ages, although in 10 years living here I am yet to see someone wearing a clean suit take a WMATA bus to work. Regardless, it was heartening to see that even Netflix could produce an occasional diamond.
And, of course, the star of the show. It’s apple pie time tomorrow.
I mean, just look at these clouds.
It’s a gorgeous day for picking apples.
Pyongyang on the Potomac
