Writes of Passage

Finally, at last, we get to attend the commencement when and where they’ll receive their degrees. It’s at Leavey Center ballroom. The ensemble is phenomenal, they serenade us with Beethoven‘s No 5 (4th movement). Could there be any better ending than this – I always feel his music is about overcoming and triumph. The commencement book is thick as a tome. The kids came in before their professors/faculties – the music is just marvelous. Thanks for giving us a memorable and wonderful ending.

A reception is followed. The weather is bit cold and rainy.

This little park between the P and Pennsylvania Ave streets NW bridges and along the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW in Georgetown D.C. was created in 1918, primarily to serve the black population – African American children. It’s tennis courts. Pennsylvania Ave NW bridges leads into M Street.

2712 Dumbarton Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20007

I walked by this church a few times. The home page of the church displays Pastor Rev. Adam Y. Park, an Asian. Here is an reporting by the Washington Post in 2006, oral history ‘We’re Still Here’.

I never liked to walk or jog but find myself to be an able walker (avg 5,260 steps a day)  if I want to: accumulating 8.39 miles or 23,459 steps in one day. Walk around Georgetown in DC is enjoyable, even in the rain.

… and some flowers. I also visited the church on Dumbarton Street NW (doaks.org) and Rose Park; Key bridge.

This movie house (unit 2654) is pretty amazing. The screen #5 has 76 reclining seats. The movie – Keanu, about a cat  – is terrible, so of course I felt asleep. The movie house is under going renovation/rebuilding. I could imagine how nice it would be once it’s done. Wish the movie house in my town is of the same quality.

Never hurt to dream.

I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library
Jorge Luis Borges

This used book store in Dupont Circle is on the high end side: many books sell for well over several hundreds, and some are in 5 figures. It’s on 2000 P St NW, (202) 659-8884.

A six volumes from Richard Nixon Library, with his signature on one copy sells for $900. Near by, the Antichita Di Ercalano (or Ercolano?) – Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed (8 volumes) retails for $17,500. I asked to see the signature, the kid in red shirt didn’t find it. I returned the following day, the other guy found it but forbid me to photo citing copyright, ?? Whatever.

This copy of bio of Fitzgerald by Sheila Schwartz (I didn’t check the edition) sells for $750, while Amazon can do 2012 edition under $5 bucks.

When I walked in, a woman with a box full of books followed: she went in to sell, and said she’s more to bring. The young man eyeballed the box and said, they would take the books.

A room without books is like a body without a soul
Cicero

3462 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20010

After the commencement we have dinner with her friend and family. I’m a Chinese who usually doesn’t like Southeast Asian cuisines because of their taste are bit too sweet for me. This one is no exception. The decor is clean and the service is good. However, my 3-star rating is for somewhat ok bathroom and food (we’ve nine people so our selection’s wide):

• The complementary cucumber with a dash of hot spicy paste is unappetizing – they don’t mesh, do they?
• The pig’s ear – the Americans don’t even like to eat the grapes and water melons with seeds, how do they come to like pig’s ears that are full of cartilage?
• …

Seriously, is this a novelty or Asian Fever, or both? I know I’ve no sophistication, and narrow mind.

The most off putting is their hot rice in the clear plastic: is this even healthy? The little container is charming but I won’t want my food served in plastic bags.  Yelp