Chris - Tortured Systems Engineer™️

Emotional support lunch.

By the way, did you know it’s National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day? It should be National Chocolate Chip Cookie Year. But I digress…

Same here! Next time!

Go hiking with your social media friends! Thanks @gpatrick.bsky.social for a great hike.

So damn good!

If you go hiking, you have to stop for treats. Those are the rules.

Adventures with Zola

a man wearing a white robe and a black hat is holding a piece of paper in his hands . ALT: a man wearing a white robe and a black hat is holding a piece of paper in his hands .

Me walking on the trail

You know it’s gonna be a good day when you are the first person at the trailhead.

The nice thing about being placed on administrative leave is that I can take a nice long stupid nature hike for my stupid mental health in the early afternoon vice working in the five-sided wind tunnel until the end of the workday.

August 1st… in Northern Virginia. This is wild, y’all!

I now must assume something wicked is going to happen.

Zola melted on our short morning walk.

a man singing into a microphone with the words welcome to the jungle written below him ALT: a man singing into a microphone with the words welcome to the jungle written below him

80°F at 5:30am with a dew point of 75°F (around 85% humidity) in Northern Virginia today.

“It's gonna be hot and wet! That's nice if you're with a lady, but ain't no good if you're in the jungle!”
- Roosevelt E. Roosevelt

Hey, I resemble that!

Pasta night

That was the first class!

This like my 50th class.

Back on my bullshit…

Current conundrum

a man with a beard is wearing a scarf around his head and says as it was written . ALT: a man with a beard is wearing a scarf around his head and says as it was written .

Capitalism

🚨Public Service Announcement 🚨

30 days until Pumpkin Spice Latte is released. Please heed this warning and take all necessary precautions and implement all safety measures.

“The spice must flow.”
~ Harkonnen proverb

Khan Ahhh GIF ALT: Khan Ahhh GIF

If both Melville and Khan can use the line, you know if has to be good

To the mosquito buzzing around my head attempting to get a meal:

“To the last, I grapple with thee; From Hell's heart, I stab at thee; For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee.”

~ Herman Melville

I usually don’t add the glaze because it makes it too sweet. If I give it away, I add the glaze.

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread - Sally's Baking Addiction This lemon poppy seed quick bread is moist, flavorful, and speckled with plenty of poppy seeds. Finish it with a light layer of lemon glaze.

sallysbakingaddiction.com/lemon-poppy-...

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread - Sally's Baking Addiction This lemon poppy seed quick bread is moist, flavorful, and speckled with plenty of poppy seeds. Finish it with a light layer of lemon glaze.

As requested:

sallysbakingaddiction.com/lemon-poppy-...

Zola (aka Gorgonzola, aka ZZ Top, aka Hot Mess Express) off to have a cracked tooth removed.

Be good, Zola. You may not bite the cute vet techs or the nice veterinarian.

Lemon Poppyseed Bread, anyone?

Anyone?

No takers? Then it’s all mine…

It’s amazing how much of nature can be found just across the street from where I live:
- Northern Spring Peeper
- A variety of birds can be heard
- A Great Blue Heron
- Black-furred Bed Hog Counter Surfer