My friend Evan and I were checking out a trail for our running group, The DC Hash House Harriers (DCH3). As we followed the route, it became clear Evan and I have different definitions of what constitutes a hill. We decided to do a joint blog about hills, each writing half without input from the other. This is the result.
Continue reading “What Defines a Hill”Tag: #stories
Pastures and Paddocks
At Rohan Farm, we have five main pastures or paddocks for the horses. In Cathy’s and my shorthand, we call them: The Back Field, The Jenny Craig, The Barn Paddock, The Field Near the House, and The Front Field. For us, each area has its own particular use.
Continue reading “Pastures and Paddocks”Adam
On March 9th of last week, Adam Ray would have turned 40. Adam was the son of my West Point classmate Jim and his wife Donna. He was killed by an IED in Afghanistan on February 9th, 2010, one month shy of his 24th birthday. The administration’s cavalier attitude about the current war with Iran is raising old ghosts from past conflicts.
Continue reading “Adam”A 1980s Selfie in Venice
In the summer of ‘82 while stationed in Germany, we drove to what was then Yugoslavia* for a vacation. Along the way, we stopped for lunch in Venice. That is what you do when you are young and in love. Not for the night. Not for a couple of days. Just lunch, because, why the hell not?
Continue reading “A 1980s Selfie in Venice”Henry O Flipper
Founded in 1802, West Point is the oldest American military academy. When I graduated in 1978, I was the 35,591st graduate. Between 1802 and 1977, there were less than 300 black graduates. Let that sink in. Less than 300. Henry O. Flipper was the first in 1877.
Continue reading “Henry O Flipper”The Walk for Peace
Since it started last year, I have followed the Buddhist monks’ Walk for Peace. By the time they end in DC next week, they will have walked 2,300 miles. I knew they would pass through Virginia and was determined to see them. A few days ago, near Spotsylvania Courthouse, I did.
Continue reading “The Walk for Peace”Instant Karma
With apologies to the late, great, John Lennon, Instant Karma got us … In a good way. It happened unexpectedly last Friday night. Cathy and I, suffering a bit from cabin fever due to our recent sleetapocalypse and frigid temperatures, left the farm and drove to Warrenton for a dinner out.
Continue reading “Instant Karma”The Whole Ox
It was the night before snowmaggedon, or stormzilla, or sleetapocalypse, or whatever you want to call it. We were lucky and had scored two seats for a Cassoulet Dinner hosted by our local butcher, The Whole Ox. The meal was wonderful and a terrific way to “prep” for the storm ;-).
Continue reading “The Whole Ox”Philosophy Class
During my Firstie (senior) year at West Point, there was a required Philosophy course. I am not sure what my expectations were going into the class, but there were ideas that stuck with me my entire life, including a discussion on God’s existence, or a lack thereof.
Continue reading “Philosophy Class”The Inauguration
This Saturday, Cath and I will be in Richmond, Virginia with friends attending the gubernatorial inauguration of Abigail Spanberger. We are excited and are looking forward to the event. As a bonus, she will be our first female governor.
Continue reading “The Inauguration”








