Two receptions in DC on a hot day

 I went in DC for two receptions: TikTok Happy Hour next to National Sports Park, and ESA Video Game Showcase inside east hall of Union Station.

2026 So Kids SOAR Adaptive Water Sports Clinic + Reatlor Picnic + hiker potluck

 

I had a crazily busy Saturday, starting with full morning volunteering for Annual So Kids SOAR Adaptive Water Sports Clinic @ Pohick Regional Park near Lorton, a realtor client appreciation picnic @ Frying Pan Park in Herndon, then a hikers farewell potluck in Reston.

I worked 4-hr straight at the 1st event by receiving two families: one for tubing the other for water skiing, and then I worked behind the lunch box distribution table to serve everyone. I volunteer for this NGO many years for different kinds of events and served kids with different mental or physical disabilities, but today ran into a challenging case. The participant cannot communicate verbally and only listens to his mother, such that I and the other volunteer had difficulty keeping him wearing the life jacket and holding on to the anchors on the tube. Fortunately, everything turned out ok.

The 2nd event had the most tasty food, so I ate more there, and just chilled out. After a quick shower and a 30-min nap at home, I got to the 2nd half of the potluck. At this point, I am not motivated to talk (which I did a lot today already), so I just sit, ate, and drank cold water slowly.

Dicky Ridge Friday hike

 

I took Friday off to hike with three friends at Dicky Ridge for 12 miles with 2200 feet elevation gain. It was well shaded and stayed 75f when hiking uphill.

We had lunch in front of the visitor center and listened in a ranger’s talk on vultures which eat dead or decaying animals. Vulture stomach acid is one of the most corrosive gastric fluids in the animal kingdom. With a pH as low as 0.0 to 1.2, it is roughly 10 times more acidic than human stomach acid.

There were a lot of different wildflowers and raspberries on the trails, and I picked some eatable wild mushrooms Chanterelles.

Plus my 8.35 mile weekday run, I logged in 20.35 hike/run miles this week.

First Stage Theater play: Indecent

 

I ushered at the First Stage Theater @ Tysons for Indecent. The play told a true story of the artists who risked their careers to stage Sholem Asch's controversial 1923 Broadway play God of Vengeance.

There was an end-of-the-play as well as end-of-the season party after the play.

I did not hike this weekend due to rain, yet I ran 5 miles and swam 10 laps in the pool. Plus 7 miles weekday runs, I logged in 12 miles this week.

EU Parliament & APIAVote receptions

 I went into DC again this week to attend two receptions: one by EU Parliament and the other by APIAVote. It was hotter today but cooling down quickly. I walked from one side of the Capital Hill to the other side, then back. Nice to see these buildings close by.