Luncheon with Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan

Attended a Networking Luncheon with His Excellency Farhod Salim The Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan, a mountainous country to tour together with other Central Asia countries in summer 2017. By the way, this was the first time I went into the security checked area of the Ronald Reagan building. Quite interesting inside. — checked in to Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Oscar Day

I watched all five documentary short subject nominees in 2 hrs 40 minutes. All have very powerful and important messages. I was deeply moved by a young orange agent victim upbeat attitude to fight for his dream again all the odds in "Chau, beyond the Lines." I was in Saigon and visited the art & craft factories, and saw similar victims. Yet I guess "Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah" will probably win due to the film maker's diligence, matured and unusual approach of capturing the stories in Auschwitz concentration camp, a site I can never forget in my life. You can watch the trailers via this web link. http://oscar.go.com/news/nominations/documentary-short-subject-nominations-2016-oscars — checked in to National Archives Building. Took a break & walked in the Mall on a 65f sunny day! I visited the National Archives many times but looked at the exhibits once many years ago, and good to check it out today. The only reason I can come up for No Photography was that many exhibited items are originals. It is a great day for open ice skating, but I did not have time of my skates with me. — checked in to The Mall. I watched in the national archives Oscar documentary nominee "Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom" about how the courteous students and citizens fought three months in 2013 and 2014 in Kiev’s Maidan Square for the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych who allied with Russia. Now Ukraine is part of EU. Freedom worth the price of life. Feel so fortunate to live a true country of freedom. I need to visit Ukraine to meet the people there one day. — checked in to National Archives Building. At the end of the day, I stopped by the Oscars Party at the Angelika to take some fun photos and swag but no patience to watch Oscar in a movie theater. — watching the Oscars at Angelika Film Center - Mosaic.

17 mile hike & a Birthday Dinner

I had dinner with my fellow hikers after a 20 mile hike in SNP: Hazel Mt, Sam's ridge, etc. the stream crossings were challenging yet our coping methods were creative other than falling into icy cold water, such as tying trash bags to both legs, knee crawling over a log, tree hugging over a log, etc. I confessed that I did 17 miles only by skipping Mary's Rock. At the end of the dinner, we surprised Rachel with a birthday cake sponsored by Nui. — checked in to Headmaster's Pub.

Two social events in one night

Event # 1: Met and greeted with more real estate professionals over wine and food. — checked in to Ireland's Four Provinces.   Event  # 2: Attended an Entrepreneurship Week Discussion at the back of the store with so called Trusted Advisers. Nothing but vacant promise sounded like a Ponzi scheme. I consulted a Microsoft store stuff to come back on Tuesday or Wednesday noon to upgrade windows 10 on my laptop which was somehow stuck last time I tried. At least did something useful. The free upgrade lasts until 7/29/2016. — checked in to Microsoft Store Tysons Corner Center.

Arlington Realtor Mixer & then a live televised acting workshop

Event # 1: Attended the Arlington Realtor Mixer and socialized with real estate professionals (mostly agents), while it was pouring rain outside. — checked in to Don Tito.     Event #2: The thunderstorm forced me to skip a DC event, and went directly to a live televised acting workshop near Dunn loring. I stepped out the studio to observe the director in the control room, which was more interesting than the class given by a famous teacher from NYC. I could not stay until the reception after the taping. Public Access (FPA) was incorporated in October 1981 as a non-profit Public, educational, and government access(PEG) cable tv station based in Fairfax, Virginia, and operates four cable TV channels. For shows supported by free FPA equipment and facility, FPA requires exclusive distribution rights for the first year. FPA-provided training or a competency test must be passed before anyone may use FPA equipment — checked in to Fairfax Public Access.

Folding Bike Workshop

Attended a Women Bicycles' Folding Bike Workshop at Vienna to learn how to fold the vintage folding bike I inherited, and got some updates of the trendy models. I cannot decide whether to keep or sell this folding bike. — checked in to bikes@vienna.

36 mile walk along Tollpath

I took a 2-hr nap after sending two sleepover hikers on their way to Kennedy 50 m walk at 3 am. I started 7 am and finished 36 miles at 15:37 per mile around 5 pm. My tracking app was a bit off because my iPhone almost ran out of power. Glad that I broke my own 32 mile day hike record. I decided not to join the group walk so I did not have to walk in the dark or started with a group of people. In summary, one solo walker (me) saw two armed men (illegal hunters), drank three liters of water, ate four 20g protein bars, and then saw five horses on the toll path. Lesson of the day: always remember to bring ibuprofens! Thanks Hua for the sweet and sour pork and vege she cooked, which were especially tasty after a 36m hike. One hiker texted me she finished Kennedy walk this time around 8 pm.— checked in to Old Angler's Inn.

Volunteered DFKDC Ice Hockey

I volunteered to ice skate with physically or mentally challenged kids and teens at the event of 2016 DFKDC Ice Hockey with the Washington Capitals. Photos with miss teen DC 2015, player # 4 Taylor Chorney, player # 43 Tom Wilson, and Slapshot. It was a challenge to handhold my bud Patrick to skate the 1st time in his life, but we managed to get around the rink and had a lot of fun. — checked in to Kettler Capitals Iceplex.