Nats VS. Cubs

I forgot my camera for today's Nats/Cubs game, but took this picture from Nats Web Site. It's pitcher John Lannan, who had a great game. The Nats beat Cubs 2-0. Sat Section 114. Great seats, great game! It was my first baseball game at the new Nationals Stadium. I am returning Thursday Night for a night game. I'll try to remember my camera then.

Nice Saturday before the Cold Front

A nice Saturday here in Silver Spring with temps in the low 80's.... now the cold front is moving in, and it will be a 20 degrees cooler tomorrow. Don't you just love spring? This pictures is the fountain on Ellsworth in downtown Silver Spring.

Quite week for the Blog

Nothing exciting this week for me in D.C. The Pope is gone, and I really haven't done anything exciting enough to blog about. Tuesday's PA Primary Results were little surprising. I though Obama would have closed the gap a little more. Now it's onto Indiana and North Carolina. I will be returning to the Nats Stadium this Sunday, and will post pictures from the stadium Sunday Night. It will be a little weird to go from a Papal Mass to baseball game in the same place.

Auf Wiedersehen Pope Benedict

Pope Benedict left this evening on "Shepherd One" from JFK International Airport back to Vatican City. It was a memorable six days here in DC and in NYC with message of Hope. Here's a little of what Pope Benedict said at his departure ceremony on the Airport:

“These days that I have spent in the United States have been blessed with many memorable experiences of American hospitality, and I wish to express my deep appreciation to all of you for your kind welcome. It has been a joy for me to witness the faith and devotion of the Catholic community here" and he added "God Bless America"

Pope Benedict Final Day in USA

Pope Benedict just visited Ground Zero, prayed and then met with first responders, families, and victims of the 9/11 tragedy. Last night he delivered what some say was his best address so far while in U.S. to 25,000 youth at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers. This afternoon, it's one final mass w/ 56,000 plus people at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Pope Benedict's trip is getting great reviews. In the New York Post this morning famed author Peggy Noonan wrote this:

What a hit, what a trip, what a triumph. And it was something else, too. In the past week, in a wholly new way, Pope Benedict XVI became the leader of the Catholics of America. He broke through as his own man, put forward his own meaning, put his stamp on this moment in time. Americans know him now, and seem to have judged him to be what a worldly journalist said in the cathedral (St. Patricks) as he gazed at the crowd. His eyes went to Benedict on the altar, and he gestured toward him. "He's a good guy," he said, softly.

A few more Pictures from Papal Mass

The Pope just finished a mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC. Tomorrow he concludes his visit to America with a mass a Yankee Stadium. I thought I would share a few more pictures from Thursday's Mass at Nats Stadium.

More Pictures from Papal Mass

The second to last picture is the Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl welcoming Pope Benedict at the start of the mass. The picture of the Pope in the "PopeMobile" was before mass.

Papal Mass @ Nats Stadium

As promised I have many pictures from Thursday morning's Papal Mass at Nationals Park in D.C. It was an amazing morning! I got there around 7 a.m. they had a pre-mass program w/ music, video's and interviews. The Pope arrived around 9:30 a.m., and mass started at 10 a.m. There was a lot of energy and excitement. The third to last picture is Placido Domingo greeting Pope Benedict after he sung after communion.

Italian Embassy Pope Reception

I attended a reception for Pope Benedict at the Italian Embassy Wednesday Night. The Pope was a no show...neither was Placido Domingo...who was suppose to perform. Denyce Graves was there, and performed one song (as well as sang Happy Birthday for the absent Pontiff).. Both Graves and Domingo will be feature singers tomorrow at the Papal Mass at Nats Stadium. I will have pictures posted from the mass sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Pope Benedict in DC

Pope Benedict is in DC.. he landed at Andrew's AFB this afternoon. He will spend the next three days here, before leaving on Friday morning for New York City. Tomorrow he's at the White House in the morning and then at the Basilica of the National Shrine in the early evening. the big public event in DC will be the morning mass Thursday Morning at Nats Stadium.

Sunday Update...

Tiger came in second, but didn't make a historic comeback at the Masters. 28 year old South African Trevor Immelman won his first major in very windy conditions in Augusta Georgia.

Sunday

Is that's the best title I could come up with? Well I didn't want to write Masters Sunday, because all the non-golf fans will think, great just another post about golf! But seeing I blogged about the Masters Opening, I should mention that today is the final round. I will be pulling for a big Tiger comeback, however he has never made a final day comeback to win a major tournament in his career. Maybe today he will make history?

This week the Pope arrives in DC.. I am very excited, especially seeing I will be in attendance for Thursday's Mass at Nats Park. I hope to post some pictures Thursday afternoon from the Mass. I also will be attending a special Pope reception (although the Pope is not expected to attend) at the Italian Embassy Wednesday Night. Not sure I am going to be able to take pictures, but I will write about it after it happens. Pope Benedict spends three days in DC and then three days in New York City. Pope Benedict also celebrates his 81st birthday while in DC!

The Masters is Underway...

My favorite golf tournament is underway in Augusta, Georgia. The Masters is the only major golf tournament played at the same course every year. Getting a ticket is next to impossible, I have been in a lottery for practice round tickets for the at least the past five years. Tiger Woods is the favorite (as he is for every golf tournament he plays in) he finished Thursday four shots back of the co-leaders of Justin Rose (from England) and Trevor Immelman (from South Africa). Here's a little history of the masters from masters.org:

Looking to provide a service to golf by hosting a tournament, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts decided to hold an annual event beginning in 1934. The final decision was made at a meeting in New York at the office of member W. Alton Jones. Roberts proposed the event be called the Masters Tournament, but Bobby Jones objected thinking it too presumptuous. The name Augusta National Invitation Tournament was adopted and the title was used for five years until 1939 when Jones relented and the name was officially changed. An early decision was whether Jones would play or serve as an official. Jones preferred not to compete but was persuaded by the Club's members to join the field. In the 12 Tournaments that Jones played, his best finish was 13th in 1934. The first winner was Horton Smith

Smokey Joe's Cafe

Saw the musical "Smokey Joe's Cafe" Wednesday Night which featured 39 pop songs from mostly the 50's and 60's.. it just opened at the Bethesda Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland. There is no dialogue, all just songs from "Jailhouse Rock" to "Stand by Me" the singers all had really good voices and it was very entertaining.

"21" The Movie

Saw 21 today... It's the movie about the group of MIT Students who "count cards" and make a lot of money in Vegas playing blackjack. i never got to read the book.. but the movie was very entertaining. filmed both in Vegas and Boston.. it's worth checking out. it's the second movie for new star Jim Sturgress, who made his debut in last year's "Across the Universe" a must rent if you haven't seen. it's a musical/drama set to all Beatles songs (and has character's name like Jude, Prudence, and Lucy!)

DC at Dusk

After I photographed the Cherry Blossoms, I took a little early evening walk downtown. It had been a while since I actually played a tourist. The first two pictures are of the WWII Memorial which was dedicated in May 2004. The WWII memorial is between the Washington Monument (picture two) and the Lincoln Memorial (picture three) and the last picture was either late commuters cutting thru downtown DC or Cherry Blossom Drive Byers. Either way I thought it was a cool picture.

Cherry Blossoms in DC

Finally made it to the Tidal Basin Wednesday Night to check out the Cherry Blossoms.. For you non-Washington residents, there are close 2,000 tree near that Tidal Basin. they are a gift from Japan back in 1912. every year they come out for 10 or so days. the first picture was the only tree that was pink all the rest were white. Thursday is the last day of the "Peak Bloom" so I got there under the wire. Took some other cool pictures of WWII memorial, Lincoln, and Washington Monument. I will post them another day.

April Fools Day

So I decided to switch the blog starting tomorrow to an all Yankees blog. it will be devoted to my daily take on how great the Yanks are and how they will be returning this year to the World Series. Just Kidding, April Fools! Really nothing new to report but I felt guilty not updating the blog. check out my favorite TV Shows and Cities on the right.