My World of Wonders: January 21, 2026

Where have I been this week? The National Gallery of Art - I needed a nice wander and to get out of the house. Aldi for a little shopping. The Library for a stack of books that I have read half of already. The pool, the gym, the community center, and an Arts meeting. The Kennedy Center for an NSO performance. The community center to vote in a special election to fill a seat that came open when our state representative was appointed to a state cabinet position by the new Governor. Out for a long walk in a local shopping center (it is cold out, and I wanted to get out of the house.) 

What have I been up to in the kitchen? A quick stuffed pasta, chicken soup with veggies and noodles, Shepherds pie. 

Who have a talked with this week? Saturday morning was an annual open house for all of the programs and communities at the condo. I spent three hours talking with Amy my co-chair, and neighbors from across the community, Dian, Jon, Joan, Rebecca, Kevin, Charlie, and Bonnie (who made me blush.) 

Why did a blush? I was at the community organization expo on Saturday representing the Arts group. She came up to talk, and after a minute said, "oh I know you, I didn't recognize you with your clothes on." I know her from the unofficial Monday and Wednesday water aerobics group, we had always seen one another in the pool.  And then I told a story about an encounter with someone I knew from the gym in Florida, who made the same comment, "I didn't recognize you with your clothes on,"and then he had to spend the next 15 minutes explaining that comment to his wife. He was a Navy officer, build like a brick chicken house. 

How has the weather been? Cold, hovering around or below freezing, rain on and off, a few snow flurries. It is the dead of winter. I bought a pair of fleece lined slippers to keep my toes nice and warm. 

What am I reading? A book on walking as a political statement. It is not what I expected, a little too political for me but I will finish it.  

What made me laugh this week? There was more snow in Florida, than here in the Washington DC area. Snow in Florida just makes me smile. 

Where am I headed? Wednesday I am going into DC for a few hours, the condo is doing maintenance work on the water supply, and the water will be off for several hours.

Will I delete a comment?  Yes, if it links to a commercial page that has nothing to do with the content on my blog. (I did this week.) 

What memory flashback this week?  Sometime in the early 1990's, friends of ours were staying in a condo on Sanibel Island, Florida overlooking the water.  We went down for a couple of nights. We went out to dinner, and I went to go to the bathroom, and there were two serious looking men in dark suits standing in front of the door to the men's room. They stopped me, and muttered something about waiting for a minute. About then the door opened and former President George W. Bush stepped out, they followed him. In shock I think I muttered Good Evening, and then went on about my business. The next day I read in the paper that he was visiting friends on the Island for a few days. Living here in DC, I have been at a lunch with then Vice President Joe Biden, a cocktail party with Hillary Clinton, and a reception hosted by Justice Ginsburg in the Conference Rooms at the Supreme Court.