News: Sun Sets Dramatically

To be honest, I never thought I would make it to today, as a blogger. This blog started in such different circumstances, so long ago, and I have purposely shrunk the distribution list so much that I have no idea why anyone would want to keep reading it any longer.

So many times, I thought about killing this off. What purpose does this serve? I do not have the time or energy to share the kinds of thoughts and emotions I used to post about now that I am working again. I'm too exhausted at night and too busy during the day.

Then again, every now and again I notice something beautiful.

Tonight it was the sunset. The few of you who have ever been here with me in this place and looked west know how inspiring such a moment can be.

Maybe that is enough of an excuse for a post?

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Today's Sky -- Post Number 2500

For my good friend Raul.

Watching My Baby Play the Game

W

Well, she's less than a month from turning 15 now, as she reminded me today, but my youngest child, Julia, is quite the competitive soccer player. I enjoyed cheering her on from the sideline today in Newark.

Where the hell is Newark?

I confess I had no idea until today.

It's just south of Fremont.

I know Fremont. It has the best Afghan restaurant in the Bay Area -- the Salang Pass -- and I remember my visits there well.

Back to the game. Julia's team lost badly, but they competed to the end.

That's all you can do in sports; that's all you can do in life. I am so proud of her!

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At this point, all you can do...

We have a system where I work. The copy editor alerts me when she is done with a post, referencing its handle. Her message tonight was "done with California women." She was talking about editing a piece about how California women are doing relatively well, professionally.

My answer was "me too." I was talking about something else.

She texted me back that she chuckled.

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Sunday Soccer; Family Time

From Palo Alto to my place in the Mission...

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Our Old House

It was great but nostalgic for me to be back in Takoma Park and to see my old friends and our old house, still the same after 13 years; then over to Vienna and my sister's house. After a delicious dinner cooked by my brother-in-law. I also got to see my niece, after a too long break.

Lots of memories -- some regrets -- but our life since has been on the west coast not the east. For me it has not been an easy set of a baker's dozens of years.

Tonight back home after a long flight. I snapped photos of the clouds as I crossed the country:

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Back in DC After 13 Years!

I cannot believe it has been so long since I visited our nation's capital city, but today, finally, I looked out of the window of the Virgin America flight I and three colleagues were on to once again see the lovely West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland countrysides that surround Washington, D.C.

I've always loved this area, and was lucky enough to travel here frequently earlier in my career. There also was one memorable year that I lived here with my second family (the kids were all very young) and we lived in a big house in Takoma Park, just outside of D.C.

But since we moved back to California I have never been back -- until today.

The purpose of this visit is to visit NPR, the parent network of which KQED is a member station. We're talking about digital content -- the present and future of journalism with NPR folks and people from sister stations around the country.

Tonight a few of my fellow travelers and I had dinner in what D.C. calls its Chinatown. The food was great and the company wonderful. I'm really enjoying my new job and being able to work closely with a variety of people again.

I think, in retrospect, I was never cut out for the solitary life of a lone blogger, working from home. It was nit a healthy situation for someone like me.

This is far better.

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