Is Monday already here?

Well, I'm back from a great weekend filled with fun and nostalgia.

As I stated earlier, I spent the weekend in Charlottesville VA at one of those fancy inns with a great reputation. I was a little disappointed. The resort was overhyped due to the price tag and lack of great services.

I wasn't so much impressed with the room (with the meager antiques lined up in our area), but I was able to place my weary head on a bed. So, I'm not complaining at all. I got a free ticket.

We did notice a number of expensive cars in the parking lot. We even saw a new red Ferrari parked in front of our building. In a place where some people could feel uncomfortable about such material things, I didn't feel out of place or intimidated. In some small way, I felt sorry for these folks who are aiming to get the best material goods during their lifetime. And, for what?

I wonder if these people are very happy.

I don't think I will be going back to that resort anytime soon, but it was hilarious that many of the local alums staying there for the weekend were examining our demeanor, clothing and our cars to gauge our financial backgrounds. What can you say about fussy people, eh?

On a related note, Bodo's Bagels is a local Charlottesville bakery with 3 area locations. It's my new obsession whenever I visit the city. Please mind that I'm not a big fan of bagels. They can be a little tough to chew and digest. The sandwiches were absolutely great, and the bagels were soft enough for me to enjoy. Try the egg, sausage, and cheese with either a toasted plain or onion bagel. It's good stuff.

It's too bad that Bodo's organization doesn't have a website for the bakery.

The bakery is a pretty popular place for locals as well as students. It's quick and cheap at the same time.


I almost forgot to tell you about the Friday night dinner at Dukem near the U street corridor. When you see a large number of Ethiopians eating at an Ethiopian restaurant, then you know the food is authentic, and the food should be a good. It was a great time with the YA group. Some never tried Ethiopian cuisine, but they were open to try the spiciness in some dishes. The tibs and injera bread were much better here compared with other local DC restaurants, although I preferred larger portions. We even got some exposure about the proper procedures for communal eating.

Some of my friends attending the dinner are from various countries in Africa. I got a first hand experience listening to the various cultural differences between African countries.

Here are a couple trivia facts: In the Amplified Bible, there are 38 mentions of the Ethiopia (Cush/Cushan) kingdom and Ethiopian people. 37 verses alone are found in the Old Testament.

On a separate note, my suspicions have been confirmed that a few colleagues and acquaintances have been spying on this personal site/blog. I noticed some stats for this blog were coming from dubious areas where I suspected were workplaces or homes of "lurkers". Hmmmm. Quite interesting.

Well, I'm looking forward to the short work week.

technorati tags: charlottesville; ethiopian restaurants; dc restaurants; fellowship