Sunday, September 15, 2024

Virginia Tech Visit

Took a day trip to Blacksburg, VA to see Ben at Virginia Tech. He needed some warmer clothes and I had a document for him that he needed to sign to I took to the road. 

We had a nice lunch, talked sports and I took a school tour with him. Not as hectic as move in day. Very relaxed visit.

He is comfortable there, is enjoying his classes and college life. He's adjusting well. Parting was tough but not as difficult as saying good bye was in August.

It was a nice ride home and I was smiling knowing he is happy.




 




































Saturday, August 31, 2024

Ben arrives at Virginia Tech

I started this blog back in December 2005 when Ben was two months old as a way for folks to follow along as we raised him. It was easier to post photos here rather than attach a ton of photos to e-mails. Then social media took off and I posted there and this blog sort of faded away except for an occasional post. I promise to keep this going on a regular basis now that Ben is in college. Unbelievable how time has flown by!

Photo shoot at Potomac Falls High School before Ben graduated


Move in day! Ben's dorm Campbell




Ben settling in




All in for Virginia Tech!


We couldn't get all of Ben's things in one load so my sister and I took a road trip to Blacksburg VA the Saturday after he moved in and dropped off a few more items. Afterwards we went to lunch and took a mini tour of the dorm areas and places to eat before getting back on the road. Quick, but fun day trip. More photos of the campus when we visit Ben in October. Virginia Tech is a beautiful campus!








Meet the Class of 2028. Over 8,000 posted for the traditional VT photo inside of Lane Stadium.



There are a lot of great social media sites to follow Virginia Tech but the VT Therapy Dogs Instagram site is one of my favorites. I hope to meet them during our trip in October.

Ben completed his first week of classes this past week. I do miss our day to day routine like sitting down and watching a baseball game. He is adjusting well and gets to go to his first Hokies football game on September 7th when the Hokies play Marshall. We are planning to go to a Virginia Tech Men's Soccer match when we visit and I am now all in on Virginia Tech Athletics.

Again, I promise more updates during his time at Virginia Tech.

#ThisIsHome

Sunday, April 07, 2024

Bethesda, Maryland

During the month of March I made a couple trips to Bethesda, Maryland to photograph Walt Whitman High School's basketball playoff run. I passed through my old neighborhood as well as other spots. Here are some pics I took with my phone as well as some game photos at Whitman taken with my Nikon. 


   Always fun battling afternoon beltway traffic. Not really.


Glen Echo Exxon. Gas in Northern VA at the time was $3.29 a gallon


Homes on Cromwell Drive where I grew up. Note the expansion of some of these houses.






6201 Cromwell Drive where I grew up. 
No expansion, the house is pretty much the same as it was back when I grew up.

Kenwood Professional Building

Westwood Shopping Center. 
This will be redeveloped and renamed Westbard Square. It will be ready around 2027 and will feature new stores, restaurants, parks, townhouses and a senior living facility 




This was where Giant Food was. 



Back to my neighborhood, basketball courts at Woodacres Elementary. 
I spent a lot of time here playing hoops. 



The only part of Walt Whitman High School that was there when I was (Class of 1980)






Channel 20 Tower. Folks used to attempt to climb this back in the day, usually resulting in a bust. Not sure if anyone ever made it to the top.


River Road where Roy Rogers was back in the day. Roy's was great, it was a great spot during our youth after football games. Now as you can see it is a McDonalds and a cluster**** to navigate through. 


Talbert's still stands. Believe me when I say nothing has changed outside or in. 
Used to wait outside and beg folks to buy beer. I even tried using a fake ID here once as a junior in high school. It was unsuccessful as Bob, who ran the cash register busted me.




4914 Redford Road. I shared a house here with a couple other friends in 1986. The two chairs in the front yard "gifts" from Chevy Chase Club as my friend Gary worked on the golf course. I'm surprised they are still there at the house.


Chevy Chase Club entrance. I worked on the golf maintenance staff, inside the pro shop and also caddied there back in the Summers in high school and college. 




Chevy Chase Club golf maintenance building.



3804 East West Highway in Chevy Chase where my grandparents lived.


Back at Whitman, the gym. I miss The Dome (IYKYK)




Pregame camera settings test. 
Some familiar names on the banner from when I was there (September 1977 - June 1980)




Titian DeRosa #5 for Whitman. His father grew up three houses from ours on Cromwell Drive. 




Whitman won the Maryland Class 4 West Region title over BCC 59-54. The Vikings had an incredible postseason run, advancing to the Maryland Class 4 State Championship game. This was played at the University of Maryland and I got a photo credential for that game but the Vikings lost to Frederick.

I definitely plan to be back at Whitman when I can to photograph a few games next season.


Photo Galleries from the three postseason games I covered for Whitman