Today was another very hot day -- the temperature reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit. We enjoyed a relaxing day off indoors with the AC and on our balcony. In the afternoon we went for a walk with Nora, whose stroller was decorated with two flags.

We fired up our grill for dinner and at 8.45 pm we went to the Iwo Jima Memorial in Rosslyn where we saw the fireworks. Well, Sasha and I did. Nora slept through the whole show. It's nice to be able to walk to those things.

My father stayed with us for five weeks, and we had a wonderful time together.

My favorite moment of the day was to put Nora in her chair next to him: she started smiling as soon as she saw him -- and Jaap too.

It was great to spend some relaxed time with my father. The good news is that Jaap and Mieke will be here again in three weeks!

"You owe me a hundred sixty five dollars!"
"No! It's one fourty five! The extra twenty bucks were a tip for your 'pleasant behavior'!"

A cab driver and a female customer were pulling at a suitcase and yelling at each other when I ran by this morning. The power was out in many places after last night's storm, and it was a hot and busy morning. The cab had stopped on Wilson Boulevard near the Ballston Mall, just when I ran by.

I asked what was going on, and together with another passer-by we managed to calm them down. They had clearly been angry with each other for a while.

The passenger, very upset, had arrived at BWI airport and her credit card was declined in the cab. They had pulled over at several ATMs in the area but since the phone lines are dead she couldn't get any cash. The cab driver wasn't happy either and said that the passenger had tried running away -- which is why he grabbed her luggage.

We tried calling 911 but there was no connection. I ran around the block, looking for a working ATM but there was nothing. When I came back I waved down a passing ambulance who called the police. The officer who arrived thanked us and sent us on our way, so I could continue my run.

A big storm hit Arlington 30 minutes ago. There were very strong wind gushes and we even had to take our balcony furniture inside.

We live in an apartment building that overlooks Lyon Village. Here's a short video of the lightning.

This morning we brought Nora to the pediatrician for her four month check-up. She is healthy and growing well. She's now 14.4 lbs (6.5 kg).

When she was two months old she got her first series of shots and today she received the follow-up injections. Nora took it well -- she cried for a few minutes but after a big hug she recovered.

Her next appointment is in two months.