So we're all pretty much out of gas today. Will and I woke up at 7 AM and made our way to the Washington Monument. The line was long and we were going to be short on time today, so we opted out of the elevator trip. We were a little bummed but enjoyed a leisure stroll back to the hotel.
On the way we managed to find our way behind the White House, where we were not able to go yesterday. We took a picture for Jooj. We also spied the remnants of the the Easter Egg hunt (Peeps and such).
We checked out of the hotel and made our way to the International Spy Museum. A line!!! We walked around the block to the Ford's Theatre and... A LINE!!! Grrr. Kelsey and Jooj haggled with a vendor (well, *I* haggled) and picked up a pair of knock-off purses. Teehee!
We ate lunch and toured the Smithsonian American Art Museum. We hit the more recent stuff and saw some really cool things. The kids, already tired and out of gas, were done way before I was ready to leave. But I had to go with the flow and move along with them.
We stopped in the International Spy Museum's shop where Will picked up a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see behind him. He also bought a copy of Sun Tzu's Art of War. What a funny kid.
We walked around a bit longer, hopped on the metro, hung out in the hotel lobby, crammed onto the rush hour metro, got off in front of Reagan, and flew home.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Washington DC - Day 3
Yesterday marked day 3 of our Washington DC trip. Will and I started the morning on the metro to wait in line. We didn't know if we would be waiting in the line for the Washington Monument or the Holocaust Museum. After surveying the line for the monument we opted for the Holocaust Museum. After a 90-minute wait we were awarded with 4 tickets. The grrrls showed up shortly after that and we went in.
Wow.
I don't know how to put into words the emotions that ran through me during that visit. I can say this: I snapped a single picture. It was a picture of the thousands of shoes that Jewish concentration camp victims discarded just before meeting their doom. Nothing I can type will give the experience justice.
We headed out of the Holocaust Museum, all four of us in a daze, and somehow wandered into the Freer Gallery. We came to our senses and realized that we were hungry and needed to get over to the Air & Space Museum. After grabbing some quick McDonald's we entered the Air & Space Museum again.
It was just as overwhelming as the day before. But the situation was complicated by the enormous number of children running around. Will and I hit up a few exhibits and then, after realizing that the flight simulator cost money (and overhearing someone lament that it was "a complete waste of money"), scrubbed our Air & Space visit.
We met up with the grrrls (who had left earlier to relax on the lawn of The Mall) and headed toward the White House. Jooj wanted to see the back of it (the view that people associate with the white house) but could not reach it. We found out later that it was because of the Easter egg hunt on the back lawn. A huge crowd had amassed too. People said J. K. Rowling and Justin Bieber were in there. Meh.
We headed back to the hotel. The grrrls took naps while I checked emails and stuff. We then headed over to the Froggy Bottom Pub for some good pub food. It was pretty good and also pretty cheap. We came back to the room and watched the NCAA Championship game.
("Happy Easter. I hate Duke!" That is what some weird dude said to us two days ago ride outside the pagoda gate in Chinatown... seemed harmless at the time but oh so relevant now)
Wow.
I don't know how to put into words the emotions that ran through me during that visit. I can say this: I snapped a single picture. It was a picture of the thousands of shoes that Jewish concentration camp victims discarded just before meeting their doom. Nothing I can type will give the experience justice.
We headed out of the Holocaust Museum, all four of us in a daze, and somehow wandered into the Freer Gallery. We came to our senses and realized that we were hungry and needed to get over to the Air & Space Museum. After grabbing some quick McDonald's we entered the Air & Space Museum again.
It was just as overwhelming as the day before. But the situation was complicated by the enormous number of children running around. Will and I hit up a few exhibits and then, after realizing that the flight simulator cost money (and overhearing someone lament that it was "a complete waste of money"), scrubbed our Air & Space visit.
We met up with the grrrls (who had left earlier to relax on the lawn of The Mall) and headed toward the White House. Jooj wanted to see the back of it (the view that people associate with the white house) but could not reach it. We found out later that it was because of the Easter egg hunt on the back lawn. A huge crowd had amassed too. People said J. K. Rowling and Justin Bieber were in there. Meh.
We headed back to the hotel. The grrrls took naps while I checked emails and stuff. We then headed over to the Froggy Bottom Pub for some good pub food. It was pretty good and also pretty cheap. We came back to the room and watched the NCAA Championship game.
("Happy Easter. I hate Duke!" That is what some weird dude said to us two days ago ride outside the pagoda gate in Chinatown... seemed harmless at the time but oh so relevant now)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Washington DC - Day 2
Day 2 is nearly under our belt. Will and I are sitting at a table in the lobby and Kelsey is behind us. She and I are enjoying some free Internet while Will is getting his sketchin' on. Jooj is upstairs nursing her poor feet. We were machines today.
We started out taking the metro to The Mall. We headed to the Museum of Natural History. It was awesome! It was so awesome. But the kids were getting antsy and Jooj informed me that she "doesn't like stuffed animals." I quickly figured out that she wasn't referring to toys but taxidermy. So we jetted out (not before hitting the gift store where Will purchased a 36" long gummy snake) and headed toward the Museum of American History. On the way there, Kelsey made deal with a street vendor for some new shades. Hilarious!
The Museum of American History was awesome. I saw many, many cool things - two of which that topped my list were the C-3P0 suit worn by Anthony Daniels and an authentic Star Trek phaser. LOL, I'm such a geek :) There was so much to see and we all had so much fun. A moving moment for me was snapping a picture of the bent and stressed beams from the World Trade Center.
We walked outside to take a lunch break. We ate a quick meal of vendor fare and headed back in to finish up. We hit a few more exhibits and then left. Will took the opportunity to get his own pair of shades from the same street vendor. He remembered Kelsey and gave Will a deal. Hehehe!
We crossed The Mall again and went inside the Air & Space Museum. Jooj took a bench pretty quick. Kelsey followed. Will and I wandered for a few, just completely overwhelmed by the surroundings. We saw the grrrls from the balcony and they looked miserable. We decided to call it a day at Air & Space and hit it tomorrow. On the way out we ran into a guy wearing a Louisville shirt and we chatted him up.
We chilled on the lawn of The Mall for a while. Then we walked to Chinatown. We admired the huge Pagoda Gate. We ate some great asian food at Mings Restaurant. We saw a guy with 4 rats on his shoulder. We rode the metro back to Foggy-Bottom. We saw a half-assed transvestite (needed a good shave and a scarf) and followed him for a while. We hit the hotel. I showered. I blogged. And now Jooj is asking me for a Diet Coke.
We started out taking the metro to The Mall. We headed to the Museum of Natural History. It was awesome! It was so awesome. But the kids were getting antsy and Jooj informed me that she "doesn't like stuffed animals." I quickly figured out that she wasn't referring to toys but taxidermy. So we jetted out (not before hitting the gift store where Will purchased a 36" long gummy snake) and headed toward the Museum of American History. On the way there, Kelsey made deal with a street vendor for some new shades. Hilarious!
The Museum of American History was awesome. I saw many, many cool things - two of which that topped my list were the C-3P0 suit worn by Anthony Daniels and an authentic Star Trek phaser. LOL, I'm such a geek :) There was so much to see and we all had so much fun. A moving moment for me was snapping a picture of the bent and stressed beams from the World Trade Center.
We walked outside to take a lunch break. We ate a quick meal of vendor fare and headed back in to finish up. We hit a few more exhibits and then left. Will took the opportunity to get his own pair of shades from the same street vendor. He remembered Kelsey and gave Will a deal. Hehehe!
We crossed The Mall again and went inside the Air & Space Museum. Jooj took a bench pretty quick. Kelsey followed. Will and I wandered for a few, just completely overwhelmed by the surroundings. We saw the grrrls from the balcony and they looked miserable. We decided to call it a day at Air & Space and hit it tomorrow. On the way out we ran into a guy wearing a Louisville shirt and we chatted him up.
We chilled on the lawn of The Mall for a while. Then we walked to Chinatown. We admired the huge Pagoda Gate. We ate some great asian food at Mings Restaurant. We saw a guy with 4 rats on his shoulder. We rode the metro back to Foggy-Bottom. We saw a half-assed transvestite (needed a good shave and a scarf) and followed him for a while. We hit the hotel. I showered. I blogged. And now Jooj is asking me for a Diet Coke.
Washington DC - Day 1
We survived our first day of vacation in the nations Capitol. And I say "survived" because my legs feel as though I just ran with the bulls. We landed at Reagan, taxi'ed to the Marriott Renaissance M hotel, and immediately darted south to The Mall.
We started with the Womens Viet Nam Memorial, stared at the stoic Lincoln, saw our reflections in The Wall, admired the soldiers at the Korean War Memorial (my favorite from my first trip to DC), circled the World War II Memorial, admired the immensity of the Washington Monument, and enjoyed the Cherry Blossoms. We headed north from there and walked by the White House.
We spotted and spotter spotting us and a snapped his picture. After that we slipped into the Renwick Gallery and admired some classic and contemporary art. A few blocks later we were back at the hotel.
After a short rest we made our way toward the metro and caught the Blue line toward Alexandria, VA. We had dinner reservations to feast in the 13th century. But the metro was turned away before reaching the Pentagon. Supposedly there was some kind of "situation". Desperate to not miss our reservation we hopped into a cab and paid too much money to get to King Street in the old town of Alexandria.
Medieval Madness was awesome. The kids were mortified for most of the meal but warmed up toward the end of the show. There is just so much to tell about it but I don't even know where to start. The "cast" all role-played the parts of maidens ("wenches"), knights, a jester, and even the Duke and Duchess. The meal was served over four courses and was in the style of food from the 13th century. The kids were knighted as squires and helped out in the sword play that took place later in the show. It is a memory, good or bad, that they will never forget.
So much for the first night. We all slept well. Maybe too well, as Will snored off and on all night :)
We started with the Womens Viet Nam Memorial, stared at the stoic Lincoln, saw our reflections in The Wall, admired the soldiers at the Korean War Memorial (my favorite from my first trip to DC), circled the World War II Memorial, admired the immensity of the Washington Monument, and enjoyed the Cherry Blossoms. We headed north from there and walked by the White House.
We spotted and spotter spotting us and a snapped his picture. After that we slipped into the Renwick Gallery and admired some classic and contemporary art. A few blocks later we were back at the hotel.
After a short rest we made our way toward the metro and caught the Blue line toward Alexandria, VA. We had dinner reservations to feast in the 13th century. But the metro was turned away before reaching the Pentagon. Supposedly there was some kind of "situation". Desperate to not miss our reservation we hopped into a cab and paid too much money to get to King Street in the old town of Alexandria.
Medieval Madness was awesome. The kids were mortified for most of the meal but warmed up toward the end of the show. There is just so much to tell about it but I don't even know where to start. The "cast" all role-played the parts of maidens ("wenches"), knights, a jester, and even the Duke and Duchess. The meal was served over four courses and was in the style of food from the 13th century. The kids were knighted as squires and helped out in the sword play that took place later in the show. It is a memory, good or bad, that they will never forget.
So much for the first night. We all slept well. Maybe too well, as Will snored off and on all night :)
Monday, March 29, 2010
BIG day
There are so many things happening today. I can't even begin to go into any of them in detail. Here are some bullet points...
* Jooj turns38 36 32 28!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOOJ!!!
* Kelsey gets her braces off today! I've never known her without braces. I'm so excited :)
* Genscape Biggest Loser winner is announced today. I had my final weigh-in and lost 5.8 pounds this week!!! Running on the treadmill in my garbage bag suit shed 3 pounds in 40 minutes. I went from 188.6 down to 164.2, losing 24.4 pounds or 12.94% overall in 12 weeks.
* Lala received her 1 year anniversary gift from Dillon (the 18" x 65" painting I just finished) and she loved it. I was so happy to see such a reaction from her. Dillon picked up some sweet souvenirs from Belize for me that are now prominently displayed in the living room. Here is to many more anniversaries you two!
* The big TV in the media room is giving us trouble. This isn't necessarily bad news because it may cost us as much to fix it as it would to replace it. Again, that is not necessarily bad news because a new TV is always something to get excited over (watching television *is* the new religion of the digital age, if you didn't already know that [but that is a topic in and of itself for another day])
* Lastly, and this actually happened yesterday, I saw the most amazing thing. I'll use a Dane Cook quote to lead into this one...
"Three weeks ago one of my dreams came true. I finally got to see something I always wanted to witness live. I finally saw someone get hit by a car... Nailed! "
I was in the parking lot of Kroger when this old guy started speed walking out of his car and past mine. Suddenly, the car next to me, driven by another old guy, shot backward and nailed this dude. The "victim" was lifted off the ground but quickly pivoted his hand against the trunk and pulled some kind of Dukes of Hazzard move where he just slid over the back of the car. And then, much to both mine and the other driver's amazement, the old speed walker just kept on trotting to Kroger. Amazing!
* Jooj turns
* Kelsey gets her braces off today! I've never known her without braces. I'm so excited :)
* Genscape Biggest Loser winner is announced today. I had my final weigh-in and lost 5.8 pounds this week!!! Running on the treadmill in my garbage bag suit shed 3 pounds in 40 minutes. I went from 188.6 down to 164.2, losing 24.4 pounds or 12.94% overall in 12 weeks.
* Lala received her 1 year anniversary gift from Dillon (the 18" x 65" painting I just finished) and she loved it. I was so happy to see such a reaction from her. Dillon picked up some sweet souvenirs from Belize for me that are now prominently displayed in the living room. Here is to many more anniversaries you two!
* The big TV in the media room is giving us trouble. This isn't necessarily bad news because it may cost us as much to fix it as it would to replace it. Again, that is not necessarily bad news because a new TV is always something to get excited over (watching television *is* the new religion of the digital age, if you didn't already know that [but that is a topic in and of itself for another day])
* Lastly, and this actually happened yesterday, I saw the most amazing thing. I'll use a Dane Cook quote to lead into this one...
"Three weeks ago one of my dreams came true. I finally got to see something I always wanted to witness live. I finally saw someone get hit by a car... Nailed! "
I was in the parking lot of Kroger when this old guy started speed walking out of his car and past mine. Suddenly, the car next to me, driven by another old guy, shot backward and nailed this dude. The "victim" was lifted off the ground but quickly pivoted his hand against the trunk and pulled some kind of Dukes of Hazzard move where he just slid over the back of the car. And then, much to both mine and the other driver's amazement, the old speed walker just kept on trotting to Kroger. Amazing!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
$6 in aisle 6
What would you do?
I went into Walgreens the other day to pick up a prescription for Jooj. I walked down aisle 6 (the big, middle aisle with all of the seasonal stuff... Easter candy in this case - YUM!). I saw a woman standing there and behind her I spied $6 on the ground.
"Ma'am," I said. "Is this yours?" And I pointed to the $6.
She said no. And so the conundrum began. Do I take it? Do I turn it in? I have a witness, and she will judge me (probably not, but this is what was going on in my head). I still stood there, wondering what to do. If I turn it in, what is going to keep the clerk from pocketing it? What to do?!?!
I picked it up and turned it in. The clerk gave me a strange look. And that strange look telegraphed "Why the hell are you giving this to me when you know that *I* and everyone else in this store would keep it, sucker?"
Karma, I guess. You know, what goes around comes around? I know that's not karma exactly, but whatever.
I went into Walgreens the other day to pick up a prescription for Jooj. I walked down aisle 6 (the big, middle aisle with all of the seasonal stuff... Easter candy in this case - YUM!). I saw a woman standing there and behind her I spied $6 on the ground.
"Ma'am," I said. "Is this yours?" And I pointed to the $6.
She said no. And so the conundrum began. Do I take it? Do I turn it in? I have a witness, and she will judge me (probably not, but this is what was going on in my head). I still stood there, wondering what to do. If I turn it in, what is going to keep the clerk from pocketing it? What to do?!?!
I picked it up and turned it in. The clerk gave me a strange look. And that strange look telegraphed "Why the hell are you giving this to me when you know that *I* and everyone else in this store would keep it, sucker?"
Karma, I guess. You know, what goes around comes around? I know that's not karma exactly, but whatever.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Work. Exercise. Kids. Paint. Sleep.
Rinse and repeat. I'm tired.
BTW, I saw where a single space after a period signifying the end of a sentence is now acceptable. Whatever happened to all the rules I had to learn in school. Sheesh!
BTW, I saw where a single space after a period signifying the end of a sentence is now acceptable. Whatever happened to all the rules I had to learn in school. Sheesh!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)