A New Day

When I woke up this morning, I realized that it was THIS DAY. Bush's last day. I bought this mug for Roger when I visited D.C. in 2007...and it seemed so far away then.


No matter your politics, you have to admit that today was historic.


At the time I bought this, I had no idea who our next president would be. I just knew that I wasn't a big fan of the one we had at the time. And I can say HAD ... now that he has lifted off in his helicopter and left the White House behind.


Watching today's inauguration, I was pleased to hear the crowds chanting, "USA! USA! USA!" I'm not sure I've ever heard that chanted outside the Olympics. Congratulations, Mr. President. I hope that the entire country can pull together now and work toward rebuilding all that has fallen apart in the last eight years.

I want to know from you...did you watch the Inauguration? And what is your hope for our nation's future?

NaBloPoMo Day Eleven - Veteran's Day

Day Eleven.

I have a veteran in my home. My husband was a Navy Corpsman during the Vietnam era, and to this day, can vividly remember the atrocities he saw during that time. Please take a moment and remember those veterans who served by taking care of the wounded and dying. Theirs were sometimes the last faces our brave men and women saw in this life.No one knows the loss felt by the ones who served in the medical service of the military. They served our country by providing comfort to those who had been wounded in ways we can only imagine.And if you have never visited a National Cemetery, I urge you - just once - to go. It will be an overwhelming experience.Thank you, to all who have served this country. We owe you more than we could ever give.

NaBloPoMo Day Ten - Fun Monday, in Honor

Day Ten.

It's FUN MONDAY again, and this week's hostess is Janis, who wanted us to show our support and salute to the veterans who have served our country so well.

One of the most stirring things I've done in my life was visit Arlington National Cemetery in D.C. I was so overcome with emotion, I had to visit twice during my week-long stay. What struck me during my first tour was the vast number of headstones, just rows and rows of them...I had no idea how many were interred there. Here is a glimpse of that experience:
Please visit Janis' place, and enjoy the other tributes.

Fun Monday, A Day Late

Alison (RDH Mom) was so gracious to host Fun Monday on a holiday - and guess who is late? Sigh. I think I need the "Bad Blogger" award, if there is one.

She wanted to know our favorite vacation - and I have to be honest, my favorite one so far was my trip to Washington D. C. last year. And it was a trip that didn't include my husband or daughter - which might seem strange, but I learned so much that I have to chalk it up as the best.

I have shared so much about this trip in other posts, but I have to share some NEW news! A photograph that I took during the trip and uploaded to flickr was recently selected for inclusion in the Schmap East Coast Guide, and can be seen here, though I find the site tough to upload. Here is the photograph, and in honor of Memorial Day, I think it will be the only one I post.Now go find out where your fellow Fun Mondayers like to vacation!

NaBloPoMo Day Thirteen - I Didn't Forget

I know that Veteran's Day was officially this past Sunday, and I spent a good portion of my day NOT watching football, but immersing myself in documentaries and war movies. If you don't check out ANY other link, you MUST click on Band of Bloggers. I found this on the History Channel, and was completely entranced. Bloggers, on the front lines, telling their daily stories...it is mesmerizing.Had it not been for Fun Monday, I would have posted this earlier. However, it is just as good today, since we should be reminded EVERY day of the sacrifices made by our fellow Americans and their brothers in arms.I am grateful that my daughter and I were able to travel to Washington D.C. this past spring. She was with an intense leadership program, while I was able to toodle around as I pleased. We were both struck, in ways that are difficult to describe, by the Korean War Memorial, shown above.My favorite war movie is Saving Private Ryan. If you haven't seen it - you must, but be prepared for graphic imagery.

My husband was a Navy Corpsman during the Vietnam era - and though he never set foot on Vietnam soil, he saw the devastation of the war wounded, up close. Amber and I both took special note of the Vietnam Nurses Memorial, pictured below. For a look at the operations of a Baghdad medical team, check out CNN's Combat Hospital.Roger likes The Military Channel, which I usually avoid. But I was captivated and teary-eyed during "War Wounds" - stories of men and women who have returned from Iraq, still fighting personal battles.I didn't expect anything to happen emotionally while I took the "memorial tour" of D.C. Besides sobbing during the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, I was touched by this:Nothing prepared me for more than 58,000 names etched in granite. My reaction was immediate, heart-wrenching grief for those souls and those who loved them. I promise to never forget.

NaBloPoMo Day Ten - Now With More Poo Woo!

Remember that Fun Monday assignment involving slogans on our outer (or under) wear? Well, I neglected to mention that our pets wanted in on the assignment. And sadly, no one posted slogans on their underwear.

When Amber went to Washington D.C., she was smart enough to buy a HUGE sweatshirt that not only looks good on her, but fits me, her dad, and the rest of the family! Here she is, trying it out on the cat:After getting bored with cat-snuggling, she carelessly tossed the sweatshirt on the couch. If you have a teenager, you are familiar with this "careless tossing" phenomenon. Well, later that evening, I let the Poo Woo in the house - and he went straight for the sweatshirt. He russled and tumbled and nestled, until he found the perfect position to "don" the attire:He must have laid still under the warmth of the shirt for over 30 minutes, which is an extraordinarly long time for Poo Woo to sit still in ANY environment.Isn't he a Cutie-Poo-Woo-A-Tootie? Dog snuggles are the BEST!

Fun Monday ELATION!

Oh YES! Robin over at Pensieve is this week's hostess, and her topic is SHOES! I am a bona fide shoe maven, and I didn't even take her suggestion that we show shoes that belong to other family members (even though The Offspring has some awesome ones). I can only show you a quarter of my own collection...so to heck with theirs! My latest acquisition are these not-expensive heels that will look FABULOUS the next time I hit the dance floor:Before you think I'm nuts, I actually CAN dance in heels. Better than in flats - just ask any of my friends who have gone dancing with me. I know some people who can't even walk in these shoes. Next are some of the most comfortable heels I own. I save them for semi-dressy events, as they're not the fanciest:Before you think I don't have any "normal" shoes, check out these Merrell sandals I bought in D.C.:Merrell makes some of the most comfy styles that I've ever put on my tootsies - I have three other pair of Merrells in my closet. The ones above have been on my feet the most lately, since wearing heels to our new house site is kinda silly. Next, are the second most comfortable pair of heels I own, the patent leather Gianni Bini's:I LOVE this brand, and can't find these in the 4-inch heel versions anymore. Had I known that, I would have bought three pair of these:I can't wear these anymore, seeing as I've beat the heck out of them, wearing them to work, dancing in them, and tromping all over the place. They were AWESOME, and so easy to take on and off, with that little zipper in the back. To replace them, I found these Bandolinos in D.C.:Not as comfortable, but still a decent-looking shoe. Now for my DRESSY heels, which I wear with some of my formal gowns:Kudos to Baby Phat! I love the little sparkly cat logo that dangles from the strap. And yes, I do have some shoes that are more casual heels, like these Kenneth Cole's, for instance:OH! and did we talk BOOTS? Here are my beige suedes...Which I also own in chocolate brown:And GUESS? who made these wonders? The style is "Carrie." "Sex and the City," anyone?Lest you think I'm some sort of heel-addict, here are the Merrells I kick around in, when I just relax on the weekend:Comfiest shoes EVAH. Okay - that's already too many shoes from one girl. Go over to Robin's, and check out the other Fun Monday participants! I'm off on a spree!

Memorial Monday

During my D.C. visit, one of the most moving experiences was my trip to Arlington National Cemetery. As we celebrate this Memorial Day with our fancy grills, coolers full of beer and the blessed day off from the daily grind of our jobs, I realized that I will never again "see" this holiday in the same way. Even living with a Vietnam-era veteran on a daily basis has not made me appreciate the meaning of these holidays as much as walking through Arlington (sorry, Rog).

Believe it or not, witnessing the somber wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns brought me almost immediately to tears. Here, the Tomb Guards begin the ceremony:The Tomb sarcophagus is placed above the grave of a soldier from World War I. Three white marble slabs that are flush with the plaza mark the graves of unknown soldiers from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Advances in DNA techniques led to the identification of the Vietnam War Unknown. He was United States Force First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie. Lieutenant Blassie's remains were returned to his family on Friday, July 10, 1998, and were buried in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, the following day. It has been decided that his former resting place on the plaza will remain vacant.I've often seen photographs of Arlington's rows of headstones. Similar to the one below, they only show a minute portion of the over 300,000 people buried there.While on a tour bus during my first visit to the cemetery, I shot some footage of the rows and rows of headstones. They seemed to go on forever. I couldn't figure out how to edit this video properly (neophytism), but approximately halfway through this clip, you will see what I mean about the vastness of the cemetery. Words cannot express my thanks to all those who have given so much in service to our country, as well as to those who continue to serve, every day.

D. C. Salivations

One of Swampy's best tips in preparation for my D.C. trip was to suggest that I take in the tapas at Jaleo, located at 480 7th Street NW in the heart of Downtown. Tapas, according to the Jaleo site, are "the traditional small dishes of Spain, the small plates of this and that served at bars and cafes across the country." Basically, they are appetizer-sized portions, and though I wasn't brave enough to try the blood sausage or the squid offerings, I was satiated beyond my expectations after dining here.



Earlier today, I found the actual recipe for patatas bravas, which when topped with a bit of crumbled bleu cheese, was my favorite.

We had quickly discovered that the restaurant located at the Watergate Hotel, called "Aquarelle," was aqua-expensive for aqua-not-much-food. Like you see pictured to the left, it was a lot of plate, some sprigs of stuff, and a dribble of sauce...all yours for $17.50. Welcome to fine dining in D.C. Nothing against the accomplished chef - a LADY chef, at that - but when I pay that much for a meal, it had better be enough to fill me up. Luckily, the full-stocked bar made up for my lack of food, and KM didn't mind me partaking of a wee bit of liqueur.

According to one of our tour guides, there are 68 Starbucks locations in and around Washington, D.C. It was VERY convenient to slip in and get a "pick me up," anytime the need arose.

The Front Page restaurant, located in Dupont Circle, was a place we stumbled into as weariness set in. I had warned KM that Dupont Circle had a more "alternative" feel - and she passed me a few wide-eyed looks as their representatives passed by our window. I felt more like an educational tour guide, as I have close friends from all races and persuasions. All this to say that the Page One burger was really good, and priced well for lunchtime.

I love eating out - and if I'm on a vacation, I REFUSE to eat at an establishment that has a franchise close to my home. I want something totally different, and preferrably, a restaurant that serves alcohol. Living in a dry county makes me long for real tablecloths and libations with a meal. So, I have to know - where are your favorite places to dine? Who knows...I may go on an eating tour!

Bumming on the Metro

Before I left for D.C., I was told it had one of the best transit systems in the country. They don't allow any food, drink or smoking in their Metro stations, which keeps things clean. I know this photo is fuzzy, but here you can see how many folks commute during the 5 o'clock rush hour on the Metrorail. This was taken at Metro Center, where three separate lines meet.

Early in our trip, my traveling buddy, KM, had seen a homeless man scouring the trash for food. I had literally overlooked him, having reverted back to my "city ways." I learned growing up on the outskirts of Houston that you don't engage the bums - no eye contact, no looks of pity, no offerings of help. KM felt horribly sad for his plight and amazed that he would actually eat leftovers from the trash. My response must have seemed harsh: "Don't give him any money, because he'll just buy booze with it."
During our walk to the hotel each evening, KM would point out these poor souls as they bedded down. The impressions of their bodies would remain visible in the grass each morning. One indigent fellow changed her perspective, however, as we boarded the Metro on our way to a mall in Pentagon City one evening. While waiting for the Metro to leave, we hear loud expletives. Every other word is the f-bomb or some maternal variation thereof. Luckily for us, the offender boards our car...spilling the contents of his trash bags all over the floor - RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. I play nonchalant - looking straight ahead, emotionless. KM's eyes widen, and she whispers, "We need to get off NOW."

As batteries, vials of liquid and cigar tips roll around near our feet, F-Bomber is still cursing a blue-streak, interjecting the statement, "DON'T YOU BE LOOKIN' AT MY M*****-F***IN' BATTERIES!! YOU WANNA F***IN' START SOMETHIN'? I'LL START SOMETHIN' RIGHT THE F*** HERE, M***** F***ER!!" I'm still playing it cool, as the train pulls away and F-Bomber decides to return to our area of the car to retrieve his m*****-f***in' batteries that KM is DEFINITELY not looking at. She and I both are statues as he bends down to pick them up, giving us a final "DON'T YOU BE LOOKING AT MY M*****-F***IN' BATTERIES!!" before returning to his seat. KM is whispering that WE NEED TO GET OFF AT THE NEXT STOP, and I'm trying to convince her to play it cool - as I'm realizing that F-Bomber is not really talking to anyone but the voices in his head. The screaming expletives are continuous, and I faintly hear the sound of the Metro driver call for Metro Police to meet us at the next station. As we are about to stop, KM jumps up, ready to bolt the second the doors open. I notice two other passengers ready to exit, and watch as they simply get off the car and onto the adjacent car to continue their trip. We follow suit, and sit where we are facing the car containing F-Bomber. KM is concerned that he will see us, realize we avoided him, and come back there to finish us off. We both notice a poor young girl, seated right in front of F-Bomber, still enduring the expletive rant that is also audible in OUR car. Of course, we reach our destination, and F-Bomber gets off as well. Luckily, Metro Police have been observing him, and detain him for a quick search and questioning. I'm not sure what they did with this man - after all, do they really have jails full of guys like this? Probably not.

The next day, KM seems relieved that we have lived thru the experience and is actually hoping for another glimpse of F-Bomber. We never did run into him again, but did see this lovely creature outside Union Station, pictured above. (I didn't take these photos of bums - that's another rule of mine.)

And, don't be lookin' at my m*****-f***in' batteries.

Foggy Bottom

So, back to more about my trip! In case you didn't know, there are several "areas" of D.C., one of which is Foggy Bottom. This is where our hotel was located, on the Potomac River, on the West side of town. This is a historic district, with lots of "rowhouses," like those pictured here. Foggy Bottom is also home to The George Washington University, and I was pleased that it meant we were also close to their Medical Center.
During our "Monuments at Moonlight" trolley tour, one of the passengers fell and hit the pavement in front of the Lincoln Monument. As he was reboarding the trolley, he had blood streaming down his face and a goose-egg-sized hematoma sprouting on his forehead. Our trolley driver took a quick detour to the hospital, and delivered him to the emergency room.

Each day, my buddy and I would walk from the Watergate Hotel to the Foggy Bottom Metro Station, which was just a few blocks away, nestled in between the university and the medical center. We always met college students and young medical students, and some pretty hot young doctors! But even more fascinating were the rowhouses. They had tiny little lawns, no bigger than 3 ft x 3 ft in most cases. I was also surprised that most folks in the area had dogs, judging by all the barking we heard as we passed by. I wondered what it would be like to live in a house like this - stacked up three stories, with neighbors right next to me. I hadn't lived like this since my college dormitory days. I also can't imagine living like that again, seeing as I feel cramped on our 66' x 150' lot and my excitement about our new house to be built on 2 1/2 acres. I joked to my friend that the yards were so tiny that residents would only have to use scissors to cut their grass. No room for lawnmowers! Well, the very next day - guess what we saw?!?!?!?







Yup! Can you see them?
I snuck this photograph, b/c I honestly couldn't believe what I was seeing. This lady had no clue that I was spying and giggling, all at the same time.

Here's a close-up of her hand, just to prove it.

Crazy, huh? I still think my husband would want a new weedeater for this task.

Photos! Photos! We Have PHOTOS!

Some smart folks out there! Yes, indeed, the quotes I posted last were from the World War II Memorial. This is a photo of the memorial, featuring a wreath laid by the group with which my daughter was traveling. My friend and I made it to these memorials much later in the day than the kids and were touched to see their wreaths, everywhere we went.I have FINALLY posted all the photos from our trip. Well, all the ones really worth looking at, for now. Amber took more photos that I haven't been able to upload yet - mostly of her trips to Gettysburg and Jamestown-Colonial Williamsburg. I have to consult with her first before getting accurate descriptions.

I was honored that two of our photos were chosen to be part of this flickr group. I immediately started crying at the Vietnam Memorial. I didn't expect my reaction - I was overwhelmed by the raw emotion that poured forth when I realized just how many lives were changed and ended forever by that war. You hear numbers of fatalities in excess of 58,000, but it's not the same as seeing the thousands of names on The Wall.

I just can't post all our photos on this blog, or I would blog about D.C. for an entire year. So check out the entire set here.

No Clue Where to Begin - How About Day One?

Folks, let me apologize for leaving you all hanging about my trip. I TOTALLY forgot that I had an EPA inspector coming to the orifice yesterday, so not only am I behind at work, but I have had extra stress. I'm not sure I can even tell you what day it is. However, I've GOT to start sharing or you'll be hearing about this trip in the wintertime. I have two very important suggestions if you plan to go to D.C. and have never been. First, talk to Swampwitch. Her tips proved invaluable during my stay. Secondly, buy this book. My traveling companion giggled at me for getting this the day before we arrived, but it was a great resource and saved us lots of headaches and wrong turns. Causing the local folks some giggles was the sight of us getting from Dulles into Downtown DC on a BUS, for heavens' sake, then using the Metro to get to our hotel in Foggy Bottom. All while hauling our massive luggage around like a couple of country bumpkins. RED and BLUE luggage. Not the requisite BLACK luggage that all those cool city folks use. Here is a photo of our view from the Watergate Hotel, which overlooks the Potomac River. It was a bit cloudy that Monday, but we thoroughly enjoyed watching all the joggers, pinickers, rowers, dog-walkers, and bums from our little perch.
This photo may not seem like much, but during our first full day in D.C., we were only off the Metro for FIVE MINUTES when we hear sirens. Lots of 'em. And being from the country? Well, that can only mean one thing. An accident! And here we were, without police scanners in hand. So, we notice a whole caravan of motorcycle cops, NOT equipped to save lives, and realize...wait...who could this be? Now I'm not one to get all giddy about our Commander in Chief, but I snapped this shot as his motorcade drove right past us. I left this photo large so you could click on it and try to pick him out. Which one do you think he is?? (BTW, at this point, I felt like a total tourist, and made attempts later in the trip to blend in.)

We visited a few more sites - and here is your test. Washington D.C. is full of memorials, monuments, and all sorts of quotes and phrases. Which of you knows where this quote is emblazened?








Give up? Okay...for those of you who have never visited the city, here is another clue - a quote from the SAME GENERAL LOCATION.

And Matt, I really don't think it would be fair for you to participate. But then again, I don't figure you for a historical guy...so if you're clueless, I'll allow you a guess. Answers next time!

I'll be visiting your blogs tonight and tomorrow, trying to get caught up!