DC day 23 & 24

Yesterday, Thursday, was Norman Rockwell at the Portrait Museum. Now I know why the left turn at the reception desk was so lame. They were gearing up for the Rockwell exhibit. It was spectacular. Sadly, the exhibit prohibited any type of camera, so if you even thought about bringing out a cell phone, the 87 year-old room guard would yell at a person (namely me!) I was so scared when he yelled at me to put my cell phone away (I have GOT to stop texting so much), I accidently started Pandora on my phone. OH CRAP, Maroon 5 starts playing before I realized it was my phone! Everyone is now staring at me. SO, I tried to stop the Pandora and Maroon 5 from playing in an otherwise silent room. I am digging in my purse, so I don't actually get my phone out and get yelled out again by the 87 year old phone nazi. Whew!!! Mission accomplished! I drop my phone back in my purse. All of a sudden I hear Adele start. DAMN IT!!! I accidently stopped Pandora by hitting the button that starts iPod! DAMN IT!!! I decided my best defense was retreat! I quickly left the room with everyone killing me with their eyes, because I was disturbing the ambience of the exhibit. True Story! What are the chances. It was a great exhibit, though. Norman Rockwell! Now that is an artist. Compared to the conceited freak being praised at the Horshhorn I cannot believe Klien is even being given a platform. (But I think I've already stated my opinion.)

Today it was the Holocaust museum. This is the entrance and it is meant to look like a train station. I have been once before and it was, indeed, terrifying and moving. Man's inhumanity to Man. Today, however, it was so very crowded! OHMYGOSH! As I'm 5'1" (rounding up) and 110 pounds (rounding down) I couldn't see A FREAKING THING!! It was so crowded, it took 15 minutes just to walk out of the museum! The Holocaust museum will have to wait for another day.

Then we decided to go to the Library of Congress. I have a blister by now on my heel because of my beautiful new shoes that make my feet look as sexy as possible. But I'm not going to let that stop me. Right, ladies? We were there in time to join a 2:30 tour. We heard all about the incredible, breath-taking architecture. I, however, know nothing more about what the Library of Congress does, is, or shall ever be. I got myself a cute little Library of Congress (LOC) passport, though! and a cute little sticker that says "Library of Congress." I am SO lucky!!! If you have a question about the subtlety of the multiple layers of architectural meaning, I'm your girl. Anything else.....I bet it's Googleable! Cuz I learned Nuthin today!

Tomorrow is Saturday! What does that mean??? Everyone should know by now! EASTERN Market! (and brunch!)

DC day 22

Today, a beautiful day in DC, was cool and rainy.

Today included a visit to the Hirshhorn Museum of (fine???) Art. This is the round museum that is very close to the Smithsonian "castle." You can't miss it, its round.

The first time I was in DC I visited the Hirshhorn and was absolutely blown away by an artist named Ron Mueck (please google him.) I remember walking into a room and there was a naked giant sitting in a corner. He was so life-like even down to the hair on his toes. This would be another DC "OHMYGOSH" moment. Ron Mueck! Incredible!

So today, imagine my complete and absolute horror as I walked into the Horshhorn and there was this CRAP on the wall from an artist called Yves Kline. He was a French artist who was SO self indulgent that he believed that his painting a complete canvas blue, could be considered art. Another one is completely yellow, pink, gold leaf, etc. Everyone of the visitors was shaking their heads in disbelief that this crap would pass for art. I even heard a woman say "I feel as if I've been duped!" She expressed what everyone who has seen this exhibit has thought. What a LOAD OF CRAP! There were also stupid quotes on the wall from the artist himself. It was such a waste of money, time, and space. Just my humble opinion. I, again, am not an artist and so if I'm incredulous.....I have no words. I only judge art as it would be judged today. Da Vinci, Rembrandt, etc. Yves Klien must have been one of the "special people" in the 1960s. His art is crap. And in case I haven't made my self perfectly clear: It is crappola!

So it was raining and so I decided that I would walk in the rain. I was soaked by the time I was done. And by the way, flip flops are VERY slippery on the marble at the curbs of the street. I almost biffed it crossing 7th and Independence. Where is my video camera when I need it???

I walked around the Smithsonian Castle garden. I saw fountains, and benches. For some reason the benches seemed so pretty today, half wet.

Do you see how beautiful this is?

I don't really have much to say today. I went to the gym (thank goodness for the gym.)

Then I went to the National Art Gallery. My absolutely favorite Smithsonian. I am in AWE every time I go.

I have taken so many pictures of the the marble statues. As I said before I am not an artist, I lean more toward science (although I wouldn't call myself a scientist.) This art absolutely moves me.

This is a close up of only one of the statues that live in the National Art Gallery -- Smithsonian. I saw Rembrandt, De Vinci, an artist I had never heard of, Simon Vouet. St. Jerome and the Angel. The hands entranced me. It was incredible. Please google it.

My question is this: How do you make something as hard as marble look so soft and so gossamer-like? I can see her patella, her umbilicus, mons pubis. But she's made of marble. How can you see that she is wearing clothing so sheer that it may be transparent? With a marble medium? In a time when there were no hydraulic tools. How did De Vinci make the veil on the Mona Lisa? How do artists paint a crystal wine decanter on canvas? It amazed me. It was transparent but filled with wine. I could see the table and wall through the decanter, but I could tell it was there. How do they do that? How can you see her hair through the veil, but I know its there. How do they do that? I have no words.

DC day 20

Before I start I just want to say....LOOK AT MY NEW SANDALS. Kenneth Cole. Just remember I walked around in these all day. I was SO pretty! =0) Well, at least my feet were.

Went to the gym (well, right after I scrubbed the bathtub) and ran for 25 minutes (medical issue occurred) then rode the bike for 30 minutes.

Due to other stress inducing issues I HAD to get out of the apartment. I walked North. And I walked and I walked and I walked. Luckily, I had on really cute shoes. I was wishing I had a place and a friend in DC to have a small glass of wine with. I had to remind myself, I'm living the life.....remember? Isn't this a beautiful place? It looks deserted in this picture, but there were a gazillion people there. I was walking toward the Lincoln Memorial from the Washington Monument. The reflecting pool is to my left.

I moved to the paved path to text my friend that I need to meet for a drink, but sadly all my friends are in an area code where someone went crazy today and killed 6 people and wounded 4. Does domestic violence = insane? Anyway....I went to the paved path to get out of the way of others walking on the dirt path to text a friend.

As you can see there were geese everywhere. Not only were there geese everywhere, what comes along with geese? Goose SHIT. Yes, it was everywhere.

I was happy to take this picture of the geese in the water. The reflecting pool. There were ducks with little teeny chicks. I thought I was taking a picture of all of the Canadian Geese. If I can direct your attention to the small bit of concrete that surrounds the reflecting pool. OHMYGOSH! Can you say POO?? It was everywhere.

Then I continued North toward the Lincoln memorial. You can see it was cloudy and humid and beautiful.

The previous picture was the view of the Lincoln, then I turned 180 degrees and this is the view from the steps of the Lincoln memorial. Its a beautiful, awe inspiring city.

It was windy and it started to sprinkle. I felt so special that I was able to be walking in our Nation's capital getting rained on in my pretty new shoes. I know that I am living in the life. I'm so very lucky.

Then I walked to the Korean Memorial. I don't know if its my favorite memorial because my dad fought in the Korean war, but it IS my favorite. No matter the season, it feels like the soldiers are walking into a storm. I have pictures of this memorial in the summer, spring and covered in snow. It is a touch of tension with a splash of secrecy and stealth. I was wondering if, in 1000 years, an archeologist digs up this memorial, if the news stories will sound like what was said about the Terra Cotta Warriors. Their clothing was different and no one face was like another. Every statue was different than every other one. Sure, the terra cotta's had 8000 vs the 20 (approximation) that are immortalized at the Korean war Memorial. The faces of the soldiers of the memorial still make me want to stay for hours just to look at the faces and body language of the men. It stirs me.

DC day 19

Today is Sunday! Laundry day. We also went to the National Geographic Museum. There was an amazing exhibit re: Leonardo De Vinci.

It was really amazing. There was also photos around the outside featuring Joel Sartore. The photos featured endangered species. They were also amazing. This was my first visit to the National Geographic Museum. I know that the Terra Cotta warriors were here the beginning of the year. I did not get to go (well, b/c I wasn't here).

There was a room devoted only to the restoration of the Mona Lisa. I have never studied art, as I was more interested in science. I had no idea that there was so much to study re: the Mona Lisa alone. My only question is Why? Does it really matter if she had eyebrows (which she did) or eyelashes (which she did)? It was very interesting. There was also a room devoted to the painting The Last Supper.

I won't say that I didn't learn something, I did. It was very interesting.

I also ran across this new paper on the way to the National Geographic Museum. The Onion! I thought it was only an on-line magazine. Its a real honest to goodness newspaper.

For dinner, it was buffalo burgers grilled on the patio.

A gentleman came down to use the grill after we done and eating dinner out on the patio. He asked what we were grilling. We told him it was buffalo and he began to tell us about the various types of meat he has eaten in his life. All the way from horse (yes, horse) to guinea pig (YES, a guinea pig). He has never eaten monkey meat but he would draw the line at bear meat. A bear is where he draws his line? Yes, bear meat.

The buffalo meat was good. Sweet potatoes and rounded out by salad.

And, No, I didn't get my laundry done.

DC day 18

Today was Saturday! My absolute favorite day of the week. Its Eastern Market day. OH, and don't forget Brunch! I love Brunch. Eating an omelet at 11:30 is one of my favorite things to do. Eating waffles at 11:30 is my second favorite thing to do.

It was also special because it was cloudy/rainy. My favorite kind of weather. Then we found a perfectly good umbrella just sitting by a bench at the Metro stop. How lucky is that!!!

This is a soldier (dare I say seaman?) that is standing at the Naval Archives 24/7. The random artwork that you can stumble upon in this city is remarkable. I will find the Nurse's memorial sometime this week and try to explain how to get to it.

This is the view of the marque where we ate breakfast. We got to listen to the couple sitting at the next table tell his mother how smart they both are,how beautiful, how pampered they are, and how they travel the world. THEN He let his mother PICK UP THE CHECK. They were both beautiful, very self centered people. DC seems to be full of those kind of people. Its a good thing that all the people who live here are so dang smart.

Breakfast was very tasty, though.

Then we were off to the Eastern Market. I took this picture of Purslane. Does anyone know what this is? You can see the amount of money people pay for this stuff. Has anyone every heard of it? Just so you know...This is a weed that grows in my front yard. Had I known I could eat it in a salad, I would have harvested it like I do my basil!

I was standing at the fish counter trying to decide what to buy. I wanted to try something fun and adventurous. This gentleman next to me bought some swordfish chunks. He was very nice to tell me how he was going to prepare it. He was very hesitant to talk to me at first, but once he realized that I wasn't a crazy lady (which evidently DC is full of) he was very helpful. The last thing the gentleman said to me before he walked away was, "Be Bold!" I love that.

I bought some swordfish chunks! We grilled them then put them over a salad. it was very yummy. Who Noo?

DC day 17

What a great day! Started at the gym. Due to a teeny medical thingy I have been riding the bike for the past couple days. I do have some saddle soreness. But I was able to last for 25 minutes today.

Then it wasoffto the E street Cinema AGAIN. Today it was the second in the Millennium trilogy - The Girl who Played With Fire.

The temperature wasn't as bad outside as it has been. But YOUCH it was humid.

We started walking. We found the Ronald Reagan (Federal Triangle Metro Stop) in the day time. It was so beautiful during the day, but in a different way.

This is a picture of the cobblestone walkway I mentioned in an earlier blog. You can see the lamps. They are without a doubt oversized. At least what we are used to seeing.

Its so beautiful in this area. The buildings are built in a circular pattern so when you look up toward the roof tops, it makes me dizzy.

They have open seating restaurants, bands that play after dark and as I said before, fairy lights in the trees. OHSO beautiful. (evidently, I say OHMYGOSH way too often. But in my defense this is pretty much an OHMYGOSH kinda city and I am an OHMYGOSH kinda girl.)

This is the one of my favorite buildings The facade of the building is (OHMYGOSH) incredible. I will take my camera (not my iPhone camera) so I can show the detail.It is the Archive building. You could stare at it for hours. It IS a work of art

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If you are facing the Archives and turn 180 degrees, you are looking down the street on which I Live. Am I living the life, or WHAT???? This is my street!

Then we kept walking. There is a cute little place called the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. I will make a day of going there and talking pictures of the art that is there. I, however, could not resist taking the following picture. This is SO funny on SO many levels. Please, anyone, let me know what you think!!!

And if you cant read the sign it says "Do Not Enter!"