DC day 38

I know that I have entitled my DC blog DC in 50 days, but I have had to shorten my trip to 47 days. I have less than 10 days left.

I'm done with my CE's. Whew! I can still be a RN! So since I am done it was OFF TO THE ZOO! So first stop was to Starbucks right across the street. It was such a beautiful day. Words cannot explain how beautiful the day was. Especially since its been so very hot lately. What a great day, in case I didn't make that point. =0)

There are two lion sculptures on either side of the entrance.

So off we went and the pandas were the first things we saw. He was so proud to eat his bamboo for breakfast. He rolled over on his back, propped up on a tree and ate his bamboo.He was so cute.

One of the most exciting things, though, that we saw today was the orangutan's demonstration of tool use. When we first arrived at the orangutans house we noticed that there are these HUGE cables across the walkway that they use to cross from one side of the zoo to the other. They call it the Orange Line. Pretty funny.

The demonstration was how the orangutan's use tools (in this case, sticks) to reach through the cage to pull grapes and popcorn close enough to eat. They also answered questions from the audience. It was so interesting. Who Noo?

Tonight is a stay in night. We have been out every night this week with Randy's boss, Steve. Its been so tiring. You know you're getting old when...... =0)

DC day 36

Still working on my CEs today, but knew that I HAD to get out of the apartment before I go crazy. So I decided that I would find the Nurse's memorial today.

As soon I stepped out of the front door of the building, I swear I saw Tom DeLay coming out of Teaism. Really? Of all people? Anyway. Weird.

So off I went to find the memorial. I had looked at the temperature before I headed out the door and it was high 80s. No biggy, right. Well, I had forgot to look at the humidity and didn't realize that it was high 90s with the heat index. But off I went with my pink shirt and kacki skirt. By the time I made it to the Vietnam Memorial my shirt was soaked through and through. Completely see through. AWESOME. At least today I didn't run into anyone I knew At least if someone I knew saw me, they were nice enough not to come up and say Hi. At least I had on my pretty belly button ring!!

On my way home, I saw Marine one. How cool is that?

Tomorrow is baseball!

DC day 33

Well, its already Sunday again. Today was Segway Tour day. We decided to do the Dupont Circle tour as I have already seen a lot of the DC monuments. It was a tour of Embassy Row and then ending at the National Cathedral. Learned a lot about this area today. We got to Dupont Circle and woo hoo, they have a farmers market there as well. It looked even better than what we see at the Eastern Market. (minus the indoor part.) So we did some quick lessons on the Segway and then we were off. The Segway's top speed is 12 miles per hour, but the city's speed limit for the Segway is only 10 miles per hour. Do they have a ticket for 2 miles per hour over the speed limit on a segway? Just a thought.

Anyway....I was doing really well! SO, well, in fact, I am now a licensed Segway driver. I am licensed by "Segs in the City." I have a card and EVERYTHING!

I'm sure everyone is aware of this, but it is so FREAKING hot here. It is 99 degrees but feels like 106 with the heat index. But most of the tour was in the shade, so it was really a beautiful tour. So glad we did it. A bit of trivia about The National Cathedral is this: It is so big that the Washington Monument will lay down in the National Cathedral. (I'm not sure how you'd get it in there....BUT, if you did, you could lay it down in there!)

The Embassy's are all old homes built at the turn of the Century by the gazillionaires of the time, and then were abandoned during the depression. So they were sold for hardly any money to the country that then made the house into embassies. They are mansions and are beautiful (with flags hanging out front!)

I'm including this picture of myself while sitting at the Cathedral. It was SO SO hot. I didn't do my hair, just put it in pig tails, b/c I knew that I would be wearing a helmet, and sweating like crazy. Didn't put any makeup on either. So when we were done with the tour, Randy wanted to just head to Target to get that out of the way. It was also around 1 o'clock and we were starving. I jokingly said "ok, but I better not see someone I know!" DC has 10 gazillion people. There is NO way we would just happen to run into someone I know. I don't know anyone! I have helmet hair, no makeup and smell like someone who has been living on the street for 2 weeks!

We went to 5 guys. A hamburger place that everyone HAS to try when they come to DC. (I wasn't THAT impressed! (Lota Burger is better.)

I'm sure you can see what's coming. OF COURSE we ran into someone who knows me. One of the guys that Randy works with, Darrell! WTF!??? Seriously? So we had lunch with Darrell, looking my best, EVER!

It will be funny this time next month, right? Darrell said that he had to go to Target so we said, Hey, so do we! So after lunch we said we'd walk with him. so he says "oh, well, I can come back to Target later, I'm just going to head home." Huh??? What was he going to buy? Condoms but thought we might see?

Oh, and good news, the Tornado WARNING has expired. But it did rain for about 10 minutes. It has cooled off and its cloudy. Beautiful!

DC day 25 and 26

So, I'm going to work my way backwards. Today was Sunday. Laundry day! My absolute favorite. Anyone who knows me, knows that I ABSOLUTELY hate Laundry. It is the bane of my existence. How do I really feel? So when Randy suggested that we get up early, instead, and try to do the Holocaust Museum again, instead! What do you think I would have said??.....Heck ya!!!

So we got up early (8:30) and we were both ready and out the door by 9:30. The Smithsonian museums open at 10:00 on Sundays (well, everyday, but on Sunday's they open at 10:00). I figured out on the way that the reason that the Holocaust Museum was designed the way it was (I believe with all my being that it was designed to be shoulder to shoulder crowded) was to give you the sense of being on the trains heading toward Auschwitz. Its uncomfortable, and I will admit, since I don't have to do it, I choose not to.**see earlier blog** We arrived at the Holocaust museum at 9:50 and saw that there were two lines. One had signage stating that those who belonged to a "group" should form a line starting there. Since we were unbelonging to a group, we continued to the line that was forming at the front door that was almost to the street. We were quickly intercepted by a woman who kindly asked if we had already purchased "our tickets"???? Tickets? All Smithsonian Museums are free??? right? Well, yes, but if you pre purchased your "free ticket" for $1.00 you could stand in the line that was almost to the street. If not, (which included us! sadly, we had not pre purchased our free tickets for $1.00 b/c we thought all Smithsonian Museums were free!) we were kindly asked to please move to the line with the sign that said it was reserved for "groups." I guess by groups, they meant "LOSERS" b/c you were too stupid to purchase your FREE TICKET. We looked at the loser line and, seriously folks, it wrapped the building. WRAPPED THE BUILDING!!! We were in a large group of losers!!! Well, I wasn't going to get in the loser line that wrapped the building, so we said to hell with you and we left. I would never say I told you so....... Its a very popular museum. It's a very moving/ beautiful museum. It's always crowded.

I encourage anyone to "google earth" the Holocaust Museum. It's gynormous. To wrap the building is quite a number of losers.

Then we went to the Corner Bakery, which was not a bakery of any sort! It was a restaurant. Face it. We were disappointed. But, look how beautiful this building is! DC is a beautiful city. Beautiful Architecture and WAY too hot and WAY too many stupid tourists in the summer. Damn Tourists! =0)

Yesterday was my absolutely FAVORITE day so far. It was Saturday. (Eastern Market day for those of you who are NEW!!). Went to eastern market yesterday. BUT, before we head to Eastern Market, what do we do??? That's right, BRUNCH! We went to the best place so far. Matchbox. (and yes, they do have cute little matchboxes that say "matchbox." ) We had a phantasmagoric breakfast.

I found my new favorite neighborhood. The neighborhood to the south of the Eastern Market is so cute. Its called Capitol Hill or Barracks Row, or something like that. I wouldn't mind living there at all. Row houses galore!

Then our Saturday schedule, when we get back from Eastern Market, is to head to Target and Giant (grocery store). We are done with our 3 "errands" by 4 to 5 o'clock. Yes it takes us all day to run 3 errands. Those of you NOT living in the "city" celebrate driving your own car at your own pace to just buy your toilet paper. Its not 5 Metro stops away after a transfer from the green/yellow at L'Efant plaza to the blue/orange. Then hauling your crap back home.

(I have to stop right here and say that I'm sorry to be so negative. I REALLY am loving it here. Its just really different and I am aware of all of the things I have taken for granted in the past, and am trying to share my experience with others. DC is a beautiful city and it continues to take my breath away daily.)

Before we left for Target, Randy decided to check his voicemail on his work phone. One of the guys he works with had left a message. He said that he and his wife were "driving into the DC" and would we like to meet them to see a movie and / or a drink at a place he called the "gin joint."

If anyone knows me, you know that I am so very uncomfortable with spontaneity! But those of you who know (and love) me, would have been so proud. I broke loose and said, heck ya! Lets do it.

We were to meet them at an old theater. Not an IMAX, no plush seating. Just one screen in the whole theater showing one Movie! They are showing Inception. We were so very early, that we found a cute little Irish pub in the Cleveland Park neighborhood. NOW, I had found my NEW favorite neighborhood. Cleveland Park. So very cute. Saabs, Mercedes, and Lexus galore. So not for me, but very cute.

Yum!

Then we met Phil and Nancy for the Movie. It was really, a good movie. I recommend it. Let me know if you go see it. I'd love to talk to you about it. See what you think was going on!

Then we were off to the "Gin Joint" ( New Heights Gin Joint). WHO KNEW!!! There are a ton of different kinds of gin. I thought there was Bombay Sapphire and Tanquaray. NO!!! There are a gazillion kinds of different gin. I recommend G-Vines. I only tasted 4 of the 30 different kinds that were served there.We had so much fun that we will be going back Wednesday for Randy's Birthday. If you know (and love) me, you know that I love Juniper Berries. I had no idea! I will have to be spontaneous more often! I had so so much fun all because I was spontaneous and took a leap!

Tomorrow is Amos Lee!

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.