Things I've seen, things I've done ... while in DC

I love D.C. 

Love this city -- enjoy every damn minute I'm here.  I was first here back in 1996 when I was dating a guy that lived here (no need to comment on that, the only good that came of it was the all-access pass I had that week as he worked for a Senator (in the pre-9/11 days) and I went where people certainly aren't allowed to go now).   Seeing the city that first time cemented a love affair that just hasn't stopped.

Each time I'm here I try to see something else, something different. 

This time: National Portrait Gallery, "Old Town Trolley" tour and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. 

The National Portrait Gallery is best known for having all the presidential portraits.  Each of these was interesting in its own way -- Clinton's was very art nouveau, Nixon's was very flattering (done by Norman Rockwell) and LBJ's was "legislative" focused, which wasn't out of character for him.  I loved walking through and seeing them all.

The funny part of this was -- well -- to get to the presidential portraits you had to go through a whole series on the human form.  So basically it was nothing but 'penis-land' before seeing the Presidents, which was actually kinda ironic and funny given that: a) the Presidents are all men and b) you'd think with the propensity of many of the Presidents to have a mistress (or many), the nudes would be women. 

Also at the Portrait Gallery, an exhibit on Norman Rockwell -- courtesy of George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg.  Yep, two of the biggest moviemakers ever are also two of the biggest fans of Norman Rockwell.  It was moving -- in fact, it moved me to tears in some -- and gorgeous. 

The Trolley Tour -- I confess to having taken these in Key West and in St. Augustine from the same tour company.  They have actual driver/narrators (rather than taped narration) so each tour is different and unique, with the "basics" being covered by each driver and also liberty allowed for extra facts.  Consequently, some drivers talk a lot, some a little, but either way you get a good dose of "what's what" on the tour.  Worth the money every single time.

The Museum of Natural History has dinosaurs, animals, displays of man evolving, ocean displays, and a gems/minerals display among many other things.

The Hope Diamond.  It's big, sure.  Blue.  Sparkly. Attractively showcased.  However, and this is a big however, I actually enjoyed the rest of the gems/minerals display more.  Those were far more beautiful than the Hope. 

Dinos were cool.
Animals were awesome.
Man-evolving was fascinating.
Ocean display was way cool.

Off to DC again ...

A week of road-time awaits me.  Sunday - Saturday in DC.  Plenty of conference activities.  Plenty of cool opportunities. 

A chance to see friends old and new.

An opportunity to check out a couple of schools for the Ph.D. program.

Will see PM while I'm there.  As he says "it's gonna get weird" and as I say "shenanigans." 

Updates later.  I arrive there at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

****
a sidebar -- the potential love interest just keeps getting more interesting.  :) 

After our "deep dark" discussion of the other night, I really did feel a burden lift from me.  You've gotta understand, dear Readers, that I, like many, have dated the Hit Parade of Jackasses over the years.  Lots of Judgemental Fucks, with plenty of opinions on 'how things should be' or 'expectations' from me.  I am who I am and after getting kicked in the ass about a million times over mistakes I've made (as if Judgemental Fucks never made any -- but I digress), I've been more than hesitant to lay my soul bare.  His abject acceptance of my mistakes was and is a wonderous, splendid thing. 

As if he weren't attractive to me to begin with -- he adds compassion and acceptance. 

 "If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever."


--Alfred Lord Tennyson

DC adventures ...

I was in and out of DC in what amounted to a little more than 27 hours.  You'd think that would not leave me much time for mischief and mayhem, but then you probably don't know me that well.  The people that do ... well, they know better.

In 27 hours I managed to:

*Ride the Metro to and from the airport
*Get a good workout in at the Omni Shoreham hotel (love this place)
*Attend two separate conference sessions
*Wander thru Dupont Circle
*Visit with a friend from Cottey and her husband
*Crash a National Board of Realtors function
*Eat some really great mediterranian food (hummus, tabouli, baklava)
*Grab a beer at the airport
*Eat a Potbelly sandwich (mmmm)
*Drink some Bombay Sapphire and tonic(s)
*Sleep
*Meet Lynda Bird Johnson (yeah, she is who you think she is -- and very nice)
*Enjoy the gorgeous fall weather

I'll be back there the first part of November for another conference.  I have seven days there then -- and I'll be visiting George Washington U and American U while I'm there to decide whether they are where I want to go -- or not.

MLK, Jr. Day

A protest on Dupont Circle ...

Another protest on Dupont Circle, this one was detailed in The Huffington Post. People threw shoes at an inflatable George W. Bush.

Protesters across from the White House on Monday.

Jamie Lee Curtis at Political Americana.

Gitmo protest in front of the White House.

Press box across from the Presidential Viewing Stands.

The Presidential Viewing Stands.

A protester in front of the White House.

On Monday we all traveled separately, each attending to our list of 'must-sees' while here in Washington. I wanted to see the White House again, see where the Blair House was located and generally take in the mood of the crowd. Upon arrival in McPherson station (Metro, Orange/Blue Line), Blanche and I bid the others goodbye, as FitnessNerd, Mom and Maestro were headed to the zoo. Blanche has never been to Washington before, so his list of must-sees was long and intensive. I joined him as we walked around the White House grounds, which which had heavily limited access for security reasons. We did spy the Blair House and I've enclosed a picture of this. It is right across the street from the White House and I can see why visiting dignitaries/future heads of state stay there. We wound through the gardens then back out on Pennsylvania Avenue. This is where we were greeted with what became the theme of the day: protesters. Every cause imaginable was represented yesterday, from closing Gitmo to abortion rights to no abortion to impeaching the sitting president.

We did manage to walk up Pennsylvania a little bit, getting in close enough for a picture of the Presidential Viewing Stands, where President-elect Obama will sit to watch the parade. I have enclosed a picture of this, as well as a picture of the press box that sits directly across from the Presidential Viewing Stands. After this we split up, and he went to the Newseum, while I wandered the parade route and local shops. More on the protesters ... it seemed they were everywhere yesterday. I couldn't walk more than a few feet without seeing a new protest. It was interesting, the mix of vendors with protesters, each passionate about their cause, whether it be selling buttons, t-shirts, flags or scarves or the conditions at Gitmo. The most fascinating protest so far that I've seen was one in Dupont Circle. There was a large, blow-up of George W. Bush and protesters/the crowd was invited to throw shoes at him, a la his last press conference in Iraq.

My one celebrity sighting so far has been Jamie Lee Curtis. I was in a shop called Politically Americana across from the Treasury building and White House when I was told that Jamie Lee Curtis was at the front of the store checking out.

The weather here has been what you'd expect, cold. It has been in the 30s here and dressing in layers isn't just an option, it is optional. I'm wearing a minimum of two layers at all times and sometimes three. I've been cold most days (as most hours of the day have been spent outside) but not miserably cold. When it becomes unbearable I step into a coffee shop or other restaurant and get something to warm me up.

DC Dreamin'

I'm headed to DC on Saturday (until Wednesday) with friends to see the spectacle that will be this inauguration. We have no tickets to anything, just witnessing the event and being part of history.

And until two days ago, I wasn't sure I could go.

(Yes I'm fessing up now)

You see, I had put in for time off some time ago, but the little paper I count on as my 'okay' hadn't come back yet. I was getting quite nervous. Okay, let's say VERY NERVOUS until Tuesday of this week when it magically arrived.

*whew*

So now that my main worry (I couldn't go) is off the table, I can concentrate on going. I need to get my bags in order tonight (two: one clothes/toiletries, one with camera/laptop) and laundry completed. I know that it will be cold there, so layers layers layers are the name of the game. I'll be posting pictures whenever I can and I hope you enjoy my journey as I will.

Wow.

Really, that's all I have to say. It was quite a night here in DC, with horns honking and people laughing and partying well into the night. I was awake until well after 1 a.m., listening to the talking heads, Obama's speech over and over and just crying tears of joy.

I don't ever remember an election like this. I hope I never remember another election that *wasn't* like this ...

I forgot to mention something yesterday ...

In the afternoon my coworker and I were able to explore DC a bit before the conference truly kicked off. As a result, we ended up walking around DC a bit, walking by the Capitol and I was able to see the Library of Congress for the first time.

I do not need to tell you it is cool. Cool isn't a good enough word. Spectacular isn't even close. Unbelievable is getting there but still isn't enough. As I walked the halls that so many before me had, and as I saw the 'original' Library of Congress, also known as Thomas Jefferson's personal library, I teared up. It was phenomenal and moving, and I stand in awe. One of the exhibitions was the making of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution/Bill of Rights. It was phenomenal and amazing to be within inches of some of the greatest instruments of liberty ever written.

More tomorrow ...

Oh, and the DNCC is having their party here

The Democratic National Congressional Committee is having their shindig at my hotel tonight. If you see a reporter 'live from the DNCC' please note that I am in that hotel. I hope to see some people tonight ....

Too Cool!