This week, I have gone to Washington, D.C. twice. Now, my husband works there, so he goes at least three times a week. He can telecommute two days a week, but rides his motorcycle on his commute days. Going to D.C. is no big thing to him, but for me, to drive there and arrive back home safely is something to blog about. Generally, I am directionally challenged and maps and me don't often see eye to eye. Even my trusty GPS guy gets a little irked with me when I don't obey. However, with God being my faithful navigator,we found our way around the gridded streets of our Nation's Capital. Anyway,since reading Crazy Love, I am up for trying new things on my own, so off to D.C. my friend and I went on Wednesday. It was a F-U-L-L day. First, we had lunch in the dining room of the Agriculture building where my husband works. This is unlike any other dining experience in D.C. It is an elegant dining room with white linen table cloths, sterling silverware and china. It has a full salad bar and buffet with everything and great coffee with real cream too. The view is of the mall with the many historic museums and buildings to see as you dine. It is uncrowded and just perfect. Thank you, husband dear. We found a metered spot, fed it full with quarters and met my husband, toured the Ag. building which is one of the oldest government buildings in D.C. I think my husband said it precedes the Pentagon.
My friend and I said bye to G. and we were off to find a parking garage for the day. After we drove just a short distance and deposited my car underground, we made our way to the Smithsonian's Portrait Gallery. The Norman Rockwell Collection, on loan from George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg, was the main attraction for me. However,once we got there, we started on the third floor with many, many paintings and sculptures and worked our way down to the first floor Rockwell exhibit.
If you haven't been to the Portrait Gallery, it is a great day trip. The Norman Rockwell Exhibit only runs through Jan. 2, 2011, so no time to waste. The expression and the sentiment that Rockwell is able to capture in each of the people's faces and their body language is amazing. Each painting is a story in itself. Oh to be able to do that. This was the highlight of the trip for me. Of course getting to see my daughter was the best part of the trip!! My friend's best part of the day was eating lunch in the Agriculture Building's dining room. I have to agree that was pretty darn special.
We also saw The Elvis Collection of photographs from his early years as a Rock and Roller.
Next stop was to meet my daughter for dinner after she got off from work.
We ate at a great spicy chicken place, but I would have to ask her the name of it. Spicy, as in some kind of African spices. Yes, wonderful!
Then off to the Sixth and I Synagogue to see Andrew Bird in concert. I really didn't know who Andrew Bird was/is, but now I do. He is an ecclectic (my word for him) violinist who knows how to do really cool technical stuff with recording as he is performing. He sings well, whistles like a real bird, does head twisting a lot and connects well with his audience. Check him out on YouTube.
When our daughter's friend dropped us off after the concert at the curb near our parking garage, we eventually (long story short) found THE DOOR that led to THE elevator where my car was parked right next to the elevator door on level P-2. What we didn't know is that you need to know the color and the level. Since God is ever watching over us, we really didn't need to know the color~ this time. Next time, though, I will write down all the details.
The parking garage exited us right out on 9th street which only goes one way. This happened to be the way we needed to go. My daughter had told me how easy-peasy it would be and she was correct.
Even driving home at 10:45 at night was a piece of cake on 95. I told my friend that there was so little traffic, 95 didn't even look like 95.
At midnight, I pulled into my driveway,went into my quiet house, climbed into my own bed next to my sleeping spouse and went to sleep. What a fun and full day in the BIG CITY!! The End
PS My firend and I went back to D.C. today for a short appointment she had in Georgetown. That's all we did there today, but now we are pros. Looks like more trips to the BIG CITY are on the horizon.
