In Which I go Wild

We went to the National Botanical Gardens yesterday. It was about 90 degrees, so we were really hot. It's a very beautiful garden, and there are lots of interesting plants. I was in danger of becoming my Aunt Ruth, who went on tours of Europe and took only pictures of flower boxes and shrubs. In spite of all the plants, I was not able to find an example of a tree that intrigued my father. I was hoping to take a picture and post it here, and hope someone knew what it was. There were no examples in the gardens. I bet someone there would know. However, we did find the rose garden, and saw chili plants in full peppering (flowering?). Here we are in the children's garden.

In Which the Guard Changes

We went on a tour of Arlington National Cemetery. There is not a lot of ceremony in American culture. One of the few places that clings to ceremony is the military. I was glad to see that there was definitely respect shown for those who fought and died while in military service. While I may not always support a war or military spending or arms proliferation, I do respect those who are or were in the military. We went to the tomb of the unknown soldier, and saw the changing of the guard. Pictures are allowed, as long as spectators are standing and are silent.

In Which Family Makes News

My family came down to visit this past week. We went to the Newseum. I highly recommend it if you are ever in D.C. It has newspapers going back to the beginning of newspapers! I saw the first article mentioning baseball; one about Blackbeard, the pirate; one printed on wallpaper when printing paper was too scarce; and one about the death of Jesse James. There were prize-winning photographs, and an exhibit of journalists injured or killed in the line of duty. There was a moving ehibit about 9/11, and several pieces of the Berlin Wall. I could have spent at least another hour there just looking at the collection of antique newspapers.

In Which I Visit Family

Hi all,

I spent a week in NY at the beginning of the month. It was sooooo nice to get away. I spent time with family, saw lots and lots of friends, and got to visit with my grandparents. Hi grandparents! I miss you! I do not have any pictures to post. The weather was cool and cloudy. I forgot how cloudy it is! I have gotten used to sunshine all the time.

In Which I Enjoy Summer

Greeting from sunny Virginia! It's near 90 degrees, breezy, with big puffy clouds slowly drifting in the blue, blue sky. Summer school is finished! FREEDOM!! FREEDOM!!!!!

As I am incapable of moving without coughing up a lung, and my car is temporarily out of commission, I am enjoying the summer breezes from my front porch, reading detective stories while drinking tall glasses of iced tea, and the occasional fudgesicle. At least, until it's time for more Robitussin.

In Which I Go to the LIbrary

I went to the Library of Congress today. It's really big. Mind-bogglingly big. It has over 160 million books. And it's very ornate. It's also quite, quite funny. Did you know there is a painting

on the ceiling of the second floor of Greek athletes playing baseball? And a matching one at the end of the hall of Greeks playing football? There are also little naked cherubs in the Renaissance style working as electricians and carpenters and talking on the telephone on the stairwells. Americans are very strange sometimes.

I went on the docent-led tour, which only scratches the surface of things to look at. I could easily spend an entire day there, but as I had already spent an hour at the Museum of American History to see Dorothy's ruby slippers, two hours was all I could manage.

I also went to Eastern Market to try and get a crab cake sandwich, but I was too late. Understandable, as I was mesmerized by Thomas Jefferson's working draft of The Declaration of Independence. Eastern Market is not worth the trip, unless you happen to be visiting the neighborhood (which is very pretty. When I make my millions, I am going to live there, and spend weekends at my plantation on the Potomac River). Boston's market is much much cooler, both temperature-wise and in what it has to offer. I do wish I could have tried the crab cakes, though. I love them, and the strip mall chain restaurants of Northern Virginia do not offer them.

In Which I Visit Hogwarts and Engorge Marshmallows

Hi Everyone! It's been a while. I went away for a bit, and now I'm teaching summer school, so I've been busy. I visited Hogwarts. Really. Well, at least the sets for Hogwarts. This is the flying car from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I sat in Hagrid's chair, and felt the evil breath of a Dementor. I stood under the floating candles in the Great Hall, and spent some time in detention in Umbrage's office!

How did you spend your July 4th holiday? I spend mine blowing up extra-large marshmallows. It is curiously satisfying.