Day Two- DC for Free
A special
to JW. Did you see me?
It was interesting to read some of you speak of your disappointment with regard to the state of the National Zoo. I wonder if I was jaded and not all that objective? Perhaps I was. It was a beautiful day, and I was so happy to be there. I have been to many zoos and circuses, where I leave totally devestated at the state of the animals. The dark side of me can easily extrapolate out to the dire situation of many animals worldwide who suffer and are not afforded basic dignity, decency and respect. This in turn leads to exploitation and abuse. I literally can not think about it. But on this day, I did not have that reaction. If people could connect with these animals, appreciate them and perhaps think just a little about the responsibility we have as a species to maintain the planet in all its wonder, perhaps animal conservation would not be such a low priority. If the zoo has historically not been in keeping with how one might hope, I suspect it would come down to one reason, funding.
Anyway, I read somewhere DC is the second most expensive city in the country. Rooms were outrageously expensive, but I found a great deal on a nice hotel in Alexandria through Hotwire. No one seemed anxious to dump their rooms for any great price. My darn champagne taste
.
It is poetic that I am looking at this building and learning Karl Rove is being indicted.
Haley, Chappie? Anyone else jumping for joy? Oh and
Scooter Libby?
LYMI all you righties, you.
The kids just love trips and especially hotels. I know this because they leap off the floor with both feet simultaneously down the halls like dogs catching Frisbees. The frolicking reached a fever pitch at the end of the zoo day, and we were afraid to take them out for dinner and ordered in. They mercifully fell asleep by eight, and predictably awoke at five, AM, as in the wee hours, as in I am not ready to get up yet five.
Needless to say, we arrived in the city fairly early and did a drive by of the White House for Carson. I want to clarify my sons political remark regarding the veracity of our president. I was proud of him, not because he called Shrub a liar, but because he was listening to the news we watch, recognizing the seriousness of war, questioning authority and interpreting for himself an opinion about this leader, without our attempts to mold his views. Has he heard us discussing politics? Sure, but we will never try to influence his opinion. Does he watch Jon Stewart with us? Sometimes
So of course he knows our opinion. I was also proud that he wanted to speak to this man about something he felt was not right. ACTIVISM!!!! If everyone did something, anything with respect to something they believed in
.So thats why I was struck, by this just turned seven year old making a statement about Bush.
Because of 9/11, so many streets are barricaded now in DC. I hadnt been since before 9/11. It was sobering. You can barely see the White House now, other than making the walk in, and we only had a short time here and thus did not have time to do this. I felt a sense of nostalgia, at all the times I have come to DC and visited the White House. Heres a drive by shot.
The number of buses heading into town was staggering. School children spilled out of the doors, filling the city at a rapid pace. The sidewalks all along the mall were wall to wall buses. The line at the Washington Monument was huge and all the passes to go up were distributed by 9:30. Unless you ordered online before you got there, or got there early, you were not going up this venerable tower. Isnt this structure magnificent?
Apparently the construction began pre-civil war and ceased during the conflict. Post-war construction yielded a different color stone, as the quarry depth had changed over the years. So look at the Obelisk and you will see the color change about one quarter of the way up the next time you are in town.
Here is one of my favorite statues. Did you know I close my eyes during battle scenes in movies? I cant stand to watch anything hurt, especially horses. The nobility of this statue always draws me in, and what it depicts is very powerful on many levels. There has been tremendous sacrifice through the ages for the betterment of man
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We had discussed with the kids all the things we could do and let them choose. Their interest focused on the Air and Space Museum, Natural History and American History. Here are some shots of each
Spirit of St. Louis, Charles Lindbergh was a fastpass....
The Wright gallery had a major refurbishment recently. It was gorgeous!
I remember seeing the little monkey that went up in the space capsule as a little girl and feeling so sad for him, strapped in for the flight. He must have been so scared and uncomfortable! I felt the same exact thing when I saw him this time, only he was not in an actual capsule anymore. Just in some glass case still encased in his space coffin.
Carson took this picture, had to have it.
Sky asked what it was and he said it was a net the astronauts used to catch aliens.
The kids really loved everything here, even little Jack was interested!
And now the breathtaking entrance hall to the Natural History Museum!
The munchkins were anxious for the Dinosaurs. Carson knew many of the skeletal displays. Look its a stegosaurus! Look, its a Brontosaurus! MOM, a triceratops! He knows what an ankylosaur is, and really was in awe of his personal favorite, the T Rex.
His interest in everything is so amazing.
Here is a picture of my favorite skeleton. This precious little fellow was so teeny weeny! Evolution is amazing. This is my favorite animal's ancestor. This is the very first horse. Isn't he precious? Now that is my kind of critter, graceful, but small enough to put in the back of an SUV.
And now on to the American History Museum. Given the dialogue on the way down, it is no wonder Carson more than anyone, wanted to go to check this out. As you walk in, there is the flag that was raised at the Pentagon, on September 12, 2001. It is huge, and awesome, and very powerful.
The subject matter of this building is fascinating, housing everything from the French Indian War to Celia Cruz to an exhibit on polio. There is a conservation project going on to preserve the Star Spangled Banner. I was dying to go in the music store and get a few great selections, but this was about the kids today. Carson chose a copy of the Declaration of Independence as his souvenir. Sky and Jack wanted nothing. Isnt that nice?
Oh wait, Sky liked this, and asked if we could get her a doll house like this for her birthday, which is in three weeks. Ugh, I had been thinking a barbie coach, or something.....
Had I been without the kids I would have made an appointment to meet with one of our women senators, gone to the freer gallery which houses a fantastic Asian Art Collection, the National Gallery and the New American Indian Museum. Sadly none of those things happened. I did get to walk by the Indian Museum which is an architectural masterpiece. A cousin worked for the design firm of this building and intimately knows about it in detail. Maybe next time
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We had a fantastic day, despite the gabzaillions of school children who flooded the city that day. On the way out, I saw this Mountie and had to stop for a few minutes and listen to him talk to a large group of curious kids and adults. I looked around at the mall, the fabulous architecture, the incredible history and international diversity of this beautiful city and thought for a few moments, Well, this might be my dream job
for a horsegirl, that is.
from me.. 
hope all you blew out
..girl!!! 
to your house!!
..to all the new kids on the block...
nest!
help,help, me rhonda....get 
on what we should do?
