It's Hard to Get Home if you Live in DC on the Fourth of July

It was a mistake to go out before noon today. Thank goodness we have no particular plans, but I think we forgot how ridiculously busy it becomes in our neighborhood on this holiday. We usually go to Milwaukee for the weekend but had a change in plans this year. We started out at the hardware store in Alexandria and a light lunch, then took the George Washington Memorial Parkway to the freeway heading north. All along the way, the streets were already closed, and the police presence was obvious, including helicopters flying above the Potomac River where the large boats were already anchoring near the Washington Monument for the fireworks this evening. It was even worse on the way back through town. The entire area around the Mall was blocked off by buses and more police barricades. The parade just finished and there were remnants of it all along the way. Although the pictures don't show the real story, the hoards of people were moving towards the Mall to access the Capitol grounds to begin picnicking and getting the best spots for the concert. The baseball game also just let out, the Foo Fighters are the headliners at RFK this evening, and the fireworks start at nine. It's a really humid and rainy day, but it doesn't appear to affect the masses who came all the way here to experience the event. It's only worse at inauguration time. It's nice to be in the thick of it all, but if you need anything in a hurry and need to get somewhere fast. - forget it. I'm glad all the visitors are enjoying it!