Too Many Doctor Visits

Twenty twenty four has not started out very well. For the last month we have been to see a doctor for my husband’s annoying and aggravating medical issue. Hopefully it will turn out to be nothing, or at least something that we can get to the bottom of and live with the outcome. We have been to three different caregivers and he is scheduled for a test at the end of next month. So even if you can see the doctor sooner than later, you can’t have the required diagnostic test for a few weeks.  In between that time I’m dealing with someone who has never been ill and is also a doctor. All the worst case scenarios are considered even when there is not yet cause for alarm. It can become mentally exhausting with the highs and the lows of feeling better, then feeling worse again. It makes one consider how we didn’t always appreciate how healthy we were and taken it for granted. I have had several surgeries and am on several prescriptions and have had a lot of pain and aches in my life. For someone who has never had any of this it is a shock to the system. Regardless it is mind numbing to go through this process and we appreciate and wonder how everyone else manages these trials and tribulations. I prefer to worry once I know there is a real problem. And wouldn’t you know in between all of this I finally had my annual exam and need to schedule a consultation for something. My husband had a routine eye appointment at the same time - just another doctor visit. None of this is life threatening to date, but it sure has changed the mood in the house. I don’t like it but can’t do a thing about it. And it’s winter. I know things could be much worse. I’m not good at changing the routine. But I guess I’ll just have to get used to it. 

National Mall Morning Walk

It was supposed to go in to the seventies last Friday. So we thought it would be a great day for a morning walk on the National mall. And it was! It is getting more and more difficult to get there though. The GW parkway construction is only intensifying and we had to take a detour. Once we got to our favorite place to park by the Tidal basin, we started out towards the Smithsonian castle. The light was unique - everything looked crisp and bright. The Washington monument stood out against the green grass and blue sky. You could almost see every brick! The agriculture building facade also stood out. It looked like the north facing building has a lot of black mold. But I had never noticed the bread and flower sculptures on the building before.  The Hirshhorn art museum construction/renovation is finally over. Soon the fountain will start up again. The views of the mall from inside are always so pleasant. There were birds flapping about enjoying the warm air by the rose garden in front of the arts and industries building. When we got back to the car it seemed strange to see ice on the tidal basin water - especially because it was so warm. It was a great respite from the week of ice, snow, fog and sunless days. We are looking forward to spring! 

52Frames Scene From a Movie Weekly Photo Challenge

The challenge for the 52Frames weekly photo challenge was “scene from a movie.”  Usually we can agree on one photo that we both like. I liked the image that seemed more like a movie scene; my husband liked another that was more pleasing to the eye. As we were driving along a two way road at dusk we came across the snowy scene with what looked to be Sasquatch in the distance. I’ve seen “Bigfoot” there before and was waiting for this moment. On editing, footprints were added, a bit of painting was done, lighting was changed, and cars were deleted from the scene. This is the image that was used - my husband’s favorite. It was also a composite - which is my preferred method vs just taking a photo and doing simple edits. Another image was a home that looked like something out of a haunted movie. A few other shots looked spooky too, taken as the car was moving. Later in the week we went to Old Town Alexandria where the tunnel there always screams for attention. I’d call it “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore” with the bright light at the end calling the girl and her dog towards it. This image was most liked by people on instagram. I thought this one really fit the challenge best. I even switched it out with Bigfoot, only to change it back before the deadline. Some weeks things seem to be more straightforward. I find a photo I like and work on editing it all week. This week was different. I hope I made the right decision. 

Hirshhorn Building and Grounds

We hadn’t been to the city for a while. On Friday we were expecting temps in the 70’s. After a week or more of ice, snow, rain, fog and ugly weather, we thought a morning walk on the National Mall was in order. We parked by the Tidal Baisn and rather than go to the Lincoln Memorial, we walked in the opposite direction towards the Smithsonian Castle. I thought there were a couple of new exhibits at the Hirshhorn Art Museum, so after we walked through the Mary Livingston garden we went inside the building to see what was up. The main exhibit area was being prepared for a future show, so we walked through the Jessica Diamond and Simone Leigh galleries. The views overlooking the mall are really lovely. But what was even more striking than what was on the inside of the building caught my attention on the outside. After passing by the entrance lobby area where there is a coffee shop with a great view of the fountain that isn’t on now, we exited on to the plaza. The outdoor sculpture garden across the street is totally being renovated. So a lot of the pieces have been moved to the Hirshhorn grounds, and not in the most exciting spots. There are tables set up outside for warmer weather and sitting about. But this wasn’t a day for that - still a bit wet. There was a great view of the Capitol beneath the building overhang, centered by more sculpture pieces. On the way back to the car you could feel the temps getting warmer. It was a lovely walk. 

Jessica Diamond at the Hirshhorn

It’s been a while since we went to visit the Hirshhorn Museum on the National Mall. Yesterday we took a ride in to town. That’s getting more difficult with all of the construction going on at the GW Parkway with no end in sight. We ended up taking an unexpected detour because our usual on ramp was blocked. We parked at the Tidal Basin and walked over to the Mall from there. It was a beautiful day with temps in the high 70’s - particularly lovely since the weeklong or more snow, ice, frigid temps and rain. After passing by the Department of Agriculture buildings and Smithsonian castle and gardens, I knew there were some new exhibits at the Hirshhorn, but didn’t remember what or who. One of them was Jessica Diamond. Neither one of us found the display even interesting - to say the least. Maybe we were walking in the wrong direction along the circular path. I’m not a poetry fan anyway or necessarily a symbols fan either  - something this display was full of. The art needs to be visually appealing and it just wasn’t. Unfortunately the main space gallery was being set up for another exhibit. It’s unfortunate that the actual building was of more interest than the work inside of it this time. But I’m glad we have the opportunity to see it all anyway. 

Tankless Hot Water Heater “Fix”

It’s nice living in a new condo - especially compared to the problems of an 1880’s building we lived in on Capitol Hill for thirteen years. We moved to northern Virginia to escape the many issues living in the city - including street parking. So we have been in this new building for almost five years. This week we had work done on the hot water tankless system. Everyone in the building is having this work done, so we aren’t the only ones. The problem was that the hot water took forever to get hot. And when it did it wouldn’t stay hot. Our problem was not as pronounced as other people, but it did take forever to heat up the water. All of the work was explained at a meeting and also all of the information was circulated long before the work was scheduled. We also started to heat a clunking noise in the washing machine cycle and when you turned the faucet off in the bathtub. It was just another issue and some air was injected in to a small tank after the inspection was done following the work later in the week. It may have helped. I try to label everything in the closet that houses the pipes and also write notes on what we were told. Let’s just hope whatever they did solves the problem. We have also had to have our kitchen cabinets touched up because they chipped and the oven hood lowered because it didn’t meet code. I think there is still some issue with particulate matter in the water as they did a study on that too. The water doesn’t always drain very well in the tub and the lights that were supposed to last for years have needed to be replaced. Our house is very small and there are more problems - or nuisances - that can be annoying.  You wouldn’t expect that from something that was brand new. Oh, and we have had problems with all of the appliances - except the dishwasher. 

Visiting the Kennedy Center

We have visited the Kennedy Center three times. The first was a very long time ago before we moved to DC. We came to town for a visit and took an evening bus tour that dropped us off for a few minutes. Then we went to see our grandson perform with his kindergarten class - about sixteen years ago! Then we decided to take a morning walk and ended up there a couple of weeks ago. At the time we hadn’t planned to actually go inside, but decided to anyway. It was very cold outside and it offered a respite. The place was empty! They actually had a tour available that we could have taken but we had a parking meter to contend with and didn’t have enough time. So we just got a map and began to explore. It is very red inside and there are many flags of both nations and states. It must be a spectacle to witness the comings and goings inside when there are special events. There are several theaters as well. You can come to see a movie or listen to the symphony. On the second floor we visited the Kennedy Museum. Obviously the focus is on the arts. We were the only ones in it. Unfortunately we didn’t think to go out on the top floor veranda where there is a 365 degree view of the city and beyond. Maybe next time - whenever that may be. When we got home I read about all that goes on there. Since the addition of the new pedestrian bridge it is easier to walk there if you park near the Lincoln Memorial. Neither my husband nor I are in to plays or shows that much anymore. And just down the street is the watergate complex. All I can say is that there is always something to see or visit here. But I feel less inclined than before.