118 Degrees in Washington DC

It has been unusually warm here for this time of year. And I love every minute of it. I set my clothes out the night before based on the temperature and forecast for the next day. I've been doing that since I was a youngster and it saves a lot of time in the morning. Every day I start the morning checking a couple of news and websites and came across a very unusual one yesterday. What made it even all the more amusing is that in our office, the temperatures have hardly reached sixty. Nothing is being done about it, so we all freeze sitting there in our coats. Some of us escape to the warmer corridors for a few minutes just to warm up. When I checked the local news and weather on NBC Washington, it said the temperature was 118! Now I know it was a glitch, but it stayed that way for quite some time. I have noticed some very sloppy editing on a lot of websites. Since I'm a visual person, misspellings pop right out at me - even the ones on the "crawlers" on the bottom of the tv. In many ways I wish it had been 118 - because at about that time I was about to put my gloves on. That to me is cruel and unusual punishment. 

Stormy Weather

There have been a lot of threats for severe storms recently, but not a lot of them actually come to fruition. Just last evening it was reported that the airport was canceling flights, but it was dry as a bone here. This morning right after I got to work, my husband called to say his usual am walk was cut short because of the downpour. It looked pretty ominous from the 6th floor of the Madison Building. When I left for the afternoon, it felt nice outside, but it sure didn't look like it when we drove over to Alexandria for lunch. Regardless, I'm glad to be back inside, and happier that I am not in a plane that is trying to make a landing right now. The weather in Milwaukee was typically cold and uninhabitable - for me anyway. But the weather here seems to have taken on a mean spirit lately.

Wonders Never Cease

It's been about two weeks since the horrible storm leashed it's
ferocious destruction in the neighborhood and community at large
leaving hundreds of thousands without power in the dreadful heat.
Luckily for us our power lines are underground and we had a lot less
damage than most. Just yesterday I was wondering when all the dead
tree limbs would be picked up. I was certain it would be a long time
if past experience has anything to do with it. To my delight and
surprise, the branches were all removed by our house and next to
Bullfeathers. Services in Milwaukee are typically much speedier and we
didn't have to think much about the turnaround. I wonder if I will
ever have that opinion here?

It's Freezing in Here!

I know it is a horrible thing to say when so many people are without power and air conditioning, but it is absolutely freezing in my workplace. It does not matter what the time of the day is or the season. For that reason, I keep a shawl on hand, and use it just about every day. Some people in the office actually have blankets. And of course, we have no control over the thermostat. Calling in the facilities folks doesn't make any difference either. What I find most interesting is that people who like windows and warm places are usually stuck in the dark freezing places. Having grown up in Florida, I knew to always bring a sweater with me because the air conditioning always seemed to be on overdrive. But this is ridiculous. To make matters worse, our condo building - that was built in 1890's - has an all for one and one for all centralized air conditioning/heating system. There is an illusion that there is control over the temperature in each unit, but the systems shut down on a schedule that is not yours to call. These are the types of things we need to keep in mind if and when we ever move again. CONTROL over climate adjustments is a high priority. It makes a difference when you're getting "older"- especially when we had all year round programmable thermostats in Wisconsin - and know better.

It hardly matters what I wear to work

My hand is freezing!

Looks like a mummy - give me some heat please!

The Storm

Our connection to the Midwest continues. It seems that any storm that originates in Chicago follows a path to DC. Most often, when it crosses the mountains it subsides. But with the heat and weird weather we have been having these days, we expereinced the most unusual chain of events last evening. Growing up in Florida, I have been in hurricanes. And obviously in the Midwest, we had many snow storms. But since we moved to DC, we have had an earthquake, a snowstorm with 2 feet of snow that paralyzed the city, and a hurricane. In Milwaukee we experienced a wind sheer that took out most of the trees in the neighbohood. One of the huge branches landed on the power lines and pulled them away from the house. We were without electricity for several days. Last night, my husband brought in the cushions from the patio because rain was predicted. As soon as he came in, we heard this unbelievable wind and it felt like the house would be blown away. Sheets of water were pouring from the roof. Rain was hitting the windows so hard we could not see out of them. I was thinking Noah's Ark and The Wizard of Oz. Luckily the patio is in a protected area, and the umbrella didn't take off. We listened to the news that close to one million folks were without power around us. Luckily, we were spared. Today we took a ride around town and things are a mess. No operating tafffic lights meant car accidents in Virginia, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival was canceled today becasue half the tents blew away, and there were downed trees all along the Mall. And the temperature is climbing. Let's hope this is the last of it.

A large tree fell in the Lyndon Johnson Memorial Grove along the GW Parkway

All the traffic lights are out- this one resulted in a 4 car crash

The workers are observing the accident from the metro work site

A welcome sight with 1 Million without power

A huge tree down by the Lincoln Memorial

Fallen branches along the Smithsonian Buildings placed in the cart

By the Air and Space Museum

Our neighborhood

A Hidden Treasure

It's not every day that I come home from work and all the meaningful elements collide in such a positive way. The weather was just perfect, the day went well, and we both felt like sitting outside for a glass of wine on the patio. It's not at all unusual to have a glass of wine in the evening with dinner. But in this town, living in a condo does not necessarily mean there is a place to sit outside. Even though the actual living square footage is significantly less than what we were used to in Milwaukee, ours is one of the few units that has outdoor space. It is really a treasure, and not taken lightly. It is one of the few requirements we had in mind when we moved. Sometimes you just need to get out of the house and enjoy the weather, and the garden, and have some extra space for storage. And a place to grow the vegetables. Not bad for an urban place, and it reminds me of suburbia.

A delight beyond words

In acrylic glasses

Library of Congress Southwest Courtyard

I've known about the eventual opening of the Jefferson Building Southwest Courtyard for quite some time as our infrastructure service is accountable for designing, managing projects, and getting the furniture for all the Library renovations. Instead of the usual afternoon walk around the halls today, a colleague and I decided to walk through the tunnel that joins the Madison Building over to the Jefferson, and made our way to the just opened courtyard. Because of the heat, it was closed to food service, but open to walk about. These are some of the hidden treasures that most folks would not stumble upon if they were not actually looking for the space. There are signs to direct you along the way. What a great spot to sit and relax for lunch, or whatever. High above the wall is the flame of knowledge that sits on the dome visible from many points around the city. Across the way is a peculiar rounded architectural dimension that actually houses a staircase. Most office buildings have places to walk and sit, but there is obviously something special about this place. The courtyard is open from April to September, and the public is invited- but only if you can find it.

Wayfinding through the tunnel

Light fare is served from 11-2PM; the courtyard itself is open 9:30-3PM M-F

The same vendor as the cafeteria

A bank of tables

On the west side

The golden torch of knowledge overlooks the space

Encloses the staircase



The Library of Congress surrounds the space - just think what's behind those walls!

A Wedding, A Bedlington Terrier, and TJ Stones in Alexandria

We needed a shower curtain liner and wanted an excuse to go to Alexandria so we made our way to Restoration Hardware on King Street. After we parked the car away from the tourist traps, we walked along one of our favorite routes. I had noticed a couple toasting champagne glasses and headed in that direction. And there they were- a sailor and his bride, with a small wedding party, waiting for the next phase of this special occasion. It was a simply gorgeous day for a wedding. As we passed along, my favorite little Bedlington Terrier was in his usual spot behind the front door of the shop he lives in. We stopped in the shop last year and met him and his mother, and father. They are the sweetest little dogs. This day he was wearing a French colored ribbon around his neck. Restoration is only a block from that point, but we were disappointed to find that it had closed. There are 2 other stores in the area- one in Georgetown and one in Tysons Corner. Since it was not an emergency, we just headed back home. But on the way out of Old Towne, we found a neat little restaurant that we might try tomorrow called TJ Stones. So in the end it was worth the drive - as it always is to Old Towne.

Along St. Asaph Street was a wedding party

We had just missed the toast

The little Bedlington looks like a doll

He's watching me take his photo- must happen all the time

Sinead McCoole, the Jackie Clarke Collection, and the Irish Embassy

Our neighbor upstairs asked if we would like to attend an event at the Irish Embassy. We received an authentic invitation over email and attended an illustrated lecture by Sinead McCoole about the Jackie Clarke Collection. We have been up and down Massachusetts Avenue many times, noting all the embassies along the way. But we had never been in one. Neither my husband nor I are that familiar with Irish history. But it appears this is a treasure trove of maps and many important documents that are a part of over a 100,000+ piece collection by Jackie Clarke, who was a very common man of sorts. We sat in a room on the second floor overlooking the Avenue, and stayed a few minutes after the lecture for a glass of wine. The weather was simply gorgeous as we walked back to our car that was parked three blocks away in front of Woodrow Wilson's house. The closest I got to this sort of environment was for the Milwaukee Civil War Round Table discussions held at the Wisconsin Club. Usually I liked the fact that I attended them to actually being there. The main difference between Milwaukee and DC was driving through rush hour to get there, watching a huge motorcade pass by for someone important, and the fact that we parked in front of Woodrow Wilson's house. Did I mention the construction?

The entrance

She has written a few books

The Irish Embassy is located on a roundabout
along Massachusetts Avenue

Sinead McCoole

 

The reception

Oscar Wilde

Irish Embassy

We see a lot of blue diplomat license plates in town

Melting in the Rain

Ever since I can remember I have always watched the weather to plan for the next day as far as what to wear and what to bring... like an umbrella or snow boots. Growing up in Florida, it was essential to have an umbrella on hand at all times. This week, the forecast has been for rain and thunderstorms. So, every day, I have been lugging around a raincoat as well- except for today. And, I rarely wear pants to work, except today. And of course, when I came home from work, it was not just raining, it was coming down pretty hard. I even have a more sturdy umbrella for the really bad days- but left that one at home. There is something about me and rain, and getting wet. I just don't like it. But when I got home, the garden looked so much nicer getting a bath. But I was looking at it from the inside- which made all the difference.

Drying off

An unusual sight-
most people around here never carry umbrellas and look like wet rats

The one day I wear pants....

But the garden loves it

Founding Farmers

A friend of ours told us about a new place for breakfast by the name of Founding Fathers. There is one located on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and another in Potomac, Maryland. So we set the NUVI to the Potomac address and set out on an adventure. The route starts along the George Washington Parkway, where everyone was out biking, jogging, kayaking. This is the freeway we took on the way home to Wisconsin. The restaurant is located in a new subdivision of sorts, next to a shopping complex that includes a Harris Teeter grocery. There is also a Washington Radiology Center in the business section. It was an interesting place- the french toast was quite good- but we were seated upstairs away from all the action. It's not a place that we would frequent for a variety of reasons. If we go again, it would probably be the one in town. All in all the drive was nice, we stopped at American Plant on the way back to check for vegetables (too soon for tomatoes or cucumbers), then took Massachusetts Avenue back, then Mac Arthur Blvd through the Palisades. All the windows in the car were down, the weather was gorgeous, and it's the weekend.

Along the GW Parkway

Memorial Bridge connecting Arlington Cemetery to Lincoln Memorial

Everyone was out

Trees turning to green

Roosevelt Island



Kayakers along the Potomac



The way to Wisconsin is Rockville

A new subdivision in Maryland

Reminds us of Brookfield, Wi

An interesting ambiance

We missed out on it sitting upstairs

5 lanes coming home- it's always busy