Happy 64th Wedding Anniversary Mom and Dad

Taken from the 50th Wedding Anniversary invitation and celebration in Brookline, Massachusetts. 

Hill Rag Wall Art

Last month we sat on a bench in front of the Capitol while my husband read the Hill Rag and I enjoyed the beautiful weather and sunset on a Saturday evening. I picked up this month's Hill Rag on my way home for lunch. We use each issue as wall art in our TV room and of course, read about the goings on in the neighborhood. Our grandson was mentioned for a chess tournament he participated in. The real estate is selling like hotcakes around us. This was an edition filled with dog and cat stories and pictures. I wish I had known - I might have placed an ad in the publication for my dog and cat portraits. I have a gallery wall of sorts at Wagtime Too on M Street SE. Maybe next year? In the meantime we will enjoy the cover art. I'd love to get something on it myself one of these days along with the millions of others. 

The Case of the Missing Idaho Driver's License

On the way home from his walk yesterday my husband came upon a scrap of paper on the sidewalk. Upon closer inspection it was an Idaho driver's license. Being the good citizen that he is, my husband wanted to contact the owner and let him know the license was found. So he first called the police department and they told him he could bring the license to the station, hand it to any police officer, or mail it to the recipient. None of these were acceptable because my husband wanted to put the guy's mind to rest. So he googled the name and called the number associated with Boise. When he reached the individual, he wanted to know how my husband found his number rather than at least act somewhat appreciative. It appears this person moved close to where we live and said he would stop by and pick it up last evening. Last evening came and went. This person from Idaho has already taken on the DC attitude and obviously doesn't need his license in any hurry. So much for being a good citizen and going the extra mile. I've never met anyone from Idaho. They say the first encounter leaves a lasting impression. Maybe there will be a chapter two to this story.

Cherry Blossom Lantern Plaza Construction

Along Independence Avenue by the Tidal Basin is a 360 year old stone lantern that is lit each year at the Cherry Blossom Festival to commemorate the relationship between our country and Japan. We pass by this site all the time. I even captured the evolution of the blossoms this year by taking several photos over time of this exact spot. We were even passing by it when it was being dedicated for the construction of a plaza that will give the lantern more prominence. The plan is for a granite plaza and walking paths. Construction has started and should be completed in plenty of time for next year. I saw a lot of big boulders, and based on the sketch from the website, they are a big part of the design. It is indeed construction season, and this one is at least off the road and out of traffic. 

 

A Capitol Fourth Preparation and Evening Walk

With all the rain this week I didn't think we would get a chance to take our usual Saturday evening walk around the Capitol grounds. But we were in luck last evening and started at the Botanic Garden where a few bees were feasting on the cactus flowers, and from the front of the building the view of the American Indian Museum was pretty against the sunset. Obviously the Washington Monument sits prominently from a lot of different angles and serves as a lighthouse of sorts for us should we ever got lost. The set up for the Capitol Fourth has been underway for at least a couple of weeks. It seems the Memorial Day concert was just here! The annual PBS event starts at 8 PM on Thursday with Barry Manilow the leading performer! The best part Is the 1812 Overture playing with cannons sounding by the reflecting pool. There is no official public dress rehearsal for this event that I'm aware of, except if you hear some practice while passing by on Wednesday. We heard Beyonce and Kelly Clarkson singing in preparation for Inauguration in January. On the east side of the Capitol is a great spot to sit and observe. The dome of the Capitol is reflected in the fountain that covers the glass ceilings of the visitor center. The Library of Congress Jefferson Building looks magnificent this time of day. What is most amazing is how quiet it is here in the evening...oftentimes I can get photos without a single person in view. And that's what I like about living on Capitol Hill. It feels like I have it all to myself.

***Update:there is a dress rehearsal at 7:30 on Wednesday evening on the West lawn of the Capitol. 

Along Constitution Avenue

Usually we take Independence Avenue home but decided to go up Constitution for a change of pace.  It was a big mistake because I forgot about the road work going on that narrows the lanes to one. And folks are so polite around here, it makes it so worthwhile. (I just read somewhere that DC is the worst place for traffic especially during the summer because of congestion, accidents, and gas prices). But it gave me an opportunity to check out our surroundings at a much slower mph. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is open through the July 4 holiday. This year celebrates Hungarian heritage, endangered languages, and African American Diversity. The American History Museum had a small line, and remains one of my favorites. We saw a truck driver taking a siesta across the street from the huge lines at the National Archives. The  sidewalk vendors still sell batteries for Kodak cameras! A very old tourist was being manhandled very carefully by his family members, one wearing a neck brace, trying to avoid the very impatient cab driver who couldn't understand why the car in front of him didn't want to mow down the people crossing the street. The roads are blocked in front of the Capitol as the area is being prepared for the Fourth of July concert. In spite of the threat of afternoon rainstorms predicted, we may need to attend the concert to hear Barry Manilow, and see the greatest fireworks display in the country. It is always entertaining to check out the Mall, in an air conditioned vehicle, but I'm not the one doing the driving.  

Furlough Day, Rain Delay, and Burger King

I scheduled a four hour furlough block for Thursday afternoon, which makes it feel like a very long weekend - since I have Friday off - and a very short work week. (What a great combination!) With school out, my husband's babysitting duties shift to a less defined schedule, and I knew he would be picking the grandson up from wrestling camp at 4:00 PM to get him to a baseball game for 6:00. Of course, having been to millions of baseball games to watch my brother pitch, you know you have to be there an hour earlier to practice.  Add in to the mix the possibility of a rain delay, and the DC rush hour traffic, it takes an hour to drive one mile. And so it did - take an hour to drive one mile. When we arrived at the field, the game was delayed to 7:30. So, we had a hungry kid on our hands, a rain delayed game, rush hour traffic, and Dad driving from work to join us at the ball park. Rather then drive all the way home, we decided to find a place to eat and ended up at Burger King. Some folks have difficulty understanding accents over the order machine, and we ended up with three cheeseburgers instead of one. We returned to the field, the grandson had a ball with his friends, and a hungry Dad ended up with the two extra cheeseburgers. All in all everything turned out well. It was a good thing I was off so I could ride along this time and help with all the directions and unexpected delays. Usually our daughter in law handles all this, but she was in NY for a show. She must have the patience of a saint, or I am just out of practice.