Tyson’s Galleria for a Walk When It Rains

I have a bonus card to spend some money in Bloomingdales. But I can’t think of what we need around the house except for some sheets, but I could get those in Bed, Bath & Beyond. I tried to find a blouse yesterday but didn’t see anything I liked. So I guess I will go online and look around before the deadline approaches. In the mean time, it’s raining today. When it rains we drive to the mall to walk rather than take our normal route in the park. I saw a blouse in line with what I was looking for in the J Crew window. From that point on, what we saw in the windows was not at all our taste, and we wondered whose taste some of the items appealed to. Primarily it was the outlandish shoes and accessories. I know I’m not as young as I was at one time, but even then I wouldn’t wear most of what we saw - nor could we afford it! It looks like animal print is big, but odd prints combined, shimmering gold and very tight suits are in. Maybe that’s why there is another larger mall across highway 123 called Tyson’s corner mall. It has more mainstream items and appeals to a much broader audience. I suppose there is something there for everyone. That’s why we spend a little time in each - for walking mostly. 

Western Exposure is Delightful

We noticed it the most when we came home from a short trip to visit our family about a month ago. When we walked in the door, the living room was filled with light coming from the western sun setting at around seven in the evening. When we lived in DC, the views from our condo were quite inhibited, although to be fair there were occasional bright days. I always preferred sunset to sunrise - probably because I am an evening person. That seems to be when I have most of my energy. I don’t know how I survived getting ready for 7 AM shifts when I was a practicing clinical nurse/manager. I remember getting terribly upset when my father used to wake us up to get ready for school. So the evening is always delightful. And the lighting effects from the sun setting against the large dining room mirror enhance the scene even more. The light brightly shines along the kitchen and the hallway as the light bounces off the reflective glass. This will be our first fall/winter in our new northern Virginia condo. So far it is just lovely. 

McLean Hardware Crescent Wrench for a Thermador Refrigerator Filter

It happened when we first moved in to our new condo about six months ago. The thermador refrigerator water filter needed to be changed. But it was impossible to remove it. Three people tried and failed until the service man finally budged the thing. Now it’s six months later and the same thing happened. There was nothing a you tube video or internet could do to help. So we went to the McLean hardware store to find a tool of some sort to disengage the stupid plug. What was recommended was a crescent wrench with teeth with long enough reach to get at the awkward plastic piece that is located behind the freezer door. With one try my husband was able to finally twist the thing free! So we removed the filter cap holder from the old filter and replaced it with the new one and twisted the whole thing back in to place. We saved a few cubes in case the mechanism stops working, but also to allow for the first 24 hours of cubes to be dumped - per instruction. Then I reset the filter cycle in the touch screen in the refrigerator. I hope this production ends with good news. Automatic ice cube makers and us have never seen eye to eye. But removing a filter has never been so difficult. 

VIP Corporate Housing

I looked in to it a few years ago. If and when we ever decided to visit our old hometown in Milwaukee for more than a long weekend and less than a month, what would be a housing option? Staying with friends would be outlandish for more than a few days, and I’m not in to the Airbnb. So I came across VIP corporate housing and asked if we could rent something for less than the thirty day minimum. It’s about the same price  or less than a hotel daily rate, and a one bedroom apartment would be a lot more comfortable. They said yes, and that was it. Last month we decided it might be a good idea to actually stay in Milwaukee for about two weeks. So I contacted VIP and asked again if a two week option was available. They said yes - and there were two properties that could accommodate. One was on the lower east side and another in the third ward. We spent a lot of time on the lower east side so we selected Park Lafayette Towers. My husband was very reluctant to plan to spend so many days in one place. in fact, we have never spent any time in one place aside from overseas trips. But I knew there would be many friends to visit And things to do and the time would fly by. And, I was right. The experience was delightful, the communication with VIP from beginning to end was outstanding, and the accommodations were terrific - although I would have preferred a view over Lake Michigan. All in all it was a great experience that included an underground parking space and a stint in a high rise - something I normally would avoid. Would we do it again? Yes. I’m sure availability depends on time of the year and providing more advanced notice. For us, it was the perfect place. 

  

Kenosha Civil War Museum

It was a miserable rainy and cold day. But the company made it so very cheerful in spite of it. When we visited the Midwest this month, we were able to catch up with our friends and colleagues. We lived in Milwaukee for thirty years and it was really nice to see so many familiar faces. I belonged to the Milwaukee Civil War round table, and at one time had an interest in history. So we were treated to a tour of a friend’s brother’s home that is literally a civil war museum - filled with Civil War artifacts. After that we all headed to the Kenosha Civil War Museum and had a personal tour of the museum by the same person who owned his own treasures. This person is a past president of the round table and remains very active in the community by presenting interesting topics to a variety of groups. So the explanations of venues was humorous and well versed. Later in our visit another one of our friends gave us a personal tour of the Milwaukee Art Museum. What more could we ask for? Actually we prefer their company the most - the tours were an interesting byproduct. 

A Ride into Town - Nationals, Halloween, Tidal Basin

We haven’t been to our old neighborhood for awhile so we drove in yesterday to pick up the October Hill Rag. For being mid October, you wouldn’t know it. It was a beautiful sunny day, but everything was still green. The tidal basin was oddly summer like - no comparison to past years of seasonal autumn color. The Jefferson Memorial was still having the dome renovated and cleaned up. We picked up the Hill Rag in front of Tortilla Coast - a place I walked passed a million times walking to and from work at the Library if Congress. When we reached the old neighborhood on Capitol Hill, it was even quieter because of the holiday. There were a few Halloween decorations and of course, someone is always having something fixed on their very old house - this time a roof. Because the Nationals are in division play off, we thought the stadium would be bustling with some sort of activity. But when we drove by it was like nothing was happening except the Natmobile was parked out front. For whatever reason the place is looking less and less familiar. I’m noticing all the negative things that finally drove us away. It was kinda sad because we lived there for thirteen years. As long as I was working it made sense. But now, it seems surreal.