Comic Art at the Library of Congress

Every once in a while we take a ride to DC to the Library of Congress. While waiting for the event to start, we check around the Jefferson Building for new exhibits. Last week we went to see Ron White talk about his book on Lessons from a Lincoln and Grant. But before that, we ventured off to see Comic Art. I’m not so much in to comics anymore, but at one time I remember getting comic books a couple of times a month. And when we walked in to the small exhibit it all came back. Bringing up Father, Gasoline Alley, Dick Tracey, Pogo and Peanuts were always in the newspaper - particularly the Sunday funnies. Blondie and Archie were comic book favorites, but I’m sure were in the newspaper as well. So it was interesting to see all those familiar faces - I’ve forgotten so many of them. It all seems so strange that we all used to read newspapers, get newsprint on your hands, and wait for the paper to be delivered to the house - twice a day. I was an editor on our high school newspaper and loved writing headlines, among other things. It had its own code to ensure the title would fit the space and took a few tries to get it right. So it was a bit of a nostalgic walk through the space. Not such a bad reminder of days gone by. 

Library of Congress Kluge Center - Ronald C White Leadership Lessons from Lincoln & Grant

Although we don’t live on Capitol Hill anymore, we still drive in to DC primarily for programs at the Library of Congress - and last weekend for the Nationals World Series Championship Parade. I worked at the Library for ten years, and it’s very comfortable navigating our way to it and in it. Before I retired, I set the Library emails to my address for library programs, check the website daily for upcoming events, and get reminders from Eventbrite if tickets are required. We particularly like going to the Kluge author salon offerings - a new addition since the annual Book Festival in September. The programs have been really good - most recently, President Garfield and Sandra Day O’Connor. The last program was about the leadership lessons from Lincoln and Grant by Ronald C White. The approach is a question and answer session rather than a droning monologue which makes it so much more entertaining. We usually arrive early and take the time to walk through the beautiful Jefferson Building main hall, but also to visit any new exhibits. Last time was the women’s suffragette installation; this time a display on Comic Art. My favorite view from the west side of the Great Hall is the Capitol building. Since this event started at four in the afternoon, we decided to have an early dinner at Hawk and Dove on Pennsylvania Avenue to avoid the rush hour traffic. I think we would miss DC if we moved too far away. Having access to the silver line makes the trips possible if we choose that route. But the drive in along the George Washington Memorial Parkway is so lovely. For now, we prefer the car. 

Verizon and Coach

A few months back we terminated our AT&T mobile phone service. We moved from DC to northern Virginia and changed from Xfinity to Verizon Fios. Having Verizon internet, it made sense to have Verizon mobile phone service too. I really wanted unlimited data - which we didn’t have with AT&T - because it was very annoying whenever we traveled and used google maps. With the change came a ten dollar discount on both services as long as we maintain both services. Additionally, my husband and I each received a $150 gift debit card. Today we decided to spend the gift cards and headed to the Coach store in Tyson’s Galleria. I was looking for a purse that had both a carry and shoulder option, and was bigger than my tiny coach purse that I use for walking - it’s just big enough to put my phone, keys and umbrella. I have a large black Tumi travel bag that’s great for putting in iPads and the kitchen sink, a Coach turquoise zipper purse that’s great for summer and spring but doesn’t have a shoulder carry option, and a brown Cole Haan laptop size for fall and winter. We found the perfect choice while walking in the mall last week. It’s called the Charlie Bucket and fits all the requirements - great for all year round, grey - a neutral color I don’t have, a shoulder and arm carry option, and enough space to fit a bit more than an umbrella and phone. I’m not sure I would have purchased this bag if not for the gift cards. That’s the danger of walking in the mall when the weather is bad - it gives you ideas. I tend to hang on to my purses forever and this will be the perfect staple for years to come. 

Hunt Country Cluster Dog Show

After a lot of research, we learned about Borzoi at a dog show. Before we had Tatiana, we talked to breeders at the shows to find out more about our favorite pooch. That was a long time ago - long before we moved to DC. Since coming to DC thirteen years ago, we have attended the Middleburg dog shows that were held in October/November. I had my borzoi fix, and the fall setting was gorgeous at the Oatlands Plantation. Unfortunately the shows were moved to other places and we lost track. Last month I looked up the Middleburg Kennel Club hoping to find another outing - and I did. This year there was a five day event scheduled at the Meadows Event Park in Doswell Virginia, about 90 minutes from home. It would take place indoors - which was great considering the unpredictable weather, but not as scenic. Nevertheless we took a day trip last Friday to see some Borzoi! As I couldn’t find a schedule of events beforehand, I wasn’t sure what we would find. It was around lunch time when we arrived and things looked pretty quiet - most of the competition had already occurred in the morning. But we weren’t disappointed. Scarlet the Borzoi won her group, and was waiting to join the hounds. So we spent some time talking to the owner and Scarlet. We hung around for a while - the Vizsla were competing and I sent some photos to our grandson - who just got a Vizsla. All I can say is a lot of the dogs and the owners belong with each other! It’s quite a show to watch them all engage - in so many ways. We always think about Tatiana - she was remarkable. No other dog can possibly measure up! 

Nationals World Series Champs Parade

We usually hang out across the street from the archives on constitution avenue. But yesterday we walked to the rally area by the Capitol building and then to the Washington monument where the nats parade would start. It was a lovely fall day, but cold enough to wear winter jackets and hats. I dug out the red nationals cap for my husband. Since we no longer live on Capitol Hill we decided to drive in in from northern Virginia ten miles away, park in the old neighborhood, and go from there. We arrived at 1100 and had three hours to kill. It’s getting harder and harder to walk and stand around for several hours and we felt it when we got home. It ended up being five miles! But we couldn’t let the day go by without showing up for this very exciting day. After all, we went to the hockey team championship parade and had little to do with them. Baseball is in the family and it was with nostalgia that we went - for my dad, my brother, memories, and finally a festive event that everyone was excited about. I took a lot of photos and videos and sent them to my grandson who grew up with the nationals since he was a baby. It’s been an unbelievable last few weeks. I think it all made baseball history books.