Last Minute Dinner Date

It’s been five years since we moved to northern Virginia from Capitol Hill. Right after that the pandemic came and the opportunity to meet neighbors was very limited. Then last year we finally met our next door neighbors who moved in almost two years ago. During the summer months we would see each other on our balconies. Over time we saw them at condo events like outdoor barbecues and Christmas parties. Now we have had an opportunity to visit with them at their house and they at ours. We are happy to keep an eye on Mister when Mrs goes away for the weekend or on a trip. We haven’t been in contact since Christmas for a variety of reasons and Mrs recently went on a ten day trip and returned last week. I texted her to see how she was doing and she replied by asking if we would like to join them for dinner at a local restaurant. But we had just ordered pick up from Moby Dick - our go to Persian place - for later in the day. So I asked her if they could stop in here instead, since we would already have dinner prepared. She said yes and would bring the wine and a treat. So we ordered a couple more items to cover dinner for four. When we brought the dinner home we simply set up all of the containers on the island and texted them when we were ready. It was such a nice evening to spend time with people again. It’s not easy making friends in a new place. This is a great start. 

Visiting the Department of the Interior

This last week took us to places that we had never been to before. The reason was to get a photo for the weekly challenge that I belong to. The subject was “unexplored.” So we drove in to town, parked at the Tidal Basin, walked up 17th Street and then over to the Department of the Interior. We have been through many federal buildings that require security checks. Working at the Library of Congress for ten years was a daily walk through the magnetometer. This place required not only photo id’s and signatures, wearing a visitor badge that would need to be returned, and then walking through the magnetometer. It seemed rather over the top - especially for a place that hardly had anything in their museum to even look at. I had looked it up on the website before we went and it seemed like there would be a lot more to see than there was. At least if we could have seen some of the beautiful wall murals it might have been worth the trip. For all the wonderful things that the department does you would never know it by looking at the tiny and scant amount of artifacts and information. Even the short film needed to be updated. Needless to say it was a disappointment, and I didn’t get a photo for the challenge either. But at least it gave us an opportunity to explore a part of the city that we hadn’t been to before. 

DC Jury Duty Again? Not This Time!

Having just served jury duty for a week on a criminal case last October, I was in no mood to get another jury summons this week. It was from DC - where we used to live on Capitol Hill for thirteen years. We moved to northern Virginia five years ago, but that didn’t stop the summons from coming. Not only for me, but also for my husband a couple of years ago. When we lived in the district, my husband and I were called to jury duty at least every year it seemed. I had to go in three times and almost was called on a criminal case. Luckily they got enough jurors before my time came around. So I went to the website and filled in the information and completed the questionnaire. As soon as they asked for current address - with proof of current address like a drivers license, I knew the outcome would be in my favor. As soon as the information was submitted I received a notice that I was disqualified. I knew I would be, but I still felt a great deal of satisfaction. I also know that I do not need to serve anymore in Virginia because I just was stuck in the courthouse on a very grueling case, and I have reach the age limit. This is one thing I’m glad I don’t have to get involved with anymore. It’s just very inconvenient - especially when the guilty party gets off Scott free. 

Mark Rathko Paintings on Paper at the National Gallery of Art

We oftentimes take our morning walk in our old Capitol Hill neighborhood. It’s a great way to get out of the house, take a ride down the construction messy GW Parkway, and spend a couple of hours walking about. It’s not unusual to park on the National Mall and start at the US Botanic Garden, then meander by the Capitol Building and grounds, and then walk over to the. National Gallery of Art. There are always new exhibits, and that’s what we came across the other day. It’s the Mark Rathko Paintings on Paper exhibit located in the east building. There is a continuous Mark Rathko exhibit there as well. Neither my husband nor I are impressed with that collection of basically nothing but blocks of color or no color. But I have to say that I really liked a lot of the work in this collection. In particular I liked the colors and the portraits most. It was unexpected, and there were a good amount of visitors checking things out. Then it started to get weird and I didn’t care for it anymore. After that we passed through the underground light tunnel over to the west building where the beautiful works have been put back in their usual spots after renovation. I still love the impressionists the most. And it’s so nice to see them whenever we visit. 

Valentine’s Day Orchid

My husband isn’t much in to traditional things - and since he isn’t I’m not either. I used to be. We tend to celebrate every day rather than go all out on designated holidays. Rather than buy flowers and cards, go out to dinner or whatever, we just acknowledge the day. But today was interesting in that our orchid - which hasn’t bloomed since we received it as a housewarming gift five years ago - bloomed today of all days! My brother and SIL gave the plant to us when we moved from Capitol Hill to northern Virginia and we have cared for it ever since - without a lot of luck. No matter what we did, nothing happened - until last October. What I thought was just another root turned out to be a stalk. And I have been watching it every day since then. Apparently the orchids do bloom in the winter and we were thrilled to watch its progress. The only thing that we did different was turn the pot the other way so the roots faced the window and the little bit of sun that was coming through the west side. So in honor of Valentine’s Day we are so happy to see that the orchid plant finally bloomed! What a great day for it to show itself!