Spring in McLean Central Park

Every morning we take a walk. It’s usually in the neighborhood park, the neighborhood urban jungle, the parking garage in inclement weather, a trip in to DC

and our old Capitol Hill neighborhood, or a destination unknown. The weekly photo challenge I belong to sometimes dictates where we end up. It feels like spring came in with a bang and is all but gone. The magnolias turned in to cherry blossoms that turned in to dogwood that turned in to daffodils and tulips. One of the first signs of spring was is in the neighborhood park. It was still cold enough to wear winter coats, but the excitement of the new season was encouraging after spending the last year hibernating. Every bit of the season was met with anticipation for better days ahead. So as we look forward to resuming what used to be a normal life, here is to the beauty and beginning of spring. 

52Frames Nature

The 52Frames photo challenge last week was nature. After a couple weeks of more technical contests like fast and slow shutter, this was a nice reprieve. So I thought we could probably find something about nature on the national mall rather than in the neighborhood park. Between the Capitol reflecting pond and the Enid Haupt Gardens by the Smithsonian Castle, something would be found. And I was right. Nature doesn’t need to be in the woods or wide open spaces only. It can be located in the concrete jungle as well. And we love to drive in to the city at least once a week so this is the perfect opportunity. The funny thing is is that my husband and I rarely - if ever - agree on which image should be submitted. So I post them on Instagram and my Facebook business page to see which ones get the most impressions or activity. Usually it is never a photo either of us would pick. This week is no different and I had a lot of options. The top three ended up being the pigeons by the Capitol reflecting pool, the tulips at the castle, and the duck by the pool at the castle. He was actually posing for me. I really liked the duck, and my husband preferred the bright green leaf in the pool. So I think I’ll go with the lowly pigeons since it is a bit quirky. Since my camera is an iPhone I will never get the fantastic images the professionals create, but I like them all the same. 

Verizon Chat

Any time the tv stops working I get very worked up because I know that means at least two hours of my time will be wasted trying to get it fixed. And so it was one evening this week. It started at seven and ended at nine PM. For whatever reason, the “input” or “output” wasn’t connected. We had a pink screen with the closed caption scrolling and no audio and a transparent video. I tried first using the Verizon app to refresh everything - which usually works - based on past experience with Xfinity when we lived in Capitol Hill. Of course it didn’t. So I tried to find a chat option after trying to call. After much frustration I was able to start a chat with someone who transferred me to someone else once they became aware that it was a technical issue. I was juggling two phones and two remotes - one for the LG set up and the other for Verizon - and of course my phones were almost out of power so I was tethered to the wall. It took forever just to get beyond the account number. Anyway, they wanted a screenshot of the tv and we went from there. I was finally able to reconnect the set top box with the tv using the LG menu, then rebooting the whole system. Thank goodness we moved the huge cabinet away from the wall the last time so we can now unplug everything “easily.” Otherwise it’s a big mess unloading the cabinet and putting everything back. In the end I got some unexpected kind words from the person I was chatting with. I can only imagine the horrible interactions these poor folks must bear with when things don’t go right. So I hoped I made his day as much as he finally made mine. In the end it is a feeling of accomplishment, but I hate it all the same. 

Wisteria in the Park

Wisteria vines are beautiful. So when we went to Alexandria last week for personal business we searched for the blooms and found a great example of them cascading on white columns and porch. This week we went in to DC and the place I remembered having bountiful vines was already past bloom unfortunately. The national cathedral neighborhood has many fine examples. So when we took our morning walk to the neighborhood park We were surprised to see the lovely vines hanging from the trees. Usually we see them in more conventional forms. They were not as vivid purple as fresh blossoms, but looked lovely just the same. On closer inspection the clusters of little flowers are so enchanting. Some flowers just look spectacular. I’m sure it’s because they only last for a short period of time. At least this year we were able to be out and about and enjoy the short lived spectacle. There is just something about spring. Somehow everything looks so much better this year. 

Optase Dry Eye Kit, Refresh Drops, and Muro 128 Ointment

There are some mornings that it’s hard to open my eyes. I need to pry them open with my fingers. Three times in the last six months I woke up with eye pain - in either eye - that subsided after using eye drops all day long. So when I went to the eye doctor for a routine six month check last week, I knew the inevitable. Taking prescription eye drops to keep the ocular pressure down also contributes to dry eyes, along with a dry house, and wearing masks. I already use systane eye drops twice a day, but it doesn’t seem to help. So it was recommended that I try the Optase dry eye kit, use refresh drops, and Muri 128 ointment. There’s also a procedure that can be done with the tear duct, but I’m not going there yet. The kit comes with an eye patch that gets heated in the microwave that is worn for ten minutes two times a day. There is also a gel that is used to clean the eyelid and removes junk. And there are more optase eye drops. So the daily routine now is refresh eye drops in the morning, eye patch after lunch, gel before shower, rinse, optase eye drops after shower, eye patch after dinner, refresh eye drops after patch, prescription eye drops around nine PM, refresh eye drops before bed. I tried the eye ointment before bed, but it is a cream and causes a really bad haze. So I’ll save that for when I have eye pain in the morning, or I might try it again. Have I noticed a difference? I’m not sure, which is sad. The house is still dry with the heat going in spite of a humidifier. Getting older is a real pain. Just the cost to pay for all of this makes it difficult along with all the other prescriptions and health care needs. Luckily we can afford it. What happens to those who can’t? I feel like I’ve aged ten years since the hibernation. That’s not exactly what I was looking forward to in retirement. Yes, things could be worse - but I don’t have to be happy about it. 

Washington Avenue in Old Town Alexandria

We have been there so many times. The George Washington Memorial Parkway becomes Washington Avenue in Old Town Alexandria. We have had many lunches and visits to the area since we moved to DC fifteen years ago. But this time we were going in to sign off on our updated will, power of attorney, and health care directives. It’s been over forty years since we made out our will and we live in a different state, so it was about time. So we parked in front of the rowhouse office and took a short walk before and after the appointment. It’s always a pleasant walk in Old Town. I love the architecture and the ambiance. After that we drove around the downtown and came across a beautiful wisteria vine on a lovely old home. And, while we were in the neighborhood we decided it was also time to pick up lunch/dinner at Vaso’s Kitchen. We haven’t been there for over a year and we were so happy we stopped by. So it was an eventful day - updated will, morning walk, drive through downtown, and a great restaurant visit. It even felt a bit more normal after this claustrophobic year. Let’s hope things continue to improve - for everyone’s sake. 

US National Arboretum Azaleas and Gardens

Last week we took a ride to the US National Arboretum. We have been there many times before in all seasons - before we moved to, while we lived on Capitol Hill - and now after we moved to northern Virginia. There has been some renovation going on and the koi are supposed to return this year. We usually like driving through the grounds to observe all the different venues. This time we were limited by pandemic restrictions, but also because it was a bit cooler than we expected. After parking by the Capitol columns, we walked over to the azalea gardens. They were just beginning to show their stuff. I really like the less than sizable crowds. I never cared for the mobs that descended on DC especially at cherry blossom time, but then all summer long. My husband on the other hand, loves crowds. So we walked through the gardens for a change of scenery. It would have been nice to meander about the entire area, but we will save it for next time.