Our new home, 2030 N. Westmoreland St., Arlington VA 22213
Sunday we decided to stay away from the crowds, so we went to the Claude Moore Colonial Farm. Located in Langely right next to the CIA, this is a former part of the former Turkey Run "national park" area of the Potomac up river from the city on the Virginia side. It is a working farm run as it was in 1771, complete with "actors" who actually live (at least during the day) and work the farm just as in 1771. You talk to them, and they answer as they would have in 1771 etc. Tobacco, wheat, apple orchard, flax, barley, a big kitchen garden (not as nice as Lucy's), pigs, cows, chickens, turkeys, and lots of fence and trees and smells. They work on Sunday, and only occasionally make the half-day walk to church (at Falls Church 8 miles away) and half-day back. We had the place virtually to ourselves as we wandered around after we ate our picnic lunch.
Our new home, 2030 N. Westmoreland St., Arlington VA 22213
Then we found Tyson's Corner Center, a big mall, and did a little shopping and then watched "The Devil Wears Prada." We all liked it a lot, great acting (Meryl Streep of course) and fun fashion and clothes. It thunderstormed as we got out (one lightning bolt right near us) but we got the camping pouch unloaded from the top of the car back at the townhouse and then talked about where furniture should go. Then shopping at a "local" grocery store (we are trying them all out) and then home for some pasta primavera.
Monday I worked on my computer "from home" while Marilyn and the girls went out and did some errands.
Note the bagpipes for Sean!
Tuesday the 4th we parked at the local Metro stop and headed
downtown. It was really hot and humid in the middle of the day.
We found a place just opposite the National Archives on Constitution
along the fence where we could sort of sit, and suffered in the sun to
watch about 45 minutes of it. We were not impressed: lots of mediocre
high school bands, a few boring floats, some balloons that paled in
comparison to the New York parades, ...
We ate our picnic of Marilyn
tabouli sandwiches by the gallery fountain. Then, because the girls were
so hot, we could fool them into going through the National Gallery of Art
for a couple of hours. We love the free, air-conditioned museums!
We made a gellato stop partway below the waterfall near the East Wing.
We had to come back to where we had checked our backpack, so I
made everybody go outside to see the fun mirrors --- I love the picture
of Marilyn not missing the opportunity to fix her hair! Finally as we
approached Dutch Masters the girls revolted, so we braved the heat to
head over to the Air and Space Museum. Every time we crossed the Mall
we had to do a bag check, and one going into every building because of
the security for the 4th. At the Air&Space we got tickets to the IMAX movie,
"Roving Mars" which we all really liked.
Then, as planned, we headed to the subway, getting their just as the skies opened up for their 5 o'clock cloudburst, which was just about over when we got to Dupont Circle and walked a block to our restaurant for an early dinner. By the time dinner was over, so was the rain, just as Marilyn had planned. It was good, not great, but ok Indian food. I'm hoping to eat my way around the world over the next several months; Chinese or Thai next!
Then back by subway to the Mall, bathroom break through the Air&Space again (hey, I'm going to go to Superman Returns in IMAX 3D there when it opens in a few weeks!) and out onto the Mall. We had to wander around to find where the concert was and how we could see the big TV screen. I didn't like most of the entertainment, but I did get to see a little blip of Stevie Wonder live so I was happy. We took off as soon as I had done so and headed down to the Mall. They started the fireworks in the middle of SWonder's set so we missed some of it behind the trees. It is a long way down the Mall to the Reflecting Pool! But we got to see most of it as we moved to a point about as close to the L'Enfant Plaza metro stop as we could. We were pretty close to the Army artillery when they fired off during the 1812 Overture (not in time, because we were much closer to the artillery than the orchestra, so they sounded way off beat) but it didn't scare the girls too much. Finally, the fireworks ended, and the whole Mall of people peeled off. But we made it to and into the station pretty well, onto about the first big train, and were home by 10:30 pm.
Today I dressed up and went into my first day at work. I already had several tasks thrown at me. Marilyn and the girls did pedicures and bought a map and picked up paper and mail at the townhouse (though no mail) and did more shopping for groceries. They got confused in today's huge rainstorm and trapped in bad traffic coming home, and I actually took a taxi from the subway and tied them getting home. Grilled tuna-cheese sandwiches and now the ladies are watching "So You Think You Can Dance." There is a small chance we may be able to move in Friday or Saturday -- cross your fingers!
---Cris
Sunday we decided to stay away from the crowds, so we went to the Claude Moore Colonial Farm. Located in Langely right next to the CIA, this is a former part of the former Turkey Run "national park" area of the Potomac up river from the city on the Virginia side. It is a working farm run as it was in 1771, complete with "actors" who actually live (at least during the day) and work the farm just as in 1771. You talk to them, and they answer as they would have in 1771 etc. Tobacco, wheat, apple orchard, flax, barley, a big kitchen garden (not as nice as Lucy's), pigs, cows, chickens, turkeys, and lots of fence and trees and smells. They work on Sunday, and only occasionally make the half-day walk to church (at Falls Church 8 miles away) and half-day back. We had the place virtually to ourselves as we wandered around after we ate our picnic lunch.
Then we found Tyson's Corner Center, a big mall, and did a little shopping and then watched "The Devil Wears Prada." We all liked it a lot, great acting (Meryl Streep of course) and fun fashion and clothes. It thunderstormed as we got out (one lightning bolt right near us) but we got the camping pouch unloaded from the top of the car back at the townhouse and then talked about where furniture should go. Then shopping at a "local" grocery store (we are trying them all out) and then home for some pasta primavera.
Monday I worked on my computer "from home" while Marilyn and the girls went out and did some errands.
Tuesday the 4th we parked at the local Metro stop and headed downtown. It was really hot and humid in the middle of the day. We found a place just opposite the National Archives on Constitution along the fence where we could sort of sit, and suffered in the sun to watch about 45 minutes of it. We were not impressed: lots of mediocre high school bands, a few boring floats, some balloons that paled in comparison to the New York parades, ... We ate our picnic of Marilyn tabouli sandwiches by the gallery fountain. Then, because the girls were so hot, we could fool them into going through the National Gallery of Art for a couple of hours. We love the free, air-conditioned museums! We made a gellato stop partway below the waterfall near the East Wing. We had to come back to where we had checked our backpack, so I made everybody go outside to see the fun mirrors --- I love the picture of Marilyn not missing the opportunity to fix her hair! Finally as we approached Dutch Masters the girls revolted, so we braved the heat to head over to the Air and Space Museum. Every time we crossed the Mall we had to do a bag check, and one going into every building because of the security for the 4th. At the Air&Space we got tickets to the IMAX movie, "Roving Mars" which we all really liked.
Then, as planned, we headed to the subway, getting their just as the skies opened up for their 5 o'clock cloudburst, which was just about over when we got to Dupont Circle and walked a block to our restaurant for an early dinner. By the time dinner was over, so was the rain, just as Marilyn had planned. It was good, not great, but ok Indian food. I'm hoping to eat my way around the world over the next several months; Chinese or Thai next!
Then back by subway to the Mall, bathroom break through the Air&Space again (hey, I'm going to go to Superman Returns in IMAX 3D there when it opens in a few weeks!) and out onto the Mall. We had to wander around to find where the concert was and how we could see the big TV screen. I didn't like most of the entertainment, but I did get to see a little blip of Stevie Wonder live so I was happy. We took off as soon as I had done so and headed down to the Mall. They started the fireworks in the middle of SWonder's set so we missed some of it behind the trees. It is a long way down the Mall to the Reflecting Pool! But we got to see most of it as we moved to a point about as close to the L'Enfant Plaza metro stop as we could. We were pretty close to the Army artillery when they fired off during the 1812 Overture (not in time, because we were much closer to the artillery than the orchestra, so they sounded way off beat) but it didn't scare the girls too much. Finally, the fireworks ended, and the whole Mall of people peeled off. But we made it to and into the station pretty well, onto about the first big train, and were home by 10:30 pm.
Today I dressed up and went into my first day at work. I already had several tasks thrown at me. Marilyn and the girls did pedicures and bought a map and picked up paper and mail at the townhouse (though no mail) and did more shopping for groceries. They got confused in today's huge rainstorm and trapped in bad traffic coming home, and I actually took a taxi from the subway and tied them getting home. Grilled tuna-cheese sandwiches and now the ladies are watching "So You Think You Can Dance." There is a small chance we may be able to move in Friday or Saturday -- cross your fingers!
This should be the last message from "the road," in this case the Washington Suites in Alexandria. After I finish my bagel, Mar will take me and some of our stuff (including the computers) over to the townhouse where the moving van is due at 9. We should be sleeping in our own bed, in our own rooms, tonite! Pray for my back.
Friday was a slow day at work for me, so I left early to come "home" to work on my LANL laptop. However, the girls were at their favorite mall (Tysons Corner Center) as usual, so we decided I would commute to East Falls Church and "home" and they would come by and pick me up. It is a short 5 minute walk from the metro to the townhouse, 3-4 short blocks along a quiet residence road (though the steps out of the metro might be nasty in bad weather). Marilyn and the girls had already move most of the food over during the day, so I had a snack. I put paper down marking where the furniture should go, "organized" the kitchen in my mind, mapped out which light switches work which lights, and soon the ladies were done with their errands and joined me. We drove back to our hotel, cooked spaghetti Bolognese and corn-on-the-cob for dinner, and were in bed early after a swim.
Two days ago Marilyn and the girls got pedicures, and of course they've been watching "So You Think You Can Dance?" and Marilyn knows the names of all the dancers. When she relayed this to our dear friend, Paula exclaimed "what alien has taken over my friend? The Marilyn I know is always too busy for that!" It's a new life.
I'll try to write a longer tome tonight. Suffice it to say, the movers came 10:45 am on Saturday, FINALLY left about 9:45 pm that night, I found the computer yesterday evening in about the last box we looked at, and have set up the wireless network this morning before I head to work so I can do some business on it. Hooray!
The kids and I are not getting lost as much. We spent a great deal of time finding the DIVA TAILOR who is sewing E's dress together for the competition next Friday in HErshey. It is costing us a huge amount of money but it is my fault for not dealing with this sometime this spring. Susie lost her soft shoes and E's feet are hurting in the hard shoes. Cris said we can be grateful they're not playing hockey--$1000's each month for the equipment and costume.
We also found a BIG Harris Teeter (I think this will be my favorite grocery store) because they had a propane tank they could rent us. Also, found the Good Will--we're unwrapping a lot and saying WHy did we bring this? Found the post office and the library.
Last weekend for a break, we went to Pirates of the Caribbean --it was fun although I could have used more character development. then that night we hopped on the metro and rode 3 stops and came out at Clarendon and ate at a Moroccan restaurant. It was very delicious. Susie was afraid to go in but it was one of those creepy doors opening into a lovely dining room. We had Bastile--it was chicken and veggies in a sauce baked into a phillo dough pillow shaped crust topped with sugar and cinnamon. Odd sounding but amazing with the hot and the sweet combined.
Last night I met Cris and an old friend of ours Paul (he drove up from New Mexico for our wedding) for a dinner date and we had a lot of fun at a South American restaurant--we all had fantastic fresh fish dishes.
Okay back to those boxes.
We are getting closer. We have unwrapped and unwrapped and put away and the place is starting to look pretty good. I drove over 60 boxes to the recycling today and four huge boxes of paper. I felt good that we went to all the work of smoothing and folding and flattening to save some strain on the good old earth. I'm afraid we are not in an environmentally friendly townhouse community. First off, they are all fairly young and not very friendly and many of them smoke. And their recycling bins were pathetically empty or not out on trash day. anyway, we did our bit.
We shopped today for closet solutions, got me a new phone under warranty and shopped at Trader Joe's while the girls went to the Mall and spent the money they earned last week for helping me. They were hard workers and took turns in energy spurts so that helped.
I had a wonderful dinner out with Cris and a mutual friends Paul Webber. We ate South American and it was fun to ride the Metro in and be in the city so easily.
Last night we all dressed up and went to the Kennedy Center to see "Little Women." I loved it. Joe had a tour de force role and some wonderful songs and Marmee sang 2 tear jerkers. The characters seemed very close to the book and I cried of course. We liked how everybody dresses up in Washington. Afterwards, we went to the Cheesecake Factory and Ballston was hopping. No one was thinking of closing at 11 pm there so that was fun!
Well, we are going to try to get to the spy museum tomorrow so I'd better get to bed.
I was "disinvited" to the Lehmen Review of NIF/NIC so I didn't have to travel the next week. The following Wednesday Bill flew out by himself through Atlanta and Marilyn and I picked him up at Reagan National. The next day I took vacation, and we all drove up to Harrisburg Pennsylvania for an Irish Dancing competition. We did Hershey World that evening again, and then a few hours in the Hershey Park, where the girls really liked the water rides (see above) and Elizebeth tried all four wooden roller coasters.
Sean did a great job telling our story about the feis. Susie helped her eight-hand ceili team place in its competition, and won an honorable mention in one of her solos. Elizebeth cleaned up, winning the "cycle" (at least one first, second, third, and fourth place in various dances) and finishing second overall in her age in the Open Championship. One horribly sad thing was that after we spent so much money on E's costume, Mary, the teacher suggested strongly that she not wear it. It was too big and she had not told us to cut the panel smaller so it was flapping up and practically hitting E in the face and we had had it hemmed at the knee but when we got there most of the dancers had about 1 1/2 inches of knee showing. So E won all of her trophies and medals in a hand me down dress from a child much smaller than her. E is sure a slender thing so this borrowed dress worked. Is she really a Baumgartner? It was the usual hard weekend for the parents with Susie winning not much at all and her sister being 2nd in the entire competition. How do you validate the one and not make the other feel bad? Parenting is very challenging isn't it?
It was great to have Bill with us --we were able to get a handicap room for him so he had a handle in the shower etc and here he has done well with all of the steps. He is a math-engineer type. He keeps computing how many times I run up and down the stairs. I love it but it sure hasn't helped my weight. I am up at a heavier weight and that doesn't make me happy especially when I'm off for another adventure and I seem to have little discipline when I'm traveling. In September I will have to get busy.
We celebrated on Sunday by going back to the Hershey Hotel and having brunch. This is the place that very nicely threw me out in February, saying to my leather jacket and jeans, "we do have a jacket you may borrow if you have another pair of pants in your luggage." So I brought Poohbah and Marilyn back with us and we had lots of good food, including some nice chocolate stuff. My favorite: a piece of "pumpernickel" bread that turned out to be chocolate cherry bread that was fantastic.
On the way back we drove through Gettysburg and down Seminary Ridge. This is the view of the Confederate Army as part of Pickett's Charge towards Cemetery Ridge in the background, with Round Top on the right. We didn't stay long but I think the kids got it and I realize if we can get them to some of these historical places we don't have to stay too long to impress them. Since then we have been running around getting items for camp (Susie and E are going to Silver Creek Falls for a week) and of course shutting off mail and paper etc just after I got everything going.
We are sure looking forward to seeing Alice Anne and Bob and family and then we get to stay with Aunt Dorothy the next week after we return from Idaho. That will be fun. Thank you so much to everyone over in idaho that are trying to make it to Mie's to get in a good visit with us. We really appreciate it. it would be hard to see everyone if you didn't make the effort to come over to Mom's. Mie, I am so sorry that Cris won't be able to make it. He just couldn't take that much time off with just starting so he will meet us in Oregon in the 2nd week and then when we get down to Santa Fe to see the operas he plans to go to work.
Looking forward to seeing many of you very soon.