The start of a weekend in DC

Friday I learned exactly how many publications ED publishes. And if you’re wondering, it’s 18 large boxes-full. One of the assignments I have while my supervisor is on vacation is to take unload, categorize, and take inventory of them all.

.

After work, a friend and I went to Lola’s, a little restaurant on Barracks Row, near Eastern Market. This area is loaded with great places to eat, but the neighborhood has the potential to leave a girl walking alone at night a bit ill-at-ease. Having said that, my mom will appreciate me saying that both times I’ve went, it has been with other people.

.

After a dinner filled with fantastic conversation, we walked to the mall, where we saw two Capitols—the real one and its image in the reflecting pool— and the Washington monument, all of which are made more magnificent by their contrast with the dark, night sky.

A visit to the White House

Today’s early morning was brought on by a trip to the White House. Arriving at the back entrance just before 8:10, which was the time that we had been told was the cut off for being allowed in, we stood in line until about 8:40, watching other groups jump in another line and get in much quicker than us. But all waiting aside, the tour was alright. We were able to see a couple rooms in the basement (one of which is a library, but was where Abigail Adams had washed her laundry), but there were room dividers preventing us from seeing the people talking just beyond them. The real action, seeing our nation’s leaders in action, was not a part of the tour.

.

In addition to the East Room, where President Ford’s daughter had her senior prom, we continued on to the green, blue, and red rooms, where we heard brief snippets about each of the portraits or paintings in the room, the furniture, and what the room has historically been used for. Having ended our tour in the front foyer of the White House, we exited through the front doors, where I was able to see what I thought was a window of one of the Obama daughters because it had what seems to be such a common item among kids now, a butterfly window sticky.

Two American Darlings

After work Tuesday, a friend and I went to Pizzeria Paradiso, another in a long list of restaurant recommendations I have collected while in D.C. We made it just in time for the end of their happy hour, where I, very appropriately, ordered the American Darling.

Finally getting out to the museums

Monday, sadly, was the culmination of all of my homework procrastination. Having had such a wonderful time seeing the city with my friends, my homework has become the nagging reminder to get a shot – something you distantly remember doing, and recall that it was painful.

.

So instead of heading out the door at 10, I hung back to get some spend some quality time with my friend homework.

.

When I finally made it out the door, I met up with Thomas and his sister at the National Archives. There, we saw the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution. I was, and overheard that many others were, surprised that the size of the parchment. By my estimation, each sheet was two feet wide and three and a half feet tall.

.

We also learned that “it’s plain hokum” from watching President Truman on one of the televisions, made a presidential seal, guessed at the identities of notable people in history, and saw history throughout its transitions in media.

.

We also went to the world’s most popular museum, the Air and Space Museum. Their varied collection of air and spacecrafts, ranging from the Wright brothers’ plane to B-52s, was incredible. Each time I get into a plane, I hardly worry. I know that today’s planes are more safe than driving a car on the highway. And in many ways, I think this has caused me to significantly undervalue the innovation we have seen. For example, there was a wooden plane that, at some point, had taken people into the air. I wouldn’t dare volunteer to ride in it, but someone designed it, rode in it, and trusted it, as it was the newest form of transportation.

Dinner with the Van Dorens

Sunday I was invited to have dinner with Russ, Thomas’ uncle, and it turned out to be quite a treat. After an interesting stint getting stuck at the Pentagon metro stop and having one of Russ’ daughters (first, find her way into the Pentagon (not Pentagon City) complex, and then) pick us up, we rode back to his house in Arlington.

.

Once there, I was able to meet his family and talk about what they’re doing, how one of them liked the transition to college, and where another was looking at going (which, Russ is 0-2 for selling Luther) , all while avoiding the topic of the recent Packer loss that day.

.

Dinner was fantastic, but the conversation was what made the night. The quick-witted comments about issues today as well as frequently-used historical references made me feel as though I was sitting at the table of the Van Doren’s, straight out of Quiz Show.

Spies and fútbol

After sleeping in until 10 on Saturday, we got up and went to the International Spy Museum. Obviously, we wanted to catch up on our spy techniques and make sure that we were up to date. All joking aside, having gone through the museum, I can’t imagine living the life of a spy. All of it seemed to be props from a movie, to me, and I couldn’t imagine some of the things occurring in real life.

.

For example, there was some diplomat that was here in the U.S. We decided to steal his shoes one night, remove the soles, and put microphones/recording devices into them, so that, wherever he went, we would be able to hear him!

.

We all partake in some form of deception or outright lying at one point or another, but living day-to-day life as an actor in some role, I can’t imagine.

.

On a sweeter note, we went out for frozen yogurt later with his sister, who lives and goes to law school here in D.C. Obviously indecisive, I got three flavors: coconut truffle, mango, and pumpkin pie. All were great, but I took great care to keep them separate.

.

To end the day, we made our way to RFK Stadium, to see the DC United soccer team. Our seats were pretty good, as we were a few rows away from midfield. What was less fortunate was that we were in the second section, which, as you could guess, was right behind the first section. The first section is where all the intense, season-ticket-owning, 20-something, drunk fans get together and wave their flags, jump up and down in unison, play drums, yell, throw their beers in the air when something goes awry, and get in fights after the game because their team lost and they’re upset. Need I say more?

For starters

Today was the opening for the Scholastic Art Exhibit at ED. Each of the students with artwork on display had won a scholarship of $10,000 and are anywhere from 14 to 18 years-old. Having put up artist bios yesterday, I got to see many of the pieces exhibited: there was a serious collection of talent in the auditorium today.

.

A big issue for the art opening today was in getting Jill Biden to speak at the opening. There had been tons of communication between offices at ED. And after all was said and done, I was privy to a conversation that summed-up the way things work in DC. A woman from my office was talking with the head of another, and they were strategizing about: 1) who they needed to talk to in order to get the big names at the openings; and 2) how to get the attention they wanted toward the arts. They discussed talking with a woman who works closely with Arne Duncan, and having her say something to him in support of the arts, because with her proposing the idea to him, it would come with more weight. And this seems obvious – that someone you work closely with would have more sway with you – but the overt strategizing still catches me a little off-guard.

.

But onto the weekend. To start off my three-day weekend, I went to the airport to pick up Thomas. But by a weird coincidence, he had ran into his uncle on the plane, and so he gave us a ride home instead of taking the metro.

.

We came back to the apartment, was obviously jealous of our view. Then we set out for 2 Amys. As we put our name in, the aromas coming from the kitchen – which is certainly placed very strategically near the entrance – hinted at the wonderful tastes that would soon come. Once seated, we ordered bruschetta, pizza, and cannolis. Despite my desire to eat at as many new places as possible, 2 Amys won me over, and I would gladly return.