DC

Heather nominated me to write this entry because I have the computer this week while at work.

Several weeks ago I was scheduled for a normally lame trip to DC due to the long hotel stay. We were scheduled to fly from Cincinnati to Washington Dulles late Monday night and out early Wednesday morning. That meant for a company paid hotel (Holiday Inn) for 33 hours. It would be a boring stay in any other city due to being alone so long.

I floated the idea to Heather for her to come along and quickly we started making plans for a mini-vacation. We took the Paschals (great friends from our ward) up on their offer to watch Mattie so we could get out of town before Reddin arrives.

Heather accompanied me on my deadhead to Cincinnati to start the trip. In CVG Heather boarded our lovely Freedom Airlines jet. If you didn't know, it is an Embraer Regional Jet, aka ERJ-145. That was our only flight for the day.

The next morning we got up and out to the Hotel Shuttle around 10am which took us back to the airport so we could catch the bus into DC. By noon we were in the "Mall" with little idea where to go. I knew I wanted to see one thing, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.




As for Heather, she had an odd request, the Library of Congress. I guess she loved the movie National Treasure. Certainly it's due to Nicholas Cage's hair. That's why I enjoyed it so much. Why do you think they made a sequel?



After checking out both of those places as well as passing by the Capitol, we both were getting tired. I estimate we trekked nearly 3 miles so far. Little did I know we had still had another 3 miles to go. We jumped on the Metro and set off for the White House. While there we saw a lady that has set up camp in front of the White House. Supposedly she has been there since 1980??? Wacko? Maybe. Jacked-up toes? DEFINITELY.

Heather was ashamed when I zoomed in on her toes as she was snoring away in her chair. I was only doing my duty as I saw the need to document this anomaly on the blog.

I was impressed that Heather was still truckin on, being pregnant and all. We were both in flip-flops and tiring quickly. We wandered around looking for a bite to eat before we met up with Adam Berger for dinner. We stumbled upon a shoe store and Heather made an unthinkable purchase. She stepped across the invisible yet clear line, a line which very few can cross and continue to be productive members of society.

However lame they were, it saved her. So in a few short hours I wentfrom one of their biggest opponents to an avid supporter. Though purple, they worked great.

Adam finished up with work. Before our reservations he made for dinner, we quickly toured the National Museum of Natural History. Did you know the Hope Diamond is there? Deer have fangs nowadays?



Six o'clock, and we were off to have dinner, which he so graciously treated. "The Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington’s oldest, most historic saloon, was founded in 1856," according to their website. The food was excellent. Adam and I shared some oysters (my maiden voyage and I'd be happy to sail that ship again). Heather enjoyed
Cannelloni di Casa, house-made pasta stuffed with spinach, mortadella ham and three cheeses, baked in a cream sauce. Adam savored Maine Mussels tossed with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil over white wine and linguine with garlic bread. I relished Seafood Gazpacho with clams, mussels, calamari, scallops, shrimp with fresh basil.

We had still wanted to see the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial but it was getting dark. Adam suggested we go to his house by metro and then return in his car. By the time we returned it was dark and possibly even more breathtaking. While walking from the Lincoln toward the Washington we saw the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and WWII Memorial, both of which were very impressive.

Adam dropped us back off at our hotel later that night. It was a near perfect and complete day. Especially after seeing those "monumental toes".

Many thanks to the Paschals for allowing Mattie to boss you around for a few days. Thanks to Adam for dinner and the drive around town.