Day 2 - Washington DC

We really did have a whirlwind trip to DC with the Sisters (Mavis, Doreen and Karen).  We got up on the second day and ate at a diner really near the Capitol.  We love to find the non-touristy restaurants and through Yelp we found Pete's Diner.  Great breakfast, wonderful customer service and we were fueled for the day.

Bethany told me to make sure to see the Museum of the American Indian and I respect her opinion so I spent most of our three hours there.  From the outside design, to the organization of the inside by tribes, this museum is wonderful.  I found during this museum that I don't go through a museum sequentially.  Rather, I try to spend time on areas with information that I could not look up on the Internet.  I loved the arrangement by partial circles of the tribes, and the themes of what happened to the American Indian.  Rod and I ate lunch in that cafeteria, which was the food from some of the Indian tribes.

We stopped at the Pentagon to view the memorial there.

Our last stop in DC was at Arlington Cemetery.  I have not been there since Mama died in 1993.  Her name is now engraved on the back of her husband's, Grandpa Joe, who I never knew.  The English family toured the Kennedy graves and the tomb of the unknown soldier.

We left DC at 3:40 pm and drove pretty much uninterrupted to arrive at Lexington just after 1am.  We did have one minor mishap around NYC, when our car wanted to go across the GW bridge but we talked it out of that and we toured Teaneck for a few minutes.  Once we got on the Palisades Parkway, we pulled over at an overlook to look back at Manhattan.  This was at about 9:30-10:00pm so the view was wonderful at night.

After this full two days, we decided that once we are both retired, we want to spend a few months around DC taking in all the free museums, concerts, and touring the Civil War battles fields.  House swap anyone?

Day 1 - Washington DC, has it really been 19 years?

As part of our two week visit from the English family, we traveled to Philly and Washington DC.  We spent most of two days very near the Mall, taking advantage of all of those museums that our tax dollars pay for.

We check in at the Hyatt Regency just after 5pm at night.  This hotel is two blocks from the Capitol, so we figured it was convenient, and since they are remodelling we got a great deal on the rooms.  Oh, and it was the weekend so the Government was not around.  I have a question, "Why do all of the big hotels in DC, have prostitutes who walk in front of the entrances in broad day light?"  When Rod and I were "courting" we met in DC in a hotel in Dupont Circle and they were also very obvious.  No need to answer that question!  I think I understand human nature, but it was striking, as we checked in at 5pm at night, and it was way more obvious that in other cities, and hotels that I have stayed in.

The next morning, after a wonderful breakfast at West Wing Cafe, we bought the on-off trolley ticket which was fabulous.  The narrators were really incredible so if you go, choose one with a live narrator.  I had not seen the Holocaust Museum, so after traversing the mall several times on the Trolley we got off there.

I have learned that when I am in a museum, I don't want to be constrained by the pace of others, so we said, "let's meet in 90 minutes!".  I then took off to experience the museum by myself.  I have heard a lot about the Holocaust Museum, and it really was moving.  I was struck by how civil people were, and quiet.  As I walked through, I wondered how many people around me lost family members during that time.  I actually finished the permanent exhibit, and went back to view a few parts in more detail.  I also went through the rooms, that were designed for children.  This was the only place I saw someone taking pictures and she was asked to stop taking them.

We then grabbed a hot dog from the street vendor, ate it standing up, and boarded another trolley to travel to the war museums.  Here I was struck that most of what we saw that day was oriented around a war:  Holocaust, WWII, Vietnam, Korean, Lincoln Memorial.  This is where we also discussed that it has been 19 years since we were sight seers in DC.  My maternal grandfather was killed in WWII so we took pictures at the WWII memorial, of Virginia (His home state), Alaska (where he was killed) and Vermont (Where my other grandfather who served in WWII was from). 

We then boarded another trolley, and did the loop which goes by all of the embassies.  I want to go back and walk those streets, but it was fun to fly by them on the bus.  The National Cathedral is under construction, and it was still magnificant.  Georgetown on the trolley, and then back to the hotel.

We had dinner at Union Station and had arranged for my cousin Kit to join us.  She lives in DC and it was great to catch up with her.

After "The Sisters" went to bed that night, Rod and I went for a long walk, around the Capitol, down to the Washington Monument and back to the hotel.  It was a quiet night on Capitol Hill, and fun to revisit our walking days of DC in 1986.

"Sisters Weekend"

Last weekend was Sisters weekend at Coniston. This idea came from Sara who gets together with her sisters and sisters-in-law regularly. This was our third time getting together and it was perfect. Of course, we missed those who could not be there for a variety of reasons.

What did we do? Talked, walked, feed each other, sat around in our PJs, rubbed each others feet, watched "channel 1", sat in "channel 1", admired rainbows, read the Sunday paper, biked to the Grand Isle ferry, fed the stove, got the stove started etc.

It really was a wonderful time and one that will be remembered. It was a great weekend to have before my business trip to California. Tomorrow I fly back to Burlington to spend another wonderful weekend at Coniston. It is Applefest at South Hero this weekend.

"Sisters" are pretty special.

It still feels like vacation

As we drove up last night to Coniston, it still feels like we are going on vacation whenever we come up here. The last 2 weeks, have been very busy with the SISTERS visit from England. That is why there have not been any posts. We spent 5 days with them here over Labor day, on vacation. It was great to share with them our new place.

Each time we visit Vermont I practice and try on living here. I know when the time is right we will live here full time. I still like a visitor and we have not really gotten to know the neighbors. It is not like Lexington where we plugged into a community through the school.

Tomorrow we are going to the Burlington Vermont UU church. Beginning of the church year and all, and we hope to plug into that as our community.

While we are on vacation, the Lexington house is suffering from lack of attention on the weekends, and Coniston got a really good cleaning today with a couple of months of accumulated cobs webs. Someone told me that cob webs are the sign of a healthy house. We have a very healthy house up here.

When it stops feeling like vacation, I guess we will be living here full time. Until then, we have a lot more vacation than every before.

Wondering?

Since my last post was August 28th I was wondering whether I would ever blog again.

We are always busy, but the last 6 weeks have been very very very busy.

The Sisters were here from England for the first 2 weeks of September. The first weekend we drove up to Bar Harbor and had a really nice weekend up there with them. Next time we are going to take our bikes and drive on some of the carriage roads there. We did a lot of walking on them with the Sisters.

The last week of September I was in CA for an offsite and then in San Diego CA again the following week for an HR Forum. The following week, another 2 days on Cape Cod for another offsite and this week, 2 days in RI for the NEHRA conference.

As I unpacked my suitcase last night . . . .

I WONDERED, "How did I make it through the last 6 weeks with that kind of schedule?" One foot in front of another foot, one day at a time, because for the most part I really enjoy what I am doing, because I like to be busy, this time of year at work is offsite time.

So since I have been out of town . . .

I WONDER "What dropped that normally would have happened?" There was a shift as I walked into the house last night. I don't have a trip planned for a couple of weeks. This weekend so far has been busy but relaxing at the same time. The dog got walked, THANKS ROD, the mail was retrieved and I am sort of caught up on emails. BUT, I have not sewn at all, and our fridge has next to nothing in it.

Eileen's family had a surprise birthday party for her 50th birthday today. A group of us hung around in the mid 80s. 4 of us were at the party, and of course we had to tell all of the old stories. It was really fun to see all of them.

One big unmet need is that I have not been up to Vermont to see our new nephew, Thomas Henry Russell born September 22nd, named after both grandfathers who have both died. Within the next few weeks, we must get up there.

WONDERING, Thursday night I went to bed before the Sox game was over. I had to be at the conference early the next day, and this was my thinking "If they win, I will be really happy to hear it the next day, and if they lose, I would be really irritated that I had stayed up to watch." I guess I am a fickle fan, but I was really happy when I heard.

SO, I sit watching the 6th game of the ALCS. The Sox are ahead 10-2, I could probably go to sleep right now, but I won't. There is no suspence tonight for this game. They have it wrapped up. Tomorrow night will be another late night for the 7th game.

I am planning my next knitting project. It will probably be one from my new knitting book "Jackets for Work and Play - The best of Knitters".

Glad to be back

June is a Whirlwind already and it is the 9th

This time of year for most of us is a very busy time and this year is particularly busy for our family. So far in June we have :

1) Attended Clare and Graeme's wedding in Newcastle
2) Attended brother Ken's graduation from Kennedy school
3) Celebrated my birthday
4) Entertained brother George and sister-in-law Judy visiting from Chicago for the graduations
5) Helped cook for Bethany's graduation party next Friday
6) Bethany attended the Senior prom and we opened our house to an after prom party
7) Tomorrow we celebrate Bethany's graduation with Crick and Meg, George and Judy, and Ken and Tara

etc, etc, etc and on top of our normal busy lives . . .

I know that the year has cycles of beginnings and endings, dark and light, in New England hot, warm and cold but it seems that we could even out a the activities in June. I guess most of these events listed above are around the school year.

It is with a bit of sadness that I think about unsubscribing from the electronic email list at LHS. I thought of continuing as a voyeur for a bit, but the fact that there are holidays for the school in September and that school starts before Labor Day mean next to nothing to me. Tomorrow marks an incredible milestone in our family as Bethany graduates and we will no longer be connected as parents to the school system, formally. I have been connected as a parent to a school system since 1984, when Crick was a 1st grader.

So, will next June be less of a whirlwind for us?

Remember, this is her jacket

The pilgrimage to Portsmouth was wonderful. Margaret chose some very wonderful fabrics, that are perfect for her. Of course, they are not the ones I would have chosen, but as Amy kept gently reminding me, "This is her jacket!" After I ignored Amy the first few times, she had to be a bit more forceful in her wonderfully honest way. I won't have time to start the jacket until the middle of June but I have promised it to Margaret in late summer. She has custody of the fabric until I can start the jacket. Fellow quilters and knitters will know how important it is to have your fabric and yarn around to touch and drool over.

Memorial Day we have gone with our church a few times to Ferry Beach in Saco Maine. We are headed there today after the Pops concert at the High School. It is sad and happy to be a part of the "last" events for Bethany. Last x-block, last Pops concert, last week of school. I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend at the beach with church friends. First tee times of the season are Sunday morning at the Biddeford-Saco Golf Course, YAHOOOO !

TGIF, but "I don't feel like I am going to work!"

Yes, I love Fridays, and with my new job I love Sat-Thur as well.

I love Friday because of all of the potential play time on the weekend.

UPDATES:

Knitting: finished the blue pair of socks for myself, and will get the promised pic loaded this weekend. Last night while watching John Stewart I started a pair of Breast Cancer survivor socks. I have knit this pattern 5 times before in different pink yarns. This time I am knitting them in a verigated Socka yarn; PINK of course. This pair is for Nancy who bought them at a service auction. I offered a pair of socks every month for a year, and this is pair 4. People say I am crazy but I love to knit socks, HMMMMMMM I love to knit anything.

Weekend Plans: Small group potluck tonight, yoga tomorrow morning with Amy, Pilgrimage to Portsmouth Fabric Company with Amy and Margaret (recepient of next sister-in-law quilted jacket), birthday party Saturday night, sunday school with 15, 6-10 year olds - teaching them about composting and poop as part of our Green Sanctuary initiative, read Sunday paper . . . crash and burn 10:30 ish pm and then the week starts again.

I used to hate Sunday nights, because Monday morning meant work started all over again but with my new job, "I don't feel like I am going to work!" so every night is a Friday night for me.

OK back to "work" or as Mom asked when I said "I don't feel like I am going to work!", "Are you going to PLAY then?". Yes, it seems that all parts of my life have become much more intergated in the last 4 months. I talk about leadership and human development during the day and at nights and on the weekends. My mind never stops thinking about my passions.

OK, now really back to "WORK/PLAY"

Sisters Sharing

I NEVER forward chain letters but this is the second time I have done one of these and I shared it with all of my "sisters". My friend Kris sent this on to me.

Directions! Now, Here Is What You Are Supposed To Do...And Please Do Not Spoil The Fun! Hit Forward, Delete My Answers And Type In Your Answers. Then Send This To A Whole Bunch Of People That You Know...And Send It Back To Me So I Can See Your Answers, The Theory Is That You Will Learn A Lot Of Little Known Facts About Those You Know. Remember To Send It Back! 1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Named after 6 generations of Sarahs
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? 5/12 listening to a church service that I missed of our youth reciting their credos in their annual Coming of Age service
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? yes, when I can read it
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? salami
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 1 Boy & 1 Girl
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? yes
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? No, because I believe that behind every joke or sarcasm is some truth
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS no
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Never
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Granola
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Occasionally, if they are tough to get off
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Anything with coffee in it from Ben and Jerry's
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Approachability
15. RED OR PINK? Pink
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I interupt
17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Friendliness
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Joe and My Dad
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? YES
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Tan kakis and a light orange shirt
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Yogurt, protein powder and granola
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Favorites playlist on my ipod
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Cyan
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Lily of the valley
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Harvard Pilgrim Health Care to sort out a stupid error on their part
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Love her
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Golf and ice skating
27. HAIR COLOR? Brown with 3 grays
28. EYE COLOR? Blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Pork tamale pie
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings and love stories
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Lives of Others
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? light orange
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter, Colorado and Vermont winters
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs heart felt hugs
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Pecan pie
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Clueless
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Don't want to hurt any feelings so cannot answer
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Wordplay
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Intuit Women's Network
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Desparate Housewives
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Family reunions
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Germany
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Building community
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Denver Colorado
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? All of them