Five FREE Place to Visit in DC during Government Shutdown

If you happened to plan a family vacation to Washington, DC, over the next few days, you're probably incredibly frustrated at the moment. After all, what on earth are you going to do? Maybe you wanted to teach your kids about American history or wanted to see our government in action for yourself. Though you can't tour the Capitol, monuments, or the Smithsonian museums, here are five FREE things you can do.

Arlington Cemetery
Though the tour tram won't be operating, you can still walk through the cemetery. I recommend starting at President John F. Kennedy's grave site with a visit to Robert F. Kennedy's site as well. From there, the walk through the trees to the Tomb of the Unknowns is both beautiful and moving, especially as we head into fall. After paying your respects during the Changing of the Guard, head around Memorial Amphitheater to see the Mast of the U.S.S. Maine, the Canadian Cross, Columbia Memorial, Challenger Memorial, Iran Rescue Monument and the Third Infantry Division, all within a few feet of each other. Arlington House is closed, but you can still end your visit with a stroll through the newly refurbished gardens and enjoy the spectacular view of the National Mall from the top of the hill. Keep in mind that there are still several funerals planned at the cemetery, so be respectful to mourners.

Washington National Cathedral
This beautiful homage to American faith is well worth the visit. While there is a suggested $10 donation (and I encourage you to leave more if you can as they are still trying to fund repairs for the damage caused by the same 2009 earthquake that shut down the Washington Monument), you are still welcome to visit without leaving a monetary donation. The architecture, art and grounds are simply breathtaking--my favorites are the moonstone displayed in a stained glass window and the Darth Vader gargoyle. There are half-hour tours offered most days between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., but be sure to check their website for conflicts. The Sunday services held between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. in both the main chapel and the smaller chapels are also worth attending. There are many churches in the DC area worth visiting, including St. Johns Church Lafayette Square, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, Calvary Baptist Church, National City Church, Christ Church in Georgetown, the Masonic Temple in Alexandria, VA, and the Mormon Temple in Kensington, MD.

Rock Creek Park
The largest of DC's many parks, Rock Creek is a beautiful spot for hiking, biking and driving. Okay, so technically the park is closed (along with the National Zoo which is housed in the park and run by the Smithsonian Institute), but there is little enforcement of the closure. While the main road remains open to automobile traffic--for the moment--Beach Drive is closed to cars, and many bikers and joggers are enjoying the winding, shaded road. The C&O Canal and the Mount Vernon Trail are also "closed" with little to no enforcement.

The Big Chair in Anacostia
Yes, seriously, this is one thing you don't want to miss. While DC is full of beautiful architecture and rich American history, it is also a community with a quirky culture. This is no longer the biggest chair in the world, but in my book, it is certainly the most impressive. And while you're out looking an funky sculptures, why not check out the massive Einstein Memorial on Constitution Avenue, the Friendship Archway in Chinatown and the Kahlil Gibran Memorial Garden on Massachusetts Avenue.

Old Post Office Pavilion
You might not be able to go up the Washington Monument or tour the dome of the Capital, but you can take a free ride up to the clock tower of the Old Post Office Pavilion. They give a really great tour and talk about a lot of American history that you might otherwise miss out on because the museums are closed.

And So Much More
Learn about modern art at The Pillips Collection (free every Tuesday through Friday), see local artist at Eastern Market, play in the HUGE playground at Turtle Park, or sit in the lobby of Willard InterContinental Washington where Julia Ward Howe wrote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and Martin Luther King wrote his "I Have a Dream" speech.

If you're willing and able to spend some money, I'd recommend visiting the International Spy Museum ($20.95/adult, $15.95/senior, $14.95/under 12 and free/under 6) and the Newseum ($21.95/adult, $17.95/senior, $12.95/under 19 and free/under 6). For an amazing art museum, stop by the National Museum of Women in the Arts ($10/adult, $8/senior, and free/under 19) or the Corcoran Gallery of Art ($10/adult, $8/senior, and free/under 12). If you're looking for a presidential experience, try President Lincoln's Cottage ($15/adult, $5/under 13 and free/under 6) or George Washington's Mount Vernon ($17/adult, $16/senior, $8/under 12 and free/under 6). Be sure to ask about student and active-duty military discounts to see if you qualify--and be sure to bring your ID! These are all either privately owned and operated or funded through generous financial grants and trusts, so they have not been affected by the government shutdown

Washington, DC, is so much more than a city shut down by politicians who can't seem to get along. There's no reason for you to miss anything this city has to offer.

October Baseball

In case you missed the memo, I'm a bit of a baseball fan. I grew up watching and loving the Chicago White Sox, and baseball came back to DC the summer I did my internship here.

Because they're in two different leagues and 700 miles apart, I've never felt divided by my duel-fandom. When the White Sox won the World Series in 2005, I didn't have to feel sad that the Nationals barely eked by with a .500 record. When the Nats hit the very bottom in 2008, the Sox still had a post-season run. I will admit, 2009, 2010 and 2011 were some dark baseball years, but this season makes up for a lot of that.

This year has been amazing. Though the White Sox didn't quite make it to the post season, they were still a team to watch. With Philip Humber's perfect game early on and fighting to the bitter end, I'm proud of my Boys in Black. After all, they started the season with a new, untested manager in Robin Ventura. I remember watching Ventura play through my teen years, and I was anxious and excited to see his return to Chicago.

And the Nats. Wow, the Nats have blown me away this season. I've fallen a little in love with Gio Gonzalez, and I'm kind of in awe of how Stephen Strasburg and his coaches have handled his rehab. I feel like I've watched Bryce Harper grow from a moody teenager to...well, okay, he's still a moody teenage. I've seen the Nats win and lose, gotten sunburned and soaking wet. At Nationals Park, Teddy won his first President's Race (although I was working when it happened), the Shake Shack opened, and I attended my first sell-out game in Washington. This Nats team has become my team.

It was seven years ago I pulled a Tom Cruise and jumped up and down on my couch and screamed so much that my down-stairs neighbors came to make sure I was alright. Good thing I live in a townhouse now, because I see a lot of couch-jumping in my near future.

I love baseball in the fall.

Friday Five: TGIF

For today's list, the five things I'm most excited for this weekend. It's a simple list, but then again, everything seems a little simpler on the weekends.

1. Writing: It's been a rough week at work, which makes it difficult to come home and write, but the weekends mean I can leave work at work and focus on writing. Here's to getting one more chapter finished.
2. Chaos: I'm planning on finishing the Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness. These books have kept me on an emotional precipice since I picked the first one up two weeks ago. Seriously, I think this roller coaster might be even worse than it was with The Hunger Games.
3. DC Adventure: Some good friends are moving next week, so as a farewell, we're having a clue-based race around town to visit all their favorite places. I haven't done one of these since I was a teenager, and I can't wait to see where the clues lead.
4. The Avengers: I watched Captain America this week and I'll watch Thor Saturday afternoon, all so I won't be behind on Joss Whedon's newest film. I might not actually have time to see The Avengers until next week, but this superhero kick is kind of fun.
   
5. My Mom: Being so far away from family is never easy, but on Sunday I have an excuse to be a little homesick. I'll get to call my mom and tell her I love her, and I'll get to hear her say it back to me. What better thing to do on Mothers' Day?

Friday Five: Signs of Spring in DC

It's been such a beautiful week that I decided to head to the Mall on my lunch break to look for some signs of spring in DC. And within minutes I found all the sure indicators that winter is finally over.

1. Construction: Most of the time it's roads and walkways that are being repaired after the harsh winter weather. Well, harsh for DC anyway. But today I stopped to check out the progress on the new National Museum of African American History and Culture.
   
   
2. Bikers: The other day I was reading a Washington Post article about how the city infrastructure can't keep up with the increase of bike commuters. So if you want to see the city on two wheels, please be careful!
   
   
3. Musicians: I will admit, some street musicians are horrific, but this bucket beater happened to be quite good. Over the years I've been lucky enough to catch a few professional musicians practicing in tunnels and Metro stations because of the fantastic acoustics.
   
   
4. Cherry Blossoms: Today marks the peak of the 100th year of these historic blooms, and any DC-area resident will tell you they are the highlight of the season.
   
   
   
   (This picture was taken by a passing tourist.)
   
   
5. Tourists: More than 16 million people visit out nation's capital each year. I happened to find this one sitting around on the Mall today. (It's my mom, in case you were wondering.)
   

Lions and Tigers and Baseball, Oh My

Holidays in Washington, DC, are the best. Seriously. There are always things to do and people visiting. The city gets this zap of energy that makes everything seem much more alive. Have I mentioned I love holidays? And living in DC?

This year, my friend's sister Katy came to visit. And since I love both Katy and baseball, they invited me to a game. Of course we were in the nosebleed seats, but it's not important where you sit at a ballgame...

...it's what you eat. And eat we did. Nachos and hot dogs, funnel cake and custard. A Shake Shack opened at the ballpark this season, and while I LOVE their food (especially their shakes), it just doesn't taste the same when it's not in NYC. But that won't stop me from getting Shake Shack when I go to the game this Friday.

We also had some friends visiting form North Carolina. Annie and Tim are some of my favorite people in the world, and their baby Maddie isn't so bad either. I haven't been to the National Zoo in about eight years, so that's where we spent our entire Saturday.

Despite the rain, we got to see pretty much everything. The pandas were being lazy and slept through our entire visit. The apes were being cliche and eating bananas. A friendly monkey came out to greet us from a branch right above our heads. The cheetahs and clouded leopard were a bit difficult to spot until their, well, spots gave them away. And the sloth bear...let's just say he wasn't very polite.

Best of all, the lion was going crazy—we think it was time for his lunch. There was a huge crowd gathered around, but you can still hear him loud and clear.

While Maddie loved it all, she was totally fascinated by the fish. We could have spent the entire day by the tanks and she would have been content watching them. Next time they visit, we'll make sure to hit the aquarium.

It was such a great holiday weekend. And while our apartment it much quieter without a 15-month-old baby and my stomach is begging me never to feed it like that again, I already miss the holiday crowd. Good thing I still have Columbus Day and Halloween and Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving and my birthday and Christmas and New Year's Eve before it all starts over again next year.

Virginia Earthquake Update

Yes, there was an earthquake in Virginia today. Yes, I'm fine. No, there wasn't any damage. I was walking back from lunch and did a duck-and-cover because I thought there had been a gas explosion in the building next to me. Police came out of the station across the street and asked me if I had felt anything outside. Otherwise, life returned to normal in less than an hour.

My apartment only sustained minor damage. There were a few cracked walls (this is the worst of them) and my books got a good jostling (my Harry Potter shelf most of all), but nothing too major. Thank heaven no one was hurt and there was no major damage anywhere in the city. With such a dense population, the potential for disaster...well, I'm glad I don't have to think about that.

Want a good book for kids about earthquakes? Try DK Eyewitness Books' Volcano & Earthquake.

Billy Goats Gruff

Remember that old story Three Billy Goats Gruff? I discovered their bridge this weekend. I think they told people a troll was living under it to discourage visitors. But I know better. It's really surrounded by amazing waterfalls and inspiring forests. Those billy goats just didn't want to share. Selfish billy goats!

My friend Josie and I decided to go on a hike at Great Falls along the Patomac River. Less than an hour from our nation's capitol, you can find yourself in the middle of nowhere with only the most spectacular views to keep you company.

After seeing the main falls, we decided to take a chance on the Billy Goat Trail. What started out as a nice stroll through the woods along a lazy river soon turned into more of a climbing expedition. I guess they call it the Billy Goat Trail because it wasn't really designed for human traffic. It was pretty hot, sweaty work in 95-degree weather with 90 percent humidity.

But reaching the top is always worth the climb.

I believe this answers Carmela LaVigna Coyle's question once and for all. Do Princesses Wearing Hiking Boots? Why yes, indeed we do.

He Is Risen

It's been a beautiful start to spring in DC. Even all the rain we've been getting can't dampen the mood the cherry blossoms bring. One of my favorite things about spring is Easter. I pretty much love any holiday, but I especially love this one that allows me to reflect upon my faith and new beginnings and forgiveness.

Although I didn't have a basket full of sweets waiting for my this morning, I received a special treat during the Easter service at church when my friend Lisa spoke about her faith in Christ and shared a beautiful message of hope with the congregation.

After the service, Lisa and our friend Dave came to my place to enjoy Easter dinner with all the trimmings. None of us have family in the area, so we made everything ourselves.

While I've made deviled eggs a few times, I tried a new baked ham recipe with rosemary and pineapple, which turned out really well. There was a couple minutes of panic when I realized I had no salad dressing, but thanks to the internet, I found a rosemary-dijon dressing I happened to have all the ingredients for.

And lisa made an incredible mince meat pie. This was the first time I've even had mince meat, but I'm a fan.

After way too much food, we decided to to take Dave on a tour of the monuments. (Dave's visiting from LA and leaves early tomorrow morning.) Unfortunately, it started pouring as soon as we got down to the Tidal Basin, so we only made it through the FDR Memorial and walked about halfway to the Jefferson Memorial before we were too cold and wet to do the walking tour. So we drove around the city and pointed to distant, rain-obscured buildings.

Overall, it was a great holiday. I missed my family and Aunt Chris' big Easter bash, but I look forward to heading to Chicago for my cousin's wedding next month. I hope your holiday was filled with good memories, good food and good reflections on the season. On to new beginnings and new blessings in the year to come.

The Whitest View

I got to sit in this for three hours because of the snow in D.C. At least I had the chance to listen to Neil Gaiman read Odd and the Frost Giants, which made half the commute extremely pleasant. I wish I could have gotten a clear shot from a rise so you could see the red lights mixed with the glittering white for miles.

Little more speed, little more rope

I could not imagine a more perfect day for the opening of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. Okay, maybe it could have been warmer, but the conditions were perfect for the traditional kite-flying kickoff to Spring.

Kite flying really isn't as easy as it looks. We had to work pretty hard to get our kites in the air, and most of the time they'd go up for a few yards and then go diving into the people around us. It reminded me of that song from You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, and we were definitely a Charlie Brown group.

But what a group to be with. Check out my beautiful girls. We got to spend time together without worrying about SAT prep or college applications or math homework. It was just us, the wind and about 3,000 other people on the National Mall.

Once we moved down to the Washington Monument, we had a little better luck. The wind conditions were gustier and people were a little more spread out.

The girl I tutor proved to be good at getting the kite into the air, but it seemed like every time she'd let out the string to give it some height, it would come plummeting back at her. I think she won the award for sustaining the most hits from runaway kites--both her own and other people's.

My friend's baby even got in on the action. I know she looks like she's about to cry in this picture, but really she was just trying not to laugh. Of course I have no photographic proof of this because every time I'd lift the camera after making a fool of myself to get her to smile, she'd stop giggling. Cheeky girl.

Finally one of the boys got our kite in the air and maxed out the line. Our kite is the one about halfway up the monument between the white bird and the rainbow kite with the long streamers. It's the little speck that looks like a piece of dust on my camera, but I promise it's really our kite.

How could I not have enjoyed such a perfect day? I love the city dressed in pink!

In honor of President's Day...

...I'm going to ignore the snow falling out my window and write about about my adventures this past weekend.

I never get tired of seeing the National Monuments. No, really, I never get tired of the 2.5 mile walk through Monument Valley. So I didn't bat an eye when my old roommate called to tell me she and her husband would be in town for a wedding and would love to spend a couple extra days playing tourist.

Saturday after the wedding, we got together for dinner with another former roommate and her husband. After catching up on old times, we headed out to the National Mall to start the trek in the snow-covered Tidal Basin. The wind blasted our faces as we reached the high-point of the grounds at the Washington Monument, so we didn't stick around very long. The WWII Memorial offered a bit of shelter as it is set into the ground, but as we were the only people there, it also offered a serene place to reflect on the sacrifice made by our nation in days past.

That's also when things turned a little dicy. After someone mentioned they needed to go to the bathroom, we all mysteriously needed to go to the bathroom. In the middle of the Tidal Basin. At 7:30 p.m. Surrounded by ice and snow. Than someone (okay, maybe it was me) got the bright idea to cut across the snow and see if the public restrooms were magically left open for poor souls like ourselves. After cutting a path through the knee-high drifts, we found no relief. So we decided to cut out the FDR and Jefferson Memorials, but we could control ourselves until we had the chance to see the Lincoln Monument and the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials. And the DC War Memorial to WWI hadn't been dug out yet, so we admired that from afar.

This was the first time I have ever seen the Reflecting Pool frozen solid. Usually it is kind of gross from the stagnant water and geese. It didn't offer much of a reflection, but no one was going to risk a Forrest Gump moment by testing how thick the ice really was. The Korean Memorial was kind of cool in the snow and quiet. The sky was actually really clear, and we could see all the photos etched into the wall and read all the inscriptions along the path. Reading the words "Freedom Is Not Free" was rather moving and a good reminder of the efforts so many people around the world make to ensure others have the same opportunities we have.

We finally made it to the Lincoln Monument to find...IT WAS STILL OPEN! Bathrooms and running water and heat. I have never been so happy in all my life. Of course we walked up the marble steps to greet the 16th present and take about 50 million picture (none on my camera, sorry). By then we were warm enough to spend a decent amount of time at the Vietnam Wall, but it was getting colder by the minute, so we decided to still skip FRD and Jefferson and instead walk by the Ellipse and White House.

Yesterday I was a little better prepared and wore fuzzy socks and long underwear. Which ended up serving me well while walking around Old Town Alexandria, but proved a bit of an annoyance in the Air and Space Museum. It was kind of cool to see the A&S Museum with Brenda and Anthony because they were a lot more interested in Air while I usually prefer to spend my time in Space. It's always cool to see things from a new perspective.

The sidewalks ended up proving to be a bit of an ice-slick, so we took my car for a spin around the city rather than trying to walk it. We drove the the FBI Headquarters, Ford's Theater, Petersen House (where Lincoln died), the Capital Building, the Supreme Court Building, the Library of Congress and countless administrative buildings.

Before heading back to my place for dinner, we stopped off at the Jefferson Memorial. What a beautiful place to watch the sunset. There was also a park ranger giving a tour there, so we had the chance to talk to him about the monuments and Jefferson's life. He was extremely knowledgeable, and you could tell he loves his job. I learned a lot from him and hope he's around the next time I go there.

How cool is it that I got to spend President's Day Weekend walking in the steps of all our past presidents? I got to learn more about their lives and the city that runs our nation. Sure, it might have been cold and wet, but it was well worth it. And if you ever want to play tourist with me, I'm always up for having a new adventure.

Stalking Judy Blume

I have big plans for Sept. 26. I will be spending the day stalking Judy Blume. Do you have any idea how Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret changed my life? I mean, my childhood was defined by The Pain and the Great One, and to this day I wish I have freckles thanks to Freckle Juice. As an adolescent I wanted to be every one of Judy Blume's characters, and now I just want to be Judy Blume.

Here's my chance (and yours) to meet the Great One herself at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC.

Oh, yeah. And you can stop and say hi to Mo Willems, Shannon Hale, Nicholas Sparks and John Grisham if you must. But, come on! Judy Blume will be there!

A bunch of raging lunatics

I spent last night doing my taxes. I know—for those of you who take weeks to do you taxes and are in and out of accountants offices countless times between February and April, this might make you sick. But I'm single, own nothing of consequence and spent most of the year unemployed while I finished up school. I thought taxes this year would take about fifty seconds to say, "Hey, I made no money and dumped thousands of dollars into our failing economy because I paid out-of-pocket for school and my car died on me. I deserve a full refund on all $750 I paid in taxes."

Ha!

I had to file taxes in two states, and I have decided the Virginia state tax form is the most insane document I have ever seen. It took me three hours to do all these calculations only to find out I could have skipped half of them and just applied for a full refund. There are 47 lines on the Virginia Part-Year Resident Income Tax Return form, and that doesn't include the 23 sub-lines, two columns and about 50 worksheets that all need to be filled out as well.

And I believe to Utah State Tax Commission is just as insane. They (seriously now) put a little frowny face on the form on the line if you owe taxes and a little smiley face on the form if you should get a refund. Emoticons on tax forms? What is this world coming to?

By the time I finished the two state forms, I was wishing I could just fill out the federal 1040EZ a hundred times over. Here's to not moving this year and only having to file in one state.

Remember how just yesterday I was saying the weather was supposed to get better any day now? Well, I should have looked at the forecast a little more closely and realized it was going to get a lot worse before it started getting better.

And don’t get me started on the snow-induced craziness of this morning’s commute. It took me an hour to go the four and a half miles to work this morning because people freak out when they see snow around here. The calm blanket of white that now covers the DC area might look lovely and serene, but I know it is really a wizard’s spell designed to make people drive like lunatics. Maybe it’s a GOP conspiracy to put off the vote on the economic stimulus package.

I guess I should give them a break—not everyone was born in Wisconsin, grew up in Chicago, went to school in Idaho and lived in Utah. I have a lot of snow-driving experience.

We Are One!

I am flying high today. This has been just about the best week ever, and it's not done yet. To catch up a little bit, here are some pictures from my adventures with my sister in Washington, DC, for the 2009 Inauguration.

We started off at Mt. Vernon Saturday where I tried to make like Nicolas Cage and sneak into the secret passageways.



When that didn't really work out, I compared my teeth to those of our first president. I couldn't take a picture of the dentures themselves, but trust me, they look painful enough to make anyone dread the dentist.



I guess I just don't have that leader's smile, me having good, modern dental hygiene and all. So my sister tried to make friends with Martha.

And of course, after about five minutes, they were the best of chums.

Day two was devoted to the Inaugural Welcome Concert. We arrived at 9:30 a.m. and got great seats. We were halfway up the reflection pool by the Lincoln Memorial.


(Give me a break--I was really cold.) You might not think these were great seats, but we were in front of about 3/4th of all the other people who were sitting behind us. So you can ask one of the 100,000 people sitting on the lawn of the Washington Monument, and they will agree that we had great seats.

The music was also fantastic. As many of my friends know, I am obsessed with Bon Jovi, and when Jon Bon Jovi came out and sang with Bettye LaVette (another of my favorites), I was in heaven.

So maybe I got a little too excited and ended up looking like a complete dork and my sister will never let me live this down. But come on, it was Jon Bon Jovi!!!

But by far the best performance was by someone who totally surprised me but Sara will say "I told you so," and Celeste will laugh, and Corinna already said "I told you so."

I freakin' loved Garth Brooks. He had the crowd dancing and singing, which granted wasn't very hard because we were all dancing and singing long before the show even started. But he made the crowd go crazy, and I would have been happy to watch him for another hour.

I also loved that this concert wasn't just about big-names putting on a show--it was about honoring the people who had gathered along the reflecting pool in generations before. It was about Marian Anderson singing there for President Roosevelt because she was black and not allowed to perform at Constitution Hall. It was about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington that brought thousands of people together to fight for a freedom that should never have to be fought for. And it was about the soldiers who are honored in the memorials that surrounded us, who fought for freedom and who gave their lives to give us the America we believe in.

But if I cried, I'll never tell.

Of course, it was really to hear president-elect Barack Obama speak that we all turned up. And speak he did.

I could even see him, kind of. To help you out, he's the blob the big red arrow is pointing at.

Obama gave the most wonderful speech about change and unity and all the things he has said since the beginning of his campaign. He encouraged us all to take responsibility and do our part to make this nation a better union. I still can't believe I was there to actually hear him speak on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I'd ask you to pinch me, but that might be a little hard over the internet.

Today my sister and I got to participate in one of the service project that took place around the city. We went to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library downtown and helped serve food to the homeless and hungry. We worked alongside a great family, the Gadsons, who came out to get involved as a family.



Cameron is nine, and Ethan is only seven, but they worked like pros. Because they were at the end of the table and such a great looking family, reporters wouldn't leave them along--local Channel 4, a major Canadian network, reporters from Korea. Cameron blew me away because every reporter would stick a camera in his face and he would give them the most amazing responses, never once stopping his careful placement of food on a homeless person's plate. And look at those smiles? How could you not love this family?

We also went to an art museum and the National Archives today, but that was nothing compared to the time we spent working with and in the community. Although I did buy a bunch of buttons today only to look more closely and realize that I bought a grammatically incorrect button! I can't believe I spent an entire 80 cents on a button that doesn't know the difference between and adjective and a noun, which made me wonder about the authenticity of DC street vendors.



A funny side note, we couldn't seem to get away from Josh Groban in the past two days. Not only did he sing at the welcome concert, but he was at the library as well. And as we were getting on the Metro to come home, he was giving an interview for MSNBC right next to us. I think he was stalking us, which I might think was cooler if I actually liked Josh Groban.

So in honor of Tammy, I am posting this video of my stalker Josh. This one's for you, Tammy!



 

I can't believe I was there!

It's late and I've had a long day--of seeing the Inauguration Welcome Concert! I seriously cannot believe I was there and could actually see the stage and hear the speeches and dance to the music. Yes, I saw Jon Bon Jovi sing with Bettye LaVette, and Usher perform with Stevie Wonder, and Garth Brooks and U2 and Tom Hanks and Jack Black, and too many others to list here.

But most amazing of all, I was there to hear Barack Obama speak to the crowd that stretched from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial all the way pas the Washington Monument and into the homes of countless more Americans. I was a little part of history today, and really, that rocks more than any music I heard.

I'll post pictures as soon as I can, but right now, I'm going to bed.