Our Nation's Capital

Milestone: MY 200th POST!!!

Is there something wrong with me that EVERY time I think of going to DC I think of Forrest Gump? Don't answer that. So, Fernando invited me to go with him to DC to spend the weekend with him and his family - his mom, two brothers, their wives, and their kids. Naturally, I was flattered that he asked me to go. He must like me enough to continue to introduce me to the rest of his family. I was happy to go.

Now, I know I am a complete sap, but I really enjoy family events. My family on my dad's side has a golf open every year in Iowa. I don't get to go every year, but I really enjoy the times when I do get to go. And, my family on my mom's side always does a 4th of July celebration which has the nice hometown feel that I like to experience. Both of these events are in Iowa each year. Like I said, I don't get back there often, but when I do it is all worth it. Family holidays in the past were tough to coordinate - mostly because I didn't have the cash to ever go and make trips to see my mom or dad. Things are a little better now and I am able to go and see them more often - now its those damn vacation days that I need more of!!

So, doing the family thing with Fernando was really fun for me on a few levels. First of all, I like to meet new people - especially people that are loved and respected by those I care about. I had seen pictures and heard a few stories, but it is always ten times better to meet them in person. Second of all, I like to hang out with kids... they are funny and have very little inhibitions. His nieces and nephews were no exception to the rule. Also, you get a glimpse into someone's life. I got to hear bits and pieces of the history and experiences of Fernando. You learn more about people from their family.

A rundown of what we did. We left for DC on Friday morning. When we arrived, Fernando and I went for a 3 mile run. It was TORTURE. Hill after hill after hill. I was ready to kill the concierge who recommended the trail. And, no water fountains. Bad bad. Will someone please donate some money to the city of Arlington so they will put in some functioning water fountains on their trails? After our run, we went to dinner with his family.

I was a little quiet at dinner. For being the seriously extroverted person I am, I sure do seem to get quiet when I meet "important" people. You know, the people you actually care what they think about you..I mean, I can meet the CEO of my company in the elevator and have a conversation with him about salads, but you give me my boyfriends family and all of the sudden I'm quiet. Hmmm.

Well, you know me... I wasn't quiet for long. Next day I had soaked it all in and was ready to go. And then I was myself. Not that I hadn't tried to be myself the night before but I guess I WAS being myself. Circular Reference. If you understand what I just said and meant, then you are also probably a person like me who spends way too much time with Microsoft Excel. (Yes, I know that was super geek - If you know about circular references you may as well be in the geek club with me).

Day 2 - Saturday - we went to the Cherry Blossom parade. Then to the street festival. The favorite character from the street festival was chillin in the plaza with a jug of milk. See photo. After that, Fernando and I went for a run. It was a pretty cool run. We went from the Washington Monument to the Capitol, back to the Washington Monument, then to the Lincoln memorial, then the Jefferson Memorial. I may have the order wrong, but you get the picture. I ran it once... Fernando ran it twice. After all the running I think I did close to 6 miles. Maybe I am exaggerating. I know it was more than 5. Fernando is training to run a marathon - hence his motivation. My motivation: to tighten up those flabby thighs.



Not sure what it is about running. The first two miles always seem brutal. The third gets a little better, then after that it is like I am coasting. Getting better at it each time. We will see, maybe one of these times I will run the whole way with Fernando.

After our run we headed back to the hotel with his mom (she waited for us while we ran) and then had dinner with his family. Fernando and I slipped away for some Cold Stone Ice Cream... deserved it after that run!

Day three - we went to the museum of Natural History and saw the Imax Dinosaur film and the Butterfly exhibit. The dinosaur film was in 3d. Is it just me or do those things give everyone a headache? I always feel cross eyed wearing those 3d glasses. After the museum we headed back home.



I hate the trips home soley because it is a return to reality. Thoughts about work start to creep back into my head. Responsibilities start to come back to you. Even though it was only a little weekend getaway, it was enough to escape all of that. These are the things I live for. The little escapes. I know I wouldn't appreciate them as much if I had them all the time. They make you grateful for what you work toward and thankful for the time you get to spend with others.

But, even though the trip home was not without fleeting thoughts of upcoming projects and meetings, I did manage to block most of it out listening to music with Fernando and his mom. Im not talking about listening to music...Im talking about LISTENING to music. Discussing it. Trying to figure it out - almost like when you would read Shakespeare for the first time in Lit class. Those elusive lyrics that could mean a thousand things.

I have this theory... You know how back before electricity, television, radio, and other forms of media all people had to entertain themselves were books, the company of others, and live music? It used to amaze me how old letters and writings always quoted books and poems. People knew their favorites by memory and could recite it on demand. I got to thinking about music today and how we are very much like that still...just in a different way. Our favorite songs we know by heart and can recite all the words on demand. I used to think that maybe we all lost a bit of that type of "poetry" and "culture" but I think it has just changed mediums with the times. Our music is poetry. Don't get me wrong... some of the stuff out there is just crap. But some of it is so amazing me that people can be so definitive and creative: those who can master putting into words the common denominations of human existence and evoke emotions with just words or songs.