Mastercard

Day 76:

Kids Meal at Chick-fil-A......$3.59

Paying for the lady behind me at Chick-fil-A......$6.27

Movie Ticket......$10.00

Spending an evening by myself in this empty theatre eating chicken nuggets, watching How to Train your Dragon, and not thinking about my future.......priceless

Day 75: This weekend I drove up to Annapolis because Maggie was in town for her sister's LAX game at Navy. It was a sunny day and absolutely wonderful to see Mags! It my first lacrosse game and I all the more wish I had tried playing it in high school. It was nice to meet the fam and especially Amy after hearing so much about her! The trip was definitely worth it :)

Palm Sunday

Day 74: The Jefferson Memorial was beautiful yesterday morning surrounded by the cherry blossoms and excellent quotes from our third President.

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are to be free. Establish a law for educating the common people. This it is the business of the state and on a general plan."

Day 73: The cherry blossoms are here and are absolutely breath taking! Definitely more pictures to come throughout the week.

Day 72: Thank goodness these replaced the giant "Don't Eat on the Metro" signs that featured large rats. Though I had perfected where not to look, they still occasionally found a way to jump out at me. My thoughts when I see this though, is that they might as well say: "Life moves fast. So make sure work follows you wherever you go." The blackberry is great for work, but it is far too easy to let it go with you wherever and who wants to be dealing with work e-mails in the evening with your family!?

Day 71: Thought these pants were a biiit much, no matter how much I like Burberry!

Ohh let's go riding, cruisin' down the open road!

Day 70: These pictures are a couple of days old, but I have to share the story from VA Beach last weekend with mom and Bekah. After spending the afternoon shivering in the breeze despite the warm sun on the beach, we looked at the GPS to find what other things we could see in the area. We found a lighthouse and followed the map. Suddenly we found ourselves at a military base and rolling down my window at the guard station. I told the soldier we simply wanted to see the lighthouse and he waved us through...to have our car searched. Bekah and mom promptly got out of the car leaving me to open the hood and trunk...Girl in a new car. With no idea how to open the hood. "Ma'am she needs your help popping the hood", the soldier told my mom and I glared at them from 20 yards away, but the one closest to me offered to help. I told him how disappointed my dad would be and he assured me many men can't do it either. He pushed the button and I walked away, only to be called back a minute later for him to show me how open the actual hood after pulling the lever. Good call Ebs. After they looked through all the junk food in my car they cleared us to go, but not before telling us they knew we were going to have some Fuu-un this weekend with all that food"...great. Haha! The lighthouse was pretty and the history was interesting. Apparently the Seals train out in the waters because of the different types of current it has. It was interesting driving through the base! Our favorites were the signs for the "training beach" and this one..haha



Day 69: Apparently Jeff Meyers saw my status last Friday and went for a run on the mall to come find me! We met up at this statue at about 10:30 to catch up. Always wonderful to see old Hillsdale friends...Plus this is my favorite memorial and I've never seen it at night :)


Day 68: The longest escalator ever! Mom was pretty nervous.



Day 67: Okay, so this isn't the best picture ever, but this is the only one I got with Bekah and mom all week and we had a great time together so this is for them!

Getting warm!!

Day 66: Spring is coming!

Day 65: I got out early today and walked over to the Lincoln Memorial. The spring breakers have seriously arrived and after stopping to offer to take a picture for 2 different families I realized I could spend my entire afternoon taking Christmas card photos so I started just taking pictures of the mall. It was 70 degrees and ohh so beautiful! This is the WWII Memorial.

Day 64: We walked around all night through downtown and then finally headed to Old town to find someplace to eat. This was the view while waiting for the metro. I think I've shown this before, but it's the Free Mason's monument to George Washington, with the moon shining bright :)

St. Patty's

Day 63: St. Patrick's Day! The walk through the park after work was serenaded by this bagpiper playing my favorite bagpipe song and the reason I took lessons: Amazing Grace. For the neighboring buildings and the White House to hear...Lord-willing, it sent a message to people! "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!"

Day 62: Went to the Hill today for a Tea Party rally today. Of course it was against the Healthcare bill and seeing as I'm writing this a week after it was passed...it's hard to say much.

Day 61: Phew! I am two weeks behind so the next 14 pictures likely really will just mostly be left to your imagination! I'm going to break them up into different posts to make it a bit easier to follow (or write :)

This picture is from Hollywood Cemetary in Richmond. The man at the museum told us 3 US Presidents were burried there. James Monroe, and John Tyler were in the President's Circle. In his own area was the third, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America. We thought it was pretty interesting that some consider him a US President; guess we're in the South!

It is NOT always sunny in Philadelphia!

Day 60: St. John's Church, Richmond, VA: the site of Patrick Henry's speech: "It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

Day 59: Bekah and mom and are in town and we road tripped to Philly today because we figured it would be an okay thing to do with rain. WRONG. It POURED the entire time (2+ inches)! It was still quite enjoyable and we did see some great history and eat some good cheese steaks! I think Independence Hall was the best historical tour I have been on because the kind old tour guide did not settle with telling us what we were seeing but rather took his audience back to the 1600's for a brief history leading to our founding. You had to go through him to see where the Declaration was signed and I thought it was great seeing as many people have probably never heard that history! The Liberty Bell was cool, but beyond that we saw very little, unfortunately. The wind and rain mixed soaked us and the rest of the tourists, evidenced by the 10+ broken umbrellas we saw laying in the streets and sidewalks! We hit Virginia, DC, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey in one day!! Picture: Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed in that hot July of 1776.

Rainy thoughts for rainy days..

Day 58: It's raining this morning and we just passed a small white house where I could see the light on in what I image to be the kitchen. The classic metal swingset sat abandoned in their back yard, waiting for spring evenings when the kids can play on it along with the mud that that is bound to grab at their shoes and make their mother frustrated. Inside, I imagine breakfast was being made. It's a scrambled egg kind of morning and the mother pops in the toast as the baby sits at the tale high chair eating dry Cheerios. The piano, a prized possession looking far to big for the dining room where it has been placed, is playing a lovely rendition of "Old MacDonald" (black keys only) and PB&J sandwiches sit in the pink/purple and 2 red lunch boxes (one labled with a sloppy "Trey" due to the disasterous day he had gotten his brother's lunch and was stuck with raisins instead of grapes). The mother is enjoying a moment of solitude in her cozy kitchen. Seconds later the toast pops up, the boys, racing to the kitchen, begin a tussle on the floor over who can get into their chair first, the baby , giggling at the boys, throws her plastic bowl onto the floor, and verse 7 of "Old MacDonald" shatters into an angry pouding after one too many mistakes. The train keeps moving, the rain keeps falling, and life continues for the little white house with lights on in the kitchen.

Picture: The African American solidier in front of me was reading Obama's biography Audacity of Hope. I know this because I read it for class and recognized the chapter title "Race". For some reason I just found this interesting...

Day 57: Yesterday on the train I spent a lot of time looking out the window and was shocked at all the junk that can be found along the tracks! I decided to do it again today and record what I saw...Quantico -->Woodbridge: *2 deer*old train tracks (boulders, large metal pieces, wood)*t-shirt*yellow 5 gallon bucket*Styrofoam bait box*recycle bin*2 captain seats from van*tires (100+)*TRASH* boulders (20)*loading crate tray (2)*white 5 gallon bucket (6)*5 door screens*traffic cone*metal barrel*construction barrel*baby pool**The sturdy crate boxes (2x the size of refrigerators) were stacked at least 5 high and 10 deep for nearly 2 city blocks length. I don't understand why the homeless wouldn't stay in them; they actually are somewhat spacious. Of course, judging y the excess of cans around them, perhaps they do...I'm stopping my list after several stops; it's raining and the glare from the cabin lights is making me dizzy as I look past my own reflection into this dreary day. To be honest, I don't really get it, I live quite far from downtown and kinda in the boonies, who comes out here to mess it up! It occurs to me as I turn my head to the other side of the car to see the beautiful Potomac that everyone does just that..ignoring the trash and allowing it to simply accommodate.

Another day, another destiny!

Day 56: Heck yes, I wore these to work today! Sometimes you gotta spice things up ;)

ps. First person to name the song in the title get's a shout out. Google = Cheating.


Day 55: Both train rides today I saw rowers out on the Potomac. It was beautiful and I was jealous! What a great work out with such an enjoyable view!

Naples :)

Day 54: Back in DC and enjoying some sight-seeing with Phil and his buddies spring-breaking! Took a Capitol tour (I don't really recommend this, unless you've never done it...kind of a waste), went and saw the Declaration & Constitution at the National Archives, stopped at the Supreme Court and momentarily enjoyed the sun on those grand marble stairs, and got to sit in the Senate chambers for some Healthcare bill discussions. Al Franken (D-MN) graced us with his presence and we wanted to hear him (if only so we could walk out while he was speaking... ), but the others took too long..oh well. Good day :) Oh, and these are the elevator door in the Congressional Office building..reppin' George!

Day 53: Yes, I got this off their website...but I had to share the beautiful hotel I was staying at....Unlike US Airways, the Ritz Carlton definitely takes pleasure in serving their guests. The only problem was when a server dropped my dessert on me one night at dinner...but he felt terrible and immediately took it to be cleaned and they got all the raspberries (!) out of both my silk shirt and white sweater for free, so it was all good...phew, it was a great hotel! ahhh I so love the warm Florida sun!!

Day 52: Sean Hannity.

Day 51: I just have to share....I once promised myself that one day I would have someone waiting with my name on a sign at the airport...it happened yesterday :) My driver was Joe and I felt pretty important, not gonna lie! I met Steve Forbes today and he signed a book for me..no biggie ;) "To Elizabeth: Keep fighting for liberty"; will do!

Day 50: En route to Naples and enjoying a beautiful take-off over the Capitol! I ignored "turn off technology" warnings to snap this picture. Unfortunately this was the only good thing that happened with US Airways that day...They sent my luggage to Tampa (just put the wrong name on my bag!) and after landing at 2 I wasn't supposed to get it until 10pm! I called the airline at 11, still with no bags and starting to get worried for the business attire I was supposed to be wearing/meeting important people in the next morning, and was sent to the website. The website might as well have been non-existent and finally I got through on the phone. She informed me my bags had gone to Tampa..."Yes, I know, but I was told they would come to my hotel by 10 tonight." "OHH, yes, Nancy told me about you...she didn't realize we don't have that flight anymore...they won't be landing until now or delivered until about 1:00 AM". Thanks for letting me know, US Air. She woke me up at 1:00 to say it'd be in by 4:00 and the bellman woke me up at 5:00 with my luggage. Lesson learned: Look at the tag before they take your bag away and never fly US Airways (this was only one issue among several on this trip).

Day 49: This is what happens when I have the office to myself and things are momentarily slow :) And yes, that is IBC ROOT beer in the brown bottle!

Day 48: The Metro is my fall back when I don't have a pic of the day..

Life goes on...

Day 47: Too much baking and accidents are bound to happen :( Whoops.

Day 46: I suppose not many people get to drive by this on their way to church in the morning! So thankful for a free country in which we can go to church and praise God as a body of believers!

Day 45: Thanks to going to bed promptly at 9:30 last night, I woke up at 8 ready to go for the day! I had the house to myself and decided to bake this weekend instead of sight seeing. I did laundry, made pie crust, baked cookies, pie, and banana bread and watched a HILLSDALE CHARGER on the NFL combine!! Pretty sweet! That scored as a picture for the day. This is right before Veldheer was the first OL to break 9 feet! They were pretty impressed.."Resetting the bar at 9 feet...the small school guy making it happen!"

Day 44: After watching a poor man get off the train today with a shopping bag full of Girl Scout cookies (and promptly thinking of friends who would be doing that someday/my own father who also delivered cookies for me :) I came across this man walking through downtown with a stroller on his shoulder...good. Working men still valuing the family!

Day 43: Busy day at work...7 phone lines being used at once...hay carumba!