Happy Memorial Day!

Day 137:
Despite our full intentions of heading into D.C. today to see some of the famous memorials, we got kind of a late start and decided rushing back from Maryland was completely unnecessary. Instead we drove to Baltimore to see Fort McHenry—the site from where Francis Scott Key wrote his famous poem that later turned into our National Anthem. It was a stifling day, but beautiful on the bay. The wind was blowing and the flag really was flying proud. It was kind of overwhelming and really quite amazing to think back a couple hundred years to when bombs were coming from that beautiful water! I shuddered at the thought and welled up at the sight….

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

This will be..an everlasting love :)

Day 136: THE DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!!! First, you can look back to the dress-fitting day when I couldn’t post the picture of Nancy’s dress…. :) This was truly one of the most beautiful weddings I will ever attend. Nancy was a glowing bride and the surroundings could not have been better. It was an amazing day and the church was exquisite. I am so happy for this couple. They’ve come so far from freshman year as Nancy struggled through those no phone/internet/communication/LIFE weeks that the academy demanded of Travis! They have both grown up so much and I am so proud of them! I look forward to where God takes you and I LOVE YOU GUYS!!

Day 135: I have fallen in love with the city of Annapolis. I’m not sure if it’s the patriotism, sailing, beautiful weather, military academy, or all of the above, but I absolutely love it. I’m talking about sailing today, because tomorrow’s post is for the Lair’s :) Okay, so I have always loved anything on the water. Swimming, skiing, tubing, wake boards, you name it-I love it. So naturally spending a morning out on the water sounded wonderful. Little did I know the treat I was in for! The “boat” was not just a boat. It was a 38-foot sailboat complete with a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom below. We had maybe 20 people on it and I still didn’t even talk with everyone. We spent 3 perfect hours on the Chesapeake Bay and it could not have been more wonderful. Oh, it’s worth mentioning that Travis’ sponsor family is the owner of the boat and their parents also live on the water. They were gracious hosts and really created a great experience for us! (The picture doesn't even show the boat, but it begins to capture the essence of the relaxing time we had!)

Day 134: Ahh we felt like grown ups tonight in our hot heels, with our bottle of wine at an Italian restaurant, and the cab we took to stop #2 of the evening because it was pouring rain. We rocked out to live Irish music all night and met some fun Minnesotan Air Force boys!

Day 133: Winnie and Jenni got here today! This is Jenni on the metro..whipping clothes and shoes for the wedding out of her bag like Mary Poppins.

Oh wouldn't it be lovely?

Day 132: Went on a lovely walk with Carrie after work to show her Old Town Alexandria! We came across a man playing the glass cups (think Miss Congeniality); he was playing historical songs and giving their significance! Did you know Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was written by Mozart (clearly more intense than it’s current form)?! AND he played a beautiful (several part) version of the National Anthem! This picture was so patriotic..first time past a couple was kissing with this as their backdrop. Too much.

Day 131: Royal Air mail from RaeRae in Scotland!!!

Day 130: Pool at new condo!

Day 129: I took a wrong turn today, and ended up here. At least I felt safe! (Above: This is the Pentagon..in case ya didn't know)

Day 128: Fancy cheesecake at the Ritz..one of 3 on the plate and this one was banana! So GOOD! Is it bad that I stay at these amazing hotels and all I report back on is the food?...

Day 127: Drawer of goodies in my room…should have seen the fridge……..

Day 126: Old one was stuck on my old car so mom picked this one up..I see Greek license plates all the time out here, so I figure I can still represent for a while!

Day 125: Francis Scott Key Mall in Maryland. Love it.

"To the plaace, where I belong--West Virginia"

Day 124: On my drive home!! Since we skipped out on West Virginia on the drive to Michigan, I made sure I cranked John Denver this time and made the most of it. I was in the state for approximately 15 minutes and listened to the song the entire time. It really is so beautiful!

Day 123: The Thistleton wedding was a family affair and I helped Carrie a bit with decorating the cakes! This is one of mine! They all turned out beautiful (more kudos to Carrie than I, you should have seen the big cake!)! These small cakes were on each table.

Day 122: Happy Wedding Day to my dear friend Abby! This is my first friend-my-age wedding and I think the only seriously weird part was her name change. I do recall the day she first told me that the next boy she would date would be Tommy Thistleton. We were sitting in the Pi Phi basement and I was quite stunned seeing as he had been crushin on her for 3 years with no luck…20 months later and here they are! Abby was a beautiful bride and the time shared with Hillsdale friends afterward was a blast. To Abby and Tom in their new marriage, I wish all the absolute best! Unfortunately I don't have any pictures on my camera with the bride...so here is one with a dear old Hillsdale friend instead!

Great American Ballpark

Day 121: First new baseball park of the summer! Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati is going to be hard to beat!! The river and half the city on a hill is the view past the outfield and post game there were para-troopers landing on the field! We last minute decided to stay for the fireworks, and I’m so happy we did! They turned off all the lights in the stadium and played music. By the time “God Bless America” rolled around I was overwhelmed! Fireworks and baseball on a Friday night in America..doesn’t get much more picturesque!

"Just another American Saturday Night..."

Day 120: The Weaver’s beautiful home! I LOVE IT!

Day 119: More fun with Kelsey Gomberg!

Day 118: Party in the USA…music video behind the Academy. Enough said.

Day 117: “You pose so I can take a picture of the townies hangin out at Wal-Mart after their prom”..in their dresses.

Day 116: Happy Mother’s Day! Thankfully I actually got to be with my mom for a while this morning before they drove home! Every day I become more and more like my mother. Many of the things that I once found annoying are now things I myself find important. A clean kitchen, dusting, a clean room, made bed (see a trend here?)..I also love baking, hosting parties, opening my “home” to others. Basically, I’m saying that it’s a good thing. So thanks mom, for everything. I love you and appreciate so many of the things you have taught me.
This picture is kinda silly…but at the Hunt Club they had these out for Mother’s Day and I thought they were kinda cute..oh Hillsdale.

Day 115: Official graduation ceremony today! Still thanking God for Hillsdale College. We followed tradition started with Kristina a few years back and had a blast goin up to the clock tower, searching the towers, stealing books from the library (don’t tell Squeak), and making Pi Phi nachos for our Arrowman’s first time!

Day 114: We got up at about 5:45 for our lovely drive to Michigan today..Ben conked out within minutes and Bekah made us pull off for coffee barely outside of DC. We got lost in the small highway town, drove around for 10 minutes looking for Bekah’s coffee and then she spilled what we found…The drive was absolutely beautiful through the mountains. No Country Roads to our great disappointment, but we pulled off to buy the Brad Paisley CD and sure enjoyed our trip! Unfortunately no pics of us turned out so hot..so here's a pretty barn I saw!

"Rap Matters"

Day 113: Biggest construction cover-up ever; it was nearly a building just around a few new squares of sidewalk!

Day 112: I observed these women on the train today…and pictured myself with Pi Phi’s 40 years down the road. They were probably in their 60’s and all dressed up to go out, giggling and having a grand old time catching up…

Day 111: On the car in front of me while driving in this morning…I literally laughed out loud. Rap matters..Yes it does. Yes it does.

Day 110: Senior sidewalk—yea class of 2010!

Day 109: Saw this cute house decoration and naturally had to take a picture…They were wooden blocks about 2 inches thick with history information on them!

Day 108: Cool car.

Day 107: Record day. 9 minutes for the Soduku AND a new kind of puzzle…Ahh exercising my brain on the train. Nerd.