Something About a Door

I stand at the door. I'm not one to verbalize what I want....so I just stand here. They should know what I want.

Maybe if I turn around and sit against the door they will notice me! They say some comment like, "You should wash the windows because of my nose...!" or something like that! I don't know what they mean...I can see out of it just fine.

Oh, never mind I will just lie here and glare at them.

Oh, a bird.

I wait patiently.

Now which is prettier? Me or the flower?

Perspective

My daughter couldn't believe I did this, but LOOOOOK what was behind her!!!!!! (kind of jealous they have the new ones) ...it's as if it greeted me that morning! ok, ok...

Washington Monument

Ok, perspective is the word of the day- in more ways than one! You really don't know how big these things are until you are there! Do you know what single event stopped construction on it and can you spot where that was? Again, perspective...you know those annoying road construction sites that never seem to get completed? Can you imagine for a moment it took 36 years to complete this?
The photos don't show how muggy and hot it was that day!

I had N going as we walked up to it....that she could not touch it- she saw the guard walking around it and really believed what I was saying...as the guard went around I told her to run up to it really quick.... of course, mother was bending over laughing at that moment ;)

Lincoln Memorial

size. significance. quiet memorial atmosphere.

then right outside the front...

Shall we walk in the reflection ....all of us

There were moments like this on the trip for my daughter and I- where you know what you have learned...so two dimensional...you know what you feel- what you believe, but to get that much closer

.. how many of us have really watched the full 17 min. version? I urge you to do so (linked in the 'reflection' word above)...after being there and seeing the different camera perspectives...wow... I'm lacking the right words right now.....

Then there was the White House!

Here is a different look at the inside of our House! A House without an animal is...too quiet! Of course, we can't forget about BO!

I've learned a lot in the search for interesting links to share with you, so finally I share this interactive one! Oh, I can't leave without sharing about the White House BEES in the garden!

Things People Take for Granted

A commute (business or pleasure) can look different for all. One snowy post I shared my commute. The typical suburbia -pull out of your garage in your own vehicle and drive to work. A little secret- until this trip I had never ridden in a subway or bus! Kind of ironic isn't it? ...the fact I DRIVE one!

Truly, we have about 50 CLOUD pictures! I never can get enough of them! Let's be honest, looking out of a window of a plane, you can't help but this it is simply amazing this thing got into the air! To the lay person- this photo below may show a simple celebration of making it there.But the truth is in my pure grimace...So, flying into America's busiest airport and catching a BUS (again...first time riding such a thing) with our bags and stormy skies. The cheap bus ($6.10 to Washington DC) and boy, was it worth it ($72 by cab).....bus lanes, past the evening traffic, etc. One kicker though- it ends at a metro stop in the middle of the city! Of course, along the way I couldn't help scream out-"There's the PENTAGON!!" the size of it was not what I suspected-huge building! Now, our hotel was the Navy Lodge in Bethesda!!!! With lightning all around us.....two GREEN HORNS lost...you can visualize it...big bags, tourist looking, while the rest of the city raced by in there black overcoats with black umbrellas. (prepared working people!) Simply put - Mom had to step it up and find our way! (remember, I never have ridden such a thing...except the monorail at Disney World and the trolley in San Diego!!!) I was so thankful it was underground at this point- I just wanted to get out of the weather! Then there was turnstiles (hmm, cattle gates came to mind)...that don't move unless you have a ticket! Again, remember I don't even know where I'm going to GET a ticket at the little ATM like ticket place! That night there were THREE angels with us! A man out of the Metro booth came out and up to us and asked us where we were heading! He told us to buy just a one way today as that will be cheaper and in the future days a unlimited one as that would be best. I think we were like SIMS with those little bubbles over our heads and he read it clearly. Then, he even bought it (pushing the appropriate buttons) for us...all I had to do was put in my card! THANK YOU Mr. METRO guy!OK, now this is RUSH HOUR- getting on these 'trains' those doors close regardless- not like an elevator door. My daughter was on with her bag and here I was with the suitcase stuck between the doors. Again, so ANGEL of a gentleman yanked hard at the door 'I don't want you two separated' (here is a undercover pic taken the next day...at (9:30am...nobody on)sorry, Mr.sunglasses guy, I don't have your permission to post this.... Then, we get off at a stop too soon and stood staring at the metro map and where exactly we were going. Another young ANGEL just stood there looking at us as she could feel we needed to ask somebody something. People getting off the train was gone we were standing there alone. Although, very broken English she did tell us the next stop was the one we wanted, but hadn't heard of the Navy Lodge. (unless you were military you wouldn't) She was patient and kind. That's all we needed! THANK YOU MS. KINDNESS! This was Washington D.C. I was utterly surprised at the rush hour train packed and you could hear a pin drop it was so quiet. No one talks. Also, I noticed that although the speed of getting on an escalator or train is very quick and everyone is rushing and the AMOUNT of people...no one bumps into you. So, off at the right stop, up this dark tunnel on an escalator...I mean, LONG....from the darkness we emerge into rain and lightening still. I call the hotel and the front desk person was so kind, but the way she made it sound, "Oh, we are just around the corner" OK, so we walk in rain, no umbrella (I figured, if we had had one we would probably have gotten struck by lightening anyway!) we walk to the Bethesda Medical Center Base Gate Guard. Regardless, of whether it's FL, CA, CO, or MD...whipping out our Uniform Service ID card...I feel AT HOME. Poor gate guard in the rain, but they had their gear on and I'm sure they chuckled at the sight of us! You know the 'right around the corner'....well, it was a quarter mile. Needless, to say we looked like wet rats (no offence, Romeo & Remy)!!!! We get settled in our beautiful comfortable room and decide to order out. We have no car, we have no idea where we are and I was not about to walk to McDonald's on base! Simply enough- order Pizza Hut pasta! er, will be there in......45 min to an hour! WHAT????? Ok, this suburbia person is used to the car out of the garage to my mega plazas - I'm like, '...an hour??'I could drive to Denver in that time frame... Ah, hell (beep), I've lived on raisins and lemon tea (which was in those bottles).....so at 9pm we had the best pasta I've ever tasted!!!!! Took a shower and I don't remember even getting into bed!

A side note: getting into one of them for the first time and feeling the speed, yet smoothness of the train I couldn't help not to have fearful thoughts of these trains in tunnels. I know- safer than cars. So sad to hear that two of them crashed soon after we came home.... That was the line going to Arlington (which we did ride one day)

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My FINISHED crocheted dishcloths for my kitchen!! (one of my Monthly UFOs)

Greatness of Two Kinds

Although, for me the choice is easy, but the contrast is spectacular! Actually, there is a 'greatness' in both and I'm glad to be able to experience both. Above is Eleven Mile State Park here in CO this past weekend. Views like this is just heaven on earth for me.

Our Nation's Capitol- where EVERYTHING is grand. I don't want to bore everyone with the same classic pictures everyone would have on such a trip with my daughter, so during my 'wrapping my mind around' time afterwards I will share some aspects that I hope will be a little different. First of all- to travel alone was an experience in itself and it was all that I imagined! This was a trip of a lifetime for my daughter and I. ....and yes, we were walking away from viewing the White House when 'N' kept saying -let's go to the Ford Theatre where Lincoln was shot...originally our destination was the Holocaust Museum (opposite direction)- we didn't realize until later that during that time frame was when that killer came in and shot the the Holocaust Museum's guard.

I'm going to try to find the most interactive or photo rich links for you, so please come along as I revisit what we saw!

A Day to Remember

My tribute to The King of Pop ....there are soooo many favorites..... Good bye Michael (please click)


(I will be back...so much to share about our recent trip to Washington D.C. !!!)

Embark on Summer Break...

...more like take it over!I always wanted to walk to this old train bridge.

Yours truly claiming her summer break! (I know photographer worse error...horizon!)

My daughter claiming her LAST summer break!..and, by the way, she is 17 today!!!! I can't believe it!!!
I was also inspired to totally detail my car, by hand, after this hour walk!

Today? Well, I'm pooped out....

I completed my 2ND year as a bus driver. I had an interesting year. A tear left my eye for dropping off my last high school students- I will miss their joking around-they enjoyed me and I enjoyed them , my middle school- well, I'll be honest, they were very good on the bus (actually, kind of odd to be this good with this age group), but for some reason never really bonded with them- they were like statues walking off last day..after being told have a good summer, many said nothing (?)...kind of odd (always has been like that) almost on the side of boring...and then there was my elementary....boy, they gave me the run for my money.... sadly, I learned more about dysfunction that can occur in families, I also learned that no matter how many times you suspend a child- they just don't learn or have the guidance to change their behavior... there was about 5 children that, as sad as it sounds, that would have fit that description. It's amazing the time and effort put in on the same kids/parents... but 90% were fine and I will miss their smiling faces. There was one endearing little boy that always tried to beat me to saying, "I will see you this afternoon"

-it is sad that I won't see him in the afternoon on Monday-

So, yesterday I sat on my hummingbird bench looking at my mountain pondering all the happy faces and cute encounters. The dandelion handed to me as they enter the bus, the high school girl that always had the wonderful smell of coffee and one day didn't, for her family bought that 'off brand' creamer...(her whole family didn't like it and threw it away after a while), one girls story that her mom lost her job, the little girl that pleaded and cried to be let off the bus the day before Christmas break (against policy to let them back off) because she had left her dad's present in her classroom- he was in Iraq..... -I let her off- she came back and couldn't thank me enough, a photo on one of my high schools phone of her mom after neck surgery, children that would pick up some trash on their way off the bus, children that perhaps I overlooked because they were always so good- sat correctly, quietly... ah, the young souls that touched me...... I let my tears stream. This job takes all of you-I gave it my all. Now like a whisper or breeze...it's all over once more... it's so bittersweet. I suppose, if I ever stop feeling like this on the last day, I will know not to come back...

A Needed Break

JUST TAKIN' A BREAK!

Enjoying the daily rain...finishing up the year & contemplating on it...and anticipating on the trip that my daughter and I are about to take to WASHINGTON D.C.!

TODAY WE ARE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE...our thoughts to those that are serving, who have served, and to those who have given us the ultimate!