Not much, other than "sorry" and to tell you that i have been having a crap-load of FUN.  Serious, no hold barred, blow your mind, laugh until your sides hurt FUN.  

So, i guess that is kinda like an excuse, yes?

But I will promise to work on updating it.  Next week...before Mary leaves....

Unless we have more FUN!   hahahahahah

Holley

On Saturday night, I watched the movie "Elf" which ushered me further into the holiday spirit...and on Sunday, I made my way to the National Christmas Tree near the White House.  Until 1973, the National Christmas Tree was a cut tree, delivered to the White House from somewhere in the United States.  In 1973, a large tree was planted and remains in area all year long "as a reminder of the holiday spirit" or so said the sign next to the tree.  

Around the large National tree, there are 52 normal size Noble Fir trees all around, one for each state (including I noticed Puerto Rico, American Samoa.)  The trees are decorated by a selected group of children from that state.  Some were girls scouts, some were schools and some were other types of children's organization such as Boys and Girls clubs, foster homes, etc.  

This is the California Tree...

To be honest, I was very underwhelmed.  The National tree was not very impressive...the decorations were rather boring and plain.  The state trees were very plain as well.  The children's ornaments were all hand made things like you see in schools (pie plates, popsicle sticks, etc) that are encased in large clear balls to keep them safe in the weather.  The area is not decorated, and the whole thing looks like someone didn't put a lot of thought into the whole thing.  So far, this is the worst DC attraction that I have seen so far!

After seeing the tree, I visited the recently opened Smithsonian American History Museum, located on the National Mall.   It had been closed for renovations for the last two years.  (Yes, I said YEARS!)  

Entrance to the Smithsonian American History Museum

Apparently, it was voted the least attractive museum in some poll, and they decided it needed an update.  The biggest attraction in this fascinating museum is the newly restored Old Glory American Flag.  This huge flag was the flag that was flying on a fort during a battle that Francis Scott Key saw flying after the British were retreating.  It was this sight that prompted him to write the words for the song "The Start Spangled Banner".   The flag is very large (10-12 feet by 20 feet maybe) and very old.  To help reduce the aging, they created a sealed room behind a glass for the flag, where they have darken the lights to reduce the UV damage, and softly backlit the flag underneath.  It was quite a moving sight.

Other interesting items you can see is the lunch counter where the blacks staged the sit in to protest segregation, Calvin Coolidge silk pajamas, and the Ruby Slippers from the movie "The Wizard of Oz".   The item that fascinated me the most was one of the original Kermit the Frog and an actual Oscar the Grouch.  As a child of the 70's who grew up with Sesame Street, this was very cool!

Here are pictures I took today.  Hope you enjoy as much as I did.  And here is hoping you are in the holiday spirit too.

Where the protest was staged...

The green guy!

The entrance to the Star Spangled Banner.  (You cannot take pictures of the flag due to the potential damage to the fragile fabric with the flash)

President Calvin Coolidge's Silk Pajamas.  (Isn't it funny that he would wear green silk pajamas with yellow embroidery?  I would not have guessed that they were so colorful!!)

Believe it or not, this is a "key to the White House!"  Really!  The note below explains that the key is mostly symbolic, because there are always people who open the doors to the white house for the president, but that presidents get a key like this so they feel like it is their house while they are living there.  Isn't that interesting?  Who knew that they get a key?

Here I am, trying to look Fabulous!  (I still wear my glasses...I just took them off for this picture!)

So, on November 3, I moved into the new apartment.  It is a very large apartment, as apartment goes.  Two bedrooms, a large living room and dining room, and a small galley kitchen and a very small bathroom.  I have 5 closets, three walk-in closets and two long traditional closets.  I am on the 4th floor, and I have two large window in the main living area that faces the street and the courtyard below has a beautiful fountain.  I do not have to worry about putting out trash cans anymore, there is a nifty garbage chute right down the hall where yoth tu dump all the bags of trash and someone else empties them!  The master bedroom is VERY BIG-- I have room for all my large furniture, and room to spare.  It is actually bigger than the room I had in the house in California.  The extra bedroom is just as big as the master bedroom which means that the first half of the room is the guest bedroom, with the queen size bed, dresser and a TV stand.  The back half, near the large picture window, will be my craft and sewing area, with three tables in a u shape to hold everything I like to use.  The window brings in nice light, but is partially shaded by a very large tree...which will be nice during the summer.  

Here are pictures of the first week I moved in.  When I get all the rooms together, I will send an update so you can see this before...and then the after!

From the front door, the living room on the left, and the dining room on the right

From the front door the living room 

From the front door, the hallway to the bedrooms on the left.  You can see the extra storage closets doors on the left side of the hallway...and the open door at the end of the hallway is the bathroom.  First door on the right is the guest room...and the second door on the right is the master bedroom.

The kitchen, in all it's glory.  If you stand in the very center, you can cook at the stove, open the fridge and turn on the water without moving!  Very convenient!

Master bedroom.  See how much room???

The guest room...it's not ready for guests yes....but it will be soon!  Are you ready to visit??

New dining room table and chairs....you know how I love black!

Well...that's all for now.  

This cemetery has to be one of the most beautiful cemetery's I have ever seen.  I have a thing for cemeterys...when I was growing up, I would find them in every little town we would vacation in.  My mother was worried that I was a morbid kid!  I tried to explain to her that I loved the peacefulness and the artistic beauty of the granite.  And the history and sentiment written on the stones about the lives of people someone once loved touched my heart.  Multiply that feeling by 100 and you get close to the feeling when you visit Arlington.

We rode the bus tour to the major sites....what a knee saver!!  Definitely worth the $7.50 for the day.  (no, it was not $27.00 like it says on the bus...that is the big package for all DC national parks)

John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy's final resting place.  You can't see the eternal flame, but it is there, I promise.  They say on the tour "for all practical purposes the flame has never ceased since it was turned on in 1968"  Did you pick that up?  For practical purposes...hmmm...I bet that means that it probably HAS been turned off...and I bet sometimes accidentally.  Can you imagine it...?  "Hey, Joe...what is this knob?  I smell gas...I'm going to turn this off..."  Ha! 

Whoops!  I need to pay attention to the signs around the grave of JFK and show a little respect...

The grave of Audie Murphy, one of the most decorated soldier in our nation's history.  I am moved about how simple and unimpressive it is.  If they didn't point it out you would miss it!

On one side is the ampitheater, this is where the President will speak in a few days on Veteran's Day.

Inside the ampitheater.  The beauty of the white marble, the sheer amount of the white stone is almost overwhelming.

On the other side, is the tomb of the Unknown Solider.  See the mat under his feet?  That is where the soliders all walk.  The solider walks 21 steps in 21 seconds.  This is like the 21 gun salute that the military performs for funerals.  It represents the constant respect our nation has for the unknown soliders throughout our history that were never found or identified.  It also is to honor all known heroes who died for our country too.  Did you know that every minute of every day, a solider is marching back and forth in front of this tomb?  In the cold, rain, snow, heat...they walk.  In the summer, the shifts are 30 minutes long.  This does two things.  First, the solider doesn't get heatstroke during the summer, and it also allows more tourists to see the changing of the guard during the high point of visitors.  During the winter, (now) they change once on the hour.

We wait for the changing of the guard.

(here is where the movie of the changing of the guard will be when i figure out how to download it!)

My favorite part of the cemetery.  I was very excited to see the area where women like me are honored.  It made me very proud to have served my country.

The gates that lead to the Women's Memorial are incredibly impressive. 

From the top...the view is stunning.  

After our tour, we stopped in the gift shop.  I couldn't resist this picture....

Look at what you can get cheap?  Can anyone say LAME DUCK??

This was a wonderful day.  I can't wait for my first visitor so that I can go back soon!

The new B&B that I moved into on October 19th is closer to heart of the Eastern Market district, which makes it nice for shopping and having fun.  However, the actual apartment is not as nice as the one on G street.  I highly recommend the Barney Circle B&B if you are traveling or need temporary lodging in DC.  

Here is the C street view from the outside:

See the handrail on the bottom right?  That is my entrance...

Today (Monday) I had to wait for my car to be delivered from the transportation company, so I walked a few blocks to a cute little coffee house.

  

I was thrilled to discover that this coffee shop does the lattes with the designs on the top in the milk foam.  (Yes, I know...it's a small thing, but it makes it look REALLY cool..)  My silly excitement at the design brought a smile to Barrista.  She actually introduced me to the award winning Champion Latte Design maker.  (They had a contest on Saturday to present this award).  I saw one of these competitions on FoodNetwork.

See what I mean?  Isn't that the neatest trick?  

After I sat and enjoyed the Mocha Latte and the danish, I walked just a few hundred feet to the historic site of the Eastern Market.  This "flea market" location has been here for a long time.  In 1997, there was a terrible fire, and the historic building was burned badly inside.  Which is a real shame, because look how beautiful the outside is...

Happily, the city immediately erected this temporary space across the street, where the folks can still do their business.  The renovation of the original building is in progress and the current estimated date of completion is sometime in 2009.  

If you ever come and visit me, this is one place that I will take you.  The market sells many unique and ethnic items, and it is just plain fun to walk around.

It is very exciting to think that this is just ONE CORNER of DC...and I have so many other fun things to see in the coming weeks and months!