The Lazy Song

Today is a lazy day and I am totally okay with that. Cam and I are having a Pirates of the Caribbean marathon because the new one comes out on Friday! After a long two days in D.C. we definitely needed a day off. Though I may go for a run later....

I will give you (hopefully) a short synopsis of my time in the national capitol, so here it goes!

On Sunday morning, we left for D.C. at around 10:30am and arrived at around 6pm. It took a little bit longer than expected because of traffic and an unknown area to us. We decided to head to the National Mall area (where all of the monuments are) and walk around. We found a parking spot in the Reagan Building and it was really highly secured. We first walked to the Washington Monument, then the WWII Memorial, which is separated from the Lincoln Memorial by the Reflecting Pool. The Reflecting Pool sadly, was simply a pool of dirt and mud. They began renovations on it last October in order to install a new recirculation system, which will improve the water quality of the pool and add a paved walkway around the perimeter of it. Sad I didn't get to see it, but still so awesome to be in the heart of D.C. history! Next, went to the Lincoln Memorial, Roosevelt Memorial, and Jeffereson Memorial. Jefferson was hands down my favorite because of the openness of the structure and the unbelievable architecture. I would sit on the steps anyday and read in the sunlight, looking out on the Tidal Basin of the Potomac River.

It was sundown by the time we were at the Jefferson and because of construction near the memorial, we couldn't take the short way back to our parking garage. Okay, at this point I was terrified because that means we had about a 2-3 mile walk back around the outside in the dark. Creep-city. We were just two girls in a big city at night and I was about to jump a nearby coach bus with a bunch of students and cry my eyes out to the bus driver so that he would give me a ride back to safety. Pathetic, I know, but I hate being outside at night and don't trust people around me. Especially, after almost being taken in Florida before by a car of men...yeah, not cool. Anyway, we got back safe and sound, thanks to a nice elderly couple we met up with on our way back who gave us directions to a more lit path. Thank goodness for them :)

We stayed at Cam's brother's friends house (Anthony) in Virginia (which is only like 10 minutes from D.C.) and we went out to a diner at like 11:00pm for some french toast! Hole-in-the-wall places are seriously some of the best food you will eat sometimes. Shortly after, I cozied up on the floor and went to sleep.

Monday was a museum day! We first stopped for lunch at Potbelly Sandwich Shop. I had been to one before and it is so great. Had an Italian sandwich and a giant pickle. Please go try this place out sometime, it's decently priced and so yummy! We walked by the White House! Saw a man mowing the lawn and took a bunch of pictures. We then walked to the National Museum of Natural History. We spent a long time in there and I love learning about the ocean, animals, and life in general. I wish I had time to read all of the information they provide, but it would take forever! After a short rest on the grass with a cool soda, we headed to the Air and Space Museum. My dad would have LOVED it....I will have to take him there someday. As I walked through security (they search your bag and you have to walk through a metal detector every time you enter a place), the security guard asked if I was Irish. Uhm, first of all, weird. Second of all, I am Italian. Must be the red hair and green eyes? Anyway, I was pooped after like an hour in this museum and we decided we should head to the Kennedy Center.

Anthony works in the Kennedy Center and told us about how they have a free show every night at 6pm! Anything from dance, to theater, to music! On the way, it began to POUR and luckily I had ponchos in my bag. We pulled them on and kept walking after asking directions from a security guard. We ended up like on the hill of a highway and decided this could not be right. I spotted a bridge off to our right and we clambered down the hill, soaking wet, and continued to the Kennedy. Now, I don't like showing up to a theater looking gross as well as the next person, but there wasn't much we could do. The performance of the night was called 'The Atomic Duo' and they were two guys (one mandolin and one guitar) who play bluegrass/folk type music and add humor to their music. Here is the link if you would like to watch! http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/videos/?id=M4652&type=A Below is a picture of us with the two guys.

After the performance, we took the Metro to Ben's Chili Dogs and I had my first chili dog.

(This post was interrupted by a trip to the movies. We saw Something Borrowed. Good movie, but it was frustrating!! I resume this post sitting in a hammock on Cam's desk at sunset while hummingbirds buzz overhead while they feed on sweet nectar...paints a movie-esc picture huh?)

So, Ben's Chili Dogs. Back in the 1960s, when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, this neighborhood erupted in rebellion. The stores were all torched and striped of their belongings. That is, everything BUT Ben's Chili Dogs. Pretty cool huh? I thought so. After chili dogs and chili fries, we (by this I mean Anthony) decided we should go to Coldstone. Chili dogs and hardcore ice cream? A good idea? Most likely not...but my stomach handled it like a soldier. Not sure what that exactly means to you, but it means like a champ to me. We then stayed up talking and woke up early the next morning to head to the Holocaust Museum.

The Holocaust Museum has been on my bucket list for ages. I am so intrigued with WWII and the Holocaust, I always crave to learn new things. I honestly can't explain it to you. There was so much information...I started by reading every sign and every note and barely through the museum, I couldn't do it anymore. It would have taken me half a day to read through everything. It was neat because before you go through the main exhibit, you get an identification card with a person and their story inside. At the end, you find your person on a touch screen to see if they made it through the war. Mine didn't :( I hadn't teared up or anything throughout the whole exhibit, but at the end they had this little theater where you could watch survivors tell their stories and it was heart wrenching. I was a mess after it. After two people's stories, I was out of there. One guy's story was about how he was at his end, but he wasn't going to let anyone take his life. He felt someone grabbing on him (he thought to take him away) so he mustered up what little strength he had and hit whoever was behind him with a wooden shoe he had next to him. He looked back and the man said, "I am an American soldier and I have come to free you." Tears welling yet? Well, when I tell it, it obviously isn't as emotional. The lady's story was about a man approaching her and he asked if she could take him to the others. She replied with, "Don't you know I am a Jew?" I forgot most of the commentary, but she led him and he held the door open for her. She hadn't remembered the last time a man had done that for her. The 'bunkhouse' was filled with women who couldn't even get out of bed. He was an American soldier and she was a Jew...the story ended with her saying that he is now her husband. How adorable is that? I cried....again.

After the museum, we walked by the Capitol building and went to lunch at a place called Good Stuff Eatery and it is Spike Mendelsohn's restaurant, he was on Top Chef or something? AMAZING burgers...I also recommend this place. I just ate a lot of good food. I love food.

Well, this post was entirely too long. I like to talk and I could have gone on for way longer. So, if you are still here, thank you for putting up with me and I hope you enjoyed hearing about my time in D.C.

Now, I will resume my laziness....if you need a definition of what this is for me today, check out The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars. Not all of the song is about my life though...don't worry mom and dad. Love love, Kait.