our neighborhood

Here are pictures of our neighborhood that we spent the past week in.....very quaint...

for those of you not from Tucson, you'll recognize these maple tree seeds [aka 'helicopter seeds']. The girls got a kick out of dropping these from high up and watching them spin down to the ground...they did it over and over again....funny what amuses the kids.....

My name is the Lorax; I speak for the Trees

Check out this Oak tree. It's got to be several hundred years old!!!!

The strongest oak of the forest

is not the one that is is protected from the storm

and is hidden from the sun.

It is the one that stands in the open

where it is compelled to struggle

for its existence

against the winds and the rains

and the scorching sun.

The 1700's

Of course in Williamsburg everyone gets into the spirit. I don't think the girls realize the bottled water isn't supposed to be filled with the water from the well.

Williamsburg

Today we decided to take the 2 1/2 hour ride to Williamsburg. It was pretty fun- but not exactly how I remember it from 30 years ago.

are we done yet?

My feet are sore...I'm thirsty...are we there yet?...it's hot....it's starting.....

The Senate in the Afternoon

In the afternoon, we had a tour scheduled with John McCain's office. We took a subway system from the Russell building underway to the Capitol --I asked our tour guide, Brian, if it was for security or comfort, and he said definitely comfort as so many of our Senators are 'old and out of shape'. Anyway, there are not a whole lot of photos, as they are limited. We did get into the gallery of the Senate and saw Jon Kyl [Senator from Arizona] come in and talk about immigration. Well, we're still deciding what we're doing today.
Megan is getting homesick and missing 'her dogs'. A week is a long time to be away and keep her moving nonstop, I guess. And, yes, I know Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the HOUSE, but her office is right off the main rotunda, so I found it interesting that the power is both literally and figuratively in the center of things.

The Halls of Congress

In the morning we went to the office of our Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and received Gallery passes to the House of Representatives.

and we're still getting along...

it's been 5 days and we're still getting along pretty well

just a few more

Watch out, Jeff!!

National Gallery of Art

"When I haven't any blue, I use red" -Pablo Picasso

above: Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Piet Mondrian

Today we went to the National Gallery of Art. We saw so many famous works of art that I can't even begin to say- Picasso, O'Keeffe, Mondrian, Van Gogh, Monet, Da Vinci, Warhol and so many others. I will show a few and then invite you to my classroom where I will have a huge display at the beginning of the school year.

more from the rally

you'll probably have to click on these photos to get a bigger view, but I was actually pretty close.-- I didn't have my telefoto lens with me though. It was kind of exciting to be this close to all this 'power'.

and more up close and personal...

after a long day, we were on our way home and saw a big 'huba baloo' at the Capitol. There was more security than usual [if you can believe that!] and more people standing around seeming to be waiting for something. I told Jeff and the girls to head on home and that I would meet them there, and that I was going to scope out the scene. So I hung out at the Capitol--Jamie, tell John that all the motorcycle cops ride Harleys!-- then all of the sudden a bunch of suits came out of the Capitol and walked right in front of me across the street- turns out the Democrats had just passed the Minimum wage increase from $5.15 to $5.85 and they were doing some celebrating with a bit of a rally! Since no more 'regular' people on the Capitol steps, the Senators and Reps have to come to the people...in the photos are Teddy Kennedy, Speaker Pelosi, Harry Reid, Rangle, and some others that I should probably know that I don't remember.

so close to the power...

Everywhere we went today, it seemed we were close to the President, a member of Congress, or someone that holds power coming or going.... Marine 1 landed and then shortly later took off again. Of course, the SWAT guys don't tell us much about anyone's itinerary.

of course there's an exception to every rule...

so if you remember I said that no flags could be placed on the gravesites except during Memorial Day weekend, there is one exception. Audie Murphy was one of the most decorated soldiers of WWII. Every morning the park rangers would arrive and there would be a flag placed on his gravesite. They would remove it, and of course, the next morning, there would be another placed in its spot. This went on for quite a while, until the 'powers that be' decided that for this one case, they would allow a flag to be placed on this one gravesite.

In this case, perserverence paid off!

a bit more changing of the guard

here are a few more photos of the changing of the guard...

keep in mind it was very warm and humid- and we were in shorts and tank tops- these guys must have been really sweating.

a few facts:

• about 24 burials are conducted every weekday at Arlington National Cemetary


• The sentinel on guard at the tomb of the Unknowns paces 21 steps down the mat before the tomb, pauses 21 seconds, and returns-- symbolizing a 21-gun salute.


• flags decorate each gravesite on Memorial Day weekend but are not permitted on graves at any other time

changing of the guard

This was very ceremonial and we were told to stand the entire time.

Did you know??? The land for Arlington National Cemetary was confiscated from Robert E. Lee during the Civil War?

Arlington National Cemetary

Solemn is the best word that comes to mind.

Also here is the memorial to the 7 members of the Challenger Mission.

Washington Monument

Today we went up 500 feet into the Washington Monument. It was pretty neat. You could see for miles. The pictures aren't terrific, because of the glass, but the view was stunning!

relaxing for a moment....

but just a moment! Gotta keep movin'....

still chasing birds...

just pigeons....

Reminder

Remember if you want to see any of these photos in a larger size, just double click on the photo and it will enlarge....

Vietnam Vets Memorial

These items were left by former classmates. Some of these panels are taller than Jeff- maybe 8 feet or so.

It was dark and this memorial is not well-lit, but still, when you see 58,000 names written down, you can't help but be moved. Very impressive.

And this book is to help you find the names on the wall. It is sort of like a 'map' to help specific names. It's hard to see, but it's like 6 inches thick!!

Abe is Lit

I wonder what happened to the principles that Lincoln held so dear- "that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from this earth. "

WW II Memorial

This is the WWII Memorial. You can see there is water everywhere, and it is really cool- especially for us desert rats!! The enscriptions are very cool as well. And this is the view of the Lincoln Memorial...which we walked to after we finished walking around here. By the time we arrived there, it was totally dark and Abe was completely lit.