Junkie

I have been watching this as if it were the Olympics or an Office-a-thon or the BBC Pride and Prejudice:

(couldn't find a graphic without the committee tagged on...I've been watching the Democratic convention on PBS for those that aren't as into politics and have no idea what I am talking about)
I've been loving it. I love the PBS commentary too. Rob thinks I am crazy and that there is something seriously wrong with me. I think he is right. But man, Hillary really came through, and too bad Kerry wasn't as fired up 4 years ago as he was last night. And how about Michelle Obama, she is one articulate impressive lady. I don't know if I'll be able to stomach the Rep. convention, but I will try, because, well, I'm crazy.

*Because this is my blog I am going to ask that you don't leave opinions that are too political in nature. I will delete them. This post was meant to be a statement of how I am enjoying the convention, but I don't want to go too much into a political debate. In the past I would have welcomed it, but my opinion of political "debate" has changed. Mostly I feel we get too emotional and irrational, we offend, and we don't enlighten each other. Everyones opinions are already pretty solidly formed and arguing on my blog won't change anyones mind. So I don't mean to offend, but I will delete your comments. (Also I will delete anonymous comments. If you are going to say it, please own up to it). Sorry.

Mourning

School is starting tomorrow.  Summer is over.  I have to yell at my kids to wake up and get ready, pack them a lunch (oh the monotony), hurry them out the door, nag and fight over homework, make sure bedtime happens, make sure uniforms are clean, drive my car to the school way too much, and not be able to hang out by the pool whenever the whim strikes.  The tears are spilling over the keyboard as I type.

And the Olympics are over. 

 And the election season kicks into high gear.  

If I had some widow's weeds, you can guarantee I'd be sporting them. 

Prayers and Provo

The Clark family were always a presence growing up in Provo. With eight kids there was always a Clark in your grade or just ahead or behind you. They lived in the tree streets, just a neighborhood up from mine and we all went to Wasatch, Dixon, and Provo High, (and BYU too). Anyway, one of the younger sisters, Stephanie was in a plane crash with her husband last week. He had recently gotten his pilot license. The flight instructor who was with them died. They sustained serious burns, and have a very difficult recovery ahead of them. They have four small children. You can read about how they are doing, and about what an amazing family the Clarks are on her sisters blog, cjane .
This evening in Kiwanis Park, a huge group gathered for a balloon launch in Stephanie and Christian's honor. Stephanie and Christian have a family tradition of letting balloons go on birthdays and holidays. Although, I didn't know Stephanie (she was my sister Maren's age), I went to school with her older siblings and I have been thinking and worryin a lot about the Nielson's and their little family all week. We decided to go to the balloon launch and I was so glad we went. It was so touching and amazing to see so many people gather in support of the Nielson's and Clarks. Being there also made me really appreciate what a great place Provo was to grow up in. Their were so many of the "Provo" families there, showing their support and love for the Clarks. The Calders, Densleys, Blairs, Marvels, Lindsays, Nielsens, Wings, and so many more.
I know there are many many many many people all over the world (her blog has a huge following) praying for the Nielson family and I pray that their family can be all together, happy, and healthy, sooner rather than later.

We're All Together Again!

Rob came home last night.  He had to take a course at Walter Reed for 4 weeks.  I am happy to say that I can cope with four kids on my own, but I am even happier to report that I don't want to.  I love having Rob home, and I missed him a lot.  The kids missed him too.  I was afraid Clara wouldn't remember him, but it turns out she knows and loves her Dad.  When he got in the car at the airport she erupted into giggles and continued to giggle and squeal "Dada" whenever she looked at him or he looked at her.  While Rob was away Tucker (a true gear head in Grammy Taylor fashion) bought a "hiking belt" at the yard sale.  He has been anxious to use it, so Rob told him to find our hiking guide book and pick out a hike for the family when he got back.  Tucker read the entire book, not kidding, and really thought long and hard.  He picked Timpanooke (with only a little hint dropping from his mom).  So today we headed up AF canyon and did the hike.  Unfortunately I think today may have been one of the hottest days of the year so far.  We were awfully sweaty and dusty!!  Lucy wasn't feeling great, so Lucy and I headed back to the car after an hour or so, but the others made it to Scout Falls.  

Chef Lu

Lucy made brownies.  They were scrumptious. I am just hoping 

that she will soon take over ALL the cooking.

Part 2 of D.C.

The next morning we checked out of the hotel, checked our bags in the lobby, found some breakfast, and then headed down to Mount Vernon (George Washington's plantation). It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the tour of the house and wandering through the gardens. It is a very nice place. I am dying to read a GW biography now.

Rob at the grave of George and Martha.

One of the vegetable gardens.

Next we headed back into DC and trekked from the zoo metro stop to the National Cathedral.  It is a beautiful gothic structure and it even has linen fold paneling!  I pretended I was in Europe for a while.  Our feet were killing and so one of the highlights of the Cathedral was resting on the lawn in the beautiful Bishop's garden.  Very refreshing.

After the cathedral we made our way down to Georgetown to find dinner.  We ate at a delicious dinner outside at an Italian restaurant. Then we picked up our bags from the hotel and went up to the house where Rob has been staying.

The next day Jennette drove down from Delaware to spend the day.  It was so fun to be able to spend the day together.  In typical fashion, we ended up match datching.  Cute no?  After a bit of parking trauma we found a place at Union Station and from there headed to the National Gallery again.  We enjoyed the art and the conversation.  From there it was off to the way over-securityized National Archives to see the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.  We ate lunch at the deli across from the Archives where Jennette used to work.  The reuben sandwich was delish!  Rob met us there and we walked up the street to the National Portrait gallery.  Then it was a quick stop at H&M, and the house across from Ford's theatre where Lincoln died.  Next we walked to the mall for the "Anna and Jennette commemoration memorial picture" at the lamppost where we first fell in love with D.C. way back when.


For dinner we ate the most delicious Thai food near Georgetown and then pastries at Union Station.  It was such  a fun day and it was sad to see it end. I was very happy Jennette was able to make it down for the day.  Rob and I had such a wonderful time and it was such a fun trip!!

And that concludes my travel log of our grand and glorious D.C. trip!

A Happy Anniversary or Anna the Death-March Master

We had such a fantastic time this weekend.  First it was so nice to see Rob again after his very long absence.  It was a joyous reunion.  Second, I'd forgotten how much I love D.C.  There is so much history and so much to do and it is so easy to get around.  Third, I can't remember the last time I was actually in a museum with a world class collection.  It really hit the spot.  Fourth, we ate very well.  Fifth, you know how the East coast has notoriously awful, hot, muggy, summer weather?  Well it was conspicuously absent.  The weather was pleasant and a couple of the days we had a nice cool breeze.  Sixth it was so great to know the kids were well looked after, so thanks Grammy, Pop-pop, Katy, Todd and Court.  Seventh, our hotel was only a couple of blocks north of the White House, a perfect location.  

It was such a fun weekend and I can't tell you how hard it is to come back and face real life, especially with only a few more days of summer vacation left.

Anyway here are the Day One Hightlights:

(Not included, pictures from my first night which consisted of stuffing our faces with sushi and a very pleasant walk past the White House, Washington Monument, WWII memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam and Korean War memorials).

The first day we got up and going by nine, but it turns out nothing opens until 10, so we hung out a bit at the Navy Memorial, where you can see Rob pointing to his father's route around South America back in his navy days.  
To kill time before the museums opened we metroed up to Union Station and walked down to the Capitol building.  It is quite sad that our country is now so stupid.  You used to be able to walk right into it but now you have to have tickets and bomb checks and all kinds of nonsense.  Oh dear, don't get me started on how stupid it is.
We did a quick swing through the botanical garden next to the capitol, which is always nice.
Then we did another quick swing through the new Native American museum.  The best part was the building and the landscaping (for any gardners notice the 3 sisters planted next to the building Native American style).
As we wandered around the mall that day there was a HUGE group of religious zealots holding what Rob dubbed a Jesus pep rally.  If you couldn't hear them shouting Jesus' name and other crazy things all over the mall you would have thought it was a Taliban get together.  It really was a bit freaky, and people were really really really into it.  I suppose, even the scary Jesus freaks have the right to gather peacefully, right?  Here I am being frightened by the spectacle as we made our way to the National Gallery.
And here I am, ending my very long museum fast.  I was so excited to get to the National Gallery again, and of course it didn't disappoint.

Rob admiring the Gilbert Stuart portrait of GW. A very fine portrait, indeed.

And me, drinking in the Vermeer room.  That one in particular is such a gem.  I love it.  I got my nose right in the painting, as per my training by my father.  Twas mahvelous!

Rob hadn't ever heard or Romulus and Remus and got a kick out of this depiction of them.

Taking a breather in one of the lovely atriums.

After the National Gallery we took a lunch break and ate some delicious Mexican food that was rather pricy near Chinatown.  Then we wandered back to the mall and buzzed the Asian museum which had a dandy Whistler exhibition and some cool Edo stuff.
Then it was over to Arlington where, due to painful feet, we wisely paid for the tourmobile bus.  We went to the JFK grave, and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the changing of the guard (which, since I am utterly cynical, seemed totally silly to me...I had to walk away so I wouldn't snigger).

We then took the metro down to King Street in Old Town Alexandria and took in the ambiance and found a yummy French place to eat dinner.  We peeked in at Christ Church, where GW himself went to church occasionally, but it was closed.  

 And then after all that walking, with our feet in major pain, do you think we went back to our hotel? If you guessed yes, you haven't traveled with me.  No, we didn't stop there. We got off the metro at Arlington, walked across the bridge, buzzed the Lincoln again and then hobbled over to the Jefferson, which as always, was beautiful and inspiring.  Why can't we have an articulate president?  That man knew how to inspire.  Certain politicians could take a lesson.  


Then we hobbled on back by the Washington, past the White House, and at last made it back to our hotel.  Not bad for one day, eh? Rob told me he never wants to go to Europe with me.