Memorial Day Weekend - Part 3

 ...now, where did we leave off...

Yes. Sunday. Sunday was a little (read that: a lot) crazy. I really wanted to go to DC 2 to see all my peoples (Kita, Myles, Jules, Jana, Fred, Gregory, Justin, Tristan, Brandon, etc.) but everyone else was down for the 8am family ward with Sara's family. It would have been really hectic to go up to Chevy Chase and then get down to Kennedy and then have to metro back up to Chevy Chase and drive back to Arlington by myself. I could have done it, but it would have been all kinds of messy. I decided to go to family ward. It was fun. (yeah, yeah) Sara's nieces are super funny kids and all morning A wouldn't let Tyler anywhere near her and R was super quiet. After church was a totally different story. We ate some lunch and somehow Tyler had A convinced he was the best thing since sliced bread.

Kat, Sara's sister, "cubed" us. It's actually a neat thing to do, and see how you can read people. Nifty.

We were told that we were only about 10 minutes away from the Kennedy Center and that we could leave at 1:30 and get there on time. Well - little did we know.

Enter Rolling Thunder. We had an exit we had to get off at and as we were coming up on it Tyler said "go!" and I said "I can't!". I was blocked by at least 8 bikes and had cars behind me. We still had hope. Then we hit traffic, and blocked bridges, and blocked roads - all for Rolling Thunder. Tyler became frustrated as this was "his baby" of the trip. The main reason this trip even began to be an idea was to go to Kennedy and watch Craig Jessop conduct the Army National Orchestra and 300-person choir. (don't quote me on the who's who of this but I think that's who he was conducting).

We traveled through L'Enfant Plaza and over the Key bridge twice. We thought we were about to get there when Tyler had me turn and we wound up back on the highway. That's when I had him plug in the GPS and navigate us to my office (the dear ol' Barlow where I worked last summer). Being that it was Sunday and a holiday weekend I was pretty sure I would be able to sneak into Ashlee's parking space for a few hours and be okay. I also knew it was close to Kennedy and we could walk in a few minutes and hopefully make some of the concert. We trudged our way through Georgetown, were witnesses to a cyclist running into a black SUV and then him getting up and being stupid, snaking through traffic again, parked and I wrote a note to Brother Rowberry so he would hopefully remember me and love me enough that we would be okay.

We walked quickly and made it to the Kennedy in time for the last 4 or 5 pieces. I've never seen music have this effect on people but we got up to our tier and the sweetest lady was the usher up there, and she told us we couldn't walk in until the piece was done but she would crack the door so we could listen - Tyler changed. He was no longer frustrated with traffic or antsy, all was simply right with the world. We went inside and all was well. It was beautiful and really moving, especially when they played the songs for each branch of service and had those veterans stand to be honored during their songs. Most of them were older guys but also middle aged and young women and young men. I am grateful for the service of the older generation but it was the younger ones that got me - people my age are putting their lives on the line every day to protect my freedoms. It was not enough but the least I could do was applaud them in thanks for their service.

We left the concert and learned that Jesse had a very eventful trip to Kennedy to. His involved getting lost and two, small bunny rabbits running around his car - We still don't know how they got there. I think it's because he drives a hybrid. :p

We left Kennedy and took our time getting home. We were full of gratitude for many things - Veterans and the Sabbath day. A day of rest from hectic things like getting lost in rush hour traffic (normally) and shopping. We saw a lot of that on our way through Georgetown. Everyone was out shopping, and eating, and spending their Sunday like they do their Monday's through Saturday's. We loved having our day off.

We got back to Arlington and A (Sara's niece) decided " I want to play with that boy " (Tyler). This is when we knew it was serious, she was finally warming up to some of us. As we rested Tyler and A (and R, Sara's other niece) played. We were about ready for dinner and someone told A and she said " Um, well, we need our privacy" and closed the playroom door. She's quite a funny little two-year old. We ate dinner and afterward Kat brought out a violin she purchased in Taiwan. Tyler likes to dabble (haha) in playing so we listened to some music. We played, we sang, we danced - it was fun.

Then we were tired. Some of us (me included) wanted to do some museums at night but a few of us (Tyler) were tired. The more we talked about it the more tired I got and then I dropped out. Sara, Jesse, Katrina, and Mari went and saw some monuments at night while the rest of us hung around at the house.

...and that was only Sunday

Finally making our way, on foot, to Kennedy

Outside

Tyler, me and Tori

<3 Georgetown houses <3

This happened semi-frequently (at least once a day) where I would run across the street, often between cars and then wait for the rest of the group to join

(1: Sara, Kat, Katrina, A & R dancing while Tyler played. 2: we played "Guess the Composer" - this video is why I put a "haha" in the following post after I said that Tyler "dabbled" in playing the violin. 3: Playing a little Jenny Oaks Baker)

Memorial Day Weekend - Part 2

On Saturday most of our group got the opportunity to work at the Southern Virginia University Open House. It was really cool to get to see how the school puts on one of these events. I came to SVU after being here for EFY so it was different but I enjoyed getting to talk to students and parents and help answer questions. The tour was probably my favorite part, and thats when a lot of students would ask me questions about housing and rules of campus and different clubs and majors.

After the Open House finished we scrambled to get everyone packed and together at the same house. We took two cars, my snazzy rental and Jesse's car. Our first stop was the Washington, DC Temple where we had an appointment to do baptisms. Jesse drove with Mari and Katrina and Sara, Tyler and Tori came in my car. We took some photos after our time at the temple and then headed up to Olney, MD for some Cafe Rio {insert Tyler's "devil voice" here followed by an equally creepy sounding Baja Fresh}. We then decided to hit up the Jefferson Memorial before heading to our place of rest in Arlington, VA (does that sound weird? We were staying at Sara's sister's place... and would be resting there.... hmmm). I figured since Jefferson isn't one you normally walk to from the mall we should get that one done that night. It was beautiful. I love the monuments at night. From Jefferson, Lincoln, and Washington you get such great views of the district.

After that we made our way to KCM's house in Arlington, VA, but not before my GPS could get us lost...

to be continued....

The "back" of the "front" of the DC Temple

Jesse thought these giant dandelions were cool...

Jesse and Tyler

The girls - Katrina, Tori, Me and Sara. As soon as we got up there the wind started blowing our skirts and dresses around and it made for an awkward few moments while we tried to figure it out.

Tyler forgot to turn in his clip from the baptistry and then we teased him a little for "Stealing" from the temple. (Okay, it was just me but I thought it was funny and this picture is too. I like his creepy shadow to the left of him)

Me and the DC Temple!

Sara, Tori, Tyler, Mari, Jesse, Katrina and me.

My attractive friends at Cafe Rio. Sorry, but there needs to be proof. :)

I was telling George Mason a secret I guess. It was Mari's idea but I think its a fun photo.

Washington and Jefferson from the Tidal Basin

Tori, Sara and Tyler looking out on the tidal basin towards Washington

Memorial Day Weekend - Part 1

So, like I said here, my plans always seem to change. Always. It's Heavenly Father's way of letting me know that he is in control, and I am not...

It started Friday morning when Mal and I had decided to go to the Raleigh, NC temple. By the time I picked up my rental car and was ready to go, and then got to Ma'ls house and she was ready to go - It was about 11am. I kept looking up directions and they said 3.5 hours. That's not too terrible. We plugged it into the gps and it said 4.8 hours.... what?!?!? I really wanted to go to the temple that day but it just didn't seem feasible. We decided to hike it to Short Pump aka Richmond and have a girls day.  Along the way I got a ticket (read the caption) and we also got dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. It was a fun day.

We stopped at Lee-hi's to change for our new destination

My Memorial Day Rental - 2012 Ford Focus SE Woooohoooo

This was right after I was "pulled over". I passed a cop and another silver car in front of me and I both moved to the right lane. Everyone was going fast that day, me included. It was kind of a keep up with traffic sitch. Well we saw a "2 miles to scenic view" sign and decided to pull off. It took the cop 2 miles, me almost parking and then picking another spot, parking, searching for my camera, shutting of the car and starting to get out before we even saw him and he said "Ma'am stay in your car please". What the what?! I assume that maybe the other car couldnt have gotten a ticket that day, they were having a bad day or something but really, ridiculous.

My ticket :(

We went to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner

...and ate yummy food

...and played with our menus....

...and ate some dang good cheesecake.

Music Monday - Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall

I don't think I've ever "met" a Coldplay song I didn't like but this one is a little different. I love it. It's energy, and the lyrics are great. It sounds pretty sappy especially with a title like Every Teardrop is a Waterfall but it's quickly becoming a favorite. I love the little guitar parts in the back and Chris Martin's vocals - Coldplay, I think you've just released my summer song.


I turn the music up, I got my records on
I shut the world outside until the lights come on
Maybe the streets alright, maybe the trees are gone
I feel my heart start beating to my favorite song

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Plans change.
Especially plans I make.

Like this weekend when we tried to go to Raleigh and it didn't happen,
or tried to make it to the Kennedy Center for a 2pm performance.. and got there at 3pm
(with a very frustrated, sad boy in my passenger seat)

Or like my plans to get to Utah,
sometimes, they change.

Original plan:
Leave VA on June 6th for NY
Fly from NY to UT on June 15th
I would miss George's graduation (which we weren't certain about it happening or not) but would get out early enough that it was a plane ticket I could afford and I wouldn't be spending rent on a place in Utah without being there.

I felt conflicted with this plan because my Dad really felt that if I was home for George's graduation that it would motivate him to do better in his classes these next few critical weeks. I wanted to be home as well but I know from last summer that it takes me a few months before I am comfortable in a new place. I figure Utah will not be much different and if I leave late that gives me only 2 months to get used to Utah and make a decision about staying or moving. This also gets me out later with a job, car etc


Enter Mother (Dransfield) with a plan that is hard to refuse.


Professor is flying out to St. George on the 22nd to be with his parents for a bit and was going to fly back and drive the van out with Mother and the boys to be out there for some family weddings and then drive it back. That is a good bit of traveling in a short period of time. So I got a call from Mother asking if I would be interested in a cross-country trip.

It would allow me to stay in NY long enough for George's graduation, have a little extra time with the family and bring a few more things with me without having to pay for extra checked bags.

So - New Plan:

Leave VA sometime this next week. If I leave Monday like planned I will be in NY for 3 weeks and that, my friends, is a little long. I'll leave maybe Wednesday or Thursday for NY and be there until the 26th/27th. We'll drive down and meet Mother somewhere between NY, VA and Dayton, OH and begin our journey.

It's definitely not my original plan but I feel really good about it. I've been going back and forth with this decision to move and I finally feel good about it, and now I get a final trip with my Virginia family. It sounds good, yeah?

In the meantime I'll be looking for jobs and a car and housing so if anyone has leads or ideas - send them my way!

Karaoke

 

 There are few places I'll actually sing.

Church. The shower. My car.

Not at Franks for the Memories, except almost two weeks ago when I sang four lines - that was enough for me. Notice that one of them was "I hate you". Well, that was rude, and untrue. 

Also, let us notice my lovely quadruple chin when I finally give in to Tyler & Jesse. It's pretty attractive, so thanks Jesse, for filming from that angle. 

Basically - I love my friends.

Music Monday - Battle Hymn of the Republic

This Music Monday being brought to you from Arlington, VA.

A group of friends and I are in the district for the weekend to enjoy some grand celebrations for Memorial Day weekend. Yesterday we went to the Kennedy Center to see Craig Jessop conduct at the National Memorial Day Choral Festival Performance. I'll expound on the trip later but let's just say I am much more grateful for the service of those in the military after visiting monuments, seeing them in parades, and listening to beautiful music honoring them at Kennedy.