Snowmageddon

Many of you have heard about the Snowmageddon snowstorm that hit DC this weekend, bringing upwards of 30 inches to an area that shuts down after receiving anything greater than 3 inches!  The storm started Friday night, and sometime during the night we lost power. Now on Sunday night, we finally decided to check into a hotel because our heat and power still are not working! Once we get home we'll update more.

-Laurie

Watch out Nancy Kerrigan!

For some time now I've had the occasional desire to lace up my figure skates again. From the age of 3 through 15, I was a competitive skater, being part of the world of costumes, individual programs, 6am ice time, annual ice shows, and tons of fun with friends, especially on our Silverblades synchro-team. Ever since my good friend Jodi easily got back into skating again in college, I always wondered what it would be like.

Adding more fuel to the fire is the fact that Teri's Minnesota wedding festivities in October will include an open skating session for the guests prior to the reception. So I just have to get back into top form.

Last Friday night Bobby and I headed to the local Wheaton Ice Arena for a $6.25 public skating session. It must have been the premier pre-teen hangout for 8pm on a Friday night. Gotta keep those kids off the streets!

We stepped out onto the ice. I was nervous but confident! My confidence soared when all of the other skaters had those horrid brown rental skates.

My old skates still fit! I'm sure my parents are happy their investment is continuing to be of value - they spent more than one pretty penny on the cost of this hobby!

Bobby humored me and came with his hockey skates, although he spent some time standing around trying to avoid getting run into by others. We were there about 45 minutes longer than I expected! It took me a little while to get going.

But after the zamboni came out to resurface the rink, I got my second wind. It felt really good. We didn't really get any other good pictures besides this one - I must have been going too fast!

The rink was very packed so it was difficult to get much momentum. The best part was when Bobby sent a 13 year old girl flying headfirst into the boards - but it was totally her fault. Part of skating is learning the proper way to stop, now she knows she needs to learn.

Neither of us fell so overall it was a great success! My plan is to attend an Adult Open Skate next, and then hopefully I'll be ready for the Freeskate sessions where I can practice jumps and spins!

-Laurie

Parent's Visit Day 3 & 4: Spies, Vikings, and yet more Lincoln

Day 3 was another tourist whirlwind!

We started out at the Smithsonian's American History Museum. I really enjoyed it because it is divided into various exhibits, so your brain can rest between each one. There was a Lincoln exhibit which of course we loved.  But it became clear that the most popular exhibit is that of the First Ladies. All of the recent First Ladies have donated their inauguration gown to the museum, and about 14 are in display here.

Photo Credit: http://americanhistory.si.edu/

Our next stop was the highly touted International Spy Museum. I think we are spoiled with all of the free museums - when you finally have to pay for one, you have elevated expectations, which may lead to some disappointment. For people really interested in spy tactics and spies in history, this is right up your alley. To the average joe visitor, there are definitely some cool things, but the amount of content can be overwhelming. It is quite fascinating to think about all of the spies in history and how many there are today, in DC especially!

Spying is an important part of modern warfare, which is actually a great thing in my mind! When our current and former Presidents have announced our strategies of troop deployment and withdrawal, and our quest for weapons of mass destruction, I sure hope we have some hidden cards in the deck.

Here is just one of the many interesting exhibits - In WWI the Germans attempted to use this pigeon-camera 'technology' to take aerial photographs of enemy camps and positions, all undetected. I guess as long as it doesn't land by someone throwing bread in the air. Did I mention the project was abandoned?

Photo © International Spy Museum

The museum certainly inspires a lot of discussion! The scariest part was the end when an exhibit addressed how the United States is exposed to future terrorist attacks due to our aging infrastructure. How easy would it be to attack our water systems? Cyber warfare could shut down systems controlling phone communication, energy grids, air traffic control, and Internet servers - the results could be catastrophic. Not to mention biological warfare - in 1991, Iraq admitted to creating a toxin that when released, could kill every human on earth by inhalation, three times over! Imagine what they are cooking up in 2010! It is much easier to live in a vacuum and not worry about these things, as I'm hopeful there are plenty of smart people in Washington and around the world working secretly to protect us!

We returned home in eager anticipation of a big Vikings win over the Saints.  Much of the game was spent like this - a combination of cheering and cringing -

Of course the Vikings lost, but we can't say we didn't see it coming. I can't comment much more, bad memories!

On a positive note, has anybody heard about this new Dominos pizza? They threw out the old recipe and started anew, claiming it would no longer taste like the current flavor - cardboard. I liked the old pizza....which speaks to my lowbrow palette. Regardless, I was pumped for the opportunity to try the new pizza during the game.

I didn't think to take a picture until it had been sitting like this for about 40 minutes.

The overall consensus was that it was good! None of us were blown away, but hey, pizza is pizza. Even bad pizza is good. Has anyone else tried it?

I commend Dominos for not only listening to customers and improve their product, but fully disclosing the problems. Often you see a 'new and improved' version of a product (which I never understood anyway, how can something be new, and also improved? Doesn't that mean it exists anyway, and therefore cannot be new?) and the marketers are afraid to disclose what has been improved. As if the consumer will start to question what was wrong with it in the first place. Much to Bobby's disapproval, I like to 'reward' companies with good marketing tactics with my purchases.

On Day 4, my parents went sightseeing again while Bobby and I rested at work. They continued the marathon Lincoln weekend by visiting the newly remodeled Ford's Theater, site of Lincoln's assasination on April 14, 1865. He was carried accross to the street to the Petersen House, also a part of the museum tour, where he died the next morning. Bobby and I can't wait to go see this ourselves, I'm sure we will someday.

Whew! I don't know if I'm more tired from that weekend, or from blogging about it! Time for bed!

- Laurie

Parent's Visit Day 1 & 2: Lincoln-Fest

This weekend we enjoyed a visit from Laurie’s parents, who enjoyed a nice break from the frigid temps in Minnesota. Our weekend was a whirlwind of tourist sights.

Upon their arrival, we took the first exit after the Dulles airport towards the National Air & Space Museum at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. This is an expansion of the museum located on the National Mall, since (1) you can’t fit all those planes down there, and (2) it is conveniently located near a runway, so the planes can actually get there. It is essentially a few giant hangars, with original or test-aircraft and spacecraft from various time periods. We all loved this museum, and thought it was better than the one on the Mall.

This is the Enola Gay, which dropped the "Little Boy" Atomic Bomb on August 6, 1945 at Hiroshima, Japan. 70,000 people were killed instantly, most of them civilians.

Sidebar: Hollywood gossip tells me that James Cameron (director of Titanic and the latest hit Avatar) is considering directing a movie about the atomic bombs of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. I don't think many Americans, myself included, truly understand the devastation brought to the civilians of Japan by President Truman's Executive Order to use nuclear weapons, which quickly brought about the Japanese surrender in WWII. I would love to hear the story.

The next day we headed to a hidden gem called Lincoln’s Cottage, or the Soldiers Home, which is a National Monument and a place for Lincoln Lovers, arguably the best President of the United States in history. Not many tourists, let alone locals, even know this place exists, as the historic house has only been open to the public for two years.

During Lincoln’s presidency, he was constantly bothered by favor seekers walking in the front door to the White House (sort of like the Salahis, but on a daily basis), was distracted by the sounds of war right outside the White House, the sounds of construction within the White House, and he and Mary Lincoln were mourning the death of one of their sons, Willie. This country home just a few miles north of the White House was a haven for the Lincoln family and helped them escape all of this as well as the summer heat.

The surrounding cottages on the grounds of the Soldiers Home continue to serve the exact purpose they did in 1862: provide a place for war veterans to live if they no longer have family to care for them. Today the latest amenities include a golf course and a bowling alley.

I find it interesting when current politicians refer to our economic crisis as one of the greatest challenges in American history. How can this possibly compare to the time of Lincoln, who was faced with a nation divided against itself, a fight for freedom for all men, and a war with the largest number of American casualties to date?

This could have been the best tour we've seen in DC so far. We had a wonderful guide for our tour group of six. You get to use the original handrail on the stairway between the first and second floors of the house, which is the point you really feel like you know Lincoln on a personal level.

Ahh, what trip to a museum would be complete without buying something overpriced and ridiculous at the museum gift shop. Exhibit A - Lincoln Bobblehead. I'm too embarrassed to tell you if this is actually on display in our house.

Next stop - Lincoln Memorial, which is so impressive in person and a must see for any true Lincoln fan. The memorial was dedicated in 1922 by former President Taft.

Here is the view looking the other direction. This site was chosen for Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech", indicating the importance of Lincoln's influence and contributions towards our nation.

We'll finish this post with a few classic Lincoln quotes –

   "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

   "I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends."

   "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

   "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."

Whew - what an exhausting day! The next post will include more from our trip!

- Laurie

The January Doldrums

We've reached that critical moment between the excitement of the holidays ending and the start of spring known as the downer January Doldrums. When all you want to do is hibernate in your house for months until spring. If you have New Years Resolutions, they are probably broken by now. Also, Bobby is just beginning his busy season at work, putting in 65+ hour weeks. What to do?

Luckily in DC its already starting to feel like springtime, or at least I'm just convincing myself it is. Monday was my first ever MLK Jr Day off, and I might have been the only crazy person walking around without a coat and driving around with the windows down. But mid-fifties in January are so nice! I found a park near our house, Brookside Gardens, that even had botanical gardens to enjoy. It felt like a tropical oasis and a pleasant reminder that warmth will return. Here is a bird of paradise flower that was in full bloom:

Besides the arrival of spring, it helps to remember that the blustery winter will end, life will go on, and there are things to look forward to!

Here is a short list of the things we are looking forward to:
1. Laurie's parents visit this weekend and also in April for the Cherry Blossom Festival
2. Minnesota Vikings Super Bowl victory (all we have is hope!)
3. Laurie's work trip to Thailand in March with a few extra days reserved for sightseeing with coworker friends
4. Bobby's trip to Sydney in April to visit his sister and family
5. Our big 2010 international trip to mystery destination TBD - thanks Delta!
6. Best friend Teri's MN wedding in October
7. Discovering new area golf courses, parks, and historical sights!
8. Visits from family and friends in the coming years - this is where you come in! Our calendar is wide open, our guestroom is done, and those of you in MN must be thinking about getting away. You are welcome anytime!

- Laurie

Smithsonian: National Air & Space Museum

This weekend we channeled Laurie's inner airline geek for our visit to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum at the National Mall. There are 18 Smithsonian museums in DC and we are planning to visit all of them! Well, at least Laurie will anyway. Good thing they are free and open pretty much every day of the year. 

Like other museums we've seen so far, there are way too many things to look at and you feel quite exhausted after the first few hours. The museum is divided into exhibits ranging from the Wright Brothers first flight in 1903 to the important role of aviation in World War I and II, commercial aviation, & space exploration.

The museum is home to many actual, non replica pieces of history. First is the original Spirit of St. Louis aircraft, which Charles Lindbergh flew the first nonstop flight from New York to Paris in 1927.

Next is an interesting piece from the space exploration exhibit. Good thing we found this, because I've always wondered.  The machine on the left is for women and the machine on the right is for men. Enjoy.

Not all of the airplanes and spacecraft can be displayed here, the space on the mall is just too small. When my parents visit in the next few months, we'll be heading out to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles Airport to see the second half of the museum.

One of the main attractions for me was to see the Northwest Airlines 747 nose, a new feature of the museum since 2007 when NW donated the retired aircraft to the Smithsonian.

I'm so sad that the history of Northwest is being added to the airline graveyard when later this month, the Delta and Northwest operating certificates are combined into one, Delta. It is some consolation that the legacy of Northwest will be preserved here. Even after just four years of working at Northwest, I will always feel a sense of pride about the company, even with its labor issues, bankruptcy, mergers and acquisitions over the years. There is just something about seeing the ever present red-tails flying over the skies of Minneapolis-Saint Paul and feeling, "I'm a part of that." Every person on the airplane is going somewhere, whether to an important business meeting, a trip to visit friends, a sick relative, a long deserved vacation, or even a trip overseas to adopt a child. Everyone has a story, and NWA is helping them get there. I just think that's cool. Or dorky. Whatever. Any-waay....

Of course what museum visit is complete without a stop at the gift shop. We bought some Astronaut Ice Cream. I remember eating this as a kid, although I remember it being more delicious back then.

Stepping back & looking at the big picture, it is utterly amazing how far we have come since 1903. In this timeframe we have gone from first flight to exploring the moon, mars & beyond. I wonder what else will be accomplished in our lifetimes. I'm going to venture a few guesses (1) recreational space travel will be available, (2) people will inhabit the moon and other planets as our civilization branches out to other planets (3) new planets with life forms similar to Earth will be discovered (4) Other crazy things my mind can't even fathom at the moment!

1 Smithsonian down, 17 to go!

-Laurie

Room Redesign: The Dugout

One of the reasons we chose this townhouse was for the lower floor, it seemed perfect for setting up Bobby's basement baseball room (aka: man room) or as we gave the moniker: The Dugout.  For three months this has been the most boring room of the house, with all of the memorabilia patiently waiting on the floor for furniture to arrive. Finally, we decided to pull the trigger and complete the room.

Here is the before:

And the big reveal:

Bobby really took the lead in picking out things for the room, and it really came together!  As you can see, he chose the Twins baseball colors of blue and red. Also, key to any good room design are coordinating pets.

The room now oozes of manliness and I don't think he's spent much time in the rest of the house. Yes, he is pretty excited for his man-sanctuary and a summer of watching the Twins and other sports on TV.

Back to the room features - We loved this couch because it pulls out to create a bed, perfect for more visitors, and one side of it opens up for storage of pillows & blankets. Ikea sure comes up with amazing things.

Featured in the dugout are our new personalized Twins mugs, received as a Christmas gift from the Lovciks Down Under. I had to eat almost an entire bowl of popcorn to set up this shot. Also, I inadvertently included Favre in the background. Go Vikes!

Another Dugout feature is Bobby's prized baseball display. Many of you know that Bobby likes to travel to visit the various ballparks around the US. He gets a logo ball from each, and is now up to 26/30 and is trying to keep up with the new ballparks as they get built.

Of course he organizes these by division! All that remain are San Diego, Texas, Miami, and the NY Mets. Hopefully we can knock out the rest this summer.

In summary, we're happy that the room looks coordinated without being a Bobblehead & Homer Hanky sensory overload. How do you think he did?

- Laurie