Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos
Well, it is Tuesday night, and at this time a week ago, I was having a heart attack trying to pack everything and do homework and eat and sleep. Somehow, I managed, but it's really all a blur.
So, without further adue, here is my trip to DC, in as many pictures as possible.
Wednesday
After sucky Starbucks at Jacksonville's airport and a long wait for luggage at DCA, we arrived at the hotel. The weather wasn't bad, but we decided not to go into the city until Thursday. My mom needed to find an outfit to wear to Sandra's swearing in ceremony for the Capitol Police, and, well, I needed to find a Sephora.
Views from the hotel. We could also see the Pentagon memorial, but for some reason I chose not to take a picture of that.
That night we went to Noodles at Pentagon Row for dinner. Noodles is this amazing place where they have Asian, Italian, and American pasta dishes, and you can choose one or three or basically whatever you want. As a lover of all carbs everywhere, I found this place especially fitting. We also went to Harris Teeter. I had never been in one before, and after eating both their cake and cupcakes, let me say, I am a convert.
Thursday
My mom's birthday! Because I am an idiot, I left her gift at home on my printer. But she didn't seem to mind; I gave it to her Monday morning when we were both awake instead of running on auto-pilot. Anyway! After eating breakfast, we headed to the Metro, my most-loved form of transportation.
I thought this picture was hilarious. Virginia is for lovers, and the best way we can show this is with a revolutionary war hero. Have you people never heard of a sunset?
Mom still hadn't found a complete outfit, so we wanted to go to Filene's Basement. After fighting with my dad over where it was ("Yeah, it's the one near Filene's Basement." "No! Are you listening?! We're trying to get to Filene's Basement!") and grabbing some Starbucks, we made it there and Mom found a top. We then headed over to the Natural History museum. I wanted to bring gifts back for Savannah and Aidan, and they like animals, so I put two and two together.
A sneak-peek of the Ocean Animal Hall that'll open in the fall. It's going to be kick ass.
The National Gallery of Art was next. I had only been once, right after we moved to Arlington when I was 14. And even then, Mom and I just went to the Virtue and Beauty exhibition and didn't explore.
Sculptures in the garden and the outside of the gallery.
We were hungry after perusing all that fine art. Who wouldn't be? So we decided to take the Archives metro over to Pentagon City for some California Pizza Kitchen. Except, who should we run into at the corner of 7th and Constitution? Dennis Quaid himself!
He asked us to have lunch with him, but we already had plans. PS-he looks like he's been hit in the face a couple times. Very cute.
Alright alright, that excitement's over. There were magnolia blossoms and a pretty building across from the metro, which means photo op!
That night was the ceremony for Sandra out at a congressional building. Of course, I looked adorable, but who would think to get a picture of that rare occasion?
It was starting to get cold, and by the time I got back to the hotel, all I wanted to do was go to sleep.
Friday
We didn't finish the National Gallery on Thursday, so we headed back there pretty early. So early, in fact, that the workers weren't even there yet. The museums didn't open until 10, so we sat on the Mall and watched the tourists not know where they were going.
The East building of the NGA.
Degas' "Four Dancers" in the NGA
Mobile in the East NGA
The American Indian museum was still being built the last time I was in DC, but my parents went in February and said it was awesome. They were correct.
The Botanic Gardens are between the Capitol and the American Indian museum. I hadn't been there since I was in eighth grade.
We ate at Potbelly's--which was amazing and cheap--and then Metroed over to the American Art Museum/Portrait Gallery for some more art fun.
Me and Stephen. Coincidentally, it was taken down today.
By the time all was said and done, my hips hurt so badly I couldn't walk. Literally. I got up off the couch at the hotel and almost fell back down. Something is wrong.
Saturday
The Cherry Blossom Festival opened!
I'm not crazy. I didn't go. But my parents did. I did go downtown early to get the girls some presents. As I walked toward the Freer, a man gave me a map of the city so I could find my way around--except I stopped him by saying "Oh thanks, but I'm from the city." It came so naturally!
The Metro was insane. Two million tourists, and five of them knowing how to use a Metro ticket. Something's wrong here. So I took the blue line out to Springfield and met Daniel!
Alas, Daniel and I didn't take pictures because we are stupid. But I met his parents finally, and Jade, and we went out to lunch. I wish I would have had more time! But I want to go up and he wants to come down, so maybe something will work out.
I met my parents in Alexandria after Daniel and I parted ways.
Sunday
We wasted the time before leaving by going shopping. By the way, Gap is having an amazing sale. I didn't want to leave, but I knew I had to, and I would feel better once I'm home because I'm in the 12th of 14 weeks of the semester. I was too close to the end, and I have over four months for summer. I can always come up then. My dad seemed like he was already lonely before we left. He kept saying he had lots of work to do, but I felt bad leaving him. He'll be home Thursday night.
So I'm already ready to go back; I didn't do nearly half of the things I wanted to. Typical.
This weekend I'm going to Orlando for the Say Anything concert, and at the end of the month I'm going to Savannah. My dad will be there for training, so I'm going to go up for a few days. I love Savannah! My mom wants to go to Key West this summer; I want to go to Maryland; I don't know if we'll actually do either.
Alright, there's lots of stuff piled up on my bed. I need to take care of that. The next time you talk to me, I'll probably be out of school!
em
So, without further adue, here is my trip to DC, in as many pictures as possible.
Wednesday
After sucky Starbucks at Jacksonville's airport and a long wait for luggage at DCA, we arrived at the hotel. The weather wasn't bad, but we decided not to go into the city until Thursday. My mom needed to find an outfit to wear to Sandra's swearing in ceremony for the Capitol Police, and, well, I needed to find a Sephora.
Views from the hotel. We could also see the Pentagon memorial, but for some reason I chose not to take a picture of that.
That night we went to Noodles at Pentagon Row for dinner. Noodles is this amazing place where they have Asian, Italian, and American pasta dishes, and you can choose one or three or basically whatever you want. As a lover of all carbs everywhere, I found this place especially fitting. We also went to Harris Teeter. I had never been in one before, and after eating both their cake and cupcakes, let me say, I am a convert.
Thursday
My mom's birthday! Because I am an idiot, I left her gift at home on my printer. But she didn't seem to mind; I gave it to her Monday morning when we were both awake instead of running on auto-pilot. Anyway! After eating breakfast, we headed to the Metro, my most-loved form of transportation.
I thought this picture was hilarious. Virginia is for lovers, and the best way we can show this is with a revolutionary war hero. Have you people never heard of a sunset?
Mom still hadn't found a complete outfit, so we wanted to go to Filene's Basement. After fighting with my dad over where it was ("Yeah, it's the one near Filene's Basement." "No! Are you listening?! We're trying to get to Filene's Basement!") and grabbing some Starbucks, we made it there and Mom found a top. We then headed over to the Natural History museum. I wanted to bring gifts back for Savannah and Aidan, and they like animals, so I put two and two together.
A sneak-peek of the Ocean Animal Hall that'll open in the fall. It's going to be kick ass.
The National Gallery of Art was next. I had only been once, right after we moved to Arlington when I was 14. And even then, Mom and I just went to the Virtue and Beauty exhibition and didn't explore.
Sculptures in the garden and the outside of the gallery.
We were hungry after perusing all that fine art. Who wouldn't be? So we decided to take the Archives metro over to Pentagon City for some California Pizza Kitchen. Except, who should we run into at the corner of 7th and Constitution? Dennis Quaid himself!
He asked us to have lunch with him, but we already had plans. PS-he looks like he's been hit in the face a couple times. Very cute.
Alright alright, that excitement's over. There were magnolia blossoms and a pretty building across from the metro, which means photo op!
That night was the ceremony for Sandra out at a congressional building. Of course, I looked adorable, but who would think to get a picture of that rare occasion?
It was starting to get cold, and by the time I got back to the hotel, all I wanted to do was go to sleep.
Friday
We didn't finish the National Gallery on Thursday, so we headed back there pretty early. So early, in fact, that the workers weren't even there yet. The museums didn't open until 10, so we sat on the Mall and watched the tourists not know where they were going.
The East building of the NGA.
Degas' "Four Dancers" in the NGA
Mobile in the East NGA
The American Indian museum was still being built the last time I was in DC, but my parents went in February and said it was awesome. They were correct.
The Botanic Gardens are between the Capitol and the American Indian museum. I hadn't been there since I was in eighth grade.
We ate at Potbelly's--which was amazing and cheap--and then Metroed over to the American Art Museum/Portrait Gallery for some more art fun.
Me and Stephen. Coincidentally, it was taken down today.
By the time all was said and done, my hips hurt so badly I couldn't walk. Literally. I got up off the couch at the hotel and almost fell back down. Something is wrong.
Saturday
The Cherry Blossom Festival opened!
I'm not crazy. I didn't go. But my parents did. I did go downtown early to get the girls some presents. As I walked toward the Freer, a man gave me a map of the city so I could find my way around--except I stopped him by saying "Oh thanks, but I'm from the city." It came so naturally!
The Metro was insane. Two million tourists, and five of them knowing how to use a Metro ticket. Something's wrong here. So I took the blue line out to Springfield and met Daniel!
Alas, Daniel and I didn't take pictures because we are stupid. But I met his parents finally, and Jade, and we went out to lunch. I wish I would have had more time! But I want to go up and he wants to come down, so maybe something will work out.
I met my parents in Alexandria after Daniel and I parted ways.
Sunday
We wasted the time before leaving by going shopping. By the way, Gap is having an amazing sale. I didn't want to leave, but I knew I had to, and I would feel better once I'm home because I'm in the 12th of 14 weeks of the semester. I was too close to the end, and I have over four months for summer. I can always come up then. My dad seemed like he was already lonely before we left. He kept saying he had lots of work to do, but I felt bad leaving him. He'll be home Thursday night.
So I'm already ready to go back; I didn't do nearly half of the things I wanted to. Typical.
This weekend I'm going to Orlando for the Say Anything concert, and at the end of the month I'm going to Savannah. My dad will be there for training, so I'm going to go up for a few days. I love Savannah! My mom wants to go to Key West this summer; I want to go to Maryland; I don't know if we'll actually do either.
Alright, there's lots of stuff piled up on my bed. I need to take care of that. The next time you talk to me, I'll probably be out of school!
em