Adventure Offered Back in the States

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I love our nation's capital.  

Over the years I have spent two full summers there working as a U.S. Air Force summer intern, while in college; lived in the area for 6 month completing my Department of Army Intern Program to become a Public Affairs professional; and traveled there numerous times for work and conferences, including the time I got to go on the Congressional visits with the District Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District.

I've spent a couple Christmases there; sat on the U.S. Capitol lawn for the Fourth of July celebration that is usually televised on PBS; seen the Christmas Carole performed in Ford's Theater; visited the Korean War memorial with my father-in-law who is a Korean War veteran; gone on the tour of the White House and been to the homes of some of our early presidents - Washington's Mount Vernon and Jefferson's Monticello; visited the Pentagon's 9-11 Memorial with my sister, who served in the United States Marine Corps and deployed twice following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; and I sat in the Pentagon proudly during my father's retirement ceremony in 2000, honoring and recognizing his 26 years of service in our United States Air Force.   

So, when the opportunity came up to travel to Washington DC for a work trip in February I was really excited.  The trip allowed me the opportunity to see some friends, including a battle buddy from my deployment to Iraq in 2008-09 and another friend from my deployment to Iraq in 2004-05.  My sister and niece live in the area so I made arrangements to see them.  My mom made plans to fly in from Utah to spend a week with me.  We hadn't seen each other since September 2009 and she had never been to DC so it worked out great.  I attended my course on Sub-Saharan Africa at the Foreign Service Institute during the day, while she did sightseeing and research (she's into genealogy) at the Library of Congress and the National Archive.  I also made a quick trip down to Florida over the long President's Day holiday to see my Grandpa and my mother's two sisters and brother. 

Here are some photos from the trip.  
View that was just a couple blocks away from my hotel
The Lincoln Memorial
Mom with Lincoln - the wreaths are for his birthday - February 12
Vietnam Veterans Memorial - The years mark the start (1959) and end (1975) of the war
Washington Monument
Did you know that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the construction of the Washington Monument?  There is a story behind why the stone on the monument is two different shades.
Probably one of the most famous houses in the world.
I never go to DC without seeing my sister, who lives about 45 minutes south of DC.  We decided to drive out to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.  The last and only time I visited Monticello was during the summer of 1998 or 1999 and it was hot and humid and not very enjoyable.  It was nice to go again when it was much cooler. 
President Thomas Jefferson's grave site
Mothers and Daughters
Unusual - See how one tree's growing on the other?
Catching up with a Baghdad battle buddy
On my mom's last day in DC we went downtown to do some sightseeing before she had to go to Baltimore for her flight home.  We went into the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and saw the Hope Diamond (which is in a special temporary setting right now marking the 50th anniversary of its donation to the Smithsonian by Harry Winston Inc.), went into a live butterfly exhibit and also saw an orchid exhibit.  Here are some pictures.
In a sea of orchids - it smelled heavenly in this exhibit hall


Really cool Lunar Moth
After my mom left I still had another week and a half of my official trip.  On my own one afternoon I stopped in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.  I walked through several exhibits including the one with the actual 'Star Spangled Banner' that inspired the writing of what became our National Anthem.  The flag is larger than you would expect and very delicate (I think it's almost 200 years old or 200+).  I also walked through the First Ladies exhibit that displays gowns they wore at the Presidential inaugurations, and saw some popular culture items.  A couple pictures are below. 
Julia Child's kitchen
Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz
Michael Jackson's hat from the video - Billie Jean
A quick trip to Florida topped off one great trip back to the States. 
My aunt and her hubby cooking up a storm - YUM!  I ate really well.
Visiting St. Petersburg
The Salvador Dali Museum - largest collection of his artwork outside of Spain
It would be criminal to visit Florida and not do a sunset walk on the beach.
Love the sand ripples
My Family
Yesterday was my Grandpa's birthday - yep, he is an April Fool's baby.  I'm so glad I got a chance to see him while I was back in the States.  I love you Grandpa!

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