Cherry Blossom Festival

Since we came to Washington everyone has told us how eye-opening and fun the Cherry Blossom Festival was going to be. We were told it was one of the most beautiful and exciting times to live and work in Washington. Well, I have to proudly say the stories are all true.

You can not escape the excitement in the air. People are friendlier, there are so many awesome events to be a part of, it is much warmer (thank God for us Texans hating this cold), and of course the beautiful cherry blossoms. It is a testament to God’s great creation.

The day started early – my roommates and I were going to head to the National Mall to throw some football. Austin and I decided to ride our bikes there instead of taking the Metro (it was such a perfect day for riding). When we arrived – we stood in awe at the many thousands of people, many of which were flying kites! It was the opening day of the Cherry Blossom Festival, and they had kite-flying events throughout the area; I have never, in my life, seen so many kites.

It was so enjoyable to notice the faces of all the people on the National Mall in such happiness. It struck me - as if I remembered a happy moment in my past with someone special – and everyone there was happy too, as if they were with me (if that makes sense).

We threw the ball for a while – I decided to take my bike for a leisurely ride around the Tidal Basin; it was crowded – but to see the panoramic views of the Jefferson and Washington Memorials was worth it.

As I rode along the Tidal Basin with my bike, there were many spots where I just stopped, walked, or stood while taking it all in. I prayed a lot as well – and reflected on many things. It was such a clarifying moment to be alone yet surrounded by life. I stood and admired God’s creation, and how simple and yet complex it all was. I recollected on my countless hours back in Texas at our family farm, down by the creek in the woods. I remembered how I thought then, as I do now, that surely God is everywhere - because I see Him in his creation when I am there.

I was definitely stirring feelings of home inside my heart – and though I was happy to be here, I was yet the more happy to be coming home soon.

The walk and ride on my bike concluded with the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. It is the largest memorial in Washington; consisting of seven acres. The designers of this memorial made great use of water with the many waterfalls and fountains that are weaved throughout the FDR Memorial. I actually thought, on a nice day I will come back with a good book, find a good spot next to one of these fountains and read some.

Riding my bike back across the Potomac, I gazed behind me, and I thought to myself how happy I am to see it all, and I how happy I will be to share this all with you.

My Friend Monica Came to Visit!

This past week, my good friend Monica came to visit me! It was so good to see her and catch-up on all the news; I missed her a great deal. We had such a blast, and were able to see so many great places in Washington. This first photo is one of my favorites. The Cherry Blossoms were just coming out – and we were in one of the Smithsonian Gardens – next to the Old Castle. It was the start of the day, and we walked the National Mall – checking it all out. We visited the Lincoln, Korean, Vietnam, WWII, and the Washington Memorials just to name a few.

Giant Chocolate Capitol

Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport

GREAT DAY at the Airport!

This weekend Joseph’s cousin Clay came up to visit and check out the area, and one of the places he wanted to see was the Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. So, Austin, Clay, Joseph, and myself piled in my car and we drove out to Dulles.

I must say, it was a very interesting museum. It was housed in a HUGE HANGER; I told the guys jokingly that I need one of these to store all my stuff in back in Texas – but seriously, this place was huge.

Inside, there were planes of all kinds, and we saw many different things. I was fascinated with the experimental aircraft from WWII that the Nazis were building. Additionally, there were some historic aircraft on display such as the Enola Gay, the Minnie Mae, and the Little Butch.

It was a great day!!!

The MOST AMAZING HIKE!

Today I was able to experience one of the most INCREDIBLE things yet! A hike along the cliffs of the Potomac on a path called the Billy Goat Trail!

Joseph and I had been talking about going on a hike (if we could find some woods and a good place). We really loved and missed the outdoors of Texas, and how soothing and relaxing it is to be around nature - so we were ready - we just didn’t know where to go.

…and that is when we talked to Rachel…

It happened to be that this weekend my friend Rachel had a friend fly up to visit her, and they also wanted to go on a nice nature hike. She showed us a video that talked about the Billy Goat Trail - and after watching it, we were sold. The four of us were going to go!

We set out after church. The park was just 20 minutes outside of D.C. and it was truly a hike I’m never going to forget.

We hiked along the cliffs of the Potomac. There were some great places to go Bouldering – so we spent a considerable amount of time doing that (I’ll post some photos later).

We also hiked along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal)…my photos didn’t do it justice, so MAKE SURE you check out the “Quick Tour” slideshow at the C&O Canal Website; they also have some great links to maps and trails.



…CHECK out the SLIDESHOW!


…wasn’t that amazing?!?! I totally recommend this place for anyone who loves the outdoors, nature, and some great panoramic views of the Potomac!

It was such a great day, with some great friends. Even the weather was considerably good, slightly cold for me, but not too bad.

Towards the end of our hike we came back to where we started (the trail makes one large loop), and right at the beginning of the trail, there is a side path that takes you to the Great Falls. We took the bridged path to the lookout of the Great Falls and were amazed to see the most spectacular example of a RAGING RIVER.

The Potomac happened to be extra high due to all the rainfall farther up the river – and it showed! Check out the two videos I took below. The crashing of the water was intense, deafening, and was a great reminder of the power of God.

I was definitely at home in the woods, and though I can’t speak for the others, I was truly inspired by the wonderment and wildness of this place. I urge everyone to visit here and experience an excursion you will not soon forget.

LOVED IT! LOVED IT LOVED IT!

Additional photos will be posted soon.

Our Trip to Philadelphia – In Search of the Great Cheese Steak!

Last weekend, my super-amazing roommate, Donnie, organized a trip for eight of us to Philly. It turned out to me one of the most memorable mini-vacations of my life!

It all began...(Stay tuned...more to come tonight!)

Old Ebbits Grill Last Night

Last night was nice - my roommates and I finally were able to eat at Old Ebbitt Grill. It is Washington’s most famous and oldest saloons, and close to the White House.
We were taking our unbelievable and most generous neighbors, affectionately referred to as Uncle Jean and Aunt Sandy, to dinner (more on them later) to show our appreciation for their kindness to us.

The restaurant is a definite must if you are visiting D.C. It is located close to the White House, and is bursting with history. One of the first things I noticed when I walked inside was the antique gas-lit lamps and chandeliers. It was almost as if I were stepping back in time. Additionally, adorning the atmosphere of the main room was the museum-quality collection of decoys – it gave a sense of camaraderie one might experience at a private hunting lodge in the mountains – truly a great sense of home for an outdoorsman like myself.

There were other animal examples throughout the restaurant, and you wouldn’t believe my excitement when I discovered that some (above the old bar) were actually taken by President Teddy Roosevelt himself. President Roosevelt, or as I refer to him, TR ‘The Lion’ is perhaps my most favorite U.S. President because TR did so much for conservation and the outdoors. In fact, TR was a known patron of Old Ebbit and enjoyed dining and entertaining there; I was in stunned amazement to be sitting in the presence of one of my hero’s favorite spots – and its great history therein.

We ate very well to say the least; the service was excellent and the food was fantastic. I totally recommend the crab cakes; fresh and satisfying, with a selection of gourmet sides to compliment.

A good time was had by all! When my Dad comes to visit me up here, I will definitely take him to the Old Ebbit Grill, so we can sit and dine in the presence of great times gone by.

Getting Ready for New York!

This weekend I will be traveling to New York to see a good friend of mine who goes to school at MIT – yeah she is brilliant! We decided New York would be perfect because it is right about halfway between Cambridge, MA and Washington D.C.

Unfortunately, the weather is terrible right now (in D.C.), but I think it might clear up by this evening. I will keep y’all posted!

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In NEW YORK OUR FIRST DAY

Okay...back from New York City - and I must say - It was definitely eye-opening for me! So let me begin… First of all, when I arrived in New York, it was later in the evening, but the bus ride up was great – I took the DC2NY bus…a definite must if you are heading to New York from Washington D.C. They only charge $40 bucks roundtrip, it is a luxury bus (huge captain chairs) you get a complimentary bottle of water, and there is free Wi-Fi. It was totally worth the $40 bucks too - I have my own vehicle up here, but limited parking, traffic, tolls, and wear and tear... no no - DC2NY was well worth it.

After arriving, I walked to The Roosevelt Hotel and checked in. This was a very nice hotel, and because it was centrally located – it wasn’t a bad walk to visit the sites around the city.

The next day, we headed out to visit the Empire State Building – the weather was nice outside, but when we reached the top of the building, the icy wind bit at our faces and hands…it was cold up there. We walked around the observation deck and checked out the great panoramic views of New York City. We could see so so much –

After that, we headed by Rockefeller Center on our way to get some lunch. Rockefeller Center was nice, but I actually wasn’t too impressed – so we moved on. We decided to eat at Tom’s Restaurant – (the Seinfeld restaurant), and caught a cab to 112th street. It was a tight fit because there were so many people inside, but it didn’t take too long to get a seat. The food was fabulous. I had a Lumberjack Breakfast meal, and Rach had the Banana Pancakes…all very tasty!

Next, we took a short walk to the Cathedral of St. John Devine. It reminded me of being back in Köln, and walking through the Kölner Dom. It definitely took your breath away…

We saw that Central Park was close by, so we headed off in that direction. It truly was an amazing park. We took it all in – the sites, sounds, and serenity was such a nice touch to such a huge urban city setting. When we walked through the park, we were able to visit in a quiet comfortable place…it was soothing for me. I thought back to Texas A&M, and the classes I took where we studied Olmsted and his contribution as the Founder of Landscape Architecture.

After the great meal and the nice walk, we were a little tired – so we headed back to The Roosevelt and rested.

That evening, we set out for Times Squares for a little shopping, sightseeing, and eating! We hit up Hard Rock Café, the M&M Store, the Hershy’s Store, and many others – we ate dinner at Ruby Tuesday. It was a great conclusion to a great day.

OUR LAST DAY in NEW YORK

Sunday was our last day…It was sad to say goodbye, but Rachel had to catch her bus that morning, and my bus wasn’t going to leave until 2 p.m. So after we said goodbye, I set out for my last stop on this New York Trip - Ground Zero. When I arrived, the mood in the area was that of sadness…a quiet place…a place of respect…a place of mourning. There were many people there – some were taking photos, some where crying, some said nothing, while others talked amongst themselves. When I looked through the fencing where the Twin Towers stood, all I could see was a huge gaping hole. Fitting perhaps…and reminiscent to the hole of emptiness and loss that so many people share.

It was definitely a sobering place…and a time for reflection.

I headed back to Penn Station where the bus would pick me up, and on the way back home, I prayed and reflected on many things in my life –

First Day at Work

Today was my first day at work! It was amazing; I work in an incredible office building on Capitol Hill. I was able to meet everyone in my office and find out my duties as a Congressional Policy Intern.

This photo is the inside rotunda in the front where you walk in. It almost takes your breath away when you are down inside it and look up.

The day was busy and very exciting. I know this is going to be a great semester and I will learn so so much! Remember, I will be giving personal Congressional Capitol Tours up here as part of my duties – so if you are anyone you know needs a fantastic capitol tour, shoot me an email!

Two More SITES to SEE!

The National Museum of the American Indian

I was able to visit the National Museum of the American Indian. It was nice, but not as extensive as I had thought. My roommates and I were slightly disappointed. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of artifacts and lots of information, but it wasn't as extensive as we had hoped.

The Washington Monument

When we were able to view the Washington Monument, I was very excited. I did not know that we could take the elevator to the top and get a view through the lookout.

I went with my roommate Joseph, and we loved it! The views were intense to say the least - we could see everything! It was amazing! We could see all the famous landmarks, the Whitehouse, the Lincoln Memorial, and much more! If you came to Washington D.C. and you only had a day, the Washington Memorial is a must. It lets you see, from a distance, so much our Nation’s Capitol.

Some Serious Biking

Arlington National Cemetery and Mount Vernon

Thankfully, the weather has been nice and I have been able to ride my bike. The biking around this area is so incredible because of the diverse and unending surroundings.

The first bike trip I made was to Arlington National Cemetery. Though you cannot take your bike within the cemetery, you can ride the perimeter – which gives you some spectacular views!

The second bike trip I made was, so far, the longest – and also the best! I did a 32 mile round-trip ride to Mt. Vernon. This ride was amazing because of the perfect bike trails and the scenery. The trails consist of a paved double lane for people on bikes or runners/walkers. These trails are ideal because they have so many access points, don’t interfere with highway traffic, and are located along the Potomac River and other scenic areas.

When I arrived at Mt. Vernon, I took a break and walked around the grounds of George

Washington’s Estate. It was beautiful! Mt. Vernon is a must see spot for anyone who is traveling

through this area.

After walking around and checking things out, I set off for home. The ride back was much nicer because it was mostly downhill and I made significant gains in speed. Overall it was a perfect workout, a beautiful ride, and a great way to see the sites!

Checking out the Area

The last couple of days have been fantastic, and because the weather has predominately been so agreeable, my fellow interns and I have taken advantage of it. We have seen so many wonderful, amazing, and historic sites and even met and read about some incredible and fascinating people. So I am listing where I have traveled and what I did:

The National Mall: For those of you who might not know, the National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington D.C. which includes some of the most incredible historical sites in the world. On my first full day in D.C. two fellow interns and I myself ventured out to visit the National Archives and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. I actually was able to view the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and even more… It was amazing to see the paper and the signatures of the brave men who wrote our founding documents. I was literally in awe at the power of what they wrote, its meaning, and how brilliant our founders truly were. When we had finished viewing the national archives, we ventured into the Natural History Museum. We were able to see the Hope Diamond – it took my breath away –

Afterwards, we sat down for lunch at a tasty café next to the National Mall and right next to the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. It was an amazingly warm day, so we ate outside – a great way to enjoy our lunch…

Finally, we set out for home. We were all starting to get tired and headed back to the Metro. However, before we arrived, we passed by the United States Botanical Gardens, and just had to peep inside.

and…

WOW – BY FAR, it is definitely one of my top favorites! The greenhouses, brilliant colors, plants, waterfalls, smells, the sights – ALL OF IT – it was truly eye opening and I really admired the work, effort, care, and design that went into it. I hope one day to be able to plant my gardens so well…

I am definately planning to return to the Botanical Gardens for some serious rest, relaxation, and reflection.

The Drive

The drive up was not so bad…until the end. I started in La Grange, and left approximately at 8:30 a.m. I picked up Austin in Fort Worth and we drove to Texarkana, TX. In Texarkana, we ate our last tasty Texas Steak, at none other than The Texas Roadhouse – oh so good… and oh how I miss Texas!

We continued on through the rest of the night…we only stopped for gas, drinks, and to use the bathroom. To save money, and to get to D.C. faster, we alternated driving. I drove a couple hours, while he rested, and then we switched – he drove a couple hours while I rested. It worked out great in the beginning…but towards the end, while we were driving through Virginia, it was very hard. We were both so tried, and had all the coffee we could handle; however, we manned-up and drove on!

Though driving the last stretch was hard (we were so close yet so far away) I must tell you how incredible the landscape of Virginia was. The mountains were so magnificent and never-ending. We saw some of the most awe-inspiring sites of nature at its best, and it was even more amazing when we drove through the Shenandoah National Park. So yes, Virginia is definitely one my top favorite states – but still way below TEXAS!
As the slow Tuesday sun rose above the mountains, we drove on and on towards Arlington, VA. When we neared our final destination, Austin and I suddenly had a “fifth wind” and were very excited. We took the highway right into the heart of Arlington where we saw the Pentagon (which looked like a fortress), the Washington Monument (that jutted right out of the ground), the banks of the Potomac river, and so much more. In a few minutes we had arrived at our new home – The Buchanan. We had driven 1603 miles, our moving average was 65.9 miles/hour, and our total time moving was 24 hours 18 minutes and 52 seconds.

Leaving Texas and Saying Goodbye

On Monday, January 7, 2008, I had the car loaded down, gassed up, and ready to roll for the long trip to Washington D.C. Dad had done a full check on the car to make sure everything was safe and ready for the long journey. I had said my goodbyes to the family, and had just finished a tasty breakfast at Frank’s Place in La Grange with my sister – it was delicious, I was energize, and ready to go!

I had previously posted on the Aggies in D.C. Listserve (a listserve for our small group that would be working in D.C.) that if anyone needed a ride up to Washington, I would be able to take one person and their luggage…I got a call from one of my roommates, Austin.

He wasn’t locked-in for a plane ticket, and I didn’t want to dive alone by myself – so, I drove to Fort Worth, TX and picked him up. Needless to say, that little car was packed as full as I could get, but when I arrived at Austin’s house, he, his dad, his mom, and I filled the car even more full. To make more room for space, we stuck a bike rack on the back trunk and loaded our bikes up…this gave us more room inside the car – which we greatly needed…and then we started driving…

...and driving

...

Getting set to leave for D.C. - and the things I will miss...

All my papers, projects, and finals have been completed. It was a GREAT and memorable semester. In short, the hard work and the long hours of reading and studying have paid off. It was probably my most difficult semester; so much to do, so little rest, and the constant drumbeat of “work, work, work, and work some more,” still echoes in my mind! Don’t get me wrong I am not complaining, but you should know it was tough, but totally worth it.

In fact, one of the highlights of the semester was that a colleague and I were allowed to teach a lecture for an undergraduate class. It was my first time to ever do this – and I loved it! It took a lot of research, preparation, and time for us to organize our lecture. I never knew so much was involved with just a single lesson plan. It gave me, as well as all my colleagues, a greater appreciation for the work involved with education. I definitely wouldn’t mind teaching again in the future.

These last couple of days I have been steadily working on getting things together for the long drive up to D.C. Almost everything is packed, the car is ready to roll, and we are all saying our goodbyes.

I sat down today and really thought hard about all the people and things I will miss, and in many cases there is so much I am already missing.

Thus, I will take this moment to list some of these things:

My family and friends – yes that means YOU; Gypsy – my beautiful and loyal Brittany Spaniel and all our other animals; TEXAS in all her glory; College Station; Working in my garden; Our family farm and ranch where I’ve spent countless hours in the outdoors - hiking the deep woods, fishing and kayaking in Rabbs creek, hunting in the bottom-land, and enjoying the serenity of the Texas landscape; Blue Bell Ice Cream – they tell me it isn’t up north… yet; Weikel’s Bakery; the many Texas Dance Halls we all know so well, and my John Deere.