Ginnylynnpeterson: Washington DC

Showing posts with label Washington DC. Show all posts

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Arts at Midnight

Tonight was one of my favorite nights possibly ever in DC. It was surprising to see, behind all the blue collar pressed suits and stuffy uprightness, this amazing creative underground scene exists. I realized, I need to explore more....

Galleries stayed open till 3 in the morning, exhibits crossed the town, and 1,000's came out to support the event. Some art was displayed in parks, while others on the side of building walls (see above), the library housed a funky live/manican fashion show, and a couple of row houses had been gutted allowing spray painters to go to work. My favorite was the Wonder Bread Factory -- an old building with lots of character....various artist worked (see top photo) throughout the building, while music was deejayed in the back with a crazy light show and tons of dancing (see below).

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Andrew's Segway Birthday Adventure

I did my best to surprise Andrew with a DC Segway tour.... I'll be honest, I personally did not have much interest in Segway's, but now I have a new perspective!!

I can't believe I got Andrew to slow down enough to take the above photo....

The experience was truly comic....Segways get a lot of attention....positive and negative!! But we all had fun shouting Yeha back to anyone who showed interest!

And clearl,y as the above photo illustrates, Andrew had a blast!

Thanks to everyone for joining in the fun, and a very happy birthday to Andrew!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Congressional Cemetery

I am so glad my paths have crossed with Alison and her family! She knows so much about the area, and is always willing to show me around....this adventure took us to the Congressional Cemetery, which is pretty much in my back yard. The cemetery was founded in 1807 and numerous members of congress, vice presidents, and locals were buried here. Super cool area to run around and explore!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Gay Pride Parade - Washington, DC

When I got home after the parade I posted on Facebook,"I wish every day was Gay Pride Parade day in DC". I have never seen the city so relaxed and happy....A new, yet odd, sense of community I had never seen before.

I took a lot of photos this day, but will only post a few. It was amazing to see sooo many people there in support of rights for all individuals. Over 200,000 people attended!

You know it was a good day when you are heading home and confetti is still blowing in the air, candy covering the streets, and locals jumping in the Dupont Circle fountain

Sunday, May 22, 2011

The House Where GW Resided - Mount Vernon

Andrew and I did a trot over over to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. It must be pretty impressive inside, because I couldn't believe how long the line was to get in!! A beautiful trot along the Potomac! A beautiful spring here in the big city!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Andrew's Dream of Running a Marathon!

Andrew threw out the idea of running a marathon.....Could be a good goal, except the training part! Regardless you had to have a pre-race time to be eligible.....already the pressure is on.....You see, I'm more a trotter, and am not really to fond of having to do things in a certain amount of time! But I can work on that! Brendon joined us for the Veteran's 10 K in which over 3,000 people participated (or at least bib numbers were over 3,000). It was a beautiful DC morning and we had a great time! I'll keep you posted on the marathon idea!!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Playball - Nationals vs San Francisco Giants!!

My grandparents were die hard Orioles fans and we often would watch the games and keep score......This was followed by my summers watching my cousins play little league....both experiences have stuck with me over the years!!

Some how or another keeping score has now become difficult....and I had forgotten how much fun it is to eat delicious junk food at the games!!

Nationals beat the Giants 8 to 1.....An awesome night with great friends!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Udvar Hazy - The New National Air and Space Museum

This is a definite must do if you happen to be in the area....So if your in the mood to check out how the Wright brothers built their plane, how Ameilia Earhart crossed the Atlantic, curious to see the Enola Gay or how astronauts traveled to the moon...then don't miss the this museum!

The museum is housed in a larger hanger (not as big as the blip hanger in Akron, but pretty big!) and I felt like I was in Costco for the first time running from site to site and trying quickly to take it all in, but couldn't slow down long enough to learn as much as I would like!

I can't yet cross if off of my list of summer accomplishments, as I would like to go back and take the guided tour by someone who knows a shit-ton more than me! It certainly was an awesome way to beat the heat and hummidity of DC.

Meet Joe Black Quote

"Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived"

To Lucy Barfield (The dedication in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

My Dear Lucy,
I wrote ths story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand, a word you say, but I shall still be

your affectionate Godfather,
C.S. Lewis

Ithaka

When setting out upon your way to Ithaca,wish always that your course be long, full of adventure, full of lore.Of the Laestrygones and of the Cyclopes,of an irate Poseidon never be afraid; such things along your way you will not find,if lofty is your thinking, if fine sentimentin spirit and in body touches you. Neither Laestrygones nor Cyclopes,nor wild Poseidon will you ever meet,unless you bear them in your soul,unless your soul has raised them up in front of you.

Wish always that your course be long;that many there be of summer mornswhen with such pleasure, such great joy,you enter ports now for the first time seen;that you may stop at some Phoenician marts,to purchase there the best of wares,mother-of-pearl and coral, amber, ebony,hedonic perfumes of all sorts--as many such hedonic perfumes as you can;that you may go to various Egyptian townsto learn, and learn from those schooled there.

Your mind should ever be on Ithaca.Your reaching there is your prime goal.But do not rush your journey anywise.Better that it should last for many years,and that, now old, you moor at Ithaca at last,a man enriched by all you gained upon the way,and not expecting Ithaca to give you further wealth.
For Ithaca has given you the lovely trip.Without her you would not have set your course.There is no more that she can give.

If Ithaca seems then too lean, you have not been deceived.As wise as you are now become, of such experience,you will have understood what Ithaca stands for.

Constantine P. Cavafy

I am Vertical - Sylvia Plath

But I would rather be horizontal. I am not a tree with my root in the soil Sucking up minerals and motherly love So that each March I may gleam into leaf, Nor am I the beauty of a garden bed Attracting my share of Ahs and spectacularly painted, Unknowing I must soon unpetal. Compared with me, a tree is immortal And a flower-head not tall, but more startling, And I want the one's longevity and the other's daring.

Tonight, in the infinitesimal light of the stars, The trees and the flowers have been strewing their cool odors. I walk among them, but none of them are noticing. Sometimes I think that when I am sleeping I must most perfectly resemble them --
Thoughts gone dim. It is more natural to me, lying down.
Then the sky and I are in open conversation, And I shall be useful when I lie down finally: Then the trees may touch me for once, and the flowers have time for me.

Thoughts....

When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion -- when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing - when you see money flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors - when you see that men get richer by graft and pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you - when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice - you may know that your society is doomed.

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged (1957)

A friend of mine just shared this with me and I thought I would pass it on!

Myself
by Edgar Guest

I have to live with myself, and so, I want to be fit for myself to know;I want to be able as days go by, Always to look myself straight in the eye; I don't want to stand with the setting sun
And hate myself for the things I've done. I don't want to keep on a closet shelf A lot of secrets about myself, And fool myself as I come and go Into thinking that nobody else will know The kind of man I really am; I don't want to dress myself up in sham. I want to deserve all men's respect; But here in this struggle for fame and pelf, I want to be able to like myself. I don't want to think as I come and go That I'm for bluster and bluff and empty show. I never can hide myself from me, I see what others may never see, I know what others may never know, I never can fool myself -- and so, Whatever happens, I want to be Self-respecting and conscience free.