Sunday, September 30, 2007

DC Blog - Part 2

One of the benefits of going to DC to do school visits was that I was able to spend some time taking in the sights. And there are more things to see in DC then a person could see during a year. I know this for a fact because I lived in Silver Spring, Maryland when I was in fifth grade, and my family did indeed spend every weekend sight seeing. I was dragged to every Revolutionary and Civil War battleground in existence. If some early American pilgrim had nailed together a shack somewhere, I saw it. And no, I didn’t appreciate it at the time. But now I wish I could move back east for a year just so I could drag my kids to all the same places.

Anyway, here are a few of the highlights from the trip.

Here is Janette at the Smithsonian gem collection touching amethysts and coincidentally developing a craving for new jewelry.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Oooooh, something like this would be nice.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Here is Janette by the capital building, and no, she doesn't actually lean to the left.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Here is a picture of Janette’s husband by one of those statues from Easter Island.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

The placard told us about how the people there spent all of this time and effort to erect statues of their important ancestors. This had some meaning for them, though we’re not sure what. Probably some primitive ritual. What simple-minded folk they must have been—then we went off to visit statues of Jefferson and Lincoln. Quite impressive, eh?
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I just had to include this picture. We will list it among the silly signs we’ve seen in our lives.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I visited five different schools during my trip Roberto Clemente Junior High, Chester Middle School, Herndon Elementary, Herndon Junior high, and Candlewood Elementary. They were all exceptional. I have to say I’m really impressed with the librarians and kids I’ve met.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yea! First Post! Ok Sorry. I've never been to D.C. btu i really want to. I'm just too afraid of cold weather. If I could get my parents to take me I would, but Disneyland is probaly higher on my list (sorry D.C).

Janette Rallison said...

It's not very cold in DC--but it is humid. September was the perfect time to go. But yeah, I want to go to Disneyland too.

Anonymous said...

oh, mom. too bad they didn't have that sign on the other side!

Janette Rallison said...

Yeah, that's what I thought too. Sure, the people on one side are warned--but what about the unsuspecting walkers on the other side, who um, also happen to be blind and can't see the ginormous (that's a word now, right?) tree limb in front of them? They need brail signs on each side.

Josi said...

What a fun trip. I went to DC for an afternoon a few years ago. I drove past a lot of cool places and my sisters and I took a bunch of pictures with the painted donkeys and elephants they had all over the city. One think I noticed was how conservitively dressed everyone was. It was early september and I didn't see a pair of shorts or a belly button ring. For some reason I assumed the east coast would have more 'out there' clothing--but I was very wrong.

Thanks for the report

Annette Lyon said...

Phew--good thing they had that sign.

Mads said...

It's funny; all of the pictures you took are in all of the spots that I took my pictures when I went to DC! So they're all the same pictures I have, but yours.

If that even makes sense, sorry, I'm tired.

Unknown said...

What a blast! I was in D.C. a few years ago, just prior to the gigantic bug invasion that happens every 13 years or so, and loved seeing everything. This brought back those memories.

Drop by my blog tomorrow . . . you're receiving an award.