The penultimate day
Molly woke up with a sore throat so we got a late and tentative start. Flexibility is key with Molly and I. It's what makes travelling with her so much fun. There's no such thing as a curve ball.
We were warned by our host that if we went into the city and couldn't get back before 3:30-4:00 that we might as well stay in for dinner. So, our goal was to get out at 4:00.
First stop was George Washington University. My great grandparents on the mere side lived in what is now student housing for GW. The photo below will take you to another picture of Molly posing with George and then me in the doorway of the old homestead.
After that was some random driving that got us to the White House. We parked, at about 3:15, a block from Lafayette Park. We walked up to the fence outside the White House; even though the street in front is now closed to cars, we got amazingly close. Security was obvious, but not overwhelming and fairly civilian. We then worked our way over to Blair House and then, with plenty of time left, made our way back to the car.
We were also looking for a bathroom on our way back. Nothing seemed obviously available, so we tried the Christian Science Reading room. The woman staffing the room decided we weren't a threat and let us in. While Molly took care of business the woman and I chatted about the dearth of public facilities. She made a faint attemtp at evangelizinng, asking if I was familiar with Christian Science. I said I had an aunt and a cousin who were involved, so I was somewhat familiar. (About as familiar as I am with Chicago because of their proximity there.)
So, now it's 3:40 and we need to go directly to the car. Except I forgot where we parked. As it turns out, it was right next to the reading room. But I'd forgotten and thought it was further out. What followed was 40 minutes of doing laps, radiating out from the White House, worrying that the car had been ticketed, towed or stolen. (We were parked in a lane that said no parking after 4:00...) After facing defeat, I called the cars owners. ("Is this a joke?"). 5 minutes later, we found the car. All I had to do was admit defeat. :-)
At 4:20 we found the car. A little more toodling, and then we hit the freeway at 5:00 (how bad could it be) and by 5:30 we'd stopped by the store to get Molly some soup and were home. Traffic had been a non-issue, full speed all the way.
I got my exercise for the month, the car is safe and sound, and all's well that ends well.
We were warned by our host that if we went into the city and couldn't get back before 3:30-4:00 that we might as well stay in for dinner. So, our goal was to get out at 4:00.
First stop was George Washington University. My great grandparents on the mere side lived in what is now student housing for GW. The photo below will take you to another picture of Molly posing with George and then me in the doorway of the old homestead.
After that was some random driving that got us to the White House. We parked, at about 3:15, a block from Lafayette Park. We walked up to the fence outside the White House; even though the street in front is now closed to cars, we got amazingly close. Security was obvious, but not overwhelming and fairly civilian. We then worked our way over to Blair House and then, with plenty of time left, made our way back to the car.
We were also looking for a bathroom on our way back. Nothing seemed obviously available, so we tried the Christian Science Reading room. The woman staffing the room decided we weren't a threat and let us in. While Molly took care of business the woman and I chatted about the dearth of public facilities. She made a faint attemtp at evangelizinng, asking if I was familiar with Christian Science. I said I had an aunt and a cousin who were involved, so I was somewhat familiar. (About as familiar as I am with Chicago because of their proximity there.)
So, now it's 3:40 and we need to go directly to the car. Except I forgot where we parked. As it turns out, it was right next to the reading room. But I'd forgotten and thought it was further out. What followed was 40 minutes of doing laps, radiating out from the White House, worrying that the car had been ticketed, towed or stolen. (We were parked in a lane that said no parking after 4:00...) After facing defeat, I called the cars owners. ("Is this a joke?"). 5 minutes later, we found the car. All I had to do was admit defeat. :-)
At 4:20 we found the car. A little more toodling, and then we hit the freeway at 5:00 (how bad could it be) and by 5:30 we'd stopped by the store to get Molly some soup and were home. Traffic had been a non-issue, full speed all the way.
I got my exercise for the month, the car is safe and sound, and all's well that ends well.
posted by Lee at 3:33 PM
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