Day 3: The Smithsonian Museums

In an attempt to not disrupt Curtis’ normal daily routine, I decided to embark on a solo journey to downtown DC, specifically the Smithsonian museums. 

Curtis dropped me off at the metro station, where I bought a one-day pass and hopped the Orange Line from Vienna/Fairfax station to Smithsonian station. The ride took about 35 minutes. Once I emerged from the station, I had to get my bearings. I took note of the buildings around me and was surprised how quickly I recalled the layout of the area. It had been years since I had visited The Mall and the museums. 

My first stop was at the Smithsonian castle. It is a large information center where you can view a model of the Mall and surrounding area. You can get information on any one of the museums there and can even by tickets for the special attractions. I was all about the free museums. 

I took the front entrance from the castle and entered the courtyard. I decided my first stop would be the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery- one of the Smithsonian’s Museums of Asian Art. Their special exhibits were “The Orchid in Chinese Painting” and “Echoes of the Past: The Buddhist Cave Temples of Xiangtangshan.” The latter was an amazing exhibit of sculptures and etchings taken from the cave temples. I cannot express how truly amazing and humbling it was to view such huge sculptures. I stood in front of an about 6-foot tall statue of Buddha and just felt so peaceful. It was a very self-reflecting time for me while walking through the exhibit. Especially in the 3-D rendering of the cave that was shown on three large screens that you stood in the middle of. 

After the Sackler Gallery, I walked back through the castle and out onto the Mall. I stopped to take some pics of the Washington Monument and Capitol Building. I then continued the journey to the National Museum of Natural History. If you’ve never been to this museum, it is well worth the visit. It is enormous and you can literally spend an entire afternoon there and still not see every little thing. 

Highlights from the National Museum of Natural History included the Hope Diamond, the Ocean Hall and the giant squid they had on exhibit. (Yes, it is dead and preserved), the “Orchids: A View from the East” exhibit, the Live Butterfly Pavilion, and the “Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef”. 

After the Natural History Museum, I walked outside and found that the wind had picked up a lot and the temperature dropped significantly. I decided it would be a perfect time to head back to Fairfax and avoid the after work rush on the metro. 

Curtis kindly picked me up from the metro and proceeded to get a babbling account of my day. We returned to the house and I enjoyed some wine until Sally got home from work. Dinner was at the house and was cooked by Curtis. The food was yummy and just hanging in for the night was what I needed after a long day downtown.

*Photos from my museum trip are up on my Facebook page.

Spring Break 2011: Day 2: Or How I almost brought home a dachshund…

After a restful night of sleep, I awoke around 8:30 and set off to start my day. I watched the weather channel to confirm that the weather would be exactly what the weather should be this time of year. I also found a Star Trek Next Generation marathon. Catching it on the Borg episodes, I watched them and then finally peeled myself away from the TV and hit the shower.

Curtis and I drove into downtown Fairfax and met up with Sally for her lunch break. We ate at an Irish pub and restaurant called The Auld Shebeen. I Had a Guinness pork bbq sandwich and The Auld Shebeen Ale.  Both were very yummy. 

Curtis and I then had errands to run. One of which was to stop by a local pet store and purchase food for the chin-chins (Chinchillas). While in the pet store, I spotted the most adorable black and brown dachshund puppy. He was all curled up in the corner of the exhibit case and looked so pitiful. What ensued was a frantic text message thread, begging to be able to purchase him and save him from being stuck in that case. Unfortunately, reality set in and I was talked down from said purchase. 

We returned home and relaxed until we were to meet up with Sally after she got off work. We all met up at a student bar/restaurant on GMU’s campus. We had several beers and played with the video on demand system. MyAkoo.com allows you to enter music videos you would like to see and plays them on TVs in the restaurant. Sally and I had much fun playing music that we knew the students there would not have known. The looks on some of their faces as they had to endure The Cure, The Smiths, David Bowie, and Depeche Mode was hilarious. 

All three of us then returned home for the night and enjoyed snacks and wine purchased the night before.

Spring Break 2011: Day 1

Recently I had been feeling like I was in a holding pattern. I needed to get out of SC for a few days. So, with Spring Break, I decided to head up to Fairfax, VA to visit with good friends, Sally and Curtis.

Having packed the night before, I woke up Monday, showered, and got on the road by 8 a.m. Once I hit 77, I cracked open a Red Bull, put in The Cure’s Galore CD, and settled in for the long eight hour drive. Driving on 77 was smooth sailing with minimal issues. I hit 81 and it was normal, crazy 81. I stopped at Shelton Vineyards and picked up a few gifts for my gracious hosts for my “lunch break”. 

I arrived to my destination by 4:30 and Curtis promptly poured me an ice cold beer. We watched Airplane and caught up on conversation until Sally got off work. We decided on Dogfish Head Brewery restaurant for dinner. Had a fabulous roast beef sandwich and two amazing beers, Aprihop (an Indian Pale Ale made with apricots) and the Indian Brown Ale.

We followed dinner with a trip to Wegmans, which is by far the most amazing grocery complex ever. They even have a whole floor devoted to wine. Sally kindly purchased several wonderful wines and snack items for the visit.

Having had a long day, we settled in for the night. Sally and I enjoyed some wine, snacks, and On Demand episodes of Intervention.

Changes

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and a lot of talking one-on-one with some really good friends. I have had so much on my mind as of late and I feel like I have been in a limbo state in my life. Spring and Fall are the two times during the year I get this itch for change and I make decisions about where I want head in my life and what goals I want to set for myself.

Although this reflection period can be nice and helps me to look at the big picture and what I want out of the upcoming months ahead, it can be a double edge sword. I find myself contemplating relationships with those around me and begin to tear myself apart in my own mind. I become depressed and in a funk real quick and my mind starts to drift to that darker, sadder part of myself. I've spent the last few weeks there and it's time to move on. I can't do anything about the past. Can't change it and I can't let it be a part of my future. That's not how that works. I've let too many people get into my head and bring unwanted anxiety and sadness down upon me.

So, I've decided to say good riddance to bad rubbish. I'm done with people who work against me, I'm done keeping my mouth shut about things, and I'm am definitely done with allowing people to walk all over me. These people no longer have any control over me or my life. I need to move on. My friend, Hunter, said it best a few days ago, "You're either with me or against me. Choice is yours. But one of those can't get your feelings hurt." And that's how I feel right now. 

I need to focus on me, set goals for myself, and live up to my potential. I'm ready to do that now. I just feel sorry that some people will miss out on how truly great I can be. Their loss, not mine.