It’s Spring Break this week at G-town!Spring break baby!!I know you are all wondering what great paradise C & I will be visiting this week, so check it out.
That’s right, I’ll be visiting the overcast and snow covered STL this coming weekend (with such nice weather, who wouldn’t want to visit).It will be a short visit and it will only be me coming in, C has to work, so I apologize in advance for those I will not be able to see this trip.We’ll get together in October or November when I come in next (sorry).
Wondering what else I’m doing/done this week?Despite needing to complete a big paper and a presentation for g-town this week, I’ve certainly been enjoying my break thus far (although I’m still working at Cato this week).Spring Break really started off Saturday for me, when C & I attended the Alexandria St. Patrick’s DayParade.What’s totally odd is that this parade was not just the Saturday before the holiday, it was the third Saturday prior to the holiday – I guess it’s best to be earlier, rather then later.
Regardless, the parade was fun, the weather was nice and the bagpipes were humming.C took some video footage on our camera, check it out below (once I figure out how, sorry).
Everything in the video makes me laugh for some reason…maybe it’s the unique facial hair of the individuals, the lovely strut of the gentlemen, the hiked up short green pants, or the man ringing the camel’s “bell.”
This video was not that interesting, except I learned that C loves Shriners in cars (who new), that you really can fit whole Shriners in a car (they don’t just glue torsos on to the car, like a pinewood derby car) and that some Shriners cannot drive too well (he got out of his car, because he hit the official photographer – just nailed her from behind)!
For some reason, C really enjoyed the video function of the camera.She had a little too much fun…
I’m sure you heard the siren and saw the car with the lights right before the video cut off, well, evidently it is illegal for C to use the video function on my camera…she received an invitation to appear in front of the Alexandria municipal judge on Friday March 28.
After a vigorous day of work on Monday, I came to the conclusion that although it’s Spring Break it would not fair of me to spend all day sitting on my duff, eating dairy-free Bon Bons and watching staticy broadcast TV while C slaves away with her 4th grade class.So I decided to relieve C of her duties for an hour and a half and teach the kids (I mean indoctrinate the kids) about elections and the federal government.
First I taught the kids all about the three branches of the government, what each branch does and about separation of powers/checks and balances.The kids then started asking all sorts of questions about the gov, including taxes, spending, money supply, inflation and all sorts of issues fourth graders are concerned with.I also came to the conclusion that fourth graders have difficulty (as do congressmen) understanding the girth of a $3 trillion budget and a $10 trillion deficit.Not surprisingly however, they can more easily grasp filling 1000 rooms with 3,000,000 Hershey’s kisses (which would take a century to do) – candy always makes more sense to kids (and congressmen) then dollars.
After that we started talking about the election process.I’m not sure how much the kids learned about that (they seemed to know a lot already), but they did learn that you have to kiss a lot of babies to get elected.
We wrapped up the guest lecture with a primary and general election that pitted true enemies versus one another…the Salty Snack Party versus the Sugary Candy Party.To simulate primaries, the kids had to decide whether they wanted Popcorn or Pretzels to represent the Snack Food Party and then Starburst or Tootsie Rolls to represent the Candy Party.After a long debate and a Putin-style hand raising vote, Popcorn and Starburst won the right to represent their party in a general election.
Unfortunately, funding for the general election ran tight and the YouTube debate was canceled, so we moved up the election from November to today.After a short discussion, a little politicking and plenty of baby kissing, the kids voted...Overwhelmingly, by a vote of 14 – 8 (even though there were only 19 kids in the class, sounds like STL politics), Starbursts won the election!
Therefore, it is my highest honor to present the next President of Mrs. C’s class:
Every fall between Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur we celebrate the Days of Awe.Every March we celebrate the Days of Age, the 17 days between March 12 and March 29 when I appear to be a year older the C.
The Days of Age are typically celebrated with parties (of the birthday variety) and good food (like the homemade df/gf pecan pie C made me last night from scratch. Mmm…Pie).This year’s Days of Age are no exception, if you’re in the DC area this Saturday you can join us for indoor rock climbing and a Tex-Mex dinner.
I also celebrated this year’s Days of Age by going to see Madeline Albright, former Secretary of State under Clinton, as her book tour took her through g-town. My mom (and other people’s moms too) always told me that if I have nothing nice to say, just to say nothing at all; therefore, I will simply say that I am thankful I had to leave her talk early to go to class.I have nothing but respect for those who dedicate themselves to public service and it’s well known that I’m not a (Bill) Clinton hater, but her talk was terribly hypocritical and disrespectful – I guess it was hatespeak designed to sell books, not to encourage discussion.
My favorite question was asked to Secr. Albright right before I left for class, one student inquired why during her speech, she routinely harassed and blamed the Bush Administration for not going into Darfur, but the Clinton Administration ignored the genocide in Rwanda (both serious problems in which some action should have/be taken).
Her response was simple and short, “We did not know it was going on.”Of the many possible response, such as Rwanda was not a priority for involvement, not wanting to get involved in a civil war, Americans do not want to fight in Africa (nor do they know where it is on a map)… she chose the most implausible answer.Somehow CNN knew what was going on, but not her.Oh well, check out the photos from my camera phone, we sat in the 2nd row for her talk.
(M’s Star Count +1)
Also, I still cannot seem to embed the videos from my last blog, so I inserted the links for 2 into the prior post.
Whew what a week!Besides writing and completing my spring report cards during the past week, there were so many other things going on!A Pep Rally Thursday during school (my Kinder Cubs performed twice), a concert with Rick Recht Friday (a Jewish rock star), celebrating M’s b-day with a trip to a indoor climbing wall, which was later followed by a large Mexican fiesta and then finally waking up before the sun this morning to head to Baltimore for a dance/cheerleading competition that all of JDSers dance teams were participating in!We are tired to say the least, M is actually napping from all of the fun and I am chillin’.
Friday, Rick Recht whom I had mentioned in a previous blog is a Jewish rock star that I know from my Ramot Amoona days came for a concert at school.He was really in the area because he was having a performance at the Congregation at 6th and I in DC later that evening.Because of knowing him and being from the Lou, I was chosen as one of the classrooms that he would be coming to make a special visit to.My kiddo’s were shrieking and screaming when they found out he would be coming to the room to sing; thank goodness that they were able to chillax (a new Portmanteau word that I learned, chill + relax) by the time he arrived.He sang, we danced and then he told us that we would be asked to come and join him up on stage later in the day during the concert, nearly all of my students were pumped, one thought it would be boring…silly girl.The concert was rockin’, we were all singing and dancing, the teachers even got called up to stage and at the end my students and I were finally called up to sing the last 2 songs with them.Hopefully it will be an experience that they will remember forever.We also had an MBA gathering at one of the oldest clubs in DC, the City Tavern Club.The event was for prospective students to meet one another (M had skipped out on the day’s tours), it was a fun filled evening, the weather was gorgeous and we spent most of the night on the patio with heaters to take the chill out of the air.
Saturday, we celebrated M’s b-day a few days late with our friends and small family that is here (our brother D and a cousin J).We took what might have been the longest Metro ride (dangit red line) up to Rockville to go to an indoor rock climbing wall, we were all pumped to go and had a blast, although I belayed the WHOLE time, I kid you not, that is all I did.No one else knew how to belay (yeah recreation major) and it was either me or nothing.It was M’s b-day so of course I said okay.I did have to take a belay test to prove I knew how to belay and thankfully I passed…it is funny how things all come back to you under pressure.We all really did have a fun time and although I did not get to climb this time it was fun to watch and encourage everyone else, by the end though I was a little burnt out from all of the belaying…all that is left to prove my hard work are some pictures and some calluses that the rope caused.After climbing, where there were 7 of us, we headed to a most yummy Mexican restaurant just down the road where our posse was meeting us.I think we totaled 17 at the table, the margaritas were flowing and the food was awesome.I had amazing veggie fajitas, too bad the restaurant is not closer otherwise we would be there more often I am sure.Rockville is just too far to go and hang at, unless I am going to work and that is another story.Plus, the Rockville Pike is an absolute nightmare if you ask me.We are happy in Arlington and Georgetown, where we tend to spend most of our time.
This morning we woke up bright and early to head to Baltimore, we were up at 5:40, out of the door at 6:15 at McDonalds around 6:50 and at the dance/cheer competition at 7:20…we were home a bit after noon.Not much to say about this other than there was A LOT of dancing, cheering and screaming for all of the groups.All of JDS’s groups did great, but of course I am partial to my Kinder Cubs. M helped by carrying the pom poms (and purses) and showing his spirit by wearing his “This is what ruach looks like” t-shirt.We came home with a 2nd place trophy for our division (it was avery smalldivision) and I will let the pictures show the rest.
It is back to work tomorrow, with a short week for both of us...Easter Break for M and Purim for me!I learned a new fact about Purim recently, it is the Jewish holiday where you are supposed to get drunk and be merry. Quote: The Rabbis of the Talmud said, “A person is obligated to drink on Purim until he can no longer distinguish between cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordechai.”
If you are one of my big-government-liberal cousins in the StL, the connection between a tour of the White House’s West Wing and staples in the head is obvious.To them, one would almost be required to have staples in their head (or a lobotomy) to want to tour the offices and residence of current President.I am not sure how the cupcake fits into their theory, though.
Well, regardless of the cupcake and their crazy “theories,” they’re wrong (and not just about the theories).
Saturday I took a tour of the West Wing (without C, long story in a short blog) courtesy of one of my Cato co-intern’s mom.As you would expect, it was pretty cool!After going through security, which was easier then airport security, we walked by the VP’s office (Cheney’s was out), the Situation Room and saw the West Wing dining hall (which was based on a naval mess hall).Then we saw the cool stuff… the Rose Garden, which had no roses or flowers in it;
the West Colonnade (how the President walks from his residence to the oval office);
the Cabinet Room – where every member of the cabinet has their own assigned chair with a plaque with their name on the back it (sorry, but no pictures inside the WW, so here’s one from the Reagan days – jelly beans and all; you can check out this link to see the room through out history);
the Oval Office – which was pretty awesome and looked just like the pictures; and the newly renovate Press Briefing room
It was a great tour, here are two last photos.
Well now you’re probably wondering how this led to staples in the head…well, after the tour I arrived home and C was talking to her mom.C then hung up the phone and left it in the kitchen and came to sit with my in the 2nd bedroom.5 minutes later her phone rang & C took off to get it.This was her lesson about walking in the house (not running)… she slipped, fell to the floor and smacked her head on the on the corner of the concrete doorway on her way down.By the time I came to her rescue (which was quick) she was bleeding.So we went to the hospital.They ended up putting 4 staples in her head – it was actually just like you would imagine; they had a medical staple gun and pull the trigger, in goes a staples.I have a picture if you would like, email me.
So really, the White House had nothing to do with her getting staples in her head; although politics also gives her a headache.
At this point you’re wondering about the custom cupcakes.Our friend Stef, who creates the internet’s 3rd most popular website solely about cupcakes from scratch, made a special cupcake recipe for C.Check it out on the Cupcake Project website.Although we were not in StL for the tasting, we are going to make them this weekend for C’s birthday – I am sure they will be awesome.
C’s recovering well, the staples will be taken out Friday and then she will be back to normal, but until then she goes by the nickname “Miss United Stape’s” (I know she is not a Miss), Stapes for short.
My birthday was Saturday and it was celebrated with friends and family (M & D). We ended Friday, the 28th with a 10:00 movie and then began my birthday with the 3rd ER visit of the week. No, I did not re-injure myself 2 more times. We went to get my staples removed before the movie (visit 2) and it was quite crowded in the ER and we were encouraged to come back early the following morning. Little did they know that it was my birthday that next morning and that I had no desire of waking up at 6 am to get the darn staples removed at the crack of dawn. So, we made our 3rd visit after the movie was let out at about 12:15. We waited and then they took my vitals and then we waited and then they put us on a bed in the hallway and then we waited and then our Ken & Barbie doctors came and took the staples out 1, 2, 3 and then we waited and waited and waited some more and then finally we were given the discharge papers (we actually asked for them after being tired of waiting). We were at home and in bed by about 2:15, I think. Lesson learned if you are injured and the hospital is not busy, you get EXCELLENT care. If your coming for staples to be removed and the hospital is a little busy, you MIGHT be ignored for a while and you will also told numerous times, “this is a strange time to come to get staples removed.” We were aware of that, but really it was our only option.
Onto the good stuff: my birthday. When we got home from the hospital M gave me my birthday present, a new tent! It is absolutely fabulous and I (actually we) can not wait to use it! It is a Mountain Hardwear tent, the Skyledge 2.1; it is lightweight, airy and just plain awesome. We soon passed out; it was WAY past my bedtime! When we woke up I opened presents from my family (thanks mom and dad). We later met our friends and fam for brunch in Georgetown; there were 16 of us at the community table at Le Pain Quotidien and we an excellent feast. It is so nice to have so many people to celebrate with, some of our friends were amazed that we actually knew that many people to invite! After brunch we headed to the Cherry Blossom Festival on the mall that actually began on my birthday with Tali, David & Sarah. Check out the history of the Cherry Blossom Festival too! M told me and I was fascinated by it!
The Cherry Blossoms were gorgeous and we had a wonderful time strolling down the paths, passing monuments and moving with the insane amount of people there. The kite festival off in the distance was quite fantabulous as well. After the Festival M and I were pooped so we came home and rested and then headed back out to walk around Georgetown; I wanted to go to some shops and it was my b-day so we did what I wanted! Then we headed to Bangkok 54 for a Thai dinner which was later topped off with DF ice-cream from Whole Foods. It was an excellent birthday that flew by, but will be remembered forever as my 1st birthday in DC celebrated with friends, Cherry Blossoms and of course my hubby who spoiled me rotten; well, not rotten, I am still the same C.
Sunday night D (my bro) treated me to the opening game of the Nationals in their brand new, fully-government financed, $611 million, LEED certified ballpark - aptly named Nationals Stadium. Despite the cold weather, constant breeze and surly ballpark staff, we had a 'rocking' good time.
Here we are at the main/center field entrance to the park
For those who missed the game, it was the baseball season opener and the first regular season game in the brand new stadium (I'm compensating for missing opening day and Busch when it was new). President Bush threw out the first pitch (see below) and then came to sit with D and I - he knew I just toured the WW and wanted to see what I thought of his decorating style (or course I liked it, or at least told him I did). We then proceeded to talk about Iraq, the budget deficit and those silly kids in Congress. Unfortunately, the Pres (or G-dub as he told us to call him) had a 5,000 mile plane ride to Ukraine Monday morning, so he could not stay to long.
The game was great. After taking an early lead in the first, Atlanta came back to tie it in the 9th. With one out and two strikes, the Nats clinched victory in the bottom of the ninth with a stunning walk-off home run to deep center field. The 7 other fans and us left in the stands went crazy! DC is not a baseball town like the StL, but they are trying - its certainly a better baseball town then Baltimore (sorry Marylanders).
Opening Ceremonies the Nationals' 'W' cut in the outfield
Former StL Cardinal Ray King D & M in our field level seats
Subscribe to this Site
February, 2008
