Washington DC: The Long Road Home

After a fairly uneventful night(at least on our floor), we packed up and headed to the White House. As the official photographer of the trip(yes that's what everyone called me), I took almost 1000 pictures this week. And we got the whole group together in front of the White House for a final group picture. Of course, as the official trip photographer, I'm not so much in the pictures, but at least they'll have great photos.

And they even got permission to sing the Star Spangled Banner in front of the White House.

You'll all get to see many more pictures from the trip.

After the White House, we had a few hours to spend at the Smithsonians before we began the long trip home. Just so you know, you could spend a week in those museums and still not see everything.

We started to the airport at 2:00 pm, DC time. We will land around 11:00 pm, Utah time.

I'm composing this on the plane. It's a long flight and I have a hard time sleeping on planes.



Clearly that's not a problem for some people.

And we've landed. So excited to be home!

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Washington DC Day 5

Today is our last full day in DC. We fly out tomorrow afternoon.

We started and ended the day at the Washington DC Temple Visitors Center. In the morning, they had a special clinic with a local choral director.

After the clinic, we headed back to town and spent the afternoon exploring museums, including the Holocaust Museum.

There just aren't adequate words to describe the museum. It's incredibly powerful and very thorough. I've spent a lot of time studying history(you know, cuz of my degree) and particularly European history. And while most of this information wasn't new to me, the way it's presented is so moving. I highly recommend this museum if you're ever in the area.

After an afternoon of museum-ing, we went back to the temple for the choir to give a full concert at the visitors center.




They are really great kids and they sound pretty good(not as good as my senior choir, but we were freaks of nature).




Now I'm preparing for an all nighter. Seriously. It's the last night and the kids get extra crazy/stupid. I wasn't one of those kids, but I know there are some here. I'm not very happy about it.

I just want to sleep!

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Washington DC Day 4

Holy Crap I'm exhausted! I'm too old for the constant go-go-going.

Today, we went to the National Cathedral for a tour. And the choir got to sing too. They weren't sure they would get to. But they did and it sounded great! Best performance yet!

Then it was off to another church. They sang at the church where the president and first family attend services. It was an episcopal service and I was really impressed with how well the sheltered kids from Bountiful handled themselves!

Then it was off to the National Archives to see the Bill if Rights, Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Pretty cool, huh?

We finally had some free time.



We went to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. We have more free time over the next few days to hit other museums. I'm excited. What can I say? I'm a nerd. I love me a good museum!




I had to stop at the FBI building for a psychological evaluation by Dr Lance Sweets. He says I'm going to need a vacation to recover from this "vacation". He's a doctor! I have to do what he says, right?

We topped off the day with a tour of Ford's Theater, dinner at Hard Rock Cafe and a showing of 1776 at Ford's Theater.

And as a reward for surviving thus far...



Cupcakes!!! I just gained like 5 pounds. These things are HUGE!

Now I'm full of sugar, but I really need to sleep so I can function tomorrow.

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Washington DC Day 3

Oh such a loooong day! We started the morning attempting to visit Senator Hatch. However, the senate is in recess and he was back in Utah. But the kids got to serenade all the senatorial aides.



After that, we took a tour of the US Capitol and saw the Library of Congress etc.



Then it was out to Mount Vernon for tours, sightseeing and another performance.

After that, we loaded back in the bus and headed back into town so the kids could sing at the Washington Wizards basketball game.



They were all really excited to get to do this. And I must admit, it was cool being back"stage" with all the important people.

And even though the Wizards are a pretty crappy team, the game was fun(and significantly shorter than the baseball game). I had some Dipping' Dots, which really hit the spot since I've been fighting a cold AND allergies on this trip.




It was a full day of excitement. 3 days left!

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Washington DC Day 2

Our bright and early start today was the choir singing at the amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetary.



It was right by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and such a moving performance for everyone participating.

We then went and watched the changing of the guard.



Arlington is so huge! I had no idea! And it's just about the only place with any cherry blossoms left.



After Arlington, we went to the Iwo Jima memorial. And we had lunch at the Pentagon Mall. Had me some Popeyes fried chicken. I grew up in the south and Popeyes is the only fried chicken I'll eat.




Much to my dismay, we spent 3 1/2 hours at a baseball game. I just can't do baseball games. Boring. At least, to me.

After the game, we headed out to dinner in Old Town Alexandria and wandered around there for a bit.

We just did room checks and now I'm ready to sleep for a previous 7 hours before we do more craziness tomorrow.

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Washington DC Day 1

Well, if nothing else comes from this trip, I am able to check off one of my 30 before I Turn 30 items. I've been in Maryland and Virginia today, both states I have never been to before(and of course Washington DC).

But there were other eventful and noteworthy things today.



Our Nations Capitol



The choir sang at both the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. It was funny to see all the tourists crowd around and video tape the choir.



The best part of the trip so far(judge all you want)...



This snickerdoodle was like an inch thick and was a happy piece of heaven. We bought it at a place called Larry's Cookies(side note: the choir director's name is Larry).

We got to the hotel at about 11:00 DC time. Loooong day! And we start at 7:00 am tomorrow. Good Night from the nation's Capitol!

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Get Out of My Head!

I should be packing...or cleaning the kitchen...or blow drying my hair...or putting my room back in order(which would be easier if I finished packing)...or any number of more important things.  But instead, I'm going to do a little word vomit here for your enjoyment.  Maybe if I get it out of my head, I can focus on the things that need to be done.

I think I like my new bedroom configuration.  It's pretty functional and feels roomier.  I still might alter a few little things here and there, but for the most part, I'm pleased.  And that makes me extra happy because I'm never moving that dresser again(at least not by myself). 

I recently reread the Hunger Games series.  All three books.  I still like them.  However, this time through was different.  I couldn't help but fixate a little more than is probably healthy, on the character, Gale.  Let me tell you, I've always rooted for Peeta(although, the Peeta in the movie isn't nearly as good looking as I expected).  I don't want to go into too much because I know there might be people out there who have been living under rocks and not read Hunger Games yet.  Suffice it to say, it was a fascinating struggle for me to read the series again.  Ask me about it if you're that curious, and I'll expound.

Eventhough it's not really where I am in life right now, I still have a hard time with everyone else having babies.

I've been particularly blessed to know some amazing people in my life.  I have great examples of folk who have lived life to the fullest.  I suppose no one seizes every moment.  There have a been some recent reality checks that have led me to consider the brief time we have on this earth.  You never really know how long your visit will be here.  I don't want to wonder "what if I had taken this chance..." or "What if I had had the courage to do this..." or "How would my life be different if...".  I guess we all have things we look back on and wish we had done differently, although, it doesn't really change anything.  But when it's my time to go, I want my family and friends to think "She had a full life".  Don't worry.  I don't think this end is coming soon.  I don't want to just trudge along making the best out of what I stumble on.  I want to take giant strides and have great adventures.  I just think I need to seize more moments and not be so worried about what other people might think or who is judging me.  I need to jump in with both feet.  I spend WAY too much time testing the water.

I'm not making near as much progress on my 30 Before I Turn 30 list.  And I've only got about 6 months. tick tick tick tick tick (stupid clock)

I'm excited to go to Washington DC with the Bountiful High School A Capella Choir tomorrow.  But I really need a big giant vacation from reality.  The stress I've been keeping bottled up for the last 3 months(while I've been teaching) is about to boil over.  That never goes well.  I know, I shouldn't bottle things up in the first place.  But I really thought I had to in order to keep it together while I was teaching. 

I'm working on the Queen of the Night Aria from The Magic Flute.  It's crazy high.  Seriously.  And I love it.  It's so hard.  And I love it.  It's going to kick my trash from here to the end of time.  And I love it.

I'm done auditioning for shows.  Okay.  That's not entirely true.  I'm going to audition for Little Women at Centerpoint in June.  But after that, I'm done.  You see, I started doing theater again about 5 years ago.  I needed a distraction; something to do since I wasn't having kids.  I wanted something that would fill that void.  In that 5 years, I've done 4 shows.  Not so much is it filling any kind of void.  Also, it's just making me frustrated.  Every time I go to an audition, I stress out.  And then I go to a call back and I stress out.  And then I don't get cast and I pick myself apart until I'm in all kind of tiny pieces that never really get put back in the proper place.  So then I do it again and it's more of a disaster.  I don't like feeling like a failure.  I don't like feeling like I'm not good enough for anyone.  And so, after Little Women, I'm done.  I'm starting school in the Fall anyway(provided Financial Aid goes through) and that will take up plenty of my time.  And I can sing just because I love doing it.  Do I really need another reason?  I submit that I do not.

My head feels emptier and clearer already.  Sorry to subject you all to my insanity.  The next week should be filled with happy reports about Washington DC and all the fun we're having there.  Hopefully I'll leave some of my crazy there.  Hopefully I won't pick up much in the way of new crazy.