Color Run 2012

Last weekend the Color Run came to DC! I got up bright and early and met up with Lindsey and her husband to travel down to the National Harbor (technically in Maryland still) to join thousands of others.

Before.

While the overall experience was fun, I will admit to being frustrated at a lot of the walkers. I understand that it is a fun thing and lots of families do it and it isn't a requirement to run. BUT. The majority of the people were walking and they would walk like 5 people wide so that if anyone wanted to pass them you had to squeeze by. Or some people would straight up just STOP in front of you without paying attention. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people don't pay attention to their surroundings.. so yeah.

After.

Anywho. I had a good run and felt good the whole time, even though the first half was all up hill. The color stations were awesome, but I don't really think I got as colorful as I was expecting. Oh well.. still a fun thing to do on a Sunday morning! I've checked it off the list, but don't think I will do it again.

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ZooLights

Oops... I just realized I never posted this!
The Friday after Thanksgiving when my family was all still in town, we decided to all head to the National Zoo as an event. They deck out the zoo with lights for Christmas and the lights first come on that Friday at 5 PM.

We decided to get to the zoo around 3 and walk around to see the animals before the lights turned on.

A lot of the lights started coming on as we walked back the way we came even though it was just starting to be dusk. By the time we got back to the entrance it was mostly all dark! It ended up being perfect timing.

This was wicked awesome- it looked like the lights were dripping!

Pretty snowflakes projected onto the ground.

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It Snowed..

..definitely not Snowmageddon or Snowpocalpyse again, but it was Lucy's first!

 

 

 

 

(That isn't a beard! It is her stripe going down her chest!)

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ummm LOVE:

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The Unofficial DC Metro Travel Etiquette Guide

As tourist season is ramping up here in the DC area, I thought it would be helpful to create a small guide to the DC metro- both for the sanity of tourists and local commuters.

If you are traveling to DC, your first step will be to figure out where you are staying and where you will be visiting. With this info, you will be able to get around nicely.

www.WMATA.com

Use it. Love it. It will save you. At Metro's website, you can input start and end locations to find the most efficient way to travel between points. You can also find the fare for your trip if you know which metro stations you will be closest to. Also, the DC metro rail map is also located on the site.

As you can see above, the Metro system is broken up into 5 colored lines: red, blue, orange, yellow and green. Each white dot on the map is a station. Where there are larger white dots ringed by black, multiple lines stop at the same station.

So.. without further ado, some tips and tricks to avoid the wrath of daily Metro commuters.

Escalators

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-This may be the most important metro rule: While using the escalators, if you are walking, use the left-hand side, if you prefer to just stand, make sure you do it on the right. I must add in, if you are barely walking on the left, please move over so that those of us who prefer to actually move can get past you. Also, if you have bags, etc. make sure they are not taking up the left-hand side of the escalator so that others can still get past you.

-When you reach the top/bottom of the escalator, please KEEP MOVING! If you are on the left, do not stop walking when you are a step or two away from the end of the escalator- everyone behind you will run into each other.

-Once you are off of the escalator DO NOT stop as soon as you step off- those behind you would like to not run into your rear in their attempt to get where they are going. If you are looking around or trying to figure out where you are, take several steps out of the way. In most cases, there is a large "pillar" at the end of the escalator pointing out the direction of each train. This is a good location to move to while deciding where you are going.

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Platform
-While on the platform, please do not stand in the middle of the walkways. During rush hour especially, it is difficult enough to move around without folks clogging up the walkways.

-When a train arrives, step back from the doors so that folks can exit the train before you try and board. It is perfectly acceptable to form lines on either side of the door. It is very unacceptable to stand directly in front of the doors and then try to get on as soon as the doors open- the train will not leave without you.

-DO NOT stick your hand, leg, bag into the closing doors in order to try to get onto the train. The doors do not bounce back open as an elevator's doors do. The doors will either continue closing and take your hand, leg, bag with the train or you will break the doors, the train will have to offload and everyone will get pissed at you.


On the Train

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-When you get onto the train, move to the center of the car to allow others to fill in behind you. One of the most annoying things ever is being shut out of a train because you cannot get on, while the middle of the train is empty. Tourists tend to stay at the front of the car and stand next to the grab bars. Please please PLEASE move in.

-Be aware of your surroundings. See an elderly person? A pregnant lady? Ask them if they would like your seat! If you see sketchy activity, there is often not much you can do about it, but know that there is a call button on each car (I believe at each end of the car) that SHOULD call the train operator who can call for help if necessary. This button can also be activated for medical emergencies. Lastly, be careful with electronics (iPods, iPhones, etc.)- there are many cases of electronics getting stolen.

-Use your hand only to grab the poles. When you lean up against the pole with your body, you remove the possibility of anyone else being able to grab the pole!

-Please do not use the seats for your feet, bags, etc. Leave these for people to sit on!


-If you are lucky enough to have a seat, sit up straight. There is NO need to slouch across both seats. (Men, please don't spread your legs so widely that they take up not only your seat but half of mine. I might be sitting with my legs primly together but that doesn't mean I want yours squishing up against mine.)

-If you insist on making phone calls while on the Metro train, please keep the calls brief or at the very least keep your voice down. The world does not need to hear you chattering on about your personal business while we're trapped next to you.

-When chatting with other passengers riding with you, please don't shout. Keep in mind that you're in public and inside voices should be used.

-If you forget to wear deodorant, by all means, do not stand where you need to hold onto the ceiling bars with your stinky pits in my face.


Personal Hygiene
-When you cough, cover your mouth.

-When you sneeze, cover your nose.

-If you have to blow your nose, try to turn away from people. Please blow your nose instead of continually sniffing.

-Don't paint your nails on the Metro.

-Don't cut your nails on the Metro.


Travel Tips
-When entering the Metro system, you will need either a paper metro card or a plastic SmarTrip card. You can purchase your fare at any Metro station from various kiosks with either cash or credit/debit.

-The "turnstiles" to enter the Metro platform are all marked on the front with either a red NO sign or a green arrow. Obviously green means go and red means no. Please do not try to figure out why your fare card will not work in the turnstiles marked with the red no symbol.

-If at all possible, plan your travels around rush hour, ESPECIALLY if you are traveling with children. Your kids screaming and crying will stress you out as well as everyone around you. Not to mention, it will be so much easier to find your way around without infinity people in your way. Lastly, your stroller takes up a lot of space and makes it difficult for everyone to maneuver.

-If you need to travel on metro with your luggage, consider traveling outside of rush hour. Your bag will take up mucho space that should go to standers and will make it difficult for everyone around you to get in and out of the car.

-If you insist on using a little rolly backpack thing, please be considerate and aware of your surroundings. I cannot tell you how many times I have been cut off by one of those bags because people do not consider the fact that they take up more space than if they were on their own.

-Carrying a backpack? If the train is crowded, please take it off and hold it in your hands so that you don't continuously whip the person behind you with the bag.

-If you listen to an MP3 player, make sure it isn't too loud- not everyone cares to listen to your music.



What do you say DC folks- have I missed anything? Does anyone have any specific questions that I haven't addressed?

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Close Encounters

Saturday my family was in town and we headed into DC for the day. Our first stop was the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Out of the Smithsonian's, this was definitely one of my preferred stops. Some of them get way too boring for me.

From the second level outside of the museum.

First we saw Julia Child's kitchen. I have never really watched her, but it was still pretty neat to see that. On the same floor, there was some robotics stuff that John was interested in and also a little history of transportation. There was a train built into the museum as well as some cars and a tractor trailer. This would be an awesome place to take kids one day. (Bonus- the Smithsonian's are free!)

Over the next couple of hours we also saw the other floors that had the original Star Spangled Banner, war histories, money, and a biography of Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln's top hat that he was wearing the night he was shot.

Following our short run through of the museum, John's mom & dad picked us up in their big van and took us over to the White House. First John's dad gave us a history of the DC area/White House and then drove us right up to the door. Obviously we had to get badges (they had already requested our SSN's and run background checks) and go through metal detectors, but that was it.

Looking toward the Washington Monument from the White House.

Our tour was special because it was a private tour. Normally to get a tour of the White House, one would have to write to their representative and ask to do a tour. The tours this way are self guided and certain areas are roped off, etc. On our tour, John's dad became our tour guide and was able to give us much more in depth information. Plus, we were allowed into many spaces not accessible on a standard tour and we were allowed to take photos. The downside- I can't share the photos with you. Sad.

Looking at the Jefferson Memorial from the front steps of the White House. See all of those suckers down at the fence looking at us?

Our tour consisted of the ground floor, and first floor of the White House, followed by the Briefing Room. The White House had two more floors that are First Family living quarters that we were not allowed into.

The first floor consisted of the library where the fire-side chats took place, the China room displaying all of the china chosen by the First Ladies (each administration gets to pick a new set of china- awesome looking? yes. Huge waste of money? also yes.), an entrance room (I can't remember what it was actually called!) the kitchen, and a glassed in conservatory-type room.

We stepped out the front door while on this floor and while we were out there, one (or both) of the daughters came home and we had to be shuffled around to not be in their way. Then while we were in the glassed in room, Secret Service rushed in and asked us to move quickly. I watched him as he left, and lo & behold- there was the President... walking right toward us! Before we could get shuffled out the door, the President walked right in and passed us, saying "Hi" to John's dad. Pretty sweet, eh? (There is where the "close encounter" comes in.)

The second floor of the White House had a giant ballroom that was being set up for the Governor's meeting this week, the Red Room, Green Room (both sitting-type rooms), and a giant dining room.

In pretty much every space that we saw there were elaborate flower arrangements. The flowers were all real and FRESH! I had to sniff all of them and take pictures.

They were all as amazing as this one and coordinated with the theme of the room it was in! Instead of being in vases, the bottom of the arrangement was "dressed" with giant leaves wrapped and folded in various ways. Awesome.

We left the White House from the North Portico.


After leaving the White House, we headed to the briefing room. This is the room shown in official White House briefings. Each news affiliation has their own assigned seats and camera space. The back of the building has desk/work space for reporters to write up their articles.

The North Portico of the White House.

So there you go.. a sort of inside look at the White House. I so wish I could share all of the photos that I took!

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Welcome to Canada

..apparently I moved to Canada and was never notified. I just received this from the DC Alert System:

UPDATE: National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for D.C., effective noon tomorrow to 7PM Wednesday. All parts of the forecast that were just sent remain the same, except the projected snow totals HAVE BEEN INCREASED TO 10-20".

Seriously!? The DC area is on the southern edge of the storm... putting our house right in the middle of it. Awesome. We haven't even finished shoveling out the driveway from this weekend.

Oh yeah... and the storm warning? Covering the ENTIRE workday of Wednesday! I already couldn't get in today since the Metro wasn't going. I get to either try and figure out/bet whether or not I will be able to get home from work in whatever snow comes, or I can work from home (possibly) or take another vacation day. Oh yeah, I had to take a vacation day today & couldn't work remotely because out IT dude messed with the servers this weekend and there is no way for me to get downtown. Awesome..

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"Snowpacolypse" 2010

Well.. it appears as though the snow has stopped. Only 30 or so hours later.

John and I woke up to no power this morning. No power=no heat. We gathered up all of the candles in the house and made plans to cook supper on the grill... after it was unburied. Luckily, the power came back on about an hour and a half after it went off.

Around 3 or so when it looked like the snow was slowing down, we decided to go out and tackle the snow.

All of the snow still on the roof.

From inside the kitchen to the porch thing- maybe around noon?

The snow in the front of the house around noon. Yes, those are our cars up there.

We got thirsty while shoveling. The snow made a fabulous cupholder.

The snow piled up next to the house.

Me shoveling. I am so glad the cars were at the top of the driveway. I think John plans on shoveling out the rest of the driveway tomorrow... I will watch.

TWENTY NINE INCHES OF SNOW- unacceptable.

The path back to the house.

The path from the cellar door. The grill is a bit buried. Oh and our tractor/lawn mower is the lump of snow behind that.

John took a picture of the path from the ground apparently.

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