19 August 2014 -- Washington DC

My Amtral ticket is purchased for a Thursday departure!  And I visited with my two friends.  Guess I will venture into DC today (Tuesday) and see sights I've not seen in a while.

Like the National Gallery sculpture garden!  Now that I think of it...last time I was here was with my two friends with the adult children!  Then...the adult children were kids!

And I walked across The Mall to check out the Hirschhorn.  Figured I take a pic of the Capital.  And the Washington monument.

And next to the Hirschhorn is this garden with some unusual plants.  Like this one with thorns on its leaves.  Or this hanging flower.

And then went through the National Gallery with this great quiet green space in the center.  Now I am museum'ed out, hungry and ready for lunch...

With the help of Google Maps found this restaurant Legal Seafood.  I was in the mood for soft shell crabs and this place was suggested when I googled.  Unfortunately, no soft shells on the menu.  So I opted for crab cake appetizer!  Which was the perfect quantity!  And all crab-minimal filler!  Delish!

And decided I had room for dessert...key lime tart!

Dessert was far too much for me so after that I walked a few blocks to the Chinatown gate.  Then decided to catch a bus to check out a thrift store! That was an adventure since by the time I found the thrift store, it was closed for break.  And the guy outside watching over the paintings and furniture on the sidewalk said the owner would be back in 15 minutes.  I think that was code for one hour.  Because that's how long I waited and just when I was going to give it up and leave the owner arrived.  No Corning Ware and was entertaining to people watch while I waited.

It's hot and humid!  Definitely time to take Metro back to the hotel and call it a day!  And on the way home I can stop at the mall (across the street from a Metro stop so very convenient).  I decided to purchase the SD card reader for the iPad Mini.  Don't need it, yet my intuition said buy it since the Apple store in the mall is on my way back to the hotel.  Probably a good thing to have (as I would learn later in my travels).  Gotta love my intuitive hits.

20 September 2014 Update -- Where Is She????

I realized after leaving the US...that updating my blog with photos taken with my phone is not as convenient since now I need WiFi.  And it is not easy to find free WiFi!

Oh well, that means readers will need to check back later because my photos of Harrisburg PA and Pittsburgh PA.  And even Noyac NY will need to be added to my posts :-|. Glad I purchased the SD card adapter for Mini when in Alexandria!  Finally tried it the other night so at least I can post photos taken with my camera :-)

That said...where am I today? Moving through my 72nd day of adventuring!

Arrived this morning in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.  Home of the largest fiddle!

The cruise ship has been fun!  I have gained weight :-0 as the food is pretty darn good and despite lots of walking in each port!  Weather has been great! Un-fortunately no change in leaf colors noticed!  Definitely a convenient way to travel thus glad I got this last minute booking out of Manhattan to take me one way to Quebec City!

Slowly making my way to the train from Torinto to Vancouver!  Stay posted!

Meanwhile this is a small, quaint port city!  Found this made on premises fudge shop!  Food souvenirs for my friends back home :-). And free WiFi!

En-joy!  Next stop...Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada!

More...Old Town Alexandria

It's Saturday, 16 September 2014 and my friend who lives nearby suggests getting together and attending her complex's music concert.  Sounds like fun to me.  And it was. A local vocalist entertained us.  And I got to meet some of my friend's neighbors.  Plus see her cats!  And her dog!

I'm here with lots of time to chill out and explore Old Town Alexandria.  And take a trip into DC.  As I walk around Old Town, I see these great (not for cars though) cobblestone streets.

And have a few simple dinners by the hotel pool!  Grateful that Whole Foods is four blocks away thus I can have a simple and cheap meal!  Like this one Friday night!  I have the pool area to myself (for the most part).  AND eatting al fresco is a treat for me!  Especially with warm temperatures!

And another night I have salmon and salad!

Got together with my friend Monday night for sashimi at her local Japanese restaurant.  Kid you not it was next to a 7-11 convenience store.  And it was DELISHHHHHH!

Interesting Sight...

I was walking back from Bryan Park to my friend' home (Richmond, VA).  As I approached the overpass (over the interstate), I saw this truck and a man waving a flag and waving at the cars passing below.  Then as I passed the truck I realized what the man was doing.

Artist's Way...

Today is Wednesday, 3 September 2014.

I awoke to the sound of jack hammers being used on the street outside the room I am sleeping in...7:30 AM...even with ear plugs!  The two friends I am staying with are off to work or working from home.  Leaving me on my own.  As one friend calls it -- (fill in your name) Time.  I love that characterization.  I definitely en-joy my Nina Time.  Which often includes sleeping in.  Today, sleeping in is NOT an option so I might as well get up.  I did not drift off to sleep easily last night so I feel a bit off this morning.

Understandable -- yesterday afternoon, I worked with Tom via FaceTime to organize documents 

to give to the attorney.  That stirred up all that I continue to hold onto with this situation.  Been a while since I did Morning Pages (an Artist's Way tool).  So I opened my journal and wrote without thought or editing for three 8-1/2 by 11 pages.  Well..I did 2-1/2 pages today and All Good!  What came through is that I am too close to this situation, I cannot do it all on my own, I need professional help with it -- thus the attorney.  And to listen to the quiet still part of me...it helps me discern between when I am telling myself TRUTH or BULLSHIT.  Thank you quiet still part of me!

Later when I opened my e-mail, this article about Julia Cameron and The Artist's Way was in my inbox!

http://www.dailygood.org/story/805/julia-cameron-on-how-to-get-out-of-your-own-way-maria-popova/

It helped to read the article!  And it punctuated what came through in my Morning Pages!  Source...you are too funny!  Synchroniscity Abounds!  Love It!

More Regarding My Hometown Visit....

Ok I am looking at photos and realized I forgot :-) a few things.

Was fun visiting my friend.  She works so it was perfect -- while she went off to work, I had quiet time to interview attorneys :-) and remind myself that once I was done for that hour or so, I could return to being on holiday :-). And go out on my own.  Yummy lunches on my own.  Tasty dinners together either home-cooked or at restaurants nearby on MacArthur Avenue.

Since Bill's BBQ was closed, I wanted a taste of Virginia BBQ, so I ate lunch one day at Dot's Back Inn.  Was good, yet not quite the same :-)

Then another day, I went to Kitchen 64 and had a lamb burger.

One night, we checked out a Greek restaurant that had recently opened on MacArthur Avenue.  My friend and her sister had not eaten there yet.  The moussaka was rich with velvety bechamel sauce and a nice touch of sliced potatoes as a base.  The portion was large so I had another meal to take home :-)

And I liked that the spinach was welted with a slight lemony taste!

Another night, I had a tasty (and beautifully plated) beet, arugula, goat cheese salad with flatbread.  I love arugula!

And for my final meal in Richmond (since my friend had a meeting after work)...I went back to the Greek restaurant for lamb chops!  Cooked medium rare.  So tende and moist!  YUMMMMM!  I gave a shout out to the chef it was that good!

Went along with the Woo sisters to The Jefferson hotel (site of one sister's son's upcoming wedding and reception so they were checking out the rooms with the site coordinator).  The stairwell was used in a scene of Gone With The Wind.  Not sure if that is true and it makes a good factoid :-)

Went for a walk near my friend's home.  On two different days!  Happy the sun was filtered which kept the high humidity bearable :-) as I walked!

Her neighborhood is known for these beautiful row of trees.

And walked down nearby Hermitage Road.  Was surprised to see these hens pecking the ground beneath this magnolia tree.  Surprised since this is on a street with four lanes.

And saw this beautiful flower.

And this beautiful home...there are a lot like this on this section of Hermitage Road.

One day I took the bus to Cary Towne .. a street with shops and restaurants that was popular when I was growing up and still is.  Was fun to see the architecture as I walked on neighboring streets, that I recall from my youth.

WOW...a gas street light!

And the older street signs...

And met up with my friend and her sister at the Virginia Museum.  We sat outside overlooking the installation by Dale Chihuly (Red Reeds).

And as we sipped on wine...we noticed people with yoga mats arriving piecemeal on the grass area behind us.  Must be yoga night at the Museum.  And very popular...

And one Saturday I wanted to quickly stop in at a shop on Hermitage Road to see if they had a silver plate holder of crystals and stones that goes on a neck chain.  The one I had with me broke.  The owner waited on me.  As she and I chatted, I said that I was born and raised here.  And she said then I might know her husband.  Turns out I do...her husband (in this photo) -- his grand-father is my great-uncle (on my father's side).  I have no clue if that makes us second cousins removed or what.  I had not seen her husband since I was in high school, during the annual Easter gathering of all the relatives to visit the relatives buried at the cemetary.  Fast forward to now...he's quite a magician which is this section of the shop!  Fantastic!