Dalton's Visit - Last (sad) Day

We just chilled out at home until it was time for good-byes at National Airport.  It was such a pleasure to have him with us and we certainly hope he can visit with us often.

 Dalton trying to get close to Minny Pearl

In line at Gate 5 for the Southwest return flight to Austin.

It was sad to see him go.

Dalton's Visit - Fourth Day

Liz Carpenter, one of my all-time Texas heroes, said she knew she had had a good day when she was able to embarrass her grandchildren.  Well, I think I more than succeeded in having a good day.  We went to Arena Stage to see "One Night with Janis Joplin".  I found it absolutely impossible to just sit and watch the show.  I was one of the first up - you have to get up to get down, if you know what I mean - not just dancing but definitely using my outside voice.  I had a great time but I'm not sure what Dalton thought.

The show is heading to Broadway in September.  I hope it does well and I look forward to seeing Mary Bridget Davies "channeling" Janis at the next Emmys.  She gives an amazing performance.

In the evening Dalton helped prepare dinner.  He is definitely ready to start doing some serious cooking.  We were so busy that no photos were taken, but I so appreciated his efforts that they must be mentioned.

 Here's George and Dalton before the performance in the lobby of Arena.  I love this space - it's gorgeous and there are no bad seats in any of the theaters.

  This was taken after the show - I look really tired.

It's what happens when you've rocked out for 90 minutes.

Dalton's Visit - Third Day

Saturday was sleep-in day so we had a very late start.  In the afternoon we went to the latest Wolverine movie.  It was my first but Dalton had seen all of the previous versions and declared that this was the best.  After dinner we went to a DC United soccer game.  Ardent fans show up with large flags and bigger drums.  Having been to one of these games before, I showed up with lots of Advil.  Things can get very LOUD at these games.

 For dinner we went to the Chart House because that's where George and I had lunch the day we married.  It wasn't just a sentimental return, we also enjoy the food, especially the desserts.

Finally DC has announced a plan for a new soccer stadium.  Here is RFK that was glorious in it's day, but it's day is long past.  At least we had really good seats.

 Is it just a coincidence that VW sponsors the team 

and the team's flag looks like it was designed by

a former Nazi?

Here's just one of the many drums

scattered throughout the stands.

Half time was fun getting to see a "short game".  it was co-ed and the girls were out running the guys.

At least our team was ahead at half time.  They ultimately lost but it was strangely
comforting to know that the Nats aren't the worst professional team in DC.

Dalton's Visit - Second Day

Being a tourist is hard work!  Today we assumed false identities and worked our way through the Spy Museum.  We successfully completed our separate missions and learned about the 50 enemies James Bond has faced in the 50 years of movies.  We also discovered another reason it is getting easier and easier to live in the DC area - real bar-b-q has come to the District.  For too long we've fought the myth that North Carolina and Kansas know how to bar-b-q.  No longer do we have to live deprived of the real thing.

George becomes
Antonio Silva

Dalton selects Dimitri Ivanov
as his covert identity

Dalton successfully exits a hidden tunnel where he successfully spied on the tourists below and alluded bad guys.

Hallelujah!  Hill Country Bar-B-Q from Lockhart
has come to DC 

So true, so true!

Dalton and George make the hard choices
at the order counter

The right choices were made - sliced beef sandwich with potato salad

Bourbon pecan pie and Blue Bell Ice Cream!  Oh my.

For homesick Texans this is the place to go.  The Gruene sign brought back memories of fun nights in the dance hall (wonder if it's still there), and we'll have to go back some evening to hear some Austin musicians.

Dalton's Visit - First Day

This day was spent at the huge Air & Space Udvar-Hazy Museum next to Dulles Airport.  The ingenuity and courage on display through out the museum was most inspiring.

The view from the front.

 Who is Udavar-Hazy.

The guy who gave $60M to the Smithsonion - that'll get your name over the door.

George & Dalton in front of the first "hanger".

 Dalton overlooking the first hanger.

 It was great getting to see Discovery.  Brought back memories of being in Florida and actually getting to see it take off for the Space Shuttle.

Of course we had to try all the cool stuff in the gift shop.

George learned the importance of details when ordering tickets on-line.
Seems we had tickets for MAY 25th.  Thank goodness the ticket agent took pity on us and lets us exchange them for the current showing.

 The theater is amazing.

 Loved getting to play with my new telephoto lens while in the observation deck watching the flights coming into Dulle.

George and Dalton in the Deck

Dalton's Visit - July 24th - 29th

Thanks to Southwest Airlines, now there is a direct flight from Austin to Washington National Airport. Dalton arrived on Flight 3600, having calmly taken his first flight by himself.

 Dalton exiting from Gate 5, Terminal A

For dinner, Renee joined us at Pizziola for pasta and pizza dinners.

Renee, Dalton and George

Finally a TV/Music/Knitting Room (our shared cave)

We've only been here 7 years.  Thanks to Tom Welsh, the best woodworker in northern VA, we now have a place for ALL of George's music stuff, the TV and my knitting nook.  It's a wonderful place to end our day and enjoy some of our favorite things.

Please note that the shelves for CD's have 2 rows each.  Also, he has 2 turntables (one to provide parts just in case) and his reel-to-reel.  Maybe when he retires he can start a radio station.

My knitting nook.  

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Last Saturday we had a great time on an early morning photo shoot with Photo Safari at Kenilworth Gardens.

Not everyone was there because of photography.

In Memory: Gladys Burkes, May 30, 1930 - April 4, 2013

Gladys, George’s mom, died while getting dressed to go shopping.  She remained active doing the things she loved until her very last day when she died suddenly of a massive heart attack.  Since moving next door to us she had become an avid (some might say rabid) Nats fan, frequent user of the condo’s library and the public library on the shuttle’s schedule, ardent fan of the Rachel Maddow show, and diligent shopper.   She will be interned beside George’s dad, “Big George”, in the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery (date still pending).  We miss having her as a part of our daily lives.

Gladys and George attending a game at National Park.

Gladys with George doing one of the things she loved - cheering on the Nats