Rally Day and a Bike Date...

It's been a full month since I've disappeared from public life but I promise you I'm slowly getting back in the saddle. But more on that later.

I know by now this is old news but I've had the pictures for this post ready for a couple weeks now so hear it is. All of you already know about "Thee" Rally. Yep, that's right, the Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert Rally to Restore Sanity and or Fear that happened on Saturday Oct 30th . We wouldn't have missed it for the world. We also knew that hundreds of thousands of other sane/fearful Americans also wouldn't miss it so what was our plan? Yep, we biked it.

These bikes have not seen the light of day in years. So of course our day began with some minor maintenance such as pumping up completely flat tires, a bit of tightening and oh yeah wiping off the layer of dust they had on them despite being covered. How did that happen?

We started our journey by biking down to Shirlington where we paused for a quick picture to prove at least we started the journey (at this point we weren't sure just how far our out of shape legs would get us).

The smiling Bear.

The smiling Bean and Bear. Erynne, I wore my Peeps hat in honor of you babe.

The Weenie Beenie!! Though I've never eaten there I'll still miss it.

Approaching Pentagon City. You can see the Air Force Memorial!

We finally make it to the Pentagon!

Okay, so after an encounter with a very cranky Pentagon Policeman we ended up here, on the side of the friggin highway. How's that you ask? Well apparently the Army Navy marathon was going on and we were denied being able to ride on the path around the Pentagon. "Which way do we go the" we asked the cranky policeman. "That way" he says pointing towards the highway on ramp. "How do we do that on BIKES" Bear asked him. What was his helpful answer? " Oh I wouldn't know that". Yeah, cops can be dicks. So off we went to traverse our way cross the country side by the highway, round the pentagon and across the GW Parkway. I mean no one does this, there's not even a Bum Path here. But you know what? It was actually a shorter route!

Yay! We made it to the bridge. Pause for a picture for proof!

Picture pause at the Jefferson.

Still having fun! Man the weather was absolutely PERFECT!

Finally made it to the heart of the Mall. See those people behind us? Guess where they are all walking to.

Rally! Rally! Rally!

It was NUTZ!!! We've NEVER seen so many people. We literally got STUCK in the crowd. Brian was holding on to my shirt cause if you didn't hang on to each other someone would slip inbetween you and within seconds you'd be lost. There were sooooo many people that Cell Phone Service went down. Yeah, that many people.

We had fun spotting all the people in costume. It was amazing to be apart of something so HUGE. There was no shouting, no shoving, no yelling or any uncivil behavior. It was almost eerie how quiet the crowd was as it filtered in through the streets and onto the Mall.

Where's Waldo? And Waldo, and Waldo...

Appears someone had something to say.

After the festivities we stopped for a street vendor (heartburn) Hot Dog and made the return trip home.

Yep, we took our off road short cut again!

We stopped for dinner in Shirlington then it was straight home for a nap. What a day, what a day.

An Evening of Laughter and a Hippo...

Would you like to go see David Sedaris speak at the Lisner Auditorium? Um, duh!

The first book of David Sedaris' that I read, okay listened to was Me Talk Pretty One Day and that's all it took. I was hooked. He had me in stitches. I mean there is nothing funnier than listening to David reading his own book, with his lisp talking about his lisp. Really, you need to run not walk and go get you a copy of that audio book. There's just one rule you should follow when listening to a David Sedaris audio book, NEVER and I repeat NEVER listen to this outrageously funny man while lifting weights. You run the risk of bursting out laughing and dropping a weight on your foot. Sadly, I learned this the hard way. Ouch! So Craig, Tiffany and I rode the metro across the river to DC to seek out the Lisner Auditorium! There is nothing more entertaining than sitting and listening to Mr. Sedaris read excerpts from his books and his diary. Yes, his diary. I envy his ability to observe every day life and find that golden hilarious nugget. Hats off Mr. Sedaris, hats off.
When we were leaving I whipped out my camera to snap a quick pic to remember the evening by when Tiffany said "Stick your head in there"! Genius Tiffany, genius.

I'd like to thank the academy!

Thanks Craig for arranging the evening and getting me out of my cave and across the river for a great night out with fantastic friends.

Thanks Tiffany for the great photo idea! I'll forever be on the lookout for "When Statues Attack" photos!

What favorite author of yours dear readers have you ventured out to see in person?

A Visit From The Fam...

Hello my lovies! Have you missed me? I assure you that all is well here at Casa Bean. I've been so busy visiting family, preparing for friends to visit, as well as a ton of creative projects that there aren't enough hours in the day. Shall I begin to catch you up? The other weekend my charming aunt Susan and her hubby Ed came to visit us. "I was feeling a little homesick for you" she said. Isnt' she the sweetest? I think they are an adorable couple.

Another reason they are so sweet is that they brought Momma Bean and Casper with them!!! Yay! That's Beanie the Wonder Dog on the left with her brother Casper on the right. What a pair!
Among the many places that we ate was Jackson 20. It deserves a mention for many reasons.

They have WAY cool antique metal menu covers and little piggie napkin rings!

Their bathroom is gorgeous. I mean look at that tile, and fresh Ochids? I'm in LOVE! Yes, I photographed the bathroom ;)

They have a brass piggie! The hostess was wonderful, the waitress was fabulous, the food (I had Rabbit Brunswick Stew) was great and it was all shared with loved ones.

One of the things on the MUST DO list was take my mother to the Library of Congress. We got her a library card then went to see about looking up some books. We had a fabulous time, including walking in the tunnel to get from the main building to the Adam's Building where they were sending the books she requested so she could sit and look at them. We had a WONDERFUL time staring at all the Art Deco on the walls, sketching and giggling like only two Book Lovers can.

The view from the King Street Metro station where we changed trains from the Blue Line to the Yellow.

After a hard day of site seeing you just HAVE to have some to die for Tiramisu. I may have found the best in town but I'll have to go back and have another just to make sure ;)

Also on our MUST DO list was visit the Natural History Museum. Always a great choice, as long as you get there before all the screaming children and grumpy parents. Even my mother said "Let's get the HECK out of here before we get trampled". Go EARLY people cause the stampede comes at about 1pm and they are hot, tired, hungry and PUSHY. Personal space people, personal space. You've been warned, you violate it and I'll dart you and put you on display next to the Mammoth as a warning to the rest of the group. Just sayin.

At the Natural History Museum they had a special Butterfly display that you can walk through. They have 400 Butterflies with 52 different species. It was magical. Well except for the obnoxious asian lady and her two kids, but we won't go there.

I was the only one of us to have one land on me. I couldn't believe it. "Mom...mom....MOM LOOK"! I was giddy with delight. Momma Bean said that it was because of my Lemon Verbena lotion.

Did you know there were Bull Mummies? Me neither.

Little clay figures that Momma Bean and I stood and sketched. *sigh* if only she lived closer so we could do this all the time.

Of course I had to take a pic. I mean come on. Thoth is so rare that when you see him you gotta capture it.

What a great trip. I got to show Susan and Ed my town for the first time and Momma Bean brought me a Thai Basil plant that I am very happy to report is still alive and well. You may not know this but I have two black thumbs. Give me and animal and I'm golden but give me a plant and you sentence it to a long slow suffering death. Just ask my hubby, I've killed an air plant. Yep, that's no joke.

Thank you so very much Susan and Ed for taking the time to come out and see me. I hope you enjoyed our town. It was a blast. Love and Hugs to you both.

Adventures with Nathan...

Our nephew Nathan (man I hate saying Nephew, since that makes me Aunt and that's just weeeeeiiiiird) came for a wonderful week long visit. We has so much fun. We went to the Home Goods store and found some fun things that made us giggle.

Really? A pepper grinder bigger than a toddler? It too can be yours for the one time price of One Hundred Big ones. Um, let's just take a picture instead!

We had festive Octobery beers just about anywhere we ate. Tis the season you know *wink*.

Nathan got to ride the metro for the first time. "Man, this isn't so bad." That was Nathan's observation while we rode into DC around 2pm with only 20 other people. His view changed completely once we rode back with ALL the commutors at the end of the day. When he saw all the drones stepping off the metro train only to line up again to catch a bus his comment was this, "They they get home and open a vein".

And that my dear readers is why we work for ourselves! Nuff said.

While in DC, Nathan and I went to the Air and Space Museum. Air Panes! Wee!!!

And here's our bad selves on the National Mall. It's a beautiful day, the weather was perfect, and oh yeah, it was my Birthday! Sweet!

After the Air and Space Museum we walked over to the Capitol for a look see.

Gotta do the shadow wave, right?

Here in the Nation's Capitol we have what I like to call "The Dork Tours". There's nothing that will bring a warm satisfying chuckle to my lips like a group of these aimless wanderers crossing my path. Come on, you know you wanna laugh too!

Talk about a beautiful day.

Some of you may have hear us talk about the new Capitol Visitor Center that was built under ground in front of the Capitol. I had yet to actually go there. Last I saw it it was a gigantic pit under construction when Brian and I were working night shift surveying inside the Capitol building 5 or 6 years ago.

This picture above is of the scale model of the Statue of Freedom that is located on the top of the Capitol Dome. She's pretty cool don't you think?

Since the Visitor Center is below ground they put in cool sky lights that let you view the Capitol Dome from under ground. Also pretty cool.

Back on our side of the river in Virginia, this is the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center located next to Dulles International Airport. While Nathan and I were at the other location in DC we realized that the plane he really wanted to see what actually at this location. So, another roadtrip was born! Neither The Bear nor I had ever been here yet!

This place is HUGE inside! Seriously, they even have the Space Shuttle "Enterprise", no not from Star Trek. ( I know that was what you were thinkin cause that's what I was hopin for, hee hee. Who doesn't love Jean Luc Picard?)

This was the bad boy that Nathan wanted to see. Pretty impressive eh?

I think this pic speaks for itself!

Now this pic sure is a good one! I can't decide wether The Bear's face is one of surprise at me whipping out my camera or if he's gaurding his prize "Americone Dream" ice cream. If you are a fan of Stephen Colbert, and I KNOW that you are, you'll know how hard it is to find this dairy delight!

It doesn't take much to amuze these boys. You take them to dinner out at the Eden Center for some seafood Pho and a bright red shiny table with sparkley stars on it and they are instantly teenage boys giggling and asking for their picture to be taken!

All I have to say is that I really and truly LOVE these boys. Thank you sooo very much Nathan for helping to make my Birthday Week a very very special one. Including the sneaky way you put my Card out when I wasn't looking!