More Museums

Hello,

It was great to spend one more day going to those wonderful free museums of DC. I am pleased that these treasures are so available to all. It was great to have Sarah with us as she knows her way around so well. We do ok on our own, but I am always a little on edge until we find our destination. However, when Sarah or Stephen is with us I just let them do the guiding.

Natalie is quite used to going to museums and is a great attendee. We went to the National Woman’s Rights House. I cannot remember the exact name. Some of the history I heard there I knew and some was new. It is so easy to take for granted the privileges that we have, especially if they have been in place since before we were born. Many women protested risking rejection, jail, beatings, and ridicule so that I can vote. Some of the women I had heard of and some were strangers. I did know that Pres. Wilson did not support women having the right to vote until it became political risky to ignore or squash the idea. When his career was in jeopardy he joined the movement. Protesting is still an effective way to make your situation known even though it, to this day, has some negative consequences associated with it.

We also stopped at the Postal Museum since that was right by the metro stop. Also we had not been there before. Stamp collector Leroy especially enjoyed this stop and wants to go back since our time was somewhat limited. Natalie found many buttons to push. Next trip, maybe we can give that museum more time. I thought we had seen about everything in the nine years that the family has lived in DC, but there are probably more hidden in plain sight treasures.

Paula

My Phone

Hello,

Yesterday I rode my bike to work. In the morning, Leroy rode half way with me before he turned around since he had some errands to run.

I enjoyed the rest of the ride by myself. It was great to be out in the early morning coolness with a few riders and walkers on the trail. I had gotten to work early enough that getting my clothes changed and ready for patrons was no problem. I have happy to have remembered to bring underpants.

During the day people started to talk about the heat outside. In the meantime, I kept drinking more and more water, which means that I had to make quite a few trips to the restroom. I do not like to leave the main room so much when I am the sole person in charge, but I thought my health on the trip home was more important.

At the end of the day I got ready to ride home. It was about 20 minutes after closing time. I was out getting on my bike when I remembered that I should call Leroy to let him know I had started home. If I were very late then he could worry and maybe do something if needed. I dug out my phone only to have it give me a message that the call had failed. I tried again with the home number. Then I got a message that if the signal was low I should sign up to do WI-FI calling. It wanted an address and I did not know which address so I just decided to try again when I was almost half way home. On this phone, I have been getting text messages that are sent to Leroy. We have been trying unsuccessfully to eliminate that possibility. I figured either Leroy or I had turned off one too many things.

At that shelter I got the same messages. Grumble, Grumble. I stopped once again but still no luck, this time I sent him a text. I was carrying my phone in the back pocket of my bike shirt so I could hear the ding. I hoped that was an answer from Leroy. At home I looked at my phone to see that the message had not been delivered.

“I was beginning to worry about you,” Leroy said when I came in the door.

I started grousing about my phone difficulties, but I wanted to eat first since I was so hungry. Stopping to call him had added many minutes to my trip. Leroy looked at my phone and he also was totally mystified. I could text, why it did not go that first time I do not know. I could receive calls, but I could not make them.

Google was the next step which had the answer as (many) others have had this problem. Various solutions were offered. Luckily, the first one I chose worked. I reset the time and date before I completely turned off the phone. Great! I could once again call people, I did check it this morning and it still worked.

Paula

Lexi's Camp Ends

Hello,

On the Thursday before the end of Lexi’s summer music and performing arts camp, there was a performance in the morning and a play in the afternoon. I was impressed with the amount the students learned and with how well coordinated it all was. Once the concert started there was very little down time as they shifted from one group to another. This included a variety of ages as well as instruments along with voice and dance.

The play in the afternoon went off without a hitch as well. I could understand the words in songs. I expect the notes to be correct, but sometimes it is harder to hear or comprehend the words. This came across very well.

Between the morning and afternoon session we ate a picnic lunch in Rock Creek Park which was close. There was a mill there that we could see from the outside.

Fortunately for us the rain did not come until after the play was over. Sarah had parked closer to the building in the afternoon so that was good too. She was the martyr as she raced down in the pouring rain to get the umbrellas that we had not thought to bring up. We all got a bit wet as puddles were everywhere. It was also a trick to get in the car and fold the umbrellas.

In the evening Sarah, Natalie, and I went to family movie night at their church. We saw Early Man. I found it to be quite funny at times. I believe Leroy would have liked it as well, but he wanted to work on those cacti.

Paula

A Day At Home

Hello,

Tuesday evening Natalie declared that she did not want to go to anymore museums. Leroy and I were ready to take a day off as well. We hung around the house except for going to the little free library about a ten or fifteen minute walk away. We added two books to the collection. In the afternoon we walked to the city library because Leroy had finished one of his books. We had read several of Natalie’s books so they were returned. She also checked out some new reads. I was still working my way through the only book I had checked out. I liked it, but I must not be a fast reader because I cannot keep up with Leroy. On the way home we stopped at a park for Natalie to enjoy the equipment.

I should mention that it often rained at night while we were visiting. That helped Leroy and I to pull weeds along the side walk and along the fence above the short rock wall. We consistently tackled that every morning with great satisfying results. Sarah declared it to be one of the best birthday presents as it is such a big job to keep the weeds under control on their corner lot.

The next day we got some heavy duty gloves so Leroy could cut/pull out that short cactus spreading with abandon along the fence. I did not pull weeds where those cacti were residing as I have gotten the thin painful spines in my hands before. Leroy managed to fill a large garbage can with the pieces he removed. He left only one clump. The sad thing is that we both feel they will grow back with without regard to human wishes. Leroy was not really able to get out the roots. Until that is accomplished I suspect they will return fiercely. I have heard of putting vinegar on some plants to kill them, but we did not try it here.

All it all it was very satisfying to see, even if only temporarily, the weed free, cacti free area.

Paula

The Aquatic Center

Hello,

Sarah took off a day for her birthday. We visited the aquatic center within driving distance of their home. I did not know quite what to expect. It was a delightful experience in spite of the heat and humidity. The museum building was small, but packed with all sorts of information that I could forgot with ease even though I wanted to remember everything.

There were lotus flowers that were beyond anything I had seen before, both in height and in size of flower. It was great to see the seed pods forming. Some other plants were to have a plate like flower that could be six feet across floating on the water. We saw some of that type with flowers about one to two feet across. Perhaps we were there at the wrong season. Taking care of this place seemed overwhelming to me. I cannot image how they do it.

I was saddened to see bottles and cans in the water in some places. They are also troubled by the fertilizer and weed killer that is used in so many places in this country. Saving the earth is posed against economic gain or a sense of local beauty without regard for the consequences. How can such divergent goals reach compromise?

We were fortunate to see some egrets and a blue heron. There were small turtles that signs cautioned us to not step on. We did not see a single one even though it was on our hope to see list. Here there was not as much for Natalie to touch, but at least we were outdoors much of the time.

Paula

I was saddened to see bottles and cans in the water in some places. They are also troubled by the fertilizer and weed killer that is used in so many places in this country. Saving the earth is posed against economic gain or a sense of local beauty without regard for the consequences. How can such divergent goals reach compromise?

We were fortunate to see some egrets and a blue heron. The heron is in the middle of the photo below. There were small turtles that signs cautioned us to not step on. We did not see a single one even though it was on our hope to see list. Here there was not as much for Natalie to touch, but at least we were outdoors much of the time.

It was a good place to visit.

Paula

At the Bible Museum

Hello,

Monday morning the local adults headed off to work while Lexi when to the last week of a daily music camp. Natalie, Leroy and I hung around for a short time before heading off to the Bible Museum. We all had some books to read because almost immediately after our arrival on Saturday afternoon we went and got books as it is never fun to be without a book to read. At the Bible Museum we were the first ones there so we did not have to wait in the line that Sarah had warned us about. When we reported such at the end of the day Sarah could hardly believe that had happened as she had waited 30 minutes as had Stephen on the day he had gone.

I was a little unsure as to whether I would like this excursion, but was surprised and pleased to find it very interesting. There was a lot of history displayed about many different Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. Most of it was about Christian background. There were plenty of things that seven year old Natalie could do involving some hands on activities, consequently she did not get bored. Although, when asked by her parents at the end of the day, she declared it to have been very boring. We managed to spend about five hours there and not see it all. There did come a point when we all were at the saturation point. Home was the place to be.

I am always impressed by how many kind and helpful people there are in the world. As we came out of the metro and were getting our bearings, a sidewalk sweeper asked if we needed help. He then proceeded to give us great, easy to follow directions. I did use my phone map as well and it was perfect.

Paula

Swiss Party and More

Hello,

After having lived in Switzerland, for a time, the Padres feel a close connection so they have joined the Swiss club. We all went to the lawn party which included swimming, games, speeches, music, food, lounging on the lawn, lighting lanterns, a parade, and a bonfire.

Leroy forgot his swim trunks so he did not go in the pool. I was glad to cool off there even though I do not swim, I just hang out. Later, it was wonderful to sit out under the spreading trees on the lawn. The lanterns were for children only. I was a little concerned about safety, but it all seemed to work quite well even though it was a lengthy process to pass out the lanterns, extend the accordion sides of the lantern and light the candle. Then children and adults went in a loose parade pattern to the bonfire area.

Sarah had sent us a song so we could practice and then sing in church.

Partly because we have no piano and partly because we have been quite busy, we did not practice. It became clear that it was not going to go well. We then switched to a song that we do know. This was much more comfortable. After practicing a few times at church we were ready. It went well.

Sunday afternoon, Sarah, Natalie, Leroy and I visited a village created during the FDR years. It was quite interesting. Certainly some of the ideas have great appeal, such as everyone being able to walk to everything in the village. It was a wonderful idea which is now talked about as something that should be in this age.

In the evening Stephen and I went to an organ recital at the Basilica. I was impressed both by the grandeur of the building and the music. The organ was also quite fine.

Paula