I’ve made it back from another four-day visit to Elizabeth City, North Carolina on business, and it looks like I have a little bit of catching up to do.
I headed up to Washington to celebrate our nation’s birthday (and my birthday, and H’s birthday) Fourth of July weekend. The weekend was outstanding, and a few of the highlights are below:
Our birthday meals. H picked this excellent Latin American restaurant in Adams Morgan to celebrate our birthdays. I enjoyed fresh lobster and shrimp along with Cuban black bean soup, courtesy of my wonderful Iowa law friends, and even a friend that H invited. Let us also not forgot the stylish and incredibly sharp shirt D and H gave me. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start my Washington weekend.
The Spy Museum. H e-mailed me three weeks ago asking if I would be interested in going to the Spy Museum. She claimed she needed to reserve tickets. I must admit, I was a bit surprised. Three weeks to reserve tickets to a museum? I didn’t need to reserve anything for the Museum of the Confederacy, and that’s far more popular, right? Sure enough, the museum was packed and the tickets were sold out. Thank goodness H made reservations – a shout-out to her. D won the prize for being the best spy. She rocked, actually. I came in a close second. Never mind the fact that there were only two of us in the competition.
Dim Sum in Chinatown. H impressed both me and D with her fine cuisine choices. The best part of the meal, without a doubt, was when H said she called the waitress Rudy.
The World War II Memorial. On Sunday afternoon, D, H, and I headed over to the World War II Memorial to take a rest and enjoy the water. Upon arrival, however, we engaged in our normal dramatic selves being entertained by the memorial workers shouting at visitors to remove their feet and hands from the memorial’s water. There was one visitor yelling at the people, too. She was belligerently shouting that the people were all “pigs” who had no respect for our fallen World War II soldiers.
Taxi Cab Driver. One of my taxi cab drivers was singing Kelly Clarkson’s “Behind These Hazel Eyes” . . . out loud. Do I need to elaborate?
Independence Day Parade. People from all around the globe attended this wonderful multi-cultural celebration along Constitution Avenue. Floats of many cultures, including Iowan culture, were represented. Without hesitation, though, Woody Woodpecker was the star of the parade.
Fireworks on the Mall. With the Washington Memorial in the background and the National Symphony Orchestra playing at the Capitol, I witnessed the most beautiful Fourth of July fireworks display that I have ever seen.
Now if anyone is ever so ignorant to unfairly label me as un-American, let us remember that I was the one traveling long and far to celebrate our nation’s 229th birthday marching alongside the true icon of American Democracy . . . the one, the only . . . Woody Woodpecker.
