Every minute matters

I continue to relish every minute of my time here in DC.  I was able to enjoy the Capitol Fourth of July, even though my original plan to watch the rehearsal on the 3rd got cut short because of approaching storms and an emergent mass evacuation of the area.  To start off the July 4th festivities, I attended the concluding Mass for the Fortnight for Freedom held at the Shrine.  Over 6000 people attended with standing room only inside and overflow standing outside!  There were about 150 participating priests, which made for a very long processional!  In the evening, I traveled to the Capitol area to watch the concert -- and then I was able to see the spectacular fireworks display over the Washington Monument.

The next day, my sisters from Ohio and Florida arrived for the weekend.  We stayed in the Brookland area of town the first night, then relocated to the Georgetown area from Friday 'til Sunday.  We had great sister-bonding!  They did sightseeing on Friday while I was working.  We had delicious dinners out every night, shopped, laughed, and enjoyed our vino!  The heat-tolerant Florida sisters spent most of Saturday afternoon walking around Arlington Cemetery to visit the gravesites of two people Kathleen knows.  We happened upon two memorial markers for my great-uncle's military unit and the neighboring marker for U.S. Army Reservists (thank you Bob)!  We also saw the Eternal Flame, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and changing of the guard ceremony.  The not-so-heat-tolerant Ohio sisters returned to the hotel and took advantage of the air-conditioned shops along M Street in Georgetown.  Saturday evening, we went to Old Town Alexandria for a delicious pasta dinner (and more vino)!

My sisters left on Sunday, so I spent the remainder of the day getting organized for my work week.  Working Monday-Friday and days is quite a novelty.  I don't think I've ever had this regular of a schedule since I was probably in high school?!?!

We had a "cool" front come through Sunday night, so our high temp on Monday was only in the upper 80's instead of the 100+ degree weather of the previous week.  After work, I did my own walking memorial tour.  I walked from the Dept. of Labor Building to the White House to the Jefferson Memorial to the FDR Memorial to the MLK Memorial to the Metro (then home).  It was a 5-mile hike!  This was my first time taking in the FDR and MLK memorials, the two latest additions here in DC.

At OSHA, I've worked on my project plan and timeline and also started my research.  We have had meetings daily with different Directorate heads to learn about their structure and function.  I thought it interesting today that the directorate of administrative programs said she feels everyone there truly believes in the OSHA mission:  "To ensure a safe and healthy workplace for every man and woman in America."  The occupational health nursing department is working on several different programs: Distracted Driving, Protecting Young Workers, Workplace Violence, and Work Schedules and Worker Fatigue -- all timely and relevant topics to support the mission.  It is neat to be a part of that, to believe in the mission and carry it forward.

Pics from my week:

Capitol Fourth of July

Dedicated to the Army unit of my great-uncle, Logan Weston, Arlington Cemetery

Right next to the above marker -- thank you Bob!

Outside Duke Ellington School for Performing Arts to encourage one to "Think Big"

Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington Cemetery

Hello Mr. President!

Jefferson Memorial

FDR Memorial (one of several scenes)

Another scene at FDR Memorial

MLK Memorial