Halfway done!

My traverses across the District continue!  This past week (since my last post) I explored more of the Smithsonians, shopped, dined, and reunited with some long-time friends.  I had a bonus visit with my sister Sharon, who was in town overnight for work.  I met her for the evening, and we had dinner together.

Also after work last week, I headed to the Museum of Natural History and made my way through most of the exhibits on the ground floor chronicling the evolution of land, sea and man.  I worked my way up to the second floor, where I discovered the Hope Diamond and other fabulous jewels on display, all fully encased in glass and under constant guard.  I wish I had started on the second floor!  I saw, albeit briefly, a pair of Marie Antoinette's earrings and other shiny sparkly things.  I'm definitely making a return visit so I can take in these treasures once again.

I worked extra hours last week, still trying to make up the 24 hours I started in the negative (because of my delayed start).  I've only about 7 more to go -- so it should be no problem to get those done before my time is up.  I managed to squeeze in both a yoga and cardio exercise class at the Dept. of Labor gym during the work day.  What a treat to go exercise in the middle of the work day!   It's like playing hooky, but the reality is no lunch break and eat at my desk.  It's definitely worth it.

Friday night, Georganne, my co-intern, and I took a roundabout way to Alexandria, VA by way of Maryland.  For some reason, we can navigate this city fine solo, but every time we get together it becomes a disaster.  It was good for quite a few laughs, which was followed by a delicious seafood dinner not too far from Old Town's waterfront.

Saturday was drizzly, dreary and cold (68 degree temps), so my day was spent mostly indoors.  I went to both the East and West galleries at the National Museum of Art, followed by a walk in the drizzle through Chinatown.  I ended up my day in Pentagon City, a 3-story huge shopping mall.

Dupont Circle, an area here in the District, hosts an weekly produce market every Sunday morning.  Georganne and I met there to browse, then headed to the National Zoo.  A few observations about the zoo:  1) it's free because it's part of the Smithsonians (very cool), 2) the terrain is very hilly (very good calf workout), and 3) this was the first time in my life that I've ever gone to the zoo without children (very weird).  However, we had a lovely time walking around and saw everything!

Probably the most exciting things that have happened over the past week are the reunions I've had with my friends.  The first, Kelli, was my best friend in high school.  She and I did many things together -- when we graduated we both left Warren to move on, each to very different lives, and lost touch.  Well, thanks to modern technology (FB and friends of friends), we found each other.  She lives just outside the DC area with her husband and their two children.  How wonderful it was to pick up just where we left off 27 years ago!  We went to Mass together, out to dinner, then back to their home to visit.  As I sat next to her in Mass, I had flashbacks to our high school days at JFK, also sitting in Mass together -- wow.  I'm so happy that I had the chance to reconnect with her.  Kelli works for the Dept. of State in a diplomatic status, and is headed to Prague for a 2 year assignment this Friday.  She was/is so smart, just an all-around fantastic person, now with a loving husband, terrific kids, and a wonderful career of public service.  How cool is that!

I also met up with Jeanine, my former co-worker from the ED in Tampa.  Jeanine works for the American Nurses Association Magnet Credentialing Program.  She moved to the DC area two years ago after completing her MSN in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at USF.  My connection with Jeanine is our doggies.  Jeanine was the one who put me in touch with Chambray Labradors where she and I got our dogs.  Her black lab Gracie is our black lab Lucy's sister (they were littermates).  So, we are family!

Now I am anxiously awaiting Bob and the girls' arrival on Friday.  Poor Bob has been spread way-too-thin this past week with finishing up his summer classes, a horrendous work schedule, and the girls being sick off and on.  It's time for him to get out of Florida and be on vacation.  They start their road trip tomorrow.  I've planned out their sightseeing schedule for the week, and though I will be working during the day, will join them in the evenings.

My project at work is on schedule.  It's been quite a novelty to have many hours to devote to this.  I am truly enjoying the respite from juggling work and school -- and most of all, the nighttime sleep.  We've also attended a few interns' only event.  Most recently, we went to an Intern Roundtable on Human Trafficking in Persons that was put on at the Dept. of State.  We listened to Ambassador Luis CdeBaca share the efforts of his office to combat forced labor, sex trafficking, bonded labor, and debt bondage among migrant laborers.  It was a very interesting and informative presentation, and quite shocking to realize that this goes on in our country today several hundred years after slavery was abolished by President Abraham Lincoln.

To finish up this week's update, here are a few links on human trafficking to raise your awareness, followed by my pictures.

http://www.ijm.org/justice-campaigns

slaveryfootprint.org

Hope Diamond

Eww -- open wide!

Old Town Alexandria

Pieta, National Gallery of Art

Dishes with Oysters, Fruit, and Wine (1620/1625) by Osias Beert the Elder

Sacramento Mall Proposal #4 (1978) by Frank Stella

Harlequin Musician (1924) by Pablo Picasso

Open Window (1905) by Henri Matisse

McDonalds in Chinatown, Washington, DC

Entrance to Chinatown, Washington, DC

Dupont Circle Farmer's Market

Panda, National Zoo

Kelli (center) with her children, Lucy and Grant

Out-to-dinner with Jeanine