Washington Weekend

I went up to northern Virginia this weekend to visit some friends and drag them into Washington, DC, kicking and screaming, to see what was what with the Cherry Tree Festival that happens every year at this time.
I always love going to the capital, even though I'm way less political than I used to be. There's something about riding the metro into the city with a bunch of strangers and then just wondering about on foot seeing what there is to be seen. Id really like to live there, but the cost of living there requires that I get a very well paying job and know someone who already has a place in the city. Strike one. Strike two. Maybe one of these days, when "Mr. Smith Hill Goes to Washington" happens, I'll be able to enjoy living the DC life. Until then, I'll send in resumes and weasel (just like most living there) myself into a job.

The trees were just starting to bloom, so I do actually believe it happens now. I guess they really do live up to the hype.


There were people all in the Mall area flying kites on Saturday. It looked kind of fun and annoying at the same time. It's hard to get a kite up in the air when there is another flyer about ten or fifteen feet from you doing the same. I kept hoping a kite would drop and hit my friend Justin, in the head. It came close at one point when this kid's kite dove right in front of both of us.


I also took advantage of the free hug campaign.

There were some good discussion and games between Justin and I as we wandered our way across the city.

1. You could make good money if you could invent a kite launching system that took all the work and frustration from trying to get your kite in the air.

2. There should be a way that you could bring a personal/private property law to DC and pay a fee and have it signed in the city that would allow you to make your own law. say, for instance, that you are opposed to someone passing gas on your property. You simply write up your law banning such activity, take it to DC, get it signed, and then it's official. Official, like a referee with a whistle. If someone breaks wind, thus breaking your law, it is a ticket-able offense. You can have an officer of the law come to your house and "book 'em, Danno.."

3. How many kids can we spot crying for no reason. Surprisingly, we counted only four before we forgot about this game.

4. Who can spot the closest celebrity look-a-like the fastest. Justin found an older looking Orlando Bloom, just before I spotted a tired looking Cameron Diaz.

The day in the city always ends with a good tired metro ride back to the car. I'm an eavesdropper in crowds, so it's nice to sit there and be quiet for 30 minutes and hear what everyone is so happy about.