The D.C. Days - Archives and Photobombs

Welcome to another edition of our goings-on here in D.C.! Most of this morning was spent waiting while our hot water was supposedly being fixed, which didn't work--again. Luckily we can still shower in the vacant apartment next door to prevent taking the Polar Bear Plunge every time we want to be clean. This winter (and specifically some days this week!) are supposed to be the coldest this city has seen in the last twenty-some-odd years. And there are people living out on the streets. This boggles my mind. I pray for them every day now.

So starting a post about the weather is probably one of the not-so-exciting ways to go, but sorrynotsorry, it's freezing. Anyway, when we did finally get out, we choose our first major stop of this whole experience and went (as eskimos) to the National Archives Museum: The home of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and every other important old document in existence.

The Rotunda of the Archives. The lights are dim and it's chilly for document preservation, and everyone is sort of hushed and reverent about the whole thing. The Constitution is in the middle-back of the room and surrounded by gruff security guards, who scolded Bryan for being too close to the glass. I had to smile, though, because five minutes later the guard was nearly dozing, leaning against his post at the back wall. I guess the muffled silence and low lights could put anyone in a coma. And I hope he doesn't lose his job because I wrote that.

 I was truly honored to be in the room with the documents signed by the Founding Fathers, to see their signatures on the faded parchment and to just spend some time in the nearly-empty room. We chose a good mid-day non-vacation time to be there, when we didn't have to share the space with very many others and we could just look as much as we wanted. Success!!

Bryan's favorite:  A place in the Vaults where you could pick up a phone and hear recordings of presidents' phone conversations. So yes we heard part of the the Watergate tapes, in their own crackly fashion.

My favorite: An exhibit with a bunch of saved letters to the presidents written by kids. One kid wrote to President Reagan about needing emergency clean-up services for his room, since his mother had declared it a "disaster area." Reagan suggested he start his own volunteer organization for clean-up with himself as the first member. Another area of the same exhibit had pictures of the presidents as babies and some videos of them as little little kids. George Bush taking his first steps? Adorable. Also, Bryan is uncannily accurate at identifying Presidents from their baby pictures. I married well, everyone.

We also had our first Chipotle right next to the Verizon Center and Chinatown. Note: Do not take pictures of anything just above street performers' heads, or they will hold up signs for you personally that say, "No pictures until after donations, please." Sorry silver dubstepping man, you just happened to photo bomb our picture of the entrance to Chinatown!

You know I'll be back soon :)
Love,
Becca