Washington, D.C., Part II

We started off in the Eastern Market (after many a delay from me and a mix up on the station), but very yummy breakfast had.

-Then on to the ultra secure Capitol tour...still liked it better before. We had a good tour guide though - he's standing at the old entrance to the original building.

-Sneaking over to take a picture with Hamilton.

-Stephanie's quest for presidental statues.

-Franklin Pierce might have been happy here.

-Sooooo many pictures of the capitol, but I won't go into them all.

-On to Air and Space, just a few meaningful ones...THE Apollo 11.

-One of the five boosters from Saturn V...similiar to what we'll use for the new Aries missions.

-A quick trip through the Postal Museum.

-I went on to the National Portrait Gallery. which is one of my favorites.

-John Muir.

-Irving Berlin.

-The great Liberace.

-Another Kate.

-Many of the presidents' section pics will be on the Presidential Hotties site. Here's casts of Lincoln's face and hands.

-The great TR.

-I liked the story behind Nixon's portrait. It was done by Norman Rockwell and he said he erred in favor of it being a nicer portrait and being liked by Nixon.

-I love this one of George H.W. playing horseshoes.

-Just one more...

-Some beautiful stained glass.

-Between Calhoun and Douglass, I'm not sure who had the better hair.

-The Hope Diamond is out of its setting for several months.

-Meeting up with Tom and Heather at Cork.

-The other side of the table is Gretchen and I.

-Tapas and wine. Very nice. Sampler...please...not full glasses.

-Heather, Gretchen, and Katie...the long time Mackinac girls.

Washington, D.C., Part I

-The first full day I met up with Stephanie and we went to the Washington Monument.

-We had a great peppy prepper, a horrible stander, and a good elevator-er. But what a view!

-I think we have to take fewer pictures!

-The best of the bunch.

-There are many "stones" throughout the building, given to the monument over the years by states and societies. You can't see them too well unless you walk down the steps, which isn't too often anymore. We couldn't see the Michigan one, which was copper, but I caught the Whig Society one!

-NPS clumping.

-Stephanie with the money bench. Pointing to Hamilton. We couldn't take pictures inside because of security.
-We really like Alexander Hamilton...our favorite of the ten-dollar bill.

-This the one exhibit I came to see! It came just after Chris and his family left the DC area.

-It should be doused in butter.

-Her diploma from Le Cordon Bleu.

-Her copper pan collection.

-Excited to finally see it.

-You know, it was pretty modest overall and wasn't a huge exhibit. Which leads me to believe she would scoff at the huge, largely unused kitchens in today's McMansions.

-I went roaming around to see the other exhibits or things I missed through the years. I see the ruby slippers every time.


-The original kermit.

-Mamie's dress from the First Ladies exhibit. Much smaller and changed every time I visit. Ike's gal had style.

-For the Night at the Museum people.

Food, glorious food. We ate at a cart with great vegetarian burritos. For more food, visit For the Love of Food blog.

Getting to DC

I flew down to D.C. to meet up with Steph, Trace, Heather and Gretchen. The morning flight eventually flew out of Chicago.

-Got to the city and checked in. Headed to the mall for the sunset and to take some pictures. The "castle" Smithsonian building.

-The Washington Monument at dusk.

-After dinner we headed back downtown to take pictures at night. Trace and I wanted to climb the fence to see the White House.

-A better picture.

-From the other side.

-We started to head other places for night pictures...like the WWII Memorial.

-With the fountains.

-Yes, we like our state maybe a bit too much. And we're geeks.

-Jefferson Memorial.

-Korean War Memorial.

-Lincoln Memorial.

-The mall at night.












By the way...200th post!

Chicago, Part I

-We've been working on Chicago with the Northland Players at the Cheboygan Opera House. It's been a lot of fun and great to be on that stage. I have more pictures coming soon, but here's some...
Sandy's cool do!


-Sandy for "All That Jazz."

-Me for "All That Jazz," with jazz hand.

-Crystal in the best ever headpiece anyone could get to wear. She wears it whenever she can.

-Sandy and I as reporters.

-Sandy and I as dancers in "All I Care About Is Love."

-A fun pictures of Sandy getting ready with hair and makeup.

-And one last dancer costume...more coming soon!

Fall and Halloween

-Fall wasn't spectacular this year, but still nice. I went back to the island for a few last items and took some parting shots.

-The guys working at the fort.

-This is supposedly a picture not to be taken. I thought it was funny - Jennifer as the madhatter playing slots.

-We started out in Petoskey. They also took my "blaster" at the door. But at least I found some presidents!

-BoPeep's sheep lost their cotton balls and couldn't help but put a hat on the face one group made.

-Sandy, Katie, Jennifer, and Krystal.

-We met up with Jodi as Marie Antoinette...I had a blaster, she had cake.

-I found the best costume of the night - Beaker!