Pic of the Day...

I don't know what it is but coming back from a different place really makes me lazy. I guess it's because I consistently expended a ton of energy while away. (I think it's also because I have a pile of marking to tackle...) LOL

Anyway, here's a series of a meerkat at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. This guy was voguing the entire time!

Happy (almost!) Friday! :)

Pic of the Day...

Aren't these guys the cutest things you've ever seen?  They're birds of prey so I'm sure they could still take out an eyeball...but they'll look so adorable while doing it! :P

Pygmy Falcons

Exhausted

I came to D.C. with the very real intention of continuing my workouts...but honestly, this city is a workout in and of itself. For starters, there are a MILLION things to see so in two days, my friends and I have walked...and walked...and walked...for well over 13 hours. It may not seem like much, but when you walk for six consecutive hours, you feel it the next day.  Today alone we saw:

The Hope Diamond (Natural History Museum), the Gutenberg Bible, drafts of The Declaration of Independence, the American Constitution and Bill of Rights (the Library of Congress), T-Rex (star of Night at the Museum), the FBI Building, the Navy Memorial, the US Capitol and a merry-go-round.

Tomorrow we plan to head to the Arlington Cemetary, the Pentagon and the National Zoo. (I'll be taking a "break" by attending a few of the conference sessions). :p On Sunday, I plan to wrap up the week at the Botanic Gardens and, if time permits, maybe the Museum of Crime and Punishment. :)

Here's a shot of the subway...taken with my phone. :)

D.C. Update

So I presented yesterday.

I am sure the presentation went better than I had anticipated, but I am only too happy to put yesterday out of my mind. Public transit is not my friend, no matter where I am. The trip from my hotel to the conference site was supposed to take 20 minutes (17 minutes) according to the Metro site. I gave myself 45 and made it there...just. Seems like my roommates experienced the same issues I did.

Oh well. No matter! 

There is so much to see in D.C., I am currently drafting a schedule and mapping my interests for the next few days. I do have to make it back to the conference for a few things, but the pull of D.C. is strong. So strong, in fact, that I am actually skipping the zoo today (which really should have been my first stop!) to go see some other stuff.

Yesterday JP and I got to tour the White House. (Thanks to Dave and Rhonda for arranging this tour on such short notice.) :)  We got to see the Vermeil Room, China Room, Library, Green, Blue and Red rooms, the State Dining Room and the East Room (which is where press conferences are staged and where weddings often occur.) As you might imagine, they don't really let you into the White House with much on your person, but they did allow cell phones (surprisingly with cameras) and allowed you to take pictures once you exited at the front door. So... here's a pic of the front of the White House. :)

I did not get to meet BoBama (my affectionate name for the Obamas' pooch). My friend said he should have smuggled in a dog whistle to lure him out but I am thinking that being questioned by the Secret Service isn't on the priority list for my vacation.

Not sure what I will get up to today. There are tons of geocache sites in this city and tons and tons of things to see. I suspect I have to take a picture of the escalators in D.C. I have been neglecting my fitness (and these neverending escalators prove how out of shape I really am...) You'll soon see why!

Bye for now!