OUR TRAVELS

These last two weeks have been consumed with going to court - not our court case (thank goodness) but two criminal trials related to the January 6th Insurrection.  The first case involves five leaders of the Proud Boys with multiple charges including seditious conspiracy.  The second case involves six lower level Oath Keepers and includes being tried for multiple charges including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.  Anytime you get 15 lawyers and their assistants in the room with defendants and a judge, it's better than an episode of Law and Order.  Needless to say there have been a lot of objections and sidebars.  There are even groupies attending the trials!  It's been an eye opening experience to see how the justice system works and to hear the details of the planning and the actual day of January 6.  No cameras are allowed in the room so you only get these photos. On the way to the courthouse one day, we stopped to watch Marine One land on the White House lawn t

There are two Smithsonian Air and Space museums in DC.  Most people hit the one located on the National Mall.  The one near Dulles Airport is phenomenal because of its sheer size and number of planes and space vehicles. The one located on the National Mall is currently being remodeled.  Though only the remodeled half is open, it's still a sight to see.  We actually went twice this year (and twice last year when we were staying in DC). Planets interactive exhibit The building is large enough to hang many planes from the ceiling. Space capsule Apollo 11 command module with flotation devices for water landing upon descent to Earth Doesn't this space food and drink look appetizing? Interactive hang glider exhibit - less dangerous than the real thing We took the Metro that just opened its expansion to Dulles Airport to visit the Udvar-Hazy Space Museum.  Our first inclination each time we visit here is to open our mouths wide and say WOW, this place is HUGE!!!! Planes hang everywher

We met with Donna's friend Kim.  They met about 15 years ago while working with the Federal Reserve.  It was great to catch up over a beer and dinner. We visited the combo American Art and Portrait Museums - well actually more than once.  Each portrait had blurbs about the person and his/her achievements - which was interesting to read.  It brought us back to high school history class - which made Donna happy but gave Don nightmares. There was a portrait for each president.  Below are a few examples - not necessarily the most well known. James Madison - coauthored The Federalist Papers (a set of 85 essays arguing for the ratification of the Constitution) and the author of the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments including freedom of speech, the right to bear arms.....). Abraham Lincoln - famous enough not to add a bunch of text here. James Garfield - possibly one of Donna's ancestors (her maiden name was Garfield); second president to be assassinated. Gerald Ford - the only