Washington DC Day 2 & 3

Yesterday we took it pretty easy in DC. We visited the Washington DC temple visitors center. Then we walked around the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, and the World War II Memorial. We actually walked around them in the late evening, so it was so neat to see them lit up.

Today, we visited the National Gallery of Art. I was so excited to see more "famous" paintings that I've studied in my art history classes but have never actually seen in person. The gallery even had a whole room with Monet's. Impressionistic art is my favorite! We also the the Museum of Natural History. My favorite section was the gems. We got to see the Hope Diamond and many other amazing stones and gems. Then we headed to the National Archive to see the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. It was really neat to see. The Declaration of Independence is really faded almost to the point that you can barely read it. So I'm glad I saw it now. Interestingly enough the room which held it looked nothing like the one in National Treasure, just in case you were wondering. We ended the day with the National Air and Space Museum. It had very different exhibits then the one we saw on Saturday. I am exhausted from all the walking we did but I'm glad to have seen so many neat treasures. I am also relieved that it hasn't been too hot. We heard it would be very hot and humid but so far it hasn't been too bad. It is definitely hot but not too bad.

Also, in case you were wondering, I've decided to update my blog at least daily so I don't have to write a huge long post in a week. The hotel has a computer so I decided to take advantage.

Standed in Vegas Part 2

To continue where I left off. That plane never did leave Vegas. Luckily, Neil more than doubled our money in Vegas (he put a dollar in the nickel slots and got back $2.60). We walked the strip in Vegas for a few hours but it was absolutely miserable because it was 110 degrees! So we ended up finding a movie theater and decided that it would be nicely air conditioned. We returned to the airport 6:00 PM on Friday to wait and wait again. Just to find out our 10:30 flight out of Vegas was cancelled again. So Neil sweet talked one of the agents and she put us at the top of the stand by list for a flight to New York and then on a flight to Washington DC. So we continued to wait. Minutes before that flight left our names got called and we got on the flight! But the agent told us our checked bag wouldn't make it. Which totally puts the icing on the cake. The flight to New York was only 4.5 hours and we both ended up in the worse case scenario for a red eye. We didn't get to sit by each other and both had middle sits. Neil got stuck between two very large people, with one who kept hitting him in her sleep. I had a guy who kept cuddling up against me. So I had to keep moving over as far as I could without encroaching on the space of the other person next to me. Then we had a "wonderful" layover in New York. All I can say is the JetBlue terminal in JFK was disgusting. We finally got on our flight to DC. That was the only flight we had this entire trip that wasn't delayed. So we finally got into DC at 10:30 AM on Saturday. Then our luck completely changed and our bag did end up making it!

Once we got into DC we went straight to the Air and Space Museum in Chantilly. It was awesome. Neil was in heaven because he loves anything to do with flight and space. I took lots of pictures and will post them when we get back. Last night we went to bed early. It was wonderful to be able to take a shower and sleep in a bed! So we feel great after sleeping nearly 11 hours last night. I'm so glad to finally be in DC.

Stranded In Vegas

Yep, we are stranded Las Vegas. I knew we would have problems with our flights but I never anticipated this. We left Salt Lake City at 8:00 PM and arrived in Las Vegas at 9:10 (Utah time). Then we waited for 4 hours and when our plane to DC was suppose to leave we were told our plane was still in Baltimore and we wouldn't be leaving until 5:30 AM. For anyone who knows me, that was a very very bad thing. I wasn't thrilled to be on a red eye flight in the first place but then to be told I had to sleep in the airport. Not good. Well, after another hour we were informed that our flight was now cancelled. Luckily, we were given a voucher for a cab and hotel. But we can't get another flight out until 10:30 PM tonight. So we have to check out of the hotel at noon and wander the streets of Vegas until our plane leaves. If that one even leaves........

To Simplify

Over the years I have learned that you must simplify things in your life in order to be content with life (I say this as if I’ve had many many years of experience—but what I can say, I am a quick learner). I feel sorry for some of the people that I admire the most because they seem to take on more than is necessary and much more than they can handle. It makes me feel even sadder that they are taking on so many good things. Because that isn’t bad in itself but can taking on too many good things be bad? I tend to feel extreme guilt if I am not doing EVERYTHING that I should be doing. Over the years, I have made the conscious decision that there is a time and a place for everything and I can’t do everything at the same time. For example, I often feel guilt that I am not the Martha Stewart wife for Neil. He doesn’t come home to a house filled with the smell of delicious homemade bread. He doesn’t come home to a 5-course meal waiting for him to savor. Instead, he comes home to a busy wife who works all day and rushes home to just get something on the table to eat. His laundry gets done but he may have to help fold it. I imagined being a wife like my mother. She got up at the crack up dawn to fix my Dad and kids breakfast. She packed up lunches for everyone. Plus, she had dinner on the table for my Dad when he got home from work with fresh baked bread. But I now realize that there is a time and place for everything. One day, Neil will have a lunch packed by me instead of the other way around (yes, he packs a lunch for me at least once a week).

I guess this all stems from the stress of trying to get everything done before we leave. But this morning, I woke up feeling stress free and calm. I got almost everything done that I needed to last night. And the things that I didn’t get done, well they will get done later. I am so grateful for Neil who mopped the kitchen floor last night even though he didn’t understand why it needed to be mopped since we were leaving. I am grateful that my mother volunteered to help organize the book I have to make for church. I hate to simplify my life and give my clutter to others. But, I suppose that because there is a time and a place for everything, perhaps someone else’s clutter will become a part of my life at some time.

Finally, to end on a less than contemplative note, I am excited to go on a vacation to Washington DC! I am looking forward to immersing myself in the history and culture of this great Nation. I am keeping my fingers crossed that our flights will go smoothly and that all will go well. I promise to take lots of pictures and only show the ones that I look at least half way decent in.

Not Again

Today was the typical Monday. I had one of those weekends that was so incredibly busy with not one but two bridal showers (for the same person) and a family time overload, that I came back from the weekend more exhausted then when I began it after a long week of work. I feel like I need another weekend just to recover from the one I just had. But I somehow successfully dragged myself out of bed and made it to work. That was my one and only accomplishment of the day, unfortunately. The University decided yet again to take a system that was working fine and to change it. Perhaps, the IT department was bored again and the whole changing everyone's password over wasn't enough excitement for them, they decided to create another project. It brought back nightmares from the previous experience (see my Help Desk post). The project was to create a new registration system for all computers, printers, laptops, anything that connects to the University's main server. All of the IP addresses in our office were sent up weeks ago to be put into this new system which would take effect today. I was assured it was taken care of and not to worry. Well, for some reason my computer did not get registered properly, so I could not get anything done. The timing was impeccable as well because I have quite a bit of work to finish up before I leave on my trip this Thursday. It figures.

To make matters worse, I paid Neil's fall tuition today too. And the University still managed to mess that up. I have to admit I love my job but I am embarrassed to work for such an incompetent institution.

Needless to say, I am feeling overwhelmed because I have a lot to get done at work this week. I have to help Neil get his school stuff wrapped up because we won't get back until right before school starts. My local church group has put me in charge of putting together a book all about emergency preparedness and food storage that is to be distributed to the entire Stake. The prototype is due the day after we get back. In which I've gathered information but I have not even begun to organize. I still don't know how I got signed up for that one. Plus, I need to get laundry done and pack my life up for 9 days. It is looking like I may need to stock up on some chocolate to make it through.

Home.

There is just something about coming home after being away that makes me appreciate it that much more. I was only gone a day and half for a conference I helped with for work but it felt like a week. It was a fun mini trip to Ogden that consisted of a good time with a few of my fabulous co-workers, a free dinner at The Prairie Schooner, a nice room in a nice hotel and a change of pace from office work. But I missed being away from my sweet hubby. I missed my bed. I missed the luxurious space of my bathroom. I know you are thinking it was only one night. But I will tell you that it was absolutely wonderful to get home yesterday afternoon and be reunited with a hug and kiss from my sweetheart. Then I proceeded to do nothing but rest and relax. I even got into bed early just enjoy my bed.

In other news, I enjoyed the finale for So You Think You Can Dance. I did something I’ve never done for. I actually voted for someone. I’ve enjoyed watching reality shows but I’ve never actually participated. I thought it was a big step. Although, I may regret it because if the person I voted for doesn’t win then I will feel like my voting was wasted. I guess that is what makes it so “real” right?

Irrational Behavior

Why is it when you are having a bad day, things just get worse? Now, I am not having that bad of a day but I’ve certainly have had better. I will confess that I tend to have irrational behavior when my day isn’t going the way I planned. I can’t wait to go home and take it easy for a bit. In any case I may or may not have had an irrational moment at Les Schwab tires today. I needed to get my tires rotated. I love my car and I take impeccable care of it including as soon as I hit the 5,000 mile mark, I take it in and get my tires rotated. Fortunately, Les Schwab is just down the street from my work, so I decided it would be the most convenient for me to do it on my lunch hour. I hate running errands after work because I just want to get home and relax. I am also a meticulous planner. So first thing this morning I called to make sure I didn’t need to make an appointment. I was told no. I asked how long it would take. I was told 20-30 minutes. So I quickly ate my lunch today and drove to Les Schwab. I was immediately impressed that I was literally greeted at my car and helped right away. I asked again how long it would take (to make sure that they knew I would be keeping track). I was told once again 20-30 minutes. No seats were available so I end up sitting on a window sill waiting and waiting and waiting. Finally, when the 30 minutes were up and they hadn’t even taken my car in, I marched up to the desk and asked for my key back. The guy is puzzled. I told him I had waited 30 minutes and I had to get back to work. Then he quickly back peddles telling me that well it actually takes 35-40 minutes! Nothing irks me more than that kind of shenanigans (for lack of a better word). Then I was told the work actually only takes like 10 minutes and did I still have to get back to work? I said yes on principle. I did not have to get back to work immediately but I think that is lousy customer service. I was just told to come back later. It’s not like my ideal lunch is sitting in a smelly tire store with grease everywhere. The worst part of this irrational moment is now I have to go back.