So this past week the kids and I spent with Jesse back in DC--LOVE IT. I think I'm the only military wife I know that doesn't groan when their other half receives the 'dreaded' assignment to the Pentagon/greater-DC area. Too bad it's very temporary this time. My love for DC...maybe it's because J had it easy the first time around at the Pentagon with fabulous leadership and great co-workers, or maybe it's that I prefer the Pentagon-schedule-craziness to the flying-"schedule"-craziness. Or maybe it's that I now have an appreciation for more ethnic foods and now we drive past these hole-in-the-wall-Moroccan places and I think "STOP!!! I really want to try that place!" Or it could be as simple as Trader Joe's.
But being back here....there is a palpable energy, a sense that what you are doing really does matter to the rest of the nation and maybe even the rest of the world. Even as a Mom. WHAT?!? YES! Even as a stay-at-home, doing nothing-more-significant-than-laundry Mom. Laundry Mom who watches over Fairfax Street in bustling Arlington (Ballston/VA Square area) from her 6th story apartment window and sinisterly laughs at the pedestrian commuters who chance it, jaywalking, and darned near get pummeled by cars. On the ice. Really, I've seen a few close ones and as sick as this is, I laugh to myself as I imagine my frantic 9-1-1 call. "He went. He really thought he could do it. But not so much." Had I thought to bring a good camera, I'd take pictures so you'd believe me. I really would invite you over for a glass of wine and some Frogger.
The only downside is of course, the traffic. I read directions to somewhere I was going the otheday, and I quote: "Drive 0.8 miles and at the SEVENTH [emphasis mine] light turn right."
Ok, it's not a quote directly but it's at best a slight exaggerations and it made me shake my head and say "only in DC...."
Meanwhile, Kaitlin is reading some of Carson's books all by herself (WHO taught her to read?!? Don't they know that means I can't spell naughty stuff in front of her anymore?!?). And in the car yesterday, she busted out the word "exasperated." I'm not even sure I spelled it right, but she used it perfectly in context. When questioned, she admitted she heard it from Donald Duck. Don't you hippies try to guilt me out of letting my kids watch the Disney Channel (Disney Jr starts Monday! "Valemtine's Day!" Kaitlin has no idea what that means but I've been directed to Tivo EVERYTHING!!)
Last, we are off to Georgetown Cupcake tomorrow (of TLC's DC Cupcakes fame.) Wish we had time for the Baltimore commute to Charm City Cakes (if you don't know who Duff Goldman is, I'm not sure we can be friends) but since I don't have Jesse or the kids' interest on snapping a photo from the street after an hour's drive, I guess Georgetown will have to do. Bummer? Nah, I can still get a killer cupcake. Pics next blog.
