Things I never thought I would say: Oh Mom is Googling that right now on her phone......

So every year, we are trying to do a Girls Weekend in that my mom and two sisters and I will get together and catch up on life, smile, obtain memories and have some good laughs.  This year, my mom and one sister (other one is training for an ironman competition, or at least I think it is an ironman competition) came down to Washington to see *my* city and catch up since school was over and I found myself in a break before summer semester hits.  The plan - they fly in Thursday night, leave Tuesday morning and the rest is for me to fill up the time with wonderfulness.  So, let me walk you through our days and what we did and everything my mother and sister experienced with me while here.  There is nothing really to comment about the travelling days (Thursday and Tuesday) so I will just skip those and go straight to the funness!!!

 

Friday

Friday was my mother's birthday so for her birthday gift, we went on a Lunch Potomac Riverboat Cruise and it was a glorious day for that.  The sun was shining, the were hardly no clouds in the sky, perfect.  The food was so yummy and the entertainment was hilarious (watching Ma learn how to Wobble was priceless!!!!) and going up on the top deck to look around at everything and pointing things out to my sister and mother made it feel like it was *my* city.  We saw some wonderful things like where Obama keeps his helicopter (why this is public knowledge is beyond me), the only working drawbridge on the Potomac (sadly it didn't raise up when we were there) and the Titanic monument.   From the cruise, we walked to the monuments to see them all, which is something I haven't really done yet since living here.  We started at Jefferson (which was my sister's favorite), saw all of Roosevelt Memorial, hit Martin Luther King, then Korean Memorial, Lincoln and the reflecting pool, off to Vietnam, saw the Constitution Gardens and the area where they gave tribute to the signers of the Constitution and then to the WWII Memorial (which is my favorite). 

We were able to sit and put our feet in the water and just look around at everything, Lincoln behind us, Washington in front of us, the peacefulness and tranquility of the fountains.  We walked around the Washington Monument to hit the metro station and then it was off for supper at La Rosa Mexicano, which was amazing for Ma's birthday dinner.   After becoming absolutely stuffed and uncomfortably full, we made our way back home and basically just passed out from all the events and exciteness from our first day. 

Total walking miles: 6.2 
Food ethnicity:  Mexican 
Theme of the day:  Mom's birthday and monuments!!!

 

Saturday

Saturday was hard to figure out as the weather was potentially rainy but is why we have umbrellas.  It was a slower start to our morning but a leisurely paced one.  We got down to the Capitol and walked around the Capitol Reflecting Pool to the Botanical Gardens.  There was this dressed up fairy who was walking around; I think she was my favorite part of the Gardens hahaha.  All of the flowers and plants were amazing and so pretty.  Then we went outside to see the Rose Garden and it was like heaven in there.  The roses were so big and colorful and in bloom and just a wonderful little piece of heaven.  From there we walked around to the other side of the Capitol, walked past the Library of Congress and Supreme Court (which I never knew was that building), walked down to the Senate Reflecting Pool and fountain (where I had the surreal moment of realizing where I was living) and back to the metro station for food.  From there, we went and saw Freedom Plaza and walked to the Whitehouse.  There was a protest for Guantanamo Bay so we did not stick around too long in front of there, and the weather started turning a little sour so then we decided to head to supper at Founding Farmers.  Had another wonderful meal there, ate too much, made it back home and had some wine, cheese and watched Ma and Amanda do the wobble (which I also taped so I have such wonderful blackmailing material hahaha).

Total walking miles: 6.1 (excluding the walking in the Botanical Gardens)   
Food ethnicity:  Home grown American 
Theme of the day:  Government

 

Sunday

 Sunday was a clichéd day as we hit both the Basilica and National Cathedral.  First up was the Basilica, which is a short walk from my place.  See all the little chapels and mosaics there is just absolutely gorgeous and peaceful.  I really don't know what to say about this place as it is just an amazing place that is breathtaking and words can't really describe it.  From there we went to the National Cathedral, which was poorly planned on my part as I did not realize it was Pentecostal Sunday so they had a mass going on when we were there so we didn't have enough time to properly look and admire all the stained glass windows and go down to the crypts to see everything there.  But we did head out to the Bishop's Garden, which was beautiful and in bloom.  I kind of wish we had more time to look at everything there but oh well - at least they got to see it and can now appreciate how old and amazing it looks (in the picture, those two really really tiny people are Amanda and Ma standing in front of the doors).  I still need to go there and take a picture of all the gargoyles hahaha.  After the Cathedral we went for some sushi, which was again, delicious and made our way home where we played some cards, drank some wine, had some cheese.  Note to people:  when playing cards with Amanda, it is best to sit directly to her left as you may be able to take advantage of that spot hahaha. 

Total walking miles:  5.1 (excluding the walking in the Basilica and the Cathedral)
Food ethnicity: Japanese
Theme of the day:  Life and Gorgeousness

 

Monday

Ma decided that she wanted to see the Holocaust Museum as it is something that she will probably never have the opportunity to see so off to there was our first stop.  Going through a second time was good as it allowed me to read things I missed the first time and talk about some of the issues that happened, what started the war, things like that.  From there, we went for some foods and then decided for a impromptu trip to Arlington Cemetery, another place that I haven't been to yet.  On our way there, something that was bound to happen during the trip finally did happen - we lost our Mother.  When exiting off the metro station, she went one way that didn't really have an exit, took an elevator to who knows where and we told her to stay where she was and we would find her.  Amanda and I went down to the metro guard, asked him where the elevator went to and he said to street level, so we quickly went up there and saw Ma walking down the street, thankfully not too panicked looking hahaha.  The cemetery is beyond words - all the tombstones in lines and going on for miles and miles.  We walked up to see JFK's eternal flame and Robert Kennedy's grave site and then off to see the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 
Now, the weather had indicated that it was supposed to be the day of rain and cloudiness and whatnot - nope, no, no it wasn't.  It was hot and humid and wet and hot.  Thankfully we had our umbrellas with us for shade but it was still too bloody hot out there for me, so after seeing the Changing of the Guard, we decided to go back into DC and head for some foods.  What was kind of crazy was walking back to the entrance, we passed a tombstone with my name on it and there sat a Blue jay.  So, naturally, I had to google what the symbolism of a blue jay means and what is one of the words that describes a blue jay - fearless (if you do not understand the connection, that is what I have tattooed down my spine).  It was kind of spooky how that had happened.  I had to take them to Fado for the potato quesdaillas so that was our last food stop.  And man, those things will never not be good.  I
could eat them all the time.  Fado is one of my favorite pubs so I am glad I was able to show them the place and I think they enjoyed it as well.   After Fado, we went and did the Monument walk at night as seeing Lincoln and Jefferson all lit up is a sight to be seen.  Just sitting on the steps of Lincoln with Amanda and Ma was a wonderful feeling. 
Total walking miles:  9.6 (excluding walking in the Holocaust Museum) 
Food ethnicity: Irish 
Theme of the day: Death 

I am probably forgetting some things that we did or experienced and some funny things I wanted to say about our trip, but at the moment, nothing is coming to mind.  So, Ma and Amanda, feel free to add to this with your comments about the trip, what you enjoyed, etc etc.  You guys came down at the right time as I was in need of some family and love; I enjoyed our time together and doing everything with you guys and glad you had a wonderful time and didn't mind all the walking hahaha.  So many more things to do and see next time you guys come!!!!!  Love you lots!!!

Sadly the migrating patterns of dinosaurs are not in my repetoire of knowledge......

School is out!!! Woot woot!!!  Such a nice feeling to not have to go to school and sit through boring classes anymore (well at least until June).  I think it was the practicum stress that just made this last semester so much more stressful than the other semester.  But, it is done, that is all that matters.  Annnnnnnnnd, drumroll please, I have managed to keep my 4.0 GPA so lets knock on wood as I would love to keep that up.  This past semester was pretty funny in a way for the way things happened.  For example, this was the evolution of our research question for research methods (our topic was Exploring the Psychological Experience of Mass Killings on Communities:  A Phenomenological Research):
 

1. Within the past 15 years, how have perceptions about mental health changed in communities directly affected by mass killings and how does it vary amongst different countries?
2. What are the perceptions of mental health policies in communities affected by mass killings? 
3. What are the cultural perceptions of the causality between mental illness and gun
   violence in communities affected by mass killings?
4. What are the perceptions of mass killings in communities affected by them?
5. What are the perceptions in communities affected by mass killings?

In our objective methods class, we got to administer the MMPI-2 and the MCMI-III assessments on ourselves to understand how the assessment works and if it correct, things like that.  According to the MMPI-2, my two highest clinical scales were Psychopathic Deviate and Schizophrenic, with elevations on Psychasthenia, Depression, Hysteria and Mania.  According to the MCMI-III, I have the presence of the following personality traits:  Dependent, Major Depression, Bipolar and Thought Disorder.  I have the persistence of the following personality traits:  Avoidant, Depressive, Antisocial, Anxiety and Dysthymia.  What both assessments also indicated was that I tend to think negatively of myself and paint myself in a worse light than is actually happening (but not to the extent that I am trying to come across as "abnormal"). 

 

Once school was done, people started dispersing - Riya, Steph and Brittni all went home, leaving me, Christina, Meg, Colleen and Kalyn kicking around.  I did not want people to just be sitting at home, bored out of their mind, being on summer break and all, so I had planned a "week" of festivities for us; it worked out for the most part, but the weather threw a wrench into things when it said it was going to be something but then it didn't do what it was supposed to do *shakes fist at weather*.  First up on our list was the Museum of Natural History as I (nor Meg I think) haven't been there.  I tell you what - now I remember why I do not go to the museums on the week days - kids everywhere!!  They were crawling around like ants everywhere - I disliked it hahaha.  But we plodded on and saw everything. The dinosaurs were pretty cool, the sciency stuff was really boring.  We went to see the butterflies and I made a little child cry with my panickness of the butterflies hahaha.  One of my finer moments.  The museum was pretty interesting but I do not think it is one of my favorites as it is almost information overload and a lot of science-based information.  Here are some fun facts though that I think I remembered - the collarbone is the last bone to grow (usually stops around 25 years old) and Kalyn is shorter than a back leg bone of an elephant hahaha. 

Our second outing was supposed to be a picnic down by the Capitol Reflecting Pool, hit the Botanical Gardens and then go for supper.  Well the weather had said that it was supposed to be cool and rainy all day so we nixed the picnic and adjusted the plans accordingly.  We were wrong to believe the weather - it was sunny and gorgeous and hot.  I was not a happy camper, but we made do.  We went to the Library of Congress and got people their library cards and then went into the actual library - holy smokes those rooms are gorgeous.  The European Reading Room is absolutely amazing - the colors and the roof and the theme of the elements are just amazing.  Then the actual Reading Room, the one you see in movies, is so astounding, but very, very quiet.  One time I will want to go there and study and work on papers, but I think it is too quiet for me.  And it is so serious.  So unlike me hahaha.  From there we went to the Botanical Gardens and those are quite beautiful.  When we went to the rose garden, all I could think of was Painting the Roses Red from Alice in Wonderful (what can I say - I am a classy lady hahaha).  For supper we went to Ben's Chili Bowl and it was scrumptious - one of those spots that is known around the city so we had to check it off the food list. 

I had signed up for a Scary DC Ghost Tour where it walks about the Capitol and you hear about all the stories of sightings of dead presidents and all that fun jazz but due to metro complications, I had completely missed it.  But, silver lining in most things, I took the time to walk around the Capitol at night and see what is all there and I found my little slice of heaven at the Bartholdi Park near the Botanical Gardens.   There was also this little building that had seats and water fountains in it but it also had kind of a natural bird bath - I stood there for at least 10 minutes just watching all the birds fly to and from this area, playing in the water and singing away.  It was my own little Secret Garden moment.  The night was so clear and peaceful that it was the perfect time to just walk around and see Washington in the dusky sky.  Was I sad to miss the tour - of course - but I was also happy that I was able to take that moment and just find some peace and quietness and find myself. 

Since it is playoff hockey right now, and Washington was in the first round, a couple of us decided to head downtown to go watch Game 7 at a pub near the Verizon Center.  Washington lost - got killed actually but Boston won - woohoo!!!  What was really memorable though that night was we decided we wanted some potato quesadillas from Fado so we went there after the game and it was packed.  I guess it was Police Week and that place was full of very very good looking police men hahaha.  What was awesome though was the fact that the Chicago Police Department Piping Band was there and was playing some songs.  It was just good timing and wonderful to hear.  A very good way to end the night.  Who doesn't like a little Amazing Grace bagpipes style??!! Hauntingly beautiful

Well, as I right this, my sister and mother are packing up their stuff to head home.  They flew in last Thursday and flying out today and it was such a wonderful, awesome, amazing, lovely time with them.  I think I overdosed them on Washington sightseeing but not comatose style.  That all being said, my family blog will be going up soon.  On Thursday, I am actually heading to Calgary to get some visiting in so this month has been pretty busy for me.  Love and miss you all!!