Here I Am in Nebraska, Seeking my Field of Dreams!!!!!

It has been a long time since I have updated y'all on where I am, what I am doing and all that wonderful jazz so this may be a long posting to get you caught up.

Long story short - I AM IN NEBRASKA!!!!  As a friend put it, 5 years ago, if somebody asked me where I would see myself in 5 years, would I ever think Nebraska??!! Heck no!!!  Nebraska was never on my mind.  Maybe Georgia.  But probably not since Georgia is hot.  I also did not even know where Nebraska was.  I thought it was East of Ohio.  Turns out I really don't know my geography (Riya, still need your help in this).  But alas I am here in Nebraska.  So take a seat and let me tell you the tale of how I got here.  

I came by car.  No trains.  No planes.  Just a car.  A kick ass new car in fact.  A decision I am still thinking is quasi irrational, illogical and down right crazy but at the moment it happened, I figured it was the only way I could logically and financially get down here.  Still wondering about that whole idea.  Although I am in love with my new car (sorry old car).  The trip started at home and got a little delayed due to the snow storm that came through.  Which caused a little panic and worry with my Mother.  I honestly did not know how she was going to handle my journey down but I think she handled it admirably.  All in all it was a long trip - 3 days worth of driving and worrying about how fast I was going and what would happen if I got pulled over and if they would even let me into the country again.  

The first day I made it to the bottom of Saskatchewan where I spent the night at my Aunt Felicia's and Pius' place.  They were kind enough to let me crash there for the night before heading into the States and man do they ever have a nice house and are very hospitable for the people who venture their way.  I have a feeling they will be a common pit stop whenever I come home.  The next day, it was time to venture into the States.  Before I got to the border, I was having a little bit of anxiety.  Okay, a lot of anxiety.  I called Amie in a moment of panic, wondering what would happen if they didn't let me through and what my phone call would be to my aunt if I had to head back to their place to finalize all the stuff.  Just bad thoughts all around.  I got to Portal, North Dakota and found my way to the border crossing.  I tried to not look panicky or stressed or worried.  And I think it worked.  However, and this is my luck, I think the border agent I got either was new and did not know what they were doing or hated their job and loved passing their misery on to others as I am pretty sure he did not do his job correctly and I am now paying for it.  

This is how the conversation at the border crossing went:  "what brings you to the States?"  "I got a job here in Nebraska as a therapist" (passed him my passport and Visa) "Do you have an I-94?" (I panic) "No I don't." (I actually totally forgot what this was and how I got it so maybe this would explain my current potential predicament) "That is okay, I don't think you need it" (maybe that would explain my current potential predicament) "I have a copy of my job offer if you want to see that" "No, that is okay" "I also am bringing my car into the states and realize you need to fill out a form or two to allow me to do that" " I will take these documents and just have a seat and I will call you up when we are done".  I go sit down, panicking about not having an I-94 and what would happen if I needed it and didn't have it.  The minutes ticked by so slowly I thought all the bad things that could happen.  He finally asked me to come back up to the counter.  "Fill out this form regarding your car" (the form is not user friendly and was confusing to fill out).  He stamped it, provided me a "released" notification and said I was done. That simple.  Nobody searched my car.  I didn't have to claim anything.  And they only provided me one form that they filled out regarding my vehicle (which is giving me enormous grief at the present moment trying to register my vehicle).  But I did not question his methods, probably a mistake in hindsight with some issues I have now, and made my merry way into the States.  

The drive, very boring.  Fields upon fields of nothing really.  Especially in the winter.  Probably in the summer it would be a lot nicer drive.  Some valleys but for the most part, very flat.  There was a some nifty little lakes that I had passed that would be gorgeous in the summer, especially me being a lover of water.  And, just an fyi, taking pictures with a camera while driving in a different country - quite a skill.  I wish I could have taken my time and actually stopped and take pictures but I was in a slight time crunch so I had to do the fly-by camera taking nonsense.  I was so excited to see the Missouri River and would cross it when I got to Pierre, South Dakota, but since I left Pierre around 5:30am, it was dark and thus I did not see the Missouri River.  Probably the ONLY form of landscape that would have been really cool to see and I missed it.  

One thing I was very excited about, but was short lived once I experienced it, was to be able to have pictures of the Welcome to North Dakota, Welcome to South Dakota, Welcome to Nebraska signs.  I got the Welcome to North Dakota.  I got the Welcome to Nebraska.  THERE WAS NO WELCOME TO SOUTH DAKOTA.  Now if people were geographically challenged, like me, and thankfully if people are somewhat observant when driving, sometimes like me, the only way I knew I was in South Dakota was that the roads changed slightly and there were a crap ton of signs regarding vehicles and whatnot for the road.  But no Welcome to South Dakota sign.  I was very let down.   

I also learned that driving in the States with no GPS/Google Maps and just the print off of the trip can be very unnerving.  Especially since the road signs in the States can be slightly confusing.  How can one be heading East on Route 54 and also South on Route 281??!!  The good thing with that signage system is that as long as I saw the number in any of the signs, I knew I was going the right way.  Unless if the sign said West or North.  Then it was not good.  Thankfully I had my music.  Because when I found myself in Deliverance country, I had the music to make me fit right in.  3 days of road tripping tunes, car dancing and singing at the top of my lungs.  It was wonderful really.  

So that is kind of the story of how I got to where I am.  I could go on about what this place is like and all that jazz, but I will save that for a different posting.  I finally decided to see if I could change the name of my old blog to reflect the new status in my life.  So please note that.  I am not sure if, if you are signed up for the automatic notifications, if it will switch over to the new blog or not.  It is my old blog (you can still see my Washington posts) but with a new name and new url address.  However, I will update you guys on what work is like and what it is like living in Hastings.  

Love and miss you all!!!! 

Take Me Out To The Ball Game Cause I Got Me A Fiddle!!!

So back in February, my birthday gift from Kalyn was to go up to Boston to see the city and catch a Red Sox game.  But now that I am moving back to Alberta before the trip could happen, we decided to catch a game anyways and knock something off my list to do.  As luck would have it, the Red Sox were playing on Kalyn's birthday up in Baltimore and so we made it a birthday date night and went up to Baltimore to see the Harbour and catch the game. We got a little rained on but for the most part, it was a fantabulous trip and I am so glad Kalyn allowed me to accompany her on her birthday.  Getting older sucks, I know, but Kalyn took it with the grace and ease as she takes everything else.  Until next year.  When the big year hits.  I am for surely coming back for that birthday.  And take you to a ball game in Fenway.   

The Harbour is gorgeous.  Not as big as I thought, even though I really have nothing to compare it to so I don't know what I was expecting now that I think about it.  There were a lot of boats (fancy that hey at a harbour??!!) and the boardwalk around the Harbour to the Aquarium.  A boat that apparently shoots off cannons (I really don't know what it is about cannons and me but seriously, they need to start giving some sort of warning when those things go off.  Especially if one isn't ready for it.  Like I seem to never be ready for it.  I don't know if it is reasonable that I walk around everywhere, all the time, expecting a cannon to go off).  There was the neatest Barnes and Nobles there that looked absolutely massive and would have been wonderful to go chill in but then we would have missed some of the game.  And I would have bought some books.  Both not good. 

While down at the Harbour, there was a Ripley's Believe it Or Not and we decided to check it out.  It is pretty nifty, the things that we in there.  The world's tallest man (when he moved, to stand up, beside me, I freaked - was not expecting that), the world's fattest woman (I think that was what she was but I didn't go up to read the sign as I was afraid she was going to move as well), the world's skinniest man, crowns from the royal family, swords, the oddest looking chair that supposably people sat in during a trial and if they were found guilty, they would be executed right there (Kalyn and I pulled a catafluque moment trying to figure out how a person sat in the chair and also how they would be executed in the chair), a porcelain pillow (which would not be good for me since I freeze my pillows in the summer), Hogwarts made out of matchsticks (massively huge - the patience needed for that would have been incredible) and many other wonderfully interesting things.  We could have spent way more time in there but we were pushing it as was but I suggest people go check one out as the things Ripley found on his travels was amazing, some gross, some wildly fantastic and some that makes you go 'huh?!' 

We made our way to the game and Camden Yards is quite beautiful.  There is so much stuff to see while inside it - so many shops, restaurants, vendors, stuff like that.  We made our way to our seats, which were 24, 24!!!, rows behind home plate.  They were kick ass!!!!  And as luck would have it, we were sitting beside other Sox fans so we were not alone.  I was worried about getting beat up as I have heard horror stories from girls at school who are from the Baltimore area, but apparently baseball fans aren't as ruthless or rough as hockey fans.  But they do get drunk, fast, before the game.  We ran into many a drunk people.  From Boston.  With irish accents.  It was awesome!!!  Now, usually for me, one of my favorite parts of going to see live sports is the National Anthem, and I was slightly disappointed as they performed the anthem with a mandolin and no singing.  I felt gyped on the experience.  And there was no PLAY BALL!!!  I was hoping to get that movie experience as well.  Oh well.  We settled into our seats to watch the first inning.  And then it got rained out.  At first tiny rain and we were fine with it.  But then it started coming down in buckets and heaps and like plopping drops.  So the ump called the inning and we made our way into the covered area.  

To watch Bugs Bunny play some baseball on tv (if you can't watch the real thing, Bugs Bunny is the closet second).  It didn't seem to take too long that the rain subsided and the game was back on.  So we settled into our seats to watch the second inning.  And the rain hit again.  At first they were still playing in it even though it was coming down pretty good and Kalyn and I were determined to not let the rain 'dampen' our spirits (hehehe so punny) but then the ump called it again.  So off we went inside again.  Where we got some ice cream.  And stood.  And stood.  And stood.  Discussed the benefits of having a closed roof dome for games like this.  Cripes almighty I was starting to get worried that they would call the game as a whole and my baseball experience was truncated down to 2 innings.  

Finally the rain let up and the game was back on.  But not quite yet as they had to get the field back in working condition and I have all the admiration for the people that do it as we got to sit and watch the field hands get everything back to good condition.  2 hours later (game started at 7:05), at 9:05, the 3rd inning started.  And the rain had left and the game went on without a hitch. I did get some of my movie experience - watching the third base coach do the signs to the guy on second base, see a guy go sliding into base, the meeting on the mound and the pitcher doing the walk off, and the constant view of guys looking like they were touching themselves.  One thing I will say about Camden Yards though is that if you have a fear of birds, like me (thanks Ma for that), and a fear of mascots, like me, it is not the place for you.  That damn bird.  I think I almost broke Kalyn's hand from gripping it so tight when he was passing by us.  I had nowhere to escape and had to sit there and be tortured and have a heart attack. And miss some of the game from keeping my eyes closed. See - nothing ever comes good from having a mascot around.  The end of the game was so nerve wracking - Boston was up 1-0 (which I totally didn't get a picture of the home plate touching because I was cheering too much) and Baltimore was up to bat.  Everytime they swung I think my heart stopped just a little, good lord.  I get way too invested into sports.  They struck him out and game was done.  So good.  Such a wonderful experience and actually I enjoyed watching the game itself.  I would totally go see another ball game.  

I felt bad for Kalyn as since I didn't really know anything about baseball, I was asking her a plethora of questions.  I think I remembered the bulk of them, which are below and in no particular order:  

• who do I need to know on the Red Sox?
• what happens if there are too many players on the field? do they get a penalty of some sort?
• why do the fields get mowed the way they do?
• why is the pitcher on a mound higher than the hitter?
• why are the bullpens away from the team dugouts?
• how does an ump become an ump for the major leagues?
• how often do bases get stealed?
• what is better to cheer for - the offensive (batting) or the defensive (playing in the field)?
• if a person isn't hitting very good, would they put in a pinch hitter or let him play if he is doing really good catching the ball?

• where is the second baseman (I know he usually isn't right at second base but in this case he was really far away and shortstop was covering the second base)?
• why are people booing?
• why does the catcher call what ball the pitcher should pitch?
• what would happen if the pitcher doesn't pitch what the catcher wants the pitcher to pitch?
• how much does it have to rain in order for the game to be called?
• what are those circles for? (apparently the base coaches and the on-deck hitters were supposed to stay in their designated areas - they did not)
• why are there so many pitcher changes at the end of the game?

• why is Jonny Gomes called crazy?
• what is the difference between the American League and the National League and how do the two work with the World Series?
• was there an 'original six' thing like in hockey?
• can you have a pinch runner if the hitter is robust?
• what is around the bat when they are on-deck?
• what do the players talk about when they are on base (hitter and baseman)? (I imagined it went something like "yo dude, your sister last night....."
• why does it say KKK on the board? (first thought was something about the Klu Klux Klan, but that would make absolutely no sense at a baseball game)
• when doing the YMCA, do you do the C for you or for people watching you do the YMCA? 
• do players prefer to play in natural light or the artificial lights?

And these were some statements, observations or conversations Kalyn and I had during the game:

• "wow, Uehara has been on deck for a very long time" (on the scoreboard it said on the bottom RHPD - Uehara.  Apparently that was not the next hitter but the next pitcher coming in)
• "you mean we went through all the players that fast for the batting order?" (no, not the case - only the players actually playing the game get to bat)
• "good job on catching the ball - you just earned $5000"
• "oohh  not good on dropping the ball - you do not earn your $5000"
• "if I was a base coach, this is what I would say 'when the ball is hit, run really fast.  If it is caught, run faster back here'"
• "well that 7th inning stretch was a little underwhelming" (a)  when they played Take Me Out To The Ball Game, people didn't start singing until the end; b) when they played Thank God I'm A Country Boy, that is when everybody got into it.  I don't know if that is a Baltimore thing, a Maryland thing or what.  It surprised me though; and c) apparently the 7th inning stretch at Fenway is much better.  Apparently everything at Fenway is much better.)
• "where was the PLAY BALL!!!" (I wanted to hear the baseball version of Lets Get Ready to Rumble)

• "is the ball coming our way??" "no" (everytime, EVERYTIME, the ball was a foul ball.  But it really wasn't a foul ball.  But I thought it was.  And there was no netting above us so I was constantly on the lookout for foul balls. I learned that I suck at understanding which way the ball was being hit)
• "I wonder what the game would be like if everyone had designated circles they could stand in and could not leave their circle to catch a ball"
• "I should take a slow motion picture of the signs the third base coach is doing and sell it to other teams" "There is no point as they watch the game tapes.  But I like your thinking"
• "I am sporting some cleavage.  We may get on the jumbotron" "No we won't as we are rooting for the away team"
• "don't do that" (for EVERYTHING that was sports related - couldn't dance to Seven Nation Army, couldn't clap to car wash, couldn't yell charge, NOTHING as apparently it was all against Red Sox and for the Orioles.  Cheering for the away team kind of sucks)
• "throw it!! throw it!!!" "we don't want him to throw it because then we will be out" "oh, right, their jerseys look too much alike in color"

Cupcakes, JFK, Exorcist and Fat Elvis!!!!

My time is dwindling and my list is still so very long as to what I want to see and do while here so sadly, things will have to come off the list and I will just need to deal with that.  As much as I have wanted to be out all the time doing touristy things, the weather, dealing with moving companies, school and the weather (yes I mentioned the weather twice as it has been stupidly hot to be outside) have put a damper on things for me.  

However, one thing that I have wanted to do for quite some time is to go on a walking tour of Georgetown as there is so much history and architecture there to see.  So one day I ventured off that way and I am so glad I did.  The first thing on the list was the Washington Harbour (different than the National Harbour as I have so learned)  and man I could have spent all day there.  It was a gorgeous day so the Potomac as shining and glistening, the food smelled so good along the pier and I had a book with me to cop a squat and just love it.  But a)  it was hot and b) I had more of Georgetown to see.  I hope to get back to the pier though to enjoy it one day in the sun and screw the heat.  This is one of those many instances where I love being around water. 

The next on the list was to see the C&O Canal Towpath, which is what they used back in the day to bring stuff up from Northern Virginia/Maryland down to DC with no vehicles (at least that is what I think it was far).  Up in Great Falls there was reminients of the towpath so it must have been quite extensive.  This one here actually had water still in it so I could get a more visual representation of how it worked and what was involved for it to actually work.  Also, there were benches along the path so again, a kick ass spot for people to sit and people watch, read, whatever.  Georgetown folk have it quite gorgeous in there area, I am very jealous.  I also had the ability to enjoy a Georgetown Cupcake, which is the home of DC Cupcakes on TLC (https://www.georgetowncupcake.com/)  Usually the line up is around the block but thankfully the day I went there wasn't that much of a wait and I needed a little sugar to keep the walk going.  It was delicious!!!  It was on the smaller side of the cupcake spectrum for my liking, but still super fresh and the flavors were so unique.  I can see why it is a hotspot in the Georgetown area.  

Next was the Exorcist stairs.  Now, granted, I have never seen the Exorcist so I have no clue what capacity or context these stairs were used in for that movie, but I will admit, I could see these stairs being a tad creepy at night, especially if one has an imagination like mine.  I was standing at the foot of the stairs and I had to talk myself into climbing up the stairs as my imagination starting telling me that I was going to trip and fall down the stairs, I was going to feel a presence or ghost beside me, see something in one of the windows in the building beside the stairs, a whole bunch of everything really.  Here is a youtube clip of the stairs and the guy is talking about the scene in the movie so if you have ever seen the movie, you know exactly what he is talking about (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0CuofMisMQ).  I have never seen the movie nor will I ever see the movie.  Even trying to find the youtube clip is questionable as to whether or not I am going to have nightmares tonight.  

Another thing to see while in Georgetown is the many different houses JFK and Jackie O lived in while they were there.  I only took pictures of one, which is pretty famous in a way.  I pity whomever lives here though as they must get sick of all the people who stop to take pictures of their house, pose in front of it and whatnot.  It is a very kitchy area though and I would have loved to see the inside of the place but I think that would have been pushing the envelope for the people who live there.  If people do live there - maybe it is a historical building and nobody is there.  

I wish I could post all my pictures of Georgetown for you guys as it was simply amazing - the architecture, the university itself, everything.  As I kept walking, I found myself in Dumbarton Oaks/Rock Creek Park and it was heavenly back there.  So peaceful and quiet and surrounded by nature and water and gorgeousness.  First and foremost, this is the most kick ass tree I found.  Well, not found.  I think a lot of people have found this tree since it really isn't hidden. When I was younger, I always wanted a weeping willow tree as I thought it would be the best tree to curl up under with a book.  I lied.  This tree is the one I want for that.  But instead of curling up under it with a book, I want to climb up it and sit in some branches and read a book.  Hobbit-like.  It is such a kick ass tree.  I wonder how it got like that.  And huge, like freaking huge!!!  

Overall, it was such a cool area to be around.  I am very envious of the folks in that area as they have so many cool places to chill and relax in.  And Georgetown University looks like Hogwarts.  And the cemeteries around there are old and full of character.  But the last thing I want to tell you guys about is what I ate - it is called a Fat Elvis - it is a waffle with bacon, peanut butter, banana and honey, which was one of his most favorite dishes and it was delicious!!!!  I am so happy I got to eat it.  

I am really hoping to get a lot more touristy stuff done these next couple of weeks as my time here in DC is coming to an end and I do not want to regret not seeing certain things, but I think that will have to be the case as there is so much stuff to see and now I really don't have enough time to see it all.  That being said, I will be back in Canada in July so I can't wait to see you all!!!  It will be bittersweet to leave the wonderful people I have met here but will be so nice to be back on Canada soil and around family and friends there.  But I am not going to get into that now or else I will just depress myself.  I miss you all and wish me luck on seeing a lot more things!!!

How Not to Get Deported on Memorial Day

Memorial day is a pretty big hullaballo.  Not as big as the 4th of July, but pretty big nonetheless.  They had a whole weekend of festivities planned but I decided to partake on Monday only and get other things done.  I am not sure if it was a good or bad thing.  All in all, I got to see partial amount of Obama giving his speech at Arlington Cemetery, got to see Gary Sinise, Buzz Aldrin and Miss America and not be deported.  Pretty exciting day all in all.  

The first on my list was to hit Arlington Cemetery as they had what was called 'flags-in', which was the same concept of what we did in November and laying the wreaths on the gravesites; this time, people could place American Flags into the ground at the site and on the day I went, everyone was given a rose to place ontop of the tomb.  So I wanted to go check this out as well as go see all the statues and monuments that are kicking around the cemetery.  So I get to Arlington.  And learn that most of it is sectioned off due to the wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  But I decided to still walk around and see things that I haven't seen.  Like the entire backside.  There is a lot of things on the backside of the Cemetery.  Who knew.  Even though I do not think I was supposed to be back there in some of the restricted areas.  So I am walking around, taking pictures, listening to music, the regular stuff.  I knew something big was happening down at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier but didn't feel like contending with all the crowds and decided to do my own thing.  Maybe not a good idea.  I start wandering down to the area where all the soldiers were standing, very still, in the blazing heat.  I wanted to see what was happening down there.  Both a good and bad idea.  I head on down and start listening to the people speaking and apparently, somebody important was coming through via motorcade, hence all the soldiers.  Cool, I am going to stick around and see who it was.  So let me paint the scene for you - I am standing beside quite an attractive soldier as he was tall and a slight bit of

shade. When the motorcade started pulling up, a 21 cannon, not gun, salute, started.  I was not ready for that and me being me, slightly freaked out.  Now that I think about it, I am glad that the soldier did not have some form of PTSD, although the cannon should have triggered that, as when the first cannon went off, I jumped. High and to the side.  Right into him.  Very muscular man.  My mind almost went a different way, then I remembered where we were.  And slowly jumped off of him.  Away from him, whatever.  I apologized to him and I do not know if it happens a lot to him or he takes his job very seriously but he didn't even bat an eye.  Amazing.  Then I heard the people beside me saying they saw Obama in the car.  Which I missed because I was jumping into a hot soldier (not sure if I missed out or not just yet).  

So after the motorcade went through and I kept wandering.  Not paying attention.  Suddenly I found myself not around people anymore and near the area that Obama was giving his speech.  In an area that was kind of blocked off and looked like civilians, ie me, were not allowed in.  Did that bother me, not at all.  At first.  So I kind of sat down and started listening to him give his speech (such a suave type of fellow he is).  Until I noticed that I was attracting attention, doing absolutely nothing.  But when people started looking at me, and then speaking into walkie talkies, I decided it was time to look way more innocent than I was already looking and get out of that area, having a story in my head about why I was in an area that I was not supposed to be in.  If I could remember the years of French that I took, I would have busted out into that.  Thankfully, nobody came to haul me off anywhere or anything like that.  And, I got to see and hear Obama give a speech in real life.   I did not get a picture as I thought for sure then the walkie talkie men would have thought it was not a camera, but I got the mental picture in my head.  After that I wandered around a little bit more but then every time I saw a soldier look at me, I got a little paranoid and decided it would not be a good day to be deported, so I left Arlington. And hopefully I can return to see all the statues and monuments.  So for all of you, here is a youtube clip of his speech that he gave at Arlington.  Part of which I was able to see and hear live.  

While at Arlington, we got handed a rose that we could place on a gravesite (or tombstone - what is it called??) and, funny and luckily enough, I found a Canadian soldiers tomb.  It was like fate.  But then I started thinking and wondering - how is a Canadian buried there but apparently they could have been a fallen soldier and got buried along with the other soldiers in that battle.  It was a nice place to sit and reflect on while at Arlington.  And I was thankful I was able to find that one gravesite and pay tribute to that specific hero.  

After the Cemetery, I made my way down to the Mall to see the monuments with their wreaths and flowers and to find a spot for the parade.  Which was my type of parade since it had bands, horses and soldiers and no clowns or mascots.  They went through all the wars, every branch of the military was there and tons of marching bands.  I kind of wish they handed out a program or something because when a particular flag or branch of something came up, people got excited about it, and I got excited because I didn't want to look like I knew nothing, which I did.  However, if you like men in uniform, which I do, this was the place to be.  Ohhh so many hot men in uniforms.  I am not sure which branch of the military I enjoy the most - the crisp whites, the suave browns or the dapper blues (I totally just made those up, except the first one as I think people say that).  That is one thing I am going to miss the most I think, the ability to see men in uniform as often as I can while here.  

I ended up my burning, a huge feat for me, and got a lot of kick ass pictures.  Got to experience another American holiday and it was pretty fun.  I didn't see Rolling Thunder or the concert Saturday night, but my experience Monday has left me with enough experience for a lifetime of celebrating Memorial Day.  With that, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and should celebrate that I did not get deported, questioned or sanctioned for not following the rules.  And thankful I did not need to subject people to a very fake French first language.  

Don't ever confuse a catafalque with a pedestal. It takes some brain power to figure out how one could work with the other.

First off, if you cannot pronounce the word 'catafalque', don't worry.  It it a hard word to pronounce.  Secondly, if you do not know what a catafalque is, I shall tell you momentarily.  Thirdly, I am really beginning to like saying the word 'catafalque'.  It sounds so important and sophisticated.  And french.  Maybe that is why I can actually say the word, now that I know how to pronounce it.  If I am pronouncing it the right way, hopefully I am pronouncing it the right way.  Oh dear, am I pronouncing it the right way??!!  Whatever.  Anywho.   

So, one thing off my list was going on a Capitol tour and it was amazing.  I kind of wish the tour guide gave us enough time in each room to take pictures but sadly that was not the case.  The tour started in what is called the Crypt Room.  It was one of the original rooms built in the Capitol and is held up with 40 pillars.  As I was leaning on one of the pillars, the tour guide told us that those pillars are helping hold up the 9000 pounds of steel and rock that the Capitol is made up of.  And what did I do - I stopped leaning against the pillar.  I realize that I am not strong, nor big, enough to push a pillar to make the 9000 pounds of steel and rock come crashing down, but it was an innate reflex to stop leaning against the pillar.  In the middle of the room was a white compass star which signified the middle of DC.  Not sure if it is still the middle but back when the Capitol was built, it was the middle.  And a fun fact was that under the compass star is where the tomb of George Washington lies but George is not there as he died after the Capitol was done, there was an argument, the Government was going to sue to place George under there but the estate prevailed and he is still buried at Mount Vernon.  Kind of a fun fact.  So after we walked through the center of DC, we made our way to the Rotunda.  This was what I was waiting for.  The Holy Grail of the Capitol.  Sadly it is under construction and you can't see the beautiful floor or the gorgeous ceiling.  But at least we got to go into the room.  

If anybody does not know what the Rotunda is, it is the place that important people's bodies are laid in state so that people can go and pay their respects.  JFK was there.  That is really all that matters.  And some others.  But JFK. But the Rotunda is amazing.  I cannot put into words the beautifulness of the place but I shall try.  If you start at the ceiling, there is a painting called the Apotheosis of Washington, which depicts Washington inbetween Lady Liberty and Victoria and 13 maidens, symbolizing the 13 original colonies.  Kind of like looking at the American version of the Sistine Chapel.  Although, and no offense to the Rotunda, the Sistine Chapel would be far more awesome to see.  But this is kind of like that.  Coming down from that painting, around the dome area is what originally looked like sculpture of the history of USA but it is actually a painting.  I swear it was a sculpture as it looked like some of the figures were sticking out.  

Then as you continue down the walls, there were I think 13 paintings of different historical moments of America as well.  It was just an amazing room.  So many things to look at and see and take pictures of and just stand in wonder of the beauty of it all.  While internally giggling that in the War of 1812, the British (aka Canada) burnt it down and they had to start rebuilding it.  One of the only things Canada has in its history that I can tell Americans about.  But I thought it not a good thing for people to connect that back in the day the British was Canadian and I was a Canadian.  Did not want to get thrown out of the Capitol because my history peeps burnt it down.   

The next room we went into was the old room that representatives used before the two houses were built (or something along that lines).  Basically it is where the laws and states were passed, a very tiny room that housed a lot of people.  I would be very unhappy in that room as a)  it is tiny b)  it would be loud with all the people and c) it would be very hot.  Three things I really dislike.  However, there is a pretty nifty spot in the room called the Whisper Spot.  Apparently since the room is shaped like a dome and stuff like that, the acoustics is wonky.  We all stood in a huddle around a particular spot and our tour guide went to the other side of the room and spoke in a whisper and we heard her as clear as if she was standing right beside us.  Another reason why I would have hated that room - I want to throw my shoes at people in class when they talk so being in that room when I could hear that clear of the people across the room, oohhh there would be showdowns happening.  And not governmental showdowns that probably usually occur.  The architecture in the rooms we went to are amazing.  The tiles, the statues, the roofs.  Simply gorgeous.  Oohh so one of the statues, each state has 2 statues to represent them and they get to pick who they were, was Ingalls.  My first thought - Little House on the Prairie Ingalls - but not the case.  Sadly.  I wished it was cause then I could actually know something about somebody.  

So now here comes the story about the Catafalque.  We get down to the museum part of the Capitol and the helper guy tells us that behind where he is standing is *the* catafalque that is actually used when the body lays in state.  So JFK was on this.  And other people.  We slowly make our way to the other side.  And find this pedestal (the left picture).  Which Kalyn and I first thought it was the catafalque.  We were standing in front of it, honestly trying to figure out how the hell the put a casket on this little table - it must have been a jenga balancing act to make sure the coffin didn't tip over and god help anybody who touched the casket as that would have off-balanced it.  Thankfully, and after probably laughing at us, a helper came by to point us to the real catafalque, which is this thing (the right picture).  That makes much more sense now that we looked at it.  We were laughing pretty hard about it as we must have looked like idiots trying to figure out how that little table could hold a coffin.  Casket.  What is the proper term to use??  

Also, very very exciting news!!!!  Making his very first blog debut is Liam Reilly-Wiseman!!!!  Colleen, the wonderful Mama that she is, went through about 3 days of labour, which I hope she uses against Liam when he is being a pain in the ass for her.  First off, he was huge - 9.4 pounds.  She is very tiny.  Laws of nature were not working in her favor, but she wanted to try natural labor first, sadly, not the case as she had to get a c-section.  Meg was our correspondent at the hospital and kept us in the loop as to what was happening and when the arrival of Liam was going to happen.  In all the texts, I do not think I have ever read the word 'cervix' more in my life than I did these past couple of days.  Between cervix, effaced, membranes and other medical jargon, this birth gave me another reason as to why I do not want children.  Colleen was such a trooper and when we went to visit her, she looked wonderful and such a proud Mama.  I am in awe of this woman and am so glad I could be part of this stage in her life.  So, without further ado, I present to the world Liam Thomas Wiseman.  Such a cutie.  I can't wait for Colleen to bring him to the school so that Toby has a conniption and puts a policy in place that underaged children cannot be on campus.  Or something foolish like that.  We are policy changers people.  We take our job seriously.  

Anywho, my next blog may be about all the goings on about job huntings, where I am going to live and how the husband hunting has been going so I can stay in the country to find a job.  Sadly I do not know about any of these things yet but hopefully soon I will.  Hopefully.  Love and miss you all!!!!  

Do you think it is possible to catch a meteorite (or a comet) in your hand without dying???

So I finally decided to hit the Air and Space Museum and although it was super interesting, I have to go back as there is so many things to look at and read and learn but with the amount of kids running around that place, I could not stand it for very long.  And the fountain at the Sculpture Garden was beckoning since it was a gorgeous day.

Going to a museum with me can be an adventure in and of itself.  One of these days I wish to audiotape the entire going as some of the discussions that I have with the wonderful people who go with me or some of the questions that come to mind when at the museum are some of the most profound, awe-inspiring, first world problem questions that should be on everyone's mind. Seriously.  If people do not think these questions, they are living a sad, sheltered life.  I really do not know how to tell you about the air and space museum as seriously, there are a lot of things there to see.  I really wish my brother was able to see it when they were down as he would have enjoyed it and probably could have explained somethings to me that I would have liked to know more about.  So I shall tell you all about Riya and mine conversations at the museum as that is probably the best part out of everything.  Riya's expression when she saw these missiles:  "now I can see why people were worried about these things".

Okay so this picture is that of a 'hands on' activity that would mimic a supersonic boom, or air tunnel, or something of the nature. Not at all what it really was.  So I pushed the button that was supposed to show whatever the bloody thing was supposed to do.  Oh, what it did was cause me to have a heartattack and almost pop out my hip.  I hit the button and this loud stream of air went through the exhibit but the noise it made was huge, something I and Riya were very unprepared for.  I jumped back, Riya clutched the railing (maybe because I jumped into her) and we both kind of gave a scream.  Once we regained our footing, we turned around and there were children there, just looking at us, like we had grown 2 heads.  This 'hands on' activity is certainly not for the weak hearted.


I also made something a 'hands on' activity, although I think it was not meant for that.  Okay, I do not think it was, I know it was not a hands on activity, but it was still fun to make it so.  In the kids section, they were being taught the different aspects of fight - force, thrust, motion, etc etc.  We got down to this section and I thought it was to show the way that thrust works, so I pushed the table along the path thingy.  That is when Riya kindly pointed out that the table was probably what the workers used to do their demonstration and the table itself was not the demonstration.  All I can say is 1) yes folks, I am a graduate student and 2)  it would have been a lot funnier if I took out a child when I pushed the table to show them how velocity and thrust work together to show what flight is.

As we continued on, we got onto the topic of whether or not a person could catch a meteorite and what would happen in that case.  I was posing the question of catching one in your hand.  Or maybe it was a comet.  Not sure if there is a huge difference between the two but whatever.  I was thinking that the only thing that could happen was it would take a person's hand off but the person would still live.  Riya thinks that you would die if you tried to catch one, probably because it is coming down so fast, you wouldn't actually be able to time it properly to catch it and it would hit your body and kill you that way.  I still don't know and I should google whether or not a person can survive trying to catch a comet or a meteorite.

Another conversation we had was about Mars as apparently people can start buying tickets, one way tickets mind you, up to Mars to live there.  Now, I would like to talk to these people who are buying the tickets as I would think something isn't right in the head.  My theory is that they are sending up all the people who cannot be rehabilitated or are a drain to society.  I mean, honestly, how long can people survive up there?  What do they really know about Mars??  I would say not enough to make it a second Earth.  Then I asked the wonderful question "why Mars?  Wouldn't mercury be the better planet"  Riya, knowing exactly where this was going, got me to explain my theory.  I told her that Mercury was closest to earth than Mars so wouldn't it be more sustainable?  You know the nmemonic that we learned in school 'many very early men jump stumps until nearly play down'.  Well I always mixed up the two M's and I did so again this time around.  Which doesn't make any sense.  If a child was trying to learn, they would think that Many would be Mars because of the Ma's and Men would be Mercury because of the Me's.  Totally not the case.  I wonder how I ever learned them in the first place but then it dawned on me that I didn't really learn it, apparently.  What the hell did we learn in school back in the day???

Anywho, I am pretty sure I will be heading back there, maybe on a day that the sun isn't beckoning me so that I can read more and try to learn more about the solar system and air and space since I am clearly very not smart at any of it.  But a very interesting place indeed.