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.