DC with Nick, day 2

My second and last day in DC started out beautiful. Not too hot, nice and sunny.

Breakfast on the porch.

Nick bought me this umbrella. Isn't it great? (Nick: For my birthday present you're taking me out to dinner. Me: Ok, but you should buy me a present. And he did! Nick is so great!)

We goofed around in his apt for a few hours, he had a meeting to go to but didn't know when (whenever his boss felt like it) or how long it would last. Finally he all but kicked me out the door with instructions to go to the art museum, he would catch up soon. And he did. It was an unexpected surprise to me that I got to see him at all on this day, due to my work schedule I had missed his day off (and his birthday. Nick upon first seeing me "You know you're a day late, right?") and him even having just the afternoon off to spend with me was wonderful.
Light tunnel!! This is the passage from one art institute to the other, and where Nick finally caught up with me, about 45 mins later.

After that museum it was off to a picnic lunch of sandwiches on the mall, then a stroll to the fancy government buildings I hadn't seen yet.

I don't really remember what these are, or else I'd write it. The capitol, senate...etc...

My new umbrella is great!!!

Tour guide Nick.

Walking around with this umbrella I think we just looked like some badly organized protest for gay rights.

We went into the Library. It was very pretty and I'm very jealous of all the books. They also had a cool thing where they actually re-created Thomas Jefferson's actual library, all his books and everything.

rockstars.

After all that walking we were tired, so we got some coffee (those buildings are very far apart!) and by then it was time for Nick to go. Sad. So I went to a few museums by myself then caught the next Chinatown bus out of town.

My wax lips from Vienna are still with me! They live in my backpack...they are getting pretty gross...

It started absolutely pouring when I was about 2 blocks away from the bus. Again my timing was perfect and my new umberella really came in handy.

DC with Nick, day 1

So, before meeting up with Nick I did go spend some time at Teresa and Mark's house. It was a whole lot of fun, so it's unfortunate I did not take any pictures, but it at least deserves a mention. They live in what appears to me as a tiny army town, complete with grocery stores and guards who scan your ID when you enter the grounds. It was a little weird, but actually a really lovely place. Mark cooked dinner (grilled burgers, corn on the cob, and pasta salad) while I caught up with Teresa and played with her dogs. They built an obstacle course for them, and seriously, you should see them jump. It's crazy!! Also, I could not be more excited about grilled food and Schlafly beer. It was sooooo great! The food was delicious. I stayed maybe a little too long, and was a little late for meeting up with Nick (ok, a little late to the show he got me tickets for, but I still made it!) but I do not regret it. I loved every min and was incredibly happy I got to stop by.

I went from there to the show that Nick is working on. It was pretty good. A straight play, I prefer musicals (it starred Valerie Harper, if you know who that is. I didn't. I've never watched the Mary Tyler Moore Show though.). My timing was perfect though because I missed all the rain while in the show. Yay!

So after the show, I finally get to spend some time with Nick and we decided to walk the Mall at night.

This picture is just screaming to be a "welcome to DC"postcard.

Sillouettes and lightboxes are two of our favorite things!

I love this picture!!

Nick was not as amused by the previous pic as I was.

Asking Mr. Lincoln a question. That is what you're supposed to do, right?

There was just the right amount of people out. Enough so that we felt safe and like it was ok to be there, not as many as during the day so you could actually get good pictures. Also, there was some wicked lighting going on! I couldn't get a picture of it. No rain though.

Together again!