NEW ROOMIES!!!

Go NATS!

Last night, my roommate Loren scored four free tickets to a Washington Nationals game. She was eavesdropping on some guys at work, and interjected on behalf of all of us. She is the most major sports fanatic I've ever met, and she's an itsy bitsy five-foot-nothing with a huge, bubbly personality. It was lots of fun. (Loren is the one with glasses). Amanda is the one with beautiful green eyes and freckles and red hair, and Megan is the lovely brunette with the sweet smile.

At every game, the "presidents" come out for a running race. There is Teddy Roosevelt, Lincoln, and Washington, with two others I couldn't figure out. It was hysterical. Anyway, off to work now. Love you all.

The Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and war memorials

My room with all my bedding and this is part of the Potomac trail that I took to walk to the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean and the Vietnam war memorials

You can see the glass memorial to fallen reporters. This is Liberty, the statue that sits on top of the capitol. And signs from the womens suffrage movement. i think the signs are funny

At the freedom park, there are outdoor memorials to different periods and scenarios of freedom. The first female statue was placed in Tienenman Square in Red China representing liberty and justice. The ballot box was the first fair election in the history of south africa and when nelson mandela got elected as the first democratically elected president, and first black president in South Africa after the apartheid. There is a felled statue of beheaded Lenin. What else? Oh yeah, the boat that got people from Cuba to the safety of America.

There is this thing literally twenty steps from the apartment door called Freedom Park. It is a newseum, actually. You can interpret what that means for yourself. It is right next to the huge huge ABC news building in Rosslyn. There is a big glass memorial to all newpaper and news anchors that have been killed in reporting about freedom. Their biggest attraction is the big display of the Berlin wall. you can see the big chunks of the wall and the famous photos.

White House Tours

Yes. People were taking a tour on these thingeys. Weird, huh. Are we so lazy that we can't walk?
And, of course, the white house. Much less impressive than I thought. It is such a matte white. It's rather dull. Some British spectators who were walking behind me declared that the Queen has the better bargain. Although I've never seen Buckingham, I am tempted to agree. And she gets to keep it.

The George Washington University

Here's my school. It is definitely an urban school, however it runs the length and breadth of five streets squared. It is big and lovely and historical, and but minutes from the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts and the WHITE HOUSE!!! Pennsylvania Avenue runs through the school, where of course the Bush residence is located as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Just in case you don't know, I actually got a job on Capital Hill!!! But it is set off of the executive offices, and the address is actually more of Capital Hill South, where all the legislative offices are. And that is walking distance from the Supreme Court buildings. And the Supreme Court is just about one of my favorite things.
And how cool is it to have a huge hospital on campus and tons of Medical students running around in white jackets and stethoscopes!! Hopefully Mr. Cheney won't have to visit again soon.

My Pink Front Door

This is inside the Normandy House apartment on my floor. There's only one other apartment near us. There is always elevator music playing in all the hallways, quite loudly I may add, except that you cannot hear it when you are inside the apartment. But it's quaint and pink. The building is actually set aside from the hubbub of the city and the lobby is quiet and lovely. They also have a free 20-kind coffee, espresso machine where they provide tons of free kinds of coffee and tea and you put in your cup and can get a shot of espresso, hot chocolate, black or green tea, or any number of strength-level and flavored coffees. I love this feature!!!

These are taken from my balcony. Some are obviously zoomed in, but I wanted to present the whole scope. In one picture, you can see Georgetown University (NOT my University) and that's where a lot of awesome shopping and diversions are located. The greenery with the bridge in the middle is the walkway to Theodore Roosevelt Island which I ran around two days ago. It can't be more than 3 miles around and it's in the middle of the Potomac. From the island perimeter you are close enough to gaze easily at the Kennedy Center which a huge performing arts colliseum where the national orchestra gives a free symphony every night at 6:30.