Sheri and Jamo's Cleverly Named Blog: July 2010

Monday, July 26, 2010

First Week in DC

So we've been here in Washington D.C. for a week now. The trip started with what was supposed to be a 14 hour drive. We left a couple of hours late (2 am instead of midnight, so we would get there around 3pm EST). The plan was for me to drive the first part, Jamo to drive the next shift while I slept and then for me to take over again. Nope. About 9 am EST we stopped at a gas station to get gas and switch drivers. While pumping gas Jamo decided it would be a great time to have a seizure. So there in the middle of Ohio at the BP station Jamo face plants next to the gas pump. The ambulance was called, we went to the ER and we sat for a couple of hours. Apparently it takes a long time to get a tetanus shot and a written prescription for Kepra. Jamo hasn't seen his neurologist in a while and hasn't had his meds filled in a few months... he is in trouble. We're just incredible lucky and thankful that he had the seizure while at the gas station and not on the road. God was watching us on our trip. Now Jamo knows to be good about taking his meds and won't miss taking them (or not filling the prescriptions for months on end). So I drove the rest of the way to D.C. I was exhausted. I had to take a nap in a parking lot for a couple of hours. Needless to say we didn't get here until like 10 pm. So 2 hours of sleep in 24 hours. I slept all of Monday it seemed while Jamo worked.
We haven't really done a whole lot this week. We just seemed to be content sitting doing nothing in our hotel room. Well, the hotel has a pool and a hot tub. So we were there every evening, it was delightful. So eating, swimming, sleeping in, reading, movies, playing games... that's what we did most of the week. But we did manage to see a couple of things. We went to the national geographic museum. They have this exhibit there now about Leonardo DiVinci. They made replicas of all his drawings/inventions. It was cool. We also saw the White House (from the outside). We also took a stroll through Lafayette Park.
Yesterday we made our way to the Smithsonian Castle, which has info on the rest of the Smithsonian. It also has some pins and jewelry and stuff from famous political people that was kind of interesting. After that we went to the Hirshron Art Museum. It housed modern art. I must say that I really don't understand a lot of it. I mean, some of it was really cool. But when you just have a canvas painted red and another painted blue and another painted just orange, I just don't get it. I mean, I can paint a rectangular canvas blue too, but mine wouldn't be in a museum. There was also this room where they put black and red yarn from ceiling to floor in lines and called it art. Silly if you ask me. Oh, and there was this room you walked into and it was all dark except a dimly lit red wall. It was a study in umm, light, color, gel and angles I think. Either way, odd and not very inspiring. I just think art should provoke some sort of emotion or what is the point? And I don't think confused is an emotion I would really go for, especially when it's probably not the one intended. Anyway, enough about my art rant. They also had a sculpture garden, it had some cool stuff in it.
So this week there are plans on doing all sorts of stuff. We hope to do at least one museum a day. I think the next we're going to do is the Air and Space Museum. I'm unsure what is after that (we're going in a circle counter clockwise).
Also, Jamo's work needed a photographer to take some photos for the program that Jamo is working on. They help special needs kids learn how to ride the metro system to get them too and from they're schools. They're trying to get a contract or something with the special needs school system. And Jamo is working with one of the spanish speaking students while he's here. Oh, so they were going to fly out their media guy to do it, but Jamo suggested to them that I do it. And it looks like I'm going to that later this week. And they'll pay me for the days work of taking photos and then I just hand them over and don't have to worry about anything after that. So it sounds like a pretty easy gig and they're paying me enough to cover all my expenses while I am here in D.C. So pretty much everything is now paid for by his company on this trip, which is an awesome blessing. I am also flying home Thursday night to do a wedding up in Nauvoo Friday morning. Then I do a quick turn around job on them and then leave Saturday evening back to D.C. It's going to be one crazy weekend.
And now I'm going to read until I fall asleep. I love doing nothing. And I really love doing nothing without the guilt. At home I always feel like I should be doing something else, but here I have nothing to do, no cleaning, no photos, no anything. Although I think I might start to get bored soon, which is why we're going to start the sight seeing this week. Also, I may never want to eat out again ever. It's been a week and I'm already kind of sick of it. Plus, it makes me not feel my best. Must exercise tomorrow also. Time to not be quite so lazy :).

Friday, July 16, 2010

Unexpected Trip to D.C.

So for all of those who don't know (those without facebook) Jamo and I are going to Washington D.C. for the next three weeks. We found out last week. Jamo's work needs him to go and show some spanish speaking family with a special needs son, how to use the metro. So far, this is all he knows that he'll be doing, other than the regular taking calls thing. So pretty much Sheri gets a three week vacation. There are so many things that I want to do and see while I am there. I made a list of all the things I want to do. There's a lot of them... I hope I get to all of them. I plan on doing all the things you're supposed to... all the monuments of the National Mall (which p.s., isn't a real mall). And I want to hit most of the smithsonian museums. I also want to see our government buildings. A couple of other things I want to see... national archives, library of congress, and the national geographic museum. We also bought season passes to 6 flags as previously posted... and they have one there! So we're going to try out a different 6 flags, which should be fun. But I have to pay for my transportation while there, food and parking. So that's not too bad. They're paying for us to drive out there and for a plane ticket for me to come back a weekend I have a wedding to photograph. And they're going to give him a bonus, which will cover all of my expenses while there and will pay our car insurance for the next 6 months. So it should be a great experience. I've never been there. And I'll have 3 weeks to explore it. So this should be an exciting adventure. Pictures are sure to come over the next 3 weeks.

4th of July

First of all let me say that I LOVE the 4th of July. There's just something about it that makes me all happy inside when I think about it. It's the epitomy of summer and being american. It makes me want to bake a pie and fly a flag. And of course I LOVE fireworks, bbqs and swimming. Summer never really feels like summer until the 4th. So for the past two years now, we have taken 3 of Holly's kids (emily is always a bum), but lots of sugar and head down to St. Charles to see the fireworks by the river. The kids seem to enjoy it as much as I do. We usually do this the day before the 4th. So on the 4th this year, Holly Jamo and I went to the city's heritage festival and saw Eve 6 perform. As soon as we got there it started raining... it continued to rain/poor/drizzle for about an hour. So by the time Eve 6 actually went on we were soaked. But it was all so worth it. They were amazing live. And a front row view didn't hurt :). After we went back to Holly's and ate BBQ and lit fireworks and sparkles and all that fun stuff. Then the girls and I took a midnight swim. All in all, a great day. Nothing better than, fireworks, eve 6, bbq and swimming for a super holiday.