Leaving behind a rainy D.C. this morning, Gary and I headed back to the 'burg! It was a wonderful trip as I spent yesterday touring D.C. and roaming throughout the Air & Space Museum. My intent was to visit the Art Museum, the American History Museum and the Washington Monument, but alas, I got side-tracked, which often happens.
I did get on a tour of the Capitol and that was extremely informative....that is, after I finally got inside the building. Evidently, the Vice-President was swearing in a Senate confirmed appointee and the entourage of vehicles that accompanies his arrival is mind boggling! There were policemen on foot guarding the perimeter of the Capitol (where the ceremony was taking place), a motorcyle escort with lights flashing and sirens blowing and numerous black vehicles whizzing by like they were going to a fire....well, you get the idea. All I could think was, "my tax dollars at work!" All of this in order to get one man in one location!
The tour guides at the Capitol are, as you would expect, well trained and spit out dates and details as if they were a history book. If you get a chance to visit D.C. go on a tour or better yet, contact your State Senator and ask for a personal tour. Sometimes the Senator will accompany you and you'll get to see sights that are not on a "regular" tour. That's my next move....I'm contacting my Senator!
I wish I could tell you everything I did, read and saw, but time and space doesn't allow my intimate account of the events. But I would suggest you google Alan Bean, one of the Apollo 12 astronauts. This history maker is a phenomenal artist and has some of the most interesting and entertaining pieces of artwork I've ever seen. He paints from firsthand experience his remembrances of walking on the moon and includes pieces of his NASA badges and "moondust" within each work of art!
Now, for my final experience. As you know, we are living in Pittsburgh and we are avid Steeler fans. Last night, unfortunately, we were away from the City of Champions for their first game of the season which also happened to be a home game. Although we are not season ticket holders, we enjoy being in the City for the "big" games. To kick off the first game of the season, our game was being nationally televised. There was a free concert at Point State Park beginning at 4:00 with Tim McGraw and the Black-Eyed Peas. Now, I'm not a "Pea" fan, but Tim McGraw??? Let's say I was a bit sad to be in D.C.
Anyway, during my tour at the Capitol, as I was displaying my pride with my Steeler Super Bowl t-shirt, one of the young people who works at the Capitol commented about the shirt and the game. So I took the opportunity to ask if there was a place locals gathered for the game....perhaps a Steeler bar? After all, I hear all the time about Steeler fans being all over the nation.
Absolutely, was the answer I received! I was given the name of the bar and directions and told that only Steeler fans frequent the place, especially on game days. This bar was called the "Pour House" so Gary and I set off on foot, upon his arrival from work, to walk several blocks to be with other people who enjoy Steeler football. Well, friends, these "people" were die-hard fans! All Steeler attire, terrible towels flying everywhere, standing room only, young and old Steeler fans crowded three stories of one building in downtown D.C. to root on the black & gold! It was totally amazing! Of course, they were cheering and jumping all over the place, giving one another high-fives for good plays and shouting aloud to the screen on bad plays. My thought as I walked away last night? The Steeler nation is alive and well at the Pour House in Washington, D.C.!
I did get on a tour of the Capitol and that was extremely informative....that is, after I finally got inside the building. Evidently, the Vice-President was swearing in a Senate confirmed appointee and the entourage of vehicles that accompanies his arrival is mind boggling! There were policemen on foot guarding the perimeter of the Capitol (where the ceremony was taking place), a motorcyle escort with lights flashing and sirens blowing and numerous black vehicles whizzing by like they were going to a fire....well, you get the idea. All I could think was, "my tax dollars at work!" All of this in order to get one man in one location!
The tour guides at the Capitol are, as you would expect, well trained and spit out dates and details as if they were a history book. If you get a chance to visit D.C. go on a tour or better yet, contact your State Senator and ask for a personal tour. Sometimes the Senator will accompany you and you'll get to see sights that are not on a "regular" tour. That's my next move....I'm contacting my Senator!
I wish I could tell you everything I did, read and saw, but time and space doesn't allow my intimate account of the events. But I would suggest you google Alan Bean, one of the Apollo 12 astronauts. This history maker is a phenomenal artist and has some of the most interesting and entertaining pieces of artwork I've ever seen. He paints from firsthand experience his remembrances of walking on the moon and includes pieces of his NASA badges and "moondust" within each work of art!
Now, for my final experience. As you know, we are living in Pittsburgh and we are avid Steeler fans. Last night, unfortunately, we were away from the City of Champions for their first game of the season which also happened to be a home game. Although we are not season ticket holders, we enjoy being in the City for the "big" games. To kick off the first game of the season, our game was being nationally televised. There was a free concert at Point State Park beginning at 4:00 with Tim McGraw and the Black-Eyed Peas. Now, I'm not a "Pea" fan, but Tim McGraw??? Let's say I was a bit sad to be in D.C.
Anyway, during my tour at the Capitol, as I was displaying my pride with my Steeler Super Bowl t-shirt, one of the young people who works at the Capitol commented about the shirt and the game. So I took the opportunity to ask if there was a place locals gathered for the game....perhaps a Steeler bar? After all, I hear all the time about Steeler fans being all over the nation.
Absolutely, was the answer I received! I was given the name of the bar and directions and told that only Steeler fans frequent the place, especially on game days. This bar was called the "Pour House" so Gary and I set off on foot, upon his arrival from work, to walk several blocks to be with other people who enjoy Steeler football. Well, friends, these "people" were die-hard fans! All Steeler attire, terrible towels flying everywhere, standing room only, young and old Steeler fans crowded three stories of one building in downtown D.C. to root on the black & gold! It was totally amazing! Of course, they were cheering and jumping all over the place, giving one another high-fives for good plays and shouting aloud to the screen on bad plays. My thought as I walked away last night? The Steeler nation is alive and well at the Pour House in Washington, D.C.!
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