Inauguration 2013

Last weekend was President Obama's 2nd Inauguration and the first for me living here. Having "attended" the 1st Obama Inauguration with more than 15,000 students, hours upon hours at the Dulles Airport, no water at our hotel and endless Dinner Cruises, I decided to take this one off and just enjoy it for me. I am really glad I did.

We started the weekend randomly deciding to go to the "Fitness Ball." A hoytie toytie gym in the District was having a "Ball" to honor Michelle Obama's efforts to get the nation active. It was cheap and seemed like it had potential to be fun. We could wear our sweatpants and gym clothes, they had booze and entertainment. It sure was entertaining... after a "Fashion Show" by the Lululemon models and an inspirational speech from "Famous Recording Artist, Mya", their fitness guru, "L'Roy," lead the crowd in what can only be described as "Jazzer-Zumba." It was quite funny...we laughed a lot as we LEFT early and went to the normal bar around the corner.

Get it..."Fitness Ball"

On Sunday we celebrated KC's birthday with Brunch and a Brewery Tour. It was a fun little field trip to the Corcoran Brewery about an hour away with good friends and good beers.

                                            

Everyone out for Kristin's birthday had spent the last Inauguration working for PYIC in some form or another... most of them IN CHARGE of the insanity which we have all suppressed as much as possible. This outing with no kids and no responsibilities was a good form of therapy for the PTSD many of us are still suffer from a little.

My favorite comment to this photo was from Joe Drake who asked: "If you are all there, who is watching the luggage room?"

Knowing things would be NUTS on Monday, I planned to sleep in the District to avoid any transportation issues for getting to the Capitol in the morning. After sleeping in and putting on several layers of clothes, Jen Kelly and I strolled down to The Mall with coffee in hand.

We made it down there in time to do some sight seeing while ALL of the other people were at the other end of The Mall. We made the brilliant decision to pee at the Lincoln Memorial (indoors)...literally RIGHT as we were walking out...they closed the bathrooms to the public. It was PERFECT timing!

We didn't really care about getting super close... the main goal was to be there and NOT be smushed an annoyed. Mission Accomplished. We had a pleasant spot with lots of space. We hung out and listened to everything. When we were cold enough...we started walking back home. I hoped on the Metro with 7 other people just minutes before EVERYONE else started to leave. Again, it was perfect timing. I was home and toasty within 20 minutes and overall had an awesome Inauguration weekend. 

 

My favorite man on The Mall...OBAMA BEAR. I'm not sure if you can see but he is dressed like a CareBear, complete with the heart on his butt. He was AWESOME!

1K

I've done an 8K, I did a 5K, I did the Tough Mudder but nothing could prepare me for the athleticism needed for this past weekend's event...

The Crystal City 1K Wine Walk

 11 stations of at least 6 wines throughout a 6 block radius of the Crystal City Mall...woah!

It was kind of AMAZING! They give you a glass and 20 tickets when you check in. With those tickets, you get 20 pours, if you choose to get a "double pour" of a extra awesome wine, you give them two tickets. It's that easy!



The pourers are all volunteers who may or may not know anything about their wines. Some have note cards to tell you about the bouquets or the tannins. However, if you go up to the same girl 4 times in a row for a "double pour"... she may just tell you to take a picture so you can buy your own.

This stuff is GOOD! (sorry it's blurry)

We had a great team. Jackie and Phil have done this for the past 3 years and gathered a good group of friends, who by the end, became an AWESOME group of friends.

It was rough, but somehow.....we FINISHED!!

After the finish line, they tell you go to the 12th floor of the building... 

The 12th floor is a hollowed out office space with a DJ and at least 12 more stations of wines. Jackie decided to join in the "Cupid Shuffle" or "Superman" or who knows what dance it was. (Note her husband, Phil giggling and walking away in the right part of the photo...LOVE)


It really was a cool event and I hope to do it again next year.  Next week, is the 1K Beer Walk... I am presently recruiting team members. Who's in???  

2013

For the first time since 1999, I was unable to spend New Year's Eve with these amazing people...

 Flights are expensive during the holidays.

Instead, I got to be with these amazing people.

 We spent the evening at a house party followed by visiting a few of our favorite bars in DC. Amanda, Greg and Adam made up for my not being with my people and I truly appreciate that!

They even got me my own bottle of champagne!

I was a wimp, though, and called it quits kinda early. Early enough to catch the last train back to VA. WOAH... it was AWESOME! By far the MOST entertaining train ride I have ever had...people are funny when they are   "Stupid Drunk." I watched a few break-ups, a few make-ups, some drunk induced sleeping, thankfully no  drunk induced vomiting (on my train... the next morning proved that someone witnessed that somewhere.) It was a very interesting ride.  

Who knows where I will be for New Year's Eve next year... but I hope I have fun friends to be with and fun things to see!