Thank you, veterans!

   
It’s kinda hard to watch this with a dry eye, but it’s a good reminder of the sacrifices that families make, too.

We had much too busy of a weekend to wander down into the actual craziness that took place on the National Mall, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t notice all the visitors anyways. Multiple rallies collided on Saturday to “Restore Honor” and “Reclaim the Dream” under the likes of Glenn Beck and the Reverend Al Sharpton. Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any celebrities in town while we were out and about, but we did see plenty of American-flag-themed paraphernalia, and sometimes that’s all you need.

   
This image is taken with a Holga at the Dupont Circle North metro station.  I love how the long exposure was able to pull a fire out of the evening sky.
   
   

   
We watched the fireworks from Meridian Hill park this year.  The gentleman that climbed the Joan of Arc sculpture had the best view in the house.  His focused gaze up towards the theatrics is the sky is eerily similar to the look on Joan of Arc’s face as she charges into battle.
   
   

 
   
My final submission was snapped during my morning commute.  It is taken with a Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim, a junk camera with a wide angle plastic lens.  Even in the blustery weather that we have had recently, my morning rides always put me in a good mood.  I think this photo captures the pure enjoyment of a leisurely ride.
   
   

It’s been awhile since we posted anything from the Monumental/Federal/National Mall side of things in DC. That’s because we usually prefer to post the nitty-grittier photos that show the side of DC that we, as residents, know and have grown to love. But every now and again we’ll remember that we do live in a tourist destination and one of the most powerful places in the world, and it’s important not to forget that either. This past Saturday evening, we were returning home from Capitol Hill by cab after a late, *crazy* night watching movies and SNL with Brigid and Keith. And in riding by the Capitol Building, we both started to say something along the lines of forgetting about that “other” part of DC that we take for granted, like going by the Capitol as we were or living a mile from the White House. And maybe it’s because neither of us work on the Hill, know any lawyers, or even like to argue about politics, but maybe it’s that to us, DC is not just about memorials and monuments and which political party you belong to… though some would argue it is.

At any rate, it’s interesting to note, in conjunction with posting this photo, that the Washington Monument was completed on December 6, 1884. That means the capstone was put into place a week and 125 years ago around this time. I wonder if the builders thought, at that moment, that the new tallest structure in the world (until the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889), would one day become somewhat overlooked by those who live practically in it’s shadow?