Sunday, June 22, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Taking a picture of Dad taking a picture
Okay, so maybe it was a bad idea. My dad was in town and we decided to pop up to D.C. and take in the sites. It was the only Saturday he was going to be here. So what if D.C. was under a heat advisory. We went to the National Museum of Natural History and saw dinosaurs. The boys were impressed. Then we walked westward along the mall. We saw the Washington Monument, the WWII Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. We then hitched a ride on the D.C. metro and went to the Friendship Arch.
The Washington Monument is so giant. It is really had to say just how giant it is. Aside from it's sheer size, there is not much else about it.
The World War II Memorial, while overdue, was done well. There is not a lot of stuff to stare at. There is a central pool with a row of fountains. On north and south sides of the oval (like parenthesis) are a couple of semi-circles of Art Deco columns each with a bronze wreath and the name of a participating state or territory. The east side is open to the Washington Monument and on the west side is another pool, this one is quiet and still. Above it is semi-circle of granite set with a field of bronze stars that reflect in the pool. Below it, written in the granite it says, "Here we mark the price of freedom".
The most sublime and patriotic moment of our trip was our arrival at the Lincoln Memorial. I have always admired Lincoln as a symbol of what is best in America. He embodies all of that stuff that we say we believe in. You know, that "all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights" and "...with liberty and justice for all." I am sometimes accused of not being very patriotic. The truth is, that I am deeply devoted to those ideals and when my country fails to live up to them I am painfully disappointed. Lincoln stands out as a principled leader who took bold steps to extend those ideals to a long neglected segment of U.S. citizens. He also seemed to care deeply about the blood shed during the war.
You have two choices when it comes to entering the Lincoln Memorial. The first is right up the steps in front. We had a stroller in tow, so we took the second, up the elevator in the museum under the Memorial. We emerged from the elevator facing a light colored stone wall in a space to the south of the center of the Memorial. Turning right we entered the larger section of the building that houses the statue of Lincoln. It was so sudden and long awaited that I just stood there in silent awe. It was worth every sweaty mile.
The Washington Monument is so giant. It is really had to say just how giant it is. Aside from it's sheer size, there is not much else about it.
The World War II Memorial, while overdue, was done well. There is not a lot of stuff to stare at. There is a central pool with a row of fountains. On north and south sides of the oval (like parenthesis) are a couple of semi-circles of Art Deco columns each with a bronze wreath and the name of a participating state or territory. The east side is open to the Washington Monument and on the west side is another pool, this one is quiet and still. Above it is semi-circle of granite set with a field of bronze stars that reflect in the pool. Below it, written in the granite it says, "Here we mark the price of freedom".
The most sublime and patriotic moment of our trip was our arrival at the Lincoln Memorial. I have always admired Lincoln as a symbol of what is best in America. He embodies all of that stuff that we say we believe in. You know, that "all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights" and "...with liberty and justice for all." I am sometimes accused of not being very patriotic. The truth is, that I am deeply devoted to those ideals and when my country fails to live up to them I am painfully disappointed. Lincoln stands out as a principled leader who took bold steps to extend those ideals to a long neglected segment of U.S. citizens. He also seemed to care deeply about the blood shed during the war.
You have two choices when it comes to entering the Lincoln Memorial. The first is right up the steps in front. We had a stroller in tow, so we took the second, up the elevator in the museum under the Memorial. We emerged from the elevator facing a light colored stone wall in a space to the south of the center of the Memorial. Turning right we entered the larger section of the building that houses the statue of Lincoln. It was so sudden and long awaited that I just stood there in silent awe. It was worth every sweaty mile.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Entrances & Exits
Rosencrantz: Did you ever think of yourself as actually dead, lying in a box with a lid on it?
Guildenstern: No.
Rosencrantz: Nor do I, really. It's silly to be depressed by it. I mean, one thinks of it like being alive in a box. One keeps forgetting to take into account the fact that one is dead, which should make all the difference, shouldn't it? I mean, you'd never *know* you were in a box, would you? It would be just like you were asleep in a box. Not that I'd like to sleep in a box, mind you. Not without any air. You'd wake up dead for a start, and then where would you be? In a box. That's the bit I don't like, frankly. That's why I don't think of it. Because you'd be helpless, wouldn't you? Stuffed in a box like that. I mean, you'd be in there forever, even taking into account the fact that you're dead. It isn't a pleasant thought. Especially if you're dead, really. Ask yourself, if I asked you straight off, "I'm going to stuff you in this box. Now, would you rather be alive or dead?" naturally, you'd prefer to be alive. Life in a box is better than no life at all, I expect. You'd have a chance, at least. You could lie there thinking, "Well, at least I'm not dead. In a minute somebody is going to bang on the lid, and tell me to come out." [bangs on lid]
Rosencrantz: "Hey you! What's your name? Come out of there!"
Guildenstern: [long pause] I think I'm going to kill you.
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