Happy 4th of July 2008!

Orchids at the Botanical Gardens.

Library of Congress.

Akane and I at the Lincoln Memorial.

Akane came down for the 4th of July to visit me. We had amazing weather! It was overcast and threatened to rain so there were fewer crowds and it wasn't hot. (Yea!) We walked and walked and walked to all the monuments starting at the Arlington Cemetery. We went to the Botanical Gardens (the orchids were gorgeous!) and to the Library of Congress. I had never been there before and was stunned at its beauty. The picture above shows one of the stairways. I'm so glad we went and enjoyed it so much it almost makes me want to go there to study. (Almost :))

I had a great tip about where to view the fireworks. We were going to go with a group, but it was raining and neither of us wanted to sit on the mall and get wet. Instead we took the metro to the GW foggy bottom stop and walked up to the top of the hospital parking deck. We had a great view of the fireworks and were only a block from the metro so there were no crowds. It was heaven! I love fireworks!

There is a program at the capitol on the 4th of July with famous singers and music by the National Symphony Orchestra. I picked Akane up on the 3rd and we headed over to the rehearsal. It was so much fun! Jerry Lee Lewis who sings "Great Balls of Fire" was there and played a few numbers. He is old, but he sure can play!!! We got up and danced and just had a blast. There were a few broadway singers there too who sang a few beautiful numbers.

It was a great 4th! I'm so glad Akane came down and spent it with me. I finally went to the Postal Museum. Which, by the way, is really good. My friend Maggie Tapia was always telling me I should go see it, but I really didn't think it could be all that great. I was actually very impressed. Plus I got to flirt with a cute guy that worked there so all the better. (ha ha!)