Dear
Fancy Grocery Store,
Seriously, how can you stand to be so great? I love that you have artisan breads, and rolls, so I don't have to buy an entire loaf. You have fresh sushi made in front of my eyes, a buffet line, a salad bar, pizza kitchen, gourmet restaurant, and blood orange European soda-sold in little bottles or big ones.
Your train that goes along the ceiling is a highlight for the little people. Your cheese and olive selection is outstanding. I have never been in a grocery store in my life that sells
Le Crueset. Your organic section rivals Whole Foods and is really an entire section...not just half an aisle. The International Section just amazes me every time. I am used to the International section having only things that reference South of The Border, but your offerings just expose me to different ingredients and cultures I never knew I could re-create at home. I bought Indian tikka masala paste the other day-it was delicious!
That little chocolate cake you make, you know the one that is really rich and has two layers and is covered in delicious frosting, but remains just the perfect size for 4 people (or two, if they want REALLY big pieces). Yeah, we buy it at least once a week. Perfect size, perfect dessert. Let's not get started on all of the meats or the ready-to-cook sections. Your "store brand" actually tastes great!
Plus, you have underground parking, if I want it! It really helps, especially with all of the rain around here.
The thing I love the most? Your prices are decent, for this part of the country.
I'm glad that I'm not leaving any time soon, because each time I visit, I discover something different. This time, it was the artisan desserts table. With tastings? Oh, yes!
I am a satisfied shopper. If I can't find it at your place, (which hardly ever happens) then I begrudgingly go elsewhere for the missing item.
Love,
A Food Fanatic
We watched the sun set over the Potomac and even saw Marine One fly past.
The Jefferson Memorial is beautiful and reminded me once again how grateful I am for our Founding Fathers.
It was so much fun. I really hope that we keep playing tourist in our own town. Every once else comes to see this place and soak up the history, now we finally can join them!
Four Score and Seven Years Ago...8th grade history feels like it was that far in the past. There were a lot of things about Gettysburg that I had forgotten.
We got to see most of where all of the battles took place and an interesting cyclorama. 
I had forgotten just how many people died during those three days. Some of these markers are for over 400 "unknown" soldiers.
Here is where Lincoln stood during his famous, under 2 minute, address.
Brothers!
Here is where the battle finally turned in favor of the North.
Thank you for letting me pretend that I was Kimmy, just for one night.
*photographs by Elizabeth Moon Photography
We had a couple of fun-filled days, with lots of food and some brave driving. I seriously don't know how anyone gets around DC without a GPS.
Where we saw monkeys "in the sky". The Orangutans cross a really long cable from one end to the other twice a day or so. Cole though it was really cool.
We visited George and Martha at Mt Vernon and had a lovely view of the Potomac. Seriously, this guy knew where to build a house!
There was lots of hugging, play-doh and a couple of projects for the chief maintenance engineer.
We also went and got Cole a pumpkin. It was one of the craziest fall festivals I have ever seen. Think homemade Six Flags :)
We had a lot of fun and can't wait until they come next year!
Turning 80 is kind of a big deal. So we headed to the river to do what we do best...celebrate!
