August 2, 2011 Flight Home

Isabella's alarm went off at3:30 AM. Ryan set his for four. Finally GG and grandpa got up at 5AM.

We had a quick breakfast of cereal and OJ, GG packed up some sandwiches and snacks and grandpa got us all in the car and on the way by 6:10 AM.

The trip to the airport went smoothly and the car rental return was very fast.

Then we got to the security check. It was one of those with the new x-ray machines. The line was long, but we finally made it through and then into the train and on to gate B. 73. We barely sat down and they began to board our flight.

Now we are en route to LA and then on to San Jose.

We got to LA on a smooth flight and we were sitting in the boarding lounge. The flight ahead of us was overbooked and GG and Grandpa heard the offers to passengers to bump. First it was a $200 flight credit, then $300, then $400. GGs eyes lit up as the auction continued. Finally at $500 enough people volunteered to give up their tickets and the was boarding completed and the flight departed.

Next the plane for our flight arrived and deboarded. Then they started calling for volunteers to bump from our flight. GG and grandpa discussed it and thought if the offer got high enough we would volunteer and then go to Disneyland for the afternoon and catch a flight the following day. But, Isabella and Ryan were voting "NO" on that idea. They wanted to get home and see their brothers. The offer was called out over the intercom, $200 flight credit, then $300, then $400. Grandpa went to the desk and put our names in. OH NO!!! But, in the end they didn't need our seats and we got on the plane and Ryan and Isabella heaved a huge sigh of relief as the attendant shut the door and we backed out of the slip and on to the runway. The last leg of the flight was smooth and fast. Yvonne picked Isabella up and Gary picked up GG, Grandpa and Ryan.
It has been a wonderful trip.

August 1, 2011 Air and Space Museum Annex at Dulles Airport

Our trip is almost over and we have seen a lot of things, Today we are going to take a trial run to the airport to help us make our departure tomorrow a smooth one.

While we are at the airport we are going to visit the new annex of the Air and Space Museum.

The trip to the airport went pretty smoothly and we found the car-rental return easily. It looks like it will take us about an hour to drive from the house to the airport.

The Air and Space Museum annex at Dulles Airport is wonderful. They have a whole blimp-hangar sized space with lots of aircraft from the first and second world wars, Huey helicopters, jets, MIGS and all kinds of aircraft. They had to expand the collection to this additional site because there was just so much stuff to display in the building on the Capitol Mall.

We took a guided tour and it was great. A docent told us a lot of interesting stories about the aircraft.

We saw the Enola Gay, which was the airplane used to drop the first atom bomb on Japan.

We ended up spending four hours there and it was so interesting.

On our way back home we drove past the beautiful Jefferson Memorial. They were doing construction around it so we couldn't walk around it. the construction is for the new Martin Luther King memorial. Then we went home and began to get ready for our departure tomorrow morning. We can't believe our trip is almost over.

July 31, 2011 Museum of American History

Today we went to visit the Museum of American History. This is a huge building with so much to see.

First we went into the display of the American flag that Francis Scott Key saw flying over Fort McHenry after the battle in 1812. This is the flag that inspired him to write the Star-Spangled Banner.

The flag is huge, 20' x 30', and has been repaired in some places. It was kept through the years by the family of the Captain of Fort McHenry, who retrieved it after the War of 1812. The presentation about the flag was very inspirational.

We also visited a section of the museum dedicated to Civil Rights Movement. They had a section of the Woolworth's lunch counter where the famous sit-in was held and a docent told us a story about what happened.

There was so much to see at this museum. We tried to finish one floor at a time.

We visited the "America on the Move" section that covered changes in transportation and how that affected life in America. There were trains and buses and old automobiles, a Conestoga Wagon and all kinds of transportation items.

We visited the display called "America at War" that went from the French-American War all the way through the current times.

We visited the New Technology and Science Advancements section, saw the ballgowns worn by all the first ladies, and we were still looking for Dorothy's ruby shoes when all four of us became zombies and we decided to go home.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD!

This was Sunday afternoon. We arrived at 10 AM, parked right in front of the museum and walked right in. As we left we saw a long line of people waiting to go through security and get in. They had to wait in the hot sun for a long time. Yuk.

We didn't get to see all of the museum and maybe we can go back tomorrow for a little more.

July 30, 2011 Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, & Spy Museum

Another hot day. We drove around the Lincoln Memorial. Grandpa – the parking God – got a great parking spot just across the street. Temperature today was only 106°.

The statue of Abraham Lincoln is very impressive and made me feel somber and very responsible.

In the museum were many quotes from Lincoln about slavery and keeping the union together. He was a man of integrity, conviction and honor.

We also visited the Vietnam Memorial. This is a long sloping low wall engraved with 58,402 men who died in Vietnam. It was very emotional to read those names and think about those men.

When we left the Lincoln Memorial we went to Arlington Cemetery where many soldiers and statesmen are buried.

At the Arlington cemetery we saw the grave of John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert and the tomb of the unknown soldier. We saw the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. It was very formal and solemn.

Later that afternoon grandpa went to the national portrait Gallery and GG and Isabella and Ryan went to the International Spy Museum.

When we entered the spy museum we had to memorize our spy identity. GG was Sylvia Romero, age 17, a student visiting Adel, Iowa on vacation for 13 days, born in Telactan Mexico.

We learned all about different spy tools, lock picks, cameras, dead drops. We learned about spy disguises too.

We entered an area that told us about spy history – all the way from spies in the Bible to spies in current times.

There was a lot to see and learn there and the two hours we allotted was not enough time.

July 29, 2011 White House Center & National Archives

Well, GG and grandpa wanted to take us on a tour of the White House, but they didn't know that you had to apply to your Senator's office several months in advance to get tickets. We tried to drive by the White House. The new security measures have changed things so much, we couldn’t get down the street we wanted to get to, so we will have to try again another day.

So instead we went to the White House visitor center. We had a virtual tour narrated by Michelle Obama. There we explored the exhibits about the White House – who has lived there, what kids lived there, furniture and artifacts from the White House.

After visiting the White House Center we walked into the park and took some photos from afar. Lots of security now and you can't get very close.

Next we went to the National Archives where we saw the original Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. GG bought us our own copy of the Constitution.

July 28, 2011 MONTICELLO

Today we left our nice air-conditioned condo to head back to Washington DC. Grandpa decided to take a detour so we could visit Thomas Jefferson's estate MONTICELLO.

When we arrived we went through the interesting museum and learned a lot about Jefferson and his contributions in writing the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. We admired him for being able to listen to all of the discussion and debate and then write out the ideas in clear, concise language.

However by the time we finished touring Monticello we learned that Jefferson owned slaves and to our respect for him was reduced. It seemed like he was hypocritical for owning slaves.

We took a tour of his mansion. He used a lot of windows and skylights to get light into his house. He also invented some clever ideas to make life easier.

We visited the stables and the brewery and the kitchen. We had a chance to try writing with a quill pen. It was hard and our writing came out kind of blotchy.

We took a tour of Mulberry Row where the slaves lived. They had very small houses with few comforts. They were given a few basic food supplies each month and they were allowed to tend a vegetable patch on their own day off.

It was a long drive back to our house in Takoma Park, Washington DC. We've finally arrived and went right to bed, after turning on all the air-conditioners, of course.

July 27, 2011 Williamsburg, Grandpa on Trial, Ryan joins Revolutionary Army

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yteJ_L4cmlw

We went back to Williamsburg again the next day. We attended a colonial court session and grandpa was on trial for withholding the asset of an estate from a creditor. The father, a friend of grandpa's character, had died and left his rifle to his son. But he owed money to the shop owner and the shop owner wanted the rifle. The judge was very fair and although grandpa was found guilty and the rifle had to be relinquished, the judge said he would pay out of his own money so the son of the deceased friend could have his father's rifle as his legacy.

Next we went to the platform across the street from the Raleigh tavern. A lot of townspeople were gathering there. A captain in The Revolutionary Army asked grandpa if Ryan could join the Army as a powder boy. Grandpa said, he was a Tory(what a troublemaker grandpa is) but he would let Ryan decide for himself. The captain then asked Ryan and promised to pay him five dollars a year and 2 acres of land for his services. Ryan reluctantly agreed and the captain told him to report to the camp tomorrow.

Soon after Ryan enlisted we heard a speech encouraging us to support the war effort. As that speech was ending the British came marching into town and we all went down the road to the HOUSE OF BURGESSES were General Benedict Arnold urged us to give up the fight and give in to the British. His reasons were good. He told us our representatives in the new government were corrupt and not giving good support to Gen.Washington and our forces could not hold out another month. Some of the citizens argued with Benedict Arnold and there was much enthusiasm to support the Gen.Washington and boos and hisses for Benedict Arnold. We then all returned to Raleigh's Tavern and George Washington himself rode up on his horse to tell us about the victory at Yorktown and that the British were beaten.

Later that afternoon Ryan and GG reported to the army camp for training. We learned how to march, hold our rifles, mount our bayonets and lunge – HOO HA!! We inspected our tents. Five men to a two-man tent. The tents were very hot and crowded. GG got in trouble when grandpa called her onher cellphone. She tried to cover the noise of the phone by coughing, but after she denied the call Grandpa called AGAIN, and this time she was caught and chastised. Our sergeant called us the AWKWARD SQUAD.