Monday, January 31, 2011

FROSTY AND COLD

Humid frozen air dresses pines in white regalia
Trunks darkening their sharp contrast

Icy crust on crab apple branches

Clinging to fences, obstructing the view

White and gray, cold and humid

Seemingly lifeless forms waiting for winter's grip to vanish
(So are we  JIR)

Author's note: wind chills of 35-40 below zero are predicted for tonight and tomorrow night in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota

Sunday, January 16, 2011

WHITE HOUSE TOUR

Our trip to Washington, DC last week was awesome. This post covers our very unique visit to the West Wing of the White House. Of course, keep in mind that photography is prohibited during this tour, but the tour's description and the pictures we took could prove to be fascinating enough. The tour began by going through 2 checkpoints. Of course, we had already been screened by security staff a couple of months prior to our visit when sent our full names, dates of birth, and ss #'s. These tours are given privately by White House staffers to family, friends or connections. We are fortunate enough to be friends with David and Line Kerr. David employed and mentored Zach Landau for about 1 1/2 years. Zach is now a White House staffer.
We began the tour with a stop at the Eisenhower Building which houses many staffers' offices. A beautiful edifice built in 1878 and very well-maintained. We entered the West Wing of the White House near the Situation Room, which is off-limits to visitors. We visited the Cabinet Room, Oval Office and Roosevelt Room. It was an amazing experience!

David, Line. Jorge and Linda right before the first checkpoint

Zach (far right) and the other 2 people touring, friends of Zach.


Many of the walls inside the Eisenhower Building were covered with pictures of President Obama

Glass ceiling Eisenhower Bldg.


Spiral staircase Eisenhower Bldg.

Exit of West Wing White House tour



Eisenhower Bldg. through a wintery tree in the foreground

Saturday, January 01, 2011

BRINGING IN 2011

Here we are ready to party. Except these days we are much happier partying for a little while, then going home getting into our pajamas and putting our feet up on the recliner. Which is exactly what we did. As we have done before, we celebrated the New Year on Eastern Time and went to bed before midnight Mountain Time, not feeling like we had missed something. Maybe this whole New Year's thing has been overrated. JIR