The $150,000 Wardrobe

While standing in the office today, my co-worker and friend The Missus turned and said to me, "You cannot wear those jeans." And so, we decided to go shopping after work. Unfortunately, we didn't do very well. I tried on at least a dozen pairs of jeans and none of them worked. We finally agreed, maybe I wasn't a "jeans" gal. Maybe I should stick with my dress pants and rock 'em the best way I can. But jeans, not so much. 

If I had extra money, or maybe I was the vice presidential nominee, I would have a $150,000 to spend on clothes and pay for a personal shopper to dress me. I don't have that kind of spending cash, but if I did, I can assure you it wouldn't be spent on clothes. Which brings up a new topic of conversation... 

In the midst of a financial crisis, if you were running for an office that helps balance the budget of the U.S. economy, would you spend $150,000 on clothes? (Cast your vote on the poll to the right.)

Asshole in Our Nation's Capitol

There are obviously plenty of assholes in our country, but this one in particular really got to me.

It's sundown Friday night. We made our way to the Marine Barracks in the SE district of D.C. to watch the retiring of the colors. The 13-year-old wants to be a Marine. As we waited in a line approximately 100 people deep, a tall, dark Marine in full uniform approaches us. He hands us four tickets and sends us straight to Gate 8, where another Marine shows the four of us to our seats. There was a Marine in the sky watching down on us that night and knowing that if this child didn't get into the barracks to see the ceremony, he would have made our lives hell for the rest of the trip.

There we were, in one of the most pristine places on Earth, surrounded by Marines. The feeling was overwhelming. Indescribable, really. The Marines began their march to the lawn.

That's when my feeling of pride and loyalty turned to rage and disgust. The man in front of me was chowing down on his bean burrito, wiping his hands on his chair and text messaging on his cell phone.

Picture it, please: The Marines. Marching. Guns. Full military parade with the Marine band playing in the background. Disgusting man munching his bean burrito. It's disgusting... and then it got worse.

As if this asshole had absolutely no respect for our military, he proceeds to take out his MacBook, film a one-minute scene of the ceremony and then...

wait for it...

...starts moving around in his chair to find a WIRELESS CONNECTION so he can upload this video to You Tube while the retiring of the colors is going on. How do I know all this? Because he's sitting right in front of me and I'm witnessing this incredibly disgraceful display happen. Here is the asshole's photograph mid-email. People should be ashamed of themselves.

Voyage to Our Nation's Capitol

I'm off for a (hot and humid 100 degree) weekend in Washington, DC. So far the weather is holding up -- fingers crossed for a few more hours of sunshine before the rain clouds roll in.

Tomorrow we start our day at 10 a.m. at Sen. Edward Kennedy's office. We'll be getting a tour of the Capitol Building and then we're off to lunch at Union Station. By 2 p.m. we'll be at the International Spy Museum, where I will be taking deep breaths and repeating to myself "It's only a game, it's only a game," as I attempt to solve puzzles that will get me out of confined spaces and elevator shafts. Tomorrow night, dinner at one of Washington's best seafood restaurants, Tony & Joe's.

Going to be a long day on Friday ... but maybe it just be the effort I need to put forth in order to crash in bed later that night.

Talk to you Monday!

On the Agenda: Washington, DC

Leaving in two days for our nations capitol, and one of my favorite places in the U.S. The travelers are excited -- first time on a plane and first time out of New England. How fun to be 11 and 13-years-old again. Here's what is on the agenda:

• Arrive Thursday night and walk to Lincoln Memorial for a view of the proud president at dusk.
• Take on a Trolley Tour Friday morning so kids can get a sense of what's what in DC.
• After lunch, visit the International Spy Museum, where I will no doubt die (or some close to it) while trying to solve puzzles in an effort to get myself out of confined spaces.
• Friday night - dinner at Tony & Joe's (the best seafood in DC).

Saturday and Sunday are to be determined, as is my packing list...

Rocking the Spy World

I'm starting to put together the Washington, DC, trip plan. With an 11- and 13-year-old, plans are important. What to do? Where to go? When? Washington, DC has so much to offer, but proper planning (and avoiding lines, when possible) is key to this successful trip.

Enter: The International Spy Museum - where boys can be boys, and I can admire the cool gadgets and guns behind glass. I took it one step further and bought tickets to Operation Spy - and interactive 1-hour journey where you are the spy. This is so cool.

And then I read the following: "Participants will encounter some low light levels and confining spaces, an elevator..." There goes my idea of a good time. So I call my friend and tell her I'm not sure if I can do this.

The 11-year-old says out loud, "It won't be fun if you don't go."

Crap. I'm such a sucker. I spent $25 on an interactive tour that will undoubtedly cause me heart palpitations and a minor anxiety attack. But it won't be fun if I don't go.

Weekend in Washington, DC

Another weekend trip planned for the summer: Washington, DC. One of my favorite cities in the U.S. and home to some of the most fascinating museums and monuments.

My friend Julie and her two kids are coming along for the fun. It's time to get these kids out of New England and show them some culture! And to add to the fun: it will be their first time on a plane. Woo!! I booked us a great hotel on Hotels.com -- near the Capitol building and only a few blocks from the Smithsonian museums.

Side note: Hotels.com is great! This is also where we found our killer rate for Rome. They have some amazing promotions that you won't find elsewhere -- like 30 percent off the third night, or free airport shuttles -- and that makes a huge difference when you're looking to save money on summer travel.

Here's what is on my list of things-to-do in Washington, DC:

• Air & Space Museum
• International Spy Museum
• Jefferson Memorial
• Lincoln Memorial
• Vietnam Memorial (I'm actually thinking of putting together a scavenger hunt for the kids that will take them to all these must-see memorials)
• Arlington National Cemetary
• Walk around Embassy Row
• Walk around Capitol Hill

I'm going to show these kids what D.C. is all about -- power, privilege and prestige -- and about the fundamentals of our country's history. I can't wait to walk them past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame at JFK's gravesite.

Oh, and I almost forgot... reservations at Tony & Joe's for some amazing seafood...