Arlington, VA

We left Pittsford yesterday morning after breakfast.
It seemed like a longer drive than it actually turned
out to be. We arrived here about 4 PM. Robert was
gung ho to go drive around the Mall, but I just wanted
to get out of the car and had NO desire to get back
in. We discovered we could check our e-mail so did
that and I read. I'm reading a delightful book that
Sue Berkenbush lent me. It's title is The Guernsey
Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It takes
place just after WWII and consists of a series of
letters between a young journalist and the members
of the society. I am enjoying it very much.

Shortly after 6 we walked a few blocks to an
Italian Restaurant that Robert found with the
help of our GPS. We walked over to it and
had a wonderful dinner. Robert had the usual
Lasagna and I had a Penne, chicken, goat cheese
and spinach dish which was excellent. We
shared an apple, walnut, cheese and spring
greens salad..and couldn't eat all of it.
We came back to the motel and stashed
food enough for tonight and then some in
our frig here. WE will either microwave
it and eat here or walk out again to another
place. We have no table to eat at in our
room. We have one easy chair and one
desk chair..we'll see how we feel.

We plan to drive around the mall after
dark so we can see the Lincoln Memorial, et al
with lights.

This morning I discovered the motel offers
a shuttle service to the metro. We used
that. It was great because we knew we'd
be doing plenty of walking when we got
to the mall. The metro is fast and easy
to figure out although every time we
stopped to read instructions someone
came over to help us. I guess our age
makes us appear totally helpless, but
I always smiled and said I was always
happy for help, just in case.

Our first stop after we got off the train
was to walk to the WWII memorial. It is
grand and magnificent, but I guess I feel
I'd rather see such a thing honoring
peace instead of war.

It turns out Robert had not heard of the
Roosevelt Memorial so was taken by surprise
when I said the main reason I wanted to
come to Washington was to see that. It
is on the edge of the Tidal basin and
another walk from WWII. I guess we
walked a good 3 or 4 miles altogether
today.

Anyway, the tribute to FDR is great. At
first I was shocked because the first
thing we saw was a bronze statue of
FDR in his wheelchair. He had fought
so hard to cover up his disability
that I felt he would have been shamed
to see the statue. But there is
another and larger one with his little
dog, Fala which made me feel better.
There is also a bronze of Eleanor which
looked as though she could just walk
right up and greet you. All through
the memorial our quotes of FDR and
they made me nostalgic for what our
country was and devastated over what
it has become. We have surrendered
so much that the WWII was fought to
protect it makes me weep at one moment
and make me know I must fight even
harder to get Obama, Udall and Polis
elected.

We spent a long time at the memorial
and I really hated to leave. Pictures
will come later, after we get home.

We walked back past the war memorials
of which we have too many!! Had a
hot dog at a hot dog stand, R had
an ice cream. Then we walked more
back to the metro. When we got
off the metro I called the motel
and the shuttle came, in less
than ten minutes to pick us up. It
is a lovely service. And saved
us another 6 blocks of walking.

Pittsford, NY

We drove from Oswego to Rochester and arrived at Jack
Wenrich's apartment at the appointed hour of noon.
Judy was there, too. We chatted for a little while and
then drove to Olive's by the Canal for lunch. It is a
Greek Restaurant and was quite good. Jack and I
had Guiness as an old custom. We had a very
pleasant lunch and it was especially nice to
spend some time with Judy and hear about the
wedding. Chris had told me something about
it, but Judy told me more. It sounds like a
great time.

After lunch we spent some time at Jack's until
about 3 PM. I knew he was tired so we left.
After we left Judy called to ask if I had lost
my sun glasses which I had just been looking
for. We returned for them in time to run
into Jeff who had come to pick up Judy. Judy
had expressed interest in coming to Boulder so
I extended to Jeff, also, the invitation. I hope
they do come.

After we left Jack we drove about 5 miles to
Mendon Ponds which is a county park. I
hadn't been there in about 60 years, but it
hasn't changed a bit. We walked about a
mile through the woods. It was great to have
a chance to get out and walk. I have been
very stiff because of sitting in the car so
much.

After our walk we sat in the car reading
waiting to hear from the Owens. They
were returning from the Adirondaks so it
was not clear when they would show up.
Ann called about 5 to say they were about
an hour a way and then would stop at
Wegmans to pick up something to
put on the grill for dinner and would be
home about 6:30 PM.

We showed up at 6:30 and they were unloading
their car.

We had a lovely dinner though I was too tired and
also drank too much wine. I did sleep well though
for the first time in three nights.

This morning we all slept in. They were tired, too.
After breakfast we went over to the canal and
walked a long the canal for a couple of miles. It
was great to get another walk in. My joints feel
great for the first time in weeks. We decided
to skip lunch and have ice cream cones. We
had had ice cream at the same place yesterday
with Jack and Judy. A great place with huge
scoops of home made ice cream..

We returned to their house and all was quiet.
Ann, as it turned out had laid down just for
a minute and slept until 5 when we were
supposed to leave for dinner because she
had to go to her Recorder session at 7.

We went to JoJos for dinner. Robert and I
had a Louisiana gumbo which was great, but
we could only eat about half. We all came
home with much food. They'll eat for
a couple of days on the leftovers.

We head for Washington, DC tomorrow.

Oswego, NY

We arrived in Oswego late yesterday afternoon after
a very long, slow drive from Lenox. We stayed off
the NY through way which is the only fast road.

On our way into Oswego we stopped in Mineto.
I took pictures, but haven't downloaded them
yet. The building we lived in is still there, the
one on the west is gone and the one to the
east is waiting demolition. The mill and
pond are gone. I couldn't ge into the back
of the buildings, where we entered because
it was a jungle.

More later...