Washington, DC (USA)

[the day started like a normal work day - Carolyn called me around noon and I met her for lunch near my office - I kept her bag while she walked around the Mall and I did some more work before she had to head over to Union Station (around 1430) - we made it with time to spare and then I took advantage of the nice weather to walk back to my office - it actually took less time than the Metro had (due to not having to wait for trains or switch at Gallery Place) - still, it was quite humid and rain appeared to be threatening... - did some more work until 1630, when a large group of us met for a networking event at another office our company has in the city - we took the metro down to the Stadium and had a "Meet & Greet" with our company-mates (1700-1800) - around 30 of us had bought tickets for the Nationals-Orioles games, so we walked to the nearby "Truckeroo" (AKA "Bullpen") for reduced price beers and snacks - the rain began around 1815, fortunately AFTER we had taken shelter in a big tent - however, the constant pouring made our little Happy Hour sort of miserable - finally, I saw a break in the weather at 1915 and made a run for the Stadium itself - it was much nicer inside, since there were a lot of concrete, covered areas - I was glad to have an umbrella and water resistant khakis... - I explored several areas of the park I had never seen and finally located the seating area where everyone was supposed to meet - by this point, the game had been delayed by nearly an hour - but the rain had stopped - picked up some hot dogs and beer (with clever navigation of two shorter lines that specialized in each - instead of the HUGE lines for both together) - found my seat and waited for the game to begin - in the end, there were only 10 people who had braved the weather to see the game start - we saw a rookie pitcher make his debut and witnessed five home runs (three by Nationals) - it actually rained again, but not hard enough to delay the game - I stayed for the Race of the Presidents and one more long ball before taking my leave of the five people who were left (1000) - it took me nearly an hour to get home (Metro changes, delays, parking) - what a day!]

Mason Neck, VA (USA)

[weather wasn't great, but Carolyn wanted to explore the area - couldn't get Erin and Brenna to go with us (too much studying for SOL exams) - left the house around 1000 - drove first to Occoquan and walked around for a bit - very pleasant and not too busy - stopped at nearby KFC to pick up lunch (to go) and then drove down to Mason Neck to have a picnic lunch at one of the local community parks - we could hear the LOUD ciccadas everywhere (strange, since we don't hear them at our house) - continued out to Gunston Hall (home of George Mason) and found we could visit for free (Memorial Day rates!) - I had picked up a cold, so I wasn't feeling my best - Carolyn and Mollie toured the home and we all looked at exhibits outside - the ciccadas were everywhere around the house (wow!), dropping on everyone and climbing on clothes - we drove back to the house around 1500 - I took some medicine and rested while Carolyn took walks with Nicky and the kids - had a nice dinner and all the ladies watched the latest episode of the Bachelorette while I prepped for work...]

Washington, DC (USA)

[Mollie and I went into the city today to meet Carolyn (inbound from NYC on Amtrak) - we took the Metro this time (vice driving, like her last visit - see MAR 2012) - arrived around 1330, with time to spare - it was such a nice day, we headed outside of Union Station and discovered a (new to us) Smithsonian Museum about the history of the Postal Service - it was a great place (not crowded at all) with lots of cool, interactive exhibits - Mollie had fun looking around in the Pony Express area and trying to sort mail, scan packages and spot mail fraud - we got a call from Carolyn that she was a little early, so we headed back to the Amtrak gates, getting there just as she walked through - we rode the Metro back to our car and took her to the house - lots of great visiting]

Great Falls, VA (USA)

[worked from home this morning - around 1400, Nicky and I drove up to Great Falls via I-495 and VA-7 (traffic not bad that early) - did some bank errands before heading over to St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church in Great Falls - attended Kim and David's wedding (started at 1600) - afterwards, went to the reception at the River Bend Country Club (north of Great Falls) - we had a great time - stayed until 2130 - drove back (big detour on Georgetown Pike!) to Alexandria to pick up Mollie - made it home around 2230]

Rockville, MD (USA)

[worked all day in Rockville - LONG ride home (traffic)]

Oxen Hill, MD (USA)

[normal work day in the city - after I got home, we drove over to National Harbor to have dinner with Bonnie, Tim, Elizabeth and Katie (McLoones) - ice cream at Ben & Jerry's afterwards]

Arlington, VA (USA)

[drove over to Kim's in Falls Church to get Georgetown Cupcakes - picked up Confirmation Gifts for the Twins on King Street (Pauline Book Store) - drove home and got ready for a dinner with the family (Katie & kids, Bonnie, Bob & his mom, Tim & Elizabeth) - all went to Confirmation at St. Thomas More Cathedral (presided over by the Bishop of Arlington and two other Bishops) - home late]

Egg Harbor Township, NJ (USA)

[worked until noon - left without much delay - missed lunch, but made good time back (via Eastern Shore again) - gas and early dinner on Kent Island (Maryland) - back home with almost no traffic - lots of work-related calls and some work after dinner (prepping for the next day) - seemed like a quick trip!]

Egg Harbor Township, NJ (USA)

[worked all day - finished around 1700 - happy hour and cheesesteak with Sharon at East Bay Crab House - drove back to hotel and watched some TV before bed]

Galloway, NJ (USA)

[worked all day (lunch at cafe) - afterwards, went back to the hotel to change - around 1800, drove up to Galloway, where everyone was having a party at the Marriott Villas (nice!) - met up with several co-workers, along with others I didn't know - great steak dinner and fun until around 2200 - drove back to hotel and went to bed a little late...]

Egg Harbor Township, NJ (USA)

[got a haircut in the morning - drove to Atlantic City (via Eastern Shore again) - due to construction, detoured through Christiana (might be worth a future visit) - back on track pretty quickly - made it to Egg Harbor before 1400 - meetings all afternoon - skipped dinner - work emails in the room - watched "Game of Thrones"]

Falls Church, VA (USA)

[after work, drove with family to Bob's Discount Furniture to order kids' new bedroom sets - difficulties with traffic and construction - snacks there! - home around 2100]

Charles Town, WV (USA)

[took Mollie to see the Sunday races at Charles Town, West Virginia - used I-495, I-66 and got off on US-17 and drove toward Paris, Virginia. Checked out Sky Meadows State Park and then drove to the intersection of US-17 and US-340 (looked at the [Virginia Botanic Garden]) - made it into West Virginia around 1345 - arrived at the track, just as a race had started - Mollie in her element, watching preparations, seeing jockeys prepping the horses (etc.) - we watched three races (including one with two girl jockeys) - departed around 1600 - used WV-9 on the way home - stopped at the gap overlooking Charles Town to hike about two miles on the Appalachian Trail (and back) - pretty day for hiking! - continued on WV-9 to VA-9 all the way to VA-7 - this time, bypassed Leesburg and then used VA-7 to get to the Fairfax County Parkway - back home around 1800.]