Alexandria, VA (USA)

[I some of the day taking care of bills and other important paperwork - around 1600, I drove over to the high school track (where I often walk laps for exercise) - basically, I waited there for it to get dark (planning for fireworks) - on the way to the Metro station, I stopped for dinner at Kingstowne Center - first, I checked a new restaurant (La Madeleine) but the owner met me at the door and told me they didn't open until the following week - he did, however, give me a free meal pass to come back during the staff training days (not bad!) - walked across the parking lot to Taco Bell for dinner - when I finished, I drove to Eisenhower Avenue and parked at the Metro - my friend, Sabrina, had told me that I would be able to see the fireworks in DC from Gravelly Point, near Reagan National Airport - I got off at that Metro stop and walked about a half mile north (along with many other people) - when I arrived, I was glad I hadn't tried to drive (parking lot full) - - boats were lined up for miles along the Potomac (some big ones!) - the George Washington Parkway was also clobbered with lookie-loos by the time the fireworks began - the weather was great for the event and the views were awesome (monuments as a backdrop) - before it ended, I made my way back to the Metro station (crowds were lining the street all the way there) - I got on a less-crowded train than I had expected (I'm sure it got worse) and made it back to my car well before the crowds - the night was great and I'm glad I took advantage of another perk of living near the Nation's Capital]