DC Trip - Day 3

After a restful sleep, I woke up at 0600 and started my telework day.  Mollie slept until almost 0800 and then coordinated a meet up (for lunch) with her sisters and me.  That actually took a LONG time and delayed the breakfast plans I'd had with Mollie.  At around 0915, we were able to leave the hotel room and go down to the Starbucks next to the hotel to pick up some snacks (I used the remaining balance on two Starbucks cards I had been carrying for a while).  I got a breakfast sandwich and Mollie got a bagel - we also each got some delicious holiday drinks.  Back in the room, I continued teleworking while Mollie sorted out the final plan for me to meet with my daughters; a compromise was struck (and nobody really liked it) to meet at Pentagon City at 1100.  At 1030, Mollie and I left on Metro (Blue Line) rode the "long way around" to Pentagon City.  During this ride, the weather went from cold rain and sleet to beautiful blue skies on the Virginia side of the Potomac.  Mollie and I were seated at Matchbox (Erin's choice) at 1100 but had to wait for the Twins for a while (Erin arrived at 1125 and Brenna arrived at 1145).  We all ordered some food (despite problems with the restaurant computers), watched a skillful tow-truck driver poach illegally parked cars just outside the restaurant, chatted about life and 2023 plans, exchanged Christmas gifts and enjoyed the first time we'd all been together for more than a year.  The Twins ordered brunch food but Mollie and I shared a pizza and some salad.  We finished eating and visiting at around 1400 and then walked into the Fashion Centre Mall.  The kids did some Christmas shopping (for their mother) and we took some holiday photos together.  Nicky had been trying to get the girls to come home for her early Christmas Eve Party and the girls told me they'd need to leave soon.  As a result, I made plans with my friend, Stephanie, and then said goodbye to my daughters (Mollie took all her overnight stuff with her).  Fortunately, we made concrete plans to meet up the following day (that prior planning made me feel better about my remaining time in DC).  I walked a short distance to Nighthawk Brewery and met Stephanie at around 1430.  We had a great time catching up on stories about work and life.  We also tried some great beers (I had one called Beer Spero and another, even better, called Babe Lemon Kolsch).  During this time, I also had to address a few work-related emails.  We enjoyed some good beers that Nighthawk makes themselves and stayed at the restaurant until 1730.  I'd planned to go back to the hotel to telework some more but found out that Bridgette and Amanda (grown daughters of my friend who died a few years ago) were available for dinner at around 1800.  Consequently, I took Metro back into DC and got off the Blue Line at Metro Center.  From there, I walked (east and north) to Cuba Libre, passing a LOT of Caps (hockey) fans on the way.  I arrived at the restaurant (my favorite in DC) at 1800 and sat down to happy hour at the bar (they had good caipirinhas).  Bridgette showed up at around 1815 and Amanda arrived 30 minutes later and we all continued drinking until happy hour was over (1900).  After that, we got our table and then sat down to dinner (1915).  It was nice to visit with the girls and I was happy to learn that their lives have been going really well recently.  During the meal, we ate some really good food (I had a Havana sampler plate with good soup and Cuban Sandwich) and nice conversation.  At 2030, we wrapped things up and I said goodbye to Bridgette and Amanda.  I then walked back to my hotel (mostly via 7th Street SW) - it was VERY cold!  Arrived in my room by 2100 and I teleworked until going to bed at 2300.  What an amazing day of visiting and happy stories!