tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372795411328620982024-02-08T12:07:30.250-08:00Miracle Livin'Melanie Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610044274762153103noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37279541132862098.post-79185526807263554782009-09-06T08:09:00.000-07:002009-09-06T17:08:21.945-07:00Together We Can~ 2009 Oxford World ConventionLet me just begin by saying that I my body is tattered, damaged and withered. I am so sore again, but this time from dancing until 3am.... but it was SUCH A BLAST. So the day started bright and early, I had session's and breakouts to attend starting at 8:15 all the way up until 5. throughout the whole conference there were 5 general sessions, and in them there were either awards given, speeches made, elections and resolution voting. Breakouts were panels we went to, to learn more about different area's of Oxford. The were 4-5 breakout's to choose from in 3 different time slots. I went to Chapter's and State Association's, Discrimination and Legal issues under the FHA, and Data Recording in Oxford. The most interesting one I attended was the discrimination and legal one. A lot of the world is not educated about people in recovery, and think we are all bad people and threat's to community safety. There are a lot of "Not in my Backyard" issues that Oxford has had to fight through since their national expansion 20 years ago. I listened to lawyer's speak about experience's they've had with trial's etc. and it was unreal to hear what lengths cities have gone to to keep Oxford out of their neighborhood's. A lot of the time, when they actually had litigations over these matters they were able to make city council understand that Oxford House's have many upstanding citizen's living in them. They are quiet, pay their rent on time, keep everything clean, they don't drink or use, and (hopefully) are honest and striving for integrity. Oxford has never been sued for disrupting the peace or anything like that. Usually the issue's have been cities creating ordinances with guidelines about the number of occupants in homes, and if the landlord's don't correct this they receive a criminal summons. At this point, Oxford House, Inc. steps in to support the landlord's who have been supporting us for years. They represent them, and have always settled before trial-- with the landlord's even receiving attorney fees in their favor, and not having to change the occupancy. I think if Oxford keeps growing the way it has been, more people will understand the good it does for the community rather than the threat. People can't go back to living in house's on dirty drug ridden streets when they are fighting this disease. They deserve a chance to live comfortably too, it's one of the many reason's a lot of Oxford House resident's are so successful.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPSsOv_zVI/AAAAAAAAANo/pv81hRt0JmY/s1600-h/everything+814.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPSsOv_zVI/AAAAAAAAANo/pv81hRt0JmY/s400/everything+814.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378374037325991250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPSqYWBJvI/AAAAAAAAANI/4lqBrh6p2cQ/s1600-h/everything+811.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPSqYWBJvI/AAAAAAAAANI/4lqBrh6p2cQ/s400/everything+811.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378374005541644018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPSq58UuhI/AAAAAAAAANQ/U5KzJldCxfA/s1600-h/everything+807.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPSq58UuhI/AAAAAAAAANQ/U5KzJldCxfA/s400/everything+807.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378374014560680466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPSrYV9rEI/AAAAAAAAANY/ZXvt3vtPXWY/s1600-h/everything+805.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPSrYV9rEI/AAAAAAAAANY/ZXvt3vtPXWY/s400/everything+805.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378374022721285186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPSr8pI32I/AAAAAAAAANg/oMBUb8wmc5Y/s1600-h/everything+806.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPSr8pI32I/AAAAAAAAANg/oMBUb8wmc5Y/s400/everything+806.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378374032465387362" border="0" /></a>After all the breakouts was another general session. This was the session where Washington State got our awards for so many of our house's contributing monthly to World's Service's. It was a wonderful feeling with our state being recognized like this, as well as seeing the turnout that our state had in sending at least 100 people from different chapter's there. Also in this session, we voted for where next year's world convention would be.... and although alot of people from the Northwest were gunning for Portland, OR, Chicago came out the winner. One word-- OPRAH :) This session was also the time to vote for resolution's, or new guideline's to be added to the Oxford Manual. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPT-p3d3WI/AAAAAAAAANw/nbk1SNLUrwc/s1600-h/everything+815.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPT-p3d3WI/AAAAAAAAANw/nbk1SNLUrwc/s400/everything+815.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378375453354351970" border="0" /></a>We had a quick break, and then our Formal Banquet started. All of us ladies were looking chic in our dresses and the men looking fly in their suits. When I walked into the banquet room I was shocked at how fancy everything was. It was a high class dinner and it felt like it was a convention for established business people or important celebrities. Our waiter's were dressed to the nine's and the tables were set with so many fork's and knives we were all laughing about the fact that apparently we were even supposed to slice our salad greens. At our table were Brian, Mariah, Melissa, Rick, Ricky, Thea, Chris and another couple from Texas who we didn't really get to know since they were out on smoke break's for most of the evening. Chris is the newly elected Vice President from World Council, and he is also the Texas State Chair. He was really nice and believed passionately in Oxford. During the dinner, Paul Molloy spoke, and other member's of the board gave out awards. There was also a couple of guest speaker's, including an old friend of Father Martin's and the author of the book "Courage to Change" by Dennis Wholey.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPUAnR97aI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/V5UadUpdfwk/s1600-h/everything+833.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPUAnR97aI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/V5UadUpdfwk/s400/everything+833.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378375487019937186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPT_R-Wf3I/AAAAAAAAAOA/_3QJE5BJfOc/s1600-h/everything+830.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPT_R-Wf3I/AAAAAAAAAOA/_3QJE5BJfOc/s400/everything+830.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378375464120647538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPT_9uGiRI/AAAAAAAAAOI/9sYFIiEHe7c/s1600-h/everything+832.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPT_9uGiRI/AAAAAAAAAOI/9sYFIiEHe7c/s400/everything+832.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378375475863652626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPT-5m9erI/AAAAAAAAAN4/xRb2QsXctuQ/s1600-h/everything+824.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPT-5m9erI/AAAAAAAAAN4/xRb2QsXctuQ/s400/everything+824.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378375457580087986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPV1xg-lJI/AAAAAAAAAOY/jmpEsRfT4T0/s1600-h/everything+834.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPV1xg-lJI/AAAAAAAAAOY/jmpEsRfT4T0/s400/everything+834.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378377499811943570" border="0" /></a>After the Banquet ended, the dance began. We stuck around the dance until the raffle began and ended. No, I didn't win anything and a little miffed, I returned to my room to change into some comfier clothes than my dress and heels. And right about that time is when things got reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeal interesting. Our friend Jon from Seattle lived in DC for a time, and was familiar with some certain area's. He informed us he was going to a gay club, alone--and asked if we wanted to come. I said I wouldn't go without Thea, Thea said she wouldn't go without Ricky, and I thought that was that. But somehow Thea convinced Ricky to give in, and it was on!! I was so excited, I have never been to one before. Thea had, but was excited to go there with Ricky (who also had never been) and I. We invited Chris and he surprisingly obliged as well. The plan was to go and dance the night away. So here we set off... with only one gay person in our group of 5. We took the metro to Dupont Circle and walked several blocks where we stopped at Cobalt. After stepping inside and upstairs, we realized that we had just paid for a club whose DJ was featuring some kind of crazy salsa-techno music--not really our thing. So we asked around about where we should go and then caught a cab to a different place-- Club Apex. As soon as we walked in we knew it was a better choice. The heat was stifling but the music was great and we all danced together until we had to leave at 2:30 so we could make the last metro. We left there with many funny stories and encounter's, and met a lot of sassy and hilarious people there. My favorite story I will share with you: Thea had warned me ahead of time that in clubs like these, the ladies room is everyone's room, just so I wouldn't get startled if I saw a man walk in. Sure enough, as soon as we walked in, there was a guy standing inside. Thea went into her stall and I waited for her by the sink. The stalls ended kind of low, so a tall person would be able to look over them if they really wanted to. I watched this dude go into the stall next her's and shut the door. He then gazed over Thea's wall and looked right down at her sitting on the toilet. It was hard for me to hold in the giggle's at this point. (For the stories sake I would like to point out that this man was most definitely not straight, so this wasn't some crazy rapist situation) He said "Sorry I'm not trying to like peek in at you on purpose" (which seemed highly unlikely to me considering his positioning) Thea being her naturally charming self responded "Oh it's ok" thinking that would be it and he would do his business and she would finish her's. But he remained staring for another good 10 seconds, until she scampered out the door and we both lost it. The only reason we weren't rolling on the floor was because it was too dirty for that. I snapped a picture of her face while she was washing her hands after the incident. It is below. That story will be a funny one to reflect on. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPV2bNcuJI/AAAAAAAAAOg/P4puk8nLFjo/s1600-h/DSCF0001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPV2bNcuJI/AAAAAAAAAOg/P4puk8nLFjo/s400/DSCF0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378377511004321938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPV2mZIdfI/AAAAAAAAAOo/_ImNXGryDPI/s1600-h/DSCF0002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPV2mZIdfI/AAAAAAAAAOo/_ImNXGryDPI/s400/DSCF0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378377514006115826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPV3JGk5EI/AAAAAAAAAOw/HibGNftNcU4/s1600-h/DSCF0010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPV3JGk5EI/AAAAAAAAAOw/HibGNftNcU4/s400/DSCF0010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378377523323528258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPW7l-5UHI/AAAAAAAAAPA/bjH0UFYMiuM/s1600-h/DSCF0013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPW7l-5UHI/AAAAAAAAAPA/bjH0UFYMiuM/s400/DSCF0013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378378699307044978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPV3sZo5nI/AAAAAAAAAO4/FbTzVBrQC3U/s1600-h/DSCF0012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPV3sZo5nI/AAAAAAAAAO4/FbTzVBrQC3U/s400/DSCF0012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378377532798723698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPW8EmpVAI/AAAAAAAAAPI/s6j1dCaNFLo/s1600-h/DSCF0016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPW8EmpVAI/AAAAAAAAAPI/s6j1dCaNFLo/s400/DSCF0016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378378707526833154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPW9LfAmEI/AAAAAAAAAPg/rggZaE2PDBw/s1600-h/DSCF0045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPW9LfAmEI/AAAAAAAAAPg/rggZaE2PDBw/s400/DSCF0045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378378726553720898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPW8wNQ21I/AAAAAAAAAPY/8cAugkmnhQQ/s1600-h/DSCF0039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPW8wNQ21I/AAAAAAAAAPY/8cAugkmnhQQ/s400/DSCF0039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378378719231531858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqRBdWRtYYI/AAAAAAAAAQA/FTujex6lhfg/s1600-h/DSCF0023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqRBdWRtYYI/AAAAAAAAAQA/FTujex6lhfg/s400/DSCF0023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378495827439083906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPXnzkwLFI/AAAAAAAAAPo/Ltq-E4C4P9M/s1600-h/DSCF0052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPXnzkwLFI/AAAAAAAAAPo/Ltq-E4C4P9M/s400/DSCF0052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378379458869734482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqRBdkvvUTI/AAAAAAAAAQI/oas2c1RXDBc/s1600-h/DSCF0029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqRBdkvvUTI/AAAAAAAAAQI/oas2c1RXDBc/s400/DSCF0029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378495831323136306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPW8aaRDeI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/2UNKsOrmtbw/s1600-h/DSCF0031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPW8aaRDeI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/2UNKsOrmtbw/s400/DSCF0031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378378713380490722" border="0" /></a>These last picture's are of what I believe to be the longest escalator staircase EVER. It was at Dupont Circle Station and it looked like a moving metal mountain!!! We got home at like 3:30am, after stopping and getting huge slices of pizza from a pizza place with a woman who SCREAMED at every single person that walked by "DUPONT PIZZA HAS THE BEST PIZZA AROUND""DUPONT PIZZA HAS INSIDE SEATING""DUPONT PIZZA IS CHEAPER THAN THE PLACE NEXT DOOR" It didn't matter if she was ringing you up or dishing up your pizza... she dropped everything to scream at these passing pedestrian's. That was another good laugh. What a great end to a great convention! We sure do know how to go out in flashes of light!!<br />XOXO--- tomorrow will be a day of travel!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPXocWq45I/AAAAAAAAAPw/cqOZTZYjb00/s1600-h/DSCF0056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPXocWq45I/AAAAAAAAAPw/cqOZTZYjb00/s400/DSCF0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378379469816521618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPXotkMwxI/AAAAAAAAAP4/MbTlQStQ_yw/s1600-h/DSCF0059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqPXotkMwxI/AAAAAAAAAP4/MbTlQStQ_yw/s400/DSCF0059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378379474436670226" border="0" /></a>Melanie Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610044274762153103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37279541132862098.post-80559755898601648822009-09-05T09:11:00.000-07:002009-09-05T13:31:41.908-07:00"Now he belongs to the ages"~Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton on Lincoln's DeathHey there! It has been another super busy day, with the World Convention beginning, as well as a tour of some more of D.C.'s historic sites. Our convention was opened by Mr. Paul Molloy himself, which was really exciting to see the genius behind the foundation that is now in 43 states and a couple territories. Then Dr. Westley Clark was the keynote speaker, he is the Director of the Center on Substance Abuse Treatment. He had a lot of interesting statistic's and data on what helps sustain recovery in addicts/alcoholic's which was cool tolearn. A lot of what he had to say I had already learned myself from the treatment center's I have attended. This was the 9th time he spoke at the Convention.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLAdvSM6XI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/5Is9fo4bMO0/s1600-h/DSCF0775.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLAdvSM6XI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/5Is9fo4bMO0/s400/DSCF0775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378072522175342962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLAeJvP4RI/AAAAAAAAAJY/spOXUscn6Rc/s1600-h/DSCF0779.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLAeJvP4RI/AAAAAAAAAJY/spOXUscn6Rc/s400/DSCF0779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378072529276494098" border="0" /></a>After the opening session, 12 of us hopped in a tour van to go check out the city some more. We started at The Lincoln/Vietnam/Korean memorial's (Which are all in the same HUGE park area) and even though we had been there already (minus the Vietnam memorial) it was an amazing sight again, this time in the daylight. Might I add-- the weather has been perfect here too-- low-mid 80's and very low humidity.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLGoK1ko6I/AAAAAAAAAL4/pz5xlNyf7fU/s1600-h/DSCF0903.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLGoK1ko6I/AAAAAAAAAL4/pz5xlNyf7fU/s400/DSCF0903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378079298439914402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKQ_sn3AaI/AAAAAAAAAIY/JykOLTgchlI/s1600-h/DSCF0789.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKQ_sn3AaI/AAAAAAAAAIY/JykOLTgchlI/s400/DSCF0789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378020329018294690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKSa1pAnBI/AAAAAAAAAIw/LdVCoIFMdn0/s1600-h/DSCF0805.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKSa1pAnBI/AAAAAAAAAIw/LdVCoIFMdn0/s400/DSCF0805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378021894807133202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKRAFopm_I/AAAAAAAAAIg/623wc9hMiEo/s1600-h/DSCF0797.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKRAFopm_I/AAAAAAAAAIg/623wc9hMiEo/s400/DSCF0797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378020335732497394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKSaj8a84I/AAAAAAAAAIo/PGMwLGpvj3E/s1600-h/DSCF0795.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKSaj8a84I/AAAAAAAAAIo/PGMwLGpvj3E/s400/DSCF0795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378021890056713090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKSbcecrAI/AAAAAAAAAI4/RRaEOndXH-A/s1600-h/DSCF0815.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKSbcecrAI/AAAAAAAAAI4/RRaEOndXH-A/s400/DSCF0815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378021905231817730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKSb4xjQBI/AAAAAAAAAJA/ZmFg_wkGaDM/s1600-h/DSCF0813.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKSb4xjQBI/AAAAAAAAAJA/ZmFg_wkGaDM/s400/DSCF0813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378021912828133394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKScbJ-kpI/AAAAAAAAAJI/vVrZbE06AeE/s1600-h/DSCF0823.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKScbJ-kpI/AAAAAAAAAJI/vVrZbE06AeE/s400/DSCF0823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378021922057392786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLAeQsJkFI/AAAAAAAAAJg/lbBEkB7UpPA/s1600-h/DSCF0827.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLAeQsJkFI/AAAAAAAAAJg/lbBEkB7UpPA/s400/DSCF0827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378072531142545490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLAe1MgieI/AAAAAAAAAJo/dc93AJMquWw/s1600-h/DSCF0829.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLAe1MgieI/AAAAAAAAAJo/dc93AJMquWw/s400/DSCF0829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378072540941945314" border="0" /></a>Our next stop was the Washington monument--finally the landmark that i've been seeing from far away all over the city was right at my feet. Better yet--our tour included tickets to go to the top. It was the best view of the city from above, by far. There were glass lookouts on each side and below the windows were picture's of what the view looked like in the 1800's, around 60 years ago and map's of what we could see in the present. It's crazy that this mammoth city made of brick, marble and stone used to be vast swampland.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLAfSliwbI/AAAAAAAAAJw/8ZeOu4rayd4/s1600-h/DSCF0832.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLAfSliwbI/AAAAAAAAAJw/8ZeOu4rayd4/s400/DSCF0832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378072548831576498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLBhOTyMCI/AAAAAAAAAKY/asw1E6TWJms/s1600-h/DSCF0857.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLBhOTyMCI/AAAAAAAAAKY/asw1E6TWJms/s400/DSCF0857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378073681554714658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLBgj6z8cI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/v9EYU5SK1X0/s1600-h/DSCF0854.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLBgj6z8cI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/v9EYU5SK1X0/s400/DSCF0854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378073670175683010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLBgETkoaI/AAAAAAAAAKI/dgB83763-0U/s1600-h/DSCF0852.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLBgETkoaI/AAAAAAAAAKI/dgB83763-0U/s400/DSCF0852.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378073661689602466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLBfYADPeI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/95xst7QQYhE/s1600-h/DSCF0864.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLBfYADPeI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/95xst7QQYhE/s400/DSCF0864.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378073649796562402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLBfpByi1I/AAAAAAAAAKA/Qj-NqxDv1nk/s1600-h/DSCF0861.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLBfpByi1I/AAAAAAAAAKA/Qj-NqxDv1nk/s400/DSCF0861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378073654367259474" border="0" /></a>Following the Monument we rolled on in to the Obama Family's driveway. We obviously weren't allowed on the other side of the gate. Like the Capitol Building, it is heavily guarded by police and I am sure special service. I knew ahead of time that we couldn't get as close as the lawn, but of course with my picture obsession here, I definitely wanted to get closer.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKQ-4KwNfI/AAAAAAAAAII/EuBYGq_7u3M/s1600-h/DSCF0878.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKQ-4KwNfI/AAAAAAAAAII/EuBYGq_7u3M/s400/DSCF0878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378020314937570802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKQ-fcETfI/AAAAAAAAAIA/uTepZRN4aV4/s1600-h/DSCF0875.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqKQ-fcETfI/AAAAAAAAAIA/uTepZRN4aV4/s400/DSCF0875.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378020308299304434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLDSAbroaI/AAAAAAAAAK4/rm8OMvusw58/s1600-h/DSCF0870.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLDSAbroaI/AAAAAAAAAK4/rm8OMvusw58/s400/DSCF0870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378075619154960802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLDQi9_goI/AAAAAAAAAKg/H9zILBN2GTE/s1600-h/DSCF0877.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLDQi9_goI/AAAAAAAAAKg/H9zILBN2GTE/s400/DSCF0877.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378075594065937026" border="0" /></a>Just down the pavement from the White House there were several tents with very calm citizen's sitting the shade. In front of them was a banner stating that they were all on a hunger strike-- and they were on day 38. I was shocked--I thought I learned in like grade school that the longest you could go without food was somewhere around 2 weeks. They were protesting a raid by Iraqi forces on an Iranian refugee camp that was supposed to be protected under the Geneva Act. Many people were killed, hundred's wounded and 36 abducted.<br />I signed their petition to the president and chatted with one of the protester's for a little bit. He seemed very exhausted and in general just had a calm nature, and he was very concerned about the mistreatment of the victim's involved. These people sure made me<br />understand the lengths to which you can speak out for something you believe.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLDSqqsZKI/AAAAAAAAALA/jkt6SNRRfQM/s1600-h/DSCF0880.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLDSqqsZKI/AAAAAAAAALA/jkt6SNRRfQM/s400/DSCF0880.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378075630492214434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLFpilUJEI/AAAAAAAAALI/JcfBDpGYRnk/s1600-h/DSCF0881.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLFpilUJEI/AAAAAAAAALI/JcfBDpGYRnk/s400/DSCF0881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378078222482416706" border="0" /></a>We then jetted on to the Ford Theater which was where Abraham Lincoln was assasinated. There was a little museum in the basement and after we checked out some of the facts and exhibit's about his life and his presidency, we went into the theater where the shot was fired. I took picture's of the presidential suite he was in, and it was quite an eerie feeling trying to imagine being in the exact same place in 1865. One of my favorite people is and has always been Mr. Lincoln. I don't think there has been anyone as virtuous, brave and wisdom-filled as him since way before his time. Can you imagine where our country would be had he not stood up for the cause of humanifying our economy and social system. To stand firm-when what you are fighting for-is causing the country that you are supposed to take care of to divide and kill-- is really something else. Of course abolition of slavery was the right thing to do and the best thing for his country, but to be the leader of war where your friend's, families and dependents are either mourning or dieing (and he had friend's and family that were in the confederacy) must have left some kind of guilt in his heart, but still he forged on.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLFqn1WQGI/AAAAAAAAALg/WKE1kH8D5Wg/s1600-h/DSCF0893.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLFqn1WQGI/AAAAAAAAALg/WKE1kH8D5Wg/s400/DSCF0893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378078241071710306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLFrMXiaLI/AAAAAAAAALo/P3k4FHhtPAs/s1600-h/DSCF0896.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLFrMXiaLI/AAAAAAAAALo/P3k4FHhtPAs/s400/DSCF0896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378078250878789810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLGniosxlI/AAAAAAAAALw/1AcKFDnoIYA/s1600-h/DSCF0897.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLGniosxlI/AAAAAAAAALw/1AcKFDnoIYA/s400/DSCF0897.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378079287648503378" border="0" /></a>Across the street was the actual house where, after he was shot, he was brought into and later died in. It was a very quick walk through-- a very small house. And in the back room we got to take a picture of the room he passed on in. I took a picture of the bed on display-- which is exactly where he ended, but a sign said the actual bed was at a museum in Chicago. I once again got an eerie feeling standing in this room, but I felt lucky to be able to reflect right at the scene of the crime.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLFp2VlnJI/AAAAAAAAALQ/SnRmKh-OAOk/s1600-h/DSCF0885.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLFp2VlnJI/AAAAAAAAALQ/SnRmKh-OAOk/s400/DSCF0885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378078227785161874" border="0" /></a>The tour finally ended and we came back to the convention. Our next speaker was Dr. A. Thomas McLellan the Deputy Director of ONDCP. He is also known as America's Drug Czar. The new administration set up this department in an effort to end the "War on Drugs" and begin paving a new road which will be more focused on supporting treatment and sustaining recovery. He presented to us some of his background in research of the field which then supported his reasoning for what he plans on doing to better recovery and treatment programs in the Country. He said that we were the first group to which he was speaking since he has been appointed, and the only person who had received the information and his agenda for the U.S. was our Vice President, his boss, Joe Biden. Oxford House, Inc. is something he strongly believes in as a superior way to assist in recovery, especially in the early stage.<br /><br />The business portion of the day closed with an Awards ceremony for all the Oxford Houses who donated $50 dollars or more to Oxford World Services every month of the year. Washington State leads the nation in the amount of houses we have-- a growing 208 total. And almost all of the chapter's in the state require the world donation (which it was clear at the ceremony that the same is not true in all of the other states) On top of that, Washington State has by far the most people here. So at the end of the ceremony it was explained that since<br />Washington has so outstanding in the area of World Service's, we will get our award tomorrow in the morning general session, where more people will be attending. GO WASHINGTON STATE :) I also go my picture taken with Paul Molloy, which was an honor for me!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLGoaRKl5I/AAAAAAAAAMA/06mTWLo6jGU/s1600-h/DSCF0904.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLGoaRKl5I/AAAAAAAAAMA/06mTWLo6jGU/s400/DSCF0904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378079302582179730" border="0" /></a>And finally, our evening commenced with a dinner cruised on the Potomac River. It was a high energy cruise on a 4 floor yacht which held at least 500 of us. The dinner was delicious, but even cooler was the entertainment. The worker's on the boat were singing and dancing and involving the audience. The sun was setting and that view,and the view of the city were unbelievable!! I couldn't stop snapping picture's as the sky changed from orange to pink to<br />red to maroon and then black. The moon was huge and bright and could've passed for the sun, had it not been setting. Then Thea and I joined the dance floor (one of the 2 dance floors) and "Got Jiggy With It". It was such a blast and we didn't stop until the heat was suffocating us and had to go outside for fresh air. All in all, once again this day has given me some wonderful memories and plenty of reason to be grateful and in love with my life. I hope this post finds you in good health and heaps of happiness. Internet is still a tricky/spendy situation, but somehow I am living through it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLGpG-F9LI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/jGBb1fCLv3U/s1600-h/DSCF0907.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLGpG-F9LI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/jGBb1fCLv3U/s400/DSCF0907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378079314581779634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLGo_yZHiI/AAAAAAAAAMI/J-wQlaQOnko/s1600-h/DSCF0905.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLGo_yZHiI/AAAAAAAAAMI/J-wQlaQOnko/s400/DSCF0905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378079312653655586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLH_wjPlII/AAAAAAAAAMY/KOr9WvLh9Wk/s1600-h/DSCF0920.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLH_wjPlII/AAAAAAAAAMY/KOr9WvLh9Wk/s400/DSCF0920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378080803212203138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLIAQf_KBI/AAAAAAAAAMg/cj-UF-_p8Eg/s1600-h/DSCF0929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLIAQf_KBI/AAAAAAAAAMg/cj-UF-_p8Eg/s400/DSCF0929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378080811788478482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLIAqCcBII/AAAAAAAAAMo/DnzarOoDDAk/s1600-h/DSCF0931.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLIAqCcBII/AAAAAAAAAMo/DnzarOoDDAk/s400/DSCF0931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378080818643862658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLIBF8AaQI/AAAAAAAAAMw/xB7yDZg8Jxw/s1600-h/DSCF0936.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLIBF8AaQI/AAAAAAAAAMw/xB7yDZg8Jxw/s400/DSCF0936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378080826133080322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLIBkv2QwI/AAAAAAAAAM4/R4bRwJkpnFY/s1600-h/DSCF0941.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLIBkv2QwI/AAAAAAAAAM4/R4bRwJkpnFY/s400/DSCF0941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378080834403582722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLJKGlrNtI/AAAAAAAAANA/VbiyUm_ztv8/s1600-h/DSCF0948.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqLJKGlrNtI/AAAAAAAAANA/VbiyUm_ztv8/s400/DSCF0948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378082080438302418" border="0" /></a>:) XOXOMelanie Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610044274762153103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37279541132862098.post-78309031486283828992009-09-04T05:24:00.000-07:002009-09-04T13:27:13.574-07:00To tell a woman everything she may not do is to tell her what she can do. ~Spanish ProverbI really don't have much time to go over day 5, but there wasn't much 'exploring' today anyways! Today we bid farewell to the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, which was bittersweet. The hotel had been a fabulous stay, and of course the free lobby wireless internet connection was wonderful. But we checked into the Hyatt Regency on Capitol hill, where the world convention is being held at. Melissa is no longer my bunk mate, I am now staying with Thea, Ricky and Rick. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377589676534304882" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqEJUbGikHI/AAAAAAAAAHo/1C0bhGuqTvg/s400/DSCF0751.JPG" /><br />Once we were all settled into our new rooms we went to grab a quick bite to eat, since the women's convention was beginning shortly. We went to this really cool "sandwich bar" which had fresh 'blocks' of just out of the oven meat. We selected what kind we wanted and they cut it right off. The problem was, they moved SO FAST down the sandwich line we all got a little flustered and didn't end up all of the toppings we wanted on our sammie's. It really was that fast!!!!!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377589717187608802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqEJWyjCwOI/AAAAAAAAAHw/hOlyoHVfIzk/s400/DSCF0756.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377589673375690578" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqEJUPVd71I/AAAAAAAAAHg/ymNvLcelgns/s400/DSCF0750.JPG" /><br /><br />After lunch, registration check-in for the World Convention began. A bunch of recovering drunk's and druggies had officially taken over our hotel! The men didn't have any convention business to take care of after they checked in-- the women got a whole day just to themselves for the women's convention. The room was decorated totally cute with a red, white and blue theme and we got little gift baggies. When the session began everyone read off a card that they filled out that explained who we were, what state we were from, our oxford house we were associated with and what we were grateful for today. I said I was grateful for Oxford House Inc. and for having 8 months clean today. We listened to a few speaker's obviously all women. One that really touched me was a woman who started a program right out of her own house called "Ladies Lockup". The aim was to help out women who are new to recovery and oxford houses to deal with everyday life on their new journey. There would be a few woman with years of these experience's and a bunch more asking the question's. These meetings are done over a home cooked meal and have aided in hundred's of women's continue sobriety. She urged us to take back to our communities the drive to start up programs of our own that can also empower and help women in recovery. At the very end we all made 'god boxes' and journal's, and those who wanted to could go up to the mic and show their box and explain why they decorated it the way they did. The feeling of unity and "female power", if you will, was wonderful. We are all strong and amazing women who are beating a nasty disease that wants to kill us. When we all circled up and said the serenity prayer it was magical-- SO MANY WOMEN smiling at eachother and supporting one another. The women's convention had grown exponentially since the first one 15 years ago when there was only enough women to fill up one large round table. Now there had to be around 200+ women attending. Near the end, Paul Molloy, the founder of Oxford House (who I feel is an important part of recovery history as is Bill W. and Dr. Bob) came in and spoke. He will be here during the entire convention speaking a lot. Our country owes a lot to this man!!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377589662717856386" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqEJTnocSoI/AAAAAAAAAHY/87VRm9BmmGY/s400/DSCF0748.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377589728494106370" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SqEJXcquNwI/AAAAAAAAAH4/gITiXI_NP4U/s400/DSCF0759.JPG" /><br />Well that's all I can really hammer out at this point considering my internet situation, so until next time.... I love you and miss you all!!! XOXO<br /><br />p.s.- I have a ton more pictures I wanted to post today but it takes too long for me to upload them what with this insanely expensive internet connection!! some other time!!!Melanie Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610044274762153103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37279541132862098.post-85503812687395696962009-09-02T20:56:00.000-07:002009-09-02T22:36:48.722-07:00"The Chief Glory of Every People Arises from it's Author's"~Library of Congress WallWhere do I even begin? Can I just say that I at this moment in time am delirious with exhaustion and feel like my legs have either been pounded to 2 inches shorter or longer than their original length. I have probably walked close to 10 miles today! Melissa and I began our day bright and early and met up with Ricky, Thea and Rick at the Hyatt.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9ODb0r1DI/AAAAAAAAAFo/9RwR5R6sTx4/s1600-h/DSCF0492.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9ODb0r1DI/AAAAAAAAAFo/9RwR5R6sTx4/s400/DSCF0492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377102301018969138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9ODmrxpTI/AAAAAAAAAFw/Zz38QGVcYWU/s1600-h/DSCF0501.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9ODmrxpTI/AAAAAAAAAFw/Zz38QGVcYWU/s400/DSCF0501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377102303934391602" border="0" /></a>The first stop we made was at the U.S. Federal Supreme Court House. We checked out the hallways and saw the outside of the main courtroom--but were not permitted to go all the way in. It amazes me how beautiful and materially rich all of these buildings are. The courthouse was a mammoth mountain etched in marble, even the steps and the railings! The elevators appeared to be pure gold and the only carpet or wood in the building (besides the cafeteria) was in the courtroom for the seating. After exploring we grabbed some lunch in the cafeteria which was actually very good and not too <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">spendy</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9OErN2KfI/AAAAAAAAAGA/J1jSQ6Vsblo/s1600-h/DSCF0506.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9OErN2KfI/AAAAAAAAAGA/J1jSQ6Vsblo/s400/DSCF0506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377102322330905074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9OFNvebEI/AAAAAAAAAGI/KWSZVH2FkA0/s1600-h/DSCF0513.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9OFNvebEI/AAAAAAAAAGI/KWSZVH2FkA0/s400/DSCF0513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377102331598761026" border="0" /></a>We decided to check out the Library of Congress next. Ricky had said that it was a really cool building but I had no idea what I was in for. Words cannot describe how beautiful it was. From the floor up the walls to the ceiling's.... everything was covered in beautiful murals and sculpture's and tile <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">design's</span>.... like it was straight out of an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">italian</span> church! There were great <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">quote's</span> etched at the top of all the walls and that quote at the title of this blog post was one of them. We couldn't go in to where all the actual books were kept... but there was a lookout looking down. I swear I drooled when I saw the many thousands of books <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">perfectly</span> organized in the most beautiful library I could have ever imagined. It was like 4 floors of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">pristine</span> literature beauty! TO DIE FOR.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9Qca4f9sI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/jarbuEMGkh4/s1600-h/DSCF0535.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9Qca4f9sI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/jarbuEMGkh4/s400/DSCF0535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377104929286518466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9Qc3YVl-I/AAAAAAAAAGY/yHSZq-nCIg8/s1600-h/DSCF0559.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9Qc3YVl-I/AAAAAAAAAGY/yHSZq-nCIg8/s400/DSCF0559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377104936936249314" border="0" /></a>Miles later, we got ourselves to the National Museum of the American Indian. I was especially excited for this, to see what I could learn about my own heritage. For those of you that don't know, my Grandma Mary (dad's mom) is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Yu'pik</span> Eskimo. I wasn't sure if I would find anything of real substance, but the history of native people is still close to my heart. We began on the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">th</span> floor of the museum and worked our way down. We saw tons of old weapons from spears to knives/swords and then guns. Native artwork dating back thousands of years. Native tools and traditions. There were smaller <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">exhibits</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">focused</span> on various tribe's from Mexico to the Arctic. And then, on my rounding of a corner I actually found an exhibit on my tribe, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Yu'pik's</span>!!!!! It was a fantastic surprise. I took picture's of every square inch of it and read (and tried to soak in) some of the dialect for their words and traditions. There were really cool snow suit's and snow shoes worthy of only the finest <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Eskimo's</span> :) After I left the exhibit I found a few more pieces of art that were created by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Yu'pik</span> artist's. And I would've been content ending the day with that.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9QdOjFL1I/AAAAAAAAAGg/GHsO9R5art8/s1600-h/DSCF0585.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9QdOjFL1I/AAAAAAAAAGg/GHsO9R5art8/s400/DSCF0585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377104943155326802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9QdmOmJtI/AAAAAAAAAGo/NYWXbaSMiwM/s1600-h/DSCF0663.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9QdmOmJtI/AAAAAAAAAGo/NYWXbaSMiwM/s400/DSCF0663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377104949511857874" border="0" /></a>But of course, there is much too much to be seen and done in our nation's capitol! My other roommate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Mariah</span> flew in today with the rest of our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Bremerton</span> Oxford crew that will be attending the conference. Their arrival put our group number to 13!!!! So we had to go out and do more exploring. It was so much fun running around the city in a group as large as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">our's</span> and the chaos and excitement was aplenty!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9QePE8z8I/AAAAAAAAAGw/7dBnfrjgwG8/s1600-h/DSCF0669.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9QePE8z8I/AAAAAAAAAGw/7dBnfrjgwG8/s400/DSCF0669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377104960477253570" border="0" /></a>We almost made it on a double <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">decker</span> night tour, but unfortunately it didn't work out with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">timeing</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">everyone's</span> flight. So we decided to hop on the metro instead and go check out the Lincoln Memorial. After all the walking I had already done today, I knew my feet weren't going to like me for this one. But on the subway I felt it was all worth it when a D.C. native informed us that tonight was going to be one of the best nights of the year to check it out, as the weather is perfect and not too humid. We had to walk through George Washington University from metro to the memorial and it was interesting to see a different kind of college then I'm used to (Western or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">UW</span>) When we finally arrived at the memorial the first thing I gawked at was the view of the National Monument with the Capitol Building behind it and that whole skyline bouncing off the reflecting pool. What a sight, to say the very least. Then when I turned around, the Lincoln Memorial was even bigger than I was expecting and it looked so glorifying even at the bottom of the hundred steps it took to get up. It was very quiet and respectful once you finally got up top and I kept thinking how everything in this city is so much more gargantuan than I could even fathom in my own imagination.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9STG4pkqI/AAAAAAAAAG4/V--7ri8RH_s/s1600-h/DSCF0685.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9STG4pkqI/AAAAAAAAAG4/V--7ri8RH_s/s400/DSCF0685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377106968322871970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9STqFh5oI/AAAAAAAAAHA/DjFaBrw863M/s1600-h/DSCF0704.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9STqFh5oI/AAAAAAAAAHA/DjFaBrw863M/s400/DSCF0704.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377106977772136066" border="0" /></a>I'll bet you think that was when we headed home, right? NOPE. We then went and checked out the Korean War memorial, which was one of the most hair raising experiences I've had yet. As we walked down the dark pathway way all we could hear was a peaceful echo of thousands of crickets in the bushes and trees all around. It was the most somber melody for the view's of these soldier's barely glowing in the darkness. All of the face's on the soldier's looked tired, scared or sad. Ricky said, and I must agree that they really appeared to be ghost's rising from the ground. Behind these silhouette's was a long wall with picture's of many different soldier's etched into them. It was crazy how clear their face's were for being carved out of stone.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9SUBDUclI/AAAAAAAAAHI/yeZ_R3aN4WM/s1600-h/DSCF0732.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9SUBDUclI/AAAAAAAAAHI/yeZ_R3aN4WM/s400/DSCF0732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377106983936881234" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9SUjtAiNI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/GHRGnfXO0hw/s1600-h/DSCF0738.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp9SUjtAiNI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/GHRGnfXO0hw/s400/DSCF0738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377106993238542546" border="0" /></a>After touring all this, I really didn't think I could handle more than the mile walk it was going to take to get back to Metro and then home. So 6 of us split up fro the other 7--4 of us headed to our hotel at the Mayflower and Charlie and Tammy Jo came along with us until we had to take opposite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">train's</span>, as they were going to the Hyatt. Until my delirium set in tonight, I have done amazingly well navigating public transit (and as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">alot</span> of you know from my past adventures this is kind of a big deal) But yes TONIGHT was a little different. I pointed Charlie and Tammy Jo in the direction of their platform and we walked towards ours. It wasn't until 2 stops after we had boarded that we realized we were headed the wrong direction-- and so were our 2 friends who were riding the metro for the first time and had no idea where they were or what to do!!!! Furthermore, there is--believe it or not--no cell phone service while underground (besides Verizon which Charlie has but I do not) so i was literally chewing my cheek off from the moment we switched trains and finally reached high ground. They had realized there was a problem very shortly before I called them. And then go figure, the train they boarded next broke down. But hey guy's, really though, don't mind me, I am just here to make everyone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">else's</span> life just a little more complicated. Or I prefer to say-- eventful :-D<br /><br />Well that is all for now, I don't think I can keep my eye's open for even 5 more minutes. In closing, I just want to reiterate how fabulous my life has become in 8 short months, and I can't wait for what is around the next bend! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">XOXO</span>Melanie Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610044274762153103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37279541132862098.post-36054008923937248952009-09-01T19:55:00.000-07:002009-09-01T21:23:03.347-07:00If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.~~John F. KennedyToday has been jam-packed, and so worth every blister on my feet :) I started the day with taking the subway all by myself (just like a big girl) to meet up with Ricky, Thea, Rick and Marty at the Oxford House, Inc. headquarters. Melissa has an uncle in the area that she hasn't seen since she was 5, so he picked her up from our hotel and they went and did their own thing. Public transit I must say is SOOOOO much better than any other metropolitan area that I have attempted to navigate. I already feel like I can navigate the subway with ease... for the most part ;-D. Anyways-- at the office I was given a tour by a really nice lady who has been working for Oxford for quite a while. She received the position when she was 3 months clean, not even knowing the company she would be working for, or what it was all about. If that's not a god shot, I don't know what is!! Once I had a quick run-through, everyone in the office was leaving to go set up for our conference so we decided it was sightseeing time. We picked up 2 more members to our 'crew' at the office's-- they were from Texas.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3ms_GXGHI/AAAAAAAAADQ/nMDxjaiiQ-A/s1600-h/DSCF0423.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3ms_GXGHI/AAAAAAAAADQ/nMDxjaiiQ-A/s400/DSCF0423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376707190676985970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3rFvkVJFI/AAAAAAAAADw/V8HzOENv-X4/s1600-h/DSCF0425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3rFvkVJFI/AAAAAAAAADw/V8HzOENv-X4/s400/DSCF0425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376712014050960466" border="0" /></a>One thing I thought was really cool while riding Metro was that in some tunnels--between stops--there would be fluorescent posters covering the entire walls that were posted side by side to eachother. With the train whooshing by these sets of graphic's it would appear as a quick video-- like a commercial, for whatever was being advertised. When I first saw them I thought the window's had turned into t.v. screens.... what a trip!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3mtcXUjCI/AAAAAAAAADY/_b4cdgPUpJk/s1600-h/DSCF0428.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3mtcXUjCI/AAAAAAAAADY/_b4cdgPUpJk/s400/DSCF0428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376707198532750370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3mtxvHrhI/AAAAAAAAADg/qCEBWmHqsOM/s1600-h/DSCF0429.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3mtxvHrhI/AAAAAAAAADg/qCEBWmHqsOM/s400/DSCF0429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376707204269714962" border="0" /></a>Our first stop was Chinatown--And Thea and I have both agreed that we will probably be going back before the end of our vacay. We stopped in for some Dim Sum at Tony Cheng's.... and I allowed Thea order everything for us and I would try everything at least once before I passed food critic judgement. There were some very interesting foreign dishes sitting in front of me. Some of the things I could stomach, and some of them I couldn't. I found that if the texture was odd for me, then no matter what the taste, it just didn't feel right when I swallowed. When we left there I introduced Rick and Ricky to Thai Coffee, where we got some to-go. It was delicious and perfect for while we were walking in the sun.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3rGraqSCI/AAAAAAAAAEA/jz9vfMwIyXU/s1600-h/DSCF0442.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3rGraqSCI/AAAAAAAAAEA/jz9vfMwIyXU/s400/DSCF0442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376712030116530210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3muQceMTI/AAAAAAAAADo/WGiNDEag964/s1600-h/DSCF0434.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3muQceMTI/AAAAAAAAADo/WGiNDEag964/s400/DSCF0434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376707212512997682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3rGH6pWhI/AAAAAAAAAD4/805tqXK3jwE/s1600-h/DSCF0440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3rGH6pWhI/AAAAAAAAAD4/805tqXK3jwE/s400/DSCF0440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376712020587010578" border="0" /></a>Everyone decided they wanted to go walk "the mall" next. So that was where we headed. We got off at the famous "Union Station" which is right down the road from the hotel our convention is at-- and where I will be moving on Thursday night. Union Station was beautiful inside and out, with more statues and carvings then I could've imagined.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3rIRBf0SI/AAAAAAAAAEI/kY6kOrExBCI/s1600-h/DSCF0490.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3rIRBf0SI/AAAAAAAAAEI/kY6kOrExBCI/s400/DSCF0490.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376712057391403298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3rI6NoKxI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/xB8sDz5-4JA/s1600-h/DSCF0448.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3rI6NoKxI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/xB8sDz5-4JA/s400/DSCF0448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376712068448135954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3ulPj0MPI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Nj4B06yAgg8/s1600-h/DSCF0456.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3ulPj0MPI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Nj4B06yAgg8/s400/DSCF0456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376715853749563634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3ukqJTJ1I/AAAAAAAAAEg/Ph6JauOP8aw/s1600-h/DSCF0452.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3ukqJTJ1I/AAAAAAAAAEg/Ph6JauOP8aw/s400/DSCF0452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376715843706234706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3ukL3x3uI/AAAAAAAAAEY/60qijuzM_qQ/s1600-h/DSCF0462.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3ukL3x3uI/AAAAAAAAAEY/60qijuzM_qQ/s400/DSCF0462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376715835579686626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3uljvE1SI/AAAAAAAAAEw/ZVMGoEIU1T0/s1600-h/DSCF0471.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3uljvE1SI/AAAAAAAAAEw/ZVMGoEIU1T0/s400/DSCF0471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376715859165500706" border="0" /></a>We stopped in at their hotel first, which was on the way to "the mall", because Ricky's sandal had broken and he was walking with one bare foot. While we were in the hotel I mentioned that "hey at least where we're going there will be plenty of new flip-flop's for you to buy" when everyone turned and looked at me like I was crazy. They asked if I realized that we weren't going to a shopping mall.... but rather the mall that is the big grass field and dirt track that stretches 2 miles between the Capitol Building and The Washington Monument. LOL...... soooooo this is what I was referring to in my Day 2 blog.... and I informed them that I most definitely knew what they were talking about NOW. So out we walked towards these landmarks. We found the Capitol Building first and it was stunning, so huge and vivid! I took plenty of pictures and then of course I couldn't resist snapping some picture's of the guards with the huge machine guns... my favorite shot is where the guard with the gun half his body length is holding a bag of food and munching on it... our tax dollars hard at work :) I proceeded to snap as many picture's as I could until all of a sudden the camera screen went black. I couldn't get it to turn back on. So my natural response was that I was out of batteries.... and had a momentary mental breakdown! There was still so much to see and I couldn't document any of it!! (As a side note I would like to inform you how pathetic this situation really was-- After purchasing more batteries from the first store I found which was nowhere near the great scenery I discovered that the batteries had been fine... I had accidentally changed the camera view to the little lens instead of the video screen. DOH)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3umBsF0GI/AAAAAAAAAE4/fJ3Sb__Ltkk/s1600-h/DSCF0475.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3umBsF0GI/AAAAAAAAAE4/fJ3Sb__Ltkk/s400/DSCF0475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376715867206045794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3yFouAV6I/AAAAAAAAAFA/JCTjioV1_sw/s1600-h/DSCF0483.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3yFouAV6I/AAAAAAAAAFA/JCTjioV1_sw/s400/DSCF0483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376719708793886626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3y7C-zwcI/AAAAAAAAAFg/5FqoqEW2o3E/s1600-h/DSCF0484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3y7C-zwcI/AAAAAAAAAFg/5FqoqEW2o3E/s400/DSCF0484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376720626376753602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3yHJRVRDI/AAAAAAAAAFY/-wIFVlhjbYo/s1600-h/DSCF0486.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3yHJRVRDI/AAAAAAAAAFY/-wIFVlhjbYo/s400/DSCF0486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376719734711862322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3yGj85GeI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/4g8O2g4cVYk/s1600-h/DSCF0488.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Sp3yGj85GeI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/4g8O2g4cVYk/s400/DSCF0488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376719724694018530" border="0" /></a>The rest of the day went "unpictured" and I had to dip out from sightseeing early for a little job interview business. I wasn't home for more than and hour and half before I set back out on Metro to meet up with the gang at the Hyatt. We ate at Billy Goat's Tavern and Grill since it was one of the only open places by the hotel. And now I am trying to nurse my feet and legs back to life. I look forward to another exciting day tomorrow. I feel like I have cut a lot of this short, but there is just not enough time in my day to sightsee AND blog as in detail as I would prefer.<br /><br />love and miss u all. XOXOMelanie Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610044274762153103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37279541132862098.post-62702948000823553332009-08-31T19:37:00.000-07:002009-08-31T19:55:45.891-07:00Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings. ~Heinrich Heine, Almansor, 1823What a moving day! We began by taking the underground transit to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. It was interesting, to say the least, trying to figure out how to purchase our fare and also how much fare we needed. After talking to the information desk we found our way to the right train and were off.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyHYsi879I/AAAAAAAAACY/mOURvbQqvn8/s1600-h/DSCF0377.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyHYsi879I/AAAAAAAAACY/mOURvbQqvn8/s400/DSCF0377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376320913517899730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyHY7soZQI/AAAAAAAAACg/yFpfuhkXe3M/s1600-h/DSCF0380.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyHY7soZQI/AAAAAAAAACg/yFpfuhkXe3M/s400/DSCF0380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376320917585028354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Holocaust Museum was very interesting, we toured every room and every floor, starting the with the basement. Nazi Propaganda was the focus on that floor, and I snapped a few pictures before a security guard, who might I add looked a lot like he was right out of "Men In Black" , informed me that picture taking inside the exhibits was not allowed. :'( OOPS. Anyways it was very interesting reading about the Nazi Party's rise to power and then their systematic time line of slowly taking away rights all the way up from antisemitic laws, burning of semitic literature (if you notice my quote at the beginning of this blog) and how displacing their businesses & homes, & burning their synagogues was not protested by the main population, and why/how the ghetto's, concentration camps and extermination was not only covered up, but the 'rumors' of such actually helped the Nazi Party by their ability to deny such thing and blame those at war with them for the 'rumors'. And that was just in depth for that part of the museum, so you can imagine how interesting touring the whole place was. One thing I would like to mention though, as it sent chill's down my spine, was while reading in the exhibit that one of the first step's the Nazi Party took to make the people believe Jews were a lesser race was by making marriage between a German and a Jew ILLEGAL. I think you can guess where I am going with this... and no I am not trying to imply that our country is headed for genocide, I just feel very sad that there are so many in this free country that have the same prejudice placed upon them because of other people's beliefs (which are mainly based on religion, not race like Hitler's motive's were). Moving right along..... the rest of the exhibits we visited were Daniel's Story (which we realized was more geared towards little children LOL), the special exhibit which was 4 floors of pictures (some very very graphic pictures, artifacts and an exhibit aimed at Darfur and how we can prevent current and future genocide. There was also a huge beautiful white marble room with black walls and white candles which we could light in remembrance of the 6 million lives lost. The concentration camp names were at the top of these walls. Lighting a few of these candles was my favorite memory. Another thing I will never forget was walking through a room on a bridge with a sea of shoes on both sides of us--- the only thing left of people before they were exterminated. The dusty, old and musty stench was overpowering and I swear I could still smell the blood, sweat and tears.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyHZQuEdNI/AAAAAAAAACo/5gFp4CX9Z7c/s1600-h/DSCF0382.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyHZQuEdNI/AAAAAAAAACo/5gFp4CX9Z7c/s400/DSCF0382.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376320923228206290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyHZrW3M9I/AAAAAAAAACw/1ewztCFOJMw/s1600-h/DSCF0388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyHZrW3M9I/AAAAAAAAACw/1ewztCFOJMw/s400/DSCF0388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376320930378626002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyIlUWxvSI/AAAAAAAAAC4/20QkoCWKCek/s1600-h/DSCF0399.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyIlUWxvSI/AAAAAAAAAC4/20QkoCWKCek/s400/DSCF0399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376322229874310434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyImTa9PFI/AAAAAAAAADI/73l7LSBcZ7U/s1600-h/DSCF0402.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyImTa9PFI/AAAAAAAAADI/73l7LSBcZ7U/s400/DSCF0402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376322246803274834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyIl9y_D1I/AAAAAAAAADA/7yx9wDxeFzQ/s1600-h/DSCF0401.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyIl9y_D1I/AAAAAAAAADA/7yx9wDxeFzQ/s400/DSCF0401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376322240998477650" border="0" /></a><br />We decided just to walk around once we left the H.M. and headed in a direction that felt right.... haha total tourist's. As we walked we found a great t-shirt deal from a street vendor and then came across a beautiful garden and red brick castle building that turned out to be the Smithsonian information center. We checked it out a little and continued on. I noticed a huge green field, with dirt paths on either side (more like the size of a road) next to us as we walked and thought about how it was quite a large track. It was separated by a street that we turned on and as we got down the middle of it I was dumbfounded by the sight I saw to the right of me. Capitol Hill was huge and dead center like a perfect postcard. When I exclaimed "Look at that view, can you believe it!?!" Melissa replied "Wait til you look to your Left" and again I gasped at the perfect unobstructed view down the grass at the Washington Monument. We were right between the 2. I realized I was standing dead center in what I was familiar with looking at when there are crowds of hundreds of thousands of people during national celebrations broadcasted on t.v. or reenacted in movies. INCREDIBLE.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyFimGEsYI/AAAAAAAAACI/ZpbE7DaJRhE/s1600-h/DSCF0408.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyFimGEsYI/AAAAAAAAACI/ZpbE7DaJRhE/s400/DSCF0408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376318884561596802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyFiMUOzCI/AAAAAAAAACA/25HjXXFNbDI/s1600-h/DSCF0416.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyFiMUOzCI/AAAAAAAAACA/25HjXXFNbDI/s400/DSCF0416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376318877641657378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyFhE_ir_I/AAAAAAAAABw/WN8w_g3SHMU/s1600-h/DSCF0421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyFhE_ir_I/AAAAAAAAABw/WN8w_g3SHMU/s400/DSCF0421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376318858495963122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyFhxLq6UI/AAAAAAAAAB4/Vyu_ThHuGX4/s1600-h/DSCF0417.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyFhxLq6UI/AAAAAAAAAB4/Vyu_ThHuGX4/s400/DSCF0417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376318870357993794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyFgxpYZRI/AAAAAAAAABo/l1fpM9-T_Fw/s1600-h/DSCF0419.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpyFgxpYZRI/AAAAAAAAABo/l1fpM9-T_Fw/s400/DSCF0419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376318853302740242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After we stopped at a food court, and both ended up with Gyro's and fries from opposite sides of the eating area (LOL) and purchased some more D.C. souvenir's we found us another underground metro station and began the search for our train. Did I mention it was rush hour--5:15 and it was jam-packed? When our train pulled in and emptied I couldn't believe how many people got off, it didn't even look like the train could fit that many bodies. Even crazier was how many of us were trying to get back on. When we finally got to the door (after a ton of people preceded us) Melissa stepped on first and as she turned around and I stepped on she grabbed my arm and quickly pulled me in--- I didn't understand what was going on until I heard the whoosh and slam---- the doors would've closed on my hair they were so quick... and the only thing that stopped them was an old ladie's cane which then got stuck.... I scrambled to get it free, convinced I was about to watch a tragedy and they suddenly burst open for her and we hurried her on. PHEW. Have I mentioned how stressed out public transit makes me?<br /><br />I was eager to make it to an AA meeting out here so we found one like 10 blocks away that started at 8:30. We got there right at 8:30, though we left with plenty of time, but we got lost a couple times from bad directions and in my opinion bad street signs. The meeting was really good, and it was interesting to see how things are done a little differently, at least at this meeting. For example, when reading how it works EVERYONE in the room recites the steps with the reader, which kind of made Melissa and I giggle because everyone is doing it at their own pace so we kept getting screwed up and leaving words out. Then they never read the traditions. Halfway through the meeting when they sent the basket around was when they did coins and asked if there was anyone that was new. But their stories were all the same.... they used to make poor choices and since they came into the program they have the choice to make better ones, and their lives are better because of it. We felt right at home, and the meeting was full of laughter.<br /><br />All in all today was an amazing day, and I am pleased that I committed to blogging about it, so that I will remember it vividly years from now. I wish all you westerners well and hope things are sunny for you!! That's all for now..... xoxoMelanie Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610044274762153103noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37279541132862098.post-42409755027779558542009-08-30T16:59:00.000-07:002009-08-31T08:06:37.934-07:00WA D.C. DAY 1~~ I've never been a fan of the travelling, but the "Being In ___" rocks :)Hi all! I told you I would be keeping you updated on all the D.C. dish, and here I am reporting to you on day 1. Nothing to over exciting will be reported on this day, beyond the fact that I'M ON VACAY AND AM FINALLY VISITING THE NORTHEAST FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!<br /><br />Today has been an exhausting day, but how lucky am I to say that I am exhausted from flying across the country!! Melissa and I left our house at 2:50 am and were at Sea-Tac with plenty of time to spare. Let's just say that Melissa likes to live by my one of my dear Grandma Flo's unwavering principles of life: HURRY UP AND WAIT. Hehe.<br /><br />Anyways, we waited at the airport for a few torturous hours, and I say torturous for a few reasons.... A) We did not power nap before we headed out B) while attempting to sleep we regretted not packing a mini pillow for each of us, it was as cold as an igloo in terminal A14. C) the anxiety of boarding a plane would not desist and I kept thinking about all the dismal ways the plane could go down after we were miles in the sky. We were, after all, flying into the nation's capital, something that in my mind could be a probable target for... well er... terrorists I woke up in fetal position shaking and feeling cooky, to a phone call from my mom whose voice quickly put me at ease and who agreed that it might be a good idea to purchase a travel blanket/pillow before the flight. Check and Check.<br /><br />Our flight made a stop in Atlanta and the proceeded to D.C. This is all so surreal to me still that it really did not hit me how far from home I really was until we stepped outside with our luggage and the fabulous eastern air hit us, and I could taste the heat and humidity on my tongue. What an amazing feeling.<br /><br />As the taxi drove us to our downtown hotel we passed the Lincoln Memorial and so many other famous monuments. Such amazing sights for the first time.... and for some reason the first thing I thought of was Forrest Gump and Jenny running through the water at the peace rally screaming "FORREST!!! FORREST!!!" LOL'Z :)<br /><br />We are staying at the Renaissance Mayflower hotel, and for an el-cheapo pricelined hotel room, what a luxurious and glamourous building! It is totally RenaissanceISH with marble floors and walls, golden carved trim and angelic statues. Our room is to die for... perfect for the princess's that we are :)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Spvla2O4wxI/AAAAAAAAABg/4hBNpwEYqgY/s1600-h/DSCF0368.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/Spvla2O4wxI/AAAAAAAAABg/4hBNpwEYqgY/s320/DSCF0368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376142829594133266" border="0" /></a> COMFORTABLE beds :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpvlaXnSEcI/AAAAAAAAABY/Z_V3qez7dDs/s1600-h/DSCF0365.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpvlaXnSEcI/AAAAAAAAABY/Z_V3qez7dDs/s320/DSCF0365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376142821374955970" border="0" /></a> The HUGE mirror in our room<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpvlZ3xZceI/AAAAAAAAABQ/NxN_lICo1qA/s1600-h/DSCF0364.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpvlZ3xZceI/AAAAAAAAABQ/NxN_lICo1qA/s320/DSCF0364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376142812827447778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpvlZqmZzVI/AAAAAAAAABI/wL0mBpIgZUU/s1600-h/DSCF0376.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpvlZqmZzVI/AAAAAAAAABI/wL0mBpIgZUU/s320/DSCF0376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376142809291672914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpvkJj07lcI/AAAAAAAAAA4/WtQEv43qZbQ/s1600-h/DSCF0374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpvkJj07lcI/AAAAAAAAAA4/WtQEv43qZbQ/s320/DSCF0374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376141433084024258" border="0" /></a> Lobby<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpvkI7fSJ_I/AAAAAAAAAAw/YsuhgG0oShE/s1600-h/DSCF0370.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR_npUW71Lw/SpvkI7fSJ_I/AAAAAAAAAAw/YsuhgG0oShE/s320/DSCF0370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376141422255810546" border="0" /></a> More Lobby<br /><br /><br />Since exhaustion has completely set in and we are now 3 hours ahead of our usual standard time, we've decided to make it a very early night and only venture as far out of our room as the 3 blocks it took to find some Thai food. DEEELISH. Anyways, hope you enjoyed the few pic's of our hotel and our crazy self's after a day filled with excitement, anxiety, independence and GRATITUDE. Tomorrow Melissa and I will be checking out the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, which I know will be very emotional but well worth it. Then tomorrow evening my friends Thea, Ricky, Rick and Marty will be arriving as well.<br /><br />I love all of you, am missin my roomies (and Lauren) dearly and LOVE MY LIFE TODAY! XOXOMelanie Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610044274762153103noreply@blogger.com2