DC Day 5

Today started out really interestingly. I met Jacob's mom for the first time! She is also a librarian, and is here for the conference, so he hooked us up via cell phone. We got breakfast at Old Ebbitt Grill which is only a block from my hotel. It was strange in that we obviously have so many connections but we don't know each other. The brunch was good (french toast with strawberries and blueberries, she had the strata) and we got along well. So yay for meeting your friends' parents without your friends actually being there.

Then I had to attend a committee meeting, my last required event for the conference. It wasn't so bad and I met Alycia's future coworker which was cool. I gave the new coworker the seal of approval and also told her how I give Alycia the seal of approval.

At noon the meeting was over and it marked me officially being FREE of the conference. I trekked over to the Library of Congress to take a tour. The tour guide sort of sucked (think typical old man docent), but you could only get into certain parts if you took the tour so I stuck it out just long enough to see those spots. Then I explored the rest on my own and bought Nate some super dorky gifts from the gift shop. I bought myself a series of magnets based on the building, since my fridge really needs magnets.

The afternoon was still pretty early so I decided to go to the National Air and Space Museum for a second. I went there as a child, but figured what the hell, may as well go again. I breezed through it fairly quickly and looked at the big space ships and planes without reading anything about them. I took lots of photos, including photos for other people. Apparently being alone makes you the ultimate target for being asked to take photos of families. The best family had this dad who framed the shot for me, informed me in very broken English how to get the ship in the shot, and then made me take a few all the while shouting "get the baby in the stroller!" When I was done, he checked my work for approval then let me go. Odd. And just like at the Library of Congress, I bought Nate more stupid gifts from here. I hope they make up for him dog sitting for a week. I also hope he chooses to keep some of them at my house because I could actually use what I got him.

At this point I was dripping in humidity and sweat, so I went back to my hotel to rest a bit and clean up. Then I met my two female cousins for dinner at this good pan-Asian place where I had my first bowl of vermicelli (bun) in probably 7 months. Mmmm I miss Vietnamese food. Finally we capped of the evening with drinks in Dupont Circle with some of my cousins college friends who are in town for a protest tomorrow.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Holocaust museum, then who knows. It's my last full day here, since my plane is leaving Wednesday early afternoon.

So far I haven't really missed Chicago or wanted to go back. This vacation is the perfect mix of work, friends, touring, and solitary time. It may be one of my best trips ever as a result. DC is very solo friendly and I don't feel uncomfortable touring things on my own. In fact, it makes life so much easier not having to pace myself in accordance with whomever is with me.