Onto the Kennedy Center

Thursday dawned bright, and cold, and wintry with the snow from Monday still clinging to trees, rooftops, and heaped in the shady spots where the sun never looks all winter long. After breakfasting on granola, raisons, and walnuts we stocked up on provisions and headed out into the dazzling morning sunshine.

Our first stop was the Washington D.C. Convention Center so I could check my email and we could wander the exhibit hall for freebies that many of the companies use to entice folks to their booths. This was scheduled to be a brief stop as we were both eager to head back down to the ellipse and check out some of the memorials. However, I ran into several people I knew from workshops and presentations and of course it took far longer than anticipated to peruse the exhibit hall and mine all the freebies we could.

Thinking it best to fortify ourselves with a bit of lunch before wandering the National Mall area we stopped at a little shop I knew of that had excellent pizza at a reasonable price. It wasn’t until we were heading south on 14th Street that the wisdom of hauling two gaudy handle bags (a free give away), all over downtown D.C. filled with conference goodies was not the wisest of ideas. So we consolidated, donated, and disposed of heavy catalogues we didn’t realize had been stuffed in our sacks, and continued on our way.


Although it was now after one and we were still hoping to walk to the Kennedy center before darkness fell (yes were quite silly) we decided to stop for a “quick look” at the National Archives. Once inside the building and gazing at the overwhelming amount of possibilities I realized that place could swallow me whole and keep me satiated in information for months. We did our best to cruise through it and still pause for gleaming some information. Fortunately it was an off day and it was very quiet. There was no line as we strode right up to the Declaration of Independence and gazed down at the entombed document. It was a very solemn atmosphere in that grand, marble rotunda.


After reentering the realm of sunshine, traffic, and tourists we crossed Constitution Ave and meandered through the National Sculpture Garden and happened upon the ice rink. There were a number of couples gliding effortlessly across the ice as well as several children frolicking about, their shouts of joy echoing through the Sculpture Gardens. Although I wanted to visit the National Air and Space Museum time was limited and instead we decided to spend some time in the National Museum of African Art. It was such a relaxing, relief to sit by the gorgeous fountain and let the soothing, hypnotic sound of water refill our energy reservoir before bracing ourselves for the trek to the Kennedy Center.

Then first sign that our plan to walk over to the Kennedy Center was in trouble was when we asked the guard at the National Museum of African Art what direction we needed to head in order to walk to the Kennedy Center. After nearly choking on a swig of coffee she did a double-take, “What did you say?” she spluttered. After listening to our explanation again she just shook her head, “Honey, that aint no place to try and walk to from here. It’s way too far, especially in this cold weather.” Instead she gave us instructions to the nearest Metro subway station and assured us that one of the workers at the ticket booths would help us.

Undaunted we thanked her and headed out into the cold and turned toward where we thought the Kennedy Center must be. However, between how heavy my backpack was, how sore our blistered feet were, and how unwieldy our handle bag was the realization hit that it was time to reevaluate this brave but misguided plan. Besides, we really had no idea where the hell we were going. Instead we backtracked to the nearest Metro, got some help from several people and soon were rolling along on the underground headed for Foggy Bottom Station and the free shuttle to the Kennedy Center. We arrived so early that there was ample time to tour the facilities at our leisure, devour our meager provisions, and watch the patrons stroll by garbed in mink coats, 3-piece Gucci suits, and enough jewelry to pay off the mortgage for our home. Not all the patrons were so dressed up. There were some who had on jeans or like us just a comfortable and warm pair of pants and simple sweater.


The concert was fantastic! Hearing the National Symphony play Christmas music was like hearing these favorite tunes for the first time. The Conductor was humorous and entertaining as he paused the music to interact with children in the audience and did a few bits with Santa, who by the way had the most incredible baritone voice that boomed out across the hall. We left with a candy cane in hand and the words of Silent Night still fresh on our tongue.

Good fortune was with us as another NAEYC Conference attendee noticed my gaudy handle bag and offered to share a cab back to the hotel and then she and her husband invited us to join them for a late night dining experience. The midnight hour was expiring before our cab dropped us off at our humble digs at the Super 8, but it was another memorable day in D.C. that would live with us for a lifetime.

As always thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Next time I hope to wrap up our visit to D.C. and share our journey south into Virginia and onto the historic grounds of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Until then be well, achieve excellence, and take care of each other… it’s the fabric of society.




“Curiosity is on of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.”
-Samuel Johnson

Holocaust Museum

During our last visit to Washington D.C., also for a NAEYC conference, my love took our two youngest children to the newly dedicated Holocaust Museum while I attended workshops all day. It was such a moving experience that this visit I wanted to make the stopover and my love was willing to return and further investigate the museum. This time our children were at home allowing us to investigate the confines of museums and art galleries unhindered by cries of “Can we go now?” or “What’s next?” Although my love insisted that both children were quite cooperative and our daughter especially enjoys a casual pace when exploring museums and galleries taking time to read many of the displays and fine print posters.

Despite December being the off season for tourists visiting the D.C. area I took no chances and went online to secure some tickets for touring the Holocaust Museum on Tuesday. Sunshine and a mottled blue sky met us as we exited our hotel room and headed out for the day’s adventure. After a stop at Mc D’s for coffee and a breakfast biscuit we made our way to the convention center and then on toward the oblisque and Capital Mall area where we hoped to locate the Holocaust Museum with ease. With camera in hand we passed building after building rich with Roman and Early American design. Despite wanting to “blend in” and not look like a tourist I had to stop several times to photograph some interesting buildings. If I lived in the area I’m sure I’d be doing a more thorough study of many downtown D.C, buildings. There was barely a street corner that didn’t have an old church or Greco-Roman columns stretching skyward creating an inviting, majestic entry into a bank, church, or government building.

My heart leapt as we turned a corner and caught sight of the granite face of the Washington Monument slicing through the morning sky. Several times I had to stop and gaze up at the obelisque as it rose surrounded by the snowy grounds as people from all walks of lives rushed passed me. With only one detour to get reoriented we found our way to Holocaust Museum and made our way past the guards and metal detectors. With tickets and guidebooks in hand we decided to visit the exhibit called “Daniel’s Story” first. This exhibit gave us a view of the Holocaust from a child’s standpoint. As I watched the transformation of this child’s life from his simple home in Poland to the ghetto’s of Warsaw and eventually the barbed wired horrors of a concentration camp, I could see why this display freaked out my then fourteen year old son when he visited it with my love.

All in all we spent over four hours pouring through the display information, watching the videos, walking past countless movie, photographic, and written records of unthinkable atrocities that were conducted in the name of national security, purity of race, and world dominance. Over and over again I asked myself “How could this have been allowed to happen? Why was there no public and political outcry?” But of course we al know that despite the pledge to never let this atrocity happen again it has and continues to occur throughout the world. It was a quiet and somber atmosphere as even the children felt the impact of this place.


Getting out into the sunshine and splendor of our nation’s capital lightened our spirits considerably. I made my love stop several times to photograph me with the majestic Washington Monument climbing the late afternoon sky in the background. Daylight doesn’t last long in these short December days so we reluctantly made our way back up 14th Avenue, caught New York Ave and headed back to our hotel room before night descended altogether. Even as strolled the downtown streets I couldn’t help marveling at the varied architecture of the city. Truly I could wander those streets for weeks studying the history of the buildings alone… never mind their content!

Eventually we found our way past the row houses, several twinkling with holiday décor, and then on past the neighborhood McDonalds and the corner liquor and grocery store. Soon we were snug inside our hotel room, releasing tired toes from cramped quarters and feasting on canned turkey sandwiches and canned mandarin oranges with walnuts and raisons for dessert. What more can one ask for after a long day immersed in the images and stories of concentration camps of Nazi Germany and then the winding trek back home. Despite our best efforts to remain conscious for the late evening news and weather report, local news comes on at 9 & 10 p.m. at home, we were soon slumped over and snoring through all the latest in murders, fires, bank robberies, and scandals… seems like the fare for news be it MN or DC. It mattered not to our exhausted minds and bodies what the news told… we were lost in our own dreams and nightmares. I seem to remember dreaming that night of being caught in the snare of Nazi Germany, and ever being chased toward one horror or another. Fortunate for me, I was able to waken from MY nightmare.


Next, a tale of visiting the Kennedy Center and our foolish notion of being able to walk there from our hotel. That must wait for another day. Until then thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. Be well. Achieve excellence. Take care of each other… the alternative must never be lived again.

“Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.”
-Buddah

I have recently returned from presenting at the NAEYC Conference in Washington DC. During the next few posts I'll share a little of my trip with you dear reader. Hope you enjoy.

Our journey began early Monday morning as the city stretched and shivered in the -9 F subzero temps of a Minnesota morning. My love and I had been up late the night before putting the finishing touches on packing and preparing the feline clan for our extended absence. Now it was time to head out to the airport as the hour neared 6:30. We left our vehicles at our daughter & son-in-law's flight training business adjacent to the main terminal. After a flawless check in and making it safely through airport security, armed guards of ANY kind make me very jittery, we were soon soaring over the stark, whitewashed landscape of western MN and heading for our nation's capital!

Upon disembarking the plane in DC we were welcomed by snow and chill wintry air that turns the nose red and cheeks rosy. What a stark contrast from last year’s NAEYC conference in sunny, warm Anaheim, CA. Today we arrived on a gloomy overcast December day just as snow began filtering through a grey D.C. sky. By the time we hailed a cab snow was swirling around us. As our cab pulled into the Super 8 Motel at 501 New York Ave the grass was white with Washington D.C’s first snowfall.

Once settling into our room and getting our bearings my love and I hit the pavement to explore the neighborhood. Our main destination on this snowy Monday afternoon was to locate the D.C. Convention Center where my workshops would be. Despite his laid-back, lackluster attitude the desk clerk at the Super 8 expressed concern and caution when we inquired how far it was to the convention center. “Oh very far, VERY FAR!" he assured us in a thick Hindu accent. “It is a mile or more, 10 blocks maybe. I call you a cab?” We thanked him but indicated we felt capable of walking the ten blocks. As if speaking to a child he pointed out the frosted window. “It is... s n o w i n g... (he said this rather slowly as if perhaps we didn’t understand the implication of this) VERY cold.” He mimed shivering and pointed to the phone again, “I call you a cab.” It was more of a statement than a question but again we refused and insisted that in MN folks are used to much worse. Actually when we left our dear home early that morning it was -9 F and the 27 degree weather of D.C. was a welcome warming trend.

Thus we departed the Super 8 leaving the desk clerk shaking his head and wondering what he would do with our many belongings once we were discovered frozen stiff in a snowbank the next morning. After crossing a bridge that spanned numerous tracks for both passenger and freight trains we strolled past several blocks of brightly painted row-houses, many with gates and fences as well as metal bars and gridwork ornamenting the ground floor windows. Soon our winter coats were soaked from the wet snowfall and my love’s hair glistened with a white layer of snow. It was a straight shot down New York Avenue to the convention center, and we covered the twelve blocks in about twenty minutes. We resisted the temptation to venture further into the confines of D.C’s downtown as night was descending, the snow continued to accumulate, and we feared getting totally tuned around and still wandering the city at midnight seeking refuge.



After catching a cup-o-java at the friendly neighborhood McDonalds we were safe and snug in our hotel room, shaking the snow from hat and hair as our jackets were laid out by the heat register to dry and be readied for tomorrow’s adventure.

As always thanks for stopping by and sharing a treasured comment. Come on by anytime, I'll leave a light on and set another spot at the table. Take care, achieve excellence, and take care of each other.

ANGER AND THE BRAIN

This is one of those deja-vu moments because in the last twenty minutes I have read two very captivating posts about anger. I urge and encourage you to please vist these blogs yourself to add your insight, it's valuable.

This first post is by Carley and is the first in a very intriguing series. Here's the link.

http://ellipsissuddenlycarly.blogspot.com/2005/11/after-exodusa-five-part-series-on_28.html

The second post is by a new j-land member whose journal is worthy of a read. Although the title is in Spanish this entry is in English. Please stop by and give him a read. This is a briefer post but very thought provoking.

http://journals.aol.com/lowatel/QuenosPasaPuertoRicoYoSe/#Entry190

So here is my take on anger relating to the research I have been doing on ADHD and the brain. I find the more knowledge I have of how the brain functions the more likely I can control events in my own life. NOT always... but sometimes.

Anger is often an emotion that walks hand-in-hand with ADHD... especially adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. I tend to agree with the theory that anger is a secondary emotion whose fire is fed by other emotions such as jealousy, envy, resentment, a sense of abandonment, a sense of betrayal.

Emotions are triggered in part by two small almond shaped glands, called the amygdala, that are seated at the base of the brain where all sensory input begins. The role of the amygdala is to constantly ask the question "Am I safe?" As sensory input enters the brain this gland scans the electrical impulses asking "Am I safe?" If the answer is "Yes, this experience poses no harm to me." Then the higher brain functions are allowed to kick in. But when danger is sensed, physical or emotional, the brain goes into a stress alert, the frontal cortex (higher reasoning, and thought processing) shuts down and the reptilian brain, much older and more instinctual takes over. A system under constant stress begins to creat stress hormones that cause a heightened sense of alert thus the FIGHT, FRIGHT, OR FLIGHT reaction. Research suggests that the longer these stress hormones remain, the more toxic they are to the brain, the more likely an emotion such as jealousy, regret, resentment, betrayal can turn to anger and rage.

When caught in the throes of anger the frontal cortex shows little neural activity… reasoning, time management, ability to objectively compare facts and even the ability to store and recall vital information becomes impaired. Hmm... I've been there. So damn pissed I lost track of time, reason, facts... and did things I'd later regret. The key is to recognize the triggers for anger and make every attempt to calm the amygdala and convince it that you are safe, the threat can be managed. How? Breathe deep and slow. Triggering the release of endorphins that quell the amygdala and shut down the release of stress hormones. Movement can activate motor memories and trigger neural activity in the frontal cortex. So... a little love making might work, take a run, walk briskly, etc... And "self talk"... talk the situation through, out loud if necessary as it will trigger further activity in frontal lobes and the language center.

Easier said than done though eh? Nuff said. Sorry bout the technical lingo, but this is a look at anger from the neuro science side of things…at least my take on it.

Be well. Acieve excellence. Take care of each other.


"Leave Everything a little better than you found it."
H. Jackson Brown Jr, Life's Little Instruction Book