White House Gardens Tour

A couple of weekends ago, Chelle (you know, Mrs. Obama), invited me over to walk through the gardens around the White House.

OK, so it wasn't exactly a personal invite, but she probably read the letter welcoming me before she allowed someone to print her signature with it in the pamphlet I received. So, same thing.

It was amazing to get thisclose to the White House and see some of the iconic places like the Rose Garden, Jackson's magnolias, and the kitchen garden. It was a gorgeous fall day with sunshine and just enough of crispness in the air that it was nice in the sun.

On my way to the gardens, Chelle and Barry had to leave for the MLK dedication, so they left me to wonder within a well structured path lined with volunteers and armed guards. So warm and comforting.

Chelle and Barry whisking away to MLK

View from the Green Room: Washington Monument, National Christmas Tree, and fountain.

Knock knock

The not-so-full-of-roses-Rose Garden

I spy with my little eye a Monarch butterfly

Chelle's other hundred closest besties

Mama likes a spicy meat-a-ball

Gorge.

Like I said, flowers and automatic weapons.

Taste of DC

The Taste of DC is a three-day event that shuts down 4 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue and dedicates it to food, booze, and music. There are amazing treats, eats, bites, and tastes from hundreds of DC area eateries. Trust me. It's amazing.

Groupon is a co-sponsor, so through the magic of the internet, me and my friend Liz managed to score a great deal on tickets and admissions to the front row of Big & Rich concert and the Bier Garden. Knowing I'm not able to partake in beer, we didn't spend much time there.

Anyway, I thought that I would tell you about some of the eats hat I had. Well, really, I'll tell you that I had some chocolates, some pad thai, and the cream cheese frosting cap from a Sprinkles cupcake because the cake part was not their usual deliciousness, but what I really what to tell you about is the rice pudding.

Now, you make be, like me, thinking, "Ewwwww....tapicoca?" but you would be wrong. First, it's served warm. Second it's peanut butter flavored. That's right. It's like warm peanut butter yumminess. And this stuff was AMAZING. The best part? That wasn't even everything that he wanted to dress it with. He had run out of marshmallows to roast, chocolate sauce, and chocolate-covered bacon. You see, this wasn't just any rice pudding, the menu read: Peanut Butter S'more Rice Pudding with Chocolate-Covered Bacon. Seriously, just blogging about it makes my mouth water. Totally going to experience their whole menu at the restaurant. Even if it's just the dessert menu.

It's like spring break for foodies.

Big & Rich in the main stage.

Hard core hard cider [temporary] tat.

Since we're special, we scored full-size Sprinkles cupcakes for the price of the minis.

Cute little opening band.

Fall Kickball Season

We're already into Week 4 of DC Liberty Kickball, but seeing as I missed weeks 2 & 3 from illness and traveling, in that order, I'm really only behind by a week.

This season, the Declawed Kittens are forest green (not the best option) and confusing the hell out of the league. We are pretty well put together when it comes to fielding and batting, so we are presently a top-ranked team with a 3-0-1 record. Pretty awesome considering the season before, we eeked out a winning season and before that (and before me), they had only won one game.

But enough about the team. Let's talk about how I rocked it.

Last night was my first at-bat for the season. (Game 1 was due to time constraints and I was at the bottom of the order.) I was nervous that I would be in the middle of the order and really did not want to get out on my first at-bat since May. I didn't have to worry, though. I not only batted twice, I got on base twice! That's right. I'm batting a thousand. Oh, and I scored after my first at-bat. I'm kind of a rock star.

Now, I'm sure that you're thinking I have a little of an inflated ego, but let's be clear, I'm told so. How so? I was game co-MVP!!! That? Was also after I didn't field. I'm like the American League that pays a batter just to be a batter rather than get an all-around player like the National League. (Go Rockies.)

Now onto the grainy, bar-lit, cell phone picture portion of the post:

Post-win awesomeness

PIC - Season 2, with devil eyes in the background

Pre-game awesomeness. With a LivingSocial deal of $1 for $10 of food and drink during happy hour? OK!

What it looks like to get woken up by a bouncer when you can't hang post-kickball.

Redskins vs. Giants

Better late than never, so deal.

On Sunday, September 11, I went to the Washington Redskins game. They played the NY Giants. An epic match up for such a somber moment in American history. Not being a Redskins fan, but a fan of all things Manning brothers, I got myself a little red, white, and blue for the game.

Gen. Colin Powell was the coin tosser and there were a lot of first responders at the game to be honored.

I have some ponderings about Redskins football, though. They have a marching band and a fight song. I was not aware that teams past college had such traditions. Interesting to say the least.

Also, there's a guy in our section who smuggles in candy bars to throw up in the stands when the Redskins score. Kind of creepy when he's wearing sweatpants in 80 degrees and it's chocolate.

The whole crew at FedEx Field

Lounging in our combined tailgate with our new friends.

Who brings a wok to tailgate? This guy.

Staying cool in the white before game time.

Did not know that an NFL team had a marching band.

Ready to run out.

Amazing seats.

The flag as big as the field. 

All in all, a great start to the football season!

Adventures to Be Had...

...if I were in DC.

Will post soon about some of the random goings on in DC. This weekend is the Taste of DC, so I'll definitely let you know how it goes and the new found restaurants that we find!

Oh, and I'll update about my trip to the Redskins game against the NY Giants (I know, I know, it's from last month.)

Oh, and the start to the kickball season...once I've been to more than one game.