Yesterday Caroline and Edward had their first day of summer preschool. As anticipated Edward wrapped himself around my lungs and moaned, "Noooooo I don't yike summah precooool." If he had spent the early morning picking me wildflowers and tracing hearts onto my palm with his fat fingers I might have been moved to pity but in truth he had woken me up at six by flicking the back of my head and had not stopped complaining. After three hours of bitching at me I no longer care all that much what you do and or do not yike. It was only nine am and I was already sick to death of him. So I attempted to untangle him from my bra straps while explaining how! much! fun! it was going to be once I left and he said no no no no no. The teacher came over to introduce herself and asked who do we have here?
I said, "This is Edward."
Edward said, "No! I'm Evil Edward!" and then he uttered a decently villainous low-pitched Ha ha ha ha ha.
I said, "OK this is evil Edward" and the teacher started to make him a masking tape name tag. I added, "His twin is over there" and pointed at where Caroline had seated herself at the floam table.
The teacher looked up and said, "I'm sorry. That's who? His friend?"
And I said, "No his twin. His twin sister, Caroline, is there in the pink dress."
She said, "Oh! Right! The twins. Yes. I'll make a tag for her too."
I carried Edward over to the trains and took his foot out of my eye and was just sticking the name tag onto his shirt when I heard the teacher a few feet away saying, "Hi Caroline! I have a name tag here for you!"
I glanced over and saw her crouched in front of a little girl from their last class - who happens to be of Asian descent - and who was looking at the teacher in blank confusion. I called out, "Oh wait, no, that's Q! Caroline is over there! In pink. At the table."
You know, the, uh, caucasian one.
Every time I think about it I start to giggle again.
+
Patrick turns nine on Saturday and he is taking his increasing age very seriously. He somehow wound up asleep in our bed the other day and when Edward rolled in before seven demanding breakfast it was Patrick who opened his eyes, heaved a sigh and said, "I got it, I got it."
He padded out of our room with Edward in his wake and I heard him offering to make Edward some frozen waffles. Steve and I looked at each other for one startled, highly gratified second and then rolled over and slept some more. It was awesome.
I thanked Patrick profusely an hour later and he shrugged and said, "Someone needs to get up around here and I am almost nine." How true. And he makes giant, durable bubbles with coat hangers and his own secret soap mix. What's not to like.
+
Patrick and I are going to DC tomorrow; partly to visit family, partly to celebrate his birthday and partly because he wants more than anything to go to Manhattan but we have a free place to stay in Washington and I know the subway system. I grew up in the city so I have some ideas about what we are going to do (the Hirshhorn and Air & Space spring to mind) but it has been twenty years since I lived there and I expect a few things have changed. If you live in DC or have visited recently I'd love suggestions on things to do and see with a Patrick-type child (Likes: contemporary art, dwarf stars, large-scale commercial architecture; Dislikes: cultural history and humidity - yes I know; I didn't claim it was a perfect vacation plan.)
Oh hey and speaking of living in DC, leave a comment (or shoot an email) if you are interested in possibly getting together Thursday night somewhere near the zoo. I italicized that possibly because when I kinda sorta mentioned the idea to my mother she said, "You want to leave Patrick and me and go meet total strangers from the internet in a BAR?" and when she put it like that I said no no no of course not how absurd heavens no but really... yes. Yes I do. It has however been a long time since I've climbed out a window in order to keep a social obligation so... maybe. Let me know if you're around and interested though and we'll see what happens.
What else? Oh right. I'm in the library and I need a book to read on the plane. Nothing depressing. Any thoughts?
+
Summertime.
+
Holy cats. Tornado sirens going off all over the damned place. Just checked the radar with a nice older gentleman sitting next to me here at the library and we have concluded as a crack duo of amateur meteorologists that the sky "doesn't look good."
Think I'll go fetch the child from art camp.
Don't forget the books and DC, please.
Tornadoes scare the beejeezums out of me.
I just started reading "At Home" by Bill Bryson, and it's fascinating and entertaining! I keep reading bits out loud to my husband. ("Listen to this! How had I never heard of this?) I'm normally a fiction kind of gal, but this is definitely a worthy exception.
Posted by: andreajennine | June 21, 2011 at 03:00 PM
National Building Museum--Patrick will LOVE it. Last time I was there they had a full wing devoted to the intricacies of parking garage construction and a LEGO exhibition.
Posted by: Deanna | June 21, 2011 at 03:01 PM
Spy Museum!
Posted by: mandy | June 21, 2011 at 03:01 PM
The American Institute of Architects at 18th and NY Avenue (~5 blocks south of Farragut West on the Blue/Orange) might be of interest.
Also the National Building Museum (I think it charges admission, though).
The Museum of American History was renovated a couple years ago, and it's way different than it used to be, might be worth checking out.
(Though, take these with a grain of salt -- I was one of the people who suggested the miniature rooms in the basement of the Art Institute in Chicago, and IIRC those didn't make much of an impression on P.)
Posted by: Molly W. | June 21, 2011 at 03:04 PM
Are you still at the library? If you are, look for The Name of the Wind by Rothfuss. It's the best books I've read all year. It's epic fantasy, but very literary and well written.
Oh, I also really enjoyed Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde. If you like his Eyre Affair series (and I kind of remember that you do?) then you might like this one too.
Posted by: Sally | June 21, 2011 at 03:05 PM
I'm just going to miss you! We are visiting my sister there but will be on our way home Thursday.
Patrick may enjoy National Museum of Natural History.
Posted by: Katie | June 21, 2011 at 03:05 PM
Tell your mom: it's not a bar mom, it's Starbucks. Nothing bad can happen in a Starbucks. ;)
Posted by: Issa | June 21, 2011 at 03:07 PM
Does the National Gallery have anything in the way of modern art? (When my sister took us we spent our time in the pre-raphaelites and renaissance)
I was going to suggest the national building museum too.
Posted by: Cathy | June 21, 2011 at 03:11 PM
No advice on the DC thing or a book (I am currently reading three different ones on my Nook- I keep bouncing around, which is something that I do frequently when I read, no idea why), but I have a question about a book series you recommended. I'm reading Sabriel, and while I do like it, I am lost. Please tell me we get a lot more background info, and soon, on this Wall and Old Kingdom and why there's a wall at all. . . I am so confused.
Posted by: kelh | June 21, 2011 at 03:14 PM
I second the suggestion of Bill Bryson's At Home - or anything else he has written. Amusing and informative.
Posted by: carol | June 21, 2011 at 03:15 PM
building museum for sure. also: i always loved the bureau of engraving tour when i was younger (i know, that is completely ridiculous.)
Posted by: ellen | June 21, 2011 at 03:16 PM
Second (or third) the National Building Museum.
National Geographic Museum has an exhibit right now on two different adventurers trying to reach the south pole.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has a pretty cool tour where you can see money being printed.
If I didn't already have a work engagement on Thursday, I'd love to meet you.
Posted by: Catherine | June 21, 2011 at 03:17 PM
I totally want to know the secret to Patrick's soap mix...
Posted by: Shawna | June 21, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Spy Museum and the National Portrait Museum are fun...as for reading, ever read Nicole Krauss (either History of Love or Great House?) Jhumpa Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth? Anything by Gary Shteyngart (Russian Debutante's Handbook is my favorite) Finally, This is Where I Leave You by Jonathon Topper is funny and a quick read...
Posted by: Cris | June 21, 2011 at 03:18 PM
I third or fourth or whatever the National Building Museum. I was at Air & Space for the first time in 15 years just a couple of summers ago and found it actually largely unchanged since I was a kid-- it looked and felt to me exactly like it did in 1995, which was exactly how it had felt in 1988. But he might still like it, and if you can get out to the new annex by Dulles, I hear it's terrific (although I have never been).
Posted by: Carrie | June 21, 2011 at 03:18 PM
The National Gallery of Art East Building has a nice collection of modern art and the Calder mobiles are my favorites. The Sculpture Garden is great too- http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/sculptureinfo.shtm
The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Annex (Udvar-Hazy) near Dulles Airport is fantastic, and they have a space shuttle, Blackbird, Concorde and the Enola Gay on display there, along with hundreds of other airplanes, satellites, missiles, etc and some really cool simulator rides.
I really like the Duck Boat tours for a quick fun overview of DC highlights, plus you get to go IN the Potomac and kids usually get a turn to steer the boat. Tours leave from Union Station. Always a big hit with visiting kid relatives. http://www.dcducks.com/ The tour guides are funny and great with children.
Have fun!
Posted by: Gigi | June 21, 2011 at 03:18 PM
Just finished "A Girl Named Zippy" which is a memoir by Haven Kimmel and I found it delightful and hilarious. Highly recommend it.
Posted by: Kate | June 21, 2011 at 03:21 PM
Have you already read "The Help"? I LOVED it.
Don't know much about DC . . my niece works at the Sephora in Georgetown. Patrick probably wouldn't go for womens makeup though. Your description of Edward made me giggle.
Have a great trip and be safe . . or not.
Posted by: Steph | June 21, 2011 at 03:23 PM
The AIA is boring but has a good bookstore with unreliable hours (I used to work there). Better to check the Building Museum to see if there is a good exhibit for an architecture nerd. Obvs the Pei addition to the National Gallery combines modern art and architecture, so it's a good one to hit.
I love the FDR memorial - especially great at night, interactive water features that kids enjoy.
Posted by: fayrene | June 21, 2011 at 03:23 PM
DC!!
Does he perchance like soldiers? I know this is a divisive topic but my 7 year old acquaintance was enchanted by the Summer Dress Parade at the Marine Corps barracks near Eastern Market. They very beginning can be a bit stodgy but the sword drills and stuff, all flashy in the dusk, are rather compelling. Lots of good restaurants nearby too.
Not DC, but how about the Baltimore Aquarium, complete with a water taxi ride to Fells Point for lunch?
The botanical gardens are pretty awesome and pretty close to the Museum of the American Indian (which is surprisingly NOT awesome but has a killer cafeteria).
Capitol Visitor's Center is kind of cool, though there are annoying lines. The video about the building of the Capitol might appeal.
They are showing ET outdoors in Dupont Circle on Friday night. That is going to be awesome. (http://www.borderstan.com/06/june-24-in-dupont-cinema-in-the-circle-showing-e-t/) Convenient if you are staying near the zoo, even though it's a bit late.
The DC Ducks Tour is pretty awesome, especially if it's hot. You can also take a $10 boat ride from Georgetown Harbor to Old Town if you are in that area. Good monument views and cooling.
The FDR memorial is awesome if you haven't seen it.
I will try to think of more...
Posted by: C_Girl | June 21, 2011 at 03:24 PM
Also, the follow up books to "The Sweetness at the bottom of the Pie" are good.
Posted by: Steph | June 21, 2011 at 03:25 PM
Hated the Spy museum, for waht it's worth.
Posted by: alanna | June 21, 2011 at 03:27 PM
Please find a car and get out to the new Air and Space annex by Dulles Airport, mentioned above. It is overwhelmingly impressive, and I'm not even a plane/space geek. I fifth? sixth? the building museum idea, and there used to be a really big cool Chuck Close portrait in the new wing of the Museum.
Wish I could pop down Thursday. Hell, maybe I will pop down Thursday. Hmmmm.
Posted by: tash | June 21, 2011 at 03:34 PM
I was last in DC while recovering from the flu (eating everything in sight and randomly collapsing) and what stuck out for me was the Museum of American History. Possibly not Patrick's area, but it was really well done.
Air and Space, it goes without saying, was awesome. You get to walk inside a space ship!
Posted by: Becca | June 21, 2011 at 03:37 PM
oh i really liked the spy museum, but that may be a situation where if he hates role playing it may be a "let's pop by this gift store". the gift store really is perfect for a 9 year old boy.
i second the name of the wind. i love fantasy books, i will admit, but it was a great read. (be forewarned, it is a trilogy with only 2 of the 3 books published)
also, i cannot recommend game of thrones/the song of fire and ice series by george rr martin enough. yes, it is currently all hot and awesome due to the hbo series of the same name. BUT STILL! it's totally worth reading. it is THAT GOOD. (also, only 5/7 books are published).
Posted by: aly | June 21, 2011 at 03:37 PM
I'm not sure how easy it would be for you to get there (no metro yet... YET) but the Udvar-Hazy wing of the Air and Space museum is AWESOME too. It's out at Dulles, so it's not exactly downtown.
The Spy Museum rocks but costs money, Smithsonian's are still free but won't be forever!
There's also the Children's museum which is close to the original Air and Space... there's a new (ish) National Museum of the American Indian which is SUPER cool looking on the outside.
Also there's the botanical gardens, which now have a couple of windmills outside which are neat in the green sense of things.
I WISH I could skip work to come hang out on Thursday night! I miss nights out in DC! And that part of the city is my favorite, I love the zoo too. :)
Posted by: Lis | June 21, 2011 at 03:40 PM
Well, *I* live in DC and would certainly enjoy meeting you. Although I think I might be more excited to meet Patrick, is that terrible?
Anyway. DC stuff. Of course this is the worse possible time to come what with the humidity and the heat and the heat and it's gross. And oh my god the tourists.
Best food: American Indian (the actual exhibits kind of suck, but the food is great)
Best worth-the-money: The Newseum. Super interactive, loads of things to do/see, a really cool look at the way the news works. Although Patrick might prefer the Spy Museum, actually. Anyway both cost money, which pisses me off since if we don't get a senator we should at least get freebies.
Best Art: Yeah, the Hirshorn. Although if you wanted to do an art day, you could do the National Gallery too--I believe it's the West Wing that has modern art, but it might be East. Anyway, there's a cool tunnel with food/ice cream/gift shops that connect the two.
Best time to visit the zoo: early morning. preferably in the rain.
Best tourist-y thing: the Duck Boats.
Best building-related: the Building Museum, although in this case it's a shame you aren't bringing Caroline and Edward since there is a really fabulous playroom there with every block/truck/construction material available.
Best movies and also stuffed mammals and bones: Natural History. I don't know if Patrick would like this but it's my favorite. The Hall of Mammals! The turtle bones! the giant North Atlantic Right Whale hanging from the ceiling of the new(ish) Ocean Hall! The free movies and also the awesome 3-D IMAX movies! Sigh. I could spend hours there.
OH and you MUST go to POLITICS AND PROSE. It's DC's best bookstore and one of the best bookstores in the country. (It's five minutes from my house and it's possible I have an irrational attachment). But it is the perfect place.
let me know if you want eating suggestions ;)
Posted by: vanessa | June 21, 2011 at 03:41 PM
Let the Great World Spin, by Colum McCann. Just finished it, and it was surprisingly good.
Posted by: Anna | June 21, 2011 at 03:42 PM
Most of the above lovely people have mentioned what I would recommend for Patrick in DC.
Please add me to the list of people who would like to hear about get together plans (though, admittedly, hauling my hugely pregnant self out in the heat may not be the greatest plan, as much as I would very much enjoy getting the chance to meet you).
Posted by: SarahB | June 21, 2011 at 04:03 PM
I miss DC. Patrick is so going to enjoy himself.
Evil Edward makes me laugh since MY nickname IS Evilisa (that's one L).
Posted by: Lisame | June 21, 2011 at 04:03 PM
Ahh tornados - they scare me to death.. but now I live in MA and we don't have tornados, and NO sirens - except that this year we do - and when they said my intersection on the news as having a tornado in the air above us - yeah - I didn't let my darling daughter go to a school function - and she was TICKED! until 4 other families (also mid-west transplants) didn't go either! but all the native easterns did go - they didn't recognize the color of the sky because they had never seen it before so they didn't turn on the news!! I spent 2 days picking up pieces of insulation, large pieces of cardboard and other stuff out of my yard - yeah - torandos mean spending hours in the basement at my house. Daughter now has a better respect for her little ol' mom. Hope they passed by with no damage - 36 miles of devestation here.
Posted by: amelie | June 21, 2011 at 04:10 PM
Me me me me! We've emailed a few times about DC, and I'd love to get together. I have some plans on Thursday that I can't chnage, but I'd love to meet you before or after, however briefly. I'm also free, with an almost 6-year old (and Edward's twin Jack, same age) on Thursday (day) if you end up downtown. And Friday evening is clear. Not that I'm desperate or anything.
As far as things to do, not much changes in DC in that department. We do have a lot of new "splash parks" but honestly Patrick doesn't strike me as the "splash park" type, unless he's being tasked with designing one. The Building Museum is free, and worth it, but the Lego exhibit is not free and I think Patrick would adore it. If he's not already on the board of directors.
In sum, I hope to get a chance to see/meet you and Patrick, and I have almost no useful suggestions.
Posted by: Leah | June 21, 2011 at 04:41 PM
Second (or third?) the Pei addition to art museum and the Udvar-Hazy wing of Air and Space, even if it's out of town. You will be able to spend hours at main Air and Space, however. Thought the spy museum was kinda dumb, but liked the Newseum, although it also costs. Patrick might like a tour of Congress. Also, the 9/11 memorial garden at the Pentagon is very cool. I always enjoy the outdoor Roosevelt and Korean war memorials past the reflecting pool, although I'm still not sure what I think of them!
Posted by: Jan | June 21, 2011 at 04:41 PM
I also covet Patrick's bubble recipe. My 4 and 1 yo girls would love bubbles that would last longer than a couple of seconds.
Posted by: Rachel | June 21, 2011 at 04:44 PM
I'm totally inspired by Patrick's bubbles. Time to start experimentng...
Posted by: Doug | June 21, 2011 at 05:02 PM
Air and Space has an awesome planetarium (not sure about dwarf stars...but lots of other stars for sure). The Museum of Native American Culture (not sure that is really the name) has a festival starting tomorrow through Saturday: food, crafts, activities, etc. I think there is a pow-wow Friday night, but I'm not positive. The changing of the guard at Arlington can be interesting, but maybe too much even for the very mature 9-year-old.
I'm game to get together on Thursday, I just moved here (DC-ish) and would love to meet more people. Maybe I'll meet your strangers at a bar...is that weird?
Posted by: Sara | June 21, 2011 at 05:08 PM
I heart the Flavia De Luce mysteries. Well, actually i only heart the first one because the other ones are really expensive for kindle so I haven't gotten them yet. But i think you'd like them.
Posted by: Leah | June 21, 2011 at 05:17 PM
Don't go to the spy museum! It's so over priced and they force you to watch this ridiculous movie about how "spies are all among us."
The Building Museum is pretty cool, it's quite small. If he is at all into old architecture, I enjoy going to visit the old houses. There's the Christopher Heurich house in Dupont that's pretty neat.
Posted by: Allison | June 21, 2011 at 05:18 PM
Oh! And the Library of Congress! You can take tours and since the two of you seem to enjoy books, you may enjoy it.
Posted by: Allison | June 21, 2011 at 05:19 PM
I doubt I could actually make a meet-up from clear out here in the burbs of MD, but I would be interested in trying. No clue about what to see. I am keenly observing the comments.
Posted by: Carrie | June 21, 2011 at 05:27 PM
Surely you could come to Sydney Australia instead of DC ?? I have a million suggestions of things to do with a Child of Patricks abilities - in fact I think I would just take him to my office - put him in charge of the place and then have the day off !!
Posted by: Victoria | June 21, 2011 at 05:50 PM
If you haven't already read it, try Bossypants by Tina Fey!
Posted by: Dead Bug | June 21, 2011 at 05:54 PM
I think Patrick would like my niece and nephew. They are 8-1/2, and two of the most creative children I know. :)
Posted by: Emily Drew | June 21, 2011 at 06:15 PM
The Newseum! It's awesome!
Posted by: Leslie | June 21, 2011 at 06:15 PM
This makes me miss DC. I lived there for 5 years in the late nineties and boy was it fun. Summer was fun even with the insane humidity. Who can pass up fireworks over the National Mall with a fancy band? Not me.
Anyway, I'm marking this list for some future date when I take my own kid there to show him my favorite sites.
The East Wing of the National Art Gallery is what you want -- architecture and modern art P will enjoy. Across the street is the Canadian Embassy and it has a dome outside that does this weird echo thing that he might try explaining to you. ;)
Have fun!
Posted by: Sarah | June 21, 2011 at 06:22 PM
You will be free the only evening I am having people over for dinner, and they are here from Massachusetts for a brief visit, so not easy to cancel on the grounds that I want to see you in the flesh. (I saw Amalah once in a mall, and undoubtedly frightened her with my cries of delight). Patrick might like the East Bldg. of the National Gallery for its Calder mobile and the moving walkway into the other building, and then the wall of water in the cafeteria there.
Re: Caroline name tag story. The young son of a colleague of my daughter's was asked to draw a picture of his family and was allowed to use cut out pictures from magazines if he could not draw his relatives. He drew himself and his brothers, chose a supermodel for his mother, and portrayed his father, a 6 ft. Caucasian, with a picture of Pat Morita.
Posted by: Sarah | June 21, 2011 at 06:22 PM
I live in DC, and I don't have anything to add beyond the commenters above me, but I would possibly be up for a get together (need to get care for the 2 year old!).
For books, if you haven't read The Eyre Affair, read it now! Also liked Shades of Gray, but if you are starting with Fforde, start with The Eyre Affair.
Posted by: Erin S. | June 21, 2011 at 06:29 PM
Would love to get together with you, just not sure if I can get a sitter and my husband will be out of town. Would like to be in the loop for plans just in case I can get away!
Have an awesome time with Patrick. Agree with all above re: Building Museum, Air and Space, etc.
Also - if you haven't read Jonathan Tropper, get everything he's written.
Hope the tornadoes stay away!!
Posted by: Emily Faulkner | June 21, 2011 at 06:47 PM
Nine! Good lord. I remember when he wasn't toilet trained.
Posted by: Cee | June 21, 2011 at 06:57 PM
Summer reading suggestions:
"Major Pettigrew's Last Stand," by Helen Simonson
"Ethan of Athos," by Lois McMaster Bujold
Posted by: Karen | June 21, 2011 at 07:04 PM