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.
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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.
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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?
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Summertime.
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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.
US Mint is great, but you need tickets. Library of Congress is architecturally stunning and has a great kids room (tons of books and a small puppet stage too). While you are on the hill, stop by Yards Park - it has a giant wading pool, waterfall, and fountains, which the kids adore. Bonus: food and live music on Friday nights. But I recommend you stop by sweetgreen and pick up salads (best you have ever had) and frozen yogurt to take down. :) You can rent bikes (very cheap) at the new capitol bike share stations that will take you all over very easily.
Posted by: Jessica Boger | June 21, 2011 at 07:35 PM
Continued...
Portrait Gallery has a great kids program and a lovely atrium.
Freer and the sackler galleries are great!! they have this amazing kids program about chinese opera (costumes, how to act, etc.) going on right now.
American Indian has a special segment going on these week to celebrate one of the tribes. All sorts of cultural demonstrations, etc. going on.
Give me more specifics and I will give you more ideas... including a list of special things going on this week.
Meeting. If you have others to meet, I could meet up too, after the little one is in bed. We could chat about how much I loved the Tyler Place last year, after you recommended it...
Posted by: Jessica Boger | June 21, 2011 at 07:36 PM
As has been noted, the Spy Museum is expensive, but the shop is free, so take him there for a quick look at the cool stuff. (We were there on Sunday with a five-year-old.) The National Portrait Museum is just across the road and has some nice stuff in it, and a lovely atrium in the middle where you can get some respite from the humidity.
I would absolutely love to meet you (though I'd be terribly nervous about meeting my blog idol), but I don't think I can get away on Thursday night because of my horrible children and their horrible un-sleeping patterns. We are, however, on summer vacation and free in the daytime. (Mine are 5 and 2.5.) I'd love to be kept in the loop just in case...
Posted by: Christine | June 21, 2011 at 07:49 PM
Ooh, me me! I would be interested in meeting on Thursday.
For Patrick, have you looked at the National Building Museum?
For books, I've been dying to read Must You Go. Also, Started Early, Took My Dog, and Bossypants, and The Wilder Life. And a YA book called Spoiled, if you're looking for something really trashy but fun. The Help was great but I did *not* like The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Nor Flavia.
Posted by: Courtney | June 21, 2011 at 08:10 PM
Oh, and State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. Although if you haven't read her Bel Canto then you should read that instead since I can guarantee you'll like it.
Posted by: Courtney | June 21, 2011 at 08:12 PM
A tornado hit near us (Springfield, MA) just a couple of weeks ago, so the whole thing's pretty fresh in my mind. Now you have to post soon, even if just a short post, to let us know you're all okay! Been reading your blog since Patrick was a toddler; wouldn't want anything to happen to you guys!
Book recommendation: Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen. DC recommendation: Newseum, and for food head to the cafeteria at the Smithsonian American Indian Museum. Skip the outdoor tour at the Spy Museum - the GPS units they gave us didn't work very well.
Posted by: Hannia | June 21, 2011 at 08:26 PM
As others have mentioned, the Flavia deLuce books are great. Also I am loving Louise Penny's Gamache series.
If it consoles Patrick at all, summer is the second worst time to visit Manhattan. Simply put, it's gross. The middle of October is much nicer. Fwiw, the worst time to visit is the week between Christmas and Jan. 1. We brought 2 of our nieces in that week one year, and they were bruised on their wrists from the vise-like grip I had on them going through Times Square.
Posted by: Jenn | June 21, 2011 at 08:33 PM
You could take him by Georgetown Cupcake! Not exactly historical DC, but of late it's a DC institution and there's a million different flavors he'd probably like to pick from--then you all could find the DC Cupcake show on TV. Anyway, the trick is pre-ordering--if you place your order online the night before, you can cut the line, pick them up by name and then grab a table in front of the inner window and watch them make the cupcakes.
I'm in DC and free on Thursday--keep me posted on the gameplan.
Posted by: April | June 21, 2011 at 08:37 PM
While I seriously doubt you're still looking for books: Anything by Connie Willis. "Doomsday Book" is somewhat of a prequel to "To Say Nothing of the Dog," which I seem to remember that you enjoyed; "Blackout" and "All Clear" are set in the TSNotD world too. Plus she's written other stuff. Most of it is heavier than TSNotD, but I think you'd like it anyway.
Enjoy DC!
Posted by: marion | June 21, 2011 at 08:38 PM
follow up thought: have you considered taking the train to NYC for the day?
Posted by: Jenn | June 21, 2011 at 08:41 PM
There is also the new Air and Space museum out towards Dulles that he might enjoy - I believe that you can ride a bus there from the mall museum if you don't want to drive out that far.
No really phenomenal book suggestions unless of course, you haven't yet read the Hunger Games trilogy because those are just fantastic.
Posted by: emily | June 21, 2011 at 08:45 PM
Juliet by Anne Fortier - it's fluff, but it's fun fluff and it's perfect for a place ride. :)
Been 18 years since I visited DC, so I'm useless.
Posted by: Mama Fuss | June 21, 2011 at 08:50 PM
Allow twice as much time as you think you need for the Metro. During rush hour, there are accidents & delays, the rest of the time, there is single-tracking for so-long-overdue repairs. Oh, and those are no longer escalators -- they're oddly-spaced stairs. Especially at the underground stations.
I would SO go meet you at a bar -- even though I don't drink! -- but Thursday night is our anniversary & we actually have Dinner Plans for the first time in, well, ever.
Hit up whichever Smithsonian museums Patrick wants to investigate. The National Building Museum starts charging for admission on Monday the 27th, so you should be okay. Go to Judiciary Square & get out at the F St exit (not the 4th St one).
Posted by: twitter.com/marbenais | June 21, 2011 at 09:36 PM
I was also going to recommend the National Building Museum and the Spy Museum. The Spy Museum is a bit pricey and the opening spiel is kinda cheesy, but the exhibits are fairly fascinating.
My friend Rainbow Rowell just had her first novel published, Attachments. It's a funny, sweet story that contains a romance of sorts but isn't really chick lit. And I'm not recommending someone who self-published, I swear. Her book was mentioned in Entertainment Weekly (the recent issue with Jason Bateman on the cover) as a fun new read, and chosen by Barnes & Noble to be part of the Discover New Writers program.
And HEY! I live in DC, or near it anyway! I would LOVE to meet you! Annalie's gymnastics show is this Thursday, but I assume you won't be going home by 9pm, will you? I might be able to pop by for long enough to say hello. Please email me the details!
Posted by: bethany actually | June 21, 2011 at 09:42 PM
Howdy! Would love to meet up Thursday if it pans out. I second/third/whatever the Portrait Gallery (Atrium ceiling is very cool, top floor of adjacent American Art is all modern, way cool area on I think floor 3 of Portrait is all stuff shelved in stacks and their restoration area - you can watch). Also recommend new Yards Park for great outdoor public design (music & free family movies Friday evenings).
Posted by: Kaelie | June 21, 2011 at 09:46 PM
I'm with all the posters who suggested The Building Museum. Plus, it's right across from the Judiciary Square Metro stop. You could go to the huge food court in the basement of Union Station (it's on the Red Line). Plus, the station itself is gorgeous to look at, with lots of stores to check out.
Air and Space on the Mall is OK but most of the DC-based Smithsonian museums tend to be really crowded,, with narrow aisles. The shops are great, though. The Newseum is defintely worth a visit.
I would love to meet up with you but am out in the MD burbs too. Maybe the next time you're in the DC area, hmmm?
Posted by: Melissa | June 21, 2011 at 09:47 PM
DC Recommendations: 1) if you are mobile, I suggest the "new" air & space museum in the 'burbs (a big hangar containing huge planes and even a space shuttle); 2) the sculpture gallery on the mall (I love the giant eraser, and I'm guessing Patrick will too); and 3) the building museum is free and (I think) still has a cool lego exhibit.
And maybe take him to one of the public pools, which can be nice in the late afternoon. It is HOT here right now.
Posted by: Amanda | June 21, 2011 at 09:49 PM
Ugh, just lost the comment because Typepad went all militant on me and wouldn't accept my data. So I signed in with a different account and it's still not liking me, but it thinks my comments are tasty.
ANYWAY.
I'm reading Pamela Freeman's The Castings trilogy at the moment and liking them a lot. Well written and not depressing. But if your genre of choice isn't fantasy based (a little questy, ghosts and some magic) then it might not suit.
Posted by: SleeplessNights | June 21, 2011 at 09:52 PM
We've had some good times in the basement of the American History museum where they have a hands on science lab. I think it's called the Spark Lab. Also, for take home twin gifts, I've found the gift shop in the Commerce building has great kid's stuff, like board books and coloring books.
Posted by: Mrs. G | June 21, 2011 at 09:58 PM
Ooh ooh! I would love to meet total strangers from the internet in a bar!
If you're doing the Capital Bikeshare (highly recommended) Haines Point is a very pleasant and generally uncrowded ride. It takes you down where the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers meet and honestly probably hasn't changed since you left. The putt-putt golf course on the Point is also very nice, and I believe there's a pool, too.
I used to work at NASM and it will be a hot sticky mess this week, what with the rain and the June and the tourists seeking refuge from both. Udvar-Hazy is definitely the way to go, both for the amazing collection of full aircraft and the crowd relief. However at 10:30 every day NASM-Mall does a free planetarium show.
I really enjoyed Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (it's been out for a while). Also Good Omens, by Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, is a perennial favorite - it recounts a very humorous apocalypse.
Posted by: Lise | June 21, 2011 at 10:27 PM
*delurk*
Seriously? I just this morning canceled my thursday night plans (neil gaiman! press club!) because I am overwhelmed and my introvert needs to be cultured, but waugh the idea of meeting you in the flesh... ah well.
as for well air conditioned things to do, in addition to the air & space on the mall, don't forget about the annex way out in the middle of nowhere, and there's also the national building museum.
/delurk
Posted by: figgymommy | June 21, 2011 at 10:32 PM
I thought we were being so clever choosing Michigan, not part of Tornado Alley. Humph. West Michigan has PLENTY of tornadoes. So far we've only had severe thunderstorm warnings, but tonight we have an actual Tornado Watch. I have Nevada nephew here and Florida nephew here, all five of my babies. And of course our severe weather is in the ungodly hours, so I have bedded them down in the living room where I can herd them all downstairs if need be. My migraine is not particularly appreciating the experience, nor are my ponies, who's sheds were flooded when I brought them in today, and I shudder to think what they will look like after the inches of expected rain. Blech.... La Nina isn't gone enough for me. Why is it my satellite always has to go out when we're expecting severe weather. Poor form, really....
My poor sister, I stupidly posted my own panic of FB and now my sister is in NV freaking right the heck out. Beejeezums indeed....
No useful suggestions, ditto on the Huzzah Huzzah over oldest kid helping out with youngest kids and hope y'all have a great trip. Here's to unusually wonderful weather, and a great trip...
Going back to obsess over weather.com's radar map and nurse my migraine... eh...
Posted by: Crystal | June 21, 2011 at 10:38 PM
So (and forgive me if someone else beat me to it) Edward is truly Caroline's evil (and caucasian) twin? I can't even.
Posted by: abi | June 21, 2011 at 10:54 PM
If you are mobile there is a cryptology museum at NSA that my sister says is cool.Not too far from there is an awesome wildlife refuge that has an airconditioned visitors center. The neatest thing about it is the whooping cranes. Don't forget about the thunderstorms every afternoon. :) As of right now the humidity doesn't look too bad it will be under 75% most days.
Posted by: Liz | June 21, 2011 at 11:10 PM
Gah! I am a new-ish lurker and I live in DC and I agree about the Building Museum and also I have already bought myself tickets to a play called Bootycandy on Thursday. So I am out. I also personally love the zoo a lot, but when it's hot out, it sucks.
I also enjoyed The Help, so I second that mention. I HIGHLY recommend Bossypants if you want to be that crazy person who bursts out laughing maniacally/hysterically every few minutes. It's worth the odd looks.
It is hard for me to think of places to go with older kids! I am a nanny for a few families and all those kids are under 3, so our outings are pretty much limited to playground, grocery store, library, outdoor coffee shops. You are familiar. not very much that is DC-specific. But I, as a kid-minded grown-up-ish, really enjoy the Building Museum, the Library of Congress, and the National Zoo (I love the zoo ten times more than any other zoo just because it's free).
Posted by: MKDC | June 21, 2011 at 11:12 PM
The International Spy Museum would probably be up Patrick's alley:
http://www.spymuseum.org/
Have fun. I travel to D.C. often for work and I love it so much we are thinking of moving there.
Posted by: Gina | June 22, 2011 at 12:41 AM
I don't know if you're still in the market for a light plane read, but it strikes me that you and Connie Willis's "To Say Nothing of the Dog" would get along like a house on fire, as the saying goes. (And why does "house on fire" convey things or people getting along *extremely well*? I have no clue. This is what comes of growing up in Texas; I have all these folksy aphorisms that are just...odd.) At any rate, you like history and Jane Austen and funny, funny authors and "To Say Nothing of the Dog" had me in stitches in many places. And then you can follow it up with Jerome K. Jerome's "Three Men in a Boat," which Willis borrows liberally from. (Beware, though, Connie veers wildly between hysterical comedy and heart-wrenching tragedy. Don't pick up her "Passage" for a light read.) Also anything by Terry Pratchett! Though I think "Good Omens" is probably best if you're not really into fantasy. "Good Omens" is irreverent snark about the Apocalypse. What's not to like? ;o)
Posted by: Hetty Fauxvert | June 22, 2011 at 01:04 AM
Oh! Oh! Oh! And major dittos to Karen's rec of "Ethan of Athos" -- or really, anything by Lois McMaster Bujold. Especially her "Shards of Honor." Swoon!
Posted by: Hetty Fauxvert | June 22, 2011 at 01:06 AM
Books: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susannah Clarke, or her book of fairy tales.
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth is a monstrously large book about India, but it's not depressing and it gives me something to keep me going because I'm a notoriously fast reader.
I think the Terry Pratchett Discworld series is always good for a laugh.
Posted by: Nina | June 22, 2011 at 04:14 AM
Anything written by David Sedaris will make you laugh out loud. Embarrassing when you are all alone on the subway or train!
Posted by: Nancy | June 22, 2011 at 04:56 AM
NEIL GAIMAN IS COMING? how did i not know about this? and now it is sold out. grr.
Posted by: vanessa | June 22, 2011 at 06:49 AM
Unfortunately I'm not that close to DC, or I'd love to meet up with you. Have a great time. Love the story of Patrick making Edward breakfast. So sweet! And the story of the teacher getting the wrong girl for Caroline is hysterical. She must not have had her coffee yet. I don't think anyone could look at Caroline and Edward and not realize they are related. The definitely look like brother and sister.
Posted by: Heather | June 22, 2011 at 07:13 AM
::sigh:: I would totally love to meet you in a bar in D.C. on Thursday, but I'm not sure what I'd do with my own children. Hope you have a great time.
I hope you and Patrick have a great time while you're out this way. The Air and Space museum is a great choice. Have you thought about the National Spy Museum? I can't believe he's almost 9, wasn't he just the same age as the Caroline and Edward?
As for books, for light reading I really enjoyed Something Borrowed and Something Blue. I'm also reading both The Help and Water for Elephants and enjoying both.
Posted by: Amy | June 22, 2011 at 07:15 AM
I live here in DC and hooo boy it is hot hot hot! Make sure that you are prepared to sweat!
Another fun thing to do is to take the elevator ride to the top of the Washington monument. The tickets are free, but they require you to wait in line to get them. here is the info:
The Washington Monument Lodge, located along 15th Street, opens at 8:30 a.m. for distribution of free, same day, timed tickets on a first come first serve basis. One person may pick up as many as six tickets as well as select their preferred ticket time from what remains available for that operating day. All individuals (including children) must have a ticket.
I think it is a pretty awesome tour and while you are waiting for your tickets, you can run over to the WWII memorial which is pretty awesome.
Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer | June 22, 2011 at 07:35 AM
I laughed quite a bit this year at the following books:
A Wodehouse Bestiary (PG Wodehouse)
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven (Sherman Alexie)
Other good books I've read this year that were not necessarily funny, but very good:
Interpreter of Maladies (Jhumpra Lahiri)
Let the Great World Spin (Colum McCann)
Eventide (sequel to Plainsong) (Kent Haruf)
The Coalwood Way (Homer Hickham)
The Hunger Game series (Suzanne Collins)
And if anyone is a reader who is on Goodreads -- I would love to be friends with you, I love looking at what other people are reading. My link to my GR profile is my link associated w/ my name!
Posted by: Hawk | June 22, 2011 at 08:16 AM
The Building Museum has been mentioned many times, for good reason. Also AIA (where I work) -- just next door is the Octagon House museum which has an audio tour that's pretty good (it's the private house that the Madisons fled to when the British burned the White House and where the Treaty of Ghent was signed to end the war). Also - Air and Space is fantastic and has great iMax movies -- and you can get a free bus from there to the Udvar-Hazy extension, out by Dulles Airport (no need to rent a car or pay a cab).
Check with your senator and congressperson's offices to see if you can get White House tours, or tickets to see Congress/Senate in action.
Top of the Washington Monument. Or, top of the W Hotel (formerly the Hotel Washington) on 15th Street -- I think the bar/restaurant is called the POV (point of View) - has a fantastic view of the city (might need a reservation).
Duck Tours are fun, but cheesy. Perhaps the Tourmobile would be better?
Also - Arlington Cemetery.
And -- the Pentagon 9/11 memorial is reachable via the Metro, as is the nearby Air Force Memorial (an amazing three-spire sculpture).
If you do the AIA/Octagon -- let me know and I can come meet you there!
Posted by: Pam | June 22, 2011 at 08:16 AM
We're going to a wine bar on Thursday night (we = a bunch of bloggers) if you're interested. Email me, buddy! I want to see you!
Posted by: Heather B. | June 22, 2011 at 08:51 AM
I love these book recommendations! I just added about five new ones to my Amazon wish list.
Patrick's soap bubbles are amazing.
Might not be plane reading, depending on your frame of mind, but I just finished Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and thought it was fantastic.
Have a great trip!
Posted by: Jen | June 22, 2011 at 09:01 AM
I will admit that I am a liberal book worm that loves to travel so my DC suggestions should be taken with a grain of salt: Newseum, Library of Congress, and FDR memorial. And last time I was in DC, I spent about 6 hours in Freer/Sackler and swooned the whole time. I second (or third?) the food at the American Indian. Really cool experience.
Posted by: stephanie | June 22, 2011 at 09:05 AM
Tornadoes give me the heebie-jeebies too, and I've lived here all my life. I headed for the basement yesterday even though the sirens didn't blow. Color me wimpy. Also: alive.
Please ask Patrick what it would take to get him to reveal his secret bubble recipe. My kiddos are bubble fanatics and would LOVE the ginormous durable bubble making thingamajig. Pleeeeeaaaaase? Guest post from Patrick maybe?
Posted by: Tine | June 22, 2011 at 09:16 AM
Really enjoyed the National Portrait Museum when I was there in April. Cool modern art section. Have fun! (I'd reco a book but I think you are more well read then me. I'm reading various Elin Hilderbrand books right now, for summer mindlessness...)
Posted by: Gina | June 22, 2011 at 09:18 AM
I found the Postal Museum in DC to be surprisingly awesome and well done. We stopped 'just for a minute' because it was on the way from the train to the hotel, and had to drag ourselves out an hour and a half later. Small, with cool stamps and a ton of interactive stuff and planes hanging from the ceiling.
Posted by: Morgan | June 22, 2011 at 09:28 AM
In addition to the various sites suggested above, the surprise hit of our trip to DC was The Old Post Office. Great view from the top, and tasty eats in the foodcourt.
Please get the bubble recipe for us.
Posted by: Kaethe | June 22, 2011 at 09:41 AM
Man, I sure wish I could meet you at a bar near the zoo... I live in Rockville. Sounds great! Unfortunately, I'm still stuck in self-imposed DIY hell trying to get a townhouse ready to rent out! I'll pretend I'm in the bar while we hang cabinets!
Posted by: MaryB | June 22, 2011 at 09:43 AM
Oh, come to Manhattan. You can stay at my house in the suburbs - our kids are grown - but you'd have to take the 1/2 hour train ride in each morning. (And since your mother thinks that meeting strangers in a bar is creepy this will really drive her crazy.) You might instead be able to find a hotel deal at a price you're willing to live with and I'll take you both out to lunch.
Posted by: MJ | June 22, 2011 at 09:51 AM
Darn it! I am visiting DC this weekend but won't arrive until Friday in the PM.
Posted by: Michelle | June 22, 2011 at 10:32 AM
I loved the National Museum of Health and Medicine as a kid...its on the Walter Reed campus. Sounds boring, but it's full of weird, medical oddities...giant hairball that was surgically removed from a girl who would eat her hair, limbs in jars, shrunken heads! Not sure if it'll be too much for Patrick, but I used to love it!
Posted by: Kristy | June 22, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Have you read anything by Sarah Waters? I'm just getting into her books and I love them. I posted a mini-review here of Fingersmith, which is my favorite so far. I think you would like it.
http://makeanote.typepad.com/make_a_note/2011/06/monday-musingcant-put-it-down.html
Posted by: Kristin | June 22, 2011 at 11:24 AM
Just a quick note to say I love that Edward *appears* to not be wearing pants in the bubble photos - though it may just be an extra-long shirt, it would be nice to know that my boys aren't the only children routinely running around pants-less in MN.
Posted by: Natalie | June 22, 2011 at 12:29 PM
A Visit from the Goon Squad (Jennifer Egan) was good. Bossypants was sweet and funny but will take you 40 minutes, so pack a backup.
Please, Patrick, spill the recipe. For the children.
Posted by: corinne | June 22, 2011 at 12:55 PM