At our D.C marina, 300 tickets were sold for a charity to those who were curious to see what different types and brands of boats look like on the inside and to ask questions of the owners about living aboard a boat. Many benevolent live-aboards offered to participate (for a worthy cause). Can you imagine all those people traipsing through your home??? When the gates were flung open at 10 AM, I was reminded of The Running of the Bulls so Bill and I (not willing participants) took off in separate directions—he to Arlington Memorial Cemetery for a guided historic walking tour and I went to Art on the Avenue in Del Ray, Alexandria, VA. This is their annual arts festival and the exhibitors were legion!! The little tents occupied both sides of the street for blocks and blocks. Beautiful and varied art and superb bands of many genres. The day is sunny, clear skies and a gentle little breeze. Another day to store in our memory banks.
The marvelous opportunity has been ours on several occasions to sit in on interviews at The Washington Post and TWP columnist, Kathleen Parker's interview with former Fox News anchor, Gretchen Carlson, was one of them. This was also to kick off the national tour of Carlson's new book, “Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back.”
Gretchen spoke candidly about her experience as a leading news anchor who decided to speak out about sexual harassment in the workplace and discuss how that decision – and the response she received – inspired her to advocate for women on issues of discrimination, harassment and equality.
The bottom line--how men treat women and why women allow disrespect and sexual harrassment starts with how we, as parents, role-model and parent our children. Girls need to see the respect that her father has for her mother as well as other women and boys need to be taught by their dads the proper way to treat a woman as he sees the interaction between his dad and mom.
Gretchen has had a one-on-one conversation with her young pre-teen son and daughter about pornography-- #1 its degradation of women and #2-what's depicted isnt a true relationship based on love. She has a very calming demeanor and is a huge proponent of "Me, too." I'm most eager to read her book.
Got an early start to cycle Capital Hill and explore the H and U Street neighborhoods. The icon of U Street is Ben's Chili Bowl, a family-run, old-school chili-dog joint that opened in 1958 and stuck around when almost nothing else did. That was our lunch stop that day just because it was there and famous. Many 'famous' people have eaten there and it's quite an eclectic little dive. Bill loved it and would go back in a skinny minute. I'm glad we went to've checked it off our list but it isn't my "cuisine".
It was fun to wander the neighborhood and poke around in interesting shops and marvel at many murals in the area.
Difficult to see but above the windows is U.S. Post Office--from long ago.
We were curious to see Meridan Hill Park, now better known as Malcolm X Park. It is/was one of the nicest and least appreciated parks in D.C. Its 12 acres sit on a hill overlooking downtown and the monuments. John Quincy Adams lived in a mansion here after leaving the White House. Today, there are spooky statues and an empty 13 basin concrete aggregate cascading paved route that water once took.
View from the bottom-sadly dry as a bone
View from the top
It is more reminiscent of a neglected European chateau garden than a National Park Service tract. In 1910 when the U.S. government purchased the grounds, they hired landscape architects George Burnap and Horace Peaslee to plan the Italian style garden.We didn't visit on a Sunday afternoon but for those who do, they can dance to the sounds of the ad hoc drum circle that meets there weekly since the 1950s.
Joan of Arc statue is only equestrian statue of a woman in Washington, D.C.
The significance of this park is its architecture and landscape design, both of which are sadly in need of care and maintenance. It was once a garden fit for an aristocrat. In 1819, John Porter erected a mansion here on Meridian Hill, so called because it was on the exact longitude of the original District of Columbia milestone marker, set down on April 15, 1791. After its conversion to a public park, Union troops encamped on the grounds during the Civil War.
Dante statue
Opportunites are calling so must scoot!
Bill and Laura
Washington, DC
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