Dress-capades

This isn't necessarily a story about me and my travels ... there aren't too many these days ... but a story of the traveling dress.

Since my ideal wedding involves just me and John and our immediate families, my ideal dress isn't traditional. I would like something more like a cocktail dress. I found a cute dress on sale, bought it just in case I didn't find anything else, but it was black.

I ordered the dress that I thought was perfect ... It came, I tried it on, but it didn't even cover half my body. I thought to myself, "Surely I have the skirt bunched up and it's not going on my body correctly." It's not going on my body correctly because it's a size 4! My bone structure isn't a size 4. Therefore, this dress traveled back to the store to have the appropriate size ordered.

Dress number two arrives in the appropriate size. I try it on, it looks nice and the zipper splits. This is the last straw. This dress travels back to the store to stay. However, I travel around the city trying to find the right dress.

My mom arrives the following day to give her opinion on the dresses I try on. Low and behold, we found the perfect dress. After going through all the dresses, which I thought would be an easy affair, I'm now even more happy that John and I have decided to elope. I don't have the patience to go through similar escapades with bridesmaids' dresses, flowers, decor, etc.

Although the dress-capades have the potential to end in seven to 10 days, they may go on. The dress I've picked out has been ordered from the store where I was able to try on others in a different color. Here's hoping it comes in the my size and color!

Home for Sale!

If you're looking for a super-cute home in Kansas City North, let me know ... I put my house on the market last week, and I would love to get it sold soon.

Come on! I know you want it ...

Surviving Inauguration

Well, I survived! It wasn't a complete nightmare, but there were moments. Roads were closed, only one bridge allowed us to get into DC from Virginia... Think about all the traffic going into the city and 10,000 other buses visiting the capitol. We got lost in the ghetto one evening. It never dawned on my driver to check out a map for the next venue while the group wasn't on the bus. I had to be the navigator in a city I don't know that well. I had transfer issues for a set of three passengers to and from the airport. Mile long waits at Reagan International on the way home - Seriously, I felt sorry for those flying US Airways. The line for that particular airline spanned the entire airport, plus out the door. Incredible.

That being said, the inauguration itself was incredible! As soon as we stepped out of the bus we got swept up in a wave of people that were walking in four lanes of traffic toward the National Mall. The atmosphere was electric with excitement. People kept moving, but there wasn't pushing or shoving. We got to the Mall itself around 8 a.m. and we settled near a jumbo tron at 12th St. - approx one mile from the Capitol. I had wiggle room about the size of a newspaper. The worst part was standing for five hours. Thankfully I had little warmers to put in my gloves and boots. Otherwise, I don't know if I could have stood it. One of my middle school students began to cry because she was so cold and her chaperon took her into one of the Smithsonian's.

All in all, it was an experience of a lifetime. Would I do it again? Possibly. Would I do it with a group of 40? Doubtful. Enjoy the small video of my surroundings.

Inaugural Ball

No, I don't get to go to THE Inaugural Ball, but I do get to go to AN Inaugural Ball thrown by the Smithsonian Student Travel folks. It should be a lot of fun. The kids from all the tours come together at points around the city to eat, dance and mingle.

Keeping with my fun facts, the tradition of the Ball was started after the Inauguration of James Madison. First Lady Dolley Madison hosted the gala at Long's Hotel with 400 tickets being sold at $4. Quite a price for 1809!

From then on, the Inaugural ball quickly turned into an anticipated highlight of Washington society. However, Harding requested that the Inaugural committee do away with the elaborate ball and parade in 1921 to help set an example of thrift and simplicity. (Something that I think should be done today ...) Subsequent Inaugurations followed this trend, with charity balls becoming the fashion for the Inaugurations of Coolidge, Hoover and FDR. Harry Truman broke the tradition in 1949 and got the official ball back on its feet.

Big News!

I'm engaged!!

I've written about my inauguration worries. Being the procrastinator that I am, I decided to jump on the cheap flight to Grand Junction for a long weekend. It was well worth it. I returned home yesterday engaged!!! I can't wait to spend the rest of my days with this wonderful man!

This weekend we went to Arches National Park, which is where this picture was taken and a topic for a later posts. I'll be sure to share and post more pictures of the trip then.

Pray for me ...

Keeping with the Fun Inaugural Facts!

Ronald Reagan's 1985 public Inauguration took place inside the Capitol Rotunda due to freezing weather. This was the coldest Inauguration day on record with a noon temperature of 7 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pray that we have a nice, warm 50 to 60 degree day on January 20, 2009! Actually, pray for unseasonably warm weather January 17-21. That's all I'm asking.

Prepping

It's been a long while since I've posted. My apologies to my three loyal readers.

I haven't had too much going on, but right now I'm knee deep in studying up for my trip to D.C. I've been refreshing my memory on all the sights of the city, but I still am not certain of what my itinerary will be for the tour. I should have a better idea later this week once I receive my packet of information ... hopefully.

In the spirit of the upcoming inauguration, I thought I would share a few fun facts over the next few days.

Fun Firsts - Media and its inaugural role ...

1. 1845 - James K. Polk's inauguration was the first covered by telegraph and the first featured in a newspaper illustration

2. 1935 - Calvin Coolidge's ceremony was first to be broadcast nationally by radio

3. 1949 - Harry S. Truman had the first televised ceremony

4. 1997 - Bill Clinton was the first ceremony broadcast live on the Internet

Stay tuned for more fun facts! (I know you're full of anticipation!)