Inalienable Nights

This Fourth of July weekend had some high points, as suggested by the patriotic beauty and leisure shown above.

Things got off to a good start at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Admittedly, Meg the Merciless let her intergalactic plasma-wielding powers get the best of her.
[MK: I felt like I'd just snuck past Lake McCormick and into the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab... muwwhahaha!]
Fortunately, this cosmic cool was balanced by the fluffy sweetness of an unexpected confection shop at the National Harbor. (BD, we thought you'd like this, too!)
As the Sun began to set, we were treated to a wonderful honey hue against the marble and columns erected in honor of Mr. Jefferson, as the kids around here call him.


Our evening tour of the sights continued well past dusk and into the darkness. Of course, once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

Not featured here in photo form are the memorials to George Washington and the Vietnam and Korean wars. All three may be united under the conceptual umbrella of the commander-in-chief, however, and we had the good fortune of being able to sneak a peek at his residence. (And who knew we could see what was on the TV upstairs?)

The next morning held some pleasant surprises for us. We took a walk along the water and wound our way through the Gaylord National Hotel. To clarify: we were not there as members of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas conference...but we did find a lonely piano that needed some cheering up and did the best we could, natch.


As many of you know, in addition to being a music enthusiast, Ben is also a novice Belgian-style Ale afficianado. Imagine our surprise when we learned that the hip and quietly luxurious restaurant where we grabbed our locally sourced organic lunch was, in fact, a chain based in Brussels? (It seems that, for all their pleasant hospitality and fresh sprigs of mint, the Belgians have yet to discover the Arnold Palmer.)


For those thirsting for more, fear not; this is but one version of recent events. Expect more photos and brilliant narrative in the days to come! :)