More fun! Filibuster!

We got up and headed out to Maryland for lunch with relatives at vegan Chinese restaurant called the Vegetable Garden. We had this huge 4 course lunch based on book. It was a very good lunch. They used lots of fancy mushrooms. Afterward, we headed to the National Book Festival, sponsored by the Library of Congress. They'd run out of free mesh bags by the time we got there, but I did get a nice poster. On the way from the Metro to the National Mall, we met up with Chris and Shelly, and noticed that ESPNzone had the score for the NU game. We were playing Indiana, and the score was tied. They'd just gone into the first overtime. We stayed to use the bathroom, but left as soon as we saw Indiana score. Little did we know that NU would go on to win the game in 2nd overtime. Go Cats!

At the National Festival for the book, Brian Flyg met up with us to hang out with Dave Smith. We hit the Museum of American History. They had a big exhibt on Vote, The Machinery of Democracy, which was cool. I also enjoyed the transportation exhibit American on the Move that featured a 1950s era Chicago "L" train. Afterwards, we were walking around and noticed that the Senate was still in session, so we headed over to watch. I had to wrangle some gallery passes, but managed to convince a Connecticut Senate staffer to give us a bunch. We watched Senator Mary Landrieu speaking, effectively filibustering the Senate. She was unhappy that the corporate tax bill didn't include her original funding for support for members of the Reserves and National Guard. She read her letter to the President (of the US) on the matter as well as letters she'd received from people in the Reserves and the National Guard. It was really cool to see the Senate in action, even it was only her there to speak. By now, we were starving so we headed to La Loma's for dinner. I had heard that the Mexican food in DC isn't the best, and eating there confirmed that observation.

After dinner, we headed to Dupont Cicle. We hit Kramers and decided to go do some people watching in the cirle. Katy, Shelly, and I tried out the different little perfume bottles my grandmother had give me earlier. I think we're in the wrong generation for most of the Christian Dior perfumes. Rich also had his first Krispy Creme Doughnut.

Sunday arrive, and Katy, Dave and I head to Eastern Market. We walk around for a bit, but arrive too early for the Market Lunch, so we headed to brunch at Bread and Chocolate. Katy was looking for a present for her mom, so we hit the National Building Museum. They had an exhibit on concrete. While that may sound kinda dull, it wasn't. Ever see transparent concrete? It's awesome. I have an entirely different view on it now that I've seen how it is really Liquid Stone.

At the Musuem, I was trying to fulfill my mobile obsession as well. They had tons of mobiles in the first shop, but they were unfortunately too expensive. I just think one would look really nice in an office. One of the people in my department has a cool mobile hanging in her office which look like little dentist mirrors. She got it at an art fair from the Mobile Guys.