Adventures with Tom

Nighthawks by Edward Hopper

Our good friend Tom visited us recently. From the beginning to end of the weekend, many, many things went awry, but of course we also had lots of fun. Here are the Top 10 Things That Went Wrong or Not as Planned... (don't worry, we found all of these funny, and if not immediately, then shortly, afterwards... except for #7):

1. Going to the WRONG AIRPORT to pick up Tom.
2. Once at the CORRECT airport, getting pulled over by the police for speeding (no ticket, just a warning).
3. Being unable to find parking spots to go visit the National Gallery of Art - East Wing.
4. Trying to find somewhere to eat that wasn't a hot dog stand.
5. Getting stuck inside a PARADE of anti-war protesters as we try to get back to our car. (it felt like the movies - don't they always somehow get stuck in a parade? we weren't being chased by secret agents in hot pursuit, though...)
6. LOSING OUR CAR!!!!! we found it eventually, after about a 45 minutes of looking.
7. Georgia Tech losing to Boston College. :(
8. Riding on broken rollercoasters at Six Flags... OK, it's not as scary as it sounds. We just got strapped into the ride and then were told to get off. Many of the other rides were closed down right before we got on them, too.
9. Getting lost/mixed up on the way to downtown D.C. when some 2-way roads were converted to 1-way.
10. Losing Tom in downtown D.C.... (partly because of #9).

Six Flags posse

But really, it was a fun and funny weekend. Unfortunately, we forgot to write down the Tom-isms, but here are some highlights of the weekend:

- Tom saw John Ashcroft at the airport.
- The impressive Edward Hopper exhibit. ("Hey, isn't Elvis supposed to be in that picture?")
- Getting to traipse around and explore D.C. more.
- Eating outside at the Navy Memorial and enjoying the amazing weather.
- People-watching the anti-war and pro-war protestors. Observing democracy in action!!
- Finding our car. :)
- Chillin' at home, watching football, and playing Wii tennis and baseball.
- Enjoying Six Flags with old and new friends, for free, compliments of Booz Allen.
- Running into random Georgia Tech people at Six Flags, not knowing they'd be there too.
- Talking about China, world politics, religion, culture, technology, and God with an old friend!

National Gallery and Chinatown arch