Terrible Twos

Friday, Nov 28th--Day after Thanksgiving.

Just came back from a delightful morning with Ms Z. We went to Sidamo on 3rd & H St, NE where Kenfe was roasting coffee. So nice to smell the roasted coffee in the cold air, and the chaff floating east down H Street. Had our usual breakfast of a bottle of water; a large coffee; and sausage, egg & cheese on an everything bagel. Ms Z is becoming more and more bold in her interaction w/ strangers. Some retired doctor sat down next to us at the cramped tables, and Z looked him in the eye and said, "Good Morning!"

With the last of our breakfast disposed of, we walked out to the car (so nice that Z is under her own power at least 5% of the time, these days), and stopped to watch one of the little cars that suck up dead leaves and trash from the gutter. Ms Z waving frantically, and getting a smile and a wave back from the city worker...

Next, we drove over to the Mall and parked in front of the Museum of Natural History. Thinking we'd walk over to the newly reopened Museum of American History, I had promised Z "trains", but had a moment of doubt when I realized that, given the vagaries of museum curatorship, and the tens of millions of dollars, and three years of renovations, the trains of my youth may have been banished to some remote annex in rural Virginia, or something. Not to worry: after milling around the Mall waiting for the museum to open (10am?), then standing in line for about 30 minutes, we finally were ushered in. Trains!!!

Oh, and a really nifty mock-up of the Chicago El, circa 1956, complete with flickering lights and clickity-clack soundtrack. Actually got a bit of vertigo, as it felt just like the Chicago El circa 1996... Anyway, love the new open layout of the central entryway of the museum.

Left American History, and headed over to the Carousel, where Z rode the "horsey-dragon". She kept letting go of the central post, so I guess we're still at the close-chaperone phase.

Next we went to the Air & Space Museum, saw the planes &tc... Went to the museum shop, and one of the clerks told us to go downstairs. Didn't even know there *was* a downstairs. Apparently that's where the bargains are. Got a few airplane themed books to keep the horseys from consolidating a complete monopoly on Ms. Z's imagination.

Left A&S, ate some fish crackers while watching some folks play "Ultimate Frisbee", then headed over to the National Gallery sculpture gallery, where we saw the "skinny rabbit" (who, Ms Z says, has "boney knees"). Watched the ice-skaters there for a while, did some "horsey-trotting" on the concrete lip overlooking the rink railing, and then walked back to the car. Five minutes later, we're back at Chez Nous for lunch & a nap.

Love this town; love that girl...