DC Metro

After arriving in Washington D.C. for our family vacation this summer, we parked our vehicles and relied on alternate transportation around our nation's capitol. Outside of our primary mode of transportation (our feet!), the secondary mode was the Metro. And let me tell you, it is difficult to navigate through a large city on the week before a big holiday with 30+ people, many of whom are under the age of 12. We didn't need the additional challenge of trying to decipher the kiosks in the station! This is one of the machines where riders can purchase a fair pass. Sorta makes one's head spin, doesn't it?

I found myself befuddled by how the passes were used too. A columnist for our local paper also visited D.C. this summer and in her article, she mentioned that they threw out their metro passes after a day--before they realized they could redeem the card balance on their next pass. I did the same thing, spurred by the fact that the gates will not accept a pass that has less than $1.60 on it. To make it even more confusing, users can add to a single pass, but can't combine more than one pass.

I'd be surprised if there was a user experience designer involved in this project. If so, I guess I wasn't the target audience. It just felt counter-intuitive to me, especially for a city that has masses of tourists.

Shouldn't it be easier?

Summer afternoon pursuits

Take clear skies and warm sunshine, add in the company of a great friend and top it all off with a trip to the Munson Bridge Winery and the result is my idea of a perfect summer afternoon. Discovered by my dear friend Leah last fall, the two of us made a return trip recently. The winery is located in Withee, Wisconsin and it's a true delight. It's owned and run by a local family. Their specialty is fruit wine and they have several varieties from which to choose. I highly recommend the Mango Symphony. Besides wine, they have a fabulous selection of gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

The ambiance of the winery is charming; the decor, eclectic. I especially loved how this old upright piano was transformed into a wine rack.

Leah and I relaxed in their expansive backyard on a swing suspended from a large tree. That's what summer is all about!

The Sears Tower

Traveling with my father on a road trip was always an adventure. I'm sure it was a cacophony of noise and questions for my parents. As we drove through Chicago fairly frequently, one of the things we always wanted to see was the Sears Tower (recently renamed Willis Tower). We were captivated by the idea of the tallest building in the world. My father's favorite joke on the road was to point out the window on the Skyway at this building. "Look, girls! It's the Sears Tower!" You would think that we would not fall for this trick more than once, but we did. So it was with a small smile and a heaping helping of nostalgia, that I pointed out the building to my nieces on the recent road trip. "Look, girls! It's the Sears Tower!"

Library of Congress

Dear readers...you know I have an affinity for libraries. So you can imagine how I felt as I stepped into the largest library in the world, the Library of Congress.

The Library of Congress was established in 1800. Thomas Jefferson sold his personal library (over 6000 volumes) to the Library of Congress after the war of 1812 destroyed most of the original collection. Many of these books were destroyed in 1851 by another fire, but the remaining books are still on display. I was misty-eyed as I viewed those books in person. And seeing the Gutenberg Bible was astounding.

The size of the library is mind-boggling. About 10,000 items a day are added to the collection. Thirty-two million books are in the catalog. Three buildings make up the library: the Jefferson (seen below), the Madison and the Adams.

 

For a bibliophile such as myself, it was a near-spiritual experience.  I only had 40 minutes, but it was a great 40 minutes. Beautiful.

Toy sword

At Ford's Theater, my sister pointed out this toy sword that was owned by Tad Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's son. I was amazed. Can you imagine this sword being sold as a "toy" nowadays? If my nephews used this sword, I'm sure there would be some serious repercussions. :)

The cost of freedom

For me, Sept. 11, 2001 dawned like any other day, but by the time the sun set, the world was changed for millions of Americans, including myself. I remember the incredulous horror, the suspended disbelief and the subsequent confusion in the days following 9-11.

Recently, I had the privilege of going to the temporary Flight 93 Memorial near Somerset, Pennsylvania. As I listened to Wendy, the National Park Service ranger on duty, somberly and respectfully recount the timeline of the day, I was moved anew. We are blessed to live in a country where ordinary citizens stand up for our nation and for each other.

The permanent memorial is under construction and will be dedicated on the ten year anniversary. I hope see the finished project one day, but in the meantime, if you can see the temporary memorial, do so. It's worth the trip. Sometimes, the word "history" conjures up thoughts of ancient Rome or the Revolutionary War: events that happened long before we took our first steps. This memorial reminded me that each of us is part of history. We're shaping it one day at a time.