agenda[uh-jen-duh]

a list, plan, outline, or the like, of things to be done, matters to be acted or voted upon, etc; A list or program of things to be done or considered

Synonyms include: plan, program, schedule

Eversince Leia came home from her autum stint in Washington, DC in 2001, she and I promised that we'd both visit this wonderful city together in the springtime. Fall in the east coast is rich in color, brisk in weather and just beautiful. But the nation's capital has a unique characteristic for a few weeks in April - cherry blossoms.

Leia and I weren't sure back then when we should go, so we called out a random year in the then distant future - April 2008. Whether we were engaged, married, with child; basically no matter where we were in life, we promised Washington, DC that two of their former citizens would be back for a visit. Who knew this day would come so quickly? So Leia and I bought our plane tickets in late January, got Gwennie to join in the madness and last Friday, April 4th, we sat at the John Wayne airport in the OC ready to head east.

And so we left the OC, landed in rainy Houston to connect to a 2nd flight to DC only to discover that our flight, along with a slew of other Continental Airline flights, was cancelled due to weather conditions.

Long story short - Continental tried to get us on the very last flight to DC that night, but the plane was full so we had no choice but to take our complimentary pouch of Continental Airline travel-sized toiletries and check into a nearby hotel for the night. The next morning we were treated to a complimentary breakfast at the newly-remodeled (according to our front desk clerk, Tony Lee) Clarion Hotel, complete with a Texas-shaped wafflemaker. After such an ordeal, Leia and I just concentrated on small accomplishments: Woke up on time - Yay!...Got on the shuttle - Yay!...Got seated on the plane - Yay!...LANDED IN DC FINALLY -HOORAY!! Take a cab to the hotel? Nah...let's take the metro! I couldn't begin to say how happy I was to be on the Blue Line to Largo Towncenter. It's the line I took to work everyday, and it made me happy to anticipate every stop on the way that afternoon; knowing that Reagan National Airport was followed by Crystal City (where I lived), which is followed by Pentagon City, followed by the Pentagon stop, followed by a minute or 2 of daylight when the Arlington Cemetery stop came, and how my ears clogged on the way to the Rosslyn stop, located under the Potomac River, and then out we went at Foggy Bottom. It felt like I'd been on a long vacation and was coming home.

Leia and I were so happy to finally arrive!! Here she is jumping at Washington Circle. DC is full of circles!

When Gweenie got to the hotel after her morning gallavanting around, I practically jumped her because I was so happy to see her! The three of us felt like we hadn't seen each other in months! hahaha! After we settled in, we treated ourselves to Sushi Taro - $38 for all-you-can-eat sushi!! Leia and I were just happy not to be eating at the airport!

After watching fireworks to celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival, we hung out at Kramer's Bookstore. A bookstore/bar/late-night cafe-lounge, complete with a guitar-strumming lady singing covers (James, you could take her).

On Sunday morning, DC was clouded in drizzle, but we managed to catch 9 am mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It's quite a long metro ride up the Red Line, but it was well worth it. There was a line of cherry blossom trees on the side of the church so Leia, Gwen and I hung out for a bit, took some pictures, and just enjoyed our morning.

Next on our agenda was the Butterfly Exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The exhibit room was a warm 86.2 degrees, filled with free-flying butterflies who were not camera shy.

Next came a stroll through the National Mall. The mall begins at the Capital Building, extends to the Washington Monument, proceeded by the new World War II Memorial, and ends with the Lincoln Memorial.

In the distance is the Jefferson Memorial situated by the Tidal Basin which, during this time of year, is encapsulated with pale pink cherry blossoms.

It had been a long morning of walking but we didn't care. It was just too pretty there. At that time, the cancelled flights were behind us, the long stay at the airport didn't matter, and the gloom and rain were but trivial circumstances. It's funny what finally seeing what you came to see can bring comfort.

We cabbed it back to the hotel where the three of us napped for about 2 1/2 hours before our last dinner in DC. Al Tiramisu - next time you're around the Dupont Circle area, look this place up! The service was great and the risotto I had was the best I've tasted since our European vacation 2 years ago. Here's our waiter...whose name I can't remember.
I think Gweenie's favorite part of this trip was her bed at the Marriott. She would be the first to get up in the morning and while Leia and I got ready, she'd get back under the covers and wait patiently. She even dried her hair in bed! hahaha!!! Leia was still keen on the city. Great navigating and planning, Leia Beth! (Watch out for rogue electrical cords!) I just tried not to let my tendonitis bother me. For the most part it was good...except for all the times I totally ate it. Oh man...but we won't get into that. =)

Thanks for a wonderful trip, Gweenie & Leia! Cherry blossoms in 2010?