a redeeming day

First, I have to apologize for complaining and moping so much online recently. The first two days in DC were hard, and the lack of sleep didn't help. And although others frequently slighted me, I'm sure that most of it wasn't intentional. I'm just too sensitive.

Friday was the day that redeemed the DC trip for me, though. Not that I can say it was a great trip, but it was a good day. I couldn't sleep so got up at 5:00 am, showered, and did some work on the computer. By 7:15, I was taking my husband's advice and walking out the front door of the hotel to wander around DC on my own. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency near Union Station, and I took advantage of the nearness of all of the major attractions. I walked toward the capital and past it, around the American Indian Museum, down the National Mall where they had some solar home competition going on, past the Washington Monument, through the park beyond it, and past the Vietnam Memorial. I couldn't help crying as I saw (again) all of the names on that wall of people that gave their lives for our country in a war that people didn't even support. I was glad my dad's name wasn't on there, and that the bullet he got just went through his arm and not his heart. (If his name was on there, I wouldn't be here at all, come to think of it.) I walked into the city, down to George Washington University, and then took the metro back to the hotel. I went to a morning session and then, a few minutes later, it was our turn for the presentation (I was presenting with Karen, another PhD student from my department). Twelve people came, and none from our school--a very good turnout for a grad student on the last day and second-to-last session of the conference. Then I headed home, listening to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince all the way. My day in a nutshell, and not too exciting, but redeeming. Since I made you suffer through my misery, thought I'd let you know it all turned out okay.

Goodnight, and make tomorrow a happy Sunday.