Fight Like a Girl

Cece, Nana and I went to NYC to participate in the 2018 Women's March. Last year we stuck to Hartford, which was a great experience but it was more of a rally than a march. Sometimes I girl just needs to spread her wings. Needless to say, the day was a huge success. This was Cece's first trip to the city. The crowd was big, everyone was friendly and courteous, Mother Nature participated, giving us sunshine and near 50 degree temperatures, and of course, Cece was a stand out. At 5, she's just starting to recognize what the fuss is all about. I talk with her about why we march, and ask her questions to judge her level of understanding. We are getting there. She loves to tell people about the march and I still find her singing to herself, "hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go." LOL. You go, girl.

She's very proud of her signs. I am very proud of her.

Cece the Politician?

Two weeks ago we took Cece on her first vacation. We hit the road and headed south to northern Virginia where my bestie (and Cece's fairygodmother) Caitlin and her husband (also a close friend of mine from High School) Jared live. Both Caitlin and Jared work for the federal government and have been tied to Washington, D.C. for several years now. We hope someday they will be able to move closer to home but for now we're happy to visit them every chance we get.

 The car ride took us about 6 hours and Cece slept the entire way, both ways. I knew she would sleep a lot in the car, she always does but I had no idea she would sleep that long! Turns out she was coming down with her first cold. Even with the sniffles she did remarkable well on her first trip away from home. She loves action and didn't want to miss a thing when we were out and about.

We had hoped to hit up a few Smithsonian museums and perhaps a few of the monuents but D.C. was really, really crowded. Apparently the beautiful weather combined with the holiday weekend, the cherry blossom festival and the NCAA men's basketball tournament which was in town made for madness on the Mall. Still, we enjoyed walking around and sightseeing from afar. Cece visited the Capitol building and waved to the protestors out front. I told her about how I once lobbied at the capitol (say no to drilling in ANWR) and how someday she could become president someday if she wanted. Cece the politician? She could change the world!

We stopped in the U.S. Botanic Garden while we were on the Mall. It was beautiful inside. It made up for the fact that we missed the cherry blossoms by a week!

Before we left the city I was able to catch up briefly with my college roommate, Maya. We met as freshman at Gettysburg College and she's the sweetest, most amazing person ever. Love her. I hadn't seen her since our wedding and it was so good to catch up, if only for a short visit. She's one of those friends who no matter how long it's been since you see each other, the conversation is always so easy and everyone has a good time. Maya, you're the best!

It was a fun trip and nice to get away for a long weekend. Everyone was tired out by the end of the trip, even their dog Otis! Cece did great, even with the sniffles and I think it gave James and I got a good taste of what it's like to travel with a little one. Not so bad for the first time around!

Get out and...

...Vote! Happy Election Day!

Summer Vaca Part III: Bodie Ghost Town

On our way up to Tahoe, James and I made a detour to visit Bodie, CA, a ghost town literally frozen in time. The state of California maintains the buildings in a state of "arrested decay" - meaning everything is exactly as it was when the last occupant vacated the town in the 1940's after decades of decline. Bodie was established in 1861 and after the discovery of a large deposit gold-bearing ore in 1876, the town had transformed into a Wild West boomtown of over 10,000 residents. At its peak, Bodie had over 65 saloons along its mile long Main Street. A "lawless" town of miners, Bodie experienced ballroom brawls, shootouts and murders on a daily basis. After many years of profit, the town started to experience decline in the 1880's as gold towns were discovered in other states. By 1910, only 700 people remained. A devastating fire tore through the town in 1932 and the last resident left the town in 1943. The town was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and a California State Historic Park in 1962. There are about 100 buildings remaining in Bodie. James and I were able to walk through what's left of the town including a church, school, general store, saloon, fire house, mortuary and many residential houses. Most of the buildings still had personal possessions in them. It was really, really interesting and also a little bit creepy. It also reminded me a little of the mining town we visited on our Vegas trip a few months ago.

The only residents left in the town of Bodie.

James thinks this would have been our house if we lived in Bodie. What do you think?

Payroll books for the Standard Mine - 1879.

Stay tuned for our last installment of our Summer Vaca Chronicles - On to Tahoe!