Tuesday October 19, 2010

Wow, am I behind in my blog.

Yesterday, we saw the White House, the Holocaust Museum, late lunch at the Hardrock Cafe, and then Ford's Theatre. Then in the evening we did a Haunted House tour--about an hour and a half walk around downtown DC. Very interesting and some more historical information. We had a late supper at a nice Greek restaurant.

Today we're going to the Washington Monument and Arlington Cemetary--at least that is our plan. Tonight we go home. My feet are ready for home.

I'll have to catch up with photos then because we want to see what we can while we're here.

Tomorrow night, back in Lincoln, we're going to the Lied Center to see the Capitol Steps to complete our Washington trip.

Nebraska Nellie

Monday

Yesterday, we toured the US Capitol, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, and the Newseum. We took lots of pictures. I'll try to post some tonight. We were exhausted, but it was great.

Nebraska Nellie

Vietnam War Memorial

This memorial is a wall naming all the casualties in the order of their death. This panel is where it starts. Dale R. Buis died in 1959, before most of us even knew that we were in Vietnam. It is very moving to see how many we lost in that war.

Nebraska Nellie

Korean War Memorial

This is also a photo of one of the soldiers in the line at the Korean War Memorial. This soldier's face is actually the face of the man who designed the memorial.

Nebraska Nellie

Korean War Memorial

I had never seen the Korean War Memorial before, but it is impressive. This is a photo of part of the wall that has actual photos of Korean War veterans lasered on it. The line in the photo is where two of the sections join. It is very difficult to get a good photo because to see the photos well, you have to look at it from an angle. Our tour guide is absolutely convinced that the photo in the middle is Alan Alda from MASH. I think she is right. He is not a Korean War vet but brought a lot of attention to that war in his television portrayal. It was an excellent show.

Nebraska Nellie

Washington Monument

The Washington Monument was planned before Washington's death. This is why it is a monument rather than a memorial. This photo was taken from the Lincoln Memorial

Nebraska Nellie

Lincoln Memorial

Yesterday on our tour, we saw the Lincoln Memorial. I've seen it before but I think it's a beautiful memorial. Our tour guide explained the significance of the position of his hands. He has a clenched fist for war and an open hand for peace. His foot is forward on the side of peace.

The Gettysburg Address is on one of the walls. When you look out from the columns in front of the memorial, you look across the reflective pool directly at the Washington Monument. We've been past it several times, but haven't stopped there yet.

Nebraska Nellie

Smithsonian Natural History Museum

This photo was taken this morning by my guest photograher, KS, at the Natural History Museum's Living Butterfly Garden. I took my camera and forgot to put the battery back in after charging it. We were able to walk through the butterfly garden that was filled with flowers, fruit, and butterflies. We weren't supposed to touch them but they could touch us. Some of the butterflies were huge. Look at this one compared to the pineapple. According to one of the signs, they have tastebuds in their legs. It was beautiful. We were checked at the end to make sure that none of them escaped with us.

Nebraska Nellie

World War II Memorial

This is the pillar or column that represents Nebraska in the WWII Memorial. We were so fortunate to see one of the Honor Tours there with the veterans of WWII at the Memorial. Many of them were in wheel chairs. It was an honor to see some of our men and women there. A woman veteran was being escorted in her wheel chair.

There is a column for all 50 states and 5 territories. One side is for the war in the Pacific and one side represents the war in the Atlantic.

We're heading out for more photo opportunities and lots more to learn today. I'll keep you posted.

Nebraska Nellie

Happy birthday, Montgomery Clift.

Today Montgomery Clift would be 90 years old. He was born on October 17, 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska. He has a fraternal twin sister. His mother home schooled the children.

He and another famous Nebraskan, Marlon Brando, sometimes competed for roles. Clift was known for being moody. A personal favorite movie of his for me is his 1951 film, A Place in the Sun. His costars were Shelly Winters and Elizabeth Taylor. He and Taylor were very close friends.

In 1956, he was in a very serious car accident. After that, he took on a hard look--in my opinion. He became addicted to pain killers and alcohol.

He was nominated for four academy awards and has his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Clift died at age 45 of a heart attack--most likely due to his addiction to pain killers, or so it is speculated. It was a huge loss.

We're thinking of you, Montgomery Clift.

Nebraska Nellie

Washington DC

Last night my niece and I arrived in DC about 7:30 pm. I friend of mine picked us up at Reagan International and we went to eat at Phillips Flagship. What is better than all you can eat seafood? We ate crab and crab cakes, mussels, clams--fried and steamed, salmon, chowder, etc. We got our monies' worth. We then were treated to a ride around the memorials and monuments. It certainly is beautiful at night.

We checked into our hotel and got some rest after planning for a 6 hour tour today. The tour was by OnBoard and I would highly recommend it. Our tour guide was Amy and it was easy to see that she likes her job. She was very knowledgeable and interesting. We saw the monuments and stopped at several of them for photos. We also had a yacht ride with lunch on the Potomac. I had never done this before. My niece has never been here before and I haven't been here for about eight years.

I love tours if they are done well and this one was. We learned so much and saw so much. I wanted to do a tour on the first day so we could get our bearings and we did.

This photo of FDR at his memorial is but one of the many things we saw today. I have lots more to show you, but I need some sleep.

Tonight we went to Alexandria, Virginia on a ghost tour. It's fascinating to see all the old homes and buildings here that were built when our country was being created. We ate at an Italian restaurant--Il Porto before the tour. It smelled so good when we walked in. I had lasagna. It was delicious.

The tour was fun and interesting to hear about the ghosts of Alexandria. Of course, no day would be complete if I didn't embarrass myself in some way. There was a small pothole in the street and I stepped in it and SPLAT! I had my camera but I had put it in my purse. Although I feel somewhat jarred by the fall, the only thing that really hurts is my pride.

Tomorrow we have a birthday of a famous Nebraskan. Does anyone know whose birthday it is? If not, check in and I'll let you know.

We'll be in touch and let you know what we're up to.

Good night and sweet dreams.

Nebraska Nellie

This week I'm preparing to leave on a short trip to Washington D.C. I haven't been there in a few years and I'm looking forward to touring the White House and the U.S. Capitol. I love seafood and plan to eat my fill of it. My niece loves sushi and we'll definitely have to find a sushi restaurant. We'll visit the Holocaust Museum and several of the Smithsonians.

We'll also go to the monuments. I'm hoping the leaves will be changing. I plan to take lots of photos. I'll share them with you.

Nebraska Nellie

Happy Birthday, Chuck Hagel

Chuck Hagel was born on October 4, 1946 in North Platte, Nebraska. He graduated from high school in Columbus, Nebraska. He is a Vietnam Vet.

He was in the cell phone business when it was a new thing. He became Nebraska's U.S. Senator in 1997 and remained so until 2009.

I liked having Chuck Hagel as our senator. He was often on the Sunday news shows representing our state well.

Today he turns 64. I hope he has a wonderful day.

Happy Birthday, Senator Hagel. We miss you.

Nebraska Nellie

Happy birthday, Evelyn Sharp!

Evelyn Sharp was born October 1, 1919 in Melstone, Montana. She grew up in Ord, Nebraska. She learned to fly at age fourteen, and she soloed at sixteen. Two years later she received her commercial pilot's license, one of the youngest persons to achieve this rating.

In World War II, Evelyn joined the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, flying everything from training craft to bombers. She flew when it was rare for women to fly.

On April 3, 1944, at twenty-four, Evelyn Sharp was killed near Middleton, Pennsylvania, in the crash of a P-38 pursuit plane. She is buried in Ord.

Nebraska Nellie

Tony Curtis

No, Tony Curtis is not a Nebraskan, but we lost a great actor on Wednesday. In April, I attended the TCM film festival in Hollywood. One of the films they showed was The Sweet Smell of Success. Tony Curtis was there to talk about the film and his career. He was also selling his paintings and books and signed hundreds of autographs. He was clearly weak and in a wheel chair, but what a treat to get to see him and other famous film stars in their movies.

Next year's TCM film festival is scheduled in April. I plan to go. Can't wait.

Nebraska Nellie