Lunch Break

This trip was a field trip, actually it was an excellent lunch break.

I went with my friend Nashwa paddle boating on the Tidal Basin. The Tidal Basin is the small body of water where the Jefferson Memorial is located.

We have been planning this trip for about a year. We keep saying “Let’s go paddle boating”. Finally this week we made solid plans. Our plans were to go Friday after work. On Thursday Nashwa text me and told me that she couldn’t do it Friday after work. So I suggested the morning (I am a morning person). I meant the next morning– Saturday morning. But didn’t clarify myself so she came to my office all ready to go Friday morning. Ha ha. It was great to get away from the office for an hour or so and hang out with a good friend. The weather was perfect.

It was the best lunch break I’ve ever had.

Me and Nashwa

the ducks that followed us and the bridge we paddled out to

us hitting the wall. We were told to stay 20 feet from the walls. opps!

June 27, 2007 Posted by srjarvie | DC | | 1 Comment

Chicago

Chicago- Art and Architectures style

June 14-18, 2007

I went to visit my good friend Meijken Westenskow in Chicago. Her husband Brett is getting his MBA at Northwestern and unfortunately left for his summer internship the day I arrived.

June 14- Fly out of Dulles on Southwest Airlines and boy do I have a story! The lady at the desk went over the loud speaker asking for volunteers to give up there seats. I thought sure—why not? I was just planning on wandering around Chicago till Meijken got off work. So I rushed over to the lady. I was the first one there. For giving up my spot I received $100 and the price of the flight ($59) in Southwest vouchers. Sweet! Wait it gets better. The next flight is only leaving an hour later. I can totally wait and hour. I was planning on reading A Raisin in the Sun while I waited. Guess what? I didn’t have to wait. They put me on the same flight. I guess someone didn’t show. So in the end I fly out at my scheduled time with $159 in Southwest vouchers. NICE! Good way to start my vacation. Too bad my parents couldn’t have some of my flying luck. (Last year I went to Alaska on Alaska airline miles that I was given for giving up my seat.)

ART

When I arrived in Chicago I took the “L” from Midway to Downtown. The first thing I did was go to the Art Institute of Chicago. Great Museum. I went on a gallery talk and rented the audio tour. I spent 4 hours in the museum and didn’t see everything I wanted to see. I did see quite a bit and here are few of the works of art that caught my eye.

Meijken met me in Millennium Park by the fountains.

And then we went and saw the BEAN the coolest sculpture Ever!!

and FOOD…..

Then went to Evanston and ate some Chicago style pizza. Really what is a trip to Chicago without tasting the pizza? It was pretty good. We had a yummy pizza cookie desert too.

June 15- I explored the city on my own, as Meikjen had to work.

ARCHITECTURE

I went to Oak Park to see some Frank Lloyd Wright houses. Is architecture art? Here are pictures of some of his houses.

Sears Tower. I went to the top of the Sears Tower which held the record for the tallest building for many years. I learned all about the city of Chicago from the audio tour at the top. It had great views.

FOOD

After work Meijekn met me and we went to Greektown for dinner. We had an amazing dish and I don’t remember the name but it was tasty.

June 16

ARCHITECTURE

Meijken and I went on a boat architecture cruise. I had heard that Chicago was famous for it’s architecture. I see why, it has so much. The cruise was great.

After the cruise we went to the south side to the University of Chicago and saw Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie house. It was great.

June 17

In the morning before church Meijken showed me Northwestern’s campus and Lake Michigan. It was a bit overcast but still nice.

June 18

I flew back to DC.

summer in the city 2007 Meijken and Sara….

June 22, 2007 Posted by srjarvie | Illinois | | 1 Comment

Duck Beach

Every Memorial Day weekend (May 25-28, 2007) hundreds of LDS singles head to the Outer Banks. This year Scotty came with me. I din’t take my nice camera with me. So I don’t have a ton of pictures but here are a few pictures of the trip. For more pictures see Scotty’s website or blog.

On Sunday a few of us went to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

On Monday Katie, Nate and I went off roading in old Jeeps. We went along the beach and in the sand dunes. We saw wild horses and had a great time.

June 20, 2007 Posted by srjarvie | North Carolina | | No Comments Yet

Graduation Week

My family came out to DC from Oregon, Utah and Washington to celebrate my graduation from The George Washington University with a masters degree in Higher Education Adminstration, May 16-24, 2007.

May 16- My mom, dad and brother Scotty flew in.

May 17- Tourmobile! We took the tourmobile all over the city. We got off at the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery stops. At Lincoln we saw the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam memorial and the Korean Memorial. At Arlington Cemetery we saw the changing of the guard and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

At the top of the step of the Lincoln Memorial.

We got on to the metro at about 5:30pm, which is peak rush hour in DC. We all squeezed in…all except dad’s shirt cuff. He got stuck in the door! He couldn’t move his arm. I don’t remember the last time I laughed so hard. Cute little dad stuck in the metro door. Luckily our stop opened the doors and he was freed. We laughed so hard, I am sure the regular commuters thought we were crazy.

May 18- I worked. L Kristen came. J Mom, dad, and Scotty went to the Chesapeake Bay.

May 19- Morning- My graduation. I walked across the stage and recieved a medal from the School of Education and Human Development.

Me and my classmates after the ceremony.

The family at the reception after the ceremony.

Afternoon- We went to the Washington DC Temple

Evening- Went to the School of Engineering and Applied Science Graduation. I had to work and the family came to cheer Colin on as he graduated.

May 20- Morning- GW graduation on the National Mall. It was great. The stage faced the Capitol, which is my favorite building in DC.

Afternoon- Celebration BBQ at my place.

May 21- First, we went to the top of the Washington Monument. It has great views of the city. Then I gave the family a private tour of the National Gallery of Art. (If you read my Obsessions Blog you know I love art museums). Lastly, we went to the National Cathedral.

The Washington Monument, it’s height, and a couple of the views from the top.

Kristen and I doing the same pose we did almost 6 years ago, in the National Gallery of Art.

The National Cathedral and Kristen smelling the flowers in its garden.

May 22- Dropped Kristen off at the airport (sad, too short) and drove to Gettysburg, PA. We bought a CD and did a driving tour of Gettysburg. I am glad I finally got to visit Civil War site.

We also stopped to see the Knouse family historic round barn.

May 23- We drove around Lancaster, PA. It is famous because so many Amish people live there. We even took a buggy ride.

We stopped to take pictures of horses for dad

And black faced sheep for mom

Ed’s Buggy Ride

May 24- Mom and dad started thier flight home. (it is another story how long it took them to actually get home!) Scotty stayed with me and went to Duck Beach, NC.

Pictures of Scotty taking pictures. See his blog and or website for more pictures of the trip.