Adventures of a Quantum Cowboy

Entrance to the Public Vaults, where there are many interactive displays.

…in fact I really enjoyed myself. The goal was initially to hit the National Museum of American History, but unfortunately that was closed for renovation until “Fall 2008″. Oh well… maybe next time. I walked down the mall, past the National Museum of Natural History (thought about ducking in there too), through some lovely gardens (separate post pending) and saw the Archives across the way. Envisioning miles of dusty boxes guarded by marines (or perhaps that secret government warehouse in Indiana Jones), I at first shrugged it off as a possible tourist destination. I was strolling past it with my eye on a coffee shop down the way when a sign caught my eye.

“Discover your National Archives Experience!”

To which I responded (in my head of course), “quoi?“.  Enlightened by the sign to the fact that the Archives do indeed welcome visitors, I proceeded to the public entrance, and entered… I was extremely impressed.

After the usual monument rigamarole of the security screen, visitors are provided with several locations within the National Archives and Records Adminstration to explore.  The most visited is the Rotunda, a cathedral-like chamber housing the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.  With majestic carpeting and towering paintings that depict the founding fathers adorning the sides of the domed room, the Rotunda lends itself very easily to projecting a state of awe.

The Constitution of the United States, on display at the Archives.

In the gallery area, there are many interactive displays about various events in U.S. history, grouped by themes found in the Constitution (”provide for the common defense,” etc).  I explored many displays on the revolution, the civil war, civil rights, watergate… actually quite exciting for a history buff!

There is also a film theater underground that plays various videos on U.S. history and democracy, and a gift shop.  I picked up copies of “Jefferson’s Bible”, and “Von Braun,” the latter a biography about the brilliant German-turned-American rocket engineer who help architect the U.S. space program.

All in all, a thoroughly fascinating visit… highly recommended for any history buff, or anyone with an interest in exploring the key documents that make up our country’s past.

The photography machine is still mothballed while I wait on my new house to close… hopefully by Monday that will go through!   I will remain a busy time though, with everything to take care of at the new place.

However, I do have some photos to post!  I’m in DC right now for the NASA 50th Anniversary Celebration, which was last night… happy birthday, NASA!  While I’m out here I’ve been doing some exploration of the city, as I haven’t been here since I was a little kid, and I really don’t remember much.

Funny story: so I get off the metro at the Smithsonian station, right near the national mall, I confidently mount my short lens, and prepare to take a gorgeous morning shot of the Washington Monument… and freeze, staring in disbelief at the LCD screen.  “NO CF CARD.” And I say to myself, “you have got to be f-ing kidding me….” But alas, yes, it’s true, I left home with all of my camera equipment except the memory cards. DOH! Fortunately I was able to buy some from the Air and Space Museum gift shop, but talk about fleecing… $32 each for 256MB flash cards!!! Ugh. So I bought two and I’m shooting on “medium fine” for this trip… I’m an idiot.

Fiascos with mem cards aside, I hope you enjoy the shots from the nation’s capitol.

Sorry, photos still delayed… I have to move out of this house by the 15th, so its a hectic time of packing and moving boxes.  Not to mention all the paperwork etc for the new house!  Will get to some photography soon I hope.

Wow!  What a great weekend.  I’m just wrapping up a trip out to Lake Tahoe with the fam and a whole bunch of family friends.  One the families we;ve known basically forever happens to own a time-share condo right near the water, and they graciously invited us out for the long weekend.  Notable outcomes: ended up $25 down when I left the tables at Harrahs, my doctor-ordered “low-cholesterol and high-excercise” lifestyle was totally obliterated over the course of the last three days, and… got some early morning dawn shots of the lake and waterfowl.

Another bit of interesting news is the fact that my workplace is switching over to the 9/80 schedule.  The 4-nine-hour days, 1-eight-hour Friday, 4-nine-hour days, 1 Friday off schedule should give me two long weekends a month to get some more travel and photography in… sweet!  I totally can’t wait.

Life has been busy with the preparations for the move (did I mention I bought a house?) and work overload as usual, but rest assured there are plenty of photos in-process for eventual posting.  Check back soon!  I hope everyone had a safe and fun long weekend.