DC: Day 4 - The New Frontier

Oh, Say Can DC …

Day 4 – The New Frontier

My last night ended with late night room-service pizza and a realization of how lucky I was to be able to spend this time here with my boyfriend. I know most companies frown on their employees bringing guests, but all of his workers said they couldn’t wait to see me at the next conference. I was very worried that I wouldn’t fit in with his employees or they wouldn’t approve of my being there. It was just the opposite. 

All good things must come screeching to a halt though, right? And they did.

My flight left at 8:55 the next morning. Meaning an early morning after a late night. I was up and fine after a cup of coffee. Next, the cab to the airport.

It had gotten confusing when I tried to explain to others why I was there. I simply started telling people I was attending the conference too - people like taxi drivers. This driver was amazed that I was knowledgeable of something so technical and I was proud of the alias I created in that 20-minute drive to the airport.

Being an overly-punctual-lady, I had gotten to the airport too early. The check-in desk wasn’t even open for my flight! A few other early birds and I had to wait about 15-minutes for it to open up.

I had never flown Frontier before. Not sure I ever will again if I have the choice. Flight was delayed about 20-minutes. The flight attendants are borderline sassy / rude. Not to mention, that complementary soda you usually get on other flights? Yeah, you have to pay for that on Frontier. There’s no leg room

"Foxy" got us there safe though!

(of course you can pay to upgrade for “stretch” seating). You can tell, they’re trying to make as much money as possible by taking advantage of cramming dozens of people into a confined space and giving them limited options.

The first flight was smooth. And the Denver Airport is surprisingly nice, minus the many interesting people who fly out of there. I had the pleasure of sitting next to a man, while I was eating lunch, who was vividly (and loudly) telling the story about how he walked in on his wife with a Mexican from work in his bed. And let me remind you, he was loudly describing this story. Poor me and the little old ladies next to me who shared awkward glances at each other while we ate as fast as we could.

My second flight arrived late too. I thought to myself, “Yup, never flying Frontier.” My row companions consisted of a Southern woman who prayed out loud during take-off and landing and a 6’3” lanky man who was very upset that you had to pay for television on the flight (this I was okay with, because during the free trial of what you could watch, he turned to Tosh.0 and was cracking up watching some projectile vomit segment, yeah, no thank you).

I turned on my music and closed my eyes. Next thing I knew, I was in a cab back home from an amazing trip. 

And I look forward to where I, I mean he, goes next, and of course, I will tagalong if I can.

Until then!

DC: Day 3 - Monumental Adventure

Oh, Say Can DC …

DAY 3 – Monumental Adventure

WARNING. 
THE FOLLOWING BLOG CONTAINS MANY “SELFIES.” THE PHOTOGRAPHER WAS TRAVELLING ON FOOT WITH AN IPHONE AS DOCUMENTATION DEVICE. IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY THE TAKING OF “SELFIES” YOU ARE ADVISED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.

THANK YOU AND PLEASE ENJOY THE FOLLOWING NARCISSITIC BLOG.

I could spend the rest of this post typing out where I went on this beautiful Monday, but you know, I documented everywhere I went (with the exception of the American History Museum which didn’t allow for photography) in pictures.

Here goes my monumental adventure!

We start at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History!

Mosasaurs. 

I call this - Turtle, Turtle.

This is Fido's first traceable ancestor!
Hmm, you think he'd bury himself? Sorry bad bone joke.

Taggin' along with some fossils.

This guy look familiar? Here's why!

These guys were literally, giant sloths.
How awesome (and terrifying) would that be?

"Oh, you know, just hangin' out..."

Onto the next adventure, I found a butterfly garden! 
AKA a place to show off my new haircut!

Next, the Monuments and Memorials begin!

Washington Monument under construction!

WWII Memorial

Of course, California photos were necessary.

Hey! I've got a monumental idea!

Walking past the Reflection pond
 to the Lincoln Memorial

Some of these monuments legitimately gave me chills.

(HINT: If you pretend to be taking a picture of something else, then you can get away with taking a picture of yourself simultaneously!

Lincoln Memorial

Washington, D.C. is sure a beautiful place.

Korean War Memorial

At the sombering Vietnam Veterans Memorial, I walked by an elderly man wearing a Navy hat. He stopped. Reached his hand up to a name, held it there, and gave it a couple pats before he walked away. I badly longed to know his story, but I didn't want to intrude on his moment. I can only imagine the memories these names provoke and the stories they took with them.

____________________________________________________________________

Guess who was standing here to take this picture?
This rebel, right here.

The White House

"Wait, what was that Mr. President?"

As I was taking this picture, I guarantee
someone else was taking one of me.

I was right! I got caught!

LIVE from the Capitol!

Coming to you from the NBC newsroom.

Next, I got to enjoy my inner-geek. The Data Conference my boyfriend was attending held it's party at the Newseum in DC. This is the ultimate place for a broadcasting major like myself. Simply amazing. 

I could spend all day here. 

(Plus, the place was stocked with free food and an open bar - only enhancing the exhibits!)

The Newseum is the ultimate Valhalla of BECA history.

DC: Day 2 - Cutting it Short

Oh, Say Can DC …

DAY 2 – Cutting it Short

           

I took my sweet time waking up that morning. Losing 4-hours flying cross country, mixed with staying up late and pineapple martinis, resulted in a very sleepy Tasha who was unmotivated to get out of bed before 11:30. Hey! That’s like 7:30 West Coast time! That’s what I told myself so that’s what I’m telling you.

I had until 5:00 when my boyfriend got out of his conference. I had to find something to do. So, I chopped it off. Well, Collette chopped it off. Talking about my hair by the way. 

Sent this picture to my Mom who called it, "short & sassy."
Oh wait, or was she just describing me...

The hotel had a high-end spa. Collette did a fabulous job at interpretting my “shoulder-length” criteria and making it work for me.

With my new hair, I went to go grab some lunch. Naively, I walked into a sports café in the hotel. I had failed to remember that the NFL was kicking off at that moment. Here I walk in, picture a watering hole much like those in the Savannah. And imagine me the lone Zebra and see what would ensue.

When it was time, I got to join my boyfriend (who was happily surprised with my new-do) at his Data Convention and nerd-out! I got to meet his entire work team and they were all so welcoming of me being there. They even found a way to get me into the Data Party on Monday!

My boyfriend works for an alcohol distributing company. His group of co-workers really knows how to ‘expense’ their trips and enjoy their product often. I never really drink. Keeping up with
this crew was rough at first, but somehow I’m here today writing this blog.

The Data Crew

Sunday night proceeded with sparkling wine, elderflower cocktails and Irish coffees. Yuck. Did you just grimace? Because I just did as I typed that out. That sounds like a terrible combination. But you know what? I didn’t feel groggy the following Monday at all. In fact, it was my most productive day yet!

DC: Day 1 - Getting There

Oh, Say Can DC …

DAY 1 – Getting There

Let's talk about business trips. While I’m not in “the business,” per se, my significant other is. So, when it comes to the occasional trip, I’ll be a tagalong. Pay my own ticket and that’s that. This time it was Washington DC.

I didn’t know if I was actually going to go until 2 weeks ago. It took some convincing, works shifts that needed covering, and a couple glasses of wine to put me on that flight. But I got there.

I couldn’t fly the same airline as my boyfriend (his company paid for Virgin nonstop flights, of course). Trusty US Airlines was what I could afford. I had a 3-hour layaway in Philadelphia -- which is desperately close to DC, yet far away when you’re stuck in an airport.

This guy helped out on my layover.

 For my first time traveling solo, I’m pretty proud. Not too turbulent there. Minus the overtly touchy-feely couple I sat next to on my first flight and the shameless-selfie taker on the second. But I handled them like a pro.

Next thing I knew, I was waiting for a shuttle to take me back to the hotel. We were ready to go, until this couple ran up to the driver out of breath, “Can –“ (insert wheeze here) “you take us to our place,” (insert more out of breath sounds). And, of course, the driver won’t turn down more riders. Here in my shuttle was the overly eager husband and the obviously tired, aggravated wife. And while he and I small talked she would budge in, “yeah, it should be great,” in a tone that meant she really wasn’t expecting it to be great. Always surprises me how some couples work.

Anyway, this couple wasn’t just staying at any hotel – they rented a house. An obscure house that, apparently, I couldn’t have been dropped off before finding. If you’ve driven, or been driven, around DC you know those roads can be crazy confusing. The shuttle driver actually asked me which way I wanted to take to the hotel. Heck if I know!

He admitted he had already driven that way and, apparently, traffic was so bad that he didn’t want to go back. Well, "Sorry," I thought. In my head I was saying this sassily and sarcastically, but out loud I was being apologetic and polite like my Momma taught me.

“I’m definitely not coming back here tonight!” He said. And I took a dollar off his tip for that statement.

Gorgeous, right?

Finally, we arrived at the hotel where my boyfriend met me in the lobby. It probably was one of, if not, the nicest hotel I’ve ever stayed at – the Gaylord National Resort and ConventionCenter.

That night consisted of drinks at their rooftop bar. Mussels. Fries and more drinks at a restaurant downtown. Not to mention, we were sitting next to a very vivacious group of women celebrating a birthday. Dinner and a show? Yes, please!

After, we headed back to the room as my boyfriend had an early morning in store. Me, not so much an early riser – but you’ll read about how I spent my second day next!