Well I was offered a job by Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) today and I turned it down. It simply was not what I was looking for. However, I have a job interview Tuesday in Danville, VA (about 5 hrs away from the district) a 2pm. I figured I will drop Gillian, whom is coming this weekend to spend the 4th of July with me, at 7amish at the station and then I will head down to Danville. Hopefully, I can avoid all sorts of traffic. I'll do the interview and then I will have dinner down there...maybe check out the area a little bit (the idea is to kill time to avoid traffic) and then head back to DC. Moreover, I believe I will have another interview next week with Winchester City Schools (not county...but city).

Gillian comes up this Sat at 6am, and we'll spend the weekend together.

Interview

I'm off to the interivew. I'll let ya all know how it goes

Update:

I heard back from several more jobs. One got my application and is processing it and I got an interview Tuesday, next week in a Baltimore County school district. Woodlawn School, from what I can tell it has its positives and negitives. I also am going to apply to an Education Director at a WW2 museum in Auburn Indiana.

Also a good friend of mine Katie Kreuger, whom I have not seen in a while is here to stay for a couple days. I'm sorta showing her around DC and investigating parts of the city I have not been to yet. It'll be fun.

Also today I scored a free Trival Pursuit Pop Culture 2

My dad and I on fathers day. 

The Excorcist Steps! 

Database Training

So yesterday, today and tommorow I will have MIMSEY training. MIMSEY is the database the the Smithsonian uses to catalog items. The training is incredibly boring. The program is the most anti-user friendly piece of software I have ever used. At times I just wanted to stick a red-hot poker in my eye...thats about how well the training and programs went.

I also took photographs of the objects, which is going quite good. I am becoming some what of a mediore photographer and I have realized that I really need a new digital camera.

I also got word that another place I applied too, turned me down :::sigh:::.

Bad News

Bad news...Winchester, VA is offically out of the running for teaching opportunities. Which is ok, as it is balanced by my numerous applications at other school districts.

The famiily

Ok so my family came over for the weekend which was nice because I got to indulge in types of food I would have never been able too and enjoy the company.
I tried carribean food at Red Ginger, which was not only really good but really exspensive. Lots of jerked this and jerked that along with spicey sauces coupled with fruits and nuts made for a unique food experience. My family and I also tried a place called Pizza Paradiso, again traditional style Italian pizza, not only great food but at a great price.
Besides food we also visit some sights. One of which was the Archives which was great because I saw all the famous documents of American History along with a new exhibit (The Public Vault) which was just great.
This week will also kick off the Folklife festival which from the sound of it should be a great experience.

Six Months

Today, Gillian and I celerbrate our six month anniversity. I started dating her back on Dec 19th. I have enjoyed every moment I have spent with her. We've been through a lot together, New Years Eve, Coopers Wedding, assorted parties, midnight driving in downtown DC with roads that disappear and reappear in different sections, a scary hospital visit, Coffee infused walks through downtown Bowling Green, music concerts (which, I seriously do like going too...just not those kinds of concerts :-) ), trips to PA...through the snow, attempts to fix both our cars that result in casualities (like the day my battery died), clubbing in BG, shopping together, "Macguyverathons", cooking together, and roommate timing just to name a few.

I miss you hun and cannot wait to see you fourth of july weekend.

OOOOOoooo...Nancy. Ronald and Gillian will never know of our love affair. 

Ugg...I am getting sick of writing Letters of Interest, Letters of Applications, Thank you Letters, continually adjusting my resume, and filling out fucking forms.

WW2 Memorial 

WW2 Memorial 

a Dumbo and a teacup from the rides at Disneyland 

The Watergate!! 

In Search of History II

Today I searched at Watergate Hotel for some sort of marker that incidates the events that took place there. I first asked Gift-Shop-Asian Lady about it. She looked at me for about 30 seconds...and she said "marker?". I then explained about the watergate break in and I was looking for something that suggests it took place here. Again more silence...finally she respones..."no, no marker".
I then left and wandered around until I found someone who might have a clue. The security agent at the side door suggusted trying 2600 Watergate. I walked over there to that location and the enterence into that part of the building was closed. Oh well...I have plenty of time this week.
-For dinner I decided against the meal of Tuna and Garbonzo beans out of cans and insteaded opted for Bertuccis, which is quite close. I called them and got the carry out section and ordered a Margheti pizza. All I have to say was that was the best 10.00 I ever spent.
The was clearly oven-baked, good spices, not too much cheese...everything had the look of a solid traditional pizza AND at a decent price I could afford! Moreover, they also gave me eight sourdough rolls! I think I may step out for a walk up a bit.

Last Night...

Mental note: NEVER EVER HAVE DOGFISH HEAD BEER...EVER!
It had to be the worst beer ever in my entire life. It tasted like citric wood. And to think I spoiled the soothing taste of yuengling with that crud....uggg....

Well I am off to go work out for a bit....I'll probably post later tonight.

The bed where Lincoln died 

Doolittle's goggles 

Vaudeville ain't dead, baby! 

Hondini's handcuffs and legcuffs! 

Oh...I did...bitch! 

Museuming

Went museuming (is that a word?) today. Saw some really cool stuff and had some interesting encounters.
--Sketchy Situation One: Man walking down street, at more than normal pace at 8:50am; had in his hands a JVC video-camera. See's me and says, "Yo man, you want this?". I pause...think about all the possible situations that could arise if I say "yes" and reply with a confident "no". Man's reply, as I hurridly walk away "I was goin' give you this!"
--Sketchy Situation Two: Walking on the mall, towards the Washington Monument, when I was approached by a young male probably between the ages of 25-27. Now after living in DC for a while the next thing that usually happens is "Do you know where such and such address/street is?". Not in this case, he asked me if I know where I could get some weed. I said nope and walked swiftly away.
--At the library of Congress, I looked through some old War of 1812 books but the highlight was an exhibit on George and Ira Gershwin! Ya know the man who brought you "Rhapsody in Blue". And they had an exhibit on Bob Hope but I enjoyed the Vaudville elements of that exhibit more then the exhibit itself. Moreover, I was pleasently surprised by the artifact of Harry Houdini's hand and leg cuffs!!!!
-- I also stopped by Fords Theater (closed until Jne 19th) but the hosue where Lincoln was shot was open.
--All in all a damn good day.

Sorry I have not been posting. I prepared for an interview at Frederick County Public schools (near Winchester, VA) and it went HORRIBLE. It felt like I had no idea what I was talking about, I felt like I was being grilled...like they wanted to show the lack of experience I had. It also could be the four hour drive including a 1.5hr traffic jam around Manasas and me getting lost (twice) in Winchester and that it was over 90 degrees out and I was in a black suit. Or maybe it is because I really have no idea what I was talking about. ::Sigh::, All I know is that I hope my thank you letter scores some points.

At anyrate, I've also been applying to other positions.
Marietta,GA seems like a shot as does Anthony Wayne High School.
I've also been applying at Museum Education Positions. One in Rockford, ILL and another in Petersburg VA
I wil probably be applying to a Historical Prison in PA, apparently at one time home to Al Capone.
I've also been generating my own ideas on Museum Exhibts. I was thinking topics entitled:
1. Break your fast for Breakfast: The History of Breakfast
2. Money and Men: The History of the Mob
3. Tasty Creations: The History of American Brews and Beers (This would make sooooo much money)
4. Level Up!: The History of Video Games
5. The perfect slice: A History of Pizza.
--Feel free to add your own.

I still can not figure out where the hell to buy with a debit card at a decent price, fruit. I've been forced to eat fruit and veggies out of a can. My dinner today was Tuna and Carrots..straight out of the can. However, I still have flavored water!

They finally opened the Washington Monument a little bit. 

Random picture that captures the depth of the city. 

Olde Hickery. I like this picture because the sky opens up in the background 

"Hot Times Summer in the City" 

Dulles Air and Space

Fantastic Museum, one of the newest ones. Parking was $12 dollars, however, I am sure you could park off the site and walk it in without anyone knowing.
Spent a good four hours in the museum looking and reading about aviation. Other cool items include Japanese, American and German experimental planes and guided rockets, along with, the Enola Gay and hte Concord (the Full B-29). The Enola is a HUGE airplane. Additionally, in the control tower they have displays and mockups of a modern aviation command and control.
The museum is still "in the works" some stuff is not out and the exhibits are not FULLY complete, but it is enough to get the gist. Another interesting item is a Vietnam era Huey and a collection of various early Balloon paraphenelia (like 1700s).
An interesting fact is the French at the seige of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War used balloons to lift supplies and people in and out.
Oh yeah, some other cool artifacts include coal from the Berlin Airlift, Eddie Rickenbacker's uniform(totally cool!), a SPAD and Neuiport WW1 aircraft.
I almost bought a book by John Morrow on WW1 Aircraft, but I have too many books already. :-)

F-86 Sabre...Korean War Vintege. 

P-40E Curtiss 

Space Shuttle Enterprise! 

SR-71 Blackbird! 

Top five things...

The top five things I have learned after a week in DC.
1. Fresh fruit is a luxury. And fresh fruit at affordable prices are non-existant.
2. Buy Beer before 10pm.
3. Always be vigilent of loose change/dollar bills on the ground.
4. Peanut Butter and bread is a breakfast food.
5. When eating out, you had better make sure its the best damn food you ever had.
6. Starbucks and Subways (the food) are ubiqitious
7. Newspapers and books are plentiful.
8. Street urchins and beggers are awarkward to deal with.

Me at the CSA line at Bull Run. 

My home away from Home 

In search of History, Beer and Breakfast

Saturday:

Visted Winchester and Bull Run Battlefields. Good times had by me and my cousin and his friend. Winchester seems to be a sleepy town, lots of quaint little shops scattered about. However, it is not without it's basics like a Wal-Mart (a supercenter to boot!) and a Papa Johns. I took a look at the housing market (God damn bubble) and I can not afford to buy a house, UNLESS I want to una-bomber stlye it up in a shack near/in the Application or Blue Ridge Mts. Apartments, on the other hand, are plenty and affordable.

Saturday Night:
Apparently, beer can be had out of a grocery mart behind 10pm. And I did not want to pay 5 dollars for a drink at a bar (at least not yet...). So I basically hung out with some of the people who live in the dorm. I also found a cup full of change sitting outside the entrence to the dorm...Hooray, I can do Laundry!!

Sunday Morning:
Apparently breakfast can not be had at 7pm, as nothing was open I walked a total of 10 blocks to find breakfast. It was not until I got back to the general vincity of my dorm that I tried Au Bon Pain. As luck would have it, ABP was open. After an exhaustive search of looking at the selection; I settled on an Apple Dutch Bagel, a Washington Apple (which is rapidly becoming, by default, my favorite apple) and a large cup of coffee. Total cost was 3.25. I think I found my new favorite breakfast spot.

The Union Line...only 300 yards(!) away from the CSA line! 

Thursday/Friday

Thursday evening:
Apparently I have a birds nest right outside my window. I guess mama bird insists on chripping at odd hours including 2am, 3:20am, and 4:50am.

Friday:


I went to my internship and took photos of dermatology equipment (for the smithsonians imaging database), researched more medical devices and the highlight was working two hours in the polio gallery. I talked to many people but two kids stood out. One must be destined for greatness (or an ass-kicking in high school) as he was wearing a T-shirt with the periodic table of elements and new way too much about science for his age. The other was a girl who was rabidly interested in the science stuff we had out. She came back numerous times and asked intelligent questions.

Also, check out this link to Giant Microbes. They have plush microbes for sale, including black death, lice, the common cold, the Clap and syphilis etc.

So I was walking through Lafayette Park
Enjoying the brisk afternoon, when suddenly, a protest of a seemingly spurious nature erupted. I found myself watching in awe as the protesteers were from various age cohorts. They were protesting Social Security Privatization with a chant of "Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Privitization has got to go". The chant was very medicore, however, catchy as I found myself several blocks away saying it under my breath (and I am for SS privitization).

I came back, had dinner which consisted of a can of chicken and freezedried fruits. I proceeded to the Rec Center and ran for an half an hour and lifted for about 20min; focusing on my lower body.

As luck would have I came back and a group of my dormmates, whom I met yesterday, were going to see the movie Crash. We walked to Dupoint Circle and at a little Italian Cafe. The interesting thing about the Italian Cafe, was that the sounds and sights in the Cafe were not italian. Up on the walls were french cafe paintings and playing overhead was Blue's Travelers "Hook". An odd juxtaposition, if I do say so.

There at the cafe I had two beers. Yuengling, which was a pleasent diverson from that mornings Smithsonian activities and a Foggy Bottom, which I will never order again. FB tasted rather bitter and "brunt".

I decided not to go to movie, as I really just wanted to hangout with people of my own age for a bit. On the way back I stopped at a bookstore (which I will have to return too) and bought a book, "US Cold War Uniforms: 1945-1973"...its more of a reference book than anything.

Today, I will be heading to see some Civil War Battlefields and the city of winchester.

Das Kapital! 

Inside