Fun Fact: this was my first full week of work since I’ve arrived in DC. Between virtual trainings, holidays, and vacation, I had yet to be in my department for a full five weekdays.

I spent last weekend recharging from the Washington trip and readjusting to the EST. So, by Sunday, I was feeling a little antsy. So, on a whim, I decided to take a wog (walk/jog) to the Capitol building and then along the National Mall.

(Granted, I had initially planned on walking there on Saturday to park myself under a tree with a book, but one of my roommates informed me that the Pride parade was going on that day. Not very cohesive with my idea of a relaxing afternoon, so I abstained until Sunday)

The distance from my house to the Capitol building is 1.7 miles and the length of the National Mall, from the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial, is 2.3 miles. So, in total, it was an 8 mile affair. My hips were certainly feeling it by the last couple of miles (thanks, jiu jitsu), but I had been wanting to visit the Mall for several weeks now, so I didn’t dwell on it.

I think I took the most pictures of the Capitol building out of anything along the Mall that day. On one hand, this is probably due to it being the first significant building I see and continue to see from living on the Hill.

However, I think there is something to be said for the nostalgia I experience when viewing it. When I was last here in DC, I lived on the Hill during the second half of my assignment and would be welcomed by the dome each morning as I commuted to work. I think it became a symbol of being near home.

The Supreme Court building is along the back of the Capitol building. I had intended on going on the Mall that way, but there is fencing all around that’s been up since January, so I had to go around a different way.

My absolute favorite place to visit (and to bring visitors to): The Library of Congress! I have done several guided (and self-guided) tours of the place and have learned/appreciated something new each time!

Unfortunately, it is closed to the public at the time of this post, so I haven’t been able to visit it again this go round, but I hope it will open before I leave!

Walking along the National Mall is so neat. It’s a great place to people-watch, if that’s your thing, as people do all sorts of activities here: picnic, fly kites, ride bikes/scooters, run, throw a frisbee/baseball/football to one another, read books on benches, walk their dogs, you name it!

I’ve learned that so many kinds of people come to DC for so many different purposes. Whether to work for the government, station here with the military, intern at an organization, go to college, or to just be a tourist, DC is very transient place that attracts a diverse group of people. This is one of the many qualities I’ve come to adore; there is never a limit on the stories one can hear and things one can learn from those they meet! To find two stories here that are the same is a pretty difficult task. A place I’ve found I can visually appreciate this is on the Mall.

I’d forgotten how dizzingly tall the Washington Monument is. As one grows closer and closer to it, it becomes that much more apparent.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve ridden the elevator to the observation deck up top. It’s closed now, but maybe one day, I’ll be able to do so again!

As I walked around the World War II memorial, it was neat to reflect on each state name I read. For about every place, I either had personal memories tied to that state or people I knew who lived in said states.

I thought it’d be cool to use the memorial on a prayer walk, to pray for each person/group that came to mind as I walked around the perimeter.

The Reflecting Pool. I could think of several movies involving this place: “Get Smart” (remake with Steve Carrell) and “Forrest Gump” to name a couple. Which ones can you think of?

The Lincoln Memorial is probably the most affecting of the memorials for me. While the other monuments inspire feelings of appreciation for justice, freedom, knowledge or industry and the other memorials feelings of sadness and loss, this place seems to call for a quieting of the heart and mind and for inward reflection.

I always make a point to stop and read the two speeches engraved on either side of the memorial’s walls. This is my favorite of the two: The Gettysburg Address.

What a view.

It lightly rained on and off on the trek home, but after the workout I got making the trip there, I didn’t mind.

On the way home, I got invited to dinner by the Hudalla’s, so I tried to keep a steady pace to get home, get cleaned up, and make it to their home at a decent hour. It was great getting to see them and chat after not seeing them for a week!

Monday evening, I got to have dinner and play catch-up with one of my DC friends, Elizabeth (she was also featured on the blog during my last go round in DC)! Since my last stint here, she has since gotten married and moved into a new apartment in the DC area, so it was great to see her operate in this new season and to mutually share all about what God has done/is doing! You can’t beat friendships like that.

Tuesday, I went grocery shopping after work and found a Vietnamese restaurant next door!

I got seafood curry (see that steam coming off of it?) and a Vietnamese iced coffee. Talk about YUM!

Impromptu dates with myself are kind of awesome, not gonna lie. As someone who typically operates of routine, spontaneity has proven to be a very exciting indulgence. When it includes good food and a book, that much more so.

Wednesday evening, Kathryn (my 5k buddy from Memorial Day!) and I met up in Old Town Alexandria for dinner! I asked her to think of some places for us to go and she offered three choices. After seeing Chadwick’s seafood options, it was my vote. I can personally recommend the crab cakes!

What I appreciated even more was Kathryn’s mutual sense of adventure, as she had never been to Chadwick’s either! Her acquaintance is a new one, so it was fun discovering all the things that we have in common! For instance, we both love movies and can easily talk about them! It was so fun to be able to geek out with a friend about something I too like.

As C.S. Lewis writes in his book, “The Four Loves”, “Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought that no one but myself…'”

We then grabbed some ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s (the first storefront location I’ve been to!). It was neat to see in scoopable form all the different flavors I’m accustomed to eyeing in pints in the freezer section! My choice was a scoop of Chocolate Therapy in a chocolate-dipped sugar cone. It was messy…and delicious. Not to mention, the perfect serving size to appease the sugar craving while not leaving one stuffed post-dinner.

The weather couldn’t be beat, so we ate our confections as we strolled along the Waterfront Walk, which traced along the Potomac River.

We recounted adventures and misadventures as we looked at the different boats docked at the harbor. We watched a couple of different groups of people dancing, one group by a DJ who set up in the area and another group that was salsa dancing. It was so fun to see people engage with one another, seemingly strangers turned friends.

Thursday evening, I had a night in with Kristen, in which we caught each other up on what all had transpired since we last saw one another and chipped away at several episodes of Turn.

After work Friday, a coworker and I went to a doughnut shop she had recommended! I had been telling her the previous week about my lifelong goal to find a doughnut better than a fresh Krispy Kreme doughnut and she suggested giving this place a shot. It was fun getting to know her as we ate our treats.

I got the Rocky Road doughnut, which was certainly not bad. However, a glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut fresh off the conveyor belt still reigns supreme.

Saturday morning was spent by being leisurely productive. When Saturday afternoon rolled around, it was time to get out of the house!

I had been to Jacob’s Coffee House during my last visit in DC, so ordered some favorites to go and took to a nearby park.

Fun Fact: this park was actually at the end of the street I used to live on during the second half of my last assignment, so I feel I know it pretty well.

I laid out my blanket, enjoyed my food, and laid out in the sun (trying to navigate that delicate balance of gaining a few more freckles while not roasting my skin).

I’ve decided to slow down my pacing on The Next Right Thing to milk it for what it’s worth, so I added in my next Sherlock Holmes book, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, to my current reads.

If you’ve never read it, it’s got several short stories of different cases. So short, in fact, I started and finished the above story before I determined it was time for me to get out of the sun and head home.

Saturday evening, I was invited to a game night, in which we played “Secret Hitler” (a more likable version of Mafia). It was fun to interact with new people, though it made reading people that much harder. Thankfully, they were also at the same disadvantage as me, so I didn’t too shabby at the end of the day.