Run Kami run!

After many, many months of training and I can't even begin to imagine how many miles run, Kami completed her first marathon on Sunday!!  This was originally supposed to happen back in December before the Icy Disaster swept through and cancelled the race, so here we are almost three months later with a baby road trip over to Fort Worth for the Cowtown Marathon on a beautiful spring-like day (a million times better than the ice and snow!).  The perfect day for a run!  You know, for you people who like to do that kind of thing...

Check out the awesome medal - it's a spur!  I love you, Fort Worth.

Go Kami!  Winnie the puppy dog was not cooperating on the picture-taking, but I promise she was very supportive.

I have absolutely no desire to ever run a marathon in my life (I probably wouldn't even wake up for it...), but I'm happy to support my friends who do.  It gives me an excuse to create inspirational craft projects that look as though they were inspired and executed by a seven year old (giant bubble/block letters!  pink glitter paint!).

So proud of you, Kami!  And just watching her run 26.2 miles made us hungry, so Carolyn, Eva, and I had frozen custard from Curly's and delicious brunch at Cafe Brazil in her honor.  You know, we had to walk a little bit from where we parked to the finish line...there was even a very small hill involved.  Definitely exercise.  And then I promptly went home and took a nap.

Holidayapalooza 2010, Virginia Beach-style

Christmas season 2010 was a little all over the place.  Craig and I drove down to Virginia Beach on the 21st to spend some time with his parents, where I learned the following things...

The beach is always beautiful, even when it's freeeeeeeezing outside.

The city of Norfolk has mermaids everywhere.  EVERYWHERE.

Large, imposing battleships are much less scary when adorned with a wreath.

Water is alllllll around.  And it can come get you.  I'm still not totally comfortable with water.

I also learned that my future father-in-law is an exceptional board game player (especially one particular game involving military strategy), my future mother-in-law is a rather wonderful hostess, and some kitty cats actually do like Craig (ahem, Harrison).  Check out the pictures from the Virginia Beach adventures here.  More holidayapalooza to come...pretend I'm flying from Norfolk to DFW at this very moment...

Ponies, ponies everywhere

Amarillo is covered up in horses.  Plenty of real ones, yes, but there's also a herd of fiberglass quarter horses.  Center City of Amarillo and the American Quarter Horse Association (headquartered here in A-town) have teamed up for "Hoof Prints of the American Quarter Horse - America's Horse," a city-wide public art display featuring fiberglass horses outside local businesses that have been painted by local artists.  We are allllll about the horses here, and there are some really cute ones around town!  Also some odd ones here and there, but we'll focus on some cute ones for now.

Last night we had a need to get out of the house after spending the day in a bit of a Thanksgiving coma, so we drove around a bit and laughed at the people standing in lines during sub-freezing temperatures, just waiting to snag their bargains.  We also checked out a couple of ponies I hadn't seen before...it's Amarillo and there's not just a whooooole lot to do.  This one is "Reflections of Love" outside the Amarillo Children's Hospital.  Isn't it sweet with the mommy horse and the baby horse??  Plus they're shiny, which is just awesome.

But I think I was most amused by the sign accompanying the horses...

Outside the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, there's none other than a black horse (looks just like the Masked Rider, except...you know...minus the rider) complete with a Double T:

One of my favorites is the horse outside Hooters - it's sporting the traditional Hooters waitress attire along with a bright red set of lips.  It's delightfully tacky.  And that's how we do it here in Amarillo.

Mo' crazy signs round these parts

In Northeast D.C. near the Franciscan Monastery and an entrace to Rock Creek Park.  Given the "Sundays and holidays" restriction, I'm guessing it's more for the monastery and less for the park.  Although "going to church" is hopefully a little more involved than just "sightseeing"...

Forgive the angle which gives it to us backwards, but it was the only responsible way to snap the shot at Brookland Metro since I was in my car.  What exactly does "kiss & ride" mean?? 

My own parking garage.  Why the 1/2, seriously?

Nature is not an ash tray, ESPECIALLY at BOTNSOTIC where they specifically tell you so.

Well, you're not going to get those directions to the restrooms very often.  One place where you will is Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery.

I'm guessing the Mexican restaurant next to Ray's Hell Burger gets a lot of people looking for the burgers.  The really tasty burgers.

You know, because you send them plummeting to their death on the concrete floor about thirty feet below.  Courtesy of the Udvar-Hazy Center, giving you some basic parenting tips.

On a massive jet engine, I'm hoping it would be somewhat obvious where at least one source of danger lies.  Arrows aren't really necessary.  Air and Space Museum.

The next hot spot

Every Sunday the Washington Post Arts & Living section does a few travel features, and you know who snagged a piece of the spotlight for the first weekend in November?  None other than the Texas Panhandle.  That's right, the place draws you in with its rich history and captivates with..."a vast, silent expanse of flat, arid land that is almost defiantly inhospitable to human activity."  Well, if that's not a selling point, then I don't know what is.

Ok, the article does go on to actually celebrate a few local spots, and while I don't necessarily think of the Panhandle as one of the world's most exciting travel locales, it certainly holds a special place in my heart.  Especially when the details section of the Washington Post directs you to fly into Oklahoma City to get to the Panhandle.  Oh, heavens, Amarillo at least has an airport.  It's even an international airport.

Some of my Panhandle, and specifically, Amarillo, favorites, just in case you ever feel the need to explore that flat, arid land.  And yes, there will be a lot of food involved.  Specifically...Tex-Mex.  There's a lot of other delicious food, of course, so I'll wax nostalgic on those in connection with something else.

• Tex-Mex rules.  Go to Tacos Garcia and order the Tampico plate.  And then go to Rosa's for anything (and at least one tortilla) and Leal's for the green chile queso and Abuelo's and The Plaza and I wish Paradise Too was still around.  The waitresses knew my family there.  Best nachos and Spanish rice EVER, and Mom and Dad would always spring for the Andes mints at the end of the meal.  I loved that place.  Oh my gosh, Taco Villa!!
• Stanley Marsh 3 signs.  Not III, 3.  Yes, he's that kind of guy.  A eccentric rich guy who gets a kick out of getting people to put up crazy signs like these all over town:

• The Tri-State Fair.  I didn't realize what a good show they actually put on until I stopped in at some really unforgettable fairs in Abilene and Lubbock (we're keeping the comparison in the smallish zone, kids - of course the Texas State Fair is awesome) and developed a greater appreciation for the fried ice cream from Amarillo's finest vendors operating out of trailers.
• People are generally nice here.  That finger lifted off the steering wheel is a greeting, not the finger.  The land of ya'll and howdy.  Something to be said for that.
• Semi-seasons.  It totally snows in Texas.

There's more, but that'll do for now, ya'll.  Except for one last sunset.  And a few power lines stretching across that vast, silent expanse of land.

More signs

That's right, time for another edition of crazy signs.  Assorted locales along the East Coast, minor moments of amusement, possibly only amusing to me.  Enjoy.

I'm still just fascinated by the diplomats.

Big kids...go ahead and run right over them.

American Indian Museum.  Please respect the inantimate objects.

Yes, I went through the McDonald's drive through.  I really needed fries.  Thank goodness I wasn't planning on using any coins to pay, though - that offer might have been shot down.

From Durham, North Carolina, I bring you....Sanitary Fish Market!  I mean, I appreciate the sanitary nature of your fish market, sir - maybe you should name it something a little more appetizing, though.

And from Provincetown, Massachusetts....cars, one way, bikes, two.  Two legs, bad, four legs, good.

And then from New York City...oh, just go to town on that one.  It really made me laugh.

Crazy signs, German & Czech edition

I was flipping through my pictures the other day (digitally flipping through them, of course - I don't remember the last time I actually printed some out. Must make use of those prepaid prints I have on Snapfish...), and I remembered just how many crazy signs we encountered on our journeys through Germany and the Czech Republic. You've seen the crazy signs of D.C., courtesy of me, a couple of times. Ok, they might not be considered "crazy" to all, but I find them amusing and entertaining in some way, so now you're going to get Crazy Signs, German & Czech Edition from yours truly. Enjoy.

Ok, so ABSOLUTELY NOTHING can take place in this street. Especially young children chasing balls.

Czech dogs are apparently very ashamed of the fact that they must "go" in public. At least the city kindly provides everyone with bags.

And a detail shot of the bags! Were the slippers necessary?

So...are you supposed to add water to your coffee? Or can the water stand alone?

No, there's not a separate "baby" restroom - just clarifying that there's a changing area available. I think.

She's really excited about her giant ice cream treat. So...I thought I would share in the excitement.

Caution! You could be electrocuted at the monastery!

No plastic boots on the escalator? Ummm....no rainboots? I'm still confused by this one.

Caution: crossing for children with books and bows. All other kids...don't mind them.

I hope their slogan only applies to creatures of the sea and not, say, any people who happen to be swimming that day.

Silly signs

Just a few more reasons why I always try to have my camera with me. Silly signs amuse me.

Likely intended to provide some awareness of a school/playground in the area, but I'm going to take it to mean "beware of teeter-totter AND children with floating heads."


I don't recall learning it quite that way in school. Special earbones? I wasn't aware that was a distinguishing feature of mammals. Merriam-Webster makes no mention of special earbones. Every other resource does, though. I think I glossed over this in my years of science education. Good thing the Museum of Natural History is here to set me straight.


You know some moron, mesmerized by the hypnotic beauty of the cherry blossoms, smacked his head into a branch and possibly (1) developed a small bump and accompanying headache and/or (2) fell into the Tidal Basin. Both possibilities now warrant the city posting signs for something that is glaringly obvious to anyone with the gift of sight. Oh, that reminds me - please exercise caution with hot beverages.



Neat and tidy liberal spray-painting defacing city property. Theoretically put in place before last November's election.



The best part is "signs paid for by Georgetown University" at the very bottom. Hush up, now, all you crazy college kids, and please stop disturbing your very wealthy neighbors.

On a side note, tomorrow I welcome a Texas visitor in the form of Jenny P, fresh off a week of imparting her knowledge on impressionable young minds at Pdub's national tax training. SO excited that she'll be here for the weekend, and I can't wait to see her!!

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

Never hurts to always have your highly portable camera on hand. As much as I would love to invest in a ridiculously awesome camera and the lenses to go with it, it's hard to pass up the handy size of my current device. I try to always have it on hand so I can capture whatever might come across my path during the day. I mean, you really never know. I've spotted some interesting/amusing/probably-only-funny-to-Erin signage along the way, and it's time to share a few:

Parked outside the Judiciary Square metro stop. Now, does the FBI really need "police?" I mean, they are the FBI....why don't they just put "FBI" on the side of the car and be done with it? I guess they have to distinguish between the truly intimidating folks and the ones who push paper all day.

Spotted near a security checkpoint outside the White House. Do they intend for the dogs to throw away their trash? "Now, Bruiser, you throw away that greasy wrapper from your street vendor hot dog!" Maybe it has something to do with training vicious attack dogs, fierce canines who sniff out drugs and would-be terrorists...

Snapped this picture while driving through Georgetown. Tons of diplomat plates all over this city, but I don't think I usually see them on a Hyundai Azera. Cost cutting is everywhere!! Actually, this car probably sets you back more than I think it would. I really enjoy the pretty shade of blue that distinguishes a diplomat plate from all the commoners on the road.

This won't comfort Mom and Dad too much, but I snagged this picture while stuck in traffic about a block from the only Target actually in DC. Logically, shouldn't this particular warning be in effect no matter where you are? I'm guessing this area is known for something more than the fairly recent opening of large chain stores...

And continuing with our stuck in traffic photo opportunities...grabbed this one while winding my way down Constitution Avenue, and I knew when I laughed out loud at the bumper sticker under the brake light that I should snap a quick picture and share it.

More to come, I'm sure - there are all kinds of crazies in this city and signs to go with them.