Time Machine Travelogue Nine

Field Trip to Washington D.C.

The time machine is ready to go again.  I have experienced some minor difficulties in the retro circuitry since it was last used.  I have been pouring over the schematics in order to solve the problems.  Having a time machine is everybody’s dream.  If only people without a time machine knew the problems involved in owning and operating this sophisticated piece of equipment, they wouldn’t dream of having one of these.  I, after this weeks down time, have seemed to find the main problem.  It is a targeting of the GPS coordinates not retro chronometer.  It seems that the time machine cannot easily return to the same spot on the Earth’s surface too many times in a row. 

A surprise traveler at the
Minneapolis  Airport.

If you follow the previous trips, you should remember that many of them have ended up in Disneyland.  Therefore, I need to choose an alternate location.  This time it is easy, 2008.  The location Washington D.C. will be far enough away from Disneyland to not cause any difficulties. 

In 2008, my twins went on an eighth grade field trip to Washington D.C. and New York City.  They were attending the k-8 elementary school that my wife and I both worked at.  This allowed us to be chaperons on the trip.  Going on a packaged field trip does not allow a lot of flexibility.  Everyday is planned. 

The trip did not start well.  The connecting bus that was to shuttle us to the nearest airport broke down in the schools parking lot.  Luckily, many parents were there delivering luggage and saying their goodbyes, they loaded the students into their personal cars and drove them to the airport.  We were ready to fly to Minneapolis?  It was a connecting flight and layover and we were on our way.

The first days side trip was to Mount Vernon, the home of our first President, George Washington. I know some of the students were not as interested in the history.  But history was constantly there.  Everyone knows that George Washington was the Commander in Chief of the American forces during the Revolutionary War.  Also he was the First President of the United States that he helped to create.  However, he considered himself as a farmer.  In the 1700’s, farms were self-sufficient.  They grew and raised everything they needed.  George’s farm had a winery, distillery, and smokehouse.  The living history was incredible.  Displays were there to show you how they lived, prepared food, and even slept.  Speaking of sleeping it was time to go back to the hotel and sleep.

Mt Vernon

George Washington Had a Farm

Foggy Potomac View

Home and Hearth

Food preparation

Cozy Kitchen

Well-stocked Pantry

Historical Carriage

Is this a "National Treasure" Trip?

Farm Outbuilding

There is so much on a trip like this.  The second day, we were seeing our government buildings.  It is magical to stand anywhere near these buildings.  The ghosts of the past fill you with a sense of awe.  The buildings, like the United States Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the White House not only represent the three branches it symbolizes the stability of our country.  

The United States Capitol Building

"I am Only a Bill, and I'm Sitting Here on Capitol Hill"

When you see this remember all the great
Americans who have served here

This is so impressive in person.

As you may have already observed, I am relying on mostly pictures to tell the story of this field trip.  They say that one picture is worth ten thousand words.  With all these pictures, I wish I was being paid by the word.  The US Capitol is incredible.  It is hard to believe that people can go into that building and fight with each other over simple things. However, it has happened since they first occupied the building.  Men voted for some of the best laws this country stands for and, unfortunately, the worst.  Every school child who ever saw School House Rock knows "I am only a Bill and I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill." However they should remember that that any Bill that passes through both the House of Representatives and the Senate are housed in this building.  But from here it goes to the President's Desk in the White House.

House available every four years

We the people are the landlords

A home to be proud of.

Here live the people's choice to lead Our Country.

Look, here is my daughter future home when she's President

Those aren't roofers.  Those are military snipers

guarding the White House.

We all know the third branch of our government is the Supreme Court.  Here too there have been and will be decisions made that change our lives.  As an educator, the Brown v. the School Board of Topeka, Kansas changed things for the better.  Without these branches who knows chaos would ensue.

Athena would be proud

The Supreme Court resembles the Parthenon in ancient Greece.  The Parthenon was built to honor the goddess of wisdom, Athena.  We hope that the men and women of this body use the gift of wisdom.

The time machine is letting me know that we need to return to the present.  In a subsequent trip however, we'll return for more of this field trip.  So get your boarding passes ready. Also check out the other time trips we have taken.  I'll soon be readying the time machine for a trip to this destination and others.  Thank you for flying with us.

I am looking for a name for the time machine.  Please leave the name you think it should be called in a comment.  No prize will be granted.  Only the fun of your imagination.

I would like to thank my daughter and son for their great photography skills.  All pictures in this blog are courtesy of them.