Mop Top is Here!

Once again I missed the boat on my Tuesday blog post.  At least I'm posting every week now? :-P

My nephew Mop Top is here (I told him he could make up his own alias, but like any teenager he said, "Uh, I don't know.").  I've been having a great time running around with him and trying to show him all that DC has to offer.  In the 3 days he's been here, we've gone to the USMC War Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, the Washington Monument, the White House, the World War II Memorial, the Reflecting Pool (although it's currently under construction), and the Lincoln Memorial.  I've also revealed the Metro to him.  We haven't really driven anywhere since he's been here.  In fact, he's even mentioned how funny it is that you walk so much more when you're in a big city, than when you're out in the country.

Today we're taking a day for relaxing because yesterday after walking about 4.5 mi through DC we're ready for some good ol' summer vacation teenager style.  To Mop Top's credit, he got up at 5:30am and ran with me Tuesday and Wednesday, but couldn't quite muster the strength this morning :-)  I really wanted to make him go with me today, since yesterday at the White House he said, referring to some secret service agents, "Do you think those guys could beat you up?"  I said, "Probably."  Mop Top replied, "What about when you were still in the Marine Corps, and you know...fit?"

As difficult as it is trying to decipher a teenager's thoughts, I think he's having a good time.  He made a friend down at the pool the other day, and wouldn't you know it, it's a Foreign Service family who is leaving for Hyderabad in July!  We're not leaving until January, but already we've met 3 or 4 FSO's (Foreign Service Officer) who will be in Hyderabad while we're there, I've been emailing with an FSO currently in Hyderabad who invited me to join his motorcycle club when I get there, and now Mop Top will have a friend there if (WHEN) he comes to visit.

This weekend Mop Top and I are headed for the Big Apple!

Happy Travels!

Pancho