Day 19

Our last day before orientation. Our last day in Washington DC. We have to get going at a reasonable time tomorrow morning, so I'm going to be lazy tonight and post pictures from my dorm.

Today, we visited museums. First, Mom went with Michael and Beth to finish looking at the Air and Space museum. They also saw some of the items from the American History museum, which have been moved to the Air and Space museum while their home is being renovated. Meanwhile, I went with Dad and Emily to the Holocaust museum. Enjoy is a strong word, but I found it very moving. The permanent exhibit starts on the fourth floor and works its way down to the second. It's a bit long and very intense, explicitly not intended for children. Still, some of the more graphic video clips and photos were displayed behind low walls, so that you couldn't see them by accident. I don't want to go on too long, but it was a very poignant and moving display. I would recommend a visit next time you're in DC.

To move on, we stopped for lunch around 1:30, then went into the Natural History museum. The dinosaur skeletons were pretty cool, but all the fossils got old fast (in my opinion). I really enjoyed the gems display in the geology exhibit. Got to see the Hope diamond and the Tiffany diamond, as well as many beautiful and historical (and really expensive) pieces of jewelry. This gallery is followed by a colorful and glittering display of every kind of gem imaginable. We each got pictures of ourselves with our birthstone, except Michael, who couldn't remember his (September).

We concluded our day with a trip to see the National Portrait Gallery, where we saw many pieces of art featuring every president. We saw the unfinished Washington, and one of his wife, which is apparently the only known image of her in existence. Saw a little portrait of Lincoln created for his election and designed to make him look more attractive than real life! :)
In the American Origins gallery, Ben Franklin is apparently on vacation to Jamestown. We just picked the wrong time to pop in for a visit.

Speaking of wrong times, we had called an information line to learn about an outdoor military concert. But it wasn't there. The phone message hadn't been updated since the beginning of summer. So we headed back to the metro on aching feet, and said goodbye to Washington DC.

Tomorrow we'll be leaving around 9 am to get into Steubenville about 1:30. Once I'm settled in my dorm room and have a bit of time, I'll post and tell you how orientation is going, probably tomorrow night. Until then, good night and God bless,

-Rebekah

Day 18

Sorry that I didn't post last night. I started the entry and didn't get it done before bed. We had to get sleep before we got up early the next morning to get capitol tickets. Yesterday, we couldn't get up the Washington monument because we didn't get there at 8:30 am. So we tried to get into town early today because Michael needed to visit the capitol for a merit badge requirement.

We had no problems getting tickets, thank goodness.When we lined up for our tour, the guide at the bottom greeted the international tourists in a few of his 59 languages. THAT was COOL! The capitol tour seemed short, but was neat just to see. But I think the coolest thing in the capitol was the House chamber. In order to get a house pass, we had to go a bit down the street to Duncan Hunter's office (our representative) and ask. It's free, easy to get, once you manage to navigate the hallways. Then we could go upstairs to the chamber. Congress is not in session now, but I still thought it was cool to see the room.

After some lunch, we took the metro out to Arlington National Cemetery. Saw Kennedy's grave, the Iwo Jima memorial, and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also found a grave with the Notre Dame symbol on it.

I need to sleep, so I'll post all the pictures later. Sorry,

God bless all, we're so close to the end of our trans-American tour!

-Rebekah

Day 17

We spent the day in Washington DC, and saw lots of stuff!

We took the metro into town around 11:00 am. "Red Line, Shady Grove!" It was pretty fun.

We had expected the weather to be a lot more rainy, and were planning to visit indoor things like the museums, but it was dryer than we had hoped, so we got to see lots of things.

First we saw the Lincoln memorial, which was beautiful and moving, especially considering yesterday's trip to Gettysburg.

The Vietnam memorial was really cool, as was the Korean. Mom found a picture on the wall of the Korean memorial that almost looks like her dad.

Then we took a lo-o-ong walk around the Tidal Basin past the FDR memorial to the Jefferson memorial. Again, we saw that Thomas was taller than Dad. We were also pleasantly surprised to see how many times God was mentioned in the quotes around the walls.

That afternoon, we visited the Air and Space museum till it closed (about an hour) but didn't see everything. We did get to see some pretty cool stuff, though. The Spirit of St. Louis, old space ships, and the Wright brothers' plane.

Then, when the museum closed, we went to the National Archives. We got to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The exhibits that went along with that were pretty neat, too.

After all that, we took the train back and GOT SOME DINNER! That was good stuff. :)

-Rebekah

Day 16

Writing tonight from a hotel in Gaithersburg, MD. It's rainy out, so we couldn't do the tent.

Today we left the Zimmermans' and visited Gettysburg for most of the day. The visitors center has a neat "Electric Map" which lights up to show the events of the three-day battle. That was neat, as was the large civil war museum. After that, we had lunch, then followed the two-hour auto tour around the locations on the battlefield. There are monuments all over commemorating the different battalions and troops who fought. Some were small plaques, one was a castle you could climb up in. The whole tour was very moving. Realizing that 4,000 people died right there in that wheat field in one day. It was worth all the time we spent there. Go if you get the chance.

We left Gettysburg around 6:00 pm and headed south toward Washington DC. On the way, we stopped at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine, where she built her school. It was closed, but we got a couple of pictures, and it was neat to see for a few minutes.

It took a while to decide where we were staying tonight, but we finally ended up here. Tomorrow, we'll go into DC to start sight-seeing. It may be rainy, and if it is, we may see a lot of Smithsonian. But whatever we see will be cool. I get the feeling I'll look like Jefferson Smith at his first view of Washington. It should be fun.

I'll tell you all about it soon! God bless,
-Rebekah

EDIT: It has come to my attention that I've been unclear. Jefferson Smith is Jimmy Stuart's character in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Day 15

We spent today with the Zimmermans. We went to Hershey and visited Chocolate World. We took the little free factory tour type ride. It was cute and fun. We bought some Kisses and Minis. Good stuff.

After that, we went to City Island and walked around. We stopped and got ice cream for lunch. It was Hershey Ice Cream, and it was really good. The weather was lovely.

Lasagna for dinner, and Mrs. Zimmerman's making a blueberry pie for dessert. Tomorrow, we'll go to Mass with our friends and head off to see Gettysburg on our way to DC.

Thank you for being patient while I've been out of the loop. Keep up your thoughts and prayers. Orientation is only five days away now! God bless,

-Rebekah

Day 14

We slept in that morning and took long showers. Then we drove into the Amish country for some sight-seeing. We went to a little shop on a farm, where we bought a shoo-fly pie, fresh peaches, and home-made root beer. It started sprinkling, but we sat under a covering to eat. We thought we would be fine, but within five minutes, the rain was coming down in torrents with thunder and lightning and hitting horizontally. We were completely soaked!

Afterwards, we continued on to Harrisburg to the Zimmermans', whom I mentioned a few entries back. We played a fun card game called Italian Bullet. Spent a lovely night in a warm bed.

Day 13

The morning of the 16th, we got up, ate breakfast, straightened up, and packed the car. Then we drove the hour back to Scranton for the Lackawana Coal Mine Tour. We showed up at 10:40 and bought tickets for the 11:20 tour. Because we had so much time to wait, Mom and Dad went to drop off the cottage key with my my great uncle. They got back to the mine at 11:10, but the tour had already left. We went down almost half an hour early. Mom and Dad were pretty upset, but they got a refund, and the kids got to take the tour. It was a pretty cool tour. We got to see the terrible working conditions of the miners.

After the mine, we picked up my Nana's cousin, Mary, for lunch. We went to a neat seafood restaurant. Mary told us about the property we have in Ireland, and about all her aunts and uncles and cousins.

After we left Mary, we drove down south to Philadelphia. All of the historic sites close at 5:00, and we got there at 6:30, but we could still see the Liberty Bell through the window. There was a free walking tour that we caught the middle of. The lady was very interesting.

That night, we got lost on the way to the campsite and didn't get in till 10:00 pm. We were all so exhausted from the busy day.
Let me mention here: for all you in CA, there is a replica of Independance Hall at Knott's Berry Farm. It is free, just tell the parking attendant that you are going to Independance Hall. They have a neat display with talking candles reinacting a scene in the room there.

Days 9-12: Island Lake

I've been away from the internet for so long. Sorry about the big gap in my blogging. I'm writing this from Mechanicsburg, PA (near Harrisburg) where some old friends of my parents live. Their oldest, Katie, is my Dad's goddaughter. But more about that later.

The day after I left off, we went to Scranton, PA where we have family on my mom's side. (Her mom's sister's husband, his daughter, and her family) We had lunch there, then they led us up to Island lake, in north-eastern PA, where the family has a cottage. My Nana used to spend her whole summers there.

We spent four days at the lake. Swimming, fishing, canoeing, berry-picking, hiking, and generally having a great time. I caught three little fish. I had to throw them back, but I had never done that well before.

The closest grocery store was in Hancock, NY, which is also where we went for Mass on the feast of the Asumption. The church there is small, but nice, with a great young priest, who actually said Mass facing the cross.

I'll post all the photos of the lake on my Flickr page soon.

Day Eight

No pictures today. Mostly just drove.

This afternoon, we stopped in Steubenville to drop off my BIG suitcases. Dad is happy that more stuff fits in the car, now, and I'll be living out of a little case for the next two weeks. I hadn't gotten a chance to tour the dorms when we visited campus in February, so it was neat to be able to see my room. It's pretty small, but I've got a desk with a shelf, a dresser, and a closet. Sorry, no spoiler pics!

We're camping tonight at the KOA in Bellefonte, PA (near Penn State U), where they are holding a Mardi Gras party up the hill as we speak. I have no idea why.

Tomorrow, we're driving on to Scranton, PA and should arrive around noon. We'll be spending the next four days at "the lake" where my Nana used to spend her vacations. I'll be escaping from the world wide web for that time, so don't expect another blog entry for a little while. I'll be having too much fun. But I'll be sure to post pictures when I get back online.

Until then, God bless,
-Rebekah

Days Six and Seven

The campsite last night wanted me to pay a dollar for wifi, and you guys are just not worth that much to me - Just kidding!

To update: yesterday, we got a late start from the Lawlesses because of our late-night games, so we only stopped during the day to buy groceries. We camped across the Mississippi from St. Louis, MO, in a little town called Cahokia. The bugs were terrible!

This morning, we got a reasonable start and went into St. Louis for a few hours in the morning. We saw the gateway arch, along with the museum underneath. We had seen lots of Lewis and Clark things in Tillamook, OR a few years back, but it was neat to see things from the other perspective - the start of their trip. Emily, Michael, Beth, and I went up the tram to the top. It was a great view, but I was kicking myself for having forgotten to bring the camera up! Sorry :(

We got to put our feet in the Mississippi River, which was pretty warm. Also visited the old cathedral near the monument, St. Louis the King. It has no gold and no stained glass, all light and airy with silver and green, but it was rather pretty.

In Illinois, we stopped and saw the "Lincoln Log Cabin" which was Thomas Lincoln's farm, bought just before Abe started his law practice. So the future president never lived there, but he visited his father several times on his circuit. Actually, it wasn't the real cabin. That was dismantled and taken to be displayed at the fair, but it never came back. What they have is an accurate replica, with working living-history "interpreters". It was pretty neat to see just how they lived. (and to compare it to the Lawlesses ranch.)

So tonight we're camping in Richmond, IN (I didn't know there was one) at Grandpa's Farm RV Park, a nice little place (with free wifi!)

Tomorrow, we have to be at Steubenville by 4:00 to drop off some excess luggage, and we plan to be at "the lake" by Sunday. Talk to you all later!

-Rebekah

Day Five

We were having too much fun playing games until 2:30 this morning for me to get around to a blog post yesterday, so I'll get a small one in now.

Yesterday, we attended high Mass at 10:00 at the monastery. It was a bit hard to follow, but I have to say that I did enjoy it.

Afterwards, we went and spent the day with the other Lawlesses. We got a grand truck tour and a grand lunch. Got to see Matt Ryan, too. It was nice to see much more of the property than the last time we visited last year.

We stopped at the Pattersons on the way back. Then we went with them to the TT Lawlesses where the MK Lawlesses met us and we had a big dinner/party.

We played the best game of mafia I've ever seen, in which poor Mr. Patterson was killed in the first night of his very first game. I was killed the first day (I was the 3 of diamonds) but still enjoyed watching Chris trying to catch Emily.

The game we played all last night doesn't have an official name, but it was fun enough to keep us giggling till the wee hours of the morning. It's sort of a twenty questions thing we learned at my uncle's wedding.

I should cut this short. Today, we'll be aiming for St. Louis, so we ought to get out the door. Good bye, thank you for your prayers, and for your comments and emails, it's great to hear from you all!
-Rebekah

Day Four

This blog entry brought to you courtesy of wireless internet and the generosity of the Lawless family, and the number 16.

We drove today from Amarillo to Hulbert, OK. We used up most of the last of our cooler's stocks on lunch, but nothing much more exciting happened on the road.

We stopped in Groom, TX to see the giant cross and stations along the side of the I-40. Mom and I had seen it in spring 2006 on the way back from a campus visit to U Dallas (with Mary Joy.) but the rest of the family hadn't.

We managed to find the T&T Lawlesses without too much trouble, thanks to detailed directions from Mr. Lawless and despite rough dirt roads and a lo...ong driveway.

We'll spend tomorrow here and see the other Lawlesses, the abbey, etc. I should be able to let you know how that goes tomorrow night.

Until then, good night and God bless,
-Rebekah

Days Two and Three

You gotta love KOA and wifi!

I'm writing this from Amarillo, TX at a picnic table in the dark. Mac 'n Cheese is on the propane stove.

So, to recap... Yesterday we traversed the wide expanses of Arizona's varying terrain. We started in the deserts of Phoenix and crossed mountains and valleys, forests and plateaus, and a torrential thunder storm. I was surprised and awed by the different landscapes in one state, stereotyped by saguaro cacti. We visited Petrified Forest National Park before stopping in Gallup, NM for the night.

Today we basically just drove, listened to music, and read billboards. Stuckey's, 23 miles. And we crossed the continental divide this morning. There was a little marker off the freeway, not much to look at.

Tomorrow, we'll get to see all the people in Oklahoma, and spend the next day there. I should be able to update my blog from there, so you'll hear from me again, soon!

Until then, God bless, keep up the prayers!
-Rebekah

And... We're Off!: Day One

I'm writing this post from Grandma's house in Mesa, AZ.

This morning, we finished packing up the van and got off at about 11:00. A bit later than we had hoped, but today was a shorter distance than we're looking forward to later in the trip.

We stopped at a Walmart superstore in the early afternoon for our first shopping trip. I'd never been in one before, and it was a bit overwhelming. Parts just felt like Walmart, but parts felt like Vons, except for all the smily faces!

A little ways past Yuma, our odometer on our '95 Ford Windstar ticked over 200,000 miles!

We stopped at Uncle Steve and Aunt Trish's house to say goodbye, then came here to Grandma's. Pizza for dinner and ice cream cake for dessert, and I'm just about ready to crash!

I'll only be able to post every few days because we'll be camping, but I'll try to keep you up-to-date on our adventure. Thanks to all of you for your prayers!

And special thanks to Grandma for letting me use her computer!

God bless,
-Rebekah

EDIT: Sorry about not posting pics until Monday. Grandma's computer wouldn't let me (no offense meant to her fine machine.)