Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Day Three - Mr. Gnomanlander Goes to Washington

Another day, another set of museums in Washington D.C.! The happy couple (yes, still happy on Day Three) took yours truly to the U.S. Capitol (which we toured), the Newseum (where K & J taped a newscast - stay tuned), the National Archives (home of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights), and the National Air and Space Museum (lots of flying things) today. Again, I can't thank them enough for not making me walk the entire trip.

Jeff claims that dinner at Five Guys is the best meal he's had so far on the trip; Kim is not entirely sure of Jeff's taste.

Tomorrow, it's back on a plane to NYC! But before I get under the sheets of the king-size bed (don't ask, don't tell), here are some of the newlyweds' pics:




Monday, June 29, 2009

Day Two - Sunburn and Blister Edition

A gorgeous day in Washington D.C.! Not even a near-death experience for your favorite gnome could ruin Day Two of the honeymoon. (Details to follow.)

After a quick bite to eat, K & J hit the Metro (they're getting pretty good at it) and ventured to all sorts of national landmarks. They took me to the White House, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Holocaust Museum, the National Art Gallery, the National Sculpture Park, the Petersen House (where Lincoln died), the ESPN Zone, and a whole bunch of tacky souvenir shops (no gnomes for sale - go figure). Fortunately for my wee legs, K & J took turns carrying me from one stop to the next.

Alas, I did suffer a bump to my noggin when they tried to take a picture of me near the WWII memorial. Three feet down might not seem very far to you, but believe me, it smarts, and I have the chipped hat to prove it! However, staying put in their pockets did have one advantage - I didn't get sunburned like our honeymooners did. They said something about slathering on aloe vera and downing ibuprofen like candy as we headed back to the Hotel Palomar.

Here are some of Kim's pics:





And here are some of Jeff's:

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Day One - Gnorman sees dead people

After a slight delay at Detroit Metro, I arrived in Washington D.C. with the lovebirds. They're staying at a posh hotel, but managed to get themselves assigned to a room with a hide-a-bed without linens. Kim (the one who's closer to my size) gave the front desk whatfor and received an upgrade for three nights. Now we're all enjoying the view from the seventh floor - there might even be a wee bit of room for me in the king-size bed.

The newlyweds spent 15-20 minutes trying to figure out the Metro system, then just guessed and managed to pick the right train to Arlington National Cemetery. (Jeff used this same "internal GPS" to find the hotel in Romulus last night.) They walked the hallowed grounds for hours this afternoon, and I'm thankful that Kim kept me in her canvas tote for the day; otherwise, my tiny legs would have given out after the first hill.

We saw the Eternal Flame, the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, President Taft's grave, and much more. I, being a gnome, mistook most of the headstones for the Washington Moment. How embarassing.

The happy couple took me out for dinner at a nice Irish pub along Dupont Circle. Tomorrow, they'll hit most of the typical touristy sites. I'll keep a lookout for President Obama. So far, the only celeb we've seen is former Senator Tom Daschle, who was walking through Dupont Circle with his family.

Hope all is well back in West Michigan! Jeff and Kim are taking pretty good care of me so far. If there's anything you'd like me to pass along to them, leave a comment below. Bye for now!

Here are Kim's pics!


And here are a few of Jeff's!