Lovely Details in Warner Theater, Washington DC

We saw some entertainment recently at the old Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. recently. While this entertainment was terrific -- it was the Fab Four who play a tribute to The Beatles -- it was some of the decorative details in the theater that captivated my attention even more. From brass lamps, ornate ceilings, medallions on seat backs, gilded walls and staircases and gleaming chandeliers it was like being back in time.

Staircase to balcony

lamp in ceiling medallion

ornate gilded hallway

bronzed mezzanine

ornamentation over stage

view of stage

chandelier gleams overhead

medallion stitched into chairback

drapes and ornamented proscenium

You Won't Believe This Dump on Metro Car

At first I thought it was a rotten banana but it turned out to be a human dump on the floor of the WMATA metro car that I was on the other day. Actually, I really couldn't believe what I was seeing so I edged a little nearer and decided to photograph it hoping that it would turn out to be a joke or something but it looked real enough and I snapped it using the miracle of a cell phone camera. A few other passengers looked at it and looked away. No-one could say anything to anyone else as everyone was embarrassed by it.No one could look another in the eye.  I mentioned this nasty to a couple of co-workers who didn't believe me until I showed them the photo. One asked if I reported it and I had to say I hadn't but then again, when I got off at the station (Convention Center) the train was taken out of service, so I assumed the train would  be cleaned. Someone theorized that maybe it was left by an animal and began suggesting some rather large dog breeds. I didn't think so as the only dogs that get on metro trains are service animals for people with disabilities and they are very well-trained and are very unlikely to do something like this. And most pet dogs are very well trained, too.  All I could think was that some human had somehow done this and walked away. I think anyone seeing this is left aghast at how it happened. Maybe someone didn't know there are bathrooms in most metro stations? Maybe someone did it deliberatedly as a dare? I'm still hoping someone contacts me saying it was just a prank. What do you think?

Sometimes the Signs are Confusing

Lately I've found myself a little amused or puzzled by some signs I've been seeing. Maybe I'm just getting old and not thinking so clearly or maybe I'm just taking things too literally but these three signs pictured here caused me to pause a moment or two to be be sure I understood them. For instance, a large ad by a defense contractor talks about "the value of canes for information dominance."  I'm sure they know what they mean by "canes," but working in the disability community the first thing I think of are white canes used by people with low or no vision. Then there's that troubling reference to "canes" and "dominance" in the same sentence, as if they are referring to some form of punishment. Then in a building I often go into there's the sign with the words "this building promotes a non smoking policy."  Just promote? How tentative is that? Why not just say "No Smoking"?  Why only "promote"?  Seems a bit vague, doesn't it, like I can smoke in the building and nothing much will happen as it's just "a building promotion." Then parked nearby was the truck with the sign that says "Driver does not carry cash" but just below that, someone has added another sign that said "only cashews." In fact, this pair of signs was on the back of the delivery truck as well. So, I wondered, why does the driver carry "only cashews." What's wrong with peanuts, for instance? Or walnuts?  Then, silly me, I realized it was about "cash" and not nuts so I went "ha ha ha" and wondered who thought this up.  Just idle thoughts on the way to work that tell you how my mind goes off in odd directions sometimes.

National Building Museum and Legos

Ever once in a while I get a chance to visit the National Building Museum and each time I am very impressed by how grand it is inside and how decorative it is on the outside. We went there and had coffee one weekday afternoon when we took a staycation last year. While the coffee wasn't that great, sitting at the cafe tables in the vast hall near the fountains was a terrific experience. And very restful as the space is quiet and airy.  And there's always something to see in this building. During our staycation we also played miniature golf there as they had that set up in one room with some rather corny golf holes. Then we also saw an exhibit of buildings made out of Legos, including someone who'd made models of famous buildings in New York City. We also got a chance to make some models out of Legos too, along with all the other children. Such fun!

Geraniums in February!

It's no secret that I bring indoors all my porch and deck flowering plants every winter. The trick is to keep them alive with enough light and not too much water until I can put them back outside again, usually in early April, when there's no danger of snow. I usually lose at least one plant during the cold season due to not enough light or I over-water and it rots or I forgot to water and it dries out.  This year, I'm doing okay with two potted plants on the radiator in the upstairs den (hubster's man cave), the jade in the downstairs bathroom, two poinsettas in the living room window, and a petunia in the kitchen window.  Everything else is on the basement kitchen counter that has a big window where I've added some plant lights focused on them (with timers).  There's a coleus, another jade, some purple ivy that I don't know the name of and a large pot into which I crammed about three geranium plants in November when I brought them all in.  In fact, this group of pots is doing so well that the geranium which bloomed throughout summer seems to think it's in California and has been putting out lots of lovely blooms!  So, it's February and I've got the loveliest pink geraniums, so I picked some and put them on my kitchen table. Such a delight to look at when there's snow outside!