It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times...

My day started off GREAT!

I jumped up early and headed out the door to the Starbucks downstairs, then walked to the DC Metro Station around the corner.  My plan was the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and the National Archives, then on the road to Philadelphia by 3, and to accomplish that, I'd need to take the subway.
For some reason, you aren't allowed to eat or drink on the Subway!?!?!  So I walked.  I walked around the block and up the street and down a bridge, and found the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

First, IT'S HUGE!

Second, IT'S REALLY HUGE!

The Lobby alone has like 7 airplanes in it...HANGING FROM THE CEILING!

I asked the information guy for a map, and where to start if I wanted to view the planes 'in order'.  He looked confused.  I told him it didn't make much sense to see rockets before the Wright Brothers.  He agreed- and added that in that case, I should start with balloons!  He told me that the museum wasn't set up like that, but that if I didn't mind doubling back now and again, I could figure it out.

So I started at the beginning.  And worked my way through the history of flight.  I won't bore you with the all the boring details, but on a grand scale, here are images of the large areas.

As I said, there were a few highlights-

The actual Wright brothers Wright Flyer.

The actual Spirit of St. Louis.

The actual model of the USS Enterprise used on Star Trek.

But...there were THREE specific things that made my day awesome. 

In reverse order they are:

#3.  The Space Monkey Capsule!

#2.  I touched a piece of the MOON!

and #1.  I found SNOOPY!

I left the Air & Space Museum and walked about a mile to the National Archives.  

Unfortunately, I couldn't take any photos.  I saw the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.  VERY cool.  My favorite things though, were the exhibit on how the documents are framed, and the letter to the dude that actually wrote the documents asking if he'd do it!  

I was way ahead of schedule, so I figured I'd hit one more sight on my way back to the hotel.  So I started walking.  I though about going to see the Capitol, but settled for a photo.

Instead I went to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.  I literally raced through it.  Still found some cool stuff.  What an interesting place....

My favorite thing though, was whatever THIS THING IS!  

I Can't even look at it without laughing!

Having spent the day at two of the biggest and most visited museums in the US, I can make the following three statements.

1.  We are blessed to be so close to The Henry Ford.  It puts both of these museums to shame.  Seriously.

2.  Museums would be much better if there was less crap and more room.  They have to cram everything in there, and people leave early because of the awkward paths and routes to get to exhibits.  Open things up!

3.  This may be touchy, but I'll say it-  If your kid is still in a stroller, they're too young to appreciate the museum.  Don't bring them.  These strollers are gigantic.  And cumbersome.  And you can't stop to read exhibits with what amounts to a train car blocking aisles and displays.  Sorry, but it's true.

So from there I went back to the car, and prepared for the drive to Philadelphia, PA.  A short jaunt that was to take 3 hours.  I got into my car at 330.

I drove through DC, Maryland, and Delaware before arriving in Pennsylvania. 20 Minutes from my hotel I took turn on the highway, and heard a loud bang and saw smoke coming out of my car.  It pulled hard to the right, and luckily there was almost no traffic.  I pulled over amid the smoke and a horrible burning smell.
I walked around the car to find this.

To make things better, I was on a curve on a highway on a narrow shoulder.

Oh, and there was an AWESOME storm coming.

So I got to changing the tire, only to discover that the nuts were put on with a wicked torque wrench, and I cracked the tire iron trying to take them off.  So I called a roadside assistance company.  And waited.

When I finally got it off, it looked like this!

I checked into the hotel at 11PM having not eaten, being eaten alive by bugs, and with a huge bloody gash down my right leg- from having misjudged the height of the guardrail when I first hopped over it.
So I'm gonna go to sleep and pray on PSALMS 91:11
"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

Also, could you folks please say a prayer for a friend of mine?  His son is very very ill and does not know the Lord.  My friend and his wife are both very faithful and right now they really need peace and understanding.  

Thanks.  Bedtime.