We've been here for millions upon millions of years

We were going to try to get an early-ish start today and walk around to the Washington Monument before heading to the Natural History Museum. However, we are either mice or men and our best laid plans were to no avail as we laid in bed until pretty close to 9 am. We skipped breakfast and ate a Powerbar each, then headed out.

We went to another 3D IMAX at the Nat History museum, this one on the Grand Canyon and the water issues associated with it. It was a pretty good movie, but didn't use the 3D technology quite as well as the Flight movie did the other day. Still, it was fun. Afterward, we ate in the cafe. David had an all-beef hot dog and I had pulled pork with green bean casserole and cole slaw. It was very good and pretty pricey at $28 for the two of us!

After lunch we walked around the museum, but both David and I got tired of it pretty fast. For one thing, nearly every exhibit is a million years this, 25 million years here, 450 zillion years over there. They don't even say “an estimated” number of years, but just flop it out there like it's a fact. I mean talk about “shoving it down your throat”. In the Grand Canyon video, they showed rainfall degrading from the “average” since 1900. So, how exactly did they come up with that “average”? They've got data on rainfall since the 1800's? An average is derived from the data- it's not really used to play against the data. This is such a typical misuse of statistics in order to prove a “point” that may or may not be valid. Anyway, we got tired of this and moved next door to the American History Museum where we were pretty sure we weren't going to find anything over 300 years old.

David at the American History museum:

Washington Monument in the background:

Inside American History museum:

Sure 'nuff, there was a lot of fun stuff there. We saw the actual Star Spangled Banner (it's BIG!!!), an excellent display on “transportation”, a couple of Strad fiddles, a history of slavery, and so much more. Around about 3:30, though, we were both getting tired. It's very hard walking around these museums- stop and go, twist and turn, stand and shift. I mean walking is great. What we do here is tough. Little David is very slow, too. I've discovered that if I put heel to toe, very slowly, that's about his pace. But, he's doing his best. I had to carry him a couple of blocks on the way back to the hotel, though. He was just all out of energy. In the motel, we're just chilling by watching Discovery Channel. Since we don't get TV at home, this is kind of a treat in itself.

Back from supper, I'm fighting a headache, so I think I'll just get this posted and call it good. Tomorrow, the plan is to head back to Air/Space where we'll meet Flatpick-L friend Charlie Bryant sometime during the day. Stay tuned!