Last Tuesday, I rode from Michigan to Alexandria, VA, with my sister, Meg, in her monster truck. I think she had hoped I would drive for part of the journey, but dang, that truck is intimidating. So I didn’t. Instead, I let the pregnant lady drive while her sweet German shepherd, Sophie, and I napped.

How fun is the D.C. area?! Geez, I need to spend more time there. I attended a three-day workshop – What’s Different About Teaching Reading to Students Learning English? – offered by the Center for Applied Linguistics. I took away some good stuff to use right away when school resumes next month.

Meg and I met up with my friend and AES colleague, Katrina, in Georgetown for dinner.

We rode bikes into Alexandria’s Old Town and browsed in the King Street shops (including a cupcake break).

On my last day in town, we drove to Baltimore (the GPS took us on the “scenic route,” which I’m pretty sure included locations used in filming some of the grittier scenes in “The Wire”). Sarah, one of my dear friends from our days in Turkey, introduced Meg and me to her husband, Nate, and their 7-day old son, Samuel. Like an IDIOT, I did not take any photos, but I will add some here when she sends a few of her own. I also failed to take any shots at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, which is fantastic, although mobbed.

Now I’m back in Michigan … for ONE day. Tomorrow, Tony and I road trip to Canada for the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford. No rest for the weary.