Budget versus nicer hotels

What I've learned about budget hotels/motels:

- PET FRIENDLY is NOT Wonton friendly
- you only get one, already started, roll of toilet paper. No backups!
- scratchy, tiny towels; 2, if you're lucky
- scratchy, ugly bedding
- very little lighting
- no breakfast
- terrible coffee
- you may need to request a clock
- or a hairdryer
- color TV is a stated amenity
- and so is shampoo

But there's always ice. Even if the bucket is small and they ration out portions from behind the desk.

The big issue, however, is security. Apparently, you can buy peace of mind, at least in terms of entrances (actual and emergency, such as windows) that lock. Poor J was up until sunrise, ready to defend us from marauders. I'm never going to be able to sleep in a motel ever again.

To quote some very wise ladies, I LOVE AMENITIES!!!

DC Bucket List - Follow-up

So, in the past few months, I've managed to:

1) Visit the Franciscan Monastery
2) Hike in the Arboretum, possibly a moonlight stroll
3) See the Peacock Room in the Freer (gorgeous!Also looked around the rest of the Freer, which I don't remember ever doing before)
4) Visit the Air&Space Museum annex
5) Take pictures at the Air Force Memorial
6) Tour the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
7) More DC night photos (X more times!)
8) Take in the night at the Naval Observatory
9) Sit in on the Meridian Hill drum circle
10) Catch another Millennium Stage performance
11) Return to the Zoo; see the pandas (the pandas weren't out, but I did see the butt of a red panda, which is possibly even better)
12) Go through the Butterfly Pavilion at the Natural History Museum
13) Evensong and organ recital at the National Cathedral
14) Finish touring Arlington Cemetery
15) Sunrise photos of the Capitol
16) Visit Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens while it is in bloom (lillies and lotuses! Loti?)
17) Hike the Billy Goat one last time
18) Take pictures at the Library of Congress
19) Get to the top of the Washington Monument, if possible
20) Catch one more show at Wolf Trap
21) See this year's animal photography exhibit at the Natural History Museum
22) Get lost in whilst driving in NE DC (damn you 395 and your poor signage!!)
23) Yoga in the Park (Meridian Hill) (that breeze on your toes is delicious)
24) Photograph the Monuments again
25) Cash in our wedding dance lessons
26) Hike the White Trail again
27) Walk around Burke Lake again
28) See Marine 1 or 2 Land on the White House Lawn
29) Netherlands Carrillion concert?
30) One last show at the Shakespeare Theater Company?
31) Folklife Festival
32) July 4 on the mall?
33) Twilight Tattoo?
34) Jazz in the Garden?
35) Hike around Roosevelt Island

So much left we didn't get to.  Guess I'll have to come back...

Must Eats - Follow-up

In the past few months I/we've managed to eat at:

1) Lickity Split lunch at Eve (last meal in DC!)
2) CityZen
3) A&J
4) 2941
5) Pupatella
6) Bar at Corduroy
7) Proof
8) PS7's
9) Tosca
10) Fiola
11) Central
12) China Star
13) Palena Cafe
14) Fast Gourmet
15) Thai X-ing
16) PX
17) Ravi II
18) Thai Square
19) Ray's something (the Steak's, to the 3rd)
20) Rabieng
21) Delhi Club
22) Italian Store
23) Bon Chon
24) Caribbean Corner
25) Rasika
26) Minerva
27) Negril
28) Lighthouse Tofu
29) Crisp & Juicy
30) Pho 75
31) Honey Pig
32) Minh's
33) Lebanese Taverna
34) Pho Deluxe
35) Pete's Apizza
36) Pad Thai
37) Dulcie's Empanada Bakery
38) Wild Chicken
39) Jaleo
40) Cafe Asia
41) Teaism
42) 100 Degrees Chinese
43) Zengo
44) Yechon
45) Woodlands
46) Present
47) Todai
48) Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant
49) Mamma Lucia's
50) Yoko's

I miss all my places already!