Last Sunday I attended the National City Christian Church in Washington D.C.  It is a Disciples of Christ Christian denomination (which I am a member of back in Omaha, NE). It was raining that day.  I rode the Metro in from Alexandria, VA.  What a site to see! It was a huge building that matched the architecture of most of the surrounding government buildings around the Mall area of D.C.  It was beautiful inside with a huge pipe organ behind the pulpit and choir area.  At the end of the service the organist played about a five minute postlude, Toccata (from Symphony No. 5) by Charles-Marie Widor.  It was awesome!

I spent the day in Annapolis, MD today.  It was a beautiful day. I arrived in Annapolis by 1 p.m. There were a lot of people there walking up and down Main St.  The streets were crowded with cars and people all a round Main St.  I ended up driving unto the U.S. Naval Academy (since I have a military ID) to park and walk into town.  The academy was beautiful. There were a lot of huge historic buildings with plenty of lush green grass in between the buildings.  I got to see the crypt of John Paul Jones, which was in one of the chapels on campus.  I also caught part of an Army and Navy tennis game, as well as a Lacrosse match between the Naval Academy and the University of Virginia.  The Academy overlooks the water.  There water was speckled with many sailboats as people enjoyed the 70° weather.  It was very peaceful to watch.

The town of Annapolis is comprised mostly of historic buildings.  Every building that I saw had a national historic society plaque on it.  There a town of quaint shops and restaurants.  I ate at Buddy's Crab House.  They had some awesome crabs.  They bring out a sheet of brown paper to cover your table and a bucket to put your crab shells and leftovers in.  When the crabs come out, they are covered in spices and still hot from the steam.  You get a small wooden mallet to start pounding away.  Tasty!

Through Main St. I saw a horse drawn white buggy carting people around the area.  At the top of Main St. sits the first U.S. National Capitol building (from 1783 to 1784).  All of the buildings are well maintained and are neat to look at.

If you ever get a chance to go, I strongly recommend paying Annapolis a visit.

Please Spread the word - Orange and Maroon Effect

Virginia Tech family members across the country have united to declare this Friday, April 20th, an "Orange and Maroon Effect" day to honor those killed in the tragic events on campus Monday, and to show support for Virginia Tech students, faculty, administrators, staff, alumni, and friends. "Orange and Maroon Effect" was born several years ago as an invitation to Tech fans to wear orange and maroon to Virginia Tech athletic events. We invite everyone from all over the country to be a part of the Virginia Tech family this Friday, to wear orange and maroon to support the families of those who were lost, and to support the school and community we all love so much.

Its been a while since I typed anything up.  I am back in the D.C. area (Alexandria, VA to be exact) on a business trip for 40 days.  I head back home on the 27th of April.

So far I have gotten to see the Cherry Blossoms bloom at the Mall, went to the Holocaust Museum, and visited the Ford's Theatre Museum this time around.  I have also visited Old Towne Alexandria and saw the George Washington Masonic Memorial Temple.  I have eaten fresh steamed crab at Ernie's Crab House and had a Blue Burger and a Sam Adams Draft at the Washington D.C. Hard Rock Cafe.  Its been a pretty fun time.  It would be so much better if my family was here with me.  I will try to plan a few more places to see before I head back home. Thinking about going to a Nationals basball game this week.  They play the Atlanta Braves Monday and Tuesday.  I would love to go to one of those games since I like the Braves.  I probably won't go until Wednesday when they play the Phillies.  It all depends on the weather.  We have been having some rain lately and there is a cold front heading this way from the west. I guess I will keep an eye on the weather. 

An update about my family: 

My daughter, Aly, is a freshman at Kansas State University (KSU).  She is a theater major and is also in the Sigma Kapa sorority.  She also applied for and was hired on as a hospitality agent for the KSU Wildcats football team.  She welcomes visiting recruits and their families, gives them tours of the campus and athletic facilities, coordinates tickets for them and their families, and escorts them to breakfast the morning of GameDay.  What a cool job!

My son Christian has played football during his 7th and 8th grades, he has learned to play the drums (very well I must say), and has sung in the Jr. High Show Choir.  I am very proud of him.

My son Nicholas has started learning the French Horn this year, his 6th grade year.  He also tried out for the High School play last year in the 5th grade.  He got a part in Les Miserables.  He was in the play during my daughter's last year of High School.  He did an awesome job.  They are all very talented and artistic.

My wife Mitzi is working on her Masters Degree and is over halfway there.  She is teaching Respiratory Students part time and working at Children's Hospital at the same time as she is going to school.  She is a very smart and tough women. I am so proud of her.

I have been tracking Alabama Baseball, but they are not fairing as well as they did last year. I can't wait for the Alabama Football season to start back up. I am looking forward to Alabama kicking off there new era with Coach Saban at the A-Day game next Saturday.  It is time for Bama to Roll again! 

Roll Tide!

Al

I am spending this week at a conference in Falls Church, VA.  It is only a few miles from Washington D.C.  I have been wanting to visit the capitol of the USA most of my life.  I wanted to make this trip with my family, but that hasn't transpired yet.  I am very fortunate to have been able to make this trip now.

There is so much to see in this area.  I was overcome with awe as I ascended the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, as I felt the names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall of the fallen American Service men and women of the Vietnam War, as I looked across the Reflecting Pool at the World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument, as I looked upon the American Soldiers patrolling across snow covered ground at the Korean Memorial, as I looked out of the windows at the top of the Washington Monument, as I looked upon the steps of the Capitol Building, as I ascended the steps of the Jefferson Memorial, as I looked through the front gates of the White House on Pennsylvania Ave., as I visited Arlington Cemetary and visited the Marine Memorial of Iwo Jima, as I was engulfed by this nation's history as I took in all the sites at the various Smithsonian buildings. I have great feelings of patriotism for this country.  I feel proud that I have served my country as a member of the Armed Services, contributing to the sustainment and building of what our fore fathers started at the birth of our nation.

Everyone should try to make it to this great place of history once in their life.  It is an educational experience and helps you to appreciate this country even more.  God Bless America!    

The University of Alabama has won its eighth game this season against Utah State, remaining one of five undefeated teams in the NCAA I-A Division.  They are ranked number 4 behind USC, Texas , and Virginia Tech, respectively.  UCLA is the other unbeaten team at the #7 position.  Alabama will face their true test in their last three games of the regular season, where they will have to face Mississippi State, # 6 LSU, and # 17 Auburn; all being conference games.  If they can keep their winning streak through these last three games, they will face the team with the best SEC record, in the SEC Eastern Division, in the SEC Championship game.  Watch out, the Crimson Tide is rolling through! Roll Tide Roll! 

This week we went to see my lovely daughter's Papillion LaVista High School marching band exhibition show for the parents.  They did a wonderfule job.  This marching band is 100 times better than her last high school's, ARC in Augusta, GA.  Good job Aly!

My middle child is playing football this year at LaVista Junior High.  It is a lot more work than he expected, but he is still loving it. Keep it up son!  He has also informed me that all his teachers are cmplementing him in his school work.  I guess sending him to St. Mary's Catholic School in Augusta last year has paid off.  Good job son!

My youngest is adapting to his new school, Tara Heights Elementary, very well.  He has joined the school's safety patrol, the morning news crew, and has made many freinds.  He misses his last year teacher from Freedom Park Elementary, but is enjoying his new school.  Way to go son!

I am proud of all of you! 

I am excited about this years college football season.  My favorite teams are Alabama, Kansas State, and Texas.  My most favorite is the University of Alabama.  They haven't done to well since their 1992 championship season.  Hopefully they will have a great season this year.

We live close to Manahattan, KS.  Maybe we will be able to go see a K-State game this year.  My wife would enjoy a KSU game.  She use to go to school there.  She has really been working hard lately.  She has had to balance a life during the day with working at night as a Respitory Therapist.  Swaping schedules back and forth ahs sometimes gotten the best of her.  I am very proud of her accomplishments and what she has done for this family.  We love you very much!

We are settling into our new home.  We just recently moved to the Omaha area and are enjoying it very much.  We still have many boxes to unpack.  We are very happy to have been given the oppurtunity to get back to the midwest. Home sweet home!

I continue to serve my country in a military uniform.  It will not be long before I retire.  I am proud to wear the uniform and be an American.  God bless America.  Remember "Freedom isn't Free."