Today we went drove to Washington DC for the afternoon. We parked at Union Station, which is cheaper than the metro, driving is faster than the metro, and I don't like being underground. But I do like Union Station. We were amazed by the 1905 architecture. My son asked if that was real gold in the ceiling. Yes, it's gold leaf!

The outdoors presented a gorgeous autumn day. 

This is the closest the kids ever got to the Capitol.

     Our objective was to see the Wright Flyer Exhibit at the Air and Space Museum. We only had an hour to see it last summer and today, we only had an hour before it closed. We read and learned a lot, but we are looking forward to coming back to see the rest.  I had a lot to say and post about this, but I will save it for when we get to complete it. 

     When my daughter saw my jacket that I brought for the day, she said she had never seen me wear it before. That is because San Antonio never had autumn weather. In fact, I am cold this autumn in Virginia! The extreme temperature ranges during the day and into the night led to my first cold, from which I am now recovering. I am feeling pretty good now, but have a bit of a sore throat and laryngitis, which might be due to allergies. I don't know how I'm going to endure the winter. I am certainly enjoying the change in color, although I cannot see it as crystal clear as I previously did. Friday I got my new contacts. Because of an astigmatism, I should wear torics, which would give me crystal clear vision. However they are historically extremely uncomfortable. Throughout college and into my kids' preschool years, I wore regular soft contacts without any problem. Then I got a new eye doctor who insisted on torics, which drove me to glasses, which have given me awful headaches for the last ten years.  Right now I am wearing regular soft contacts, which are extremely comfortable and no more headaches! This is much healthier for me than taking Excedrin everyday. However, the downside is exactly what the doctor told me it would be, my vision is not crystal clear. All day I've been switching between sunglasses and readers so I can read the map. In the museum, I had difficulty reading in the dark.  I am remembering why in my previous contact lens years, I gave up on reading and cross stitch. No, I do not need bifocals, the doctor said so. This issue is related to my astigmatism. Glasses brought new life to my reading books and doing fine stitching. I have to admit, the torics that I could not endure in 1999 did give me crystal clear vision. This doctor is willing to work with me and has ordered another set to try out next week.  I might break down to try the toric.  I would love to get past the discomfort of them if I need them.  When I came home with my new contacts Friday, I was a bit worried about what my husband would think. He now admits he likes me better without glasses and it's kind of fun seeing the look on his face now when he first sees me each day with my contacts. ;)  Being a bit "off" due to a missing balance nerve, a bit of hearing loss (resulting from the surgery of the balance nerve and a possible sinus infection) and my eyes not having crystal clear vision, I am completely uncertain of my surroundings and a bit dependent on those around me. My vision and hearing compensate me for my balance loss. My vision compensates for my hearing loss, as I read lips. This morning I had trouble reading someone's lips! This is definitely a transition time for me. For any of you who will be around me, if I seem a bit "off", this is the reason why.  

     I knew I'd be needing a new picture to get ready for "Secret Sister" time in a few weeks at my TOG history yahoo group.   I tried to talk my husband into a family picture. Instead he took a picture of me and the kids.