I’m 35 years old today.

Technically, this means I could meet the age requirement to be The President of the United Sates. Since that is about the ONLY requirement I meet for the position besides the fact that I was born here, nobody has to frighten themselves with that thought.

Hee.

I wanted to have my White House recap up today, but I’m currently riding around Gettysburg battlefield and only have about 2/3 of it done and I want to finish my sight seeing and my party tonight, so we’ll shoot for Monday or Tuesday.

I WILL tell you that it was one of the best days of my life. Here’s a sneak peak to tell you one of the many reasons WHY:

(For those wondering what standing on that podium was like, yes… I about passed out and died.)

It’s been a good birthday thus far today (except for the fact that I am apparently woefully under prepared as I have no “zombie survival plan”.) My friend, Erin, came down from Baltimore to hang out with us all day. She’s been reading me for four years, since the days of Blogger Minima Black! I’ve LOVED hanging out with her and she is coming to my birthday bloggity meet up at Clyde’s tonight. (7:30pm in Columbia, Maryland. Be there or be square, yo.)

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes.

I really appreciate all the love that pours out from this internet of ours.

It’s amazing.

xoxo!

Though my feet are on the verge of asking the police to charge me with a hate crime, we’re having a fabulous time here our nation’s capital.

We came in on the Metro that was PACKED with conservatives going to the huge protest going on this afternoon. We were asked if we were participating in the protest and that led to the story of why we’re here being told and we got in a lively debate.

It was the only one voicing a liberal opinion.

So, I felt pretty at home.

Heh.

It went well except for the moment when everyone thought a woman was telling me that if I didn’t like it I could leave the country.

I asked her to reiterate and after she explained we realized it was a misunderstanding. Which was GOOD because telling anyone they can leave if they don’t like things is no solution no matter what position they are arguing.

Given the fact that I was outnumbered I was glad that I calmly stood up for myself, and we finished having a lovely conversation.

So far we’ve seen Mount Vernon and lots of the Smithsonian. Imagine my excitement to find that the house that is in the American History Museum was built by a Choate family.

It is SO beautiful here.

Lovely as it is though, the MOST beautiful thing in the world is waiting for me at home with his two equally-missed brothers. I can’t wait to love on the three of them when I get home Sunday night.

It will be the best snuggle in the world.

I’m currently somewhere between Atlanta and Washington DC on the last leg of my trip. Forgive any typos, ect. my battery is dying and I wanted to type something out fast to let you know what I’m up to.

This trip has almost killed me, I swear.

It’s been a huge thing to pull off logistically but we’re finally ON OUR WAY.

When we got to the airport I wanted nothing more then to turn around and go home.

I won’t go into details but being the lone liberal voice about health care reform (that was awake, anyway) in a van full of passionate family members about the subject and lots and lots of personal baggage between us all really, really, REALLY sucks big, vast buckets of suckitude.

2 days into being a Democrat and I would say I am earning my stripes for certain.

I boarded that plane in a pretty foul mood. Luckily, my  brother-in-law’s super-uber-fluffity-Egyptian-Cotton-platinum status with the airline we’re traveling with enabled me to fly first class and it was a blessing. Jonathan was in coach, which was also a blessing. Not that he was in less comfort but that we had time apart while I licked my wounds from the car ride down.

I sat by one of the most kind and interesting people I have ever met. He was traveling on business and sat next to me because my sister and brother in law were across the aisle. We talked about so many things. It was wonderful and really, without being sappy…I needed that conversation. Every topic was something I related to and understood or needed to hear his viewpoint on.

I’m so glad he sat in that seat.

I felt MUCH better when our plane landed then when it took off.

So, here we are.

On our way.

T-minus 3 days and counting till we visit The White House. (Which is really so much more awesome then thinking about T-minus 4 days and counting till I am 35) I’ve been boning up on “The West Wing”.

I KNOW it’s a TV show but DUDE, I LOVE THAT SHOW. I totally wanted to vote for President Bartlett and have an UBER crush on Josh Lyman. I will refrain from asking whoever is touring us around, “So..which one is Toby?” (I’m not THAT bad, people.)

Oh, one more thing…the question everyone seem curious about:

WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?

I’ve gotten a surprising number of emails about this. It is the most asked question next to “When are you going?” and “What are you doing there” (Still unclear about that. I really don’t care, either. I could get a tour of the rose garden by the head gardener and do cartwheels of total gratitude. Although, given my utter lack of grace, cartwheels should be avoided by me at ALL costs)

The question asked again and again made me nervous. I know that I am seriously the least important thing that will be going on at The White House that day, but it will be one of the coolest moments of my life and  I was hoping to look passable and was really starting to stress the fact that my wardrobe is a bit inadequate. I mean, jeesh! Looking at my closet, one would think that I’m a lower middle class SAHM from somewhere in the USA that doesn’t even HAVE A TARGET!

Oh, wait….

Hee.

I did finally find something to wear that I feel fine about. Or, should I say, Iwas lucky and after what seemed like YEARS, I found a cashmere argyle black and grey sweater vest that was totally affordable because it came from TJ MAXX. I’m wearing them with a white shirt and grey slacks I already have and for a pop of color, my red shoes from Payless that I bought for my first BlogHer conference.

I wear them with pride because, well… it’s what I have.

And I think they’re cute.

They’ve served me well and frankly, if someone didn’t like me just because of my shoes, they’re a stupid head and I don’t care what they think of me.

Unless it was Josh Lyman.

THEN I’d be crushed.

And probably be all upset and cry with bitter anger and outrage at his unrequited love for me and my economical, faux leather footwear and yell things like, “WHO NEEDS YOU ANYWAY, JOSH LYMAN! YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW!  I’M DOWNTRODDEN, YO!” in some inappropriate place like The China Room.

Cause that’s the way I roll.

It’s been lovely chatting but my plane is landing.

I’ll stay in touch.

XO

P.S. I don’t REALLY think I’m downtrodden.

P.P.S. I’m also not really THAT concerned that I’m wearing Payless shoes to Pennsylvania Avenue.

P.P.P.S. No, really…I’m not. I know I’m spiffy just as I am. You know, for the most part.

P.P.P.P.S. Though I really DO have an uber crush on Josh Lyman.

P.P.P.P.P.S. I have a crush on the whole cast of The West Wing. I love it so much I’d marry it and have little West Wing babies with it, too.

P.P.P.P.P.P.S. Which wouldn’t be awesome as I tend to have high risk pregnancy and don’t have awesome birthing hips, either.

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. So, we’ll just skip that whole “procreating with a television show” thing for now and try NOT to bring ANY OF THIS UP WHEN I AM THERE.

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. (See? I have WAY bigger things to worry about on Friday then what I’m wearing on my feet. Hee.)