Back from Fort Myer!

Got back tonight from Ft. Myer. The weather stayed tolerable. Karen is still down there with Lindsay (can't have a family member alone on New Year's now, can we?). Last I heard (around 9:30 tonight) they were at a mall about to go see a movie. K will be flying back Monday evening.
Here's a brief summary of the week's events:

Wednesday
-Drove to Ft. Myer (about 525 miles FYI).
-Arrived at Ft. Myer... did NOT get searched because (terrorists stop reading here) we came to the wrong gate so late at night and the guys had mercy on us.
-Checked out Lindsay's new barracks (pshh.... apartment!).
-Unpacked her stuff.
-Decided to leave right away (as Lindsay had to "WORK" in the morning... more about this to follow).
-Drove around the Fort finding nothing but closed gates for about 30 minutes.
-Stopped at the MP office. They were very helpful (we were interrupting South Park... it was late, what ELSE where they supposed to be doing... besides... maybe.... GUARDING THE FORT!!!).
-Stayed at the Days Inn in a Canyon, erm.... King bed with three pillows total (what an experience... more about that later... or not).

Thursday
-Woke up to the sound of gunfire with a sore back (after way too little sleep... more about that later... or not).
-Arrived at Ft. Myer - GOT SEARCHED.

*Note: the searching process involves everyone in the vehicle surrendering their ID's and exiting the vehicle "to the right please", opening each door, the rear hatch and the hood. At which time four or five people with various weapons rummage through your stuff. Finally, we are told "vehicle clear" (after closing all the doors and stuff).

-Visited the Old Guard Museum (which is about 200 meters north of Lindsay's place) while Lindsay was "working" (more about that below).
-The gift shop was closed, but was supposed to be open Saturday (pshhh... I'm totally getting a couple of OGF&DC shirts and maybe a hat and maybe...).
-Got a call from Lindsay around 11am saying she was DONE WITH "WORK" (actually they just all went out to breakfast... tough life).
-Went shopping the whole day (nothing more about this to follow... yawn). Suffice it to say that it involved decorative rocks, incense, plastic hangers and a vacuum cleaner. On a brighter note, I did pick out a spiffy tool kit.
-Arrived at Ft. Myer - GOT SEARCHED.
-Spent the evening sprucing up the apartment and watching two movies on L's new DVD player (O Brother Where Art Thou, which she stole from the Exped and Napoleon Dynamite).
-Accidentally toured the western most part of Washington DC at 11:30pm on the way to our NEW HOTEL!
-Stayed at the Hyatt in a King bed with SIX pillows(a bit further away, but WELL WORTH IT).

Friday
-Woke up refreshed.
-Had (FREE) breakfast with a view, read the paper.
-Waited for slacker... erm... SPC Natiw to wake up (she was OFF TODAY... NO WORK).
-Arrived at Ft. Myer - GOT SEARCHED.
-Picked her up and went to Arlington Cemetery. Toured around a bit and watched the Tomb Guard (part of the 3rd Infantry Division!) change.
-Lunch at the Washington DC Hard Rock (can you say STEAK?... sure you can).
-More shopping, this time at Ballston (just west of Ft. Myer).
-Arrived at Ft. Myer - GOT SEARCHED.
-Chilled at the apartment and watched another movie (The Brothers Grimm).
-Stayed at the Hyatt in a King bed with SIX pillows.

Saturday
-Woke up even more refreshed.
-(FREE) Breakfast with a view, read a new book on touring/travelling the original 13 colonies (purchased while shopping Friday).
-Arrived at Ft. Myer - GOT SEARCHED.
-Woke up SPC Natiw.
-Walked over the the Old Guard Museum... the museum was open, but the gift shop never opened. Phooey.
-Said my goodbyes to Lindsay and Karen.
-Drove back to Michigan.
-Arrived home around 7:30pm.... GOT SEARCHED. Wait...