Rolling with Change Hike

I signed up the 30-m endurance hike WOC + Franklin Cliffs/Hawksbill + Old Rag + Robertson mt, after lack of sleep for several days. I was behind the group from the beginning.

This was the 1^st time in my life, I decided to listen to my body and called it the quit instead of toughing it out to avoid inconvenience others. In other words, I talked to the hike leader to hike by myself at my own pace rather than taking the whole 30 mile hike. 

I walked along the skyline drive then AT to get about 18 miles in total by myself in light rain, then I found a ride from a Korean couple. During the hike, I was inventorying what I “should do,” and “should be” built via past experience which are no longer applicable.

I left a note for the hike leader, and he was happy that I found a ride instead of waiting for 5-hr in the parking lot for them. The Korean couple stopped at a farm in front royal to get the best honey in greater dc and I bought some as well. I did not get the miles, but lot of joy and photos.  I felt so liberated from my old belief/behaviors, and cannot wait to experience more positive changes in my life.

Fredericksburg & Kings Dominion in Virginia on a Weekday

I suddenly felt an urge to visit a theme park, so I recruited one friend to join me on a weekday to avoid the crowd. We stopped by Fredericksburg historic downtown on the way to Kings Dominion. Fredericksburg is located 50 miles south of Washington DC, and has several civil war battlefields.  We visited the Kenmore Plantation and Mary Washington House, where George Washington's mother spent her final years. My friend was pleased that he introduced me there.

 

Kings Dominion is an amusement park located 75 miles south of Washington, DC. I came here in 2010 to cerebrate my break free from a work slave, and I came here this time to cerebrate to break free from fears of unknown. I just need to be aware of risk of unknown but not let it bother me enjoy the moment.

I rode on most of the thriller rides, including Dominator, the longest floorless roller coaster in the world, with the second largest vertical loop in the world. It was sunny yet cool day without too many people, so we only waited long for Volcano. Most importantly, I finally rode the almost vertical water drop which was not as scary as it looks. I had great time and felt like a kid again.

I rode on most of the thriller rides, including Dominator, the longest floorless roller coaster in the world, with the second largest vertical loop in the world. It was sunny yet cool day without too many people, so we only waited long for Volcano. Most importantly, I finally rode the almost vertical water drop which was not as scary as it looks. I had great time and felt like a kid again.

National Dance Day at at Kennedy Center

The National Dance Day event at KC was fun. There were performance by DEA Youth Dance Program Partner, CityDance, Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company , etc. I and my friends also took some hip hop lessons. The performance moved indoors after a big rain.

One friend stayed over the rain for "Dancing Under the Stars" with live music by Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. The salsa dance lessons with Eddie Torres and Shani Talmor was fun. Shani Talmor was so hot that I think a lot of male audience had physical reactions. LOL.

FREE WINE N LIVE JAZZ BAND Sat Alexndria

I found the event via EventBrite and enjoyed JAZZ sounds and food there. I and a friend then worked around old town Alexandria.

Beers on Ben

I found the event via EventBrite and enjoyed beers, food and views from the top of Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center on K Street NW DC. There were also electronic entertainment demos.

Lotus & Water Lily Festival at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

   

I checked out the lilies festival in the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in SE Washington DC

http://www.nps.gov/keaq/planyourvisit/lily-festival-2013.htm

Saw a wild fox at the park

Behind my county library when running. I looked for foxes very hard in many US national parks (especially the Yellow Stone Nation Park), but found one right in my neighborhood?!

All Soul Church Tower

The All Soul Church is a Unitarian Universalist church located at DC. The bell tower offered tours one Sunday afer the service.  Unitarian Universalism is theologically liberal and characterized by a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning.”

 

The church has a long tradition of promoting liberal religious views and social justice issues. I felt peace and joy after each service. The Revere Bell was stripped of its status as Washington's "town bell" after the congregation tolled it to commemorate the death of John Brown.

National Cinco de Mayo Festival May 5

The performance was at the National Mall featuring live music and dance, children’s arts and crafts workshops, etc. 

DC passport 2013

More than 40 embassies representing six continents open their doors to DC visitors and residents. I experienced the food, art, dance, fashion, and music of different countries, such as Barbados, Belize, Dominican Republic, etc. I had rum and enjoyed Caribbean hospitality.