This is like my dreams

Random Photo: Just found this one with Maize the Dog

Philly

Never having been to Philadelphia, Laura and I decided to make a quick stop on our way from Rehoboth Beach to NYC. I had a hankering for one of those steaks. I went with Pat's, the original.

I believe it was around 4 in the afternoon so I was not expecting much of a crowd, but it was quite busy. Apparently you have to order correctly there which involves saying "wit" instead of with. I said with and got a look.

The cheese steak was pretty darn good as were the fries and soda.

It's not hard to tell which place came second. BTW - can you find Sadam?

Laura was unable to eat the cheese steaks so we had to find a spot for her to grab a bite. Fortunately we walked by a cool little Mexican joint on the way back to the car. It was just past this interesting mural. On a side note, I am not sure if it was just the neighbor hood, but I noticed quite a spike in mustaches and swearing in Philadelphia. It made me nervous, but I bet after a few days it would seem normal.

DC to Delaware

Laura and I left DC on Monday morning and headed for Delaware. We decided to stop in Annapolis for lunch on the way. It's a really cool little city for being a capital, and was briefly the capital of the United States from 1783-1784. Lunch was at a nice establishment near the Chesapeake Bay by the name of McGarvey's Saloon.

Laura and I walked around the corner after lunch and found an entrance to the US Naval Academy.

Looking from the docks of Annapolis out to the bay.

About five blocks from the waterfront is the capitol building. Lots of old red brick. Very cool.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is nice, but it's no Mackinac Bridge

Rehoboth Beach

Arlington National Cemetery

Laura and I have been in DC for less than 24 hours and have already seen three deer. We also heard a tour guide telling his bus that a group of deer has taken up residence near the Lincoln Memorial.

It was 100 degrees today and we thought we were dying. Then we saw the changing of the guard. According to CJ, who just read a book on the cemetery and who lives nearby, the marines wear wool uniforms all summer because they don't wrinkle. This guy stood guard for half an hour without a noticeable bead of sweat.

CJ took us by the Civil War Memorial for Confederate Soldiers, an overlooked monument near the back of the cemetery. There he explained that the grave markers where not rounded like the rest, but pointed on top so that people wouldn't sit on them out of disrespect.

The Hamms

Rehearsal dinner on the other side of Lake Mendota

Showing off Dr. Dave's JAMA cover collection

Eloise joined the men's brunch at the fabulous Old Fashioned

LoLo the chauffeur

Taking a seat in the Capitol to cool off before photos

Cool shot taken by Laura

Frank Lloyd Wright church

Cocktail hour at the Madison Club overlooking Lake Monona

Monona Terrace, another Frank Lloyd Wright design. Where's Dave and Molly?

The dome is yellow for mustard in honor of Brat Fest. Seriously

Late night at the Tornado Room

Brunch at Dave's on Memorial Day