Since recovering from pneumonia, I’ve been getting my strength back with various exercises and walking. On Sunday, one of the few sunny days we’ve had in ages, my friend Carolyn and I took a walk down to the Key Bridge and across into Georgetown.

It looks almost wild here. Almost. All you have to do is look a little to the east…
The Georgetown waterfront has been under development for some time. It used to have a few boathouses and a lot industrial warehouses and storage, as well as the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Now there’s a park along the river and it’s a really nice walk.

And there’s the Watergate, the Kennedy Center, and the Washington Monument peering over them. Some architecture critic said that the Watergate was a wedding cake and the Kennedy Center was the box it came in…
I wanted to check out the skating rink at Washington Harbor. A friend of mine had taken a group of Girl Scouts there before Christmas and I didn’t even know there was a rink there. It was in use on Sunday, but woe to those who fell: there was a lot of melt and large puddles. I like skating on cheesy ice, but not when you’re running through little ponds. It’s supposed to get cold and maybe even snow this weekend. That would make for good skating.

Or look a little to the west and you get the Rosslyn skyline. In the 19th century, Rosslyn was full of bars and bordellos.
The thing I like about walking the river is that I know it from rowing and kayaking and looking at it from the shore is a different view. And there are always things to see. We spotted a Black Crowned Night Heron resting in a thicket. I had to look up what it was, though another bystander said he thought it was a “night heron.” So there are surprises, if you’re alert.

I was transfixed by this. Carolyn was momentarily appalled when I stopped, thinking I was going to look at the tourist paintings stacked up in front of it. Nope. And no, I didn’t take a picture of them…
We were also surprised by an art installation on the plaza. It was made of piping, clamps, and nylon cord, some of which was stretchy like a bungee cord, but smaller. It was colorful and sort of like walking through alleys between buildings.

Carolyn takes a gander through the alleyway…
I speculated that it was lighted at night by solar cell. There were devices in each structure that looked like they could be storing up daylight for nighttime use.

And I take a look at the view out…
We had a look at the rink, did a little people watching, and headed back. The sun was already getting lower in the sky. It was nice to be out, stretching my legs. Carolyn, who wears a device of some sort (is it an Apple Watch?) said we’d walked nearly 6 miles. Now if I can just keep it up…

Back across the beautiful bridge we went…
I am so glad to hear you are up and about again – and that is a lovely art installation to spend some time wandering through – not to mention the lovely river walk. The sky looks very blue which is always a good thing in winter I think – ours was mostly grey last winter and not enjoyable! Are you fully recovered and back at work? Take care xo
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I’m just about fully recovered, making sure to exercise some every day. I am furloughed because of our crazy government, so not working. I would have gone back on the second, but the government partially shut down on December 22nd over “border security” and hasn’t reopened. Could be a long one!
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Oh I had heard something about that – but didn’t put two and two together. I have no clue what it means, either for government workers or the country as it;s not a concept we have here…… Do you get paid or is it an enforced leave without pay situation?
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It’s leave without pay. It happens because Congress doesn’t do it’s work and pass a budget. Then there’s a disagreement and parts run out of money (which Congress appropriates) and things close down. It’s ridiculous and shouldn’t happen. Blergh.
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Blergh indeed!
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Lisa, I’m really sorry to read that you had pneumonia. You’re the third person I know that’s had it this month. I hope you’re fully recovered soon. I had pneumonia about 15 years ago and I mostly remember how exhausted I was. I’m also really sorry to hear you’re furloughed. I’ve had a hard time keeping track of who is and is not working. I’m sorry to hear you fall into the “not working” category. What a royal mess 45 makes of everything. I hope you and others are back to work soon. I’ve never felt so helpless about world affairs as I feel now. Sending healthy, healing thoughts your way.
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Thanks, Alys. Yes, it’s exhausting, but it was a shorter recovery than I expected. The furlough is weird because I was out with pneumonia most of December and then took 2 days of leave before the shutdown. It’s ridiculous and a sign of poor governance. I’ve been trying to figure out what’s happened with the folks who lost their homes in the Camp Fire and others–no news stories since November! Even when I go to California papers. I got your postcard yesterday!! I hope it’s warm in CA. We’re having a big snowstorm today. Beautiful so far. No wind. I’ll try to go out and get pictures.
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Very glad you are getting better. Love the photos & Happy, Healthy, New Year!
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Thanks, Cindy! And the same to you.
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Love those art installations. Always wish I had the imagination to come up with them. Hope the health continues to allow for more ganders like this one
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Thanks, Geoff! Me too; a brisk walk is a wonderful thing–as you well know.
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Great to hear that you are recovering, quite well, by the way, 6 miles! When I stop exercising when I have a cold, I invariably feel I have never exercised before when I get back into it. It always seems easier though, on a nice sunny day by the water. I really like the art installation.
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Yes, when I stop moving for a while, my hips stiffen up, which requires special exercises, but the walk was fabulous. I love coming upon an art installation that won’t be there forever. And some of them are really fascinating. We used to have a group here called Art Attack, that would install things on the sly in public places. It was fun. I will have to see if they still exist…
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Quite an interesting neighbourhood that you have (my kind of attackers).
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What a great thing to do on a Sunday. Always something interesting to see. I really liked the art instillation. Must have been quite a feeling walking through it and being surrounded by the colors.
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Yes, it was interesting to walk through surrounded by the colors. I wonder if it is lighted at night. That would be interesting. Of course, those electronic things could have been alarms, too, I guess.
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Lit at night could be an even better experience. If ever you go at night…
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I didn’t know you were a government employee–what an awful thing this shutdown is for everyone! But I guess it gives you time to take nice walks and see the beauty of the area. Those DC buildings are so iconic–I get a little thrill seeing them!
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It is a beautiful area, no doubt there! I’ve been using the shutdown to get things done I normally don’t have time for. All my clothing is mended for the first time in a while and I have been getting more exercise and seeing friends more often. Luckily, I’m an expert at thrifty, nutritious eating! And luckily, I have savings.
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Nice meander… 6 miles is impressive, so glad you are feeling better!
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Thanks, Eliza. Me too.
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What a lovely walk you had. And 6 miles? Holy wow. I remember those days, very fondly. I’m glad you are feeling better, Lisa. Pneumonia is no joke. My best wishes for you to be strong enough to walk as long as you wish!
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Thanks, Cynthia! Totally different weather this weekend. It’s been snowing since yesterday afternoon and is lovely…
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Well those are lovely pictures, Lisa. Are you in Washington or Virginia? I know they got snow. We still haven’t.
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I’m in Arlington, right by DC. It’s pretty much cleared out and will thaw in the next few days. It’s pretty while it lasts!
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Looks like an interesting walk. Good to know you are getting better – hope you can get back to work soon. 🙂
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They’ve called us back because they found enough money for one pay period. I’m losing words for the situation.
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Good luck with it. 🙂
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Glad you are recovered. These are beautiful photos from early January.
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Lovely walk. The art installation looks fascinating. I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better. 🙂
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Thanks! It was a gorgeous day to be out. And the walk felt good.
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