The summer isn’t over yet, but I have done so much, that I wouldn’t mind if it were. A few weeks ago, the boy and I took a drip down to Burke, Virginia to visit the cousins I never see, but wish I did. We stayed at my great aunt’s house, which by far is the most amazing house I have ever been in. She collects everything from old toys that she once owned as a child, to cookie jars. Her yard is a haven for hummingbirds and chipmunks. When eating breakfast in the kitchen, you can see the birds around the feeder surrounding the massive windows. One of my cousins owns a bar in Manassas called The Philadelphia Tavern. We decided to spend our first night there. The food was tasty, and was made tastier with the never ending flow of free drinks.

The next day consisted of Washington DC, with its mall of Smithsonian Museums, sculpture garden, and pretty buildings. My favorite was seeing Julia Child’s kitchen, and the evolution of birth control in the Museum of American History. On the ride home, we stopped at an outlet mall, where I ended up buying a winter coat in the middle of August.

On our last day, the boy and I drove to Old Town Alexandria, where there is an artist community called The Torpedo Factory ,where there are three floors of open studios and galleries to walk through and meet artists. I saw some really amazing work that I wish I could afford.

This past weekend, the boy, my brother, and his girl all spent the day at Six Flags! We started and ended the day riding the El Toro, the fastest rollercoaster there! My heart dropped at the almost vertical drop. My second favorite was the Bizarro, which had a narration while coasting through fireball blasts and steam. After the last ride on the El Toro, the park ended the night with a huge shabang of fireworks. Below is the best picture we had all night:

Since I had most of the summer off, I have been getting back on track with Roller Derby.  Oh skates, how I’ve missed you!! I must say I love skating and love playing, and hopefully I will be back to play the next bout September 19th! If you are in the area, I HIGHLY suggest going!!