there is something very cool about riding your bike home after a picnic in the park and suddenly realizing that you're right next to the capitol building, and that no, it's not a movie, and that in spite of your doubts about the effectiveness of our government, it's a pretty amazing thing to see. equally amazing is a pink sunset - especially when you're seeing it on the lawn of the national sculpture garden with old friends and a great hummus picnic - the kind of picnic that makes you start planning to pack lots of picnics when you get home, so you can see more sunsets and sit in more parks and get outside of your own yard.