Well last week I had the pleasure of attending a public affairs conference in VA just outside Washington. I decided to drive to make life easier at the conference. I mapped out my route and the first stop was Reagan National Airport where I was picking up a friend.
I made it within a mile of the terminal. “Reagan National Airport next exit,” the sign read. The next exit was three exits and none of them indicated an airport. So I panicked and took a turn, and drove, then drove further, I quickly realized I was lost and ended up by a huge building that had five sides. I regrouped and put the trusty iPhone to work. I was back on track and back on the freeway. “Reagan National next exit” I see again and low and behold it was correct. I get off then come to a “T.” If you haver ever driven to an airport you know that typically the freeway takes you pretty much to the door, however this was not the case. So I followed the arrow which took me to another arrow. About a dozen arrows later through a business district I arrived. It was quite the hassle.
My friend, Chatwin a member of the UT Nat Guard, now joined me. We set out to our hotel where we got our rooms (maybe she could blog about that expierience.) We woke the next day checked out and had all day before we needed to head to the conference, so DC was the logical choice right?
We began to make our way and the iPhone pretty much said if you keep going straight you’ll end up in the President’s garage. So of course that was not the case and that was a pain but we finally found the capital mall. “We’ll just find a ramp,” I said. Apparently someone forgot parking when building our capital. Litterally took a total of 45 min 10 of which to circle the block after seeing a public ramp.
Kudos to you if you’re still reading.
The National Conference Center was our next destination. Well we had to eat lunch and if you read this blog or know who I am, then you know where lunch was at. We made it to the conf miraculously with only getting lost once. I checked in and then off to the room. I got on the elevator I totheir up one floor where I got off on the fourth floor. This was correct mind you so you do the math. I had all my stuff on a cart then I came to some steps. So I went and I got back on the elevator. OHHHH I got off at the wrong 4.
Day two started with a trip to the dining facility where I had an omlett. It was time to go so I started walking. I should note I was on level two, one below the ground. I went up a floor and out an exit. I found myself in a small courtyard so I used my spidy sense and set off in the right direction. A few turns later I came out an exit only to find myself in the same courtyard.
Over the next few days Chatwin and I guess we were about 15 for 15 getting lost and not because we cand find our way. During this trip I developed a theory. The closer you get to our nation’s capital the more common sense gets left behind. Sure there’s the obvious $200 wrench, pay raises during a bad economy, but I spent a week in a governnment facility where I got lost every day just walking around. A facility where my government had to pay far more than your avg hotel room to a facility owned by my government. Only the government could screw up a facility so badly. Honestly I think it was a terrorist plot to build a place to drive us nuts.
So that’s my story about DC or the parts i’m sharing for now.

If you made it this far and have an idea of a blog topic let me know.