July 2025 – Exhale on the Water

Capital or Capitol?

First let’s resolve this common spelling question. Capital spelled with an “a” refers to the city, to uppercase letters, or to money; Capitol spelled with an “o” is the building in DC, pictured below :-). Whether you visit the city – spanning 68 square miles, or just the famous building, it’s a busy area! In fact, Washington DC brags 27 million visitors a year to the capital, including roughly 2 million international visitors.

DC now holds the title of the “Worst Traffic in America”, surpassing LA. Click here to verify! BUT don’t blame traffic congestion on the tourists – that’s a local commuter problem. Good news, slow traffic equals very few automobile accidents!

Capitol Building History

Most likely you have heard of the War of 1812, but did you know in 1814 the British army pillaged and torched the capitol building? The British occupation of Washington, D.C. lasted for roughly 26 hours; the attack was motivated by revenge for the American looting of York in Upper Canada, the provincial British capital.

US Library of Congress: *The History of England, from the Earliest Periods*

Local Celebrity Moment

When in DC, don’t be surprised if you bump into a friendly celebrity. On the docks of the Capital Yacht Club, Rick and Craig met the retired US Senator (D) from West Virginia. His yacht, “Almost Heaven”, named for the official W. VA state song, was just two boats away. Worth the listen, click here for the 50th Anniversary CMA awards video – the fabulous Forever Country version with too many artists to count.

Craig Adford, Joe Manchin, Rick Ginsburg

Touring the Capital City

With Craig and Maureen on board for our week in DC, we took turns identifying a tourist highlight for the day. There are so many Smithsonian Museums – most are free to the public, but some require a time slot reservation, so plan ahead. Thanks Maureen for picking the International Spy Museum.

Opened in 2002, the museum documents the history of espionage with a plethora of fascinating spy stuff from the Ancient Greeks and the Roman Empire to modern day. Located at 700 L’Enfant Plaza, the 32,000 square foot building reportedly holds the largest collection of international espionage artifacts on public display.

And, it is home to Bond in Motion. The favorite exhibit of our group, by far.

This is the Aston Martin DB5 used in the movie Goldfinger, the third part of the James Bond film series.

Smithsonian Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

I selected the delightfully air conditioned museum, although there was only one Banksy on display – for Steven with a V.

The exhibit entitled Osgemeos: Endless Story was impressive. With over 1,000 pieces on display, the museum brags it is the largest US exhibition of work by identical twin brothers Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo (note, the translation of “twins” in Portuguese is “Osgemeos”).

Known for urban art and graffiti traditions, the displays were both thought provoking and whimsical. Highlighting a few photos taken for mijos, Zach and Ynot.

for Zach

Other World Music for Tony

US Holocaust Memorial Museum

Rick chose the informative but depressing memorial, a reminder of the human suffering that should have been quelled sooner. It was “a sobering journey through the rise of Nazi Germany, the Final Solution, and the impact on Jewish people.” Sorry, no pictures. Nearby was a reminder of a beloved genuis who wisely left Berlin in 1933, during the early phases of human annihilation, to relocate to Princeton, New Jersey.

Alexandria, VA

A sidetrip on the dinghy took us to Alexandria.

In honor of a familiar tattoo, we toured the torpedo factory.

Built in 1918, the factory manufactured MarkXIV torpedos during WWII.

In 1974, it reopened as the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a vibrant co-op space for artists and educators. While we were there it was fun to watch the artists in action.

Walking around town we found numerous shops and restaurants, with a pedestrian section (no automobiles) that encouraged a lovely walkabout.

Arlington Cemetery

Boater’s Tip: Hop on Hop off is a nice way to see a LOT in a single day. After a full week in DC in record heat, we barely scratched the surface. Included in the Hop On Hop Off tour is a visit to the Arlington Cemetery.

Once you are at the cemetery, spend the extra $$ for the tram – the place is beyond massive.

Sadly, there were over 20 burials the day we visited. So far, gravesites number around 430,000.

We were surprised to discover the variety of sizes and shapes of gravestones, a well hidden secret. No longer an option as of 2017, now only standard issue white headstones are allowed – a change implemented as of Trump’s first term.

Under a grove of shady trees we found the final resting place of my idol, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-1920) and her spouse, Martin David Ginsburg (1932-2010). Marty was an Army Veteran.

Ruth was a trailblazer who challenged and over turned discriminatory laws and practices, leaving a lasting impact on legal and social landscapes. It is unknown whether Capt Rick Ginsburg is actually related to Martin Ginsburg – that would be a proud discovery.

photo by Gail Bernstein. Justices Thurgood and Ginsburg, Annapolis, MD.

Burgee Exchange

Thanks to the Capital Yacht Club Vice Commodore who exchanged our St. Charles Yacht Club (SCYC) Burgee.

Closing with a picture from my brother Sam Straley, taken from his home in Girdwood, Alaska. His rustic abode faces a glacier, yes, the fireweed are spectacular!

Perhaps you already know, the beautiful flowers bloom from the bottom up, with the peak bloom often occurring in mid-July to mid-August. When the blooms reach the top, it’s a sign that summer is nearing its end.

Celebrating Milestones:

Birthdays – July 26, Barry Hildebrand; August 3, Andrea Davis and Carly Lennon Maurer.

What’s Next: anchoring out at Mt. Vernon, VA – exploring President George Washington’s mansion. Then a return to Colonial Beach, VA followed by an anchorage at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Cruising the Potomac

Spring Cove, Maryland

The run from Annapolis to Spring Cove is roughly 6 hours. Boater’s Tip, the marina offers a courtesy car (nearby grocery) to be returned by 6 ish. We opted to eat dinner on board. Sorry, no photos.

Colonial Beach, VA

Thanks Patrick and Laura Magers for the suggestion to stay at the Boat House in Colonial Beach, VA. About 8 hours from Spring Cove, the town is so adorable we stayed two nights.

Permanent population hovers around 3,600, this sweet beach town is a VERY popular stop for a summer vacation rental. Small beaches like this are plentiful, extending 2.5 miles along the Potomac River banks. A rare find!

On our second day, we were surprised by a visit from Florida friends Tom and Faye Turke, who are exploring by automobile this summer, rather than cruising the waterways in their lovely North Pacific Yacht, Treble in Paradise. Thanks for making the journey!

Local Restaurants in Colonial Beach were wonderful. We strongly recommend the Sunflower Cuisine (click here) – Sushi Thai fusion with French flair. Worth the walk. Flavors are extraordinary, and presentation is elegant.

Washington DC

From Colonial Beach we cruised up the beautiful Potomac to Washington DC. Exhale is spending a total of one week in our nation’s capital. Boaters, we recommend the Capital Yacht Club (as suggested by Ray and Caryl). We booked the marina reservation about 4 months in advance, note there are very few transient slips. Zoom in, Exhale can be seen on the left, notice the Washington Monument in the near distance. Within walking distance of the monuments, the location is superb.

Craig Adford and Maureen O’Gara flew in from LAX, to join us in Washington DC for a week of exploration.

July 20 is National Ice Cream day – put it on your calendar!

soft ice cream preferred

Lincoln Memorial

One of my favorite photographs of my mother, Laura Jo Straley, dates back roughly 80 years ago. She is relaxing at the reflecting pool, with the Lincoln Memorial in the background.

Visiting DC for the very first time, we attempted to reenact the photo. Thanks Craig Adford for the black and white photo.

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was designed by Henry Bacon, completed in 1923. It is approximately 2,030 feet long and 167 feet wide.

You may recall that heartwarming scene when Forrest Gump and Jenny reunite in the pool (click here) :-). For those of you who don’t swim, don’t worry, the depth is only 18 inches on the sides.

Here are a few fun facts about President Lincoln and the memorial

The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in 1922, 58 years after Lincoln’s death. My mom was there in the 1940s.
The statue of Lincoln is 19 feet tall and weighs 175 tons.
The memorial has 36 columns, each representing a state during Lincoln’s time.
There are 87 steps leading to the memorial referencing Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (four score and seven years).

More Fun Facts about President Lincoln – he was the first bearded US President, the first to hold a patent and the first to be in an inaugural photograph.

Did you know – The bill to create the US Secret Service was on the President’s desk the night of his assassination? One of the principal purposes of the Secret Service is to protect national leaders, such as the President. Would their presence have saved Lincoln’s life? Unknown.

Washington Monument

The opposite end of the reflecting pool faces the Washington Monument. Completed in 1884, the phallic obelisk was built to commemorate President George Washington, like Lincoln, was dead when his memorial was created.

According to Wiki, it is the world’s tallest predominantly stone structure and it is the world’s tallest obelisk, standing 554 feet 7+¹¹⁄₃₂ inches tall [how’s that for precise!] , according to U.S. National Geodetic Survey measurements as of 2014.

The tallest building is found in Dubai (right, Craig?). The Burj Khalifa is 2,717 feet tall; the New York One World Trade Center ranks 7th, at a meaningful 1,776 feet high.

Vietnam Women’s Memorial

Thank you Danielle Ginsburg for sending me this historic book, “The Women” by Kristin Hannah. It is a perfect explanation to the real story behind the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on the National Mall.

It was a common misogynist perception that there were “no women serving in Vietnam.” Tragically, the VA denied benefits to women who served in Vietnam, refusing any form of help. But as stated in “The Women”, if you served in Vietnam, and did not see a woman, you were one of the lucky few who never needed medical care.

The Vietnam Women’s Memorial is dedicated to the US nurses and women who served in the Vietnam War. The emotional memorial depicts three uniformed women with a wounded male soldier. Dedicated on Veterans Day in 1993 by Vice President Al Gore.

Closing with an exquisite sunset from Capital Yacht Club.

Celebrations and Milestones: Birthday: July 22, Ray Houle; Julie Hildebrand; July 26, Barry Hildebrand; July 28, Diana Giraldo;

Anniversary: July 22: Matt and Michele; July 26, Larry and Laura Straley

What’s Next? We will continue to tour the DC area and the Potomac River with Craig and Maureen until Saturday, July 26

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

Ten years in the making – It’s official – Tony Rodriguez and Alisha Silverstein got married on July 12, 2025. That announcement is worth the fireworks!!

Fireworks from St. Michaels, Maryland

Rick and I, along with Gail and David Bernstein, flew from Annapolis to CA for the sweet event. We started the weekend with Maureen O’Gara and Craig Adford (thank you!), in their beautiful home in Moorpark, CA. The monarch butterfly from their yard is for Alisha.

Wedding Magic – Mixed Tape

It is estimated that 150 people made the journey for the destination wedding at the secluded Pine Rose resort in Twin Peaks, CA [near Arrowhead]. Friday night was a casual mixer at the Strawberry Lodge, with roughly 60 people; a relaxed introduction of family and friends from both the bride and the groom, including childhood pals from Alaska, and special folks from CA, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Ohio, Nebraska, Kansas, Florida, New York and more!

Long-time friend from Alaska, Elizabeth, brought fresh Moose Meat, recently killed by her handsome hubby. Now that’s truly organic! Photos offer just a small sample of the happy faces who joined us.

Carly, Tony, Alisha, Mary S, Zach, Julia, and Elizabeth.

On the stairs Mo captured some (not all) of the Alaska Family: Austin, Kingston, Ella, Millie, Mary S, Julia, Tony, Alisha, Elizabeth, Joe, Brandon, Ruby, Carly, Zach and Elke.

Here’s one more from the stairs:

**Zach Silverstein, Mary S, Alisha and Tony** – photo by Maureen O’Gara

On the outside patio we found Alisha, Tony and Elke.

The Big Event

Saturday, 7/12/25 at 3:37 pm the magic commenced. If you are a fan of the epic Christmas movie, Love Actually, you must recall the wedding scene – go ahead, click on it, as a full choir and hidden band members surprise the bride immediately AFTER their vows, magically performing “All you need is love”.

To the delight of EVERYONE, the Big Event’s bridal procession began with live music, a marching band, with a trumpet and a drummer. The procession was accompanied by Alisha’s cousin, Joe Buckendahl, expertly performing on saxophone. Alisha’s cousin Kingston, and Tony’s business partner Joey, were strategically positioned in the audience on electric guitars.

Then the big surprise. Alisha sang, with confidence and skill, as she entered the venue. The procession song was Ray Lamontagne’s finest “You are the Best Thing”. Click here to listen to the original version – but you should know that Alisha did it BETTER. As she sang to Tony, there was not a dry eye in sight.

To keep the magic flowing, we are sharing some of the love witnessed that evening, with the help of many friends and family members who sent photos. Instagram captions give credit to the photographers.

Tony‘s vows resulted in uproars of laughter as he shared his deep appreciation of Alisha – who was caring for a well fed cat when they first met. When he realized it was a community cat, not actually her cat, he knew what she really needed – “not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, not 6, but 7 furry babies” who are now spoiled members of their family. Beloved critters include three dogs – Jocey, Tilly, Mookie; and four cats – Taco, Belle, Luka and Jac.

The 100-year old wedding veil has been passed along in the Silverstein family, I believe it has been worn by eight women (is that right Wendy and Elise?). Thanks Grammy (Norma Silverstein), you were there in spirit every moment of the day.

Enjoying the magic with Craig, Maureen, Gail, David, Rick and yours truly.

Father of the Bride, and the bride, singing the Otis Redding classic, “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay“ . They both know all the words :-)

**Alisha Silverstein and Steven Silverstein**, photo by **Tanja.**

Yes the late night chicken was this good!

So Proud

Rick Ginsburg and Mary Silverstein, photo by Carly

Closing with an exquisite photo of the new Mr. and Mrs. on Sunday morning! Zoom in, Alisha’s t-shirt reads: “eat your heart out, I’m Married.” Mazel Tov and Congratulations to Alisha and Tony.

Special update: Tony’s beautiful daughter, Pristine, gave me a warm hug as we were checking out on Sunday. She seemed happy to enlighten me – since Tony is my son-in-law her two sweet babies, Juliette (age 3) and Penelope (age 1) are my great grandbabies! Pristine is truly beautiful, inside and out, and I am beyond thrilled to be a great grandma. Wow. Congrats again everyone.

The happy Mr. and Mrs. – photo by Mary S.

Next Up: Traveling Chesapeake Bay, a slow journey to Washington D.C. See you soon Craig and Maureen.

Joey Chestnut reigns again

Joseph Christian Chestnut is the weiner king of Nathan’s Hot Dogs, again!

On Friday, July 4, Chestnut, 41, scarfed down 70.5 hot dogs [with buns] during the annual Coney Island Mustard Belt, winning for a record 17th time. The feat was close but not close enough to beat his own record of 76 franks set in 2021.

For me, the thought of eating even one dog is a barf moment in my book, but hey, Joey is fun to celebrate, he’s famous without a scandal!!

4th of July trivia [according to wallethub.com]: 150 million hot dogs are consumed each July 4^th. With or without ketchup!

St. Michaels, Maryland

We ventured to St. Michaels for the long weekend, docked in tandem with Tonto’s Reward at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The marina is at the edge of the very walkable town.

Traveling buddies, Exhale and Tonto’s Reward

St. Michael’s Parish

Are you wondering, was the church named first or the town? Originally a trading post for tobacco farmers and fur traders, the church was founded in 1672; so, yes the town is named after the parish :-)

We were surrounded by blue skies,

and colorful flowers.

Fun facts on the 4th of July:

Authorized by Congress [remember when that was a thing…], 1777 was the first year fireworks were used in an official Fourth of July celebration {marking the one-year anniversary}. China is credited with the invention of fireworks, while Italy made fireworks bright and beautiful by using metallic powders to create spectacular colors. Bravisimo!

On July 4, 1776, there were an estimated 2.5 million people living in the 13 colonies. By 2024, the population of the US was around 340.1 million.

Fourth of July became a federal holiday in 1870, thanks to Ulysses S. Grant.

FRESH tomatoes and basil.

Tomatoes and basil growing on the back deck of Exhale provided a delicious caprese salad. Look at the deep red! It was soooo yummy. Thanks Linda P.

Another lighthouse for Caryl at Navy Point

The Hooper Strait Lighthouse, now standing on Navy Point, was originally built in 1879 to light the way for boats passing through the shallow, dangerous shoals. Now it’s just a fun museum, without the shoals.

In case you are curious, the year round population of St. Michaels was 1,094 in 2023. As you walk around town you might conclude there are more trees than residents. Enjoy the magnificent White Oak, Eastern White Pine, American Beech, Black Cherry, Hickory and Maple; among others.