Can The Adults Please Smoke? Freakin' Fifteen — Page 102

Oy! Just saw the time, and I have two deadlines to meet today.

Ciao adults! Have a wonderful weekend if I don't see you all... I'll be scarce this weekend as I will be at the softball fields all day Saturday and Sunday.

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Moony - The Museum of American Art ended up being one of my favorite SI museums to work in. After the building reopened they had a hard time getting people to work there. Since I was a floater (cleared to work at all the museums) I ended up over there more times than not. I think they did an incredible job with that place!



(I miss working there so much! )

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Updated On: 6/29/07 at 02:15 PM

I couldn't agree more, DG. I'd give my right arm to be able to work there again. I stop in at the Castle every now and then to see my old boss and I usually end up weepy-eyed. Some museums were better to work in than others, but I loved them all.

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Mamie - I was a little sad that the American History building was closed when I ran down there - it was always my favorite. But, obviously, I have to be happy that it's getting attention and love. But they better keep the Pendulum in the main entry hall!

Updated On: 6/29/07 at 02:28 PM

See - it's probably a good thing the building was closed. Between being in the same town as Bush and finding out the Pendulum was gone, I may very well have snapped completely

*sigh*

There are times I wish some things wouldn't change.

Now I feel like an old geezer.

Mamie - I'm going to remember that when I bring the TinMan to town - but YOU have to go with us! I'm quite sure that you would know more than whatever docent we had

Then that is what I'm giving myself as a gift! Thanks for the info!

I've never been. How sad is that?

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Me too. I haven't been there in.......5 days.

DG - the fact that they got rid of that pendulum was a MAJOR source of contention for me. The original Star Spangle Banner hung on the wall behind the pendulum. When they had to take it down (for the renovation) they had to first remove the pendulum. When they went to put the pendulum back up, somebody remarked that it was the Foucault (probably not spelled correctly) pendulum, which was an invention of a French scientist. At the time the pendulum was hung, that museum was called "The Museum of Science and Technology". Over the years the thrust of the collection changed to American history and the name of the museum was changed. They decided that this 'French' pendulum didn't belong in the American History museum so they gave it away (to the National Science Foundation). The only objects in the Smithsonian that were asked for more often than that pendulum were the first ladies gowns. So many people saw the pendulum as children and couldn't wait to bring their own children back to see it. They failed to recognize the fact that this pendulum had become HISTORY to a whole lot of Americans! Major screw up on their part!

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Mamie - thanks for the background, however sad it is

And I'm SO glad you mentioned the name "Museum of Science and Technology"! That's what I went looking for after I left you guys, and I kept wandering around in front of the building, which now said "American History," and thinking I had lost my mind (what's left of it, anyway!) I swear, I kept thinking about how I KNEW it was next to the Natural History one, and this LOOKED like the same building . . . I was becoming frustrated

I will say, though, as I read your account, I thought you were going to say they took it out because of the FRENCH connection (a la calling fries 'Freedom Fries') - at which point, you all would have heard me screaming all the way on the other coast!

Updated On: 6/29/07 at 02:52 PM

No matter what else I ever see there, nothing will ever match the very first time I saw Dorothy's shoes - it was a religious experience!

Eh, you've seen one rocket ship, you've seen 'em all.