I just finished reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief 
Yes, I was a bad mom who refused to let her son take his book to school or read in bed at night. When was I supposed to read it?
I happened to be in the middle of the book when my kids and I made out trip to Washington DC at the end of last week. And I saw Percy everywhere. It was funny how I looked at everything differently after reading this:
“You mean the Greek gods are here? Like…in America?”
“Well, certainly. The gods move with the heart of the West…..The gods simply moved, to Germany, to France, to Spain for a while. Wherever the flame was brightest, the gods were there….All you need to do is look at the architecture. People do not forget the gods. Every place they’ve ruled, for the last 3000 years, you can see them in paintings, in statues, on the most important buildings.”
“And, yes, Percy, of course they are now in your United States. Look at the statue of Prometheus in Rockefeller Center, the Greek facades of your government buildings in Washington.”
“I defy you to find any American city where the Olympians are not prominently displayed in multiple places. Like it or not–and believe me, plenty of people were not very fond of Rome, either–America is now the heart of the flame.”
“It is the great power of the West. And so Olympus is here. And we are here.”
It was one of the coolest trips to DC that I’ve had in a long time (albeit tiring and hot and long and frustrating). I just love how seeing ordinary things through different eyes can be a whole new, exciting, learning experience.
Today I am co-hosting with Cecily once again for a combined PhotoStory Friday and Give Me Your Best Shot meme. We lovingly call it GMYBSPSF. (Pronounced: “Gimmybispisuff.”)
Just kidding. I had to say it again, though. Guess what? Next month I get to meet Cecily for the first time! I can hardly contain my excitement!
PS–If you’re new, you can read about Give Me Your Best Shot. And now it’s time for you to share your photos!
Hosted by Cecily and Lolli
To play Photo Story Friday, check this. Copy this code into your post and sign the link list:
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I read those books with my kids too … ya know fighting them for the books! We got the whole set for Savanna for Christmas and she loves them. She says they are helping her out in history class!
.-= Carrie Keiser´s last blog ..Foto Story Friday #96– Easter photos =-.
What a fun trip….so cool that you could relate to a book!
.-= Krystyn´s last blog ..The lost quad? =-.
Your pictures are amazing! I really enjoy the other teeny-bopper books like Twilight… perhaps I’ll have to give these a whirl!
Haven’t seen the movie yet but planning on it! I usually like to read first since I can get the whole feel of the story, rather than special effects in the movie!
.-= Blessing Reflections´s last blog ..Sunset From Dinner Cruise =-.
I love the photo of the horse statue! Very cool photos.
.-= Chelsi´s last blog ..GMYBS: Weekend Recap #2 =-.
Very, VERY cool! Glad you had a great trip and thanks for sharing this. I never thought of this before but it’s SO true!
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..Weighty Issues =-.
Luckily my kids are too small for me to have to share my books with them! I love the Percy Jackson books and the movie was, not exactly the same but really wonderfully made!
.-= Ryanne´s last blog ..Liam…the newest nephew sweetness =-.
Oh I’m such a ninny, and did something wrong… can’t get my link up. Hah! Love this though.
Thanks, The post below would be what I would enter.
Dana
.-= Dana @ Bunglaow’56´s last blog ..Anything For Me? =-.
You are just too cool. My oldest two are going to love seeing those photos.
.-= Lara´s last blog ..Homework Equation =-.
Gorgeous photos Lolli! I’ve never been to DC. It was great seeing DC through your eyes. Have a great weekend!
Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
.-= Kristi {at} Live and Love…Out Loud´s last blog ..Photo Story – Let’s Go for a Walk =-.
Gorgeous photos as always :) I guess I need to go read that book.
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Skinny is so overrated =-.
Oh gorgeous photos! I haven’t seen the movie or read the book (yet), but am planning on it. :)
.-= Deb – Mom of 3 Girls´s last blog ..(Kinda) Wordless Wednesday #140 – They’re done!! =-.
OH my goodness – your shots are amazing!
I love that last shot especially! And have been WAITING for that movie to come out on dvd so I can see it captioned! :)
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Almost Wordless Wednesday: Frosting Wars Continued =-.
when are you meeting Cecily??? I am going to Utah next month! I wonder if it falls on the same dates! (she & i are going to try to meet up as well!!!)
Your shots of DC are stunning! I too love seeing a city through a story as well. How fun!
.-= debi9kids´s last blog ..It’s Either Her or Me =-.
gorgeous shots. I love the last one. you should definitely print and frame them.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Static Hair and Upside Down girls – GMYBS/PSF =-.
Your pictures are truly amazing! Wow.
My 9 year old can’t get enough of that series either. He absolutely inhales each book.
.-= Mom24@4evermom´s last blog ..PSF & Project 365 #14 =-.
Wow! Very cool. My wife and kids swear by these books, and now you’ve piqued my curiosity — and your pictures this week are outstanding!
.-= Chris´s last blog ..Photostory Friday: 365 Week 14 =-.
I love your pictures and what you did with them. They’re powerful. Especially the horse statue. Really really cool.
We want to take our boys to D.C. Maybe this summer while we’re east. Maybe I should read the book first. :)
.-= Raise Them Up´s last blog ..A Chicken Soup Kind Of Night =-.
That is so cool! I love that you got to read the book and then teach him something cool : )
The reason we would NOT like for my sister to wear the baby is because we ALL want to hold him. You said that you didn’t need to share because you were wearing him. We LOVE to share the baby because we all adore it. We DO NOT however adore the heavy carrier : )
.-= Life with Kaishon´s last blog ..my little actor =-.
What a cool post! And, such beautiful pictures!
.-= Mama Zen´s last blog ..Review: The View From Brindley Mountain =-.
My youngest read that book and loved it. I love the story you created to go with it. Your shots/editing are awesome.
.-= Michelle @ One Crafty Mama´s last blog ..PSF – Playing with Photoshop =-.
I LOVE those books…and picked them up the same way – because my daughter was devouring them. And…since I teach Latin, it seemed like a great fit. I even took my Latin class to see the movie on opening day. What a disappointment. Don’t even bother! They don’t even mention Cronus in the movies. Don’t get me started on all my other issues with the movie.
Anyway…love your photos – and the one of the horse from the statue – gorgeous!
.-= Kat´s last blog ..Sing…sing a song =-.
First of all, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your edits in these shots. They’re amazing shots anyway, but the edits are stunning!!
I really need to read those books. Isaac LOVES them. Incidentally, he wasn’t too thrilled about the movie (he went with his 6th grade teacher and a bunch of other kids from his class. How cool is his teacher?!). As a movie he liked it fine, but it didn’t follow the book very well I guess.
.-= Cecily R´s last blog ..Give Me Your Best Photo Story Friday and Two Ideas =-.
I stumbled across your blog and wanted to say hi.
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Sounds like it was a great trip! I love the first two photos, they are so moody. Was that something you did in camera, or was after editing?