The New Hampshire Way

I was just telling Big Sky Girl last night, when we met up for dinner in Georgetown, that I feel so bad for not blogging these past, OMG, 6 days! But I don’t want to blog out of obligation. BSG said, “You should live to blog, not blog to live” which is a good point, unless of course you’re surviving off the paid ads on your site.

Out of the past 6 days, 3 have been fabulous, and the other 3 have been tough because they weren’t fabulous . . and I was PMSing.

I flew to New Hampshire on Friday and had a fantastic 48 hours there, sleeping only 11 of those hours. As I said before, Best Friend’s boy’s family is great! It felt like home . . . not my home, but home.

Friday night, we went to a Christian music festival in the mountains and saw Recycled Percussion. They were incredible! Amazing entertainers. The lead drummer has gotta be the fastest drummer in the world. And now, I secretly want to learn how to beat box.













We went to the Skillet concert, too, as opposed to Mercy Me and Jars of Clay, since I’ve seen them before. I’ve never really listened to Christian rock before, but they were pretty good performers. Did a little headbanging-ha; I didn’t think people did that anymore.

Saturday morning, we headed over to Tom & Lisa’s for a huge, yummy breakfast on their deck. I’m pretty sure I consumed my weight in food. I simply couldn’t decide between the French toast and the egg & cheese English muffins, so I had to have both . . plus potatoes and bacon and strawberries and a blueberry muffin.

We headed down to the family’s beach house just over the NH border in Massachusetts. It was the cutest house with a pretty view of the ocean.













The water was freezing, of course, but we were determined to get in.













BF & I managed to slightly embarrass ourselves by attempting to kick around the soccer ball on the beach with the three brothers, but we totally redeemed ourselves when we got a football in our hands.













BF and her boy went for a stroll on the beach, so his younger bro and I took a bike ride up to Hampton Beach to walk around on the ‘boardwalk’, eat Sal's pizza, and play a few arcade games. I totally won the football game!














That night, we all went down to Boston for dinner and dessert. It was dark out by that time, but seeing just a little bit of the city makes me want to go back! The craziest thing was seeing TONS of rotten fruits and vegetables from the Haymarket just thrown in the street for at least two blocks. City workers use a bulldozer to clean up leftover produce and other debris once Haymarket closes. Apparently, New Girl says that this has been going on since the city began. Take a look at this Boston Globe slideshow.

Sunday morning, we were up bright and early headed up to the mountains to go kayaking. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever get used to the water temperature, but I ended up jumping off the bridge a couple of times and later getting flipped over by Tom & Best Friend. Don’t worry; I retaliated. . which resulted in BF’s kayak going down the rapids without her and us trying to both go down on one! At this point, I was really wishing I’d bought the water camera.













We took a gondola to the top of Loon Mountain for the hot dog festival and a couple of us crawled around in the caves. . something that was clearly intended for small children since the spaces were so tiny.




















Back at the house, BF & I said our good-byes, which was incredibly sad, because I have no idea when I’ll see her next. Maybe Christmas time, but that’s a long time! I’ve been so spoiled hanging out with her the past two weekends.

I’ve loved living in D.C. so far, but I really didn’t want to come back. As I flew home, I wondered when I would feel that way again . . at home. My roommates could tell I was a little down, though, and they said we will definitely hang out and they’re always there to talk, etc. I am so blessed to live with such great girls!

Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News . .

For those of you who have been concerned for the emergency room patient mentioned in my previous post . . he'll be fine. The doc says pain killers and antibiotics will take care of him and his member should be able to function perfectly fine in the future. . no question about him keeping the complete package. (Ewww, can't believe I'm blogging about this.)

Tea Partay

This YouTube video is hilarious, because these are the kind of people I occasionally find myself surrounded by:

http://loggedhours.blogspot.com/2006/08/word-up-to-my-to-my-domicilefellows.html

Ouch!

If you’ve taken the pictures to be an indication of how fun my weekend was, then you know I had a good time. Just look at the smile on my face in the picture with Best Friend. I was that happy all weekend.

Not only did I get to hang out with Best Friend, I got to spend time with her boy’s whole family. They were great. In fact, they were so great that I'm flying up to New Hampshire for the weekend to hang out with them! BF will be there, too.

Our weekend consisted of late nights (an all-nighter in fact), an evening at the Air and Space Museum (for the leadership conference the family was attending), some Scrabble (a tradition with BF, her brother, and I), and . . a trip to the emergency room.

We were waiting around at the hotel, hungry and ready for dinner, when someone asked, "What's taking them so long?" There were a few people missing from our party, apparently discussing something serious in the hallway.

It turns out someone was in pain. Not just any pain. Pain "down there". Excrutiating, unbearable pain "down there." Poor guy. All 8 of us made our way to the hospital and waited a good hour for a nurse to see him. As we were sitting there, I looked over and thought I saw tears welling up in his eyes. I didn't know if it was from the pain or perhaps the embarassment of having an entire posse accompany him to the hospital because he had pain in his private part.

After getting situated in a hospital bed to await a doctor, he gave us permission to leave and grab a bite to eat. Once out of earshot, we were all able to make male genitalia jokes to our hearts' content. I'm not sure he'll ever live this one down.

So, all in all, the weekend was a blast, but that trip to the hospital was really the nuts! (Sorry!, I couldn't resist. What can I say . . I'm my father's daughter.)

Weekend Pictures

Best Friend & I

Bringing a little Nebraska to D.C.

Paddleboating in the Tidal Basin

Visitors

I never mentioned Day 2 with Cousin Joy, which provided us not nearly enough time to bond/catch-up/enjoy each other, but I was thankful for what I got. She & K came over to see my apartment, which they loved, and I stole her away to go shopping and have dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, where she immediately got an eyeroll out of our server only to completely win him over a few minutes later. The last thing I remember him saying is, “I want one of her.” - a pretty common response on first-time encounters. She’s one of those people that you want to put in your pocket and take everywhere. There’s never a dull moment with her around. She ended up leaving him a great tip, plus a note that read, "WE LOVE YOU. BYE AHMED."















My workout plan has officially started this week. I’m giving myself 6 weeks and if I don’t notice a difference . . I’ll keep working out, I’ll probably just allow a little more chocolate back into my diet. I’m not going to be so strict as to not allow myself ice cream when Best Friend visits this weekend, but am trying to make an even more conscious effort to eat healthy and make the 3 floor trek to the workout room every day. Instead of getting breakfast with my officemates nearly every morning, I instead limit myself to a) my bowl of Wheaties (which fills me up for about 30 minutes) or b)a cup of strawberry/banana yogurt and an Odwalla bar. The second option isn’t much cheaper than buying breakfast at the bakery, but it’s definitely healthier. I told Joy about my plan and discussed how much power dessert has over me. Granted, I don’t ever buy sweets at the grocery store, but if someone offers me some, I just can’t say no. Joy offered me this suggestion, “The next time someone offers you dessert, just act irritated and say, ‘I don’t eat that *#$@’ and they’ll never offer it to you again.” She’s probably right. They probably won’t ever offer it to me again, but they also probably won’t be my friend anymore. I did try semi-implementation of this tactic. I was just nicer about it. Sure enough, New Girl now says before heading to the candy jar, “Well, I know YOU don’t want any, but Leigh, what about you?”

Best Friend, her brother, and her boy are in town. It's SO good to have her in "my" city. Her boy lives in NH (they're doing the long-distance thing) and has brought his whole family along to meet her. They have a family business and are all attending a leadership conference this weekend. Obviously, it's more important for her to spend some QT with her boy and his family since they never see each other, but fortunately it looks like I'll be invited along quite a bit. Last night, we hung out at the hotel and tonight we may all catch a movie. So excited!

Hanging out with Rochester and Joy

Friday night, Rochester and I hung out. I mean, we're still friends, so we're going to keep hanging out . . The only thing is . . it totally felt like a date. We figured out that neither of us had plans. . although, I think it's one of those situations where neither person makes plans, because they'd kinda rather hang out with each other. In my defense, I thought I had plans with my cousin, but that didn't end up happening.

He asked what I wanted to do, and my first idea was . . "Ooh, ooh, let's go sightseeing!" The only thing I've seen since I've lived here is the WWII Memorial, so I haven't really been sightseeing for years. He didn't get overly excited about my plan, so I suggested we go to Old Town Alexandria for dinner. I love Old Town. It's sooo cute, and if I stick around for a while, I'd love to live there (even though the commute is longer).

We ended up eating at the Chart House on the waterfront. The seafood was delicious. Afterward, we got ice cream and went to a movie at an old historic theater.

These pictures don't at all do the area justice:











































We walked around Old Town and happened into a store full of eclectic items and lots of souvenirs. Toward the back of the store, there were several tribal mask-things and a sign on the wall in terrible handwriting that said, "If you shoplift, you will be cursed." I, of course, had to laugh and make fun of the store and how random and weird it was. First of all, I don't know why anyone would want to steal anything from this place and second, I think I'd be a little more nervous if the law were to get involved than to risk these folks putting a curse on me. As we walked out the door, I saw another sign mid-laugh . . . "You insult . . You cursed." I couldn't stop laughing. Apparently I'm not the only one that found that place to be an easy target for ridicule.

Weekend on the Metro
Saturday night, I was going to meet my cousins (Joy's in town) at Zaytinya where they serve the most amazing Greek & Lebanese mezzes (tapas). I decided that rather than pay for garage parking or valet service, I'd just take the metro. Bad idea. I had to wait 10 minutes for a train, which I suppose isn't bad, but I'm not used to waiting even 1 minute during the week. It wasn't crowded, so when I spotted two empty seats, I promptly plopped down in one of them, leaving a seat for another passenger next to me. Another bad idea. Would standing have killed me?
No sooner had I sat down, a crazy, dirty man stepped on and greeted me. He then proceeded to ask if I had a boyfriend, to which I emphatically answered, "YES". He told me that he dates white girls and just as I feared, came to sit next to me . . aaaahhh. He was dirty, people. Dirty. He smelled. I immediately picked up my phone and pretended to be on a call until my stop, where he kept tapping my shoulder asking my name as I waited for the doors to open. Remind me next time, no matter how inconvenient, to just drive.

You Just Don't Do That
After Zaytinya, CousinJ dropped Joy and I off in Georgetown to hang out for a couple of hours. Joy is . . a "character". I guess that's the only way to describe her. I love her with all my heart, because there is no one like her. As we walked down the street, she spoke to every homeless person we saw, either dropping a penny in their cup or saying "Sorry, I gave all my change to another 'one'". She told one homeless man in an electric wheelchair that she liked his dinosaur cup holder! After getting ice cream at Haagen-Dazs, hanging out at a piano bar, and then Barnes & Noble, we hailed a cab to go home. She was so excited about riding in a cab that she jumped into the front seat and started chatting with the Ethiopian cab driver. I could see him looking over at her and practically salivating. She told him she liked Indian food and actually asked him if he wanted to go get some! Of course, she would never have done it, but she is just random and crazy like that. The cab driver didn't think she was kidding and suggested that he drop me off since I clearly didn't want to go along. I couldn't believe this was happening. I yanked on her ponytail and directed the cab driver to the corner where we would get out and walk a block, because he didn't need to know exactly where we were going. I was so exasperated at her behavior that, instead of staying the night, I asked for a ride home. Hopefully today she will show some signs of normalcy. :)

Happy Again

Lonely didn't last long.

And what I said about not hanging out with QGP's friends anymore? Not true. I'm hanging out with his friend's girlfriend, CzG, tonight . . and her roommate, Dallas, that I also met. We're actually gonna scope out a lady's furniture, because she's moving out of state and literally giving her stuff away.

Last night, I hung out with a girl from back home. (She and I rushed the same sorority freshman year. I transferred, but she stayed and became good friends with my best friend. She moved out here a couple years ago.) We ate at a delicious Mexican place that has half-priced burros on Tuesday nights! Practically the whole time, we talked about BF and how happy we are that she met "the one", etc, etc. BF and her boy are going to meet up here in D.C. in a week - yay! His whole fam is going to be here to meet her. I'm so glad they're meeting up here, because now I get to see her, too.

D.C. Dislikes
So, I've enjoyed living in D.C. so far, but I've been here long enough to find some things I don't like (which isn't that tough, I guess). For starters, I don't mind the metro in itself. It's fast, it's easy, and it saves me lots of money. If I didn't use the metro, I'd be paying an extra $100/month for parking (and that's half price!) plus gas to drive to work and back. I already pay $85/month to park underground at my apartment. The thing about the metro that I don't like . . the smell. It doesn't smell like garbage or even body odor . . it just smells. And there are plenty of times that I have to smoosh myself in there when it's packed. Full house. I mean, you couldn't fit another half a person if you wanted to. Also, the fact that I have $8 in unusable metro fare just sitting in my purse is frustrating. It's because two of my tickets have been demagnetized by either my cell phone or iPod or something in my purse. And I have to go to a specific metro stop to get them refunded. Of course, I never feel up for that. When I leave work, I'm going home!, not taking a detour!

Another thing that's annoying is the parking, of course. The majority of times you go somewhere, you're going to have to pay to park in a garage or something. It's just too time-consuming to drive around looking for a spot.

So basically, I have issues with transportation.

I also have a hard time with all the homeless people. I ignore them . . all of them. Pretend like I don't hear them or see them. . like they're invisible. Most people do. But it kinda makes me feel bad. But it's not like I can drop change in every cup I see. I'd be broke! The number of homeless people, though, is just crazy. Every morning, as I walk to work, I walk by at least six . . usually they're talking to themselves or something as they sit on their benches or the sidewalk.

Of course, I can't list things I don't like without mentioning the humidity. It really is that bad. There are days I walk home thinking the heat isn't unbearable, but the air is so thick, and by the time I make it home, I want to shower again.

D.C. Delights
What I love about the city is how fast-paced it is. You can't help but feel important when you walk down the street . . whether you are or not. It's an important city . . one of the most important cities in the world. I love feeling a part of that in some way.

I like knowing I could go take a walk on the Mall . . even though I never do. I like being able to see the Memorials, the Washington Monument, and the Capitol from my roof. . especially at night when they're all lit up.

I like that there are people from everywhere. (Kinda like college, but all grown-up.) And that none of them (or not many) plan on staying forever. I don't either, but I'm going to enjoy it while I'm here.

Got my hair fixed!

Two things are frustrating me right now:

1. My hair.
My hair has been a source of frustration for as long as I can remember. The only time I feel it turns out even remotely well, is when I wash it with soft water, which is only at my parents’ house. Otherwise, it’s either too dry from lack of conditioner, or too ‘gunky’ from who knows what. Basically, it feels like I have too much product in it when I have none. I spend FOREVER rinsing out the shampoo and conditioner that I do use. The only time I’m completely happy with my hair is when it’s washed in a salon. It’s always been a great mystery to me how my hair can behave so completely different when someone else washes it! Do hair stylists literally have magic fingers? Several times I’ve tried the very products they use, but to no avail. I tried styling my hair with a round brush the other day, just to see if styling was the issue. Nope. So instead of having silky hair that I can bounce around, my hair will basically stick in whatever position I style it. There’s no real running my fingers through my hair. It’s not usually obvious to those around me that my hair is gross and impossible, but it screams at me constantly. I’ve asked several hair stylists what the solution is and NONE of them have given me an answer. Sometimes I wonder if it would be worth it to pay a stylist to blow it out for me (or at least wash it) once a week or every other week. Has anyone else ever experienced this?

2. My bank account.
Mom, don’t panic. I have plenty of cushion in my bank account. However, the other day, a large amount of money was withdrawn from my checking account when several checks came through. The only reason I knew this was that my debit was declined. I knew it was impossible that I had gone over and sure enough, when I checked, I had plenty of money left. Apparently, unbenownst to me, you can’t go over a certain amount in one day. How was I to know all the checks would go through the same day when I had written them out to different vendors? At any rate, my bank charged me $31 for every check that went below a certain amount. Now, everything appears to be back to normal with my account, but I’m about to file a complaint and beg them to waive the charges. I can understand not allowing me to use my debit card for more than a certain amount in one day . . but charging me when too many checks go through?!

More About the Weekend

My weekend at home couldn't have gone any better . . unless there were a few more days in a weekend.

Hope this post doesn't read too much like a diary, "Yesterday I . . Today I . . "

I flew in Friday morning, after nearly missing both flights. Thank God I didn't wear heels (you know I thought about it) because I was running through the airport to catch my connecting flight!

I had a nice lunch with my family and picked out my birthday present (a black opal necklace). My birthday isn't for six weeks, but what can I say, I like to be prepared. I was crushed to learn that the speed boat needed to be fixed, because I had my heart set on slaloming! I ended up not even getting in the water at Grandma's lake, but we had such a delicious meal. I was so blessed that Mom & Grandma took the time to make baked beans, potato salad, and grill burgers . . all because I was back for a visit! Both grandmothers were there, as well as my bro and his family and Cousin Joy. We took a sunset ride on the pontoon, which was the perfect end to a fun night.

Saturday, after sleeping until 11 (what a waste!), I drove into town for lunch with Shae. I hadn't seen her since before my stint in San Diego. I visited Joy at the salon for a blowout and then headed over to Shae's place to get ready and download some great songs (that only she & I would appreciate). I miss hanging out with her!

The wedding, like I said, was beautiful. It was at the botanical gardens, and the sun came out just long enough for the ceremony and pictures. I saw so many people that I love and was able to catch up (not that I've been gone too long, but many I hadn't seen since before SD).

Best Friend and I stayed up til 3 as she gave me full 'deets' on her boy situation and I saw her new place. (I met the guy, too, and he's so sweet . . Can't wait to see what happens).

Sunday, I had lunch with my family after church, visited the kids (Ryan, Evan, & Caroline), and spent the day at the lake with BF. In the evening, I hung out with AMC. Sadly, their little boy seems to already have forgotten me . . this is exactly what I was afraid of.

It's funny . . going back was great, but I'm not homesick. I know that D.C. is where I'm supposed to be right now and everything is going so great for me here.

I hope I can make it home for a Husker game this fall, because 6 months 'til Christmas does seem like a long time!

Home to Celebrate

I went home this weekend for a beautiful wedding between two people who couldn't be more perfect for each other. For me, it wasn't just a celebration of two great people becoming one . . it was a celebration of God's goodness . . and a celebration of healed hearts. It was proof that God loves to bless His children when they wait on Him . . and proof that those He sets free are free indeed!

Congratulations to one of the most beautiful, precious people I know. I love our memories and I'm happy to say that I love you, too.

The Moving Date Draws Near

Be patient with me . . I'm working on my template. Well actually, Stacey is. She created a masthead that I really like, so stay tuned.

Laura's First _____
Yesterday was quite exciting for me as I got to pick out my first ever brand new piece of furniture (not counting the armoire I got for Christmas). Actually, I bought two pieces: a dresser/chest of drawers and a bedside table. I did always say I didn't want to match furniture pieces, because I want my rooms to have character . . but I take that back, because I couldn't not get the matching bedside table, could I?! It didn't take me long to find it. Rochester, in keeping with his promise before I moved out here, looked up furniture stores and came along for company. As we were walking into the first place, I glanced in the window and noticed a chair . . for $10,000! Needless to say, we didn't make it through the front door. But, the second place is where I found my pieces. They were actually the only thing I liked in the entire place, but I think they're beautiful. The salesman made me feel like I was getting a good deal on them and I didn't care to haggle with him, so I went ahead and took them.

After speaking with my soon-to-be roommate, I decided to just buy a used twin bed instead of purchasing a new one. I've seen the bed. I don't like it. I like IKEA, but I don't like the bed. I would probably buy a lot of stuff from IKEA, but not my bed. I also don't want to spend nearly $400 for a new twin bed, which I've decided I need in order to maximize the spaciousness of the room.

Awkwaaard
Ok, totally awkward moment. CousinJ went into my closet for something of his (which, by the way, isn't the tidiest place . . there's a shirt on the floor, my shoes aren't in their boxes, my clothes are in haphazard piles on the shelves, but it's mine while I'm here and didn't expect someone to go in) and told me it needs to be immaculate when my other cousins come for a visit in a week . . It must look as though I'm not here. I understand and would've done it anyway, of course, but am just slightly embarrassed that he had to tell me . . and that he saw my stuff a mess. Yikes! Also, he told me he'd like me to help offer to help K with groceries, which is something I always intended to do, of course . . but if you'll remember K insisted that I not help. Is it awful of me for never coming back and insisting upon helping? I'm glad J got it off his chest. I just wanted to be the perfect houseguest. I keep the bathroom super clean and even keep my room nice, making my bed, keeping the dresser cleared off. I help with dishes every night and always offer to help K cook or watch the baby. I'm just disappointed that I've missed something. *sigh* It's good that I'll be moving out soon . . in two weeks only. It's time. And now I feel so bothered by this that I'm going to bed. But first, does anyone have any ideas of what I can do for a farewell thank-you gift when I do move out?

Feedback

Be honest about my new template. I've been wanting a change forever. I'm not necessarily into the orange, but I don't have a lot of options. Do you think it's easy/easier to read?

A Dress, a Party, and a Baseball Game

The Dress
I did find a dress at Bloomingdale's. It's more than I've ever spent on a dress, but it was on sale quite a bit, and I love it. It took trying on about 8 dresses to find the right one. I'm not sure that I'll wear it to my friend's wedding next week, which was basically the excuse for getting it, but I know I'll find something to wear it to soon. It's really hard to describe. All I can say is that it's a BCBG olive green dress that falls just above my knee. (Not that the fact that it's BCBG helps you visualize it - I'm just excited to have found such a great dress on sale). Some of it is crocheted and it has subtle sequins and beading in some places. It probably sounds fancy, but it's not really. It looks much better on than on the rack, so I'll post a picture once I wear it.

Exclusive Thursday Night
Thursday night (which is apparently the new Friday), I didn't really feel like going anywhere, but Vanderbilt had invited Leigh and I to an "exclusive" party. It sounded pretty cool, so I agreed to pick up Leigh at the metro and go to Georgetown. Vanderbilt had our names put on the list so that we could get in, because apparently it was capped at 100 people (there were free drinks). Especially since I had driven, I wanted to make sure to keep the drinking at a bare minimum. It was already 10 o'clock and my "bedtime" is at 11, so I knew I didn't want to stay too long. Well . . not staying too long turned into about 2 in the morning! I was having a great time with Vanderbilt and his friends, meeting people, dancing, etc. It was at a bar called Smith Point, which I'd heard was where all the preppie rich kids hung out. The rumor was true. I'd never seen so many thousand dollar bags, designer threads and perfect-looking people in one place in my entire life. It's sad to admit, but had I not been wearing some of my designer things, I may have felt out of place. However, like Leigh said, you can look just as nice in something sophisticated and classic as you can in overpriced, trendy pieces.

I was reluctant when Vanderbilt suggested we make an appearance at the Polo party (we have a co-worker who played in a big Polo event) at a place called Blue Gin. It was late, and I needed to head home, but I'm so glad I went, because I met Derek Jeter!! Leigh and I spotted him in the corner and made our way over to introduce ourselves. He was very nice and polite and is even better looking in person. I would've pulled out my camera, but I was getting an unfriendly vibe from one of the girls he was with.

After leaving, I could not, for the life of me, remember where my car was! It was so late that I decided to forget about it and just catch a cab home. Of course, I was so embarrassed the next morning for CousinJ and K to see that I was home, but my car wasn't. It looks bad and I've not had any time to explain. Friday morning, Vanderbilt was nice enough to give me a ride to find it, and I had to pay $30 to get it out of the parking garage. I didn't feel too bad, since the whole night hadn't cost me anything.

BBQ and a Ballgame
Friday night, I wasn't up to Happy Hour - had no desire to drink or be around it. Rochester came into my office, and after beating around the bush forever, asked me if I wanted to grab a bite to eat. He let me choose, and I picked BBQ at Red Hot and Blue. We ended up renting a movie, too, which made for a very nice, low-key night. Again, he paid for everything, even though I certainly tried to pay.

Today, he & I went to the Yankees/Nationals game. I'm a Yankees fan, so I was thrilled that he asked me to come along. He's a fan as well but hadn't seen them play before. Sadly, they lost, but we had great seats and it was still a lot of fun! The humidity was killer! Right away, I pointed out a lady whose pants were completely wet in the back . . . Little did I know, that would be me in a couple hours -ew!

After getting back to his place, I realized that I had nothing to do tonight. At first, I hoped he'd suggest evening plans, but I didn't ask, and when I got into my car, I realized that I wanted nothing more than to go home. Even though the game was a blast, I was so exhausted from the last two nights that I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open! It was so frustrating! It took everything in me to stay awake on the car ride back to Rochester's.

So tonight, I did a little laundry, heated up a pizza, ran to CVS and went to Safeway to use my coupon for a free pint of Haagen-Dazs cookies and cream! It was just what I needed.

Grab the Tissue and the New Girl and Let's Go Shopping

At first, I wasn't sure which way the sore throat was gonna go . . . flu or cold. Fortunately, it's taken the latter route, which my body greatly appreciates, as does my employer I'm sure, because I don't have to miss any work. I did leave work early on Monday, but felt well enough to come in the next day, despite the raw throat. Now, my throat is feeling almost 100%; I'm just super congested and have to subject my poor nose to the brutal restroom toilet paper. I've left my desk at least 5 times to replenish my supply.

New news about New Girl: I like her. This doesn't come as much of a shock to me, because there have been several times that I've initially disliked someone and then they end up growing on me (ie: Delaware, who did turn out to be pretty flaky, but I liked her nonetheless). Now . . just because I like her doesn't mean she's not loud. It doesn't mean it hasn't affected the nice little sanctuary Leigh and I had created back here. Like K said, "Two's company; three's a crowd." She may annoy me less now that this week has been a lot less stressful. Or maybe because I found out that she likes to shop. I'm not sure, but I'm happy about it. I hate being annoyed.

Tonight, I plan to venture to my new favorite department store. It was once Nordstrom, but now that I've had time to really discover all that Bloomingdale's is, it's definitely taken 1st place. However, this is only due in part to the fact that there is no Von Maur here. Von Maur may not have the selection that Bloomingdale's does, but it does have the quality and the sales are superb. I'm on a mission for a dress still, but I'll settle for a cute cream top. Wish me luck.

Hey . . maybe I'll ask New Girl to come.

Weekend Update

My weekend could not have been better. Except for the fact that it has ended with the worst sore throat EVER. I don't want to speak or swallow or anything. I just want to drink fruit smoothies with immuni-boosts all day. Fortunately, I don't feel sick anywhere else. So much for that amazing immune system I have.

Friday night, I went to Happy Hour with the work gang. We had something really exciting happen with one of our accounts, so everyone was ready to let loose and have some fun after so much hard work. There were probably at least 25 of us there, singing karaoke, dancing, and having a blast! The DJs totally gave me a hard time for going up so many times, but hey, no one else was signing up. I never sing alone, either. Leigh and I started it off with some Salt n Pepa and later sang "Material Girl". Sharpdog and I sang "Time of My Life" and "Bust a Move", too. It ended up being an incredibly late night.

Saturday morning, I volunteered with K at the USO stuffing care packages for the troops. Last time K went, she met Mr. President!! No fair! It was a lot of fun and felt so good to be helping out.

I ended up taking 3 naps that day which helped me catch up. CousinJ & K went on a date while I watched Walker. They got home pretty early - in time for me to go out with girls from work. It wasn't something I was excited about, but I wanted to make an effort to get to know people better. The frustrating part was paying a $10 cover and only staying for an hour. I was famished, so rather than getting a drink, I ordered some yummy calamari. A co-worker gave me a ride home, which was so nice, because I would've had to take a cab.

Sunday morning, I slept in, laid out and took a long, long walk to Tenleytown to shop. I was on a mission, but didn't find what I was looking for. Instead I found a really cute Kenneth Cole black leather watch on sale! I love it! I grabbed a smoothie and took the long way home, which made for about a 4-5 mile walk.

I wanted to go to church, but had been invited for dinner by a co-worker. Because we have the same title at work, she invited Leigh, New Girl, and I over. She made green beans, 3-cheese tortellini, and crescent rolls! We had cheesecake for dessert. It was so nice getting to know everyone better. We spent a good amount of time discussing how much we love our jobs. There were a lot of laughs, too.

Definitely a great weekend. :)

Two Questions

Two questions I've been wondering about:

1. Why does no one call you when you move away?

Do they think you're busy and won't asnwer anyway or return phone calls. Do they figure since you can't hang out what's the point of calling? What if I was lonely and completely miserable here in this new place? I'm not, but what if I was?

2. Why does blogging have such a bad reputation?

I have heard so much negative talk about blogging since I've been here. You would think it was the equivalent to having a big "L" painted on your forehead. I make no comments when others bring the topic up. Not so much because I'm embarrassed, (because part of me would love to defend it) . . but I don't want anyone asking what mine is or ever trying to find it. Blogging, for me, just started as a creative outlet . . then, it turned into a way to say things I wanted to say, but may not have brought up in conversation. Now, it serves as a great way to let people at home know what's going on with me, although, to be honest, I sometimes forget anyone I know reads and am probably too open. I never thought that I'd "meet" other great people around the country, but that, too, has been so much fun. I've learned a lot from these 'strangers' that I feel I know pretty well. Pink introduced me to her sweet cousin out in San Diego which helped me plug into a church and meet people. And I'm about to meet Miss Independent for lunch this week. So I don't care what anyone says about blogging. I think it's awesome :)

Office Bits

This morning as J and I were walking into work, he looks at his Blackberry and hands it to me. The email from a co-worker read, "J - My old man is in town and has invited me to go to Camp David with him, so I'm going to have to take the day off." (Um, yeah. . I'd be taking the day off, too.) This guy's dad is the Prime Minister of _____. A while ago, upon learning this, J asked him why he never said anything. He said he wanted to get ahead not because of who he was but what he could do.

The new girl in the office is driving Officemate Leigh and I crazy! She is sooo loud and bubbly. She even says things that are pretty inappropriate, especially for knowing us less than a week.
"You're a b****, huh?" to Leigh after hearing a story which did not portray her that way.
She asks tons of questions and . . frankly, I'm surprised she's been hired. She doesn't act very bright . . but perhaps she is. Leigh and I just wish she wouldn't talk so much or at least turn the volume down . . We can't concentrate on our work. We both plug in our headphones all day and listen to music. I hope that New Girl isn't picking up on our irritation, because I don't want to hurt her feelings.

Give a Little, Get a Lot

Rochester thinks I'm nuts. I told him that I found a place to live, but when I told him about the "living situation", he said I was crazy! I was a little irritated with him, to be honest, because it's all about what I am comfortable with . . am I right? I knew I wasn't going to find an awesome place in my price range without giving up something. So I gave up having my own room. You all think I'm nuts, too, don't you?

Maybe I'm such an optimist because I had such a great experience in college sharing a room with a friend. I don't think it's something I could do with just anyone, but I have a good feeling about this girl. So before you shake your head in disbelief, let me give you full deets.

1. It's in Rosslyn (which is in Arlington, which is where I wanted to live)
- Rosslyn is just across the bridge from D.C. (and it's not even a very big bridge :)
2. It's safe. It has a doorman who apparently takes his job very seriously.
3. It has underground parking. It does cost $85, but that's not bad compared to other places.
4. It's less than 2 blocks from the Rosslyn metro which makes for a 5 minute ride to work (2 stops away) and no sitting in traffic, paying for gas, or paying $100 more for parking at work.
5. Since it is just across the bridge . . it's only a 10 minute walk to Georgetown. And it's close to restaurants and a grocery store in Rosslyn.
6. The apartment itself is very nice and spacious. The foyer is huge as well as the living room.
7. The bedroom isn't as big as the one I shared in college, but it's a nice size. PLUS, and most importantly, I have my own big walk-in closet. THAT, to me, is more important than having my own room. It's all about priorities.
8. The view from the living room (on 9th floor) is great. You can see the National Cathedral (which is near where I now live).
9. The girls are very nice. Two of them go to Frontline. (There are 3 besides me.) The girl I'll share a room with is very sweet. . probably not someone I'd normally hang out with, but I know we'll get along great.
10. Utilities are included in my rent . . and the price is fabulous.
11. It has an exercise room.
12. There is a laundry room on my floor, as well as a garbage chute and a mail chute.
13. There is a rooftop deck with lots of cute tables and chairs. You can see ALLL of D.C. It's amazing. . . . The Capitol, Washington Monument, Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, the Cathedral, the Potomac, Georgetown, etc, etc.
14. We discussed our lifestyles and what is important to us in a living situation and it seems we're all on the same page.
15. They said I can help decorate!!
16. There is nice massive lobby on 1st floor and they constantly play nice elevator music. I mean, that's kind of a dumb #16, but the music really does give it a nice ambience.
17. Wireless internet.

You get the idea.

I move in the beginning of July. I'll be kinda sad to leave CousinJ and K's, but I'll only be 4 miles away. I'm excited to have a place and get settled.

On another note, work is going really well. However, it's been absolutely crazy. I'm definitely working over 50 hours/wk. I've been swamped. Basically what is supposed to be 50% of my job has been taking up 100%. Starting tomorrow I'm going to have to start thinking about the other 50, because I'm covering for the lady that's going out of town. This means, I have to know what's going on in order to present this information in meetings! Lord, help! I'm so glad tomorrow's Friday.

A Rock Star

We have a weekly meeting at work. "We" as in "me and others that share my title". It's a meeting to go over what specifically we're working on and at what capacity we're at. As in, can we take on any more work? Today, I brought my list of what I'd been working on and my "manager" let me know that my responsibilities would be shifting. She begun by telling me that I would be working on this 50% and that 50% and began to explain in more detail what all that would include. As she kept talking, she mentioned I'd be taking this responsibility from so-and-so and spending 45% of my time on what's-his-name's account. It all sounded great to me . . just one problem. These numbers weren't adding up. Fortunately, she realized her mistake . . giving me a workload of 150%! I was even happier things had been cleared up later on in the day when I had taken in enough information to make my head explode. I worked until 7 p.m. and could've kept on working had CousinJ not wanted to leave. I do feel overwhelmed . . there is so much to do and keep straight . . so much responsibility . . but as long as I prioritize and organize, I should be fine. . . . But I want to be more than fine . . I want to be a rock star.

Frontline

Went to church here. It was their Sunday night young adults/career age group. It was AWESOME. Worship totally ministered to my heart and since it was dark in there, I was able to really feel alone with God amidst hundreds of people. I enjoyed the message and afterward, went to a small meeting to see how I could get plugged into a small group. I'm so encouraged and excited already. Tonight was the perfect way to start the week.

Getting Personal

My officemate, Leigh, and I have really hit it off. We gab throughout the day, take lunch together, and yesterday, went on a shopping excursion. It was fabulous!

I drove and picked her up at the nearest metro stop, and we drove about 45 minutes south to Potomac Mills. I have to say, they have some pretty great outlets/stores. I bought things at Off 5th (the Saks outlet), GAP, Banana, Ann Taylor, Nordstrom Rack, and Nine West. Most things were priced really well, though some didn't seem to be disounted much.

My most exciting purchase (this is hard, because I love it all) is probably the Theory blazer I got at Off 5th. The sad part is that it's wool, so I can't wear it for awhile, but I couldn't not get it! Second favorite is probably the brown dress I found at GAP. All I have to say is that I'm totally set for work clothes I think. The plan going forward is that any money I make baby-sitting (K said she'd spread the word to those in her book club and Walker's play group) will be my fun/shopping money.

Last night, Rochester said we could do whatever I wanted to do. Ellie had organized a bar-hopping outing, but I didn't feel like going. Sooo, we went to see "The Break-up" (loved it and Rochester laughed the whole time, too - not a chick flick). First, we went to dinner at Rock Bottom and Rochester paid for everything. Then, he paid for the movie, too. It's so odd for me to have someone that I'm not dating pick up the tab for everything. I feel so bad. I mean, last night easily cost him $70, and this isn't the first time he's paid. K says that some guys are just that way and don't let girl friends pay. But, geez, that gets expensive!

After the movie, since I'd offered to drive, I dropped him off, but I said, "You're not gonna go do something fun now, are you?" That's totally me - not wanting to miss out on anything. Driving away, I felt lonely. I mean, it was midnight and not too early to go to bed, but I wasn't satisfied. It really hit me that this - this isn't going to be enough for me. I've been so busy and entertained so far that I haven't had time to miss close friendships. I've been letting my 'cup' get full by having good work experiences, shopping, and getting affirmation from Rochester and other new friends.

Driving home, I just wanted to spend time with the Lord. I've been reading a book called "Drawing Near" (one of my absolute favorites now!) which says that whatever you feed on is what you'll have an appetite for. I've been learning how true that is. It kinda reminds me of the time that I fasted desserts for over a month. I ended up not even remembering how great the desserts tasted and having no desire to eat them.

It's easy to get distracted by life and to be satisfied with people, your job, and/or fun times. As great as those things can be, they can't even compare to having a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord. Being in His presence is better and more satisfying than numerous nights out with friends or good experiences at work or finding great deals at the mall. It's scary to realize that I have no one here that is on the same page. When I look ahead, all I see is fun nights out, but no meaningful friendships with others that love Him, too, and that find their purpose in Him and not in their job or their friends or their social life. I can't depend on those things for my happiness. They may be great and fun for a time, but they'll never really satisfy me. I'll have to really make an effort to find a church I enjoy and trust that God will supply friends.

After coming home, feeling lonely, dissatisfied and even slightly anxious, I spent time just meditating on the Lord, not even talking to him much . . just focusing on who He is. That is why I love Him. Not because He can do things for me or answer my prayers . . because I've gotten to know Him and His character, and I've seen that He's everything He claims to be . . and that relationship fills my cup to overflowing.

Oh Baby!

Tonight, Walks and I are hangin' out! Here are a few pics of us bonding:














Here he is giving me a kiss, or rather biting my face, like he does when he gets excited. Funny, I feel the same way about him.













The cutest baby in the District was also the cutest baby on the island.


































Maybe we'll go for a walk in the Frog stroller tonight or hang out in the backyard or watch TV. . The possibilities are endless. . . :)

Thoughts on Thursday

Today at work, we had Happy Hour, which means chips and salsa and beer and pop in one of the conference rooms. It's a great time to mingle and get to know people. I was able to meet a couple of girls and chat with them for awhile. One especially was so sweet!

Rochester walked into the room with a pink shirt on . . whoa! . . rockin' the pink shirt! Not many attempt it and few can pull it off, but I think he's definitely manly enough to do it. (Speaking of pink shirts, did anyone watch "Deal or No Deal" last night? There was a guy in a hot pink shirt and he was a riot! I'm sure that show is normally not fun to watch, but it was hilarious last night.)

Now I'm back at my desk waiting for CousinJ to leave which could be awhile. Last night, we were here until 7 o'clock. Typically people leave around 5:30 on average, but there's no punching in and out here . . just get your stuff done. A lot of people in the office are on the company softball team, so they were all changed into their gear to go play. Wish I was going, but I'm looking at another house tonight. It'll be nice to have something to compare the other place to.

This weekend is pretty up in the air. I've offered to baby-sit tomorrow night. I figured that it's much easier to stay home on a 'work night' than a Saturday. Plus, if I do something Saturday I'll be able to wear something other than work clothes! Woo-hoo!

Ellie sent out an Evite for "Cruisin' for Booze 'n Boyz", but gee, somehow that just doesn't appeal to me. Rochester and I had lunch yesterday and he said we could do something else if I didn't want to do that. I suggested going to see "The Break-up". Much to my surprise, he said he didn't want to! I was like, Hello!, it stars Vince Vaughn, who is only one of the funniest actors out there! He thinks it's a chick flick. Really, I think he wants to go, but he's just being difficult. I mean, I got him to watch "Swiss Family Robinson" and "Parent Trap" (the original) with me in San Diego. At any rate, I hope he goes, because he's my only friend, so I have no one else to go with. Maybe I'll ask his roommate/friend. There is a music festival during the day on Saturday which also sounds cool. Whatever happens, I'm sure I'll find something to do.

Remember the guy I met/hung out with at Taste of the South? He's weird - that's what I've determined. First of all, I had a lot of fun with him, but still didn't think I'd care to hang out again. He texted me the next day with a very nice message, but I responded very short yet nice. He texted nothing.

Two days later, he texted me again referring to something from that night to which I again gave a short, polite reply. He texted back nothing. I was annoyed at that point. I thought, "Ok, guy, do you want to talk to me or what? Are you trying to test the waters, because this is a really safe, chicken way to do it."

While I was in Kiawah, we had an actual conversation over text - very short but nice. He ended it with "See you later" and my first thought was, "No, I probably won't see you later. First of all, I don't really care if I see you later, but more importantly you haven't asked to see me later."

Then, last night, he texted me at 12:30 am saying he'd just heard this song we sang that night. I didn't reply. Truly, this guy seemed very mature and very nice and polite when I met him, plus he's older so I assumed he's not into games, but I cannot appreciate a late night text on a weeknight!! If he wants to talk to me, he should call. I don't flirt over text unless I know someone pretty well already. If he ever texts me again, I think I'm going to be very upfront and ask him what the heck he's doing or tell him to leave me alone. Grr.

The Hunt

The housing hunt. It began as soon as I learned I'd be moving out here. CousinJ & K had already extended the offer of a month's stay at their home, but I didn't know how it would go and wanted to be prepared. I hate to be a burden staying with someone for free.

So far, though, it's gone so well. Their home is beautiful. They are so hospitable. They even insisted that I not buy a single food item while I live with them - they'd pick up whatever I wanted/needed - so I could save money. I get a free ride to work and back every day (except a few days that I've needed to take the bus). Best of all, I get to come home to family every night when everything else in my life is new and different. I haven't been homesick for a moment yet.

They obviously don't mind having me around either. In return for all they're giving me, I've agreed to baby-sit one night a weekend so they can go out and not pay $12/hr for a sitter! K also let me know that if I need to stay a bit longer, it's fine (she mentioned July 1st) so that takes some pressure off.

Last night was my first look at a house with a bunch of girls. So much about it is perfect, yet it just doesn't feel right. The price is unbeatable, the neighborhood is safe and nice with huge new homes going up all around, and the commute is easy, too. The house is so-so. It's tired and needs new living room carpet, but it's good-sized and not cramped. The issue is . . the girls. They are so nice . . but. But I don't know if I would enjoy living with them. I'm not looking for best friends or anything, but I'd like to be able to have some common interests with at least one of my roommates. I shouldn't judge . . I shouldn't think that I have nothing in common with them . . but sometimes you just know . . . you just know that you have different, shall I say, senses of humor? I mean, I was thinking, "I don't know if I'd want to have company over." They are so nice . .what's wrong with me? I'm afraid that I'd get . . annoyed maybe. I'm afraid that I wouldn't want to hang out with them . . that it wouldn't be fun for me. I mean, I could do it with one or two roommates like that, but four? Am I nuts? I'm not going to find anything that is priced like this in a good neighborhood . . I'm not. The place I'm looking at tomorrow is $200 more a month! That adds up.

Thoughts anyone?

Lesson #1

My first lesson learned in D.C.:

Don't overestimate your short-term memory.

Yesterday, I spent a good half hour walking around the city not knowing which way was which . . east, west, north, south. . I didn't know. Upon closing my laptop (failing to check the metrobus website) and heading out the door at work, I realized that I had not confirmed which bus stop I needed to get to in order to get home. Keep in mind, though, that I had taken the bus home from work once . . er, maybe twice . . (there goes that killer short-term memory of mine). At any rate, I thought I knew where the bus stop was. I mean, not exactly . . I couldn't tell you which intersection it was at . . but I knew that once I got outside, it would come back to me.

The Lord does have a sense of humor, because He knows that I think I'm so great with directions. He knows that I don't like to admit when I'm lost either. Today, I had to admit that I was lost to 4 people.

First, the doorman in my building. "Sir, do you happen to know where the nearest eastbound bus stop is." Nothing.

Second, a co-worker (and fellow Nebraskan, I might add) of mine that I grabbed as he was leaving the building. He was kind enough to walk with me to a bus stop and give me directions as to how to figure out which bus stop it was that I needed to get to. I didn't heed his advice, because I didn't think I needed to "ask a bus driver [at this wrong stop] how to get to an N4 eastbound stop". Instead, I kept walking to various stops on various blocks, meanwhile I should mention that the heat index was 100 and I was melting.

Third, my mother whom I called and actually asked to get online and search for the metrobus site. I also mentioned to her in the same breath, "I'm so comfortable here in the city. I mean, I know I'm lost, but I'm going to find my way home. It's really not a big deal. I'm not worried about it." After about ten minutes, as I was very close to getting some valuable information, my phone died. My blackberry wouldn't pick up a signal.

Fourth, a Golden Triangle employee whom I stopped and asked about my bus stop. He proceeded to tell me my feet were pretty (I have always liked my feet) and walkie-talkied someone about the stop. He then gave me wrong information. I did just as he said and did not find my stop.

Finally, the dampness under my arms got to a point that I could no longer bear and I hailed a taxi and paid $12.60 + tip to get home.

I now humbly admit that I, L___, do not know my way around D.C. I know the intersection of my office building and I know how to get to Burberry, Anne Taylor, and Nine West from my office building. I vow to make no more claims about my stellar short-term memory or my amazing sense of direction. Neither exist.

Kiawah Pics

Ok, so my whole "I'm not posting pics for awhile" thing . . it was short-lived, because I really want to post pictures of my weekend.

First, one from Taste of the South (unfortunately, this is the only pic I have of myself alone, but if you want to see more, just let me know):














Introducing the beautiful, fun, well-behaved dog:














And the adorable, big-blue eyed, cutest baby in the District, Walker:














Kiawah:

Long, Slow, Beautiful Weekend

The only thing missing this weekend was a friend to walk along the beach with. I suppose I could've taken a stroll with CousinJ & K, but I just wanted a close friend and good conversation.

The 8 hour ride south sucked! It sucked because I thought my 90-degree-angled seat in the Tahoe couldn't recline. K didn't think it could recline either. As a result, my back hurt all weekend from trying to get comfortable and sleeping in awkward positions. I couldn't believe that GM (I'm a big fan of GM) would miss something so important when creating such a wonderful, fully-equipped SUV. Well . . I should've asked my cousin, because it turns out the seats do recline . . I just couldn't find the lever. Imagine my delight upon discovering this as we began our trip back home. . . I almost cried.

I loved Kiawah Island. It's full of trees and marshes with over 700 alligators (I wanted to see one, but didn't). K's condo is right on the beach so all windows provide an amazing view. We kept the screen door open at all times for the breeze and the sound of the waves hitting the shore. The weather was perfect all weekend. Kiawah is unique in that you have to either have property or a condo or hotel reservation to even get on the island (there's only one hotel, The Sanctuary).

The first day, it was incredibly humid, but the breeze was constant and kept us cool enough. Despite my efforts to properly coat myself in SPF 15, I got pretty red. I did stay out for 5 hours, though, which practically nullifies the fact that I tried to protect my skin.

Day 2, we decided to give our skin a break, so K, Baby Walker, and I went to Charleston to shop at all the boutiques and walk around at the Piccolo Spoleto art festival. (CousinJ and K have some great paintings in their house, and I'd love to be able to do the same in my home someday.) K also showed me where she and J got married, since I wasn't able to go. Charleston was as neat as I imagined it would be with all the historical homes and buildings. I'd love to spend more time there someday.

Day 3, we laid out again. My skin had made an excellent recovery, so it was time for some more exposure. Again, no thanks to my sunscreen, I got burned. Really, though, that's the way it goes with my skin. I can't tan first. I must burn. But, it must not be too bad, because it always turns brown within 24 hours.

It being my last day, I just had to get in the water. I've been to the ocean a bunch, even in the last few months, what with my time in San Diego and my day trip to Ocean City, but I hadn't actually gotten in the ocean in 3 years! . . (the last time was Miami Beach). I love the water so much that I was almost giddy riding the warm ocean waves. I didn't want to get out!

That night, I had a blast baby-sitting Baby Walker and Isabelle, the dog, so that J & K could go out. We hung out on the balcony for a long time as the sun set. *Sigh* It was beautiful. I was just really jealous of all the people out for evening strolls or bike rides on the beach.

Needless to say, I had a great time and am hoping, hoping, hoping that I can go back someday!

Freak Out

Ok everyone. . some of you may not have noticed, but I had a little identity freak-out. From now on, I will remain "L", not Michelle, which is actually my middle name. I'm not posting my location anymore, but you all know where I am, and I'll probably reference it from time to time. I suddenly had a revelation that although this city is big, it's still so small, and I became afraid that someone at work would discover me. I would hate for that to happen, because I couldn't write freely anymore. It may seem like a contradiction, but I'm still going to post pics, just not for a little while, until I get over my worrying spell.

My Weekend Starts Tomorrow!

My office'mate' is here. Yesterday was her first day. I had heard that she was intense and serious. But . . I like her. So far, she is very friendly and sweet. I'm kinda glad to have some company in here.

Tomorrow, I'm leaving work early to go to Kiawah Island in South Carolina for the weekend with CousinJ and K and Baby Walker . . and the dog, of course. K's family has a summer home there, so we'll be laying out on the beach all weekend and hopefully hanging out in Charleston some (because I've always wanted to visit). I'm so excited to have plans for Memorial Day since I can't be at Grandma's lake back in Nebraska.

It's driving me nuts that I haven't been able to post pics . . because you've gotta see the dog, the baby, my dress, etc!! It's too much of a hassle to plug into J & K's internet, because of the way it's hooked up.

My First Gala

Last night, again, was a blast! K let me borrow the nicest, cutest dress ever. It was very Southern-looking, too. It was strapless, but not straight across - more like a heart, white with embroidered grass green and light green flowers. It fit tight above the waist and then was kinda pleated in the front and went just below the knee. I wore it with bronzy-gold shoes. I saw some cute dresses there, but wouldn't have wanted to be in any dress but the one I had on . . I loved it! Pink had recommended White House Black Market and the funny thing is that I saw about 4 girls in the same dress from there . . very cute dress (strapless with white and black striped pleats).

I wish I would've eaten more, but Ellie and Charlie were definitely more interested in consuming mass amounts of wine. They are both from Texas, so we spent most of our time at the Texas tables eating chips and salsa. We saw a few people we knew from work and visited with other people they knew. K had said there would be lots of cute guys there (not that I care) and I did notice a few. Actually, most people were with a date.

I met a guy who works for the CIA and has spent the last 9 years overseas "nation-building". We had a good time together and hung out with his friends. After the gala, we went out in Adams Morgan, a place known for being full of crazy, young people on the weekends. I wasn't thrilled about going, but it ended up being fun. Anyway, the guy is very nice and cute and everything, but I think he's going to call me again and I'm not sure if I really want to go out with him. I guess I'll have to play it by ear.

Weekend Plans

Last night was soooo fun! Karaoke in D.C - way more fun than in Nebraska. I think it's because no one really took it seriously, and if they did, they were actually good and sang fun songs.

'Sharpdog' (a co-worker) and I sang "You're So Vain" in which he let me sing and he did voice-over and made random, funny comments throughout. We also did "Hypnotize" and I did so well that he told me, "I thought you were cool before . . but now . . now you're awesome." He is one of the people that interviewed me and he said I was the only one he liked because I was real. All of this just makes me breathe a sigh of relief, like "Ok, I'm going to make friends here and things are going well so far." Rochester was there, too, and I convinced him to get up and sing . . he did a Johnny Cash song. I also sang a country song with 'Ellie', one of the girls I went to lunch and shopping with. As I said, it was a blast! Ellie did say, "You fit in so well. You're going to love working with us. And we do this all the time." But I'm thinking, "I can't do this all the time . . go out to the bars all the time." I need to make friends at church.

Today, K and I went for a 4 mile walk with Baby Walker and she showed me the nearest spot for good shopping. I'm going to have to stay out of Barney's and Gucci, though! K did tell me to save up for the annual Neiman's sale, but no matter how much I knew I was saving, I don't know that I could spend much over $100 on anything.

Tonight, I'm going to Taste of the South! Rochester gave me his ticket, which is so great, because they are $90 and all sold out. It's formal, so I get to wear my fav dress (which isn't saying too much, because I only brought three). Actually I'm slightly worried now, because I noticed it's black tie and I didn't bring my really fancy dress (I knew I should've), so I hope the one I brought is ok! I'm going with 'Ellie' and 'Charlie' (another girl). There will be about 2,000 people there, I hear. It should be lots of fun. I'm not looking forward to paying the cab fare to get home, though, but I may as well get used to it. Last night it cost me $14 to get home. But, hey, I haven't been driving, so I don't pay for gas which is $3.22/gal here!!

Girl Talk at Lunch

I just went to lunch with 6 girls from work and had a blast. Rochester's name was brought up and they all said he was like the big brother of all of them. Maybe I didn't mention before, but he's totally like that . . he'll look out for you and give you advice and stuff. Anyway, one girl said, "Yeah, before Rochester went to San Diego he said he wasn't really ready to date or anything, but now he says he is . . if it's the right girl." So I'm thinkin' maybe I changed his mind. I mean, he and I already discussed that we can't date for a couple of reasons, but I think it's kinda cool that maybe I helped him be more open to dating. I think he got burned last time. I mean, it could have nothing to do with me . . who knows. He & I are supposed to hang out this weekend, so hopefully it works out. A couple girls asked me to go shopping with them today. They're leaving work early to do it (by 2 hrs) and I'm tempted, because my "delegator" is leaving early, too, so he won't be giving me anymore stuff to work on, and what I'm working on now is stuff that I'll have all next week to do. Should I go? I really want to get to know the girls . . and what better way than to go shopping? Quick . . what do you think?

LoveThisJob

So far, I love this job. I've gotten to do so many different things already! Yesterday I worked on some PR stuff and also went to Capitol Hill for a press conference (unrelated to PR stuff). It was a small gathering, but there was a Grammy-nominated singer there advocating an issue . . we were the opposition. We were there, handing out a paper and a CD supporting our stance on the issue. I saw someone ask "the singer" for an autograph, so I decided to see if I could get him to unknowingly sign one of our CDs. Amidst the cameras and press, I walked up to him and asked him to sign my CD . . and he did it! He totally didn't know what he was signing. I felt a bit bad, since he was so nice, but it was a great way to get myself a little "publicity" back at the office since it made for a good laugh and Vanderbilt made sure to tell people.

Today, instead of riding with CousinJ, I took the Metrobus, which was a new experience for me, and a good experience at that. The bus driver didn't make me pay! I mean, it was only $1.25, but still. And they say people around here aren't nice! Anyway, I may take the bus more often. I didn't have to walk far at all.

Last night, we ate on the back patio for probably the 4th time this week. It's so nice to eat outside on the old stone patio with the nice yard and all the flowers K has planted. So peaceful.

I've gone from never watching TV to having it be a nightly thing. At this point, I don't have anything better to do, and it's fun to hang out with CousinJ and K.

I've been at work for nearly an hour now with nothing to do. I feel so bad just blogging and doing nothing, but my "delegator of tasks" isn't at his desk and hasn't replied to my email asking what I should work on.

Tonight, I think I may do Happy Hour with some work people. (K asked if there were young people here and there are lots, so that's good.) Staying downtown later means I have to find a way home. I don't have the bus thing figured out for the way back, so I'll either have to get a ride with someone or take a cab. I've taken a cab here a few times, but I've never had to hail a cab myself. Let's hope everything goes smoothly.

My First Day

I'm blogging at work . . already! I feel terrible about it, but they haven't given me a project yet! I did do a little research this morning, which was cool, because they showed me what the research was for . . I just love being a part of "big" things!

Right now, my office is a corner office, an old conference room, so it's big. It's cool to have a view and hear the city sounds outside. Cool, but very weird. However, there are a couple of other people that will be joining me in this office, so I don't have it to myself much longer. In the meantime, everyone is jealous, because most have cubes and even those with offices (unless they're partners or something) don't have a window. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts, because I know we'll be getting more space soon and I'll have to move.

My First Day

My first day went really well. Walking down the street to the office, I felt like I was in a bubble being in such a busy, important city. I was afraid I'd be bored out of my mind and have to eat lunch alone, but neither happened. A few (3) people in my "department" asked me to lunch (which was on the company) so I was able to get to know them a little. In the afternoon, I was taken around the entire floor and introduced to probably 100 people (no exaggeration). I felt funny being taken from office to office and cube to cube, but it was great to meet people, including most of the partners and founders of the company. Now it won't be as awkward being the newbie, because I'm surrounded by faces I've already seen (though I definitely can't remember all their names).

After Work
K was so sweet to ask my mom what my favorite dish was so she could make it to celebrate my first day. However, she couldn't make my favs, which are salmon and lasagna, so she made this delicious chicken fettucine dish with the best garlic bread ever!

I went up to my room for the rest of the night to try to organize my closet. BF (best friend) called from Peru (she's there for a month serving at a church). It was SO good to hear her voice. (I had missed her call a few nights ago and was so upset). Then, Rochester called to ask about my first day, which was so nice of him. It was fun to discuss my first day's experiences with someone else who works there (he's not in the office Tues or Wed, though).

Today
Today, I went to lunch with Virginia (another San Diego friend). However, I'm going to have to change his code-name, because I found out he's not from Virginia . . he's from North Carolina. So instead of referring to him by his home state, I'll choose his grad school instead, which is Vanderbilt. Anyway, lunch was good. He is so nice and, as always, entertaining to talk to.

So now I'm catching up on blogs and hoping so badly that someone comes in to give me an assignment of some kind.

We Made It

I'm here . . in D.C.! The drive Friday went so well. The audio book sucked (in my opinion) so I put in my headphones and jammed out silently to my iPod which kept me wide awake! We loved driving through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland. I know that I drove through these three states a month ago on my cross-country trip, but this was a different route and sooo much prettier. I did miss my turn coming into D.C. during rush hour, but remained calm and somehow got turned around. If you've never driven in D.C. . . well, it's not simple. Once you exit, you can't just get back on. I really was proud of myself for figuring it out. Sooo. . so far, I've driven 3 times in the D.C. area (including when I came for my interview) and I've missed a turn/gotten lost every time. On the positive side, this helps me get more of a feel for the area.

I absolutely love CousinJ & K's house!!! (my cousin and his wife) It's in a beautiful neighborhood with huge old homes and lots of trees, and it's right in D.C. They have been great hosts to Grandma and I and have even offered to provide all food for me so I can save money this first month while I stay with them. Baby Walker is adorable!! (He wore his green and white Ralph Lauren seersucker outfit to church yesterday.) I also love their yellow lab, Isabel. . she's so beautiful and well-behaved.

Since we've been here, we've seen the WWII memorial, shopped in Bethesda MD, grilled out delicious steaks, eaten at some great restaurants and visited their church. Today, us girls are going shopping again . . but this time I'm buying. I just want to feel very prepared when it comes to work clothes. I can't believe tomorrow is my first day!!!

En Route

Folks . . I'm on dial-up. Last time I checked, it was 2006 . .??. . then again, I am staying with most frugal, yet wonderful, people I know . .

Ah well . . .

The first day of driving went well. The night before, I got less than 4 hours of sleep, because loading my car proved to be a greater feat than I'd imagined. Can anyone say 'unorganized'? But seriously, it's hard to know until you're actually leaving what you need to take and how the heck to best fit it in your car. I crammed the car full that night, and the following morning had Grandma, my traveling buddy, show up with not just one suitcase like she promised the night before, but also a sack of clothes for my cousins and a big bag of snacks and, lest we forget, the audio novel and some sermons on tape. I was a bit frustrated by this, especially when she made comments like, "MY, this car is full!" as if surprised that someone moving their entire life could possibly fill up a car with belongings. To put it in perspective, when we stopped for breakfast and I opened my car door, a bag fell out.

I drove the first 9 hours. We stopped at a restaurant in Iowa that we both love called "The Machine Shed" for breakfast . . we listened to a sermon (which I didn't mind; it was really good!) . . we ate popcorn . . and wheat thin chips . . and Dots. After the first 9, though, I was drifting off and having trouble staying on the road, so I reluctantly pulled over and let her drive the remaining 2 hours. (It's sometimes hard to let other people drive . . ie: my mother and my grandmother . . . I just got new brakes and was cringing at how late she decided to use them at the stoplights.)

Seeing my cousins has been great! I have 7 cousins and an aunt and uncle who live in a town south of Indianapolis. They are the most wonderful family to spend time with. They are an amazing example of a godly family and when you visit their home you'll have delicious meals, lots of laughs, and a fun, yet peace-filled, restful time.

Today we went shopping, which is something that is bound to happen when traveling with Grandma. We went to one of my favorite dept. stores, Von Maur, and yes, I bought somethinggg . . s. Then, we stopped at another store on the way home and I knew I should've left my purse in the car . . but I would've just run out in the parking lot to get it, because I found the cutest seersucker jacket and flowy, brown capris, and blue skirt, and brown shirt . . . and my mother is now breaking into a sweat, because now her daughter is going to be far, far away and she can't scold her when she brings home unnecessary packages and remind her to budget. Oh, but Mom, if only you knew how much I *saved*.

Tonight, we sat around looking at pictures on my computer and theirs. It's early to bed around here, which certainly hasn't been my motto for the last few weeks, er, months. Tomorrow I'll spend another day here and then it's off to D.C. I'm ready . . but trying not to think about it, because, really, I haven't much of an idea what to expect. My biggest concern at this point is, of course, what I'll wear the first day. I'll let you know what I decide. . .

Going, Going, Gone

No time to post really. Feel exhausted and slightly overwhelmed. Hope Grandma doesn't plan on bringing anything other than one suitcase, because there's no more room in my car! It's 1 a.m. and we're scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. I don't know when I'll write next. Maybe in the next couple of days - at my cousins' house in Indiana, but maybe not. I can't believe I'm leaving, but really I haven't had much time to think about it. It's probably best that way. No sense psyching myself out.

Yesterday Grandma says:
"Laura, I got us a book series on audio to listen to in the car."

*Sigh* I'll let you all know how the book is.

(But really, I'm excited to spend some quality time with Uptown Grandma.)

Cinco de Mayo

Looking for an Apt . . and a husband?

You know, people tell you life isn't about money, but sometimes it really feels like it, doesn't it?

Dad informed me that getting new tires would be a really good idea before driving east. He suggested the Goodyears for just over $600, but when I cringed, he came down to $400 and said I'd probably be good.

Good thing we went for the cheaper, because guess who just called? The tire place . . of course saying that one of my brake pads is down to less than 10%, I need a new belt tensioner (because no way am I listening to my belt squeal all the way to D.C.), and I need new wiper blades (you mean that $6 blade I bought 4 months ago isn't good enough?). So, now the grand total is more than I would've paid for the Goodyears. I'm breathing a big sigh of relief that I went with Bridgestone.

I've been looking for a place to live on a VA church's Christian message board and I've found quite a few posts that have caught my attention. I've emailed a few people and have a couple places I might take a look at once I get out there. There have been a few posts that sounded phenomenal and have gotten me all excited only to find the rent is way out of my price range or the location is further than I care to live or the person posting sounds like a middle-aged cat lady (K, you know what I'm talkin about). Just as much as I don't want to go home to someone living an immoral lifestyle, I don't want to spend my evenings at home with a cat lady. (btw, I have a family cat that I love, but won't be taking with me . . but I am not a cat lady).

I went through all my 'stuff' yesterday . . as in, everything I own other than my clothes. Since I moved home a year ago, I'd forgotten about all the cute home decor I had and was disappointed to realize that no way was any of it going to fit in my car . . unless I left all my shoes behind. I am planning on shipping out the jewelry armoire I got for Christmas and a mirror I love, but I figure whomever I move in with will probably have the place decorated . . plus, I probably won't have a very big place anyway. After realizing that I will possibly only have a 10 x 10 area to truly call my own, I told Mom very matter-of-factly, "I'm going to have to find someone to marry so I can decorate."

What I've Been Up To

What could I have been so busy doing these last several days that would prevent me from blogging, you ask?

Well, I wish I could say packing, but that would be a lie. Besides, why would I pack when I have an entire week left before moving my life halfway across the country? It's much more fun to hang out with friends and play around on Photoshop for hours at a time.

I did take a deep breath today and open my closet to begin to sort through my sizably sinful amount of clothing to decide what I can't live without. I was disappointed to discover that I didn't like much of what I found there. Normally this would be exciting, because it would be another excuse to go shopping (as if I need another excuse), but then I remembered that soon I will be living on a budget . . a budget that doesn't allow weekly shopping trips or the revamping of a wardrobe . . a budget that may only allow a strict diet of hot dogs and mac n cheese (and peas, of course). (Ok, perhaps I'm exaggerating.) At any rate, I'm pretty disappointed about the state of my wardrobe. Hopefully after a good night's sleep I will awaken with some fresh optimism.

I will say that I'm excited about the suit (and the shirt and the skirt) I bought the other day. I'd never tried on a suit before, and I loved it. I can't wait to wear it!

Uptown Grandma has decided to ride along with me in the car, which is something that I'm very happy about, yet not excited about at the same time. It will be nice to have company (because I rarely like being alone and don't particularly want to fall asleep at the wheel), but this does mean that I can only listen to about 5% of the music on my iPod . . . the very mellow worship music, Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble, and those few Anne Murray songs I actually burned off her CD. It also means I might have to share a bed with her when we get to D.C. . . and the woman snores . . loudly. But, never mind all that . . I'm sure it'll be great. We'll be staying in Indiana for a couple of days visiting my cousins, which will also be fun. They are the most wonderful godly family and just being in their presence is uplifting.

Here are a couple of pics since I've been back in NE:

Cold Stone with Micks . . as always . .















Baby-sitting the twins a couple times














Seeing new babies
















Attending possibly my last ever Kickers event (this time a few cousins came along)
















Helping my sister get ready for prom

The Rest of the Trip

Chesnut Hill was such a charming area of Philadelphia. . with it's cute buildings and cobblestone streets.

















Boathouse Row on the Skuykill River. If you look closely, you can see the boats in between two of the houses.










Italian Market in South Philly.













Pat's, King of Steaks: The home of the cheesesteak. This place has been operated by the same family since 1930 and they've only ever had this one location in South Philly. They're open 24 hours a day/361 days a year. I ordered mine American Without . . American Cheese, without onions. It was very yummy!








We drove to Ocean City, New Jersey just to be able to say we did cross-country the right way . . coast to coast. It seemed like a nice place to bring a family. The boardwalk, though empty this time of year, looked like fun . . and they don't allow alcohol there, either. Villanova said he came here for vacation every summer growing up.




















After New Jersey, Villanova drove me down to Wilmington, Delaware to stay with Delaware. She and I had a lot of fun. However, Wilmington . . not an exciting place at all. It made me want to bring her back to Omaha to show her a good time.
As I mentioned before, we did head down to D.C. to stay with Rochester a couple of days (which is when I also had my interview).

One of the nights we visited, we headed to Georgetown. It's a neat area. We had a blast! I have lots of cute pics from that night . . too bad I can't post them :(









Despite the rain, we did a little sightseeing (from the car). I know they're just buildings and monuments, but it's kinda moving when I see them. Maybe it's all the history they represent.























Back in Delaware, I went shopping with Delaware and a bunch of her friends. Seven of us bought the same shirt, earrings, and bracelet for the 70s loop (which is when a bunch of bars play 70s music and everyone dresses up and pays one cover for all bars and bar hops all night). I didn't drink that night, but it was lot of fun dressing up . . you should've seen the looks we got. Delaware and I had some killer aviator shades, too.
I don't know these guys, but I'd never seen such huge 'fros' in my life . . had to get a pic!
















Delaware and I also made a trip up to Philly to the Franklin Institute to see Body Worlds. It was awesome! They had actual people (who had donated their bodies to science, of course), minus their skin . . so you could see real muscle and blood vessels, and organs . . because they have a way of preserving it all. It was crazy! You were able to really see how everything looks underneath the surface and how it all fits together. It was also interesting to see what damaged organs look like . . for example, a heart that has had a heart attack or someone who's had a stroke or a brain aneurysm. It sure makes you want to take care of yourself.
If you look closely at this picture, you can see on the steps an example of one of the 'exhibits' that showed muscles and tendons.




















And that about sums up my cross-country trip in a few pictures.