Friday nights could be booked for the rest of my life

A new-to-me BBQ joint and country line dancing. I can't think of a better start to a weekend. Kentucky and I had a blast letting out our inner country. We arrived at 8pm to learn some new dances and didn't leave until closing time. The band was great, the regulars encouraged us to come back soon, and we, of course, promised we would!

hypothetically

Recently, in addition to job hunting, scouring design blogs for inspiration, checking out preview photos for estate sales, keeping up to speed on certain sports teams, and - oh good grief, I could go on all day! - I also spent a good chunk of time on the Internet deciding how I'd like to further my education. If it was free. Oh yeah, and if it was only about three hours a week. Real ambitious, this one.

So hypothetically, if I were able to learn about new things for absolutely free (or at least for really cheap), I now know what those things would be. All twenty of them. Thanks to the local community college online catalog.

If I were seriously considering going back for my Masters (breathing into a bag at the overwhelming thought of the thesis), I'm not sure what I'd pursue. Probably a degree in writing or some other communications field.

But if we're talking about having some real educational fun, here are some of the classes I'd consider:

History of Architecture
Photography
Painting
Printmaking
Nutrition
Writing
Intro to Greek
Theory and Techniques of Interior Design
Styles of Furniture and Interiors
Materials and Sources (Interior Design)
Business Procedures (Interior Design)
Marketing
Public Relations
Principles of E-Commerce
Geography of Tourism
Small Business Management
Business Mathematics

Business Mathematics?! I can't believe anything involving the word 'math' is included in this list, but unfortunately it's a very important part of owning your own business, which is something that I have an interest in.

What about you?
What would you pursue, either for fun or 'for serious'?

Go West!

Hmm, I think I need to head back to the West Coast.

Seriously.

Coincidentally, I did apply to a job in SoCal that I think I'd love. I can dream.

the enabler

Many became envious when they heard I was working from home yesterday (although I wasn't feeling well). But what they didn't know is that I sat in the same chair for 8 hours straight. No food, no bathroom, no turning on the television. Nothing. There are two very logical reasons for this: #1. My "new" chair is very comfortable (and I have Co-Worker/Friend to thank for giving it to me as my first re-upholstery project) and #2. I am obsessed with the internet. Dangerous combination.

My job search is like a very slow-moving train. One that hasn't made many stops, whose destination is still unclear. But just like I only need one husband, I also only need one job. I know God will provide it in the right timing, and although I'm sure I'll be nervous about starting something new, He won't give me anything I can't handle. One week from today, the train will re-visit a stop it's seen before. Ok, enough with the analogies - I have a second interview somewhere. I'll be meeting the CEO of the company, and I'm hoping that by the end of the conversation, I'll just know one way or the other.

Messy has left the building

For almost the last two years, I have lived with Messy. Actually, I have lived with two girls that could be called Messy, Messy #1 and the girl who took her place, Messy #2. Both enjoyed cooking, yet ironically hated doing dishes. Both liked to eat on the couch, oblivious to crumbs that would fall from their food. Neither cared about splatters on the counter or stovetop, and both DROVE ME NUTS.

Although Messy #2 was a sweet girl, I was ecstatic to learn that she was ready to move out. This provided me with an opportunity to replace her with someone CLEAN. I met a handful of girls, stressing to each one of them that cleanliness was extremely important in this apartment. I'm sure I sounded like a broken record.

When it came time to invite the girl we'd chosen, I still couldn't be sure she fit the bill in that department. But I went with my gut and asked her to be our roommate.

Forty eight hours later? I want to shout my love for her from the rooftop! Not only was her bedroom completely and cutely set up within 24 hours (which really is her own business, and I don't care), she assisted in the cleaning of the kitchen and the scrubbing of the guest bathroom bathtub. It sparkles! Not only that, but she has already made two cute additions to our kitchen. The girl appears to have great taste, and we are very excited to decorate together and make our home the oasis we want it to be. I honestly cannot get over how much this has affected me. I want to skip through the house singing and actually use my kitchen to cook something!

*And "Thank You, Jesus", she bought a couch! Pictures to come . .

Something terrible happened today

Every day as I walk into work, I pass a small café next door to my building. And every day I want to walk into that café and order the advertised chocolate banana crepe. But every day I tell myself, ‘you don’t need the calories’ or ‘you don’t have cash and you’re certainly not going to the ATM’. And this morning, Lyn was making fresh crepes in the kitchen, and she offered me, you guessed it, a chocolate banana crepe! And due to pre-interview jitters, I had to turn it down!

Terrible!

Kickin' it again

If you've been reading for a long time, you may recall my days as a country line dancer back in Nebraska. I joined a line dancing club with my uncle and regularly attended their weekly meetings at the Ken.o Cabana as well as weekend outings at local country bars. I was the youngest member of the club by a good twenty years, but that never stopped me from having a great time. My uncle recently returned from a tour in Iraq and the C.ountry Kickers were all at his party to welcome him home. Since moving to D.C. two years ago, I haven't been doing any dancing, but fortunately a few came back to me right away.

Cute Babies!

Londyn Grace - 2 days old

Colton John - 3 months

fine dining

I broke my routine today and enjoyed a treat that is normally reserved for Fridays. I’m like the kid who saves the green M&Ms for last. Only this meal really does taste better than all the others. And if I ate it every day, it wouldn’t even make me fat. Since when was something low-cal considered a treat?

Would you just listen to this description?: “Sesame breaded chicken tenderloins in a tangy Asian style plum sauce accented with ginger and topped with roasted sesame seeds served aside pasta tossed with sesame oil, green beans and red peppers.” For only three hundred and thirty calories. For reals, this is almost better than a pudding pop. Almost.

MIA

Job hunting and home visiting have kept me out of the blogosphere for the past week, and the only thing more overwhelming than interviewing for four jobs in one week and attempting to pack too much fun into a short weekend is opening up Google Reader to over 250 unread posts.

I did go home this weekend . . to talk in Spanglish with my 'seester' while helping her register for wedding gifts, to celebrate my uncle's return from Ir.aq, to meet two of my friends' new babies, and to have my cousin wave her magic wand, turning my hair back into the blonde it was meant to be.

I'm blaming this headache and exhaustion on all that fun. I'm also blaming this headache and exhaustion for not finishing this post right now. I'll be back once the Excedrin has kicked in.

He is Risen Indeed!

"God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son,that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

be·lieve: to have confidence or faith in the truth of something

"I try so hard to find the words to say, to let you know how great is this God to whom I pray. Nothing can or ever will compare to the peace that flows in your soul when He is living there. Oh, I know you’ve been through so much; it’s hard to contemplate letting go and reaching out in trust. But I know the simple truth - that love is here for you, so take Him at His word and see what He can do. The promise is yours and mine; take hold of this love for the rest of your life. It’s time to take a step of faith. Be prepared for Jesus’ love to carry you away. He loves you so much. Just believe, just believe."

- Jaci Velasquez, "God So Loved"

craving

All I want right now is:

• a Peep
• a Snickers egg
• a Reeses peanut butter egg

Growing up, every Easter morning my mother would leave a trail of chocolate eggs from our beds to our baskets, hidden somewhere in the house. The above treats were among some of the sweets included.

What are your favorite Easter treats?

one very expensive snack

“I’m going to treat myself tonight,” I thought, as I headed to happy hour at Wolfgan.g Puck’s The S.ource on Penn.sylvania Ave. I rarely go out to eat anymore, and how often did I find myself at such a swanky place? I would order an appetizer and a glass of wine, I decided.

Without even glancing at the wine list, I asked the server for a Chardonnay. (I may be adventurous in the food department, but not when it comes to wine.) The two girls and I browsed the lounge menu and found ourselves interested in a few, quite pricey, small plates. Our server suggested we order five or six, but we settled on the following three: shrimp & scallop spring rolls with sweet chili dipping sauce, “American style” Kobe beef sliders with onion marmalade and chapel cheddar, and handcut fries with Bearnaise sauce. All ten bites I took were understateably delicious, but I was still extremely hungry. And as perfect as the dessert was (a crêpe filled with warm ganache, next to a cold chocolate mixed with heavy cream, and sprinkled with powdered sugar), it was dainty as could be and split three ways. My plans for the rest of the evening? Go home and eat a real dinner.

I pulled out my check card and opened the bill. One hundred and thirteen dollars! FOR A SNACK. Perhaps a gourmet one, but a snack nonetheless. I would’ve fed a toddler more! I skimmed the list of charges to find my glass of wine, some fancy name I’d never heard of next to the number 16, twice the price of the other girls’ drinks. Apparently I needed to specify that I wanted the cheapest glass of Chardonnay they had. I knew that stuff had been too delicious! I signed my name under “$44.76” and rode the Metro home, daydreaming about all the other things that money could’ve bought me. Three eyebrow waxings . . a week’s worth of groceries . . a new blouse . . transportation to and from New York.

But I’d paid for an experience, a very delicious one. And if I had to do it over, I’d pay $100 and actually get an entrée.

Mr. P comes to Washington

DunduhduhDUH: Dad ate seafood. AND HE LIKED IT.

This is a newsflash for a guy who grimaces before the fork even reaches his lips, because he’s SURE it’s going to be disgusting. It doesn’t smell like normal things, like chicken and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And if he doesn’t like it . . HE MIGHT DIE.

So I would consider eating seafood a big milestone in his life. Which is why I began to clap at the dinner table when he chewed and swallowed that piece of grilled trout. I blinked a few times and anxiously awaited the next words out of his mouth. “It’s not bad.” High praise, indeed. Maybe next time, we can grab some Ethiopian?

After nearly two years of me living in D.C., Dad finally came for a visit. Everyone seems to find it strange that I asked my parents to come out separately, but it’s twice the fun for me!

While Dad was here, we went on a West Wing tour (my second). They had re-opened the White House press room, so we snapped a few shots in there, and Dad found the designated Fox News chair and took a seat. :) Since he enjoys shopping more than my mother, he seemed to be fine with hitting up an estate sale and spending some quality time in Anthropologie. He even helped me pick out a rug for my newly painted kitchen.

We ate at some of my favorite places, of course, and also grilled out a couple of times at Cousin J’s house. Walker (J’s son) absolutely loved his Uncle Jeff. And I’m thinking one the highlights of Dad’s trip may have been meeting and chatting with a “very important person” who happened to be in my office the day he came by.

Hope you had fun, Dad!

quote of the day

"If you think you could do it for a week without stabbing yourself . . apply for it."
- Co-worker/Friend

volume control

When is it ok to tell your roommate to TURN IT DOWN A FEW NOTCHES. As in, your voice. Because should I really have to turn my fan on high to drown out your squealy-voiced, after-midnight conversations? I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. I have a right to sleep. She has a right to talk on the phone. She could talk softer. I could turn on my fan.

Thoughts? Opinions? Anyone?

The Cupcakes

chocolate mint, chocolate coconut, bubblegum, triple chocolate, and chocolate vanilla

Yum.

EB

First of all, could I be any more tired? This daylight savings business is really taking its toll. I didn’t exactly have a late night-crazy weekend; instead I spent most of my time with my old bedroommate, EB.

I’m glad I love my bedroommate Lyn so much, because I really miss EB. The two are practically each other’s opposite, sharing maybe one similar trait, sweetness. Next to EB, I look quiet and nondramatic. In fact, I am often unable to reciprocate her excitement for things (believe it or not), and I never use words like “jubilant”. I can’t explain how lovely it was to hear her happy voice say “sleep well” on Saturday night. And I replied as always with “you too”. We didn’t really need to do anything when she came over, just sitting on the couch to chat was good enough. But we decided to venture out just after the rain had stopped, and our destination was Georget.own. I suggested we stop by the new cupcake place, but the sign said ‘closed until 3pm’. Instead, we popped into a bright yellow rowhouse boutique called Fre.sh. An adorable shop, there were different types of candy in glass jars, and fresh, flirty, flowy dresses and tops all color-coded. I bought the cutest green necklace for myself, but most of the dresses were shift dresses that didn’t really flatter my figure. At quarter to three, we got in line behind twenty people at Geor.getown Cupcake, and it was an hour before we were ordering our treats, while at least hundred more people waited behind us. The bakery really isn’t handling the demand well, but they are baking delicious cupcakes. It is hands-down the best cupcake I’ve ever had, and I can say with confidence that it’s better than Magnolia’s in New York. The moist cake and cream cheese frosting are amazing. Fortunately I bought a half dozen (all different flavors, of course), because I knew I wouldn’t want to stand in line again anytime soon. That evening, EB and I went to dinner at Del.hi Club with her Princ.eton alum friends. I like to call them “The Smarties”, but they are actually a lot of fun. I have to be honest, I never expected to enjoy people with such high IQs, as ridiculous as that may sound. Would they want to have intellectual conversations all the time? Would they laugh at things I didn’t understand? Would their advanced vocabulary annoy me to no end? And all of my assumptions were nearly true, except for the annoying part . . but they are a fun, normal bunch of people who happen to have Ivy League names and to have gone to Ivy League schools . . and who happen to love Cold Stone Creamery, which is reason enough for them to be my friends.

EB and I ended our time together at our favorite bagel place, the place we used to walk to every Saturday morning uphill, pumping our arms and squeezing our butts, only to enjoy carb-tastic bagels with high calorie toppings. Because we’d earned it. We hugged each other goodbye at least five times, and she hopped into her cute, blue Land Rover and drove south. And I thought to myself, ‘I’m glad I love Lyn, because I really miss EB.’

Dooce is right

I’m not sure I have ever agreed with another blogger more.

New Look

I had nothing better to do with my time this morning than play around with this new template, so I hope you all like it, because I'm not investing even two more seconds in xml code or adding links to the sidebar.

Let's talk about the old template and how ugly it was. Ugh. Gray blue. Seriously? Gray blue! That might officially be my least favorite color now. I'm surprised you didn't all fall asleep while reading the blog.

I'll admit that I was kind of hoping to find something a bit girlie for a template, but since I am head over heels for my current location, I thought I would feature it on the blog. Isn't it lovely? People, I can see all of those things from my rooftop! I think this might qualify me for the title of "Luckiest Girl Ever".

If you think D.C. is all about the monuments and the museums, you are . . almost right. But honestly, there are so many cute, historic, and diverse neighborhoods here. I've been living in this city for almost two years, and I haven't even begun to truly discover it.

So I felt that this template was appropriate, because I don't just love this life I'm living, I love this life I'm living in this city.

The search for a job is intensifying, as I am able to devote more of my energies to it. I've applied for jobs in a couple of other cities, but I can't pretend that I'm ok with leaving yet. I love it here, and I hope that love can continue awhile longer.

What would you do for a dollar?

I just ate a glazed donut in forty-five seconds, everything swallowed. And I was given a dollar for doing it.

It's not as easy as it sounds, and I think that dollar was worth the calories.

Thank You

I just want to say thank you for telling me about the happiness in your weekends. I've loved the feedback. And if you haven't left a comment yet, what are you waiting for? :)

He gives and takes away

A few months ago, I had a need. For a couch. I came this close to buying a brand new set at the furniture store, but I knew I couldn't really afford it. So I asked God to provide one. Because I believe, I know He cares about the small things.

And He came through, as always. My roommate's friend was giving away his couch for free, and it was actually in great condition and not at all ugly. Huge blessing. And I recently envisioned the types of pillows I planned to buy for this couch, and the way I hoped to rearrange the furniture in the living room.

But that same roommate is moving out in April. She had planned to leave the couch with us, but plans have changed. We will now be without a nice couch, just an ugly fake leather loveseat that barely fits two people.

It seems like such a silly thing to worry about, but couches are so expensive and given the unknown in my future, it's not something I should be investing in right now.

I'm just going to pray and believe that God will provide again. I don't even care if it's ugly. No wait, that's a lie. I definitely care, but I'll still take it.

and a Happy Weekend it was!

Nevermind the mini breakdown I had on Sunday afternoon. I love how I can bawl one moment and just a half an hour later all is well in the world again. I rarely find myself in tears, but if anything stressful/confusing/disappointing happens during a certain five days of the month, look out!

Now back to happy things:

- My co-worker/friend and I (and I really feel like I should capitalize that, because she is that important) have been a bit, what is the word?, obsessed about decor and design lately. I have been tipping her off to my favorite design blogs, and she has been having more reasons to even be looking at these design blogs, because she's decorating her new house. No fair! I suggested that, along with the occasional estate sale, we hit up some of the cute decor shops in various neighborhoods in our city. She was the first to suggest a shop: Mis.s Pixie's in Ada.ms Morgan. So we headed straight there after work on Friday. And loved everything. I think I could "furnish and whatnot" my entire home from that place. Most of the pieces are pretty affordable, all used and vintage items that have a lot of character. You know I didn't leave empty-handed. I decided on an old MasterCraft "paint-it-yourself" bookcase whose owners had painted it red, then painted part of it green. Until I repaint it, I'm trying to make do by throwing this scarf over the top to hide the whole two-toned look. But even when I do paint it, I'm not so sure I want to change the color. I love green.

- I've still been out of commission thanks to my foot, but it doesn't mean I can't lift weights or use a stationary bike (yawn). And in order to prevent myself from additional injuries when I do run again, I thought I would try out yoga for the first time . . at 8am on a Saturday morning. The instructor said I was very flexible, and I plan to go again. But every time she closes her eyes and tells us to "focus on the light within yourself", the only light I'll be thinking about is Jesus, thankyouverymuch. He is the only light inside of me. I hate all that New Age crap, gag!

- After the gym, I went to my church's monthly women's brunch to mingle with the ladies. It's a great way to meet people, catch up with familiar faces, and also hear an encouraging message from the pastor's wife. I met an adorable girl who I plan to have coffee with in the near future. (But why does it always have to be coffee or a drink? How about grabbing an ice cream cone for once? Now that sounds like fun.)

- Immediately following that meal, my friend and I headed to Dupont to find a new cafe at which to have lunch. We loved the place we chose, Sette Oster.ia, where we enjoyed frittatas with veggies and arugula salad. And we stopped into the designer consignment shop right across the street, of course.

- That afternoon, I met up with my university's D.C. alu.mni board to discuss my potential involvement in getting a flag football team started next season. Next thing I knew, I was being nominated to be co-chair of our chapter's newly created sports committee and not only was I going to take the lead on the football team, I was suddenly assistant coach of the softball team. I don't even like softball! I'm also going to be a representative for our chapter at the D.C. alu.mni net.work meetings. I'm glad to be getting involved, but I had no idea it was going to turn into all of this!

- I spent the evening babysitting for two adorable little girls that I've watched several times over the last year. I always have cute stories to tell after a night with E.lena (4) and L.arissa (2). That evening, E grabbed three spatulas out of the drawer and told me to press play on the CD player. "Build Me Up Buttercup" began to play, and the three of us danced around the living room together. When tucking E in at night, she has recently been asking me to read the (pictureless) Bible. She is insistent that she be able to see the words on the page, and it is so precious to hear all the questions she has. "Miss L__, how does Jesus heal people?" "How did Zaccheus get up in the tree?"

- I was done in time to hit the bowling alley with a group of friends, but I never got in a groove, and I hate to admit it but when it comes to bowling, I'm not happy if I'm not winning. So maybe this isn't one of my happy things. Maybe I should take it off. But I was with friends, and there were Sour Patch Kids and high-fives when I got a few spares. So I'll keep it on the list.

Please tell me about the happiest part of your weekend . .

Happy List

There has seemed to be a lot of happiness in my life this week, none of it resulting from anything major and none of it involving say, I don't know, getting asked out again. But the highlights more than made up for that.

- I started a new book! I know you're all wondering what the big deal is, but I rarely read anymore and when I do, it is only ever Christian spiritual growth books and the Bible, which are very lovely and all, but I would not exactly put them under the category of "entertainment". Also, it is not just any book. It is a huge book that is, quite frankly, pretty intimidating. This biography that I've decided to read covers the history of the United States Senate and the life of "Master of the Senate" Lyndon B. Johnson in a whopping one thousand pages. I spent thirty minutes last night reading ten of them. It's gonna be a long year. But I'm trying to challenge myself to read it as quickly as possible so that I can move on to the next book. At this rate, it will still be a few months.

- I bought new shoes! Not something I was planning to do until my podiatrist informed me that I had tendonitis and needed to stay off of heels for at least another week. Now that I own these, I'm almost glad I hurt my foot. Yeah, that's a lie. It really sucks.

- My lovely bedroommate, Lyn, got us into a cooking class at Sur La Table where we learned to make four dishes created by Chef Ming Tsai. I was truly afraid that I would make a fool of myself, since I don't even know how to properly cut an onion, but we had a great time, and the food was, of course, delicious! I may even try to make one of the dishes again.

- I bought new shampoo, and it's changing my life! Or my hair. Same thing. It's also taken a big chunk out of my checking account, dang! I walked out of Aveda $70 poorer. But my hair is thanking me.

- My friend and I bought tickets to see the Yank.ees play the Oriol.es at Camden Yards in April. They're not in the nosebleed section either. I can't wait!

- I discovered a new cupcake place in George.town: Georget.own Cupcake. What an original name. I hope to try it out tomorrow, although I hear they've been selling out regularly. We'll see how it compares to Magnolia in New York.

- I pigged out, totally pigged out at Magg.iano's tonight to celebrate my friend's new job. We're talking . .

wine, bread, calamari, tomato & mozzarella, chopped salad, beef medallions, chicken marsala, gnocchi, rigatoni, chocolate cake, Boston creme pie, tiramisu, and cheesecake

Obviously it was a family-style deal, but you know I had some of all of the above.

So that is my Happy List for this week. And I'm convinced that I'll be having a happy weekend as well. I hope the same is true for all of you.

Girls Night Out

I.LOVE.MY.FRIENDS.

The Bible Study girls.

Our Portland friend was in town last night, and oh what fun we had. Lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and Sauvignon Blanc at home, followed by dancing and dancing at a couple of bars in George.town. The silliness and laughter were out of control.

I didn't exactly go straight home after the night out either. I made two stops in my own apartment building: my neighbors on the 3rd floor that I'd met last summer and run into at the bar . . and the boys next door who invited me over to play their XBox rock band game. What a blast!

I'm not a big fan of staying up late these days, so the 4am bedtime has really taken its toll today. The girls and I will have plenty of stories to tell tonight while we lay low and watch movies.

I need to be fully recharged for my brunch date tomorrow.

Would be a great excuse for laziness

How can I be so prone to injury? It seems anytime I get excited about an activity or sport, I get hurt.

First, it was snow skiing, then it was a newfound love of volleyball at the gym, last summer it was water-skiing (my fave!) . . and now it's running. You know that half marathon I was training for? Well, I still have every intention of running it in May. The Sunday afternoon 5+ run from my apartment door, along the Potomac, across the Memorial Bridge, past the memorials, next to the Reflecting Pool and back home . . was fantastic. But the pain in my foot an hour later was not fantastic. And that pain has hung around all week and shows no signs of going away. It's been flats and almost-flats for the last four days, and I am dying to do some form of cardio, any form of cardio to keep my butt in shape, but it hurts to even walk on my foot.

I just scheduled a doctor's appointment for Monday morning, yet I am still hoping that by some great miracle I'll be ok by then. Yeah . . right. How sad!

Anna and Doris

It was about time I did something that involved giving, doing something for others. And painting nails at a nursing home actually sounded fun.

One of the first ladies through the door was 90-year old Anna, pushing her walker, a green knit blanket folded over the front bar and a small heart-shaped balloon taped there. Anna didn't want her nails painted. Someone had done them a couple of weeks ago, and she thought they still looked fine. I exclaimed that they looked fantastic after two whole weeks, and she replied “Well, that’s because I don’t do anything!”

"I used to paint my own nails," she said. "And one day I asked them 'Where are my things? I want to paint my nails.' They told me I couldn't have them anymore because some people here would drink the polish. And I said, 'So I have to suffer because of someone else?' . . . So now they paint my nails . . but they do it on their time, not mine."

She told me life in the nursing home was dull, and "all anyone wants to do is play cards all day". But she knew she needed to be there, and she counted her blessings. She loved her daughter, her three sons and three daughters-in-law, and she teared up when she talked about them.

She told me about life in Brooklyn, New York, growing up in a poor Italian neighborhood, playing music in the street and dancing. "My husband and I were good dancers. We made quite the winnings in our day. Everyone would stop dancing to stand back and watch us." Pretty soon, Anna and I were singing lines from old songs like "Tea for Two" and "The Very Thought of You". Her eyes twinkled.

It wasn't long before Doris came to join us. She appeared to be a young hippie chick in a very old woman's body. She couldn't carry on much of a conversation, but insisted "Whatever you want to do, just do it, that's what I say!". To say Doris loved the mini muffins we brought was an understatement. She couldn't eat enough. The problem was that she literally couldn't eat enough, and most of the muffin was missing her mouth, crumbs falling all over the floor.

Anna had told me what a peaceful person she was. “I’ve never had an enemy. I get along with everyone.” But as soon as Doris left the table, she told me how she really felt. “Doris is a pig. She’s always dropping food everywhere, and I feel like I need to pick up after her. If my foot wasn’t so bad, I would. I just want to hit her in the head.” It was true – she had left an awful mess all over the floor, and she didn’t seem to care.

Minutes later Doris returned. She began to pet Anna’s salt-and-pepper hair, calling her a dear, as Anna sat perfectly still with a look in her eye that only I could understand. I began to giggle, knowing her unspoken thoughts. Doris wasn’t in on the joke. “What are you giggling for?” she asked. “Well, there’s nothing wrong with it,” she answered herself. “The people that giggle have the most fun.”

Anna and I just smiled.

Life can be full of surprises

. . like when your little sister gets engaged at the age of twenty!

I don't know about you, but at age twenty I was in no place to be making vows to anyone. Yet it doesn't frighten me that my baby sister is about to do just that in only four and a half months. Maybe because it's quite possible that she has more maturity, albeit less experience, than I do! (Don't let that go to your head, Kid Sister!) And maybe it's because she really has found the love of her life . . so why wait?

I've gotten a few calls from concerned friends and family who are convinced that I must be devastated. After all, I am the big sister, the oldest child in the family . . and this means I'll be the last to get married. But if I'm sad about anything, it's not that. My life has taken a much different path than I ever thought I wanted, but it's been wonderful, and if God's timing has been right on everything else, then I know it will be right in that area of my life as well.

I think if I'm sad about anything it's that I won't feel needed anymore. And she's never been needy in the first place, or one to want my wise counsel on important matters (such as hair color), but I still felt needed in a special way. And now?, now that damn fiance of hers does such a great job taking care of her that I'm not sure my sisterly services will ever be needed again. She'll never need my warm body to shove her back to her side of the bed during sleepovers at my parents', she'll never need me to smack her butt and tell her it's perfect, and she'll never really need my advice because his will be most important.

So if I'm crying up there on the altar that day, it won't be because I'm still single.

delicious

Me: "I gave him a hug when he dropped me off."
Mom: "Isn't that a little uncomfortable?"
Me: "No, I don't think so. It wasn't a full-on hug, I mean it was in the car. . . Plus, it gives him a chance to smell my delicious hair."
Mom: "I've never heard hair referred to as delicious."

the night before

I'm up way too late on the night before a date. I need my beauty rest. Especially since I've felt sick lately. But this stupid computer won't let go of my hands.

I'm actually somewhat nervous about this one.
(K, I mentioned him to you when you were here.) Sorry Everyone, I feel like I just whispered a secret in public. How rude.

I've picked out what to wear, but it's not too nice. I have this "thing" about trying too hard, smelling too nice and looking too trendy. I don't do it. Maybe it's about setting the bar too high. Who knows.

I have two zits, and I never get them. Go figure.

Let's hope I can successfully pretend that I haven't read every word on his facebook profile . .

Estate Sale

"Have fun rummaging through dead people's stuff," our friend said. My co-worker and I were off to an estate sale to basically do just that. Like a yard sale only much more expensive, estate sales often have antiques or unique pieces you can't find at a store. The difference is that these items aren't unwanted, they're just . . "unneeded". After all, you can't take anything with you when you die. I found quite a few pieces of furniture I wished I could justify buying, but in the end these are the items I walked away with:
an adorable scarf for my handbag

map to hang above the couch (Although I find it a little boring, empty space is much worse.)

an antique blue bowl

a bundt pan, perfect for making my favorite cake, Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake

an apron, you know for all that time I spend in the kitchen

another pretty scarf that I hope to make into a pillow

*I realize it clashes with the couch.

Let's just say, this won't be the last time I shop an estate sale. We are officially addicted.

Shout Out

I just wanted to take a moment to say a big "hello" to all my friends back in Nebraska! Hiiii! *waving*

Oh and by the way, I didn't wear a coat yesterday.

Or today.

Hope you're enjoying that snow.

Lurve ya, bye.

The Shore

My weekend didn't really involve much child supervision. It did involve a lot of sleep on my very own King-size bed in my very own room with my very own bathroom. That ginormous down comforter was lovely. Friday evening, the kids went directly to bed after the forever-long car ride (thanks to a few missed turns). The girls and I stayed up for hours eating, chatting, and drinking wine.

I was given the car on Saturday morning which allowed me to drive through the cute little town, snap some pictures, and take a walk on the beach. Forty-five degrees felt like negative unbearable with the sea breeze biting my face and hands, but it was still beautiful. I watched a couple of movies after tucking the kids in that night and enjoyed the second half of my ordered-in BBQ chicken cheesesteak and zeppoles (deep-fried cinnamon puffs).

The change of scenery really allowed me to clear my mind and take a different perspective on my life circumstances. I came home Sunday afternoon feeling very refreshed, considerably richer (hehe), and ready to take on my week. I went for a four-mile run along the Potomac, enjoying the sixty degree temps and introducing my new running shoes to pavement for the first time.

The Bible Study girls were hosting a big Super Bowl party, so I went over to hang streamers and be the first to taste test all the delicious snacks. The house was filled with the cheers and boos of over twenty people that came over to watch the game. I'm happy to say I was one of the cheerers!

Although we weren't ON the beach, we were close enough. This is one of two views of the ocean from the deck. It's not a West Coast sunset, but it's still pretty.

I would do anything for a pair of mittens at this point.

How could I not post a picture of this cutie?

not so Super Tuesday

I do NOT want to vote tomorrow. I know I need to be a good American and exercise my wonderful right to have a say in our country's future. And typically I feel very passionately about doing so.

But I don't like a single candidate! On either side!

I may like certain things about certain people, where they stand on certain issues. I may like how someone carries himself. I may think someone is a fantastic speaker. Maybe someone even gives me goosebumps. But maybe that person's voting record sucks! Or maybe there is one major, major issue that I just won't compromise on. Maybe they are just posing as a moderate! Or a conservative! Maybe I don't want to cast my vote for any one of them.

The frustration is coming out my ears. I hate not being able to get behind someone and really feel good about supporting them. I hate not feeling optimistic about the next four years.

Hello Friends

I think my roommate thinks I'm crazy. Sometimes I read your blogs, and I just have to share your stories. So I turn to her, and I don't know quite how to start. "This girl . .", I say. And she knows it's a blog. She has that look in her eye like "You're reading blogs again? You always read blogs." And so I start again, "I mean she's my friend" . . and I find myself feeling even more ridiculous.

But you are my friends. I may not have met you all in person, but we know each other, we share stories about our lives . . and more importantly, we care.

Going to the beach in February? I shore am.

It may seem a strange time of year to be doing so, but I’m headed to the Jersey Shore for the weekend. Destination: Stone H.arbor. I’ve never been, but I hear it’s a quaint little town full of trendy boutiques and some of the nicest real estate in southern New Jersey. Cold or not, it sounds great to me! My traveling companions will be K (my cousin’s wife) and the little babes: Walk.er and Michael. We’re meeting up with K’s friend and her 3 year-old daughter, so you know what this means: babysitting. But I’ve been assured that I’ll be fully included in most activities and only have kid duty on Saturday afternoon and evening. Fine by me. After all, am I not obsessed with these children? I’m sure I’ll be snapping pics the entire time. A 2 year-old, a 3 year-old, and an infant is quite a handful, but I couldn’t think of a better place to have that handful than at the beach, fifty degree temps and all.

Cars, Cars, Cars

So I made it to the Washington Auto Show last weekend. Having a dad in the car business, I've always been somewhat knowledgeable about makes and models, what's overpriced and which cars are well made. In fact, I've become quite opinionated on the subject.

This weekend, I spent way too much time on the first floor wondering around amongst the foreign cars, only taking an interest in those I could never afford. I only had a half hour to browse the GM models, many of which I am in love with and could reasonably hope to buy someday. I'll spare you my commentary from the show, but I will share a few of my favorites.

If I look happy in this picture, it's because I'm sitting in my favorite luxury SUV, the Cadillac SRX. It just looks right, doesn't it? I would certainly never need a car of this size, unless I had a few kids in tow. But at this rate, the car will be discontinued long before that happens. Fortunately Cousin J and K have their eye on one, so at least I'll be able to ride around in the backseat every once in awhile.

Next up is the Pontiac Torrent. If I was really in the market for an SUV, this is what I'd pick. Some of my favorite features are the fold-flat front passenger seat, the sliding second row seat, and of course the remote keyless entry. While I'm at it, I might as well get the leather seats, the navigation system to fill that lovely screen on the console, and the six-disc CD changer.

If I'm sticking with a coupe or a sedan, my definite top choice is the Pontiac G6 GT. Check out those curves! Hot! I love cars that can still look sporty with four doors. The GT comes with an eight speaker sound system, including a sub woofer. I'm just sayin'. And I loves the leather-wrapped brake handle. Yes, I will take it with a sunroof and XM radio. Thank ya.

I'd get into the safety features and explain value you get for the money, but I know you'd just get bored with all that.

But if it's a luxury sedan I'm looking for, I'd take either one of these beauties. Acura and Lexus sure do make some very attractive vehicles.

The Acura TL and the Lexus IS250 make me drool.

Must post something before a week goes by!

What kind of soap is in your bathtub?
What a perfect first question, because part of my Christmas gift from Cousin J and his wife K, happened to be fabulously-scented Waterlily soap by Fresh. I particularly love using it when showering after the gym . . because I go from smelling not so amazing to freakin’ amazing.I also use Suave’s Toasted Coconut body wash and Hempz body wash.

Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator?No. And I probably never will.

What would you change about your living room?Just about everything, except the square footage, the oak parquet floors and the color on the walls. But I would buy new couches, a larger television, a new tv stand, art for the wall . . you get the picture.

Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty?I’m betting they are dirty

What is in your refrigerator?Four people’s food, but my contributions are: eggs, apples, hummus, string cheese, leftover spaghetti with homemade chunky tomato sauce, and whole wheat tortillas.

White or wheat bread?Wheat. WHOLE wheat.

What is on top of your refrigerator?Nada.

What color or design is on your shower curtain?I chose a light pinky beige curtain. Nice and neutral.

How many plants are in your home?We have the occasional bouquet of flowers on the entry table. They’re never for me, of course, but I do enjoy them.

Is your bed made right now?No, which is really pathetic because it’s only a matter of flipping the covers up.

Comet or Soft Scrub?Soft Scrub

Is your closet organized?Yes. I like to keep it color-coordinated although it’s not right now. But it’s definitely organized according to type of clothing, etc.

Do you drink out of glass or plastic at home?Glass.

Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now?No, because I only drink milk and water. Period.

If you have a garage, is it cluttered?I have a parking space in a garage which only contains my car.

Curtains or blinds?Blinds. Old dusty blinds.

How many pillows do you sleep with?One. I have two: one down and the other, um, not. I alternate which I sleep with.

Do you sleep with any lights on at night?No.

How often do you vacuum?Whenever I can see the dust on the wood floors.

Standard toothbrush or electric?Standard.

What color is your toothbrush?I have three. Green, blue, and pink.

Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch?No.

What is in your oven right now?Nothing at the moment, but I made some delicious Ghirardelli brownies the other night.

Is there anything under your bed?I have two drawers under my IKEA bed that contain my workout clothes and pajamas.

Chore you hate doing the most?Ironing. Ugh.

What retro items are in your home?None.

Do you have a separate room that you use as an office?I use the chair in the living room for an office.

How many mirrors are in your home?Two that aren’t in the bathroom. One that I painted bright red and hung in the hallway, the other hangs over my door in my bedroom.

What color are your walls?Blah blah blah. White. Except for the living room which is a beautiful neutral beige.

Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home?No, but if I lived in an actual house, I would certainly exercise my right to bear arms. (FYI: Did you know that in many countries where guns have been banned, the crime rate has actually increased? Because, shock of all shocks, criminals still find a way to carry guns.)

What does your home smell like right now?Whatever Lyn made for dinner last night.

Favorite candle scent?I love these candles from Anthropologie, but I can’t remember their scent. I bought one for my cousin for Christmas, but hesitated because I wondered if she might accidentally burn her house down. (You’d have to know her to understand.) Turns out she went right home and lit it . . and fell asleep for the night. Maybe my gut was right on that.

What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now?None. I never eat them plain anyway, but I like them on sandwiches.

What color is your favorite Bible?Both of my Bibles are black, so I guess that would be my favorite Bible color. Strange question.

Ever been on your roof?Yes. I love it up there! I can see the entire city of Washington D.C. All the monuments, the Capitol, the Pentagon, National Cathedral, the Potomac. Breathtaking.

Do you have a stereo?Actually no. How sad. I have a couple of speakers that I plug my iPod into.

How many TVs do you have?Uno.

Do you have a housekeeper?I wish!

What style do you decorate in?I don’t decorate. How unfortunate. But if I did, it would be kinda TraditionalModernEclectic. Kinda The Antique Store meets West Elm. And they invite Pottery Barn over.

Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints?I’d probably lean toward solids and then spice things up with some fun pillows and window treatments.

Is there a smoke detector in your house?Yes.

In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you'd grab if you could make only one trip?my computers.

TGIF!

T if for tire: Lucky me, I get to replace one of my tires this weekend. Not necessarily something to look forward to, but I always feel so good about myself after I’ve done something responsible. It’s like “By golly, it feels like just yesterday that my mama and daddy was buyin’ my stuff and now I’m all growed up.”

G is for gym: the weekends are when I can really lose track of time at the gym and whip my butt into shape.

I is for I: who I will be attending the Washington Auto Show with, hopefully without wanting to rush out and buy a new car.

F is for fondue: Saturday night is “Fondue Forks and Game Faces” night with the Bible Study girls. I plan to eat lots of food and win whatever game we decide to play.

Day Three

It's only Day Three of my marathon training, and tonight my knee and my ankle hurt . This is a bad sign. Endurance-wise I'm completely fine, but if I can't run three miles without pain, how will I ever do thirteen? I'm hoping I can find some way to stretch or prevent this from being an issue.

What Turns Us Christian Girls On

Co-worker: “I was a little distracted at church last night. J___ didn’t have time to change before he came to service”
Me: “So he wore a suit?!”
Co-worker: “Yes! A suit that he wears, you know, to his really good job where he makes really good money.”
Me: “Oh my gosh!”
Co-worker: “And then he probably got warm, so he took off his jacket and . . . ROLLED UP HIS SLEEVES!”
Me: *Gasp* “Oh wow.”
Co-worker: “And he was all praising Jesus and lifting his hands with the rolled up sleeves.” *Sigh* “I contemplated going and sitting in front of him so I wouldn’t have to watch.”
Me: “Ohmygosh, I don’t even need to see it!-just picturing it-so hot!”

MLK Day

A couple of the Bible Study Girls have registered for a New Jersey half marathon in May and because of my fabulous endurance on the treadmill lately, I’ve begun to wonder if it’s not something I could do. I have already printed out a twelve-week training program, and last night I headed to a runners’ store for some new running shoes. After all, I have been wearing the same pair for four years. I can’t believe they’ve held up so well . . buuut wait, considering the fact that I haven’t spent much time in a gym over the past two years, maybe it’s not so surprising. At any rate, they’ve become completely unbearable to wear, thanks to the horrible bunyan that has appeared on my right foot. Ouch! I knew the store was open until 8pm on weekdays, so imagine my surprise when the door was locked at 6:30. There were still customers inside, but the sign in the window said “Sorry, we’re closed.” Annoyed that I had parked and walked two blocks in the cold, in addition to driving ten minutes, I looked up the number on my Blackberry and gave them a call, while still staring through their front door. “We’ve closed early for the holiday,” the man said. The holiday, I thought? I realize it’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but what?, are you gonna go home and have some cake? If you’re going to observe a holiday, then close for the entire day! Don’t use it as an excuse to leave early! Besides, I have a dream . . to run in this half marathon, and I need some new shoes so I can get started!

I went back tonight, of course. And after trying on several pair, I had to say it. "These are all really comfortable which is obviously most important . . but I don't think any of them are cute." Fortunately he understood and we found a great compromise I think:

. . . so I went to the gym and ran three miles.

Cookies

I heard voices down the hall today.
“Well, what do we have here?”
“ . . I think it’s macadamia nut peanut butter,”.
I impulsively made a motion to leave my chair.
Stop, Laura!, I said to myself.
“We also have oatmeal chocolate chip . . . “
Don’t do it, I repeated as I sat back down in my chair.
I had just eaten a scrumptious steak sandwich with cheese and peppers and some delicious sauce, whatever that was. I could not be treating myself to cookies! Besides, I’d just snacked on what were supposed to be cookies last night. Supposed to be, had I used the right kind of flour. All I had was self-rising. And sure it didn’t sound right, but it did say that it was perfect for baking. I decided to take my chances, and this is what I got:

Maybe I should just avoid the kitchen altogether.

Highlights of the Week

• My iPod broke . . again. As in for the third time in two and a half years. The screen has been frozen for about twenty-four hours now, and I’m hoping they can’t fix it. Why? Because apparently the third time’s the charm. I was told that I could pick out a brand new iPod the next time it broke (before the three-year warranty was up). And folks, this would be that next time. I can’t decide if I want to go out with friends tonight . . or go to Best Buy.
• My roommate is moving out. The messy one. I don’t think I ever complain about her on the blog, but that can only be because I have great amounts of self-control. I have three roommates who are all sweet. One just happens to leave her crumbs all over the counter and her dishes in the sink. She also happens to let her boyfriend stop by at 7am every morning for no good reason other than to let him see us running around in our robes. They do work together, but as far as I’m concerned, he can just wait in the lobby. He does, after all, enjoy classical music.
• I received two Evites from the old Bible Study Girls which means that I could be hanging out with the gang for the next three weekends. They’ve all been so busy with work and life that we’ve only gotten together maybe twice in the last six months. I need some life updates! . . and to meet a couple of new boyfriends.
• I am lean . . according to the body fat screening I had done at the gym. However ‘lean’ by no means equals ‘toned’, which is really the goal here. But I say this because I am almost positive I was not lean a few months ago . . proving that portion control and a little bit of exercise really do work! The trainer (who I am not buying any sessions from) told me that the level below lean was called “athletic”. I said, “Are you sure that a-word isn’t anorexic?” I mean, isn’t lean good enough?! It is for me. But I’m also not running any marathons.
• Job stuff is looking good. I haven’t applied for anything yet, but the wheels are being set in motion, and I’m highly optimistic and only minimally nervous.
• I’m treating myself to my favorite sandwich place today. I eat Lean Cuisines and apples every single day for lunch. Sometimes it’s nice to have a break. The Greek pita sounds delicious: chicken slices, marinated tomatoes, tzatziki sauce, pepperoncinis, feta cheese, and lettuce. Yummm.
• And I cannot forget to mention that I had dinner with K again, the first time I've met a blog friend twice. It was fun . . and delicious!

Funny Junk Mail

"I greet you! I've been looking for you for most of all my life. But you were so hard to find. But suddenly I decided to come here, and I lost my mind when I saw you. Everything I want now is loving You, caring You and being with you. Everything I want is becoming your second half. We are still far from each other, we don't have memories and romantic dates. But just imagine how many dates are waiting for us in future, what sweet memories we will have. If you are tired of empty relations, of empty trials to build happy family life in love, I will give you everything you need and miss: love, passion, care, tenderness, and comfort of sweet home. I hope that I am woman of your dream, and you can find me if you look at here: (some mail order bride website)."

Exactly why I won't buy a couch

Uh! oh!

One of the house rules around here is: Don't eat on the couch. And I agree that it is a very important rule. One that I would certainly have in place if the couch were my own.

But I happened to forget about that rule today when I grabbed a granola bar and plopped down next to my laptop. After finishing my snack, I hopped up to change into something more comfortable only to return to the couch to find . . a chocolate stain. Not big, but completely noticeable.

*Gasp*

How do you get chocolate out of fabric? And quick?!

I rushed to the kitchen, pulling out bottle after bottle under the sink in hopes of finding a carpet cleaner or some magic potion that might erase the crime I had committed. Nothing. Dashing back to my laptop, I googled "chocolate stain on upholstery" and found a couple of remedies that just might work. But no sooner had I begun to hope when my roommate, the couch owner, opened the door. Quickly, I sat on the stain and acted casual. "You're home early," I said, swear words floating through my mind.

What on Earth would I do now? If I left to get supplies, she'd see the stain. How could I fix the problem without her noticing first?

Flip the cushion!

I'm still sitting on the clean side of that cushion, hoping I can find a time in the very near future to treat that stain that she would hate me for leaving.

I feel so guilty . . and scared it won't come out!

Nine Hours in New York City

What can you do with nine hours in New York?

- hang out in Times Square
- grab a Starbucks

- visit a friend at a nearby bar

- buy hotdogs from a street vendor

- walk through a gorgeous church (old Broadway theater)

- attempt to win lottery tickets to see "Wicked"

- walk around Greenwich Village

- eat lunch at Village Den

- pick up cupcakes at Magnolia's

- buy a book at a small bookstore

- shop on Canal Street, miraculously without buying anything, er much

- stroll through Central Park

- shop 5th Avenue, visit Trump Tower, walk by Rockefeller Plaza

Not bad, eh?

*Note that in only two of the four pictures I am stuffing my face.

A Big Day

It was a pretty big day in L's world today. I did have a funny feeling about this year, primarily because of the big question floating around in my mind: Will I stay with this company or not?

First of all, I'm not sure I could love a company more. Or the people I work with. But while things seem to be going fine now, I haven't been sure if it would be a good fit long-term given my skill set and personality. And today the answer was confirmed. It's time to move on. The blessing in all of this is that I don't have to keep my job search a secret. My employer knows and will give me referrals, make calls where there are contacts, etc. They actually care about me finding a good fit. Could I ask for more?

Well, yes. A little more. How about the answer to 'What do I want to do?' That would be a huge help. Do I want to stick with the same deal? Or do something new?

This also raises the question of: Do I want to move? I mean, this is my chance isn't it? Perfect opportunity to try a new place. But to be honest, the thought of it makes me want to crawl under my bed and start sucking my thumb. Start over? It's an adventure, yes. But I'm not sure if it's one I'm really up for anymore. And that scares me, too.

I have four days to think about what it is I'm interested in pursuing. Four days of serious praying. Then I'll have a meeting to discuss.

The beauty of it all is that I'm not anxious or nervous or any emotion really. And I haven't the first clue what my future holds. All I know is that God has carried me this far, so I'm gonna let Him take me farther.

Why Wouldn't You?

There are over fifty people that come to this site every day. I am five of them, and my mom is probably ten . . but hey, that still leaves a bunch more. So comment, if even anonymously, and tell us something about yourself. Where you're from or how long you've been visiting the blog. I'd love to know . .

oh . . and my Christmas was lovely . .

Year in Review

January
This month, my good friend gave birth to her adorable little girl. I was excited to finally find a church that I loved after seven months of hopping around, and I was able to sit in the President’s box at the Kennedy Center, right next to a circuit court judge!

February
After five years of staying off the slopes, I gave it another try. I went skiing with two friends from back home, and I was petrified the entire time. I didn’t tear my ACL like the last time, but just the thought of it kept me tense all day.

March
My little sister came out for a visit, a week after she was supposed to (thanks to a canceled flight). We packed a lot into just a few days! My Nebraska friend, Shae, also came to visit for the second time.

April
I went home for Easter weekend, celebrated Best Friend’s 26th birthday, watched her say goodbye to her sweet grandpa in the hospital, picked out bridal shower invitations with her, met Chloe and Luke (my friends’ new babies), and loved being with my family. Business travel took me to Philadelphia where I stayed in a hotel that was “pretty money” and raved about the food on South Street. This month, my bedroommate EB and I painted our living room in six hours, something we should’ve done a lot sooner, and I also went to my first professional hockey game. Meh.

May
The Queen visited the White House, and I was there, only ten feet from the path she and the President took. My favorite co-worker, New Girl, left the company and moved back to Boston. I made friends with my neighbors, and they took me for a ride down the Potomac on their boat. I met a blog friend, K from Seattle, and my cousin's new baby girl, Michael, was born (they live in D.C.). Best Friend and I took a fabulous trip to Fort Lauderdale this month to celebrate our friendship and the end of her singleness.

June
I made the decision to leave my Bible study, the group of girls that had become my friends just a month after moving to D.C. (Fortunately my decision was made easier when everyone decided the study should end and people could separately join other small groups.) I went to Baltimore for the first time to visit a Nebraska friend and see the cool parts of the city, and I took a fun weekend trip to the Jersey Shore with the Bible study girls. On June 23rd, I walked down the aisle as maid of honor in my Best Friend’s picture perfect wedding, and I couldn’t have been happier. I came back to D.C. when my aunt and uncle were in town visiting Cousin J, and we ended the month with a dinner on the patio.

July
Only ten days after I’d left, I flew back to Nebraska for the week of July 4th. It was great to be home again, this time without the wedding busyness. For the first time that summer, I slalom skied and tore my MCL which required four weeks of physical therapy and a brace. Fortunately it didn’t mean I wouldn’t be boating – I was invited out to the lake by the same guys I’d spent the 4th with last year. Best Friend and her husband moved from Nebraska to his hometown in New Hampshire, and her dad blessed me by paying my way to see them and attend their second wedding reception. That weekend, we drove up the coast of Maine to see the quaint little towns and the Bush family compound. Instead of flying home, I road tripped all night (driving through Manhattan at 2am) to the airport (to get my car), thanks to a friend of the couple who was headed that way. Back in D.C., I said goodbye to my wonderful bedroommate EB as she moved to North Carolina for law school.

August
My new bedroommate, Lyn, proved to be just as awesome as EB although a pretty opposite personality. A fantastic cook, she made me a delicious crepe cake for my 26th birthday, and I didn’t even cringe at the new number. My former youth leader and two other Nebraska friends hopped in my car, and we drove to Virginia Beach for a day and night. I went boating with the same boys again this month, as well (which is worth noting since I love it so much)! Mom came to visit for the first time, and it was fun showing her a different side of D.C. (ie: not museums). I went on a few dates with Local Boy this month, and I met The Texan at the first game watch (cue booing, haha). More importantly, he introduced me to his friends who I still enjoy and keep in touch with.

September
Alabama came to visit this month, and the highlight of her trip was getting box tickets right behind home plate at the Orioles game.

October
I dated The Texan all month. I also went to Portland, Maine for work and spent the rest of the weekend in New Hampshire with Best Friend. I met Tall Sassy Gal and speaking of her home state, my friend Alabama moved to D.C. this month. I also had a work retreat at the beach in Delaware. . but I never saw the beach.

November
Best Friend came to visit which was tons of fun! Did I ever mention that she had a bad feeling about The Texan upon meeting him? She didn’t tell me until later, though. Coincidentally we stopped dating this month, and I had the worst weekend of the year when he started flaking out on me. Ugh. But I had a fantastic trip to Austin for Thanksgiving with my cousins, and I met Pink!

December
I joined a gym, and it’s going well so far. I had a Christmas tour of the White House, went caroling for the first time, and spent a wonderful twelve days in Nebraska over Christmas and New Year’s.

2007

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
I stood up in a wedding as maid of honor! Woot woot!

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Rather than resolving to do something, which only works if I've decided to go shopping or let myself indulge in sweets, I like to reflect on my year, take note of my failures or areas I could improve, and then purpose to do so in the coming year. To a great extent, I was successful in doing that this year, so I hope the year to come is even better in that regard.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my beautiful friend had a baby girl [Chloe], and my old high school friend had a little boy [Luke].

4. Did anyone close to you die?
no, praise God

5. What countries did you visit?
No countries this year

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
I want closer friends here in D.C., people I can do nothing with and love every second of it.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 23rd, my Best Friend's wedding

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I did get a promotion at the beginning of the year and continued to learn more and more in my new position.


9. What was your biggest failure?
I failed to keep up my daily quiet times at the most crucial point in my year, and things took a turn for the not so good - surprise, surprise.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I tore my MCL, and paying that deductible was not fun.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
decor for my entry way; it makes my apartment seem much more welcoming

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Hmm, how about mine! For still being nice to The Texan and handling things in a mature way . .

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I don't know about depressed, but I was very disappointed by The Texan’s behavior. But it was the Lord’s protection that I saw his character flaw so early on. As my uncle says "Character can be the difference between a life of blessing and a life sentence. Many people are serving their time."


14. Where did most of your money go? Plane tickets and the IRS (I was self-employed part of last year).

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Best Friend’s wedding, our trip to Fort Lauderdale, and going home for the 4th of July


16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Ring of Fire" - Johnny Cash; We would loudly belt it out at every game watch for some random reason

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? sadder b) thinner or fatter? Probably the same c) richer or poorer? richer


18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Reading, exercising, and serving


19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Nothing. I did way too much of nothing this year, which translates into letting the computer suck hours and hours of sweet, precious time from my life, time I can't ever have back! Gah!

20. How did you spend Christmas?
with my family, and it was wonderful

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
no

22. How many one-night stands?
seriously? of course not.


23. What was your favorite TV program?
The Office

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Hating is a sin and also requires way too much energy . . but I do temporarily dislike someone.

25. What was the best book you read?
How sad; I think the only book I actually finished completely was “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”. No wait! I read “When I Don’t Desire God”, and it was fantastic!

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn’t do as much music discovery this year, but Colbie Callait has a nice sound.

27. What did you want and get?
I wanted to slalom waterski, and I was able to do that a few times which made me extremely happy. I also wanted a trip to Austin, and that ended up happening too.

28. What did you want and not get?
I always want a dSLR. Someday. Someday.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Dan in Real Life; loved it.


30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26 and went to an upscale restaurant on the Potomac with my group of girlfriends (the old Bible study girls; it was delicious! My mom came to visit a week later, and we went shopping for my birthday gift, a new pair of designer jeans.


31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?giving more of myself away


32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
This year’s style could be called ‘leftovers’. I honestly bought less clothes than ever this year (if you ignore last week's shopping spree), and . . just checked my pulse, I’m still alive! I learned that re-wearing things isn’t so bad after all. Imagine that.

33. What kept you sane?
Traveling and having visitors (Shae, Mom, my sister, Alabama, Uncle Ken, my former youth leader, and Best Friend).


34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Steve Carrell is hilarious.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
the war (but I am not against it)

36. Who did you miss?
family and friends at home . . a lot

37. Who was the best new person you met?
my bedroommate Lyn

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
I learned that box seats are awesome in every venue. . Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches do get old. . and I learned how to fight for joy and desire God above everything else in life, which is a process of course. Living like I do is my goal for 2008.