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.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Saturday, May 20, 2006
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!!
'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!!
Friday, May 19, 2006
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
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!
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.
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.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
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!!!
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!!!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
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. . .
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. . .
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
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.)
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.)
Friday, May 05, 2006
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."
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."
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
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
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
Saturday, April 29, 2006
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.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Mizzou to PA
The day in Kansas ended in K.C., Missouri, at Houstons in the Plaza, with this delicious plate of BBQ ribs . . very appropriate dish to have in K.C.
Another picture from the Plaza (Cheesecake Factory building).
Sadly, it was a gloomy day when we made it to the Arch. None of the pics of myself turned out.Illinois had absolutely nothing to stop and take a pictures of.
Union Station in Indianapolis. I have a lot of memories here. . . When I was younger, I used to come here with my Indy cousins to eat and play. It has closed now, though.
The celebration begins as Florida wins the Championship!
Ohio had more trees, which was better than miles and miles of fields.
West Virginia became much more hilly (is that really a word?)
Pennsylvania was lovely, of course, with its rolling hills. Unfortunately, couldn't get a very good picture of them. We didn't want to stop and slow down since we were so near our destination.
Lots of Philly pics to come . . .
I'll Take Ya Halfway
So sorry I haven't been writing. I think I feel like I'm so far behind as far as not posting pics, talking about my vacation with the fam, etc, that I get a little overwhelmed. Plus, I just found out today when I start at my new job . . May 16th. So I have a little under 2 weeks before I'd like to start the 2-day drive east. Aaaah!
Anyway, here is a pic from Las Vegas that was taken after Day 1 of the cross-country trip.
Apparently they have Good Food in Nevada, too.
Driving through Arizona was very cool . . .
Utah was just as beautiful as I'd heard. Check out all the colors in the mountain:
Colorado was coooold, but gorgeous, as always.
Just to show you how exciting Kansas got:
And that brought us halfway across the USA.
Anyway, here is a pic from Las Vegas that was taken after Day 1 of the cross-country trip.
Apparently they have Good Food in Nevada, too.
Driving through Arizona was very cool . . .
Utah was just as beautiful as I'd heard. Check out all the colors in the mountain:
Colorado was coooold, but gorgeous, as always.
Just to show you how exciting Kansas got:
And that brought us halfway across the USA.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Tag, I'm It
I've been tagged by Pink, but come to think of it, I believe K tagged me a little bit ago with the same questions and I forgot to respond - Doh! Sorry. Here goes . .
Five Movies You Can Watch Over and Over Again:
1. Love and Basketball
2. Anne of Green Gables (is anyone else a fan?)
3. My Best Friend's Wedding (I keep hoping he'll marry Julia instead)
4. Wedding Crashers (crude, but oh so funny)
5. Dirty Dancing
Five Embarrassing Songs You Know All the Words To:
1. Nuthin' But a G Thang - Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg
2. Ho - Ludacris (sorry, but that song is hilarious)
3. Do Ya Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart
4. Gettin' Jiggy Wit It - Will Smith
5. Regulate - Nate Dogg
(I did go through a rap phase, yes.)
Five Memorable Halloween Costumes:
1. A bumblebee . . . the costume was a garbage sack with yellow duck tape for the stripes! The antenna were pipe cleaners with sparkly styrofoam balls at the end. Believe it or not, it was cute.
2. A flower - there was a cardboard flower with a hole for my face, but it was covered in purple material and had padding. The sad part was that it rained and my flower drooped.
3. A gift - it was a big colored box, basically, with a hole for my head and I had a ribbon on top
4. A cheerleader - I wore my aunt's old costume and my two friends wore their mothers' old costumes. We excluded all other friends that wanted to come along . . it could only be us, cheerleaders. We figured out the best routes with the nicest homes and I brought home three sacks full of candy . . more than any other Halloween.
5. A clown - i loved that costume; it had everything
Five Celebrities You Believe May Secretly be Aliens:
1. Andy Dick
2. Sean Penn (sorry, I know he's a good actor, but he weirds me out)
3. Johnny, from Jackass - who intentionally hurts themself?
4. Tom Cruise (Does anyone think this guy's normal? I think even he thinks he's an alien.)
5. Michael Jackson
Five Occupations You Could Never Hold:
1. President - yep, that'd be a hard one
2. Mortician - good one, I couldn't do that either
3. Doctor - I, too, can't handle blood and guts
4. anything involving mainly manual labor
5. anything involving too much math or science
Five Books You’ve Recently Read Outside of School:
Well, I haven't read in quite awhile, so how about books I'm in the middle of?
1. Deliver Us From Evil - Sean Hannity
2. Shopaholic Ties the Knot - Sophie Kinsella
3. Clowning in Rome - Henry Nouwen
4. Traveling Light - Max Lucado
5. the Adobe Photoshop manual - does that count?
Five Ways to Perfectly Spend an Afternoon:
1. At the lake
2. Shopping (but, for me, this shouldn't happen again anytime soon!)
3. Organizing (there's always something I need to organize)
4. Grilling out and being with friends
5. A walk on the beach (great answer, Pink!)
Not Your 5 Favorite Foods, But the 5 You’re Most Likely Eating:
1. Wheaties
2. PB & J
3. an apple
4. ham/turkey & cheese sandwich
5. salmon - I don't have it often, but I have it every chance I get
Five Lines You Blatantly Stole From a Movie, TV, a Commercial, or Song:
"What's the deal with that?" - Seinfeld
"So you're sayin' there's a chance?" - Dumb and Dumber
Oh no, my mind is a blank . . sorry . . I know there's more.
Five People Who Must Immediately Respond:(Don’t worry “immediately” is relative)
1. LindsayBlake
2. Journal of a Thousand Words, Cady
3. Tall Sassy Gal, Heather
4. I Need a [permanent] vacation, Stacey
5. Anne Mullet
Five Movies You Can Watch Over and Over Again:
1. Love and Basketball
2. Anne of Green Gables (is anyone else a fan?)
3. My Best Friend's Wedding (I keep hoping he'll marry Julia instead)
4. Wedding Crashers (crude, but oh so funny)
5. Dirty Dancing
Five Embarrassing Songs You Know All the Words To:
1. Nuthin' But a G Thang - Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg
2. Ho - Ludacris (sorry, but that song is hilarious)
3. Do Ya Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart
4. Gettin' Jiggy Wit It - Will Smith
5. Regulate - Nate Dogg
(I did go through a rap phase, yes.)
Five Memorable Halloween Costumes:
1. A bumblebee . . . the costume was a garbage sack with yellow duck tape for the stripes! The antenna were pipe cleaners with sparkly styrofoam balls at the end. Believe it or not, it was cute.
2. A flower - there was a cardboard flower with a hole for my face, but it was covered in purple material and had padding. The sad part was that it rained and my flower drooped.
3. A gift - it was a big colored box, basically, with a hole for my head and I had a ribbon on top
4. A cheerleader - I wore my aunt's old costume and my two friends wore their mothers' old costumes. We excluded all other friends that wanted to come along . . it could only be us, cheerleaders. We figured out the best routes with the nicest homes and I brought home three sacks full of candy . . more than any other Halloween.
5. A clown - i loved that costume; it had everything
Five Celebrities You Believe May Secretly be Aliens:
1. Andy Dick
2. Sean Penn (sorry, I know he's a good actor, but he weirds me out)
3. Johnny, from Jackass - who intentionally hurts themself?
4. Tom Cruise (Does anyone think this guy's normal? I think even he thinks he's an alien.)
5. Michael Jackson
Five Occupations You Could Never Hold:
1. President - yep, that'd be a hard one
2. Mortician - good one, I couldn't do that either
3. Doctor - I, too, can't handle blood and guts
4. anything involving mainly manual labor
5. anything involving too much math or science
Five Books You’ve Recently Read Outside of School:
Well, I haven't read in quite awhile, so how about books I'm in the middle of?
1. Deliver Us From Evil - Sean Hannity
2. Shopaholic Ties the Knot - Sophie Kinsella
3. Clowning in Rome - Henry Nouwen
4. Traveling Light - Max Lucado
5. the Adobe Photoshop manual - does that count?
Five Ways to Perfectly Spend an Afternoon:
1. At the lake
2. Shopping (but, for me, this shouldn't happen again anytime soon!)
3. Organizing (there's always something I need to organize)
4. Grilling out and being with friends
5. A walk on the beach (great answer, Pink!)
Not Your 5 Favorite Foods, But the 5 You’re Most Likely Eating:
1. Wheaties
2. PB & J
3. an apple
4. ham/turkey & cheese sandwich
5. salmon - I don't have it often, but I have it every chance I get
Five Lines You Blatantly Stole From a Movie, TV, a Commercial, or Song:
"What's the deal with that?" - Seinfeld
"So you're sayin' there's a chance?" - Dumb and Dumber
Oh no, my mind is a blank . . sorry . . I know there's more.
Five People Who Must Immediately Respond:(Don’t worry “immediately” is relative)
1. LindsayBlake
2. Journal of a Thousand Words, Cady
3. Tall Sassy Gal, Heather
4. I Need a [permanent] vacation, Stacey
5. Anne Mullet
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Awwwwww . . Freak Out!
I GOT THE JOB! I'm going to be a project manager at a public affairs firm in D.C.!
I had this feeling in my gut that I would get it, but I was trying not to get my hopes up. I am so scaredanxioushappynervousexcited about it. I have so much to figure out and think about now. We haven't discussed what day I start, because I haven't officially told them I'm taking it. I'm going to spend a day thinking of more questions I have. I told him I'd call tomorrow. But, of course I'm taking it no matter what! It's such a great opportunity!
Pay-wise it's not awesome starting out. In fact, it's not much more than what I made here, but the difference is . . this is the Midwest and the cost of living isn't high. I know people who supported a family on what I made, but they'd be lucky to support themself in D.C. I'm definitely willing to be poor for this, though. Bring on the mac n cheese. Maybe even the generic mac n cheese, if need be. The good thing is that after 3-6 months (give or take), they move you into a different position on one of their teams. The great thing about being a project manager is that I'll get to work with all the different teams and get to know everyone in the company (which is about 120 people, I believe). I hear it's hard work, too. . really busy and long hours. I need a challenge, though. Plus, working long hours won't affect my non-existent social life. I mean, I won't have friends (for awhile). Rochester is the only friend I have there. I will be living with my cousin, his wife, and their baby boy for a couple of months, which will be nice and help me save money for an apartment. (Let's hope I have easy internet access!!!) It will be good to be able to talk to him about work, too.
I am nervous. I want to do really well. I want to excel. Sometimes I'm hard on myself. I guess my biggest fear is collapsing under the pressure I put on myself. I know that the Lord won't give me anything I can't handle.
I had this feeling in my gut that I would get it, but I was trying not to get my hopes up. I am so scaredanxioushappynervousexcited about it. I have so much to figure out and think about now. We haven't discussed what day I start, because I haven't officially told them I'm taking it. I'm going to spend a day thinking of more questions I have. I told him I'd call tomorrow. But, of course I'm taking it no matter what! It's such a great opportunity!
Pay-wise it's not awesome starting out. In fact, it's not much more than what I made here, but the difference is . . this is the Midwest and the cost of living isn't high. I know people who supported a family on what I made, but they'd be lucky to support themself in D.C. I'm definitely willing to be poor for this, though. Bring on the mac n cheese. Maybe even the generic mac n cheese, if need be. The good thing is that after 3-6 months (give or take), they move you into a different position on one of their teams. The great thing about being a project manager is that I'll get to work with all the different teams and get to know everyone in the company (which is about 120 people, I believe). I hear it's hard work, too. . really busy and long hours. I need a challenge, though. Plus, working long hours won't affect my non-existent social life. I mean, I won't have friends (for awhile). Rochester is the only friend I have there. I will be living with my cousin, his wife, and their baby boy for a couple of months, which will be nice and help me save money for an apartment. (Let's hope I have easy internet access!!!) It will be good to be able to talk to him about work, too.
I am nervous. I want to do really well. I want to excel. Sometimes I'm hard on myself. I guess my biggest fear is collapsing under the pressure I put on myself. I know that the Lord won't give me anything I can't handle.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Home Again, Home Again (jiggedy-jig?)
I feel like such a terrible blogger. I haven't provided a single picture out of the maybe 500 I've taken over the past two weeks! (Except for the below.) It isn't that I haven't spent any time on the computer either. In fact, after my family has hit the hay each night, I've played around on the net for a couple of hours, doing who knows what . . I guess uploading pictures, checking email, reading blogs, but not writing on mine. Maybe it's because I feel so overwhelmed. Lately there's just been so much happening each day.
I'm back at home now, after nearly 7 (wonderful) weeks. It's bittersweet, I guess. Of course I'm disappointed the project didn't last longer, because hello!, San Diego is the best city in the U.S.! But, I'm happy it ended well and I was able to road-trip, show my family around, and get an interview in when I was out in D.C. Also, very happy about the bonus . . and trying not to think I can spend any of it, especially since I'm jobless! I'm looking forward to seeing BF (best friend) and my other friends again, too.
Now that I'm home, I'm not sure what I'll do with myself every day. I do have about 5 friends that are stay-at-home moms (whoa, that's a lot! weird) and it would be fun to visit them. And I won't have an excuse for not posting pictures, will I? Of course I must look for a job, though I haven't a clue where to start. I already browsed online and saw nothing that sounded remotely interesting or up my alley. Actually, I got a VM today from the company I interviewed with in D.C., saying they were following up with me. They weren't available when I called back, so I hope they call tomorrow. It would be wonderful to know one way or the other whether I got the job. . . or even just to know what time frame we're lookin' at on them making a decision. I have to be honest . . . I want it . . bad. Yet if I get it, I'll freak out and be kinda scared, since it's such a big deal. Either way, I'll know that God is in control . . which is just the way I want it.
I'm back at home now, after nearly 7 (wonderful) weeks. It's bittersweet, I guess. Of course I'm disappointed the project didn't last longer, because hello!, San Diego is the best city in the U.S.! But, I'm happy it ended well and I was able to road-trip, show my family around, and get an interview in when I was out in D.C. Also, very happy about the bonus . . and trying not to think I can spend any of it, especially since I'm jobless! I'm looking forward to seeing BF (best friend) and my other friends again, too.
Now that I'm home, I'm not sure what I'll do with myself every day. I do have about 5 friends that are stay-at-home moms (whoa, that's a lot! weird) and it would be fun to visit them. And I won't have an excuse for not posting pictures, will I? Of course I must look for a job, though I haven't a clue where to start. I already browsed online and saw nothing that sounded remotely interesting or up my alley. Actually, I got a VM today from the company I interviewed with in D.C., saying they were following up with me. They weren't available when I called back, so I hope they call tomorrow. It would be wonderful to know one way or the other whether I got the job. . . or even just to know what time frame we're lookin' at on them making a decision. I have to be honest . . . I want it . . bad. Yet if I get it, I'll freak out and be kinda scared, since it's such a big deal. Either way, I'll know that God is in control . . which is just the way I want it.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Saturday, April 15, 2006
"Communication"
I visited the myspace of my church's (in Omaha) worship leader who also happens to have a new CD coming out in a couple of weeks. The song that was playing is totally my heart right now:
Wrong impressions I've made
Big misunderstanding
Leads you to believe that I don't care anymore
Misinterpretaion, no communication
Has given you your doubts of my sincerity
But why would I live my life without you
And how could I separate myself from you
I know I'd be so lost without you by my side
Why would I, why would I
All I've ever wanted is to be captivated by you
Why I've hesitated
I can't say, I don't know
Why I've waited so long
But why would I live my life without you
And how could I separate myself from you
I know I'd be so lost without you by my side
Why would I, why would I
I just want to know I've been forgiven
I wanna change the way I've been livin'
I'm longing for, for that day when I hear you say
Oh, why would I live my life without you
And how could I separate myself from you
I know I'd be so lost without you by my side
Why would I, why would I
Lyrics by Sean Keith
Wrong impressions I've made
Big misunderstanding
Leads you to believe that I don't care anymore
Misinterpretaion, no communication
Has given you your doubts of my sincerity
But why would I live my life without you
And how could I separate myself from you
I know I'd be so lost without you by my side
Why would I, why would I
All I've ever wanted is to be captivated by you
Why I've hesitated
I can't say, I don't know
Why I've waited so long
But why would I live my life without you
And how could I separate myself from you
I know I'd be so lost without you by my side
Why would I, why would I
I just want to know I've been forgiven
I wanna change the way I've been livin'
I'm longing for, for that day when I hear you say
Oh, why would I live my life without you
And how could I separate myself from you
I know I'd be so lost without you by my side
Why would I, why would I
Lyrics by Sean Keith
Thursday, April 13, 2006
I'm Ba-aack!
Since there is so much to say, I've decided to divide this post into sections. You know how when you read a book it's somehow easier to read more when the chapters are shorter (or is it just me)? Well, maybe you'll be able to finish what may turn into quite a long post if I divide it into subjects . . . maybe.
Cross-Country
Going cross-country was not awful and boring and hell like so many people thought it would be. Maybe it's all about mindset . . . like if you know you've got a long trip ahead of you, you see each day as an accomplishment and a part of reaching the goal. (I'm almost always the optimist.) Plus, each day had something pleasant in it to keep us going, whether it be the scenery or a place we were stopping along the way. It's an experience I'm so glad I've had now. However, it's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Actually, if I had a really cool person to go with, I might do it again . . through different states.
It took us six days to finish our journey (though two of those were not full days). It's a long time to spend with someone who, to be honest, is not very cool. Just being honest. My iPod was a lifesaver. The only day that was really horrible was Kansas. First of all, Kansas sucks . . . add to that the fact that Villanova and I had had an awkward moment the night before, and I didn't feel like having a conversation with him, and it makes for a looong, very boring day. When I got to my hotel room, I did a dance and reveled in my privacy.
I haven't eaten that much fast food in a long time and really hope I don't have to again. I now feel slightly overweight and lazy from not exercising in weeks. I'm going to have to kick it into high gear when I move back home, which should be no problem since I am now unemployed and have nothing better to do than devote my days to exercise (and finding a new job, of course).
Villanova
Although he wasn't the most fun person I could've traveled with (in fact, far from it), he's a nice guy. And, hey, he did let me play whatever I wanted on my iPod, even when I took him up on that whole country-in-Kansas thing. The first couple of days, he and I had nice conversations. We discussed politics and shared a few stories, etc, etc.
Then came Colorado. I made the dreadful mistake of wanting to unwind in the hot tub . . and telling him. What I didn't say was that I wanted him to join me. I made the false assumption that he was going straight to bed . . maybe because he said he was. Apparently he changed his mind, because in he came in his trunks as I curled up in the corner wishing I'd brought my one-piece. What happened next really threw me. He asked if it would be awkward the rest of the trip if . . . he kissed me. Trying to keep dinner down, I calmly (as if completely unsurprised that he'd ask such a thing) replied, "Yes, I think that it would, and I'd sure hate for that to happen." If only it had ended there. He later wanted to talk about it . . just making sure he hadn't made me feel uncomfortable, yet proceeding to make me more uncomfortable by telling me things he liked about me and sharing his hope that we'd be able to get to know each other really well on this trip. Hence my lack of desire for conversation the rest of the trip. I know it's bad, but I really didn't have an actual conversation with him for the rest of the trip. He blew it. Again, thank goodness for iPod. Now, I will say that I didn't feel awkward around him . . just had no interest in getting to know him more.
It's funny how little things really start to irritate you after you've spent so many hours with the same person. For example: Everytime he saw a cop, he'd switch lanes to be in the lane furthest from the cop, because surely Mr. Policeman wouldn't want to go to the trouble of changing lanes just to pull someone over. He would also randomly roll down the window for a burst of fresh air, which I'm sure was to help keep himself awake, but the odd thing was that he never said anything about it. Just random, frequent rolling down of the window. And one day he apparently decided not to shower because he went all day with bedhead, and I was embarrassed to be seen with him in public places. At the end of that day, he announced to me that he smelled . . . little did he know, this was not news to me, the person who had spent the last 12 hours sitting less than a foot away from his musty-smelling self.
*Exhale* It was good to get that out.
Sixteen States and The District
It's crazy to think I visited so many places in a week's time. I'll definitely be posting pictures later. For now, here's a brief overview of the states:
(* = First Time)
California: Oh, how I love thee. Except for the horrendous traffic we sat in for hours (near L.A., of course) . . not a great way to start such a long trip. But, before we headed out, we stopped by the beach where I had the pleasure of seeing dolphins!!, which was worth sitting through traffic (kinda). I love that in many places (in San Diego, at least), you can see both the mountains and the ocean . . what could be better?
*Nevada: Pretty cool for being mostly desert-y. And, I hate to say it, but I loved Vegas. I didn't expect it to be so clean and beautiful. There are so many things there that are slightly odd and serve no purpose other than being pretty or cool to look at. Being there made me want to dress up and just walk around . . . not gamble, though. We went up in the Eiffel Tower 'thing' and got the most awesome view of the city.
Arizona: We drove through some very awesome rock formations/mountains. I have enjoyed AZ in the past when visiting the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.
*Utah: One word: amazing. Utah is beautiful. There is something new around every corner that makes you want to stop and attempt to capture it in a picture. I didn't know "awesome" could represent so many different things in one state.
Colorado: Brrr. It got cold here. Of course, Colorado is always beautiful, as well. Didn't expect to hit a snow/ice storm in Vail, but it is in the mountains. We stayed at a cute motel in Frisco since the road conditions slowed us down on our way to Denver. It made for some nice pictures the next day. I love visiting this state.
Kansas: Boooo. The Midwest is just not fun to drive through. Especially in between seasons. No pretty snow, yet no color, makes for a whole lot of nothing to look at. I was excited when I saw a cow. Also, the wind was stronger than I've ever felt. I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Making it through that state felt like a great accomplishment.
Missouri: Not bad. It was a great end to the awful day in Kansas. Just across the border, I convinced Villanova to stop at The Plaza in K.C. and we ate a fabulous dinner at a nice restaurant I've always wanted to go to. We stayed in Columbia that night, visiting *St. Louis (and the Arch) the next day.
Illinois: Not exciting. I was totally wishing Chicago was South rather than North. Villanova's never been there and I'm always game for going again.
Indiana: Only cool because we went through Indianapolis and saw the Final Four Championship game. Unfortunately, this meant paying nearly $200 for a room. Ouch! The game was fun, and though I wasn't rooting for a particular team, I was glad Florida won; they deserved it.
*Ohio: I have nothing to say about Ohio. Wait! There were trees there. This may not seem like a big deal, but when you haven't seen a nice amount of trees for the last few days, suddenly trees are magnificent. It was definitely more interesting scenery-wise than the last few states I'd driven through.
West Virginia: I love rolling hills. I also enjoyed driving through an old mining town on the border of W.V. and PA. At this point, things were looking up. Morale was good.
*Pennsylvania: Again, I love rolling hills . . . and windy roads. When you're on a long road-trip, these things are big. We made it to Malvern, outside Philadelphia, and stayed with a mom-like friend of Villanova's (his mom passed away a few years ago) in a very cute Pennsylvania-ish house. The next day, he gave me a quick, yet thorough tour of Philly. This included Chesnut Hill (loved the cobblestone streets and old buildings), Skuylkill River and boathouses, City Hall, and South Philly's own Pat's, King of Steaks (the creator of the cheese steak) and the Italian Market. Philly is a very cool, unique city.
*New Jersey: Our last day was unnecessary, but we thought we should do the coast-to-coast thing right, so we went to Ocean City, NJ. Looks like a very cute place for a family vacation. I even enjoyed some saltwater taffy and fudge on the boardwalk.
Delaware: I was dropped off in Delaware to stay with my friend, Delaware, until I flew back to San Diego. I'd never been to Wilmington . . and I learned that that is OK . . I wasn't missing out. But, I did enjoy hanging out with Delaware and seeing where she lived.
Maryland: We drove through Maryland to visit Rochester in the D.C. area.
Virginia: Rochester actually lives in Arlington, so we stayed with him there. I've decide that if I move to D.C., I'd like to live there.
D.C.: It was great to visit again . . especially since I had an interview! I also met up with my cousin for lunch. I was disappointed about the constant rain the two days we visited, because we didn't end up going to the Cherry Blossom festival, but Rochester did drive us by the Capitol, Washington Monument, etc. And, I was able to go out in Georgetown one night, which is an area I'd never visited.
So, that about sums it up. Sorry, I know it's boring without pictures, but I'm way too tired for that tonight.
Right now, I'm in the middle of vacation with my parents here in San Diego. So far, we're having a very nice time. My sister flies in tomorrow, which I'm really excited about. It's weird being here without my friends (from the job) and it will be tough leaving such a great place for good next week. There's so much unknown that lies ahead, but I know God has great plans.
Cross-Country
Going cross-country was not awful and boring and hell like so many people thought it would be. Maybe it's all about mindset . . . like if you know you've got a long trip ahead of you, you see each day as an accomplishment and a part of reaching the goal. (I'm almost always the optimist.) Plus, each day had something pleasant in it to keep us going, whether it be the scenery or a place we were stopping along the way. It's an experience I'm so glad I've had now. However, it's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Actually, if I had a really cool person to go with, I might do it again . . through different states.
It took us six days to finish our journey (though two of those were not full days). It's a long time to spend with someone who, to be honest, is not very cool. Just being honest. My iPod was a lifesaver. The only day that was really horrible was Kansas. First of all, Kansas sucks . . . add to that the fact that Villanova and I had had an awkward moment the night before, and I didn't feel like having a conversation with him, and it makes for a looong, very boring day. When I got to my hotel room, I did a dance and reveled in my privacy.
I haven't eaten that much fast food in a long time and really hope I don't have to again. I now feel slightly overweight and lazy from not exercising in weeks. I'm going to have to kick it into high gear when I move back home, which should be no problem since I am now unemployed and have nothing better to do than devote my days to exercise (and finding a new job, of course).
Villanova
Although he wasn't the most fun person I could've traveled with (in fact, far from it), he's a nice guy. And, hey, he did let me play whatever I wanted on my iPod, even when I took him up on that whole country-in-Kansas thing. The first couple of days, he and I had nice conversations. We discussed politics and shared a few stories, etc, etc.
Then came Colorado. I made the dreadful mistake of wanting to unwind in the hot tub . . and telling him. What I didn't say was that I wanted him to join me. I made the false assumption that he was going straight to bed . . maybe because he said he was. Apparently he changed his mind, because in he came in his trunks as I curled up in the corner wishing I'd brought my one-piece. What happened next really threw me. He asked if it would be awkward the rest of the trip if . . . he kissed me. Trying to keep dinner down, I calmly (as if completely unsurprised that he'd ask such a thing) replied, "Yes, I think that it would, and I'd sure hate for that to happen." If only it had ended there. He later wanted to talk about it . . just making sure he hadn't made me feel uncomfortable, yet proceeding to make me more uncomfortable by telling me things he liked about me and sharing his hope that we'd be able to get to know each other really well on this trip. Hence my lack of desire for conversation the rest of the trip. I know it's bad, but I really didn't have an actual conversation with him for the rest of the trip. He blew it. Again, thank goodness for iPod. Now, I will say that I didn't feel awkward around him . . just had no interest in getting to know him more.
It's funny how little things really start to irritate you after you've spent so many hours with the same person. For example: Everytime he saw a cop, he'd switch lanes to be in the lane furthest from the cop, because surely Mr. Policeman wouldn't want to go to the trouble of changing lanes just to pull someone over. He would also randomly roll down the window for a burst of fresh air, which I'm sure was to help keep himself awake, but the odd thing was that he never said anything about it. Just random, frequent rolling down of the window. And one day he apparently decided not to shower because he went all day with bedhead, and I was embarrassed to be seen with him in public places. At the end of that day, he announced to me that he smelled . . . little did he know, this was not news to me, the person who had spent the last 12 hours sitting less than a foot away from his musty-smelling self.
*Exhale* It was good to get that out.
Sixteen States and The District
It's crazy to think I visited so many places in a week's time. I'll definitely be posting pictures later. For now, here's a brief overview of the states:
(* = First Time)
California: Oh, how I love thee. Except for the horrendous traffic we sat in for hours (near L.A., of course) . . not a great way to start such a long trip. But, before we headed out, we stopped by the beach where I had the pleasure of seeing dolphins!!, which was worth sitting through traffic (kinda). I love that in many places (in San Diego, at least), you can see both the mountains and the ocean . . what could be better?
*Nevada: Pretty cool for being mostly desert-y. And, I hate to say it, but I loved Vegas. I didn't expect it to be so clean and beautiful. There are so many things there that are slightly odd and serve no purpose other than being pretty or cool to look at. Being there made me want to dress up and just walk around . . . not gamble, though. We went up in the Eiffel Tower 'thing' and got the most awesome view of the city.
Arizona: We drove through some very awesome rock formations/mountains. I have enjoyed AZ in the past when visiting the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.
*Utah: One word: amazing. Utah is beautiful. There is something new around every corner that makes you want to stop and attempt to capture it in a picture. I didn't know "awesome" could represent so many different things in one state.
Colorado: Brrr. It got cold here. Of course, Colorado is always beautiful, as well. Didn't expect to hit a snow/ice storm in Vail, but it is in the mountains. We stayed at a cute motel in Frisco since the road conditions slowed us down on our way to Denver. It made for some nice pictures the next day. I love visiting this state.
Kansas: Boooo. The Midwest is just not fun to drive through. Especially in between seasons. No pretty snow, yet no color, makes for a whole lot of nothing to look at. I was excited when I saw a cow. Also, the wind was stronger than I've ever felt. I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Making it through that state felt like a great accomplishment.
Missouri: Not bad. It was a great end to the awful day in Kansas. Just across the border, I convinced Villanova to stop at The Plaza in K.C. and we ate a fabulous dinner at a nice restaurant I've always wanted to go to. We stayed in Columbia that night, visiting *St. Louis (and the Arch) the next day.
Illinois: Not exciting. I was totally wishing Chicago was South rather than North. Villanova's never been there and I'm always game for going again.
Indiana: Only cool because we went through Indianapolis and saw the Final Four Championship game. Unfortunately, this meant paying nearly $200 for a room. Ouch! The game was fun, and though I wasn't rooting for a particular team, I was glad Florida won; they deserved it.
*Ohio: I have nothing to say about Ohio. Wait! There were trees there. This may not seem like a big deal, but when you haven't seen a nice amount of trees for the last few days, suddenly trees are magnificent. It was definitely more interesting scenery-wise than the last few states I'd driven through.
West Virginia: I love rolling hills. I also enjoyed driving through an old mining town on the border of W.V. and PA. At this point, things were looking up. Morale was good.
*Pennsylvania: Again, I love rolling hills . . . and windy roads. When you're on a long road-trip, these things are big. We made it to Malvern, outside Philadelphia, and stayed with a mom-like friend of Villanova's (his mom passed away a few years ago) in a very cute Pennsylvania-ish house. The next day, he gave me a quick, yet thorough tour of Philly. This included Chesnut Hill (loved the cobblestone streets and old buildings), Skuylkill River and boathouses, City Hall, and South Philly's own Pat's, King of Steaks (the creator of the cheese steak) and the Italian Market. Philly is a very cool, unique city.
*New Jersey: Our last day was unnecessary, but we thought we should do the coast-to-coast thing right, so we went to Ocean City, NJ. Looks like a very cute place for a family vacation. I even enjoyed some saltwater taffy and fudge on the boardwalk.
Delaware: I was dropped off in Delaware to stay with my friend, Delaware, until I flew back to San Diego. I'd never been to Wilmington . . and I learned that that is OK . . I wasn't missing out. But, I did enjoy hanging out with Delaware and seeing where she lived.
Maryland: We drove through Maryland to visit Rochester in the D.C. area.
Virginia: Rochester actually lives in Arlington, so we stayed with him there. I've decide that if I move to D.C., I'd like to live there.
D.C.: It was great to visit again . . especially since I had an interview! I also met up with my cousin for lunch. I was disappointed about the constant rain the two days we visited, because we didn't end up going to the Cherry Blossom festival, but Rochester did drive us by the Capitol, Washington Monument, etc. And, I was able to go out in Georgetown one night, which is an area I'd never visited.
So, that about sums it up. Sorry, I know it's boring without pictures, but I'm way too tired for that tonight.
Right now, I'm in the middle of vacation with my parents here in San Diego. So far, we're having a very nice time. My sister flies in tomorrow, which I'm really excited about. It's weird being here without my friends (from the job) and it will be tough leaving such a great place for good next week. There's so much unknown that lies ahead, but I know God has great plans.
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