Free Conundrum

A few weeks ago, Boyfriend and I cleaned out our kitchen. We took every single item off every single shelf, assessed our needs, and cleaned each counter and cupboard before placing items back in a more organized manner. The satisfaction of completing this task, even though it should have been done three months prior, is indescribable. While we buy within our means—and don’t get sucked into too many deals—we certainly end up with excess of some items (e.g., canned tomatoes, flour, Gatorade, etc.) that are not easily stored in a 700 square foot apartment. The biggest culprit is our Costco membership, though we've deemed the bulk shopping savings are worth it. Before The Cleanse we had 'mini pantries' scattered throughout the apartment; I could not survive that way for another second.

The second issue is my willingness to accept anything and everything I come across that is of the "free" variety. Free juice at the blood drive, I’ll take three. Free water bottle at the Toast to Tap event, a 40th Anniversary Celebration for the Safe Drinking Water Act, sure, why not!

(Those who know me, know I only use my liter-sized Nalgene ever. I also have have millions of other previously gifted water bottles stored in a lowly bottom cabinet.)

(Or I did before The Cleanse.)

And it’s not just free food and goodies I accept. At the Washington Nationals Blood Drive, we were given two tickets to a Nationals game. When that day came, I was exhausted, but I also knew it was likely my last chance to see the Nationals for the year. So despite those factors and a poor forecast to boot, I started walking to the game after work. Being the forecast was poor, the game was called minutes before the start and I was able to go home, eat a nice meal, and catch up on some zzz’s. The tickets were free, yet I couldn’t imagine letting them go to waste. I had to be there… and had to make sure I had fun… just because. Just because why? 

In early October, again, we had free tickets to the DC United/Sporting KC game. And I actually really wanted to go. My coworker gave me these tickets in July, and now that Pop's employer is no longer a sponsor, this was my only (free) opportunity to catch a game this season. After staying up way too late on Monday watching the Kansas City Chiefs and even later on Tuesday watching the Kansas City Royals, by the time Friday rolled around, I was beat. I was recently reassigned to a large effort at work, as opposed to my usual sitting around twiddling my thumbs. It’s shocking how much more exhausting work is when I'm "on." Further, it was colder than I had prepared for, with yet another chance of rain. Provided the exhaustion, dinner at Five Guys and an early evening seemed ideal. I ultimately ended up bailing on the game. And crashing in bed, with the television volume high, in case of any exciting action in the world of Post Season. It could have been an all-out celebration of Kansas City—Chiefs, Royals, and Sporting KC, however, DC United came away with the win, clinching their spot in the playoffs. And I (sadly?) can’t name a single United or Sporting KC player, so I think it’s safe to say, the world went on without my being there.

I’m getting better at saying no and avoiding free stuff, there were several accomplishments on that front. For example, the other night I avoided free cups, magnets, and shirts at a Light The Night fundraiser. We're talking b-a-b-y steps that feel like B-I-G steps. After all, I’m 27 with a decent job. I can afford juice, cookies, water bottles, hats, shirts, on-and-on; I can afford more than what I need.

Say no to free-ness. Just Say No. When I think of my uncluttered living space, it'll all be worth it.

Another Baltimore Weekend

I am the worst storyteller. As I was drafting this weekend's recap, one thing led to another and before I knew it, I was unsure what it was I was writing about. This is my storytelling life--losing my point in the midst of embedding each tale with tangent after tangent.

I'm trying this again, with fewer tangents.

The majority of my weekend occurred in Baltimore, Maryland with my dear friend, K.A.B. Having visited Baltimore recently enough, the agenda wasn't overly ambitious. Though, I was happy to be back. After this trip, I'm pulled more towards Baltimore. And I have narrowed the reason slightly. I mentioned Baltimore reminded me of Detroit, Michigan previously, and while that's still holds true, it's the slower paced lifestyle I'm attracted to. The atmosphere is a conglomerate of both a 'harbor town' and a Midwestern one. A win, win. Further, and perhaps more importantly, all Washington, D.C. lacks in culture, Baltimore makes up for over-and-over again. Even in D.C.'s various neighborhoods, the populations are homogenous. This city, D.C., will always hold a special place in my heart, but the more I leave, the more my lust for this city wanes.  

Onwards.

Friday, I got off work a little early after attending an all-day Intro to Big Data Workshop. I usually dread conferences because, this early in my career, they still tend to fly over my head. And this one did not disappoint in that category, however, the first half was fabulous; I absorbed as much as I could as I was flooded with good information. I walked away with a much clearer understanding and increased interest in Big Data, a nice change of pace from the day-to-day office grind. I raced home, though I took the long route because hello fall weather. Please, pretty please, stay forever. And then some. After an hour with the television, I dressed for K.D.S.'s Light the Night Walk fundraiser at a bar conveniently located in my front yard, yet a bar I've never before ventured in to. 

I essentially showed my face, since I was sound asleep before 9:00 pm (in order to be awake at 5:00 am). Long run Saturdays, I will not miss you. After a 22-mile run, I stretched and rolled and iced. But mostly celebrated surviving. After which I showered and proceeded with my half-finished day.

It could be I'm so fond of Baltimore because I'm also fond of eating. We started with a late lunch at Shoo Fly Diner, where a chicken fried biscuit did not satiate my runger (i.e., running hunger). From there, we picked up K.A.B. and headed directly to the Cross Street Market for The Pretzel Twist's pretzels and Berger Cookies. Then, we watched the Boston Red Sox lose to the Baltimore Orioles in a not at all close game. We had time to taxi to Fells Point for loaded hot dogs at Stuggy's while the Clemson Tigers/Florida State University game paused for halftime. When the game concluded, in the most unfavorable way, I wondered why I'd forced myself to stay up and engage. 

On Sunday, we continued eating at City Cafe, where I devoured a juicy burger. And before the burger, this heavenly cinnamon roll appeared right before my eyes. I clearly had to eat that as well. I thought my cinnamon rolls were the best ever. This might have been better. There was also some incredible iced coffee served. And I'm a sucker for a good iced coffee, obviously. Who knew this paired so well with the burger?

Be forewarned, this is a vaguely relate-able tangent: On the burger front, who is aware that milkshakes are now featured on select Five Guys' menus, including the one near my office? Boyfriend and I have been pining for this for years. If only all our wishes were granted. The verdict is still out as to whether the quality is up to that of their burger. I will let you know, for sure. Though I'm running all the miles and burning all the calories, at this point I've mentioned my fried chicken biscuits, pretzels, cookies, Crab Mac Dog, and burger. I also had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at some point in between all the other eating. Needless to say, I need a few vegetables before my next Five Guys outing. Lame.

We headed home shortly after brunch, arriving in D.C. in exactly half the time it took us to get to Baltimore the day before. I was quite appreciative all the dreaded highways were so cooperative on this sunny Sunday afternoon. I evaded all the chores and watched football, while taking care of a few menial computer tasks, the remainder of the day.

This weekend was both long and short. Long in that lots happened at a relatively relaxed pace throughout the weekend. Short in that the agenda was back-to-back, so that when 5:00 pm on on Sunday came, I could hardly believe it was time to prepare for another work week. The weekend was sadly over, and seemingly, quick.

It's a new day. Though this new day is a Monday, an ever dreaded Monday.

National Doughnut Day 2014

Since yesterday, when I learned today is National Doughnut Day, I have been scheming. Would it be possible to visit both Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme in the same day? This being a feat I have never before accomplished, I was up for the challenge. (If you recall I recently discussed my fondness for donuts here.) I was up at 5:41 am bounding with excitement. I am not allowed to wake Boyfriend up, the lesser passionate of us two, before 7:00 am. What's a girl to do?! I hung with Jillian Michaels, duh.

The pain educed upon me certainly passed the time, leading us to Stop One: Dunkin' Donuts. And the line that greeted us screamed something was being given away; I knew the reward would be worth the wait.

Pardon the supremely cheesy smile. Ill with excitement, I let Dunkin' Donuts add cream and sugar!

I cut up an apple to go with breakfast for good measure.

I had to attend to work after that. On National Doughnut Day, the shame.

And for lunch, Stop Two: Krispy Kreme. I clearly have not outgrown the "free things" phase of young adulthood. I'm soon hoping to realize biking more than six miles completely out of my way for one free donut is borderline insane. For now, when donuts call, I always answer.

There was a lovely gentleman singing Billy Joel tunes for me as I munched outside Krispy Kreme; I so badly wanted to take his picture, but on a mission for free donuts, one cannot afford to start paying the entertainer.

Please tell me you celebrated National Doughnut Day with matched enthusiasm!

The DC Bucket List, Part 3: Coffee

The first two parts in this three-part series extended beyond my usual self-imposed 1000-word limit, so I saved these four new coffee shop reviews for the finale. At this point, I’m honestly sick of this theme but also incredibly invested. So without further ado, I share my latest coffee ventures.

M.E. Swing Co. – This is hands-down my favorite Washington, D.C. coffee shop to date, rivaling that of my absolute beloved Stumptown Coffee Roasters (inconveniently located in California, New York, Oregon, and Washington) and Ninth Street Espresso (another New York establishment). They operate on limited hours, shame on them. It’s dark. It’s uninviting. The menu is confusing. The customers know what they want. The baristas know how to get the customers what they want. There is plenty of seating—indoor and out. The pastries are rumored to be seasonal and delicious; however, I cannot speak to that experience yet. I told myself when I started working in the city, I would frequent this place, instituting myself as a regular. I need to live out this dream.

Bathrooms? There are none, sigh. The quality of the coffee has allowed me to overlook this flaw.

Chinatown Coffee Company – This venue is neighbor to my office, making it a tempting stop when I feel rebellious towards Starbucks (i.e., The Bucks is not running a promotion.). On my first visit, my latte tasted more like milk than coffee. On all succeeding visits, the iced coffee has not been quite strong enough. In reading, please recognize my tolerance for strong is above the average consumer, thanks be to Pops. They’re touted for their espresso, which I have not tried straight up. The Baristas seem to be in a perpetual hurry, not allowing time for questions, and of the hipster variety.  Should you go? The choice is yours.

Bathrooms? They certainly aren’t responsible for my stopping in.

Sidamo – This is an Ethiopian coffee shop I visited in a pinch and then revisited by choice the very next week. They do not do iced coffee well. But I like the people behind the counter. I like the big window flooding the shop with natural light and the overall atmosphere. I also like the looks of the gigantic double chocolate chip muffins, which I have refrained from ordering both times—go me!

Bathrooms? Just clean enough to not be considered dirty.

Bourborn Coffee – This is a Rwandan coffee shop. They do iced coffee perfectly. Even more exciting, they sell a perfectly good, locally sourced sugar cookie. The free sample lured me to this discovery. And led me to do some research and learn that Bourbon Coffee is a great place, doing great things. They practice direct trade, focus on sustainability, and encourage cultural integrity… all while nailing quality. To bring the Rwandan community to yours, you can shop for art while visiting; it’s just one piece of their big puzzle! There is even outdoor seating at umbrella covered tables.

Bathrooms? Occupied during the duration of my visit. Not cool. But I’m not putting that on Bourbon, quite yet.

I’m curious… where do you coffee?

The DC Bucket List, Part 2: Food

Moving right along to the food category, I have stuffed my face at these establishments and mostly enjoyed my time.

Hank’s Oyster Bar – Eh, real tight space and real loud. In addition, I found myself nursing a stomach ache for the duration of the evening. And while everything I managed to eat was delicious, I found everything I ate to be a bit overpriced. It was also a real stressful situation, which might have further dampened the experience, as this is where Boyfriend’s parents met my own. I would go back for the AK-47, my drink of the evening. It was everything I need a good drink to be—a strong, not sweet, spice-infused tequila concoction.

Bathroom? Real tight and real loud, just like the dining hall.

DGS Delicatessen – Without a doubt, the best Rueben I have consumed to date. And I have been to Detroit, Michigan! I foresee this as the only place I will Rueben henceforth. So much goodness in one sandwich. Also of note, incredible iced coffee. The biggest disappointment was the fact DGS does not have to-go cups because otherwise refill, stat. I will go back. And I would be OK sitting in a basement, which was originally seemed disappointing.

Bathroom? DGS bodes the most confusing bathrooms! After some trial and error, the picture of the female led me to the correct bathroom. Not all females are so obvious! Further, I had never seen this as a way to label bathroom sex prior to DGS, I have since seen this style fifty bajillion times. I do not prefer this style, no, not one bit.

Lavagna – As a substitute for Ted’s Bulletin, it was not that great. However, had I given this place a fair shot, I think I would have enjoyed my meal more. The chicken and waffles were not what I was expecting. It wasn’t bad, just not like other chicken and waffles I have had. The biscuits and gravy, which I split with Boyfriend were also very different than what either of us pictured. Everything was locally sourced, perhaps that’s the price you pay? There are so many places to try, I doubt I will wind up at Lavagna again.

Bathroom? I did not visit. I used the bathroom at Ted's Bulletin twice while we waited, only to be later served by Lavagna instead. Tough Sunday.

The Greek Deli – I visited The Greek Deli prior to my The W experience. I stood in line with all of Washington, D.C. And I enjoyed my experience as much as all these bystanders I assumed to be regulars did theirs. My only complaint was the placement of a random plant, which hid the entire menu, preventing me from making my selection until it was almost too late. Oh and no bathrooms, big complaint. The staff was incredibly friendly, almost too friendly. I will go back, even knowing it’s a hike from my office and there will be the aforementioned line. This establishment is only open for the weekday lunch. The Greek Deli is clearly doing something right, I would kill for hours like those.

Bathroom? Again, no. Wah.

Toki Underground – My third attempt was what could be called a success. We got there before 6:00 pm on a Saturday. We patiently waited an hour and a half to be seated. And then we dined on heaven in a bowl. I opted for Kimchi Ramen, Boyfriend went for the classic. They were both scrumptious. I was totally sold on the poached egg floating in my soup. I love eggs, especially when poached… and oh my goodness, such a fine addition to a bowl of noodle dough in broth. The biggest up or downside to Toki is the 29 total seats, so don’t expect to be seated (quickly or) with a party bigger than three. And, I guess I should mention while I left stuffed, I was hungry about two hours later. I will go back, though. Often, I hope.

Bathroom? It is only as I write now I’m realizing I did not visit the bathroom. Poorly played.

Food Trucks – Captain Cookie provided my first true Food Truck experience, serving up of the greatest combination of time: Trickling Spring Creamery chocolate milk and two cookies—chocolate chip and Nutella. It was so delicious. I have been dying to go back for seconds. But lucky for my waistline, the Food Trucks rotate streets throughout the week in a rather unpredictable fashion. (The trucks can be followed online… but time.) Then this past weekend, Boyfriend and I were out doing our grocery shopping and stumbled upon… Astro Donuts. If there is anything to be noted about my food priorities, know donuts rank in my top three (with bagels and M&Ms). So we had to stop! We intended to share one donut as we were minutes away from attending a barbeque, but the Food Truck Man messed up our order and we ended up with an extra donut. What a problem! These were ahhhh-mazing donuts. And guess what? I don’t have to stalk this truck because they have a permanent location near my office. Life is so good.

We purchased the maple bacon donut and were gifted a cinnamon donut. For my Kansas readers, the frosting on both donuts was identical to the butterscotch frosting at Daylight Donuts, when Mr. Ken was in charge. Food speaks to my soul when it brings back memories of my formative years.

This was truly a life highlight. Last comment (and I’ll stop with the analysis), these donuts were so good I could have gone sans frosting, sugar, or toppings. The core donut was just right. It’s an impressive feat, really. I will be back. I will introduce friends.

Bathroom? Food Trucks don’t have bathrooms, so no comment there.

The Italian Store –This off-the-beaten-path gem has been written up more than I can count. Boyfriend and I like sandwiches, bunches and bunches. But ever since the C.A.H. began his career at Jimmy Johns, I have been hooked on their #6 and have had no reason to seek sandwiches out elsewhere. I did try Taylor Gourmet, which makes a decent roast beef for almost $3.00 more than my Jimmy John’s go-to, no thank you. Anyway, being in the general vicinity, we decided to finally give The Italian Store a go. The sandwiches were simple and delicious, with an essence of Jimmy Johns provided in the hot and sweet peppers topping on our Carpri and Marini sandwiches. There are no cups for water, rude. (There were bottled drinks for purchase.) I went to the neighboring establishments—Starbucks, CVS, and Giant—in search of free water to no avail. I ended up with a pre-tax $1.00 gallon of water from Giant. If you have to pay for water, you must price compare! I would go back, if I was in the area and hungry and had a water bottle and an empty bladder. I would not go out of my way to visit.

Bathrooms? Nonexistent, huge con.

My summer targets include Bayou Bakery, BonChon Chicken, Le Diplomate, Mussel Bar and Grille, and Ted's Bulletin. Is your stomach calling? You're invited.

The DC Bucket List, Part 1: Activities

This is a three-parter. Go!

I have what seems to be a forever expanding Washington, D.C. Bucket List. Though I have no intention to leave this city anytime soon, my Montanan farm life is tugging at my heart and has been for some time. (I must be prepared for when the opportunity presents itself!) Recently I have had a slew of visitors here in the Mid-Atlantic, a perk to living in a city with much to offer, and as a result have made tremendous progress to shrink The List.

Here it is, with my review, of course:

Old Post Office Tower – I visited this treasure in early April, with the company of Boyfriend and his parents. This was not on our tightly scheduled weekend agenda; however, I could not resist bringing the troops in as we walked by en route to the Metro. Who knew this is considered a National Park? Bonus point, for you. I’m really glad we visited, despite M.R.B.’s adverse reaction to heights, because the Old Post Office Tower is currently being renovated… and this being DC, who knows when it will reopen.

 The at-a-glance  –

• The purpose? 360 degree views. And spectacular they were!
• Cost? Free.
• Bathrooms? Present, fragrant, aging, nevertheless functional.
• Would I recommend this to a friend? Yes.
• Would I go back? Most definitely.

The United States National Arboretum – This was crossed off last weekend while a fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteer was in town. We had more fun than intended (blatant lie!) on Saturday and were looking for something lazy to do on Sunday after brunch, once we realized kayaking the Potomac River was out due to flooding.

The at-a-glance  –

• The purpose? Pretty trees and flowers. We had incredible weather, enhancing the experience that much more. In addition to natural beauty, the National Capitol Columns can be found resting in Ellipse Meadow. It’s quite an unusual landmark!
• Cost? Free.
• Bathrooms? Yes. But mostly out of order.
• Would I recommend this to a friend? Yes, I already have.
• Would I go back? Assuming none of these things change, I would certainly revisit.

The W – Drinks on a Monday afternoon, overlooking DC with friends. Yes, please! This was the easiest Monday I have lived in quite some time. The drinks were was delicious, despite the cost.

The at-a-glance  –

• The purpose? Panoramas of the cityscape. The views, though not nearly as spectacular as the Old Post Office Tower or as pretty at the National Arboretum, were nice. The weather again made the experience of the rooftop terrace bar even better.
• Cost? Just above the average [DC] non-happy hour price.
• Bathrooms? So fancy! Who doesn’t like a trough style sink? Plus, a full length mirror—I’m sold.
• Would I recommend this to a friend? Yes.
• Would I go back? Probably not go back on account of expense, though I would not turn down being taken back! Ahem, Boyfriend.

Union Market – Best DC bagels yet. When you are four hours from New York, New York, you must make do. So while these are not Brooklyn bagels, as claimed, their chewy goodness stands a fighting chance at my rationalizing a six mile bike ride each time I need a mouthful of bagel heaven.

The at-a-glance  –

• The purpose? Wandering. Eating. Shopping. Hanging.
• Cost? If you stick to the Trickling Springs Creamery chocolate milk (for $1.80/pint) and the ($1.00) bagel, you’ll find the prices quite reasonable. (My heart is happy with just these two things!) If you allow your eyes to wander throughout the market’s vibrant mix of restaurants and retail, the sticker shock may hit you.
• Bathrooms? With patience, yes. There are forever lines!
• Would I recommend this to a friend? I have already brought a friend back.
• Would I go back? Need you ask.

Rosedale Recreation Center – So while Rosedale Recreation Center was not specifically on The List, “Swim in DC” was. The recreation center boasts a pool (and gym and library and playground), in the city. And it was everything I wanted over the Memorial Day weekend and more. I was with friends under the sun floating between lethargy and activity. This one trip matches the number of times I swam all last summer (minus the whole triathlon thing). I do not intend to re-do 2013. I will visit pools and be merry all summer long. Bring on the heat. And the unsupervised children.

The at-a-glance  –

• The purpose? To soak up Vitamin D amongst friends.
• Cost? Free for DC residents. 
• Bathrooms? Spotless. I will be back to judge come Labor Day.
• Would I recommend this to a friend? Doubtful, this is my secret hangout now. 
• Would I go back? You will find me there all summer long!

Washington National Cathedral – Boyfriend and I, along with Mrs. C and M.E.K’s youngest sister, C.M.C., spent Memorial Day touring the cathedral. This is somewhere I have wanted to visit for a long time, but especially so after the August 2011 earthquake. The earthquake took quite a toll on the cathedral, and unlike the Washington Monument, which reopened this month after years of repair; the cathedral will not be repaired/restored for some time. Though there was an exhibit featuring the damage, it was not as extensive as I would have hoped. We jumped on a school-group tour, as there were not enough docents for a tour of our own, and learned a little more about the damage; I still wasn’t totally satisfied.

The cathedral itself, however, was gorgeous! And I learned a lot about the history throughout the tour. The construction began in 1907 and was not completed until 1990. So while it’s old, I’m actually older in terms of “finished” products. Weird, I know. I also acquired some interesting, not at all useful facts about Gothic architecture while Boyfriend wandered what seemed like aimlessly because he claimed he knew everything there is to know about this style architecture. Nerd.

The at-a-glance  –

• The purpose? To learn. To appreciate. To be spiritual.
• Cost? There is a $10.00 price tag Monday through Saturday, as of January 2014—you snooze you lose, which will probably keep me from revisiting, though I understand and respect the need to raise funds to repair this iconic cathedral. 
• Bathrooms? There is a bathroom, albeit with bizarre piping.
• Would I recommend the tour to a friend?  Sure.
• Would I go back? I would go back for a (free) Sunday service. I think that would be a neat experience.

What a time it has been!

Low, Part B

Then you see, I woke up only to realize I had to go to work. Already. Mondays can be so cruel. And Monday, 5/5, did not disappoint. There was an after hours work function, a mandatory after hours work function at an establishment of the non-Mexican variety. It was not Cinco de Mayo—holiday of margaritas—or anything.

Tuesday, 5/6 – I managed to maintain my cool for all of three minutes before total breakdown mode commenced. I had tickets to a Washington Nationals baseball game following work. But even baseball has been a real depressing topic as of late. Before Tuesday night, the Atlanta Braves had been on a seven-game skid. (The Braves would go on to win on this night. Amen, Justin Upton.) The Braves—among much help—could use a Nationals loss, so I saw to that. I also got to see Clayton Kershaw pitch. 

(Can we please take a moment to recognize his immense talent? Can we also take a moment to acknowledge that the Los Angeles Dodgers have a line-up to envy? They should be unstoppable.)

What was on the plate for this rainy Wednesday? The job situation was no worse than any of the previously described days. Also no better. Huff, puff. The highlight was definitely meeting Mrs. C for a Tex-Mex dinner at Lauriol Plaza. She traveled all the way from Kansas to see me go to a conference. There was also trivia, including more domination. At this point, I cannot recall the last time I paid for drinks without a gift card at Black Rooster. Free food. Free drinks. And further, I found 12 cents  throughout the course of the day. I am set to retire, stat. 

Tomorrow will come. It’s Team Meeting day, so it’s bound to be a doozy. There is celebrating to do post 5:00 pm, which I will try to keep on the forefront on my mind less some minuscule person or tasks ruins my life. What are we celebrating, you ask? Boyfriend landed what could nearly be considered his dream job after more than a year of both full-time work as a temp and searching. He needs to be congratulated… in the form of a Cigar City and Hardywood Tap Takeover at Rustico.

As for the rest of my future, it’s gloom.

Low, Part A

Low. That is my life right now. The sleepless nights have returned. The sporadic eating habits. The uncontrollable emotions. The immense hatred towards all things not Starbucks and M&Ms. The breaking out like a sixteen year old. I am an unfortunately miserable being.

Why? My job is dumb. And because office tales are boring for all people uninvolved, you will simply have to take my word for it. Not only is my job dumb, a problem I could handle, I hate the work. And not just a whiny-complainy dislike, this is a full-blown hatred. As a result, these past few weeks have been a horrid blur of awfulness.

I suggest you quit reading now. Life is about to get real. There may be some grand, wonderful things I could write about, but I am numb to those things. Awesome as they may be, they do not feel so awesome in that moment. They feel forced. They feel like out of body experiences. Oh the fun! 

The recap I do not actually recommend you read.

Monday, 4/28 – Miserable day of work, followed by an exhaustive evening of a full apartment scrub-down. 

Tuesday, 4/29 – An exceptionally miserable day of work, followed an evening of cooking. And meal prep for the week, two days behind schedule.
Wednesday, 4/30 – A solid eight hours of awfulness, followed by trivia. Our hodgepodge team, scrambled up minutes before the start of trivia each week managed to continue our winning streak, taking home victories for best team name, half-time shots, and first place gift certificate—a clean sweep, one might call it.

Thursday, 5/1 – A plain, miserable May Day, followed by drinks with K.S.D. at Carpool. Drinks that went very late into the night... on a school night.

The calm, quiet weekend I envisioned was anything but. After a real long day at the office, which included an extended lunch with my not so beloved New Boss. (I shant complain too much as we dined at District Taco on Fish Taco Friday.) To extend the day further, I walked home from work in hopes of absorbing Spring weather. Then I sprinted to Eat Bar to celebrate A.J.S.’s new (and greatly improved) position at her employer of choice. And revel we did with a happy hour that went until I hit the sack.  Saturday, I had some time in the morning to make myself a breakfast of eggs, beans, and sweet potato fries before Boyfriend and I were off to volunteer at the Library Book Sale. We had so much fun organizing books. I do not kid. We literally plotted ways to improve upon the sale next year. So much fun. If you doubted my love of books before, the doubting should cease now. There were some gems—beloved childhood books to all my favorite current reads to the History of Nations, Volume 19: Africa, Boyfriend’s pick. We could have filled a library (or two). There were SO many to choose from.

(It should be noted that I might love organizing more than books. The overwhelming excitement I experienced by spending my free day organizing books. Well that, I cannot explain.)

When we finally left the book sale, hours after the end of our shift… we met friends for some loitering around our neighborhood. And in doing so, we hit up a thousand free samples—Yappy Hour, Whole Foods, Starbucks Frappuccino Hour, Grateful Red—before finding an establishment to settle in and complain endlessly about work. Actually, I think that was just half the group. But it was my half so it shall be documented. The conversation gradually improved to things like food, specifically ice cream sandwiches. Even more specifically to homemade ice cream sandwiches. Naturally, this was our next move. The necessary ingredients were gathered and the baking of cookies ensued. Turns out, ice cream sandwiches require ample (i.e., a lot of) freeze-time. From what I remember, we enjoyed cookies while playing Mario Kart and thought about how great our ice cream sandwiches would be the next time we all get together. That will be in an approximate month, if history repeats.

On Sunday, I ran 14 miles. I like to feel accomplished. Proceeding those two hours of nonsense, I showered. You are more than welcome. Then I immediately ran (yes, more) to Brooklyn Bagels for—you guessed it—bagels. And maybe an egg. And onion. And cheese. I also brought an apple and left over sweet potato fries because I knew the aforementioned simply would not be enough. From breakfast, I convinced Boyfriend a bike ride would be fun. (I can convince him of such fun precisely once a year. This was a BIG deal.) He was sold on the Gravelly Point destination. 

We pretty much sat on a blanket eating snacks as we watched the planes come and go from Reagan National Airport for the entire afternoon. Blissful it was, as I recall. The rest of the night was rather uneventful; I was asleep before 9:00 pm.

Life continues...

Countdown to October 12, 2014

These words will be forced as I have been in no mood to write as of late. I am fighting a block in the writing domain. This is most unfortunate as I have much to record.

Onwards.

I have big news! On Monday, April 14 I found out I won The Lottery. For the Chicago Marathon. While I had a fair shot at winning—33,000 of 71,000 entrants were provided spots, I was elated when my congratulatory email reached my inbox (at exactly 2:45 pm after waiting for what felt like forever). There are many things about running Chicago in October that feel right. The first being, I am running again. And I have been consistently doing so for nearly two months, working myself up to 10-plus mile weekend long runs. At paces that will qualify me for Boston, no less.

All the while, I am also enjoying running again. This is something I have not been able to say for a long, long time. But each time I lace up my shoes and run alongside the Potomac River or in front of monuments people travel to see or on the quiet, blossoming tree-bordered Four-Mile Trail, I feel so lucky to be living in this city. Plus, for extra motivation, Washington, D.C. is littered with runners.

Truthfully, it’s hard to complain about running when it’s a perfect 50 degrees at 6:00 am. (There cannot be enough positive things spewed about this weather. The most notable change—my mood. From drab to alive. I am not an unbearable, fulltime grouch. Just a seasonal grouch. And with that, I can deal.) This will be more difficult to say as the temperatures rise. But summer is not winter. And that alone feels right. 

After a stress fracture (ouch!) while training for the Cleveland Marathon in May 2007, I promised myself I would not train for running-related events going forward because PAIN. (This was the first and only running injury I have had. It came after y-e-a-r-s of pounding pavement. And it nearly ruined running for me. This event and time is not something I intend to ever relive. Re: Ouch!) For the past seven years, I have stayed true to that word. By essentially not running. To be entirely honest, I have since flirted with running because, again, PAIN. So all stars aligned (i.e., no injuries), this will be my first marathon. On a flat, fast Chicago course… with both a seasoned childhood friend and college companion enduring the challenge beside me.

I will not be running second-rate, fallback marathons in Richmond or Philadelphia. I will be running Chicago on October 12, 2014. The official training begins in June. Until then, I will be preparing for the Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon in late-May. Hooray happy, injury-free running! 

A Cherry Blossom Morning

There might be a theme in the previous and future posts. I am embracing Spring because it’s been a long, cold Winter. To not do so, oh what a shame!

So what could be better than walking to work? A walk to work while the sun is rising, with an in-route detour to see the Cherry Blossoms at peak bloom on a crisp Friday morning. There was also a pause along the National Mall for a park-bench breakfast consisting of Farmer’s Market honeydew and cashews.

Despite my time in Washington, D.C., I can site very little of the history of these trees. I do know they bloom once a year for a very short window (i.e., two to three days) usually in early April. I think they were a gift from Japan, planted 50 some years ago. My last two statistics might be off. To me, this doesn’t really matter. These trees are spectacular and regardless of all the camera-crazy tourists they bring to my city, I marvel and delight in the splash of color on gentle petals each year. This year I employed a weekday, early morning tactic to catch the trees in their blooming glory. This might become a new tradition. The verdict is out as to whether the sappy couples posing for cheesy engagement pictures at the not-so-appropriate sunrise hour is better or worse than hoards upon hoards of regular, touristy blossom onlookers.

The fact of the matter: I have to share the Cherry Blossoms. And I need to make the most of it. I certainly managed to do so this year!

Opening Day

On Friday, I ventured to Nationals Park for Opening Day to see my Atlanta Braves. And despite all my reservations about taking a half-day of work after recently starting on a (new) project, paying an "Opening Day" premium for a ticket, and attending a ball game solo quickly faded after the first inning. Not only was being a part of Opening Day hype, a first for me, super exciting, this was hands down the most action-packed game I have seen.

These things all happened:

• Atlanta Braves' Dan Uggla, the worst Brave to date, had the first hit for the team. 
• Three players--Harper and Desmond and Atlanta Braves' Andrelton Simmons--were caught stealing bases. Desmond was caught stealing second to third. Both Harper and Desmond were caught in rundowns. 
• Altanta Braves' Jason Heyward was hit by a pitch. 
• Nationals' Adam LaRoche was thrown out at home by Braves' Justin Upton. 
• Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper threw a fit after striking out (his first of two Ks). 
• Braves' Evan Gattis hit a home run. 
• Braves' pitcher David Hale struck out bunting. (That's no good!)
• Heyward successful stole second. 
• Nationals' Ian Desmond hit an inside-the-park home run, that was later reviewed under MLB Instant Replay and overturned as a ground rule double. 
• Two runs were scored on sacrifice flys, one for each team.  
• The Braves used six pitchers. (Eeek!)
• There were 14 total hits. 

And, of course, the Braves winning 2-1 at Nationals Park truly iced the cake. Play ball. 

First Day, Round Two

This month marks two years with my company, the longest I have been anywhere doing anything since graduating from Clemson University in May 2009. Gulp. And it is on this day, I witnessed actual growth in my young career. In September (2013), I accepted a new position internally with my company. But because of the nature of my work, I was never given a formal start date (or provided job-related details). So I waited, impatiently, for six l-o-n-g months. The uncertainty of the new position put me on edge and as a result everything in my life felt rocky.

Today though, March 6, 2014, my time came.

So how did it go, you ask?

• For reasons unbeknownst to me, I was up an hour earlier than necessary ready to tackle the day. No longer wanting to waste time, I lifted weights and perfected my abs for an hour. Then I showered, scarfed down a yummy ‘first day’ breakfast, and took off for the city.
• That’s right. The city. My job is accessible by Metro. I crammed right on to the Metro with thousands of other people, grinning from ear to ear. I was the happiest person on the Metro, guaranteed.
• The half-mile walk from Metro, in the continuing sub-arctic temperatures, was not as fun.  Especially since I had only a vague idea where I was going. As I relied on my phone, I nearly missed the building entrance. Oops.
• Upon arrival, with frostbit fingers, I came to the realization that I needed a badge to simply enter the building lobby. Thankfully, after a quick phone call, a co-worker (i.e., an escort) came to my rescue moments later.
• In a way, I’m imprisoned. I have to be escorted everywhere, including the bathroom. This is a place I visit far most frequently than most. And not something I like my entire team knowing on my first day.
• My entire team knows this because I sit in one large cube with seven people, including myself.
• The team I joined is comprised of nine people, much different than my previously solitary gig.
• I was asked to contribute to the purchase of a new Keruig to replace the one that broke before my time. That did not sit well with me.
• My new cube farm is a sauna, without the rocks. I’ll report back soon as to whether I prefer the hot to the frigid, as my prior work space was mighty chilly. And I found the chill to be mighty miserable. For now, these sauna-esque conditions will be great for napping and reading as I wait for my computer…
• Which won't be here for at least THREE weeks. And I thought the waiting period was over.
• There is no cutlery or napkins in the kitchen. So I ate my baked—via microwave—potato and whole cucumber like an animal.
• But, who cares, because I get a lunch break. A lunch break I do not have to feel guilty for taking. Except today, I missed my opportunity. My team left—without my realizing what was happening—and I was without an escort. But, tomorrow, oh tomorrow, I’ll work my way to the National Portrait Museum to dine in the humongous atrium. All will be marvelous then. And going forward.
• There's also no water cooler except...
• In the gym. Yes, there's a gym… with a locker room for showering on the days I bike, run, or walk to work! And the fancy gym is furnished with Life Fitness equipment, my treadmill manufacturer of choice.
• Happy Hour on the first day without warning... after a day of nothingness, not ideal. Note: It wasn’t miserable. But will hanging out with co-workers ever be fun? I'm not convinced. I'm also not convinced I 'fit in' with this crowd (or many crowds). Oh well.

So we'll see, I'm entirely optimistic. I should have my badge in a week and my computer in three. Then the real work begins, I'm told.

The Gift of Snow

Last Thursday, Washington, DC and the surrounding metro area enjoyed a surprise snow. The area, of course, is incapable of handling the snow due to the infrequency of 'snow events' so the Government shut down... as did I. Through my window, I could see the likes of enough snow on the ground for fun; I bundled up and headed out to play. I quickly learned my running trails weren't plowed... and to see the Potomac River in all its glory, I was going to have to trudge through eight plus inches of sloppy, heavy snow. So trudge I did. I would have been a lot better off building a snowman or befriending some youth for a round or ten of sledding.

There was just something so magical about walking around my city covered in blankets of fresh, white snow. The snow is inconvenient and unpredictable. It was yet another day--in this very long winter--of forced pause.

And despite the rising temperatures, beginning almost immediately after the snow fell, we still have tall banks of snow everywhere... and each time I head out for a run or walk, I am slowed by patches of icy, snow-covered sidewalks. 

I do want to remember this gift though. The frozen precipitation allowed for a softer, purer perspective on the otherwise familiar.

Friday Night Walk

There was a full moon on Friday night. And the city was stunning as the moon's light reflected against the snowfall from the previous day. Boyfriend and I set out for a post-work jaunt on walkways illuminated solely by the moon, we're totally romantic like that, you see. Oh and it just so happened to be Valentines Day; the passion truly soared as I climbed dirty snow banks! There is just something about snow that brings out the inner child in me.

As with so much of life (especially unplanned circumstances), there is a choice to make: resist it or embrace it. I choose to be present rather than wrapped up in anxiety over things I cannot control. Today was a joyful, memorable, adventurous today.

And tomorrow, well, we shall see.

January Goal: A Review

If you're new here, I posted my goals here. As someone whose strengths are achiever and discipline, I really like goals. Goals keep me focused, motivated, and constantly improving. My task at hand in January was to finish decorating and organizing the new apartment. I would say I was about 90% successful in accomplishing my goal. There is a tiny pile left for Boyfriend to go through. And we don't have our picture frames filled nor did we hang (or frame) our map of Lesotho. The result: lots of blank, white walls. These are failures I can live with. For the most part, the apartment has come along way. As have we in learning how to adjust to being two people sharing one life. Never has it taken so much to feel settled in a new place! This might be why this effort spanned nearly four months.

Anyway, I think we've settled into a nice, simple routine. In a nice, simple apartment. I'll let you be the judge.

This is only one of three featured storage closets in the apartment. These coupled with the balcony make this one of the best apartments I have rented to date. For some reason, photos of the front and bedroom closet and the balcony did not make the cut. Perhaps at a later date in time?  

On the negative, I did not indulge in a day of solitude nor have I really started learning the Arabic alphabet--my personal and spiritual goals for the year. I downloaded the study sheets though, so that counts for something, right? And I whizzed through three books on my way to finishing 30 for the year.

Up next: My goal for February is to follow a strict vegan diet. Due to an unusual amount of milk and eggs in our fridge left at the end of January, I decided it would be fiscally irresponsible for me to begin this goal on February 1. As soon as these items are consumed, I will begin tackling this goal. And hey! I got lucky as I was able to indulge in buffalo chicken dip, pulled pork, spinach artichoke dip, and more on Super Bowl Sunday.