What a jet setter I am these days. I flew home to California for Memorial Day weekend plus two days! Did a little bit of everything relaxing... hung out with the fam, went to Indiana Jones, finished my book, went to the As/Sox Sunday game and had GREAT weather, ate at Yankee Pier, walked the Reservoir with Erica, had the Ganeys over for dinner, got a massage at Dad's new business venture called "Massage Envy."
It was just a very classically laid back few days in the Bay Area. Plus it's reaaaaaalllllyyyy hard to complain when I wake up to a venti soy misto waiting for me in the kitchen every morning thanks to Dad :)
Friday, May 30, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Colorado!
I'm a week late on this post, but two weekends ago I visited Liz in Colorado! It was a last minute decision and it was totally serendipitous that I was able to go. I had a free southwest flight I used to get there and back AND my boss was out of town on Monday and Tuesday so I was able to take the extra time off.
I had planned to take the first nonstop flight out of Baltimore on Saturday morning at 10:20 so I set my alarm the night before to give me plenty of time. I woke up in my bed with the sun streaming into my room and was very disoriented when I realized my alarm didn't go off because I had forgotten to turn off the "off on weekends" feature. So 8:56am I wake up and I'm like... OH MY GOSH I'm never EVER going to make it. But something in me was still going to fight to try, so I was out the door and on the road by 9:01am. I booked it down the parkway, hit a little traffic, and was basically resigned to missing the flight. I pulled up to the parking lot at 9:47 and surprisingly got on the shuttle and to the terminal by just before 10. Ok so 10:03 rolls around and I'm having to stand in line to check in since I was using a pass... anyway I tell the lady that I'd like to still try for the 10:20am so she hands me a security pass and just says "RUN!" So I get through security, run to the gate (which was a super far one) and huffed and puffed a "Did I make it!?" to the boarding people. And sure enough... at 10:18am... I make it into the flight and take a seat. I could NOT believe I made it! I was telling myself all along that I just wasn't supposed to get on that flight, but as it turns out I guess I really WAS supposed to get on it! I would have lost three hours or so in Colorado so that was a crucial catching of flight. 8:56am wake up in DC for a 10:20am Baltimore flight... OMG!
So I got to Denver at about noon local time and Liz picked me up in a sweet Tahoe Hybrid she borrowed from their fleet and we headed off to Aspen straight from the Airport. The drive was SO beautiful.
It was off season so we caught a good deal from the St. Regis there. I know, I know. We're so ridiculous. Liz and I always manage to "live well" together haha. It was a nice retreat - lots of time in the awesome bathrobes (I'll spare you the pictures) drinking wine on our terrace overlooking Aspen Mountain, relaxing in the hot tub, eating at an amazing restaurant for dinner, and taking advantage of the St. Regis hospitality. There were some VERY attractive men working there!
We went to brunch at this place called the Wienerstube (hilar) and when we came out it was like watch out for that enormous bear blocking the stairs...
So Sunday after we walked around some shops in Aspen for a bit, we drove back to Denver and had a BBQ with her coworkers that night. Fun to meet the people she has been working with for these past few months. It was a little behind enemy lines-ish haha but they are very nice people. I had never been to Denver before so I walked around the pedestrian mall area all day Monday... walked all the way down to the river and around the park and then made my way back up through the shops. Liz had a bunch of must see suggestions so it definitely took up the full day. We ate at the Vesta Dipping Grill that night. It was a neat concept - they have all these sweet, savory, or spicy sauces that you order to dip your food in. Clearly a place for Liz and Carrie. Tuesday I met up with my former coworker Jackie who just moved out there - fun to see her and hear about her great wedding just a short time ago. I flew out that night and made it back to DC in one piece. I'm really really glad it worked out for me to go out there - I would have been disappointed if I hadn't gotten the opportunity to see Liz's life out there so it was definitely a great trip!
I had planned to take the first nonstop flight out of Baltimore on Saturday morning at 10:20 so I set my alarm the night before to give me plenty of time. I woke up in my bed with the sun streaming into my room and was very disoriented when I realized my alarm didn't go off because I had forgotten to turn off the "off on weekends" feature. So 8:56am I wake up and I'm like... OH MY GOSH I'm never EVER going to make it. But something in me was still going to fight to try, so I was out the door and on the road by 9:01am. I booked it down the parkway, hit a little traffic, and was basically resigned to missing the flight. I pulled up to the parking lot at 9:47 and surprisingly got on the shuttle and to the terminal by just before 10. Ok so 10:03 rolls around and I'm having to stand in line to check in since I was using a pass... anyway I tell the lady that I'd like to still try for the 10:20am so she hands me a security pass and just says "RUN!" So I get through security, run to the gate (which was a super far one) and huffed and puffed a "Did I make it!?" to the boarding people. And sure enough... at 10:18am... I make it into the flight and take a seat. I could NOT believe I made it! I was telling myself all along that I just wasn't supposed to get on that flight, but as it turns out I guess I really WAS supposed to get on it! I would have lost three hours or so in Colorado so that was a crucial catching of flight. 8:56am wake up in DC for a 10:20am Baltimore flight... OMG!
So I got to Denver at about noon local time and Liz picked me up in a sweet Tahoe Hybrid she borrowed from their fleet and we headed off to Aspen straight from the Airport. The drive was SO beautiful.
It was off season so we caught a good deal from the St. Regis there. I know, I know. We're so ridiculous. Liz and I always manage to "live well" together haha. It was a nice retreat - lots of time in the awesome bathrobes (I'll spare you the pictures) drinking wine on our terrace overlooking Aspen Mountain, relaxing in the hot tub, eating at an amazing restaurant for dinner, and taking advantage of the St. Regis hospitality. There were some VERY attractive men working there!
We went to brunch at this place called the Wienerstube (hilar) and when we came out it was like watch out for that enormous bear blocking the stairs...
So Sunday after we walked around some shops in Aspen for a bit, we drove back to Denver and had a BBQ with her coworkers that night. Fun to meet the people she has been working with for these past few months. It was a little behind enemy lines-ish haha but they are very nice people. I had never been to Denver before so I walked around the pedestrian mall area all day Monday... walked all the way down to the river and around the park and then made my way back up through the shops. Liz had a bunch of must see suggestions so it definitely took up the full day. We ate at the Vesta Dipping Grill that night. It was a neat concept - they have all these sweet, savory, or spicy sauces that you order to dip your food in. Clearly a place for Liz and Carrie. Tuesday I met up with my former coworker Jackie who just moved out there - fun to see her and hear about her great wedding just a short time ago. I flew out that night and made it back to DC in one piece. I'm really really glad it worked out for me to go out there - I would have been disappointed if I hadn't gotten the opportunity to see Liz's life out there so it was definitely a great trip!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Return of the Lion
"Welcome, child" he said.
"Aslan," said Lucy, "you're bigger."
"That is because you are older, little one," answered he.
"Not because you are?"
"I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger."
For a time she was so happy that she did not want to speak. But Aslan spoke.
"Lucy," he said, "we must not lie here for long. You have work in hand, and much time has been lost today."
"Yes, wasn't it a shame?" said Lucy. "I saw you all right. They wouldn't believe me. They're all so -"
From somewhere deep inside Aslan's body there came the faintest suggestion of a growl.
"I'm sorry," said Lucy, who understood some of his moods. "I didn't mean to start slanging the others. But it wasn't my fault anyway, was it?"
The Lion looked straight into her eyes.
"Oh, Aslan," said Lucy. "You don't mean it was? How could I - I couldn't have left the others and come up to you alone, how could I? Don't look at me like that... oh well, I suppose I could. Yes, and it wouldn't have been alone, I know, not if I was with you. But what would have been the good?"
Aslan said nothing.
"You mean," said Lucy rather faintly, "that it would have turned out all right - somehow? But how? Please, Aslan! Am I not to know?"
"To know what would have happened, child?" said Aslan. "No. Nobody is ever told that."
"Oh dear," said Lucy.
"But anyone can find out what will happen," said Aslan. "If you go back to the others now, and wake them up; and tell them you have seen me again; and that you must all get up at once and follow me - what will happen? There is only one way of finding out."
"Do you mean that is what you want me to do?" gasped Lucy.
"Yes, little one," said Aslan.
"Will the others see you too?" asked Lucy.
"Certainly not at first," said Aslan. "Later on, it depends."
"But they won't believe me!" said Lucy.
"It doesn't matter," said Aslan.
"Oh dear, oh dear," said Lucy. "And I was so pleased at finding you again. And I thought you'd let me stay. And I thought you'd come roaring in and frighten all the enemies away - like last time. And now everything is going to be horrid."
"It is hard for you, little one," said Aslan. "But things never happen the same way twice. It has been hard for us all in Narnia before now."
Lucy buried her head in his mane to hide from his face. But there must have been magic in his mane. She could feel lion-strength going into her. Quite suddenly she sat up.
"I'm sorry, Aslan," she said. "I'm ready now."
"Aslan," said Lucy, "you're bigger."
"That is because you are older, little one," answered he.
"Not because you are?"
"I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger."
For a time she was so happy that she did not want to speak. But Aslan spoke.
"Lucy," he said, "we must not lie here for long. You have work in hand, and much time has been lost today."
"Yes, wasn't it a shame?" said Lucy. "I saw you all right. They wouldn't believe me. They're all so -"
From somewhere deep inside Aslan's body there came the faintest suggestion of a growl.
"I'm sorry," said Lucy, who understood some of his moods. "I didn't mean to start slanging the others. But it wasn't my fault anyway, was it?"
The Lion looked straight into her eyes.
"Oh, Aslan," said Lucy. "You don't mean it was? How could I - I couldn't have left the others and come up to you alone, how could I? Don't look at me like that... oh well, I suppose I could. Yes, and it wouldn't have been alone, I know, not if I was with you. But what would have been the good?"
Aslan said nothing.
"You mean," said Lucy rather faintly, "that it would have turned out all right - somehow? But how? Please, Aslan! Am I not to know?"
"To know what would have happened, child?" said Aslan. "No. Nobody is ever told that."
"Oh dear," said Lucy.
"But anyone can find out what will happen," said Aslan. "If you go back to the others now, and wake them up; and tell them you have seen me again; and that you must all get up at once and follow me - what will happen? There is only one way of finding out."
"Do you mean that is what you want me to do?" gasped Lucy.
"Yes, little one," said Aslan.
"Will the others see you too?" asked Lucy.
"Certainly not at first," said Aslan. "Later on, it depends."
"But they won't believe me!" said Lucy.
"It doesn't matter," said Aslan.
"Oh dear, oh dear," said Lucy. "And I was so pleased at finding you again. And I thought you'd let me stay. And I thought you'd come roaring in and frighten all the enemies away - like last time. And now everything is going to be horrid."
"It is hard for you, little one," said Aslan. "But things never happen the same way twice. It has been hard for us all in Narnia before now."
Lucy buried her head in his mane to hide from his face. But there must have been magic in his mane. She could feel lion-strength going into her. Quite suddenly she sat up.
"I'm sorry, Aslan," she said. "I'm ready now."
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
And he calls himself an Advance Rep...
David: Did you get my message?
Carrie: Yes. I hate messages.
David: That's why I left you one!
Carrie: Jerk.
David: So you're thinking about coming to Europe with us for New Years?
Carrie: Thinking about it, yes, but... I mean... I just don't know what I'll be doing at that point. Will I be working? Will I even have a desk? Will we be totally displaced by then? Will we be starting a new job or moving?
David: $hit! This brings up much bigger issues for us than what we are doing for New Years!
Carrie: Yes. I hate messages.
David: That's why I left you one!
Carrie: Jerk.
David: So you're thinking about coming to Europe with us for New Years?
Carrie: Thinking about it, yes, but... I mean... I just don't know what I'll be doing at that point. Will I be working? Will I even have a desk? Will we be totally displaced by then? Will we be starting a new job or moving?
David: $hit! This brings up much bigger issues for us than what we are doing for New Years!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Nationals Park
I don't think I have given Nationals Park its due yet on here. It is SO great! I seriously love it... and love living so close. I went to a game the first week it was open and then again last week. Tried to go yesterday but all the cheap seats were sold out since it was such a beautiful day in Washington.
Erin, Curran, Paul, and I went to last Thursday's game. We were lucky enough to enjoy my boss' seats and honestly I have never ever seen a game like that. I mean I sat that close last year in RFK Stadium for a Nats v. Giants game and Barry Bonds was like ten feet from me at one point, but it just wasn't the same or as cool as sitting behind the dugout at the new Park.
Here is by far my favorite picture of the evening!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Flat Tire
There I was... 8:15am Wednesday morning... hair down and done, color-coordinated-with-outfit-makeup, sunglasses, work bag, coffee, keys. I'm capable! Self-reliant! Confident! I can take on the world and do anything!
Nope. Flat tire.
Do you see that bolt in there? CURSES TO THE UNIVERSE!
So what to do, what to do. Call Patrick! Patrick proves totally useless and laughs loudly as I lament. I stomp back inside, grab my ipod, and suffer six stops on the metro to work. Enter Shane who sneaks up behind me on the street. Ha HA if he only had known I would woo him with my damsel-in-distress-need-you-to-come-over-after-work-and-fix-my-tire feminine wiles. They worked! That or the promise of free beer and dinner :)
All better now (or at least better enough to get me to NTB on Saturday). Thumbs way up for S-dub. He was top of the list to take the Nats game with me tonight since I got the boss' tickets.
Nope. Flat tire.
Do you see that bolt in there? CURSES TO THE UNIVERSE!
So what to do, what to do. Call Patrick! Patrick proves totally useless and laughs loudly as I lament. I stomp back inside, grab my ipod, and suffer six stops on the metro to work. Enter Shane who sneaks up behind me on the street. Ha HA if he only had known I would woo him with my damsel-in-distress-need-you-to-come-over-after-work-and-fix-my-tire feminine wiles. They worked! That or the promise of free beer and dinner :)
All better now (or at least better enough to get me to NTB on Saturday). Thumbs way up for S-dub. He was top of the list to take the Nats game with me tonight since I got the boss' tickets.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Horse and His Boy
I recently saw the trailer for Prince Caspian which comes out May 16th and pulled the full Chronicles of Narnia off my shelf last weekend to re-read it. Backstory on my copy of the Chronicles: Capitol Books is this amazing used bookstore in Eastern Market. You walk in and the guy is always like "fiction upstairs, nonfiction downstairs, poetry in the far back..." Then he'll insert something witty like "this is a recording, you are now free to roam." It has this old dusty book smell. You always have to watch where you're walking - one wrong step and you'll knock over a floor to ceiling pile of books. I'm telling you, book lovers paradise. So anyway the very first time I went in there was a illustrated hardback Chronicles of Narnia behind the counter and I just KNEW it was going to be mine. I never even leafed through it - it simply was MY copy that I didn't get to take home yet. Everytime I walked in I always looked to make sure no one had snatched it up. Sweeting and Muffin ended up being the snatchers and they gave it to me for Christmas last year. One of my best presents :)
Anyway so I pulled it off the shelf to re-read Prince Caspian and realized I never read Horse and His Boy which is the Chronicle after Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe and before Prince Caspian. I'm in the throws of Horse and His Boy right now. Other than the nostalgia that reading the Narnia series effectuates, I wonder why we as adults love to read or revisit fairytales. We love them so much more, perhaps, than even when we first read them as children.
C.S. Lewis thought about this too. He wrote the following dedication of Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe to his Godaughter Lucy:
My Dear Lucy,
I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say, but I shall still be
your affectionate Godfather,
C.S. Lewis
Sigh... The next time I check in, I will know if Shasta makes it to Archenland in time to warn that the Calormene army is coming to overtake them as a strategic entry point to invade Narnia if Cair Paravel doesn't give Queen Susan up to marry the evil, self-centered Rabadash. Until then!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Countdowns!
I have a fascination with countdown clocks. Actually, the overall concept of time is fascinating to me (one of many interests/concepts/ideas I share with both Patrick and TS Eliot haha). Here are some fun dates I'm looking forward to:
Bay Area for Memorial Day - 25 days, 21 hours, 36 minutes, 42 seconds
Madison for all things Fun - 59 days, 5 hours, 23 minutes, 35 seconds
Arkansas for SAS Reunion - 122 days, 16 hours, 29 minutes, 3 seconds
Unemployment! - 266 days, 21 hours, 26 minutes, 11 seconds
Weekend Weirdness
This weekend went SO FAST!
Stopped by Bobby's on Friday night. Weird story. This 40-something business casual dressed guy was literally dragging himself down the street fencepost by fencepost. He was standing/walking/dragging in this really bizarre angle. It was hard to tell if he was just very intoxicated or he actually was handicapped. Anyway Yale and Justin took charge (sexy) and stood on either side of him for support asking how they can help him, where did he live, what happened, was his back okay, etc. At first he said he got slipped something, but eventually we found out he was on other prescription meds and had been drinking wine that night. Also there was some discussion over how he had hurt his back when he was helping his friends move. It looked really really bad, though... not just some minor injury. I wonder if the mix of everything numbed him so much he didn't realize how bad it was? Anyway, ultimately Yale and Justin decided to call the ambulance and frankly I think that may have been a life saving decision for that guy. Humph. (Sidenote - another weird happening on Friday night - Sweeting almost got mugged by like 6 teenagers on drugs by Union Station were it not for the cops that came to his rescue. Aww... SWEETING!! I don't want anyone messing with Sweeting.)
Saturday started on a better note! Sweeting and I went to the Yelo Conference at Ebenezers. It was so cool! It was run by one of the pastors at Mosaic Church in Los Angeles who also works for Gallup. So interesting to hear and learn about your strengths and others strengths and how they interplay. The whole premise is about how we as a society focus on weaknesses and think our greatest area for growth is by focusing on improving those weaknesses. In fact, wouldn't we fulfill greater potential by cultivating and using our natural strengths? One of my favorite tidbits was that there is a one in 33 million chance that you will end up with the same top five strengths in the same order as another person. We're so unique. I can't get over it. It encouraged a LOT of discussion throughout the weekend after that. Had dinner with Patrick and Lauren at the house then went out to RFD to meet up with Shane, Carissa, Sweeting, and Muffin after that. Fun, relaxed night.
Sunday was Patrick and Carrie Extravaganza! We did everything I can think of to do on a rainy Sunday:
Brunch : Carlyle
Reading : On big fluffy red couch at Busboys and Poets
Movie : Baby Momma
Dinner : Whole Foods
TV : DH at Luis'
Awesome.
Stopped by Bobby's on Friday night. Weird story. This 40-something business casual dressed guy was literally dragging himself down the street fencepost by fencepost. He was standing/walking/dragging in this really bizarre angle. It was hard to tell if he was just very intoxicated or he actually was handicapped. Anyway Yale and Justin took charge (sexy) and stood on either side of him for support asking how they can help him, where did he live, what happened, was his back okay, etc. At first he said he got slipped something, but eventually we found out he was on other prescription meds and had been drinking wine that night. Also there was some discussion over how he had hurt his back when he was helping his friends move. It looked really really bad, though... not just some minor injury. I wonder if the mix of everything numbed him so much he didn't realize how bad it was? Anyway, ultimately Yale and Justin decided to call the ambulance and frankly I think that may have been a life saving decision for that guy. Humph. (Sidenote - another weird happening on Friday night - Sweeting almost got mugged by like 6 teenagers on drugs by Union Station were it not for the cops that came to his rescue. Aww... SWEETING!! I don't want anyone messing with Sweeting.)
Saturday started on a better note! Sweeting and I went to the Yelo Conference at Ebenezers. It was so cool! It was run by one of the pastors at Mosaic Church in Los Angeles who also works for Gallup. So interesting to hear and learn about your strengths and others strengths and how they interplay. The whole premise is about how we as a society focus on weaknesses and think our greatest area for growth is by focusing on improving those weaknesses. In fact, wouldn't we fulfill greater potential by cultivating and using our natural strengths? One of my favorite tidbits was that there is a one in 33 million chance that you will end up with the same top five strengths in the same order as another person. We're so unique. I can't get over it. It encouraged a LOT of discussion throughout the weekend after that. Had dinner with Patrick and Lauren at the house then went out to RFD to meet up with Shane, Carissa, Sweeting, and Muffin after that. Fun, relaxed night.
Sunday was Patrick and Carrie Extravaganza! We did everything I can think of to do on a rainy Sunday:
Brunch : Carlyle
Reading : On big fluffy red couch at Busboys and Poets
Movie : Baby Momma
Dinner : Whole Foods
TV : DH at Luis'
Awesome.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Strengths Discovery and Character Matrix Assessment
In preparation for the Yelo Conference at Ebenezers this weekend, I took a strengths and character assessment quiz. Here's what I came up with:
Top 5 Themes:
Intellection - characterized by intellectual activity; introspective and appreciative of intellectual discussions
Achiever - have a great deal of stamina and work hard; take great satisfaction from being busy and productive
Activator - can make things happen by turning thoughts into action; often impatient
Input - have a craving to know more; like to collect and archive all kinds of information (My co-workers and I got a kick out of this one!)
Self-Assurance - feel confident in their ability to manage their own lives; possess an inner compass that gives them confidence that their decisions are right
For the Character Matrix I asked Mom, Liz, and Patrick to take the test for me too so I could see how my scores stack up to others impressions of me. I'll have to wait for the conference to figure out exactly what the results mean, but for the time being here are the numbers:
Wisdom - Me: 31 Liz: 29 Mom: 32 Patrick: 29
Perserverance - Me: 34 Liz: 30 Mom: 39 Patrick: 31
Faithfulness - Me: 29 Liz: 33 Mom: 39 Patrick: 34
Courage - Me: 35 Liz: 31 Mom: 38 Patrick: 26
Integrity - Me: 31 Liz: 33 Mom: 38 Patrick: 35
Humility - Me: 27 Liz: 29 Mom: 35 Patrick: 29
Generosity - Me: 21 Liz: 28 Mom: 33 Patrick: 29
Wholeness- Me: 23 Liz: 24 Mom: 36 Patrick: 26
Gratitude - Me: 38 Liz: 32 Mom: 40 Patrick: 36
My favorite FAVORITE thing about this whole deal so far is how inflated my mom's numbers turned out. Like, Liz and my numbers are pretty much the same give or take a few points... but my Mom's are across the board higher. She thinks I'm so great haha! It's so cute! I love her so much!
Top 5 Themes:
Intellection - characterized by intellectual activity; introspective and appreciative of intellectual discussions
Achiever - have a great deal of stamina and work hard; take great satisfaction from being busy and productive
Activator - can make things happen by turning thoughts into action; often impatient
Input - have a craving to know more; like to collect and archive all kinds of information (My co-workers and I got a kick out of this one!)
Self-Assurance - feel confident in their ability to manage their own lives; possess an inner compass that gives them confidence that their decisions are right
For the Character Matrix I asked Mom, Liz, and Patrick to take the test for me too so I could see how my scores stack up to others impressions of me. I'll have to wait for the conference to figure out exactly what the results mean, but for the time being here are the numbers:
Wisdom - Me: 31 Liz: 29 Mom: 32 Patrick: 29
Perserverance - Me: 34 Liz: 30 Mom: 39 Patrick: 31
Faithfulness - Me: 29 Liz: 33 Mom: 39 Patrick: 34
Courage - Me: 35 Liz: 31 Mom: 38 Patrick: 26
Integrity - Me: 31 Liz: 33 Mom: 38 Patrick: 35
Humility - Me: 27 Liz: 29 Mom: 35 Patrick: 29
Generosity - Me: 21 Liz: 28 Mom: 33 Patrick: 29
Wholeness- Me: 23 Liz: 24 Mom: 36 Patrick: 26
Gratitude - Me: 38 Liz: 32 Mom: 40 Patrick: 36
My favorite FAVORITE thing about this whole deal so far is how inflated my mom's numbers turned out. Like, Liz and my numbers are pretty much the same give or take a few points... but my Mom's are across the board higher. She thinks I'm so great haha! It's so cute! I love her so much!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Most interesting clock ever...
I literally sat watching the numbers tick around on this clock for awhile the other day. It's kind of emotional, actually. Anyway... click here and let me know what you think of it.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Ben's Chili Bowl
So I finally finally went to Ben's Chili Bowl last weekend much to my heart and cholesterol's chagrin. Will I get stoned on the streets if I say I'm not sure it lives up to reputation? I mean, the place itself does... it has that old school diner historical feel to it, which I love. But I'm not like over the moon about the chili or the crappy napkins that don't hold up to wiping it off your hands once the chili drips off your chili dog. Gross. Anyway! Would I go again? Sure, if I happened upon the opportunity. Would I stand in line at 3am for 1.5 hours for it? Not a chance in the world.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
These make me ache...
Real adventure - self-determined, self-motivated, often risky - forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind, and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black and white.
What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do - especially in other people's minds. When you're traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don't have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.
Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.
The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.
All the pathos and irony of leaving one's youth behind is implicit in every joyous moment of travel: one knows that the first joy can never be recovered, and the wise traveler lears not to repeat successes but tries new places all the time.
For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.
But things will happen to us so that we don't know ourselves. Cool, unlying life will rush in.
To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleansantest sensations in the world.
Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.
Tourists don't know where they've been, travelers don't know where they're going.
I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.
Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation.
What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do - especially in other people's minds. When you're traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don't have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.
Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.
The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.
All the pathos and irony of leaving one's youth behind is implicit in every joyous moment of travel: one knows that the first joy can never be recovered, and the wise traveler lears not to repeat successes but tries new places all the time.
For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.
But things will happen to us so that we don't know ourselves. Cool, unlying life will rush in.
To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleansantest sensations in the world.
Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.
Tourists don't know where they've been, travelers don't know where they're going.
I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.
Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation.
Monday, March 31, 2008
THIS is what I have to look forward to...
I'm going to Madison in June to visit Patrick's family and friends with David and Bobby. Patrick's stepdad is in a band called "Little Vito and the Torpedoes" and they're playing at Rhythm and Boom (this fireworks thing) that I am so excited to go to! Then on Sunday, Patrick's mom is hosting a big party and Corn Toss tournament. I made a countdown clock today and we have 86 days... such a long wait! UGH!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Blossoms
Cherry Blossom time again in Washington! To avoid the crowds at the festival this weekend, I did a little jog around the Tidal Basin this morning before work. Even at 6:30am on a Friday there were still tourists and photographers if that's any indication on what it will be like this weekend. Also, a VVIP was on a morning run down there so that added to the foot and vehicle traffic a bit :)
The Cherry Blossoms are going to be wayyyyy better this year than last year. Last year they started to bloom and then an ice storm hit totally ruining them. This year though, they are absolutely lovely. This morning they looked to be about 50% open and with the 73 degree temperature today I bet they will be at their peak by Sunday. SO pretty!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Malaysia!
So Malaysia didn't start out to well for me actually. By the time we landed in Penang I was pretty much crippled with food poisoning. I held it in until we made it to the hotel room, but that whole night was miserable to say the least. I was actually worried I wouldn't feel up to being on the road the next day, but I ended up rallying in time to meet the ship, Meg, and her two friends Kayoko and Jenna when they came into the Port of Penang. These girls are so fun! I love how much Brennan and Meg are clones of each other, too.
As soon as we picked up the girls, we hit the road and headed to Cameron Highlands via Ipoh. Brennan drove and I was his trusty co-pilot. We did hit a major rainstorm which made it a little scary to drive up the windy mountains. Once the rain cleared, we stopped at a little strawberry farm on the side of the road which was so cute! I think we put them in the poor house from all the samples we ate. Brennan asked the lady how business was and she kind of grunted, so... maybe not so good? We liked it anyway.
When we made it all the way up the mountains to the town of Tanah Rata in Cameron Highlands, we hotel shopped a bit and ended up finding the CUTEST little villas called Bala's Chalets. Our "family villa" had a downstairs and upstairs and was called Tiffany's Corner. It was SO great... except for the spiders. YUCK.
We spent the whole next day touring around Cameron Highlands. The highlights were definitely hiking around the highest peak of Malaysia and touring the Boh Tea Plantation. I honestly think I have never seen anything like these places. They were absolutely amazing... green and lush. The kind of place where there is mist stretching across the treetops. The tea plantations were SO neat. The way tea grows looks so trippy! It's somewhere you have to see, I think, to really see how neat and crazy the place is. I'm so SO glad we saw it. Renting the car was one of the best decisions we made the whole trip :)
Thank you, Jenna... not sure we could have found where to go without your direction.
So from Cameron Highlands we made it down to Kuala Lumpur! The most recognizable thing there is the Petronas Towers (which were stunning!). We ate and slept VERY well in KL to say the least. What was kind of perplexing about KL (and about Malaysia as a whole really) was just how kind of "any city in the world" it felt. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE cities and it was so fun to be in a new one, but there isn't anything very distinctive about what people looked like or what people were eating... their music... it was a huge mix of ethnic Indians and Chinese splattered with a bunch of Westerners. We spent a lot of time perusing markets, enjoying our awesome hotel room, and hanging out with the girls' Semester at Sea friends. It's good to know some things never change about Semester at Sea. It was like I could see exactly who from their ship equated to people from our ship. Funny.
NO KISSING IN THE CABS!
From KL we flew back up to Penang for our last night of the trip. We found this Night Market/Food Paradise that was basically a huge courtyard of tables with food stalls all around them. We met a new friend from England named Ash and just sat around the table sampling the different plates and Tigers. Brennan tried to take a picture of "the ambiance" and ended up with a picture of these two women who lived in Penang... are you kidding me!!??
Fortunately they were good sports and ended up thinking it was as funny as we did. Ash, where are you looking?
The group at the end of the night...
6:30am the next morning we left Penang and flew to Bangkok, to Beijing, and to DC totaling another 30 hours door to door. Totally worth it for what was a great trip. Good to get away... good to remember what it's like to be lost and different and anonymous and international. Good to read books and spend too long getting out of bed and trying street food I can't pronounce and trying to smile as much as the Thais do. Good to be gone, really. And good to be back now... I suppose :)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Samui Sun
Spent a few fantastic days in Ko Samui, a little island in Thailand. We stayed in Bo Phut Beach at a resort that turned out to be absolutely perfect. Lonely Planet says it's a "step down in luxury" which is probably right but we just really were pleased with the location and beach and hospitality. Plus there was a sweet buffet breakfast everyday on the deck overlooking the beach and ocean so that was nice. Actually it was just kind of fun to be there with a bunch of European families on their "holiday." I think we picked an absolutely ideal time to be in Samui because from what I can tell we were between seasons there, so it was not at all too crowded and the weather was awesome. I can't remember being more comfortable at a beach ever. Costa Rica had some sweet beaches but it was always so hot... the weather in Samui was perfectly hot but with a breeze and no humidity. One of the days we went to another beach on the island called Chaweng and crashed a five star resort to use their pool and beach area. Good idea by us! Weaseled our way into a yellow towel that made us look like we were supposed to be there. Brennan and I both managed to finish a few books which is always nice :)
One of the nights we were there I took Brennan out for his 25th birthday dinner at a place called Poppies (I will have to put a link in when I'm back on American computers). Ok seriously this place was SO good. We had a bunch of dishes but our favorite was definitely ostrich satay. We decided that if ever ostrich is on a menu in the future we will order it and always decidedly announce "this just is not NEARLY as delicious as the ostrich in Ko Samui, Thailand." The best part of the night hands-down, though, was the live music at this place. Brennan said if he could have a soundtrack of our trip it would be absolutely priceless. I'm talking 3am 80s love song infomercial style music. This included "If We Hold On Together" by Diana Ross from the Land Before Time - which of course sparked the conversation about how come Little Foot's mom dies in the movie and that I went to high school with a kid who looks just like Petri.
Saw this sign when I was walking down the beach one morning... LOVE IT!
So now we're on our layover in Bangkok on our way to Penang, Malaysia. Can't wait to see Meg tomorrow morning! Pray for us... I'm already getting an ulcer thinking about Brennan driving and me navigating the Malaysian freeway to Cameron Highlands and eventually KL! OYE.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Bangkok... check!
Just about to leave Bangkok to fly to Samui in a few minutes here, but am taking advantage of free Internet in the Bangkok Air lounge. Why aren't American airports this comfortable? There are like... snacks and everything. Amazing how customer satisfaction goes up tenfold with a bag of popcorn and cup of juice preflight!
Four movies, a 70 dollar sushi layover in Japan, several drinks and bugging the flight attendant to steal cookies from business class, and 30 hours of transit door to door got us right into Bangkok late Thursday night. We basically went right to sleep that first night but I was raring to go the next day and hiked myself down to a breakfast place (that turned out to be closed so I resigned myself to an in-hotel meal).
We spent the morning touring temples and took a much needed relaxing boat ride from one side of Bangkok to the other on the river. We had a drink at the Shangrila (that looks spelled wrong... someone help!) and took a nap before getting ready to go out.
Last night we started at the Banyon Tree Skybar on the 61st floor of the hotel and met up with a friend of Brennan's boss named Chris. I am SO glad we connected with him, as anyone knows it is a thousand times better to see any city with a local! Anyway we enjoyed the view for awhile and then headed out to a little hole-in-the-wall traditional Thai place for dinner. I told Chris he has to order to break me out of my Pad See Ew confines. It ended up being one of those dinners you wish you would never get full... so good. Dumb American alert: Did you know the Thais don't use chopsticks except for noodles? Apparently they got the fork memo a long time ago.
After dinner we went out on the town and met up with a bunch of Chris' friends... The table ended up being the beginning of a bad joke: Two Thais, a German, a Belgian, a Dutchman, and four Americans were sitting at a bar in Bangkok. Anyway the night was SO fun and I couldn't have asked for more. We ended up late night at Chris' house talking in the courtyard. He has this awesome mosquito tennis racket looking thing that zaps them that I could not get over. It was just fun, you know, getting to sit there with different people from different places with different jobs and different ideas. I didn't realize how much I needed a change of scenery! Last night made me feel like me.
Today we begrudgingly checked out of the hotel at 12pm (since we needed at least another hour or so of sleep) and headed up to the weekend market. Spent the whole day there. I love markets- they're so cool to walk around, but the problem is that since there is everything under the sun being sold, it's hard to like... actually BUY something. Is that weird? I ended up with a few doo-dads but what I really wanted was to buy Lauren and I our Chihuahua. There were many candidates for Captain Fabulous but alas I have ended up furry critter-free. Brennan was quick to want to get out of the pet section saying all he could see was disease. Cute disease at least!
Anyway off to Samui for some beach R&R... yay!
Four movies, a 70 dollar sushi layover in Japan, several drinks and bugging the flight attendant to steal cookies from business class, and 30 hours of transit door to door got us right into Bangkok late Thursday night. We basically went right to sleep that first night but I was raring to go the next day and hiked myself down to a breakfast place (that turned out to be closed so I resigned myself to an in-hotel meal).
We spent the morning touring temples and took a much needed relaxing boat ride from one side of Bangkok to the other on the river. We had a drink at the Shangrila (that looks spelled wrong... someone help!) and took a nap before getting ready to go out.
Last night we started at the Banyon Tree Skybar on the 61st floor of the hotel and met up with a friend of Brennan's boss named Chris. I am SO glad we connected with him, as anyone knows it is a thousand times better to see any city with a local! Anyway we enjoyed the view for awhile and then headed out to a little hole-in-the-wall traditional Thai place for dinner. I told Chris he has to order to break me out of my Pad See Ew confines. It ended up being one of those dinners you wish you would never get full... so good. Dumb American alert: Did you know the Thais don't use chopsticks except for noodles? Apparently they got the fork memo a long time ago.
After dinner we went out on the town and met up with a bunch of Chris' friends... The table ended up being the beginning of a bad joke: Two Thais, a German, a Belgian, a Dutchman, and four Americans were sitting at a bar in Bangkok. Anyway the night was SO fun and I couldn't have asked for more. We ended up late night at Chris' house talking in the courtyard. He has this awesome mosquito tennis racket looking thing that zaps them that I could not get over. It was just fun, you know, getting to sit there with different people from different places with different jobs and different ideas. I didn't realize how much I needed a change of scenery! Last night made me feel like me.
Today we begrudgingly checked out of the hotel at 12pm (since we needed at least another hour or so of sleep) and headed up to the weekend market. Spent the whole day there. I love markets- they're so cool to walk around, but the problem is that since there is everything under the sun being sold, it's hard to like... actually BUY something. Is that weird? I ended up with a few doo-dads but what I really wanted was to buy Lauren and I our Chihuahua. There were many candidates for Captain Fabulous but alas I have ended up furry critter-free. Brennan was quick to want to get out of the pet section saying all he could see was disease. Cute disease at least!
Anyway off to Samui for some beach R&R... yay!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Don't Blink
Life goes faster than you think
Don't Blink
I've been listening to that Kenny Chesney song for the past two weeks that have come and gone faster perhaps than any other... ever! I know everyone in this city is busy, and I do think there is a real unhealthiness that can begin with busy-ness, but GEEZ! Life has been so busy! Ha. (I'm still at work at it's 9:05pm, if that's any indication)
A few things...
NCC in the news!
Story on lent
One on Ebz
Brennan and I leave in less that TWO DAYS for Thailand and Malaysia! I'll devote a whole post to that of course, but suffice it to say the tickets are booked, the itinerary is set, and I have a new pair of enormous sunglasses that make me look like a bug to wear on the beach. The long and the short of it is we'll do a few days in Bangkok, a few days on an island called Ko Samui, then off to Penang to meet the Semester at Sea ship and pick up Bren's sister Meg and two of her friends. From there we're RENTING A CAR (this is where Brennan and I will fight the most out of the whole trip obviously) and driving from northern Malaysia (Penang) down to a mountainy part called Cameron Highlands and ultimately to Kuala Lumpur, then catch a flight back up to Penang. Start saying prayers please haha.
I met with Pastor Chris today at Ebenezers and had a great talk. More to come on that as life unfolds, but I just want to say a thanks to Chris for being so supportive, so excited, so prayerful, and such a leader to me! My relationship with Pastor Chris is a great example of how multi-site churches work from a pastoring perspective. Even though NCC is a huge huge church and it is easy to be anonymous, committing as much as possible to one service at one location is key to plugging in and developing relationships with the church body and pastors. Pastor Chris made me realize today how I really have gone through a cycle at NCC - finding my personal faith there, developing it through sundays upon sundays and small groups, and now beginning the process of being "sent out" with the blessing of the church. It's pretty neat.
Don't Blink
I've been listening to that Kenny Chesney song for the past two weeks that have come and gone faster perhaps than any other... ever! I know everyone in this city is busy, and I do think there is a real unhealthiness that can begin with busy-ness, but GEEZ! Life has been so busy! Ha. (I'm still at work at it's 9:05pm, if that's any indication)
A few things...
NCC in the news!
Story on lent
One on Ebz
Brennan and I leave in less that TWO DAYS for Thailand and Malaysia! I'll devote a whole post to that of course, but suffice it to say the tickets are booked, the itinerary is set, and I have a new pair of enormous sunglasses that make me look like a bug to wear on the beach. The long and the short of it is we'll do a few days in Bangkok, a few days on an island called Ko Samui, then off to Penang to meet the Semester at Sea ship and pick up Bren's sister Meg and two of her friends. From there we're RENTING A CAR (this is where Brennan and I will fight the most out of the whole trip obviously) and driving from northern Malaysia (Penang) down to a mountainy part called Cameron Highlands and ultimately to Kuala Lumpur, then catch a flight back up to Penang. Start saying prayers please haha.
I met with Pastor Chris today at Ebenezers and had a great talk. More to come on that as life unfolds, but I just want to say a thanks to Chris for being so supportive, so excited, so prayerful, and such a leader to me! My relationship with Pastor Chris is a great example of how multi-site churches work from a pastoring perspective. Even though NCC is a huge huge church and it is easy to be anonymous, committing as much as possible to one service at one location is key to plugging in and developing relationships with the church body and pastors. Pastor Chris made me realize today how I really have gone through a cycle at NCC - finding my personal faith there, developing it through sundays upon sundays and small groups, and now beginning the process of being "sent out" with the blessing of the church. It's pretty neat.
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