[i wrote this entry about a week ago...]
i'm sorry i've been neglecting you. things have been quite busy the past week or so. i've made two trips down to SoCal, and have just landed in Indiana for a job interview and a lengthy holiday visit with family. (btw, don't ever plan to leave for an extended vacation within 24 hours of returning home from a different trip. just don't do it).
anyways, on my most recent trip to SoCal, i flew into to town for a special treat - spa day! i love glen ivy, and convinced three of my friends to join me. okay, it wasn't that hard to convince them since it was "buy one, get one free". soooo worth it. we had a great time! the weather was a bit cool, which is perfect for lounging in hot tubs all day. i don't think there is anything better than sipping a blended drink while relaxing in a bubbly hot tub. okay, maybe if it was on the beach instead of in the inland empire. but i was definitely happy, even without the beach ;) the highlight of the trip was when we visited one of the "quiet pools" - my friend tried to step into the pool from the side (instead of using the steps and hand rails). that might have been a mistake. she lost her balance and fell into the pool in slow motion. very quiet slow motion. somehow we kept from bursting out in laughter. but she still scared off the other people in the pool.
the spa was definitely the highlight of my trip down, but i also really enjoyed an evening at disneyland. we only rode two rides (california screaming and toy story midway mania), but then grabbed a snack and watched the fireworks in disneyland park - the snowfall at the end is the best! even though it's fake, i still love it!
on the flight back to san jose, the flight attendant detailing the safety information did a cute rendition that was phrased like "'twas the night before christmas". it was pretty entertaining. once i arrived back in san jose, i had less than 24 hours to do some last minute work, pack, and prepare for my trip out to indiana. somehow i made it, and even got almost everything packed into two very heavy bags. (they both weighed 49 pounds - take that southwest and your 50 lb limit!)
the flight to indiana was uneventful, although the flight attendant on this flight was far less rthymically skilled and her rendition of the safety information in "twas the night..." fashion nearly ruined the poem for me forever. but, i arrived safely, in one piece, and ready to get a good night's sleep and kick some interview butt. bring it on!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
airport adventures
so i frequently travel between the bay area and SoCal, and yesterday was one such trip. i arrived at the airport a bit earlier than usual because i had to check luggage (normally i prefer to get to the airport and literally walk right on to the plane, but you have to be there 45 minutes ahead to guarantee your luggage will make it on the plane). anyways, i did a bit of work (yay me!), and packed up my computer when the southwest gate agent announced it was time to board. i love flying southwest, and secretly adore lining up in perfect numbered order - it brings meaning to my otherwise chaotic boarding experience.
so i was in line, waiting my turn to board, and two people go through the doorway into what i affectionately refer to as the "tunnel of doom"... all of a sudden the fire alarm went off. the gate agent looked around and waited for about ten seconds to see if it would turn off... everyone just stood there, really hoping she would ignore it and let us all get on the plane. but when the alarm continued to ring she said, "sorry folks, you're going to have to evacuate."
naturally, we were at the very last gate in a very long terminal, and so we headed en masse back toward the entrance in search of an emergency exit. we found one and headed outside, only to realize that no one really knew what to do after that. do we stand there and wait around? do we head back to the ticket counters and security gates? do we move 100 yards away from the building just in case?
well, everyone started herding back toward the ticket counters, where we were reassured that it was a false alarm and that they were in the process of clearing the alarm. the airport staff were very calm under pressure, especially after they notified everyone that we would have to go back through security. this didn't bother me that much - i wore slip on shoes - but the woman behind me had a full cup of hot tea she had just purchased inside the terminal. oh, and an unopened bottle of water for her flight. both drinks had to be tossed. bummer!
eventually, i made it back through security and down the 3 mile terminal back to my gate. the gate agent boarded everyone as they arrived, which made the process much quicker, but i did miss the joy of boarding in perfect sequential order.
so i was in line, waiting my turn to board, and two people go through the doorway into what i affectionately refer to as the "tunnel of doom"... all of a sudden the fire alarm went off. the gate agent looked around and waited for about ten seconds to see if it would turn off... everyone just stood there, really hoping she would ignore it and let us all get on the plane. but when the alarm continued to ring she said, "sorry folks, you're going to have to evacuate."
naturally, we were at the very last gate in a very long terminal, and so we headed en masse back toward the entrance in search of an emergency exit. we found one and headed outside, only to realize that no one really knew what to do after that. do we stand there and wait around? do we head back to the ticket counters and security gates? do we move 100 yards away from the building just in case?
well, everyone started herding back toward the ticket counters, where we were reassured that it was a false alarm and that they were in the process of clearing the alarm. the airport staff were very calm under pressure, especially after they notified everyone that we would have to go back through security. this didn't bother me that much - i wore slip on shoes - but the woman behind me had a full cup of hot tea she had just purchased inside the terminal. oh, and an unopened bottle of water for her flight. both drinks had to be tossed. bummer!
eventually, i made it back through security and down the 3 mile terminal back to my gate. the gate agent boarded everyone as they arrived, which made the process much quicker, but i did miss the joy of boarding in perfect sequential order.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
arts and crafts
so this afternoon i went with my mom and grandma to the harvest festival arts & crafts faire (honestly, i hope that is the lamest thing i will ever write on this blog). i wasn't exactly looking forward to it... i expected it to mostly be mediocre handmade jewelry, over the top bedazzled accessories, and appliqued teddy-bear shirts i can only picture on women who live squarely in the bible belt.
i convinced my mom and grandma to ride the light rail downtown to the event, which was quick and easy to get to the convention center. it was great, except after one of the stops was announced over the PA (san fernando), my mom turns to me and says, "saaahn fehnaaahndo" in the voice of a little old asian man. this would have been fine if she hadn't said it so loud that the entire car could hear her. i was just praying that there wasn't an acutal little old asian man on the train.
the festival itself was way better than i thought it would be. the crafts were pretty much what i expected, but there were also quite a few food-related booths... all of which were giving out free samples. i bought a few christmas gifts, including a hand-blown glass ornament. the glass-blower was telling us about how he allows the glass to cool longer than mass-produced glass ornament makers do, which makes the ornaments far less fragile. he said that unless you throw it against the wall, the ornament is basically not going to break.
my absolute favorite thing at the festival was this chocolate liquor sauce from annette's chocolates in napa. YUM. they had samples of almost all of their sauces, my favorite of which were the carmel brandy (yum), and the chocolate brandy (yum). they make an amaretto chocolate sauce, but had run out of it at the festival, so I didn't get to try it. but i definitely came home and ordered some immediately. did i mention that the sauces were delicious? DELICIOUS.
anyways, i ended up leaving the festival with an entire envirosack worth of stuff. ha!
i convinced my mom and grandma to ride the light rail downtown to the event, which was quick and easy to get to the convention center. it was great, except after one of the stops was announced over the PA (san fernando), my mom turns to me and says, "saaahn fehnaaahndo" in the voice of a little old asian man. this would have been fine if she hadn't said it so loud that the entire car could hear her. i was just praying that there wasn't an acutal little old asian man on the train.
the festival itself was way better than i thought it would be. the crafts were pretty much what i expected, but there were also quite a few food-related booths... all of which were giving out free samples. i bought a few christmas gifts, including a hand-blown glass ornament. the glass-blower was telling us about how he allows the glass to cool longer than mass-produced glass ornament makers do, which makes the ornaments far less fragile. he said that unless you throw it against the wall, the ornament is basically not going to break.
my absolute favorite thing at the festival was this chocolate liquor sauce from annette's chocolates in napa. YUM. they had samples of almost all of their sauces, my favorite of which were the carmel brandy (yum), and the chocolate brandy (yum). they make an amaretto chocolate sauce, but had run out of it at the festival, so I didn't get to try it. but i definitely came home and ordered some immediately. did i mention that the sauces were delicious? DELICIOUS.
anyways, i ended up leaving the festival with an entire envirosack worth of stuff. ha!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
man, being on the job market sucks!
i just submitted my application for my dream job. the job i thought i would have to wait five or six years for. it is still a long shot, but i have spent the past 2 summers working for this company, and i KNOW that people there (at least in the dc office) like me. it's rare that they hire fresh psych phd's... they usually wait for people to have a bit more experience (read: publications), and i am definitely short on the publications. but God is in the business of small (and sometimes not-so-small) miracles, and if that's where i'm supposed to be, i have no doubt that the doors will open. [deep breath] did i mention that i really want to work for them? and that i'm incredibly nervous? what if i wrote something stupid? what if they're offended that i said that few of their researchers approach family research projects thinking about relationships? what if they hate (or laugh at) my writing samples? [deep breath]
i really procrastinated submitting my materials as long as possible, but eventually it had to be done. and honestly, three more days - or three more weeks, for that matter - wouldn't really change what i have to say. i'm just nervous putting myself out there... and waiting for a response. [deep breath]
i really procrastinated submitting my materials as long as possible, but eventually it had to be done. and honestly, three more days - or three more weeks, for that matter - wouldn't really change what i have to say. i'm just nervous putting myself out there... and waiting for a response. [deep breath]
Sunday, November 22, 2009
steinbeck country
this weekend i got to spend saturday and sunday in monterey with two of my favorite people, one of whom was house-sitting and provided us a great (free!) place to stay.
naturally, chris found a dead bird and poked it with a stick. he claimed that he was moving it so that children wouldn't be able to see it as they were exploring the rocks, but i think that was just his cover story.
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then he found a ridiculously huge piece of kelp and whipped it around like he was indiana jones.
at one of the lookout points there was an island covered with sea lions a few hundred yards off the shore. there were 25c telescopes you could use to get a better look at the sunbathing lions, and i convinced sarah-mae to climb on the top step and use the telescope like a small child. i'm still not entirely sure how she got back down.
i really don't know what "sensitive" land is, but just be sure not to hurt its feelings.
after our drive down the coast, we had to stop at the store to buy items for dinner. because i was looking for a specific brand of meat-free chicken patties (and because for some reason whole foods doesn't carry angel food cake), we ended up visiting four (yes, four) different grocery stores in the greater monterey area. i actually think that might be all of the grocery stores in the greater monterey area.
chris flew in saturday morning for a visit, and we drove down to monterey just in time to met sarah-mae for lunch. after some delicious pizza, we decided to drive down the coast for a while, along the famed 17-mile drive. although it was a bit windy, it was a gorgeous day to explore some of the beautiful california coastline. a lot of the monterey, pacific grove, and pebble beach coastline is rocky, and on our drive we stopped occasionally to explore for ourselves.
naturally, chris found a dead bird and poked it with a stick. he claimed that he was moving it so that children wouldn't be able to see it as they were exploring the rocks, but i think that was just his cover story.
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then he found a ridiculously huge piece of kelp and whipped it around like he was indiana jones.
at one of the lookout points there was an island covered with sea lions a few hundred yards off the shore. there were 25c telescopes you could use to get a better look at the sunbathing lions, and i convinced sarah-mae to climb on the top step and use the telescope like a small child. i'm still not entirely sure how she got back down.
chris's favorite stop along the drive was "ghost tree" - a bleached cypress with a "menacing silhouette" - this is the tree, and chris doing an impression of the tree.
(sarah-mae is hiding in there. can you see her?)
there were a few signs along the way that i thought were funny - or at least odd enough that they deserved some closer attention. although it is definitely important to be aware of the possibility of a tsunami, i'm not sure why the man in the picture looks like a 1980's video game character. i'm also not sure i can run to higher ground fast enough to beat out a tidal wave.
i really don't know what "sensitive" land is, but just be sure not to hurt its feelings.
after our drive down the coast, we had to stop at the store to buy items for dinner. because i was looking for a specific brand of meat-free chicken patties (and because for some reason whole foods doesn't carry angel food cake), we ended up visiting four (yes, four) different grocery stores in the greater monterey area. i actually think that might be all of the grocery stores in the greater monterey area.
anyways, we eventually made it back to the house and despite chris's bad allergic reaction to the three cats (lucy, lydia, and thomas the infirm), we had a fun evening playing trivial pursuit for kids (yes, it's true) and watching death at a funeral. i also got my butt kicked at scrabble.
the next morning, after breakfast, a bit of football, and getting my butt kicked again at scrabble, we headed out to walk around cannery row and have lunch. the weather was a bit overcast, but not too cold, and we enjoyed buying overpriced candy ($13 for a bag of gummy worms?), browsing in odd antique shops, and laughing at novelty magnets. there used to be a converted warehouse with a carousel and arcade games right near the shops at cannery row; this is a place i can remember visiting during some of my earliest trips to monterey. i knew that the carousel was no longer running, but i remembered that the games were still up and running a few years back. we walked past the building, but everything was gone now, replaced by an imax theater. so much for nostalgia.
we had lunch at a great mexican place downtown, and said our goodbyes to sarah-mae. on the drive back to san jose, chris entertained me with cat-themed versions of his favorite songs (in honor of the cats that caused his allergic reaction, especially poor thomas, who had a football-sized tumor near his stomach and fell when he tried to jump up on a chair). chris's kareoke playlist included, pussycat face (like poker face), a meowed version of the theme from top gun (no, not danger zone, the actual theme music that is instrumental), and, my personal favorite, bohemian catsody.
we had lunch at a great mexican place downtown, and said our goodbyes to sarah-mae. on the drive back to san jose, chris entertained me with cat-themed versions of his favorite songs (in honor of the cats that caused his allergic reaction, especially poor thomas, who had a football-sized tumor near his stomach and fell when he tried to jump up on a chair). chris's kareoke playlist included, pussycat face (like poker face), a meowed version of the theme from top gun (no, not danger zone, the actual theme music that is instrumental), and, my personal favorite, bohemian catsody.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
the not-so-washington post
so i'm not in washington anymore. but after much thought and consideration, i have decided to return to my blog as a means of documenting my adventures and reminding myself about the wonderful blessings in my life. and i'm sure you are all dying to know what i'm up to on any given day, aren't you? [lowers head and voice] aren't you?
okay, i'm not that narcissistic. read or don't read, i'm posting anyways! and hopefully, i will get back to all of the dc stuff i missed posting at the end of the summer when my family visited and my computer went ka-put. (sorry for that abrupt end to my regular entries, by the way!) until then, i will keep the name "stacyswashpost" because i'm too lazy to think of a new name, and because, hopefully, my adventures will return me to dc again someday soon.
okay, i'm not that narcissistic. read or don't read, i'm posting anyways! and hopefully, i will get back to all of the dc stuff i missed posting at the end of the summer when my family visited and my computer went ka-put. (sorry for that abrupt end to my regular entries, by the way!) until then, i will keep the name "stacyswashpost" because i'm too lazy to think of a new name, and because, hopefully, my adventures will return me to dc again someday soon.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
DC fun with Chris
I convinced Chris to go with me to Screen on the Green – a DC summer tradition where they show classic movies on the Mall in front of the Capitol. That night it was On the Waterfront, which I was really excited to enjoy al fresco. Chris went early to score a great spot, and I met him after work. We had PotBelly’s for dinner and played Scrabble on Chris’s phone while we waited for it to get dark. The movie was great, and even better to watch it on a pleasant summer night. I felt like a real DC resident!
On Tuesday, my DC friend Amy had a great hook-up for us: free tickets to the Nationals game. Did I mention that they were in the 2nd row behind the dugout? It was awesome! The game was pretty good, too – the Nats were behind until an 8th inning home run and rally for 6 runs and a win! Definitely the best game I’ve been to yet. Chris even managed to get a foul tip tossed to him by Willie Harris, and another from the bat boy. AND, when we were leaving, I saw David Gregory, host of Meet the Press – my first DC political celebrity sighting.
The view from our seats
During the President's race (a 4th inning tradition), Jefferson took a tumble - it was hilarious!
On Friday, we met up with Amy again and another friend, Tammy, for game night. Chris and Tammy are so much alike that we call Chris “Mammy” (as in Male Tammy) – last summer Tammy was out of town when Chris was visiting, so game night was their first chance to meet. Of course they hit it off, and we had a great night playing games. The only bad thing was that I was starting to feel a little sick, so we headed home a little early :(
My upset stomach continued into Saturday, ruining our plans to go to the Alexandria Irish Festival. Instead, we lounged around my studio most of the day. We had reservations at The Melting Pot for dinner, which turned into a surprise birthday dinner (thanks, Chris!), and fortunately, my stomach was feeling much better – and hungry for fondue! After dinner we went to see the new Harry Potter movie. I had been waiting a long time to see it, and it was worth the wait! Overall, it was a great way to end our week together. It was so great to have Chris visit!
On Tuesday, my DC friend Amy had a great hook-up for us: free tickets to the Nationals game. Did I mention that they were in the 2nd row behind the dugout? It was awesome! The game was pretty good, too – the Nats were behind until an 8th inning home run and rally for 6 runs and a win! Definitely the best game I’ve been to yet. Chris even managed to get a foul tip tossed to him by Willie Harris, and another from the bat boy. AND, when we were leaving, I saw David Gregory, host of Meet the Press – my first DC political celebrity sighting.
The view from our seats
During the President's race (a 4th inning tradition), Jefferson took a tumble - it was hilarious!
On Friday, we met up with Amy again and another friend, Tammy, for game night. Chris and Tammy are so much alike that we call Chris “Mammy” (as in Male Tammy) – last summer Tammy was out of town when Chris was visiting, so game night was their first chance to meet. Of course they hit it off, and we had a great night playing games. The only bad thing was that I was starting to feel a little sick, so we headed home a little early :(
My upset stomach continued into Saturday, ruining our plans to go to the Alexandria Irish Festival. Instead, we lounged around my studio most of the day. We had reservations at The Melting Pot for dinner, which turned into a surprise birthday dinner (thanks, Chris!), and fortunately, my stomach was feeling much better – and hungry for fondue! After dinner we went to see the new Harry Potter movie. I had been waiting a long time to see it, and it was worth the wait! Overall, it was a great way to end our week together. It was so great to have Chris visit!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
New York adventures
After a quick nap and getting ready, the three of us headed out to enjoy the New York nightlife. One of Ari’s friends had a connection at a hotel bar, so we were able to get right in and head up to the club, which was in the hotel penthouse. The three-story penthouse was incredible – and large enough to serve as a great nightspot. We headed up to the roof, which had a hot tub, couches, and an incredible view of the city. I was very bummed that I didn’t bring my camera – we could practically see the whole city! It was definitely a different kind of place, I couldn’t imagine staying in a penthouse like that! But it made for a very memorable NY night out!
After a late night out, we decided to sleep in the next morning. Once we did rouse ourselves awake, we headed to a delicious spot for lunch – Goodburger. After filling up on yummy food, we decided to take a walk through Central Park. I think the park is my favorite place in NY. It is so beautiful and peaceful, but lively and fun at the same time. I would spend all day there if I could!
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to spend all day. Chris and I had to head back to Ari’s to grab our luggage and catch our bus to DC.
After a late night out, we decided to sleep in the next morning. Once we did rouse ourselves awake, we headed to a delicious spot for lunch – Goodburger. After filling up on yummy food, we decided to take a walk through Central Park. I think the park is my favorite place in NY. It is so beautiful and peaceful, but lively and fun at the same time. I would spend all day there if I could!
I took a few pics trying to get the park in the background. I think Chris was tired of re-takes.
I love Central Park!
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to spend all day. Chris and I had to head back to Ari’s to grab our luggage and catch our bus to DC.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
NY NY
What an exciting week! It began last Friday, when I took the train from Union Station after a day of work. I rode in to New York, where my friend Ari lives and where Chris was going to fly in Saturday morning. I met up with my friend and we headed out to the east village to an Italian restaurant that a friend of mine recommended. It was a quiet place with great outdoor seating and delicious food. After dinner, we headed back to Brooklyn to Ari’s place to relax and catch up.
We had to get up at the crack of dawn to pick up Chris at JFK, and thanks to zipcar, we were able to take a car, pick him up, and be back within about an hour (have I mentioned that I love zipcar?). Of course, it was great to see Chris, but it was also very early, so we pretty much went right to sleep when we got back to Ari’s place.
We woke up a few hours later ready to see the sights. Our adventure began with a trip out to Coney Island – not an actual island, but the beach and boardwalk in Brooklyn/Queens that has always been a popular summer spot. Our first stop was Nathan’s famous for lunch. Chris was excited to try the official hotdog of the hotdog eating contest, and I was particularly entertained by the little red picks they give out to use as forks.
Ari and Chris at Coney Island
We had to get up at the crack of dawn to pick up Chris at JFK, and thanks to zipcar, we were able to take a car, pick him up, and be back within about an hour (have I mentioned that I love zipcar?). Of course, it was great to see Chris, but it was also very early, so we pretty much went right to sleep when we got back to Ari’s place.
We woke up a few hours later ready to see the sights. Our adventure began with a trip out to Coney Island – not an actual island, but the beach and boardwalk in Brooklyn/Queens that has always been a popular summer spot. Our first stop was Nathan’s famous for lunch. Chris was excited to try the official hotdog of the hotdog eating contest, and I was particularly entertained by the little red picks they give out to use as forks.
Ari and Chris at Coney Island
Me enjoying my little red pick and my cheese fries
After a delicious bite to eat, we headed to the boardwalk. It was great to see the ocean again – it has been a while! Since it was an incredibly beautiful day, there was no surprise that the beach was packed. We strolled down the boardwalk for a while, walked through the games and sideshows, considered taking a ride on The Cyclone, and decided we should definitely stick our feet in the Atlantic Ocean. It was much easier once we were at the far end of the beach, where there were fewer families enjoying the warm summer day. We walked along the water until the crowds were thick again, and headed back toward the boardwalk – and the subway.
We hopped back on the subway for a long ride back to Manhattan. The next stop on our itinerary: taking the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty. Our timing was perfect and we practically walked right onto the ferry without waiting. It was incredible to see the Manhattan skyline come into full view as we pulled farther out into the river. I was also pleasantly surprised by the closer view of the Statue of Liberty. Last year, I was disappointed by how small it looked from Battery Park – but riding past on the ferry was a delight. I took about a million photos...
After our return trip from Staten Island, we walked downtown to Ground Zero. Somehow we missed the information and memorial center… But I was impressed by two things: 1) the gaping open space in a highly developed urban center, and 2) the strength of the American spirit to pick up, carry on, and redevelop, with respect for the gravity of the event.
We walked by Wall Street, through Chinatown (where we picked up a few souveniers), and into Little Italy. Dinner in Little Italy was a highlight of my trip last year, and I was excited to try a new place. We ended up at Vincent’s, famous for their three types of marinara sauce. DELICIOUS! The three of us enjoyed our meals and cheap sangria (I would have ordered another pitcher if I knew it was only $9!) on the patio while we watched tourists walk by and a Chinese woman scream into her cell phone. I think Chris really enjoyed his first day in New York! I know I did!
After a delicious bite to eat, we headed to the boardwalk. It was great to see the ocean again – it has been a while! Since it was an incredibly beautiful day, there was no surprise that the beach was packed. We strolled down the boardwalk for a while, walked through the games and sideshows, considered taking a ride on The Cyclone, and decided we should definitely stick our feet in the Atlantic Ocean. It was much easier once we were at the far end of the beach, where there were fewer families enjoying the warm summer day. We walked along the water until the crowds were thick again, and headed back toward the boardwalk – and the subway.
We hopped back on the subway for a long ride back to Manhattan. The next stop on our itinerary: taking the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty. Our timing was perfect and we practically walked right onto the ferry without waiting. It was incredible to see the Manhattan skyline come into full view as we pulled farther out into the river. I was also pleasantly surprised by the closer view of the Statue of Liberty. Last year, I was disappointed by how small it looked from Battery Park – but riding past on the ferry was a delight. I took about a million photos...
After our return trip from Staten Island, we walked downtown to Ground Zero. Somehow we missed the information and memorial center… But I was impressed by two things: 1) the gaping open space in a highly developed urban center, and 2) the strength of the American spirit to pick up, carry on, and redevelop, with respect for the gravity of the event.
We walked by Wall Street, through Chinatown (where we picked up a few souveniers), and into Little Italy. Dinner in Little Italy was a highlight of my trip last year, and I was excited to try a new place. We ended up at Vincent’s, famous for their three types of marinara sauce. DELICIOUS! The three of us enjoyed our meals and cheap sangria (I would have ordered another pitcher if I knew it was only $9!) on the patio while we watched tourists walk by and a Chinese woman scream into her cell phone. I think Chris really enjoyed his first day in New York! I know I did!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
RAND Slams
When I found out I would be back in DC for another summer, I contacted one of my coworkers, Kristy, to ask if I could join the softball team again. Last summer, I had a great time playing with the team, and it was a great way to make friends in a new city.
Tonight was our last game for the season, and I wish there were more! Our season record wasn’t great (we didn’t win a single game!), but I had a ton of fun – and took pictures to prove it! Here are some of the highlights from a few different games.
That's us, in purple (and one in red).....
Tonight was our last game for the season, and I wish there were more! Our season record wasn’t great (we didn’t win a single game!), but I had a ton of fun – and took pictures to prove it! Here are some of the highlights from a few different games.
That's us, in purple (and one in red).....
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Thursday, July 23, 2009
Sisters, part 2
One of the things my sister most wanted to do on her visit was sleep in – so we did. Then, we headed to the Mall to visit the Capitol building and the White House. I think Kelly was a little disappointed in the White House – it is just a building after all, and you have to stand way far away and take pictures through the fence. It doesn’t really engender great patriotism. After grabbing a quick bite (I ♥ potbelly), we headed to the American History Museum. Last summer, the museum was closed for renovation, so I was really excited to visit for the first time. The American History museum is filled with all things American – an exhibit on Presidential artifacts, an exhibit on immigration, an exhibit on the flag that inspired the national anthem, the evolution of transportation… the list goes on and on.
One of my favorite exhibits was actually to preview the Museum of African American History. They had photos taken by Robert and George Scurlock, who documented African American culture in Washington DC in the 20th century. It was incredible! I also enjoyed the pop culture exhibit, which featured a Kermit the Frog, Seinfeld’s poofy shirt, and a piece of the original Dumbo ride at Disneyland.
Steven T. Colbert, DFA
Apparently, on the original ride, Dumbo's ears flap - which makes perfect sense, since that's how he flies in the movie! Why did they change that?
On Sunday, we headed into Chinatown to get lunch (thanks, Erica!) – my sister doesn’t get any good Chinese food in Indiana. Then, we went to Eastern Market and did a little browsing (and some purchasing!). It was the first day that was genuinely hot, but fortunately, still not too humid or gross. After Eastern Market, we went back to my apartment to cool off, and after the sun went down, we decided to venture back outside for an evening movie. A great way to end our day!
Monday morning, I had to say goodbye to Kelly, and before I took her to the airport, we rode around in our convertible mini-cooper on a driving tour of the major DC sites. It was a great way to see the monuments – and thanks to traffic, we could actually see them as we waited for the stoplights to change. I even ended up a little sunburnt from our “topless” experience.
Monday morning, I had to say goodbye to Kelly, and before I took her to the airport, we rode around in our convertible mini-cooper on a driving tour of the major DC sites. It was a great way to see the monuments – and thanks to traffic, we could actually see them as we waited for the stoplights to change. I even ended up a little sunburnt from our “topless” experience.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sister Weekend - part 1
Last weekend my sister Kelly came to visit and spend the weekend in DC. I wanted to surprise her by picking her up at the airport with her favorite car – a convertible Mini Cooper, and ZipCar was happy to help. (By the way, I love being a zipcar member, and if you use the link on this page to sign up we both get a $25 driving credit!)
I’ve never driven a convertible before and once I got my hair to stop flying in my face, I really enjoyed it! The drive from DC to Baltimore was beautiful, and the weather was perfect. It was the best way to start our sister weekend!
Once we got back from the airport, we dropped off the car and headed toward the International Spy Museum. We stopped for a picture on the Mall…
And eventually made it downtown to the Spy Museum. I had been last year with Chris, but it had been so packed that it was hard to see everything. This time it was far less crowded, and Kelly and I really enjoyed learning everything about being a spy. We decided that we would both be terrible spies. In one part of the museum, they suggested different ways to alter your appearance – a hat, glasses, squinting your eyes… Here we are using those strategies – I know you can barely recognize us!
We grabbed a bite to eat and headed to the American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery. After a few hours there, we were ready to head home – after a quick stop at Red Velvet Cupcakery – Yum!
I’ve never driven a convertible before and once I got my hair to stop flying in my face, I really enjoyed it! The drive from DC to Baltimore was beautiful, and the weather was perfect. It was the best way to start our sister weekend!
Once we got back from the airport, we dropped off the car and headed toward the International Spy Museum. We stopped for a picture on the Mall…
And eventually made it downtown to the Spy Museum. I had been last year with Chris, but it had been so packed that it was hard to see everything. This time it was far less crowded, and Kelly and I really enjoyed learning everything about being a spy. We decided that we would both be terrible spies. In one part of the museum, they suggested different ways to alter your appearance – a hat, glasses, squinting your eyes… Here we are using those strategies – I know you can barely recognize us!
We grabbed a bite to eat and headed to the American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery. After a few hours there, we were ready to head home – after a quick stop at Red Velvet Cupcakery – Yum!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Fourth weekend
After last year’s fourth of July extravaganza, I decided I wanted to do something a little less patriotic this year. Amy mentioned that a friend of hers would be watching the fireworks from his boat at the marina, and asked if I wanted to join her. Of course I wanted to join her! We headed down to the waterfront with only a few minutes to spare before the festivities, but we ran into Amy’s friend almost immediately and he was a great boat host. Watching the fireworks from the marina was definitely different from being at the Jefferson Memorial – it was peaceful and relaxing. It helps that this year it was at least 15* cooler than last year. After the fireworks, Amy and I were headed back to the metro when her friend Jason called – he was nearby, so he picked us up and we all grabbed a bite to eat downtown.
The next day, I had a ticket to the Nationals game, thanks to a friend who couldn’t use her season ticket. The weather was perfect, the seat was great, and the Nationals even won!
the crowds moving in...
a great seat!
The next day, I had a ticket to the Nationals game, thanks to a friend who couldn’t use her season ticket. The weather was perfect, the seat was great, and the Nationals even won!
the crowds moving in...
a great seat!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Artomatic
Last Thursday, I wrangled one of the other summer associates into going to Artomatic, DC’s annual art show with hundreds of local artists. I had a great time last year, and this year did not disappoint. There were some pieces I didn’t really get (a display piled with hubcaps), some I liked a lot (lots of incredible photography), and some that were extremely memorable (a display of “homewrecker” Barbie dolls – it was art therapy). Just like last year, my favorite part of the show was the Peepsomatic. For those of you not familiar with this, it is a display of dioramas featuring the delicious marshmallow treat, Peeps. Here are the most clever from this year:
The Peep is Right:
Top Peep:
You can find an entire slideshow at Washington Post (the real one) online.
The Peep is Right:
Top Peep:
RollerPeep
This one was called Sweet Revenge (the peeps are making little human-shaped treats called "Peeple")
You can find an entire slideshow at Washington Post (the real one) online.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
My Welsh weekend
I finally have internet in my apartment - hip hip hooray!
After two weeks at Rand, I feel like I’ve been there for months – in a good way. Last summer I inadvertently ended up with an office, while my fellow summer associates slaved away in cubicles. This summer, my workspace is in a converted conference room where they have lined the three main walls with desks and planted an intern on each wall. I don’t mind it, except that my desk is positioned on the back wall, so anytime anyone comes into the conference room they can see my computer screen (and likely facebook or email that is distracting me from real work). I also miss seeing the outside world – last year my office didn’t have a window, but the office across the hall did, and his door was open most of the time.
Anyways, last weekend I went to the Smithsonian folklife festival. Sarah-Mae and I went last year when she was visiting, and I was excited to go again. This year’s themes were: Latin American music, words in African American culture, and Wales. I wandered through the musica latina section first, and enjoyed the groups that were playing. Next was Wales, which had some incredible demonstrations by craftsmen (and women) from Wales. There was a display with woodcarving, slate carving, blacksmithing, clog-making, stone-wall building… there was even a session on traditional Welsh song and dance and the demonstrator was able to get the entire tent of people singing and dancing – it was great to watch! The African American section was also really interesting. There was a Michael Jackson tribute area, playing his hits all day, and since the focus was on words and stories, there were a number of performances by poets, comedians, puppeteers, and storytellers. It was so entertaining!
I want to carve my name in slate like this guy!
That Welsh chick was breaking up stones with a sledgehammer - it was awesome!
Yes, her! The skinny one in the left corner!
The next day, I really wanted to continue my Welsh theme and go see Christian Bale (he’s Welsh) in Terminator 4. I even found a veggie restaurant near the movie theater. The bad news was that the theater and café were in Georgetown, which is about a mile from the nearest Metro stop. Fortunately, the weather has been gorgeous, so I didn’t mind the walk. I made it all the way to the theater when I discovered that I had read the schedule wrong, and the movie was not going to be showing any more that day. L To make matters worse, the restaurant I picked out didn’t open for another hour and a half (which would have been perfect if the movie had been at the time I thought). Anyways, the walk back to the Metro was nice.
After two weeks at Rand, I feel like I’ve been there for months – in a good way. Last summer I inadvertently ended up with an office, while my fellow summer associates slaved away in cubicles. This summer, my workspace is in a converted conference room where they have lined the three main walls with desks and planted an intern on each wall. I don’t mind it, except that my desk is positioned on the back wall, so anytime anyone comes into the conference room they can see my computer screen (and likely facebook or email that is distracting me from real work). I also miss seeing the outside world – last year my office didn’t have a window, but the office across the hall did, and his door was open most of the time.
Anyways, last weekend I went to the Smithsonian folklife festival. Sarah-Mae and I went last year when she was visiting, and I was excited to go again. This year’s themes were: Latin American music, words in African American culture, and Wales. I wandered through the musica latina section first, and enjoyed the groups that were playing. Next was Wales, which had some incredible demonstrations by craftsmen (and women) from Wales. There was a display with woodcarving, slate carving, blacksmithing, clog-making, stone-wall building… there was even a session on traditional Welsh song and dance and the demonstrator was able to get the entire tent of people singing and dancing – it was great to watch! The African American section was also really interesting. There was a Michael Jackson tribute area, playing his hits all day, and since the focus was on words and stories, there were a number of performances by poets, comedians, puppeteers, and storytellers. It was so entertaining!
I want to carve my name in slate like this guy!
That Welsh chick was breaking up stones with a sledgehammer - it was awesome!
Yes, her! The skinny one in the left corner!
The next day, I really wanted to continue my Welsh theme and go see Christian Bale (he’s Welsh) in Terminator 4. I even found a veggie restaurant near the movie theater. The bad news was that the theater and café were in Georgetown, which is about a mile from the nearest Metro stop. Fortunately, the weather has been gorgeous, so I didn’t mind the walk. I made it all the way to the theater when I discovered that I had read the schedule wrong, and the movie was not going to be showing any more that day. L To make matters worse, the restaurant I picked out didn’t open for another hour and a half (which would have been perfect if the movie had been at the time I thought). Anyways, the walk back to the Metro was nice.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Settling In
My journey to Washington , DC , actually began in Ann Arbor , Michigan Michigan
I enjoyed last summer’s lengthy train ride from DC to Chicago (until the very end, anyways), and this one was going to be much shorter (most of which would be overnight), so I thought it would be fine. Little did I know that the tracks in
I managed to make it to DC in one piece, although I started to get a bit of cabin fever around 9pm – you can’t blame me, I had been on the train for 19 hours! Thankfully, when we finally arrived at 11pm, my favorite Virginian, Amy (who I lived with last summer), picked me up, took me to a late night diner, and let me stay the night at her place.
The next morning, I met up with the person who had my subletted apartment keys. I opened the door to my studio and was pleasantly surprised by the cute little place. There was very little in the apartment itself: a bed, a loveseat, a bench used as a coffee table, 3 chairs (no table), a few forks and knives, and one plate, but no cookware whatsoever. Obviously, my first errand was to purchase a pot and a pan (and table).
Saturday, June 27, 2009
We are experiencing technical difficulties. Please stand by.
I have been in DC for a week, and have really enjoyed my return. My week has gone by very quickly, and yet somehow I feel right at home at RAND. I don't yet feel right at home in my subletted apartment, though, mostly because I can't seem to get the internet working. I'm hoping to get the technical difficulties worked out in the next few days and then I will be up and running.
Be back soon!
Be back soon!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
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