Things I Was Doing Instead of Updating This Blog

So over the past few months I’ve been a MAJOR Slacker (salute) and have completely ignored this fantastic (if I do say so myself) blog. However, I do have a good excuse.

Well maybe not, but I have been crossing things off my DC Bucket List! And here’s an update:

• Hiked Billy Goat A (and a few of the other trails in Great Falls) and survived. Also, had a blast. I love scrambling rocks and hopping around like a billy goat, and even enjoyed the traverse. Side note: more recently at work I’ve designed up some safety signs the aforementioned trail.
• Went on a bit of a photo walk along the National Mall and was able to get some decent shots! I could spend hours contemplating life there. I could (read: have) also spend hours yelling in the direction of Congress for being stupid.
• I had planned on actually going up IN the Washington Monument and knocking that off my list, but a little earthquake in August knocked the Monument around instead, so now it’s closed indefinitely.
• In October I made a trip home for one of my long time best friends wedding, which was fabulous. Also got to make my Texas State Fair pilgrimage that included the mandatory corny dog and deep fried deliciousness.
• One of my amazing friends out here hired me to take her engagement photos. We spent the day in DC taking shots all over the city, had lunch at the Old Ebbitt Grill, saw the Warhol ‘Shadows’ exhibit at the Hirshhorn, and ended the day seeing Dawes at the Black Cat. Definitely one of the most fun days of the fall.
• In early November my work people went biking along the Canal and we stayed in one of the historic lockhouses, which was pretty great. Definitely should have been biking that thing all summer, it was super fun.

And now, some photos:

THUNDERSNOW.

Tuesday evening Weathermen across the region started the big freakout about the impending doom of SNOW. Me, being the Weatherman skeptic that I am, shrugged off the warnings and planned for a normal work-filled Wednesday and Thursday.


What occurred during the next 48 hrs will forever make me question my hatred and disregard for Weathermen and Weatherwomen everywhere.


THUNDERSNOW.
also known as a winter thunderstorm or a thunder snowstorm, is a rare thunderstorm with snow falling as the primary precipitation instead of rain. thanks wikipedia.


SLEET. and then SNOW. and then more SNOW. and it began to accumulate. and accumulate some more.


Now this may be just a drop in the hat for you experienced SNOW folk, but for me it was EPIC. I also had no idea how to deal with it, so I opted for the ever so brave: hide-inside-and-don’t-leave-for-anything approach. (Did I mention it was 70 degrees in my hometown this week?) Two days of No-Pants Work Party (aka Telework), a snow walk with disappointing polaroids (but other cool photos), digging my car out of a 2’ high snow fort, and a SNOWMAN! Craziest week of the year (so far), and we may be in for a repeat performance on Tuesday! 


I will definitely be paying attention Weathermen- don’t let me down.

snow brush inside car. 2' pile along the back.

It's Been One Week

One week, 1400 miles, 22+ hours of driving and 6 states since I arrived in Maryland. The majority of which was spent getting to know the area and searching like a maniac for a place to live. My hopes for snagging a cute “downtown” loft were shattered early on, but I ended up finding a nice place within biking distance to work and walking distance to the market (score!).  This week wasn’t all serious stuff though; in fact it ended up being more fun than anything! To break up the trip, my Dad (who so wonderfully helped me move) and I stayed the night in Nashville and met up with my brother for some fun, live music and beer on Broadway. After making it into Maryland (almost winning the license plate game: 45 states and 3 international!), meeting the great people at my new office and beginning the great apartment hunt we headed out to Leitersburg for the Annual Peach Festival. Later in the week we went to Gettysburg for some good ol’ Civil War fun. The history buff side of me is LOVING being in such close proximity to so much amazing American History. (Side note: I’m also not used to this whole: I can drive less than an hour and be in a different state thing. Exciting!). We ended the week going to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, where I learned: 1. There are over 400 different species of sharks and 94% of them are considered harmless 2. Jellyfish are seriously interesting to watch 3. I don’t like sharing viewing space with small children (I WANT TO SEE TOO!) and the best part 4. The aquarium has a volunteer diver program where you can help out IN THE TANKS! After viewing some crabs at the aquarium we decided it was time to eat some delicious crab at Obrycki’s before I dropped Dad off at the airport. 


Now I’m currently sitting in the middle of my living room floor staring at towers of boxes, mostly labeled ‘BOOKS’. I have a strong dislike for the unpacking part of the moving process. While it’s exciting to set up a new place and decide where everything can go and make it all cute and homey- you have to decide where to put things! OVERWHELMING. It has also become abundantly clear that, while I have too many things, I have no useful things. For example: my kitchen is practically empty. There are the couple Belikin Beer glasses I picked up in Belize, some divided plates (an issue for a different post) and far too many Nalgenes. Dad to the rescue again and voila! I am now the owner of a toaster oven. Now if I could only make myself walk to the market and buy groceries…


Tomorrow starts my first official first day at the new job! (Does anyone know where all my grown-up clothes are?)

Nashville

Antique Tractors in Leitersburg

Gettysburg

Sea Horse