Roosevelt Island

Between Virginia and DC, in the middle of the Potomac River, sits a small island. Frank and I couldn't decide if it was in VA or DC, but we decided it doesn't matter anyway since it is federal land.

Theodore Roosevelt Island is a living memorial to the conservationist President. There is large statue of him in the midst of a few fountains and pillars with his quotes.

The woods on the island are pretty dense, but the foot paths are wide. On occasion we've seen wildlife, but the day we went it was too cold for critters.

Well, some critters. Hamilton came with us, he didn't seem to mind the cold.

Such a fun little adventure, right outside our doorstep! I highly recommend it, and while we've seen strollers there I would suggest using a carrier - the terrain is uneven and there are plenty of muddy areas...I'd hate to try to clean off a stroller after a jaunt around the island.

Wordless Wednesday: DC Livin'

Something about Cherryblossoms

I can't tell you why, and I promise it isn't on purpose, but for some reason Frank and I plan major life events that are set to coincide with the first day of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Three years ago we were married on March 29th - the same day that the 2008 Festival kicked off.

This year, the festival kicks off on March 26th, my due date.

Maybe in three years we'll close on a house on March 29th, which should be the first day of the 2014 Cherry Blossom Festival.

I guess for now I'll hope that kiddo comes a little early and perhaps I can make it out to the tidal basin while the blossoms are still out. (because every good DC Metro area resident knows you don't go into the city at very beginning of the festival - too many tourists!)

I'm Excited About: Carmen!

My little Carmacita is coming to visit today! She arrives this afternoon around 4:30 via Mega Bus, which conveniently drops off passengers about a block from my office.

I have no idea what we'll do this weekend, especially since I'm not supposed to over-exert myself physically (makes being touristy tough when you're not supposed to walk at speed for more than a few feet at a time...) but I'm sure we'll have fun no matter what we decide!

I think the most interesting little factoid about my Carmacita is that I love her so much that when I moved to DC I kind of acquired a DC version of her. I swear it wasn't on purpose, and I didn't even realize it until the two of them met, but Tina and Carmen...kind of the same person...


Carmen is also one of my 'little sisters' from Salem. I think she officially has another Big, but I claim her as mine anyway! She was a bridesmaid in my wedding and is a constant source of entertainment in my life.

I'm so excited that she is coming to visit, I'm sure I'll be completely exhausted by the time the weekend is over but it will all be worth it!

And also, Happy (30th) Birthday to my big brother, Rob!

Seriously?!

When did it become mid-November? Thanksgiving is next week, real winter weather is headed our way this weekend, Macy's windows are all covered up because they are doing their big Christmas window display reveal next week.

When did this happen?? I need a week off to catch up with life or else I'm going to be ready for Christmas some time in February.

Anyway, the good news is that my parents and younger brother will be making their way up to our house next week for Thanksgiving! I'm looking forward to spending some down time with them up in our neck of the woods. I really do love where we live, I just get so caught up in life that I often forget to take advantage of it. Hopefully I can do a little DC living while the family is in town.

I'm Excited About: Top Chef DC

Top Chef is back! And this season is in DC! It is fun to see the landmarks that I pass every day, and figure out which building rooftop the crew is on, and scan the crowds of guests for a familiar face. It is also fun to realize how ridiculous some of the voice overs are; "Mt Vernon, one of America's best known historical sites".... actually, I bet less than 50% of Americans would recognize Mt Vernon for what it is on sight.

I'm having trouble attaching to any particular contestants this season. While there are already a few culinary standouts, no one has shown the kind of personality that has been around in the last couple of seasons. The Las Vegas cast was just too good, I guess.

Perhaps as the season goes on and the bottom of the pack is culled, things may get more interesting. In the mean time, take a moment to remember how many good chefs have come from this metro area - Carla, Spike, Voltagio the elder, not bad for a city that no one calls home. Another side note, Spike is opening his new pizza place in July. It is next door to his "Good Stuff Eatery" on the Hill, and will be called "We the Pizza." If you like his burgers (which I do), give his pizza a shot this summer.

And, good on you DC! A Real World season and a Top Chef season, back to back - what's next? Jersey Shore: Our Nation's Capital? I would pay big money to see Snooki as a Hillturn.

They're Baaaaack

Summer in DC is an amazing time of year. Tourists crowd the metro and the streets giving flawed historical tours to their families, and interns try to blend in by being self-important and giving the tourist bad directions.

These two groups of invaders also do one other thing; they provide endless material for some wonderful blogs. My two favorites are "Spotted: DC Summer Interns" and "The DCist: Overheard in DC".

As I do every summer, I'm trying my best to not get annoyed with the families, school groups, and intern classes that break all of the rules (standing by the metro doors both inside and outside the train, not taking open seats and therefore blocking access to said open seat, blocking the escalators/not standing to the right, walking on the left, taking 20 minutes to figure out how to use the turnstiles, deciding that just on the other side of the turnstile is the best place to gather your group of 30 people) and so far we're doing alright. But today is the first day of July so we've got a ways to go before the hoards die down and we return to normal life again.

I think someone needs to publish a "visitor's guide to DC public transit" that gets handed out like the morning papers. I just think those of us living here might gain a little more faith in the rest of the country if someone just told them right away that 8am and 5pm are not the best time to take your 4th graders on the metro through downtown.

Happy summering!

What Washington can do to You

I've lived here for a little over 4 years, worked in the city for a little over 3 years, and it has changed me.

I voted in the presidential primaries. That wasn't strange. What was strange was that I voted in the Democratic primary, and I voted for Hillary Clinton.

I feel like I just went to confession or something. I feel better, but I feel like I should be saying "Hail Mary"s and "Our Father"s.

The reason I am confessing this awful thing now, is that I find myself in that kind of situation again now. With Health Care Reform.

It is atrocious; the proposals, the deals, the attempts to bypass all normal procedure, even to bypass the normal unorthodox procedure, it is all awful. But I want it to keep going.

The longer the country and Congress are focused on Health Care, be it for or against, the more they leave the financial services industry alone. See? Is it starting to make sense?

Just like in the Democratic primary, I've seen what I think the result is on one side so I'm pulling for the most drawn out and painful destruction of the other side.

And sometimes that means I say things like "Thank goodness for health care," and my other friends in financial services say "I know, keep it coming!"

Where did the days go?

It is Wednesday, again. The days seem to drag and fly by at the same time! Here is a quick update on life:

1. I painted the dining room and now only have one room left to paint (living room). I'm hoping to get that finished before our housewarming party this weekend. The bathroom wall cabinet has arrived but needs to be installed, that may have to wait until Friday.

2. We went to our last 'law prom' on Saturday night and had a blast! It is crazy to think that Frank and his friends are almost finished with school, but I'm excited that we're almost there! Next comes the Bar in July, then real life begins.

3. Frank and I agreed on a rug for the dining room, now we just have to find time to go get it. Maybe we can agree on a rug for the bedroom and office, too - it would be nice to knock it out in one trip.

4. I'm annoyed with politicians that make asses of themselves. You aren't going to win support from people that matter with idiotic press stunts. Sure, you may be able to twist it around so that your lemmings back home think you are great, but everyone in Washington can see through your farce and it makes you look stupid. No one wants to work with someone that is stupid (except Obama, who chose Biden as VP...I will never understand that) so good luck getting anything done between your ridiculous grandstanding. ugh (these comments are aimed at Stephen Lynch of MA, and Ari David of CA)

Different Things

Recently I've been noticing differences between my life here and my life back in South Carolina. I think that I've been here long enough that these things are no longer new, they are the norm for me but for some reason they are standing out.

Going to church involves 2 highways and a parkway and two counties - in SC it was 4 turns on 5 streets (5 turns if you count coming out of the driveway)

I cross a river and a state line every time I go to work or come home - in SC I left the county to go to the beach or college

Taking a bus is a viable transportation option - I don't even know if Spartanburg has buses

I don't know my friends' parents - I call my parents' friends by their first names

I listen to my iPod constantly in public to avoid strangers - I ran into people I know constantly in public

Last week I signed into a building for class right behind Karl Rove - That would have rocked my world 5 years ago

There were more things, but I can't remember them now...

I think it is interesting that I have things I love about each place, and things I would change at the same time. I guess I'm lucky that I like where I come from and I like where I am.