FOMO

Long time no blog!  I figured I had to break the silence and give a quick run-down of our summer since our initial wedding crush.

I finished working at the end of June, and kicked of my three-week funemployment by going to New York with my family for a joint birthday party for my dad and an engagement party for Dan and I.  While he wasn't able to attend {he was at a bachelor party in Manhattan that weekend}, it was wonderful to see a large group of family.  It was the first time in years that we had gotten so many of us together, so it was great to be surrounded by so much love.

A few days later, we left for our much-anticipated San Francisco trip, and it certainly did not disappoint.  While I thought I was looking for a relaxing vacation after a year of non-stop high-stress work, it turned out to be the opposite of relaxing.  Oh well!  But you know what? It was actually my perfect vacation, because we were really active every day, whether that involved running, hiking, walking EVERYWHERE {and up very major hills} or riding bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge {we did that on the 4th of July, and ended up riding over 20 miles overall, including stopping in charming little Sausalito, where we were part of the old-timey 4th of July parade}.  We ate a TON of mouthwatering food - seriously, I don't think we had a good meal - ranging from a salad place near the Air Bnb we were staying in {which was so delicious we went back a second time} to an amazing Greek restaurant whose chef recently catered a White House event.  We spent lots of quality time with friends, including my friends Maggie and Jordan, but mostly Dan's friend from high school, Trey, his wife, Ashley, and Trey's brother, Ian, all of whom moved to SF recently but have an enviable knowledge of the city.  The three of them spent a ton of time with us, and we were so grateful for them setting up activities for us that were outside of the "touristy" description.  It was the perfect getaway, especially for my first time in California!

When we got back from San Francisco, we had four full days left in DC, and we really maxed them out, spending lots of quality time with family and friends, saying goodbye to some of our favorite restaurants and places.  The Saturday before we moved, Molly threw us an engagement/going-away party at Poste, which just filled me up with happiness.  There was so much love at that party, and almost all of our favorite Washingtonians were there, including both sets of parents.  I could not have asked for a better send-off.  

On July 14th, we packed everything into the U-Haul and Dan's car and drove away from the city that we have come to love so much.  I was hysterical as I said goodbye to my dad and my mom and I drove to Pittsburgh, our first stop on the way to Chicago {luckily, my mom was driving the first leg, which freed me up for some solid crying}.  We arrived in Chicago in the middle of the next afternoon, and we are pretty in love with our new place.  It is kind of industrial, with exposed ducts and unfinished ceilings, but, even with my love of everything old and clean when it comes to houses, I absolutely love it.  The location is fantastic too, allowing us easy access to many parts of the city, especially downtown.  I definitely feel like I am still in the adjustment phase.  I do love our apartment and I am enjoying exploring the city, but I am certainly not at the point where I love it here or it feels like home.  When people mention DC, my heart still skips a beat.

The job has been the biggest blemish of my experience here so far.  To make a long story short, there are a ton of personnel issues in the office, which were articulated to me starting on my first day.  Needless to say, I have gone home from work in tears on several days.  While I don't miss the office politics of my old office, I miss the work, and the students I worked with, terribly. One of my students sent me a really sweet card in the mail thanking me for everything I have done for her, and it honestly made my day, if not my week.  The work I'm doing now is just different, and I don't think I've quite adjusted to it yet.  I'm hoping that things start to get better soon.

The other thing I have been struggling with is significant FOMO. I was talking to Allie about it the other night over a yummy Indian dinner, asking her if she had felt as though she was sort of "out of sight, out of mind" when she left DC after graduation.  As I reflected on our conversation afterward, it struck me that this is very similar to how I felt during study abroad, when I realized that life goes on without me and, as it does, communication with friends fades.  I am looking forward to continuing to get together with Allie and Kristin, but they both have busy schedules, so I'm thinking that, until things pick up with the Partners Club through Dan's program, things might be a little lonely around here.  That has definitely been my overwhelming emotion since we got here.  We grabbed dinner with someone whose wife is in the program and lives in our building, so hopefully, little by little, we'll start making more connections like that one.

Last weekend, I met my family back in my beloved New England {seriously, that place practically makes me weak at the knees!} for a beautiful and moving memorial service for Terry.  Although he passed away back in April, they opted to do the memorial service later on, and, while it was certainly emotional, I appreciated the chance to say goodbye and be surrounded by people who loved and cared about him.  On Saturday morning, we made the short drive from Maine {where the memorial had been} to the Lake and enjoyed 2 1/2 days of uninterrupted sun and family and friend time.  There was definitely a sadness this year, as two members of the "Lake family" are battling cancer, and one is in pretty rough shape at this point.  You know what? Cancer sucks.  It freaking sucks.  I'm tired of people in my life dying from it, especially people in our Lake family.  When I got back to Chicago on Monday night, the first thing I saw on the TV monitors when I got off the plane was news of Robin Williams's suicide, which is obviously tragic and incredibly sad.  I know there is a lot at play with people who attempt suicide, and I have been fortunate enough to never have experienced feelings like that, but, after having been around so much suffering over the weekend, I was struck by the fact that these friends of ours WANT to live, and they're fighting SO hard.  To think that someone just threw it all away makes me really upset, when there are so many people who would do anything to be healthy.  Sorry for being depressing. Obviously it was an emotional weekend for me.  But, at the end of the day, we all got to spend time together in the most special and beautiful place on the face of the earth, so I was happy.

I'll hopefully post again soon with some summer pictures, but, in the meantime, I'm off to enjoy the weekend with Dan's family, since his parents are in town for a visit.  I'm looking forward to having a piece of DC here, even if only for a quick few days!

Prepping for the Move

This week is graduation week on the Hilltop, so that always gets me a little bit emotional.  I LOVE working at a university, but, for a person who hates goodbyes, it can be tough when each subsequent class graduates.  I am planning on staying especially far from campus this weekend, because I know that this graduation weekend, my last in DC, would churn up a lot of emotions.

So instead, we will be moving on Saturday…which will churn up a whole other set of feelings because of how much I despise moving.  We have to move to an interim apartment until the end of June, which, luckily, is furnished, meaning that all we have to do this weekend is pack up all of our stuff and move it to my parents' garage until the big move.  Dan pointed out that, once we do this weekend's move, the hard part will be done {at which point I reminded him that he was forgetting the 10-hour drive to our new home!}.   So the rest of our week will be spent packing up our mountains of stuff.  As much as I try to purge things I don't need, the piles don't seem to get any smaller.

I wanted to do a quick recap of this weekend, because it was so, so wonderful.  I have been trying to wrap my head around it, and the best way I can describe it is that it felt, over the course of the weekend, like I was single again.  Don't get me wrong, I love Dan so much and our relationship brings me so much joy every day, but it was so, SO nice to be able to call my own shots for the weekend and do whatever I wanted to without any concern for another person.  Friday was absolutely wonderful, starting just before I left work for the day and I made a kid cry with joy by telling him that we were admitting him off the waitlist.  It just gave me the warm fuzzies, you know?  I then proceeded to bake a ton and watch no fewer than three full episodes of House of Cards, and it was absolutely glorious.  I had to work from 9-1 on Saturday, which wasn't too brutal, and then did my swim and met up with my family.  Tim was in town, so it was great to have our little foursome together again!  I really do miss him, and am so glad that he is loving New York.  I think he was trying extra hard to be nice and cheerful, too, probably given that it was Mother's Day weekend, almost his birthday, and probably one of the last times we'll be together before Dan and I move.

We went out to a delicious dinner at The Hamilton {definitely recommend - I had the halibut and the beet salad, which were both heavenly}, and then I met up with Molly to go to a friend's birthday celebration in Columbia Heights.  It was great to see that group of friends, and then I got to have a sleepover with Molly, which was so lovely.  It has been really tough for us to get together over the past few months, due to how busy the two of us have been, so it was great to have lots of time to just catch up.  I am going to miss her so, so much.  On Sunday morning, after we grabbed breakfast, I headed back over to my parents' house and had some more time with the fam before Tim had to catch his bus.  By the time I got home from my swim afterward, Dan was back, and, although I loved my weekend of doing whatever I wanted, I was so happy to have him back!

On another very random note, The Bachelorette starts on Monday {yay!} and one of the contestants is a guy from my hometown who was in my class when I was in public school.  I have an inkling that he'll be a one-and-done contestant, but we'll see.  I'm hoping that this new apartment has DVR capabilities, or else we might have a problem!

Also, I am about a week in to swimming, and while I am far from being a talented swimmer, I am enjoying it!  My leg is definitely feeling better, so I'm hoping that it will be completely healed when I see the doc again on June 5th.  I think that I'll start using the Aqua Jogger at the pool in a few weeks - apparently it's fantastic for runners who are coming back from injuries.  I am just feeling so grateful that I am able to exercise!

Happy Wednesday, friends! We're almost over the hump!

I Can See the Finish Line!

First of all, can you tell it has been a calmer week at work? I've been blogging up a storm, given how infrequently I've been doing so for the past few months.  I've missed it!

Anywho, this was one of those weeks where I felt overscheduled and exhausted.  I blame the fact that it's getting to be that hot and humid time of year, allergies are still a killer and I have had something going on every night after work that has kept me up late.  But you know what?  That is just making me anticipate the impending weekend more.  Also, I had better get used to being busy today, because Dan and I compiled our Official DC Bucket List this week, and there is a ton of stuff on there {okay, mostly restaurants…OKAY, more dessert outings than I would like to admit}, so it's going to be go-go-go until the big move, which is tentatively going to be in mid-to-late July.

Dan is off to western PA for a bachelor party this weekend, so I will be making myself a yummy summer salad for dinner, watching embarrassing amounts of House of Cards and baking and consuming massive amounts of baked goods.  The thought of it just brings a smile to my face :)

I have to work tomorrow morning, but I have a swim to look forward to afterward, followed by dinner with my fam, because baby bro is in town!  Monday happens to be his birthday, so we're celebrating both his birthday and mother's day with dinner tomorrow night.  Also tomorrow, I'm helping a dear friend celebrate her birthday {the boot may be a slight issue for the dancing portion of the evening}, and then I'm having a sleepover with my bestie.  I am so, so pumped for this weekend!

I hope all of you have either an exciting or relaxing weekend, depending on what you're looking for!

A Monday Mish-Mash

Since it's Monday, I'm not really feeling like stinging together a full, coherent post, so I'll just comment on a few things that are floating around in my head right now:

• So, I have a stress fracture in my tibia.  You would think that I would learn my lesson from all of my many running injuries over the years, which seem to become more severe each time, but, for those of you who are runners too, you'll understand how hard it is to go without running, even for a day.  The last time I ran was the Cherry Blossom Ten-Miler on April 6th {which I actually finished in a  shockingly quick time of 1:19, given that I was already quite injured at that point}, and I'm really yearning to run again, especially since running outside at this time of year just fuels my love affair with DC.  Also, I'm not going to pretend that I haven't already plotted out races to run in Chicago.  The doc told me I have to wear my boot for the next 4-6 weeks, so I suppose it's a good thing that I already had one of those suckers sitting around in my closet.  The only reason why I'm not crying on a regular basis is because I'm allowed to swim!  I am in the process of joining a gym with a pool for the next month, and, after going for two swims over the weekend, I think it's safe to say that I'm hooked.  Now, if only I could get Dan to set foot in a pool…the poor thing is traumatized after swimming through college :)
• We had a lovely Easter with both of our families, spending Saturday night with Dan's family {we got to meet his brother's girlfriend and his adorable new dog, Charlotte, as well as see Dan's sister} and Easter Sunday with mine.  I am trying to count my blessings, particularly for these next few months, because I know that this may be the last time we live near our families…sob.
• Last weekend, we went out to the Windy City for Dan's revisit weekend.  While it still doesn't feel completely real that we are leaving our beloved DC in just a few months, I am so, SO excited to get to experience a new city. Having Kristin, Allie and Emily there will be a huge plus for me, and I felt really comfortable with the people that I met at all of the Partners Club events last weekend.  
• We are going to our first Nats game of the season tonight with a group of local admits from Dan's program.  I am excited to meet some of the people who we will be spending 4 years with, and I never turn down an opportunity to go to Nats Park.
• On Saturday, we went to a Drink the District event put on by Living Social.  Despite a brief downpour, it was a fun event, and we got to try lots of good beer and wine {as well as some not-so-tasty mint juleps}.  We went with a group of friends, and, after hanging out with them more at the end of the event, had to say what is likely to be our first goodbye {as some of the friends will be leaving for a few months in Europe next weekend}.  I definitely teared up in the cab ride home.  This endless series of goodbyes is not going to be easy...
• On Thursday, we went to a fun wine tasting event with Dan's parents that was put on by Wine Spectator.  The event was a lot of fun, although I would be lying if I said I wasn't intimidated by tasting a $1,000 wine.  I'll stick with my less-than-$20 bottles, thank you very much!!
• I need a vacation.  So badly.  Which is why I giddily happy that our San Francisco trip is creeping up on us.  I just need to recharge.
• So, I must confess that I've recently gotten hooked on House of Cards.  The show is fabulous!  Fortunately, Dan has no interest in political shows, which means that I can binge-watch this series {which he is less likely to do, hence the snail's pace with which we are going through my other current obsession, Friday Night Lights}.
• Oh, and looking for jobs and apartments is stressful.  I know, right?!  I know people mean well, but both searches are stressing me out to the point where I just don't want to talk about it.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! The rest of this week is supposed to turn summer-like, and I am using a bachelor party that Dan is going to this weekend as an excuse for some much-needed "me time', which will likely involve too much baking and too many episodes of House of Cards :)

A Loss

Earlier today, I found out that Terry, a very close family friend, passed away this morning after a nearly yearlong battle with brain cancer. I had known about Terry's illness from the time of his diagnosis, but never let myself believe that this seemingly indestructible man would succumb to such an ugly, evil disease.  I thought it would be therapeutic for me to write about the tremendous impact that Terry has had on me, for lack of a better way to distract myself from my grief over losing him.

I have known Terry my entire life, as he has been close friends with my parents since years before I was born.  He and my dad met at Potomac Boat Club, where my dad rowed after graduation, and they formed part of a tight-knit group, many of them former Georgetown rowers and/or coaches, for the rest of Terry's life.   The thing that sticks with me the most about Terry is that he never followed anyone's rules but his own.  My parents waffled about whether or not to invite him to their wedding; my dad was adamant about wanting to include his close friend, but my Grammy {who, apparently, controlled the guest list}insisted that he would probably not even come if invited, because he was living in Dallas at the time.  I think my mom supported Grammy's decision because she herself had only met Terry a few times.  Well, lo and behold, Terry showed up at their wedding, invitationless but not unwelcome in the least.   Later on in his life, Terry faced a diagnosis of diabetes, and, rather than change his ways completely, still managed to sneak in the occasional sweet treat that his doctors had prohibited him from enjoying.

The biggest role that Terry played in my life was offering up his beautiful Winnipesaukee lake house to my family, and a broader group of friends, every summer after he purchased the property in the late '80s.  I have waxed poetic before about the impact that the Lake has had on me, and so many of my fondest memories would never have come to fruition were it not for Terry's generosity.  Terry was the ringleader of the "Lake Family," and so clearly relished in having his friends' children around him.  I am certainly lucky to have the incredible father that I have, but I have always felt that, in this Lake family, I have so many other father figures, and Terry was certainly one for me.  He doted on us, loving to take us on boat rides to Wolfeboro {and, generally, show off his boating prowess}, take us out to breakfast, make us s'mores and make new purchases for the lake house that enhanced our fun {we never broke him on that water trampoline, though!}.

Some of my favorite memories of Terry include:

• One day, we were all hanging out down on the dock when the ball that Terry's dog was playing with fell in the water.  Since he had moved too slowly for a net to make a difference in retrieving it, Terry decided to lean precariously off the dock, with my dad's hand the only thing saving him from falling into the water.  Well, eventually my dad realized that he would make a game out of it and let Terry go.  Terry's head popped up from underwater and, with the biggest of grins on his face, said, in his thick Maine accent, "I trusted you, Petah!" {translation: Peter for you non-New Englanders}.
• Terry loved to rag on people.  It was just the kind of fun-loving guy that he was.  One favorite was when, just before Tim's freshman year at Georgetown, he sat Tim down and said, "Timmy, just don't fail out your first semester."  Tim always jokes about that because he actually did have a rocky first semester, and, when he graduated, he said something to the effect of, "I guess I proved Terry wrong."  On another occasion, my family sat around the living room with Terry and the two other families that we go to the Lake with every year and asked the three boys, Tim, Patrick and Jack, what their names would be if they were girls.  Jack and Patrick took the bait, but Tim, clearly uncomfortable, was bothered by the question.  Terry knew he had struck gold and continued to give Tim a hard time.  Finally, Tim asked Terry what his female name would be, and, without skipping a beat, he said, "Raymona" {his given first name was Raymond}.  He was always able to provide comic relief when it was appropriate.
• Terry LOVED his dogs, especially Angus, his German shepherd mix, and Abby, his chow mix.  Angus had the most benign personality of any dog I've ever seen, except when Terry mentioned "Buford", a neighbor's dog who Angus had some sort of beef with.  Whenever Terry wanted to get Angus riled up, all he had to say was "Buford," and the dog would growl and bare his fangs.
• He was the consummate outdoorsman, which is, perhaps, why New England was the only place that was ever truly "home" to him.  I have so many fond memories of hikes with Terry, with him leading the way with one of his dogs.  On one particular hike, up Mt. Major, a group of us had peeled off to take the shorter route, and Terry, accompanied by my dad and one of the other guys, attempted to lead them over to one of the other mountains.  Needless to say, the group got hopelessly lost, and Terry called his son Ben, who was living in Finland at the time, to describe exactly where they were {not in coordinates, mind you, but by the turns and rock formations that surrounded them} and Ben, who has a similar love of the outdoors, was able to help them navigate down the mountain.
• Terry's favorite beer was Schaeffer, much to the disdain of nearly everyone who he met {Schaeffer, which he pronounced "Schaeffah", is not necessarily a popular beer}.  But he loved it so much {maybe it was just to stick it to all of the haters}, but he loved it so much that he named his dog after it.
• The men of the Lake Family always knew that a trip to the Lake meant getting put to work, especially if you had the misfortune of being on the island for Memorial Day or Labor Day weekends.  Whether the group was hauling logs from the shallow part of the lake, trimming trees {Terry was fortunate enough to have a friend who, based on his job, had adequate supplies for that task} or putting the floating dock out on the lake, there was always some sort of manual labor involved.  We have extensive video of the gang putting the dock out over Memorial Day weekend that never ceases to leave us in stitches.  The men paddled the raft out from the beach, and made sure they were well-equipped for their 50-yard journey with a cooler full of Schaeffer and some deck chairs.  Needless to say, it ended sloppily, and many members of the group were pushed overboard by Terry.
• One 4th of July weekend, a bunch of us gathered down on the dock to watch Terry's son Ben and his friends set off some fireworks that they had purchased in honor of the occasion.  The combination of some poor aim and dry conditions  made the fireworks spew in the direction of some trees, catching them on fire.  Luckily for all of us, the fire put itself out, and Terry, of course, just dismissed the brush with disaster.
• Perhaps it was his memory or the sheer fact that there were so many of us {one Labor Day weekend, we counted over 40 people on the property, the overwhelming majority of those people sleeping in tents}, but Terry usually had to rattle off three or four names before finally arriving at your name when he tried to address you.  

It is strange for me to talk about Terry in the past tense, and I don't see that getting any easier.  Terry was someone who loved being surrounded by people, whether that was family or friends.  He was one of the friendliest people I have ever met, and I know that I speak for many others when I say that heaven gained a true angel today.  My dad was able to visit him yesterday, along with several close family friends and some of Terry's family, and he was so grateful to have had that experience.  He was surrounded by some of the people who loved him the most, and I know that's how he would have wanted to go.  May his soul rest in peace.

Jim, Terry and my dad during the "Rascal on the Rocks" incident

View from the house that Terry put so much of himself into

Throwback from one of the first Labor Day Weekends at the Lake {Terry is on the left}

Terry and Schaeffah

Left to Right: Ben, Jim, my dad and Peter.  This was taken yesterday at Terry's house in Maine, where the guys were started a bonfire, drank some Schaeffer and made a toast to Terry's wonderful life.

New York, You Win Again

Every time we go to New York, it kicks my ass.  We cram SO many things into our time there {usually leading to late nights and very little sleep}, but I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.  I cashed in on my Christmas present from Dan, tickets to see Wicked {I'm telling you, he is one thoughtful gift-giver!}, before work gets out-of-control busy starting next week and I don't have a life until March.

ANYway, we got up insanely early to catch a bus up to the city on Saturday, and, once we dropped our stuff off at the hotel, we headed over to the West Side to meet up with Lindsay and James.  We grabbed lunch at Gotham West Market, which I would highly recommend {while I regretted ordering a grilled cheese because of the stomachache it caused me afterward, it was delicious, and, therefore, worth it}. It was very much like Union Market in that you could order from any number of "restaurants", all of which are smaller versions of restaurants located elsewhere in the city. We then went and grabbed a drink at a bar up the street until it was time for us to part ways.  We ran back to our hotel, only to run back out again to go to dinner at 44 1/2 {also in Hell's Kitchen}.  It was very…pink.  The reviews neglected to mention that the entire restaurant was pink, from the tablecloths to the flowers to the lanterns hanging from the ceiling to the VERY tight pink t-shirts that the waiters were wearing, to the 90s power ballads belted out by the likes of Whitney and Mariah…you see what I'm getting at, right?  The food was delish, so I was able to overlook the fact that the decor was a little much.

View from our hotel.  Okay, New York

I actually wasn't kidding about the pink

Excitement! It was a *WICKED* good show! {Okay, I'll stop}

Anyway, Wicked was fabulous.  Boy, do I wish I could sing like those people.  I can certainly sing, but not anything like that!  It was such a tremendous show, and I was singing the songs in my head as we walked down the street.  But wait, the night didn't end there! My cousin was having a birthday party at a bar on the Lower West Side, so we headed down there to meet up with the fam.  Then, Dan and I left to schlep over to the Lower East Side to meet up with some of his swimming buddies.  Who should we run into five minutes after arriving but baby bro.  We had just left Tim at the birthday party, not telling him which bar we were going to ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN.  So imagine my surprise when I turn around and HE IS AT THE SAME BAR.  In New York, I feel like this is far less likely to happen than in DC.  Anyway, I wouldn't recommend accidentally ending up at the same bar as your sibling, because I was conscious the entire time of not wanting to be anywhere near him {come on, I didn't want to ruin his game with the ladies!}.  We headed home and collapsed somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 a.m.  Woof.

We got up and had a nice run in Central Park {I knew it was cold, but we realized later that it was actually 17 degrees with the wind chill.  Woof again}.  And then, the crown jewel of our trip: we met up with Tim at Eataly for lunch.  He had been saying, since he moved to NY, that I would love it, so I finally cashed in on that offer to meet up there.  People. This place is mind-blowing.  I was in Italian food heaven.  Don't get me wrong, the pasta was not the best pasta I've ever had, but the AMBIENCE. Jeez louise was it ever amazing. There were imported Italian food goods everywhere you looked, and I think I could have spent all day there.  After sufficiently freaking out over that, we got a tour of Tim's office, and, after leaving him, Dan and I went to the top of the Empire State Building.  Now, I can't say that I was totally comfortable being up there given my fear of heights, but damn, is that a great view!  Also, it was freezing up there.

After destroying our pasta

I mean… #homemadegnocchi #mymouthiswateringjustthinkingaboutit

Not a terrible view

And so, we returned to DC, completely exhausted, but also totally happy.  So thank God we had a holiday on Monday {followed by a snow day - with some snow this time!!!!!!!!!!! - on Tuesday}.  New York, you've beaten me again.  One day, I'll beat you!  For now, DC is just my speed :-)

Hitting the Concrete Jungle

This past weekend, Dan and I headed up to NYC for a variety of reasons, the first being that I wanted to check in on Tim now that he's living in the big city {I had planned to visit him anyway, but the major guilt trip that my mom laid on me for not being home for Thanksgiving certainly sped up the planning process for the trip}; we had yet to visit our friends James and Lindsay, who are, after years of living apart, finally able to live together in NYC before they get married next fall; and it just seemed like a generally good idea.

Now, I am not the type of person who is totally enamored with New York; I recognize that it is an interesting city with lots to offer, but every time I leave after spending a weekend there, I think to myself, 'That was fun, but I would never be able to live here.' The city is too teeming with people, too gritty and too unfriendly for me to ever be able to call it home.  Sure, it's easy to romanticize it a bit if you're only going up for a weekend, but nothing about the time that I've spent there would compel me to move there.

Onward…on Saturday morning, Dan, James and I went for a quick run before grabbing breakfast, and I was painfully reminded of why I try to avoid running with boys at all costs.  Now, when I just run with Dan, he is typically a good sport and slows the pace down for me {unless he's training}, but this pace was still a little fast for my liking.  Anyway, we refueled with some delicious brunch afterward {the mood strangely struck me to order Irish oatmeal, which I almost never eat but love dearly} before heading over to the Brooklyn Bridge.  It was the perfect mix of a somewhat touristy activity mixed with a gorgeous view on an even more breathtaking day, not to mention some walking.  Luckily for me, James is similarly militant in his love of walking while exploring a city, so poor Dan and Lindsay had to put up with that for the afternoon :)  Dan and I met up with Tim for dinner and got a chance to see his brand new place that he had just moved into that day.  You can certainly tell that three college-aged guys live there {it's a little grimy, for lack of a better word}, but it is a great location and the view from the rooftop is amazeballs.  Then, we headed back to J&L's for a get-together at their apartment/going out in my neighborhood.  The other thing that I'm always reminded of when I leave NYC is the fact that I can't keep up with those lunatics.  Grandma needs her sleep!!!  We high-tailed it out of the city relatively early so as to beat the Marathon crowd, and so ended our lovely NYC weekend.

Our little crew on the Brooklyn Bridge

The view from Tim's apartment.  Not bad.

We should have consulted each other before getting dressed.  The abundance of plaid is slightly aggressive.

So, November…holy crow is this going to be a busy month.  Just a quick run-down of our weekends for this month:

- This weekend: I have a birthday party on Friday and am going to visit my grandparents for the remainder of the weekend.  Dan will be out of town on MBA interviews (!!!).
- Next weekend: Kristin will be in town on Friday for residency interviews, and we have a birthday party on Saturday night.
- The weekend before Thanksgiving: I am going to Rangila with a work friend on Friday night, and we have a murder mystery party {hosted by, who else, Molly} on Saturday night.
- We're leaving for Thanksgiving with Dan's family either on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning!

And then it's December.  Oh, and reading season starts Monday.  Let's do this...

Catching My Breath

Ladies and gentlemen, I am in the midst of my brief time at home, and let's just say it has been...relaxing.

My first two weeks on the road were wonderful.  I got to visit 40 schools, meet with countless wonderful students, college counselors and alums, and feel like a really effective ambassador for the school.  It certainly wasn't all roses; traveling for that long by yourself can be really freaking lonely {imagine spending night after night in a hotel room by yourself, going to bed early for lack of anything better to do}; eating regularly was not an option; there were certainly some difficult counselors and alums along the way; and, in my constant state of exhaustion, it was impossible to not miss Dan, my family and friends.  But you know what? I made it through in one piece {well, mostly- more on that in a minute}, and even had some fun in the process.  I got to cross some states off my list, and certainly got a taste of "Real America".  I am set to leave on Sunday for five more days, but this time I'll be in New England {New England in October...sighhhhhhhhh}.

I have actually been lying low and working from home for the past few days, because, on Sunday, I had a bit of a health scare.  I was planning to run back home from Columbia Heights after a lovely brunch with some friends.  However, a mile in to my run, I became dizzy, stuffy and nauseous.  I walked for a few minutes, but could tell that the situation was not trending positively, so ducked in to the nearest restaurant I could find.  I was violently ill, so much so that I called Dan, barely able to talk enough to tell him that I needed an ambulance.  Once they rushed me to the hospital, they determined that I was suffering from an infection that I had exhibited absolutely ZERO symptoms of.  I am sure that two hectic weeks of travel and germs, capped off by a crazy Homecoming weekend {when I had a wonderful reunion with some of my best friends, many of them in from out of town} did my immune system in in the end, making me more susceptible to an infection.  The incident really freaked me out, especially as someone who has grown up with food allergies.  I actually went back to the doctor today because of some potentially worrisome symptoms that I am still having, only to be told, pending the results of some tests, that the doctor thinks I am fine. It has been tough to continue to feel crummy without Dan here, since he is back in the 'burgh for the Buccos' wild card game tonight.  I have been doing a great job of feeling pretty sorry for myself while sitting at home alone all day being sick.  However, I have been VERY productive when it comes to work, and I am planning to try and head back to the office tomorrow.  Fingers crossed that I don't try to do too much too soon...I will post pictures as soon as my iPhone decides to let my pictures load onto my computer!

...Start Your Engines

I can now say that my summer is officially over, because tomorrow, I will embark on my first of three weeks of work-related travel.  I am definitely experiencing a wide array of emotions right now, from excitement that all of the planning I have been dong for the past month is finally coming together, to apprehension about how my first round of high school visits and alumni meetings will go.  I will be spending the next week in the Plains states {none of which I have been to, so yay!}, the following week in Texas, and, after a brief week back in DC, I will head off to New England for another week {twist my arm, New England in the FALL?!?!?}.

I truly have loved this job so far, so I am really looking forward to putting all of the information that I have soaked in over the past two months to the test.  I am really looking forward to meeting with students during the day and alumni in the evenings, and am hoping like I have never hoped before that I will not lose my voice.  Because, as I've said in the past, when I lose my voice, it's not one of those things where I lose it one day and it comes back the next.  The last time I lost my voice, I lost it exactly for a week :(  Here's hoping that lots of Vitamin C, Purel and tea with honey will keep me healthy and my voice strong!

I suppose the hardest part of these next few weeks will be feeling as though I don't have a home base.  Living out of a suitcase is a lifestyle that I'm not really used to, so I'll be interested to see how this goes. Also, it goes without saying that being away from Dan will be challenging.  I helped him sign up for his first Skype account, so hopefully we'll be able to talk in the evenings once I get back from my visits.  I keep telling myself, though, that I'll really only be gone for five days at a time, since, for each of those weeks, I'll be leaving on Sunday and coming back on Friday.  Feeling like I'll be missing out on spending time with friends and family has also been very much on my mind, especially since I have struggled since I have moved to figure out how to best balance spending time with friends and family, while at the same time giving my relationship the love and energy it deserves.  It is a difficult balancing act, and I would imagine it will grow infinitely more so once I jump into reading season.  But don't get me wrong, I am SO excited for the challenge, and be on the lookout for pictures once I return!

Tonight, I am cashing in on that home-cooked meal that Dan owes me.  I know he is perusing my cookbooks and my Pinterest account this morning to figure out what the heck to make, so I am excited to see what he comes up with!  The guy HATES cooking, mostly because he has convinced himself that he's not good at it, but I have every confidence that he'll do a great job!

Some New {and Old} Local Favorites

As I have settled in to being an Arlingtonian {gasp} over the course of the summer, I have been determined to balance out my wonderful nights spent at home with Dan having dinner and catching up on our TV watching with venturing into the city and trying some new places.  I refuse to be the Arlingtonian who never leaves Arlington {but would certainly encourage friends to come out and see us there! It really is lovely! As an added bonus, we have a movie theater a block from our apartment that has RECLINERS.  RECLINERS, PEOPLE!!! You feel like you're watching a movie in your living room!}.

Anyway, I digress.  I have tried out a few new places that I have loved recently, and, so, have developed some new favorite haunts.

Dupont Circle and environs:
First of all, my friend Lauren is utterly obsessed with Glen's Market just north of Dupont, and, having now been there a handful of times, I can say that the obsession is justified.  Half overpriced {yet delicious} grocery store, half wine bar, it is perfect for an after-work gathering.  I have sampled some of their cheeses, chocolate {with pretzels in it...ummmm.....yeah}, house-made sandwiches, and, most importantly, their wine.  You essentially purchase a wine card from the bar for whatever denomination you please, and then you use it to fill your glass from several wine dispensers.  There are three sizes, so you can order whichever one suits your fancy.  Personally, I think this is an ingenious idea, and I can usually get the size that I want for $5-$6, so that's not too shabby.  I don't pretend to be as much of a hipster as the employees, but I just sip my wine and eat my goodies and refuse to feel self-conscious about that.  Also, one of the bartenders has an excellent handlebar mustache.  Now, I do not like facial hair, but, let me tell you, this particular mustache is a WIN.

I have also re-discovered the Dupont Farmers Market and how truly wonderful it is.  I went there a few weeks ago to meet up with a friend for brunch, and ordered a spinach and feta croissant {my normal order, because it's so darned delicious} and a few white peaches, which were easily the most delicious peaches that I've tasted in my life.  They were mouthwateringly delicious, so juicy and not overly ripe.  I am very picky about the firmness of my peaches; I don't like them too hard, and I certainly don't like them too mealy, so these peaches were the best of both worlds.  Supporting local farmers and artisans is one of my favorite things {which is obviously why my Eastern Market jewelry problem started}, so I love going to this market. Surprisingly, I have not been back to the Courthouse market, but I would like to start doing that more, because, really, I have no excuse.

Eastern Market:
Dan and I got an itch over the weekend to grab dinner and drinks in a neighborhood that we don't typically go to, so, partly because of the Metro convenience factor {thank you, weekend delays}, we decided on Eastern Market.  We got dinner at Cava Mezze, which was delicious.  My affinity for Mediterranean food is something I've developed since living in DC, particularly after graduation, and I am literally almost always in the mood for Mediterranean food {this is also how I feel about Indian food}.  Cava Mezze did not disappoint, providing enough warm, yummy bread for two starving souls to lift our spirits before our food came out.   I convinced Dan to split an order of saganaki {the delicious cheese that they set on fire with some brandy}, and then I got my standard lentil patties and brussels sprouts with tzatziki sauce.  My mouth was in heaven.

After dinner, we went to Harold Black's speakeasy, which, for those of you who have never had the pleasure of eating at Acqua al 2 {if you haven't, then stop reading this post and go there RIGHT NOW}, is right above that restaurant, through a SUPER SECRET entrance {it IS actually unmarked}. Once you reach the door and knock so that someone can open it for you, you enter a dimly-lit room {lit only by candles in mason jars, obviously}, and spent 90 minutes sipping on some of the most delicious cocktails.  A word of warning: they are VERY strong, which we both realized at the end of the night.  But the drinks were delicious, the atmosphere was chic and intimate, and I was so glad we tried it out.

Old Town:
I went out to dinner with my parents last night at a place that has become near and dear to all of our hearts since they moved back to DC.  Fontaine is tucked away on a little side street off of King, and features some mind-blowing sweet and savory crepes.  Obviously, in my family, we order both.  There is NEVER a wait {hence the reason for not taking reservations}, and the food is out-of-this-world good.  Also, their weekly French movie nights make me wish I lived right next door, because, come on, French movies and French food? Sign me up!

I hope you all are able to try out some of these places, if you haven't already.  I know I've had a lot of fun trying them!!!  Also, stay tuned, because Dan will be attempting his first home-cooked meal for me on Saturday night, and I will obviously be posting about it!  This was not voluntary on his part; he just owed me for losing our March Madness challenge ;-)

Our Super Duper Lake Vacation

I had intended to do a post about the Lake...well, last week, after we got back.  Obviously, life got in the way, so I thought I would pound out a quick post now.  Our long {but, really, short} weekend at Winnipesaukee was everything I had hoped it would be.  We were blessed with THE MOST INCREDIBLE weather imaginable; high 70s, low 80s, not a cloud in the sky {other than when we needed a brief breather from the hot, mid-day sun}, and a soft breeze blowing, and dropping to the 40s and 50s at night.  Seriously, come on.  New England, you're such a flirt.

We all know that sitting around and "relaxing" is not at all my strong suit, although wearing the boot certainly forced me to adopt that lifestyle to a certain extent.  But really, there is nothing like laying out on our ginormous dock for hours on end, reading a book under a perfect blue sky and popping in the water for an occasional swim.  It really doesn't get any better.

Since we really were not on the island for very long {not to mention my mobility was limited}, we didn't really venture out very much.  My dad did take us on a real estate boat tour of the lake {not that we asked for one, but the man is a student of property values, so we humored him}.  I'll hand it to him, he knows where all of the "celebrities" live, although, I don't know that any of us would have the slightest idea if he was wrong.  But really, the best part of the weekend was that I was spending it with some of my very favorite people, and Dan said that it was great for him to be able to picture the place that I have talked about incessantly since, oh, about our second date.  I have a one-track mind, that's for sure.

Leaving the Lake has never been easy for me, particularly when we were there for such a short amount of time.  I also couldn't help but think that, what with the potential changes in our lives over the next year, this one may be our last at the Lake for a while.  I'm holding out hope that we'll make it back next year, mostly because letting go of a place that has been in your life since you were two years old is a tall order.  Every year, it feels like no time at all has passed when we arrive, which is perfect for a person who thrives on routine and consistency.  Other than the consistency, though, it is just SUCH a special place, and certainly makes up the fibers of who I am.

Side note: When my family was up at the Lake, baby bro found out that he is gainfully employed!!!!!! He achieved his dream of moving to NYC, and will be starting work next week! To say that I'm proud of him is an understatement.

Poor Dan endures trial by fire during Lake Golf, a game that, surprisingly, requires no golfing skill

Don't pretend you're not jealous

Rockin' the boot, lovin' life

Finish Line of the Wedding Season

Our wedding season has come to a triumphant end, and, I have to say, I'm a little bit disappointed that I don't have another wedding to look forward to in a few weeks!  This weekend, Trey, Dan's swimming buddy from high school, and his now-wife Ashley got married, and it was, in a word, wonderful.  The reception was at the same golf club where Dan's friend Molly married her husband Weathers earlier this summer, and it was really fun to be back.  Trey and Ashley did some things differently that made it seem as though we were at another venue, so hooray for them for accomplishing that feat!  There was a palpable amount of love in that room, and that, I think, is what makes for the best weddings.  I always enjoy spending time with Dan and his friends, and there was an added bonus at this wedding of his parents and some close family friends being there, so I enjoyed talking to them as well.  As usual, Dan's mom sent us home with several pounds of snacks, which we love her for!!

While I took the doc's advice and wore my boot at the wedding {and was complimented on my commitment to dancing despite the boot, thank you very much}, I definitely overdid it this weekend, between dancing and walking more than I should have.  My body is definitely telling me to slow down this week, so how convenient that I will be going to Winnipesaukee on Thursday, where I will do nothing BUT relax!!

Dan was very sweet and protective of me all weekend as I hobbled around the various wedding weekend events, whether it was helping me down flights of stairs or running back to the car for me to grab things that I had forgotten.  He is a keeper, that one :)  There's a funny thing about weddings, too, that you always fall more deeply in love with your significant other.  The hopeless romantic in me loves that about weddings...so, bring on the next wedding season!!!!!! We've already got three lined up for next summer {one of Dan's friends, one of my friends and two mutual friends}, so I'm sure the promise of those summer celebrations will get us through the dreariness of winter.

No Excuses

Hello there, folks! It's me, returned from the land of long-lost bloggers!  It has been an inexcusable amount of time since I blogged, but hopefully, once I summarize my summer for you, you'll forgive me.  The one excuse that I will attempt to give is that this summer has been so jam-packed with activity that, every time I have considered blogging, I have opted not to in the end.  If I'm not feeling it, I'm just not feeling it, and you wouldn't want me to feel burdened by what I'm writing for all of you, right?!?  So, in summary, my summer to date:

• So, Dan and I moved.  Over two months ago.  I love our little apartment {which our friends are seeing for the first time tonight...total fail on our part}, and, more than anything, I love living with my best friend.  Coming home to him is, quite literally, the highlight of every day for me, and moving in together was one of the best decisions we have made.
• As a side note, as much as I LOVE living with Dan, leaving Molly after our time living together was nothing short of excruciating. Sure, we have two fun places that we can now hang out in, but it isn't the same when you can't poke your head in your roomie's room and have girl time with them.  Also, although he insists otherwise, I can feel Dan's eyes of judgment as I nom on cookie dough, cake batter, or the raw form of whatever I happen to be cooking.  Now Molly, that girl doesn't judge and, in fact, sometimes partook in my gluttonous ways with me.
• A week after the move, Dan took, and aced {!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!} the GMAT!  I am so immensely proud of him, and can't to see where this journey takes us next!
• A week after the GMAT, we went to our first of four weddings for the summer, and, the deeper we got in the wedding season, the more I discovered that I just don't have the stamina for that many weddings!  The first was in Pittsburgh for Dan's friend from high school, and it was a wonderful {not to mention beautiful and classy in every way} wedding.  It was a great time, and I enjoyed spending time with Dan's HS friends.  Three weeks later, we were off on a jet plane to Chicago, and holy moley, did we ever fall in love with that city by the lake!  Obviously, I was on Cloud 9 all weekend, because Kristin and Kevin were getting married, and my love was there, AND my favorite ladies were there for our first reunion in two years.  I can't overstate how fantastic this wedding was, and it was such a wonderful experience to be a bridesmaid for my gorgeous Kristin.  It was an absolutely gorgeous wedding in a fabulous city.  Wedding #3 was for my cousin in NY in July, and it didn't disappoint.  It was a blast to see my family, and it was the first time that Dan was meeting many family members.  The wedding, again, was beautiful, and we remarked on the fact that all three weddings have been so DIFFERENT {or, as different as weddings can be}!  Our final wedding of the season is back in Pittsburgh next weekend {actually, at the same venue as the first wedding} for another of Dan's HS friends, and I am so excited.  He is also a groomsman, which, despite the fact that he begrudgingly has to wear a tux, will be so fun for him.  I'll be hanging out with his parents, who will be at the wedding, and all of the other significant others of the groomsmen :)
• I think I deserve a medal for how little I wrote about four weddings. Period.
• After 2.5 years in a job that I was beyond miserable in, I transitioned into a new role in July!  The new job is a similar type of office, and will afford me more opportunities to travel and utilize what I consider to be my best skills.  I am really enjoying the job so far, and will be traveling to my region- the Plains states and parts of Texas!- for a few weeks in September, followed by a week in New England in October. {Sidebar: when they asked me if I was okay with going to New England for a week, I almost laughed in their faces. My beloved New England. In the fall. Foliage. Cold weather.  NO-BRAINER}
• We have watched a lot of baseball this summer, from a trip to Baltimore to watch the Red Sox, to two back-to-back Bucs-Nats games {now THAT, I did not have the stamina for.  I was comatose midway through the second game as a result of still-lingering exhaustion from the previous night, so I had no chance the day after the second game}, to two Bucs games at PNC {with the second likely to come next weekend}.
• I have really been rolling up my sleeves and getting creative with cooking {read: baking with some cooking sprinkled in} this summer.  All I have to say is, thank God for Pinterest.  That is all.  And so, my "food bragger" tendencies have been stretched to the limit, as I document nearly every new item that I make.  Some highlights included homemade gnocchi {and yes, Dan was an excellent co-chef!}, and his recent birthday cake, which I made for his 26th birthday {!!!} last week.
• I had an interesting tubing trip to Harpers Ferry in July, during which we lost a person.  We did not literally lose him {meaning, he did not perish}, but he did have to swim to shore and faced a several-mile, shoeless walk.  I'll leave it at that. It was an interesting day.
• There have been way too many goodbyes this summer, with several good friends leaving DC for grad school opportunities.  Isn't it the rule that, if you lose people, you should get at least that many close friends back in your city???
• My friend Kate was doing a law school internship here in DC for the summer, so I suppose she counts as a temporary transplant to DC :-) It was a blast to have her here, especially since one of her M.O. is exploring new restaurants.  Kate, thank you for your foodie ways!
• Last weekend, Dan and I went to Kings Dominion, and I officially conquered my fear of roller coasters!!! I went on three upside-down roller coasters, thank you very much :p
• Two weeks from now, I am going to the LAKE!  Now, because of some obligations with my new job, I am not able to take a full week off, but I will get a long weekend.  Plus, Dan has signed on to come with me, which I am thrilled about.  Since we started dating {almost 2.5 years ago- yikes!}, it has been my dream to have him come to the Lake.  I swear, if the weather is crummy, I will be one cranky lady.
• I am sure that there are many major things that I am forgetting, but the moments that have stuck with me the most about the summer have been the little moments with family, friends and Dan.  To be surrounded by the people you love, man, there's nothing better!  I sure am a lucky girl :-)
• My summer obviously would not have been complete without yet another scintillating season of The Bachelorette.  I hate myself for watching it, but I literally can't stop.  Oh well.

Lastly, I am waiting for X-ray results, which will tell me if I have a broken foot {the probable result of overuse during my 40+ mile/week running binge of this summer}.  Keep your fingers crossed, friends, because those of you who know me will can attest to the fact that I am a cranky pain in the ass when I can't exercise.  I'm hoping it's something like tendonitis {plantar fasciitis, which would be only somewhat less acceptable, would be more expensive, as it would require that I purchase orthodics worth hundreds of dollars for my running shoes. No thank you}.  Also, I am registered for the Army Ten-Miler in late October, and it is my goal to run that race.  Just throwing that out there.

Anywho, I sincerely hope that I will blog sooner than two months from now, but, what with my work and personal travel schedule, I can't make any promised.  At some point, I will post some pictures that encapsulate my summer, but hopefully you enjoyed this longer-than-necessary post!

A Quarter-Century Old

I finally have a moment to come up for air today after a VERY hectic week!  I thought I would write about the goings-on of the past week, since there were many of them.

I had a really tough week at work last week.  Work seemed to come flying at me all at once, and I definitely was not managing that stress well.  I had a meltdown of sorts on Wednesday night because of how overwhelmed I was by work stress {which was compounded by the fact that I was out of the office on Friday working a wedding}, stress about that wedding {my first as a day-of coordinator}, and stress tied to feeling like I was coming up short in my many roles- friend, daughter, sister and girlfriend.  Sensing that I am failing other people is definitely a feeling that I am very conscious of, but, during this meltdown, I had to remind myself that I can't always be everything to everyone.  There just isn't enough time in the day!  But, in moments when I am stressed about other things, that anxiety tends to resurface as well.  Poor Dan, he is such a saint for putting up with my stressed-out crying fits.  I don't like to let my work/life stress spill over to our relationship, because I know that it makes him sad to see me upset, but sometimes that just can't be helped.  I thank my lucky stars for that guy every day, I really do!

On Thursday night, I headed up to the Philly area after work for the wedding, and, due to a series of GPS mishaps, ended up driving for about 4 hours.  It was miserable, let me tell you, and I had my very patient and understanding parents on the phone for the better part of an hour-and-a-half trying to get me to Point B in one piece.  I ended up spending a LOT of time in the car on Thursday, Friday {when the wedding took place} and Saturday, both because of the driving time to and from PA and the fact that none of the venues were close to one another.  I think that was the most I have driven in the past five years combined haha!  Despite the fact that there are always unexpected things that come up at a wedding, it was a beautiful day overall and the couple was deliriously happy, so I would consider it a success.

On Saturday, Dan and I met up with Lauren and Molly at District of Pi for dinner.  Dan and I are obsessed with that place, and it was the girls' first time, so it was well worth it!  We then stopped off at Lauren's house before heading to Brass Monkey in Admo for some birthday karaoke.  Now, Brass Monkey has been one of our mainstays since graduation, but this was the first time, as we all stood around, that we noticed how downright grimy that place is! We concluded that the amount of alcohol that we had imbibed on previous visits had probably contributed to that oversight.  Our other observation was that the crowd seemed a lot younger {as in, either still in college or not far removed from it}.  It is tough to be hit by the realization that you're getting older!  Nonetheless, I felt so blessed to have so many wonderful friends there, and I think we got some solid karaoke in as well :)

Sunday, on my actual birthday, Dan and I slept in a bit before going on a run {I think I am the only person who requests going on a run when asked what they want to do on their birthday haha}.  We grabbed bagels  from our favorite bagel place, my last bagel run for awhile since I'm going on a six-week gluten-free diet a week from yesterday.  Blargh.  Then, we watched some basketball and Skyfall and later met up with my parents and Tim at Farmers, Fishers & Bakers, which I have raved about before.  It certainly didn't disappoint this time, bringing an absolutely delightful birthday to a close.  Not that he doesn't treat me like a princess all the time, but Dan was really the greatest this weekend.  I actually got upset because I don't like being treated to things haha, even on my birthday!  He got me an overnight hiking trip {not to worry, we will be staying at a B&B, not in a tent on a trail} out in the Shenandoahs, which shows you how well he knows me.  We have been in serious need of a getaway for awhile, and he knows how much I've been itching for a hike.  We're going in about 3 weeks, so I'm really psyched for that!  Overall, I was blown away, as usual, by the heartfelt messages and calls that I received on my birthday.  It made the day so special for me, and the fact that so many people reached out made turning 25 slightly easier {I may have fake snapped at Dan when he playfully suggested that I am almost 30 haha}.

Me and my ladies! Don't let this picture fool you, there were other guys there besides Dan.  He was just the only one who wasn't able to stealthily avoid my photos ;)

26.2

I promise, I'm still here!

People, March has been a BUSY month for me, so blogging just hasn't been in the cards for me.  Between being ridiculously busy at work and having lots of exciting things going on in my personal life, I just haven't been able to find the time to blog.  To give you a good idea, my last four weekends are as follows:

Weekend of March 2nd and 3rd: Anniversary celebrations!

Weekend of March 9th and 10th: Cuse game + cousin in town + lots of friends in town

Weekend of March 16th and 17th: MARATHON {and then doing a whole lot of nothing}
Weekend of March 23rd and 24th: Working a wedding + birthday + March Madness

Yes, FINALLY, the blessed event happened last weekend, the marathon I had poured my blood, sweat {lots of it} and tears {yup, some of those too} into for the past four months.  Even though I had run two half-marathons before, I was terrified on race day.  When I did my 22-miler two weeks prior to the race, I had felt myself starting to hit the "wall" that all marathoners talk about, which typically happens somewhere between miles 20 and 21.  I hoped that I would have just enough adrenaline to help me power through.  It didn't hurt that I had THE most incredible support team.  From the minute I had told him that I was running this race, Dan had been my biggest cheerleader, telling me how great I would do even when I was sulking after some miserable long runs.  I knew that Dan, my parents, and a few friends would be cheering me on along the course, and I can't fully convey how big of an emotional boost that was.  In short succession, from miles 13.5-16, I saw: my friends Alix and Lauren, my parents, my coworker, Beth and her husband, and Dan.  I had the biggest smile on my face as I ran by all of my people.  In general, though, race culture is so wonderful, because there are always residents lining the roads and cheering runners on. This race was certainly no exception!

Here's a look at the course.  For the most part, it was, mercifully, flat, but there was one hill in particular, the hill just before mile 6 as we exited Rock Creek Parkway and took an off-ramp up to Calvert St.  BOY, was that a steep hill.  Luckily, it was also brief, but I was dizzy and gasping for air at the end of it.  

But I digress.  This marathon was certainly not fun the entire time {I hit my wall at 21, but luckily, after taking the advice of a coworker and ingesting some M&Ms along with my Shot Blox, I got a HUGE burst of energy, which I can probably also attribute to the adrenaline rush of almost being finished}, but I learned, as I did throughout this entire process, how mentally tough I can be if I have to be.  Sure, I may cry at the drop of the hat and may occasionally be overly sensitive, but damn it, I pushed through all of my self-doubt and finished a marathon, and in pretty good time, no less!! My goal had been to finish in less than 4 hours, which obviously is not going to qualify me for Boston, but seemed like a reasonable goal given my pace and the fact that it was my first marathon.  While my goal was definitely just to finish, I think I would have been a little bit bummed if I had finished in over 4.  Well, my time was 3:53, so I was one happy girl!!!!!!!!

The greatest feeling {other than crossing the finish line and getting to stop running} was rounding the final bend and spotting my parents and Dan, all of whom were screaming words of encouragement to me.  At this point, the adrenaline was flowing and I was trucking it around that final turn, all smiles.  You would never know that I was in the final tenth of a mile of a marathon, right? HA!  When I had crossed the finish line and it was FINALLY over, I just stopped for a moment and put my hands over my face.  In that moment, I experienced the greatest sense of accomplishment that I ever have in my life.  I had set a goal for myself {and a difficult one that that, given the miniscule percentage of the world that has run a marathon} and accomplished it.  All of the training, all of the injuries, all of the early Saturday morning wake-ups to run, it was all worth it.  After hobbling over to them, I was finally reunited with Dan and my parents.  Seeing the pride with which they all looked at me only reinforced that sense of accomplishment that I was feeling.    I am also thrilled that running a marathon is now yet another bond that my dad and I share.

And the madness is not ending, friends.  Here's a brief rundown of the next few weekends of my life:

Weekend of March 30th and 31st: Easter weekend

Weekend of April 6th and 7th: Work event all day Friday and Saturday

Weekend of April 13th and 14th: Cousin in town + going on a birthday trip {more about this soon!}

Weekend of April 20th and 21st: Possible weekend trip to Pittsburgh, followed by a quick overnight visit from an out-of-town friend on Sunday night

I will post more next time about fun goings-on in April, May and June!

With my friends Jame and Lindsay, who also ran the marathon, prior to the race

My biggest supporter :)

Seeing my parents and Dan both along the course and at the finish line brought the biggest smile to my face.  I'm so lucky to have so many wonderful supporters!

Tis the Season for Long Weekends

I had a bunch of comp time saved up from some events that I worked awhile back, so I took this past Friday off, giving me a much-needed weekend.  Last week was wonderful, but many late nights took a LOT out of me!

Friday was my dreaded 20-mile run.  As the days got closer to Friday and the rain forecast grew more certain, I realized that I would have to just accept the fact that it would be raining.  And rain it did.  It really wasn't too unpleasant, other than that gross feeling you get when your feet get wet.  Surprisingly, I felt really good, and I finished in just under 3 hours, which, given the weather and an uphill run up Wisconsin in the last few miles of my run, I was more than happy with!

After recovering, I took the train up to Baltimore to visit the lovely Colleen.  We hadn't seen each other in ages, and, although I had planned to go up to visit her in September, our little stint in the hospital prevented that from happening.  It was so wonderful to catch up with her, and, I swear, she has found the cutest little spots in the city, from Parisian-style cafes to quaint little markets to farm-to-table restaurants nestled among warehouses.  I was in awe!  I even got to see the stunning Peabody Institute library, one of the venues that Brett and Colleen are considering for their wedding reception.  It was breathtaking, and I wish there was a comparable space, besides Riggs, in DC!!!

Milk and Honey, an adorable Baltimore Market

The Peabody Institute Library.  I want Colleen and Brett to have their reception here SO BADLY!!!

I came back to DC on Saturday night, because I had some serious baking to do for our annual Galentine's Day party, inspired by Amy Poehler's uproariously funny Parks & Rec character, Leslie Knope.  I ended up baking mini heart-shaped cherry/cranberry pies with chocolate drizzle, and I was very pleased with how they turned out!! The brunch was on Sunday morning, and, being that there was one savory dish, we essentially gorged ourselves on sweets and mimosas {not complaining}.  It was a great group of ladies, and I'm glad we've made this an annual tradition!

My little pies :)

Lovely ladies!

On Sunday evening, I went over to my parents' house for dinner, and, surprise, my baby bro was there as well!  It is always nice to get the four of us together, particularly since Tim will be flying the coop and moving to NY the first chance he gets after college graduation in May {yikes, I still am in disbelief}.

Yesterday, Monday, was one of the longest work days EVER, because Dan was returning from a 4-day golf trip with some buddies to Arizona.  I missed him terribly while he was gone, and he sure knows how to bring a smile to my face!  I was beaming from ear to ear from the second I walked through his doorway last night. I'm very excited for our Valentine's Day plans, just a nice dinner and exchanging cards.  Last year, I set the precedent of not buying each other gifts for V-Day, opting instead for a funny card contest. It forces us to be creative, and, anyway, who needs more chocolate?!?

I hope you all had a lovely weekend as well!  I couldn't be more excited that this upcoming weekend is yet another long weekend!  Hooray for President's Day!

Busy Lady

I realized after I posted the Love Project post that I hadn't done a weekend update.  It was a busy one, so I have lots to share!

It was a very long week last week, so I was thrilled to have planned a low-key roomie date night with Molly on Friday night.  I got home early enough to clean most of the apartment {which I had neglected for a week prior} and take down the Christmas decorations {and yes, I am aware that this happened on February 1st}. I did some baking for the Super Bowl party that I went to on Sunday, and, once Molly got home, we got takeout pizza from Pete's and then watched some Felicity.  Any Friday night that features Scott Speedman's beautiful face and megawatt smile is fine by me ;)

On Saturday morning, I was up at 7 to do my long run, and knowing that I would get to see Dan after I finished definitely helped push me through.  I was scheduled to do 14 miles, but, for a variety of reasons, ended up running almost 17.  I guess it was good preparation for my 20-miler {EEK!} that I'm doing on Friday.  The fact that I'm almost up to 20 miles freaks me out, both because that means that the race is creeping up on me {it's on March 16th, so it actually is practically around the corner}, and also because 20 miles seems like a freakishly high number to me.  In any case, I was happy to get it over with on Saturday morning.  Once I made it over to Dan's, we went over to Top Golf for a bit so he could get some practice swings in before he leaves for his Arizona golf trip on Thursday, and then made it home in time for the Hoya game.  We stuffed our faces with Maggiano's pasta since we were both starving, and, although we had planned to have a low-key night and watch Zero Dark Thirty at my place, Molly had invited some friends over, so we ended up being social and hanging out with all of them.

On Sunday, after our respective workouts, we grabbed breakfast at our favorite bagel place and then met up with Dan's parents at Verizon for the Pens-Caps game.  Leslie and Peter had promised Dan Pens tickets for his birthday, but, since the first part of the NHL season was cancelled, this was the first chance we got to go.  As always, I loved spending time with them.  They are such salt-of-the-earth people, and I always enjoy being in their presence and catching up with them.  It also happened that it was a great game, and the Pens ended up winning 6-3!  I got to sport my new Pens shirt, which I bought in the airport on my way back from my Pittsburgh business trip.  Afterward, we went home and rested for a little bit, and then Dan's roommates had a bunch of people over for a Super Bowl party.  The good food placated me enough so that I was able to sit and watch the entire game.

Last night, some girlfriends and I went to Acqua al 2 in Eastern Market for our friend Cari's birthday.  Cari studied abroad outside of Florence, so had been to the Firenze location {the third is in San Diego...kind of random U.S. locations}.  The food was unbelievable, and I think the waitress was the best waitress I had ever had.  Three of us split the Burata appetizer, which was delicious, and I ordered the Farfalline alla Zucca {bowtie pasta with pumpkin...you can take the girl out of New England, but not the New England out of the girl!}, which was absolutely divine.  Throw in a fancy cocktail and you have the recipe for an amazing dinner.  A bunch of the non-vegetarians ordered the blueberry steak, which they said was delicious as well.  Given the location of the restaurant, I had my second-consecutive late night, and I am hoping that tonight isn't a three-peat.  I am going with some friends to a showing of the play "Our Town" at Ford's Theater, which should be fun.  And then, between now and Thursday, I'm going to try to squeeze in as much quality time as possible with my guy before he leaves!!!  And then, on Thursday night, I have a date with the 4 hours of The Bachelor that I will have missed from this week.  I imagine that some baked good will be involved :)

In A New York State of Mind

Last week was a really hectic one, both in my personal and professional life, so sadly, I never posted about our New York trip.  But I didn't want to leave you all in suspense for too long {since this week is going to be another doozy}.

Dan and I had a really smooth trip on the bus, both ways.  Sure, we could have saved an hour each way and taken the train, but we both decided it was worth it to pay a fraction of the cost and slum it on the bus.  Once we got to New York, we met up with our friends James and Lindsay {the latter of whom had just arrived from DC on the train} and walked over to James's place.  We agreed to go to sleep on the early side, since James, Lindsay and I all had to do a 12-miler for marathon training and wanted to get it over with on Saturday morning.  We were up at the crack of dawn {7, to be exact, an ungodly hour for a Saturday} and, after Dan ran part of the way with us, the three of us ran around Central Park.  Boy, was that ever a great run!  I loved running around the park and, since James ran up ahead of us and Lindsay and I were running at a slightly slower pace, the run was so enjoyable.  We gabbed the entire way and cheered each other on when our joints started hurting.  There is definitely something to be said for having a training partner!!

After all of us showered and got ready in what has to be record-setting time, we scarfed down some bagels and power-walked to MSG for the Hoya game.  It was the first time that both Dan and I had been in the storied Garden, and luckily our Hoyas made the trip worth it, handily defeating St. John's.  After the game, we headed to a bar, where we ran into a whole smattering of friends, both my friends, and Dan, James and Lindsay's swimming friends.  It was a great time, especially since we don't usually partake in the post-game celebrations after home games.  Afterward, we walked over to the High Line and then grabbed some snacks before heading back home.  We went to 4 Napkins for a burger dinner and spent an hour or so at a low-key bar before calling it a night.

On Sunday morning, we met up with a few of my cousins and two of the kiddos {the same ones who had visited DC over Thanksgiving, plus a few more} for brunch, which was a lot of fun.  Dan had never met anyone from my dad's side of the family, so I had been really looking forward to introducing him to then.  We had a really nice time, and I enjoyed seeing my family in their natural Manhattan habitat.  From there, we headed home, and our wonderful New York weekend was over.  Sure, I may still maintain that the Big Apple is too big a city for me to ever consider moving to, but I really enjoyed our time there.  Spending time with friends, family, and, of course, my amazing travel buddy, really made the weekend perfect.  I look forward to hopefully going back soon {which will definitely happen if baby bro moves there after graduation!}!!

Brunch at Veselka with the cousins

Scenes from the High Line

I think the fact that each of us wore a different WAG shirt contributed to the win :)