'Tis the Season

Okay folks, it's that time of year again, when I turn into a Christmas carol-singing five year-old who shrieks at anything glittery.   Today is a super depressing, gray and unseasonably warm day in DC, but I'm choosing to imagine that large snowflakes are falling.

Since it has obviously been awhile since I've written {I have a good excuse, I promise!}, I guess I owe you a recap.  Starting in mid-November, my life was hijacked by file-reading.  No joke.  I was reading during nearly every non-sleep-occupied hour, waking up at 4:40 every morning so I could still go for my run and get to the office at 7.  Sure, I was productive during the week-and-a-half that I was reading, but my quality of life was God-awful and I was so exhausted that I was kind of crabby.  You can imagine my relief when I got home from work the Friday before Thanksgiving and my sweet Dan, who had left to meet a friend for hh/dinner, left me some beautiful flowers and an encouraging note that reminded me that I was almost done.  At that point, I started to cry a little bit, both from the sweetness of the gesture and from exhaustion {probably more the latter}.  I'm hoping things will be a little bit easier in the next round, but I'm sort of doubting it…that being said, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job and really enjoyed reading about all of these kiddos.  It was just a lot of intensity in a very short amount of time.

Anyway, because Thanksgiving fell so late this year, I was able to wrap up my file-reading just in time to head back to Pittsburgh with Dan for Thanksgiving!  I had been looking forward to the trip for a long time, since it was the first holiday that we have spent together, and, despite the fact that I missed my family {it really isn't the same whenever you spend a holiday away from your family}, I had a fabulous time.  Dan's family is relatively big on both his mom's and dad's side, and a good chunk of them live in Pittsburgh, so, when I counted, I met 14 new people, in addition to the members of the family that I already knew.  The family is hilarious and has a soft spot for family game nights, so what better ice-breaker than a game of Trivial Pursuit and watching home videos all together?! {As a side note, Dan was the cutest little kiddo!}.  We were able to sneak in some alone time, too, to watch a few episodes of Homeland, go to the Pens game {my first at Consol!} and head downtown to see the PPG tree and the Market Square Christmas Market.  I was definitely not super psyched to come back to work on Monday, but the length of the break felt just right.  I was able to catch up on some much-needed sleep and spend time with a wonderful and loving family.  I really did luck out in terms of Dan's family; they are such a great, enthusiastic bunch, and have welcomed me with open arms into the family, which I have appreciated so much.

For the next few weeks, we'll be doing all sorts of fun Christmasy activities {ice skating! sweets- baking! present-wrapping! carol-singing}, while hopefully coasting in to the Christmas break work-wise.  I do have to work for a few days over Christmas break, being that I am one of the newbies in the office, but it shouldn't be too bad.  I will be heading to NY for a few days for Christmas with my dad's family, and I am super psyched, mostly because there are two new babies in the family this year, one of whom I haven't met yet.  I think the Facebook photo stalking of these children has reached the point where I just need to see them already!  Finally, two weeks from today, Dan will have all of his MBA decisions on hand, and I couldn't me more excited {and, admittedly, nervous} for him!  It could put a damper in our Christmas dinner two weeks from today if he gets bad news…maybe should have planned that one better.  The thought that we could know in two weeks where we'll be next year is exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

Happy Christmas Season, friends!

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...

Love that Dirty Water!

I am just now starting to come out of my Red Sox World Series Championship-induced high.  What a fun month October was to be a Red Sox fan!  I started off the month feeling cautiously optimistic, given the embarrassment of the past few seasons for my boys.  It was also fun because, for the first time in 21 years, the Pirates made the playoffs/had a winning season, so Dan was as giddy as a schoolgirl over that.

I enjoyed being in Boston during the ALDS, although they were playing in Tampa at the time.  Strolling down Yawkey and Lansdowne never ceases to make this girl's heart flutter.  There was a fun little sign on Yawkey that paid tribute to the wide variety of beards represented by this year's team {which, by the way, I'm completely over.  Dan will tell you that I start to squirm if he has the slightest trace of facial hair}.

Admittedly, I gave in to my grandma ways and did not stay up like I had for the playoffs in 2004 and 2007, but, in my defense, I was a student during both of those playoff runs, so a little grogginess was more excusable.  I definitely remember walking around in a fog for about three weeks during the 2004 playoff run {if you'll remember, we had some late-night extra-inning games that year}.  I did stay up for Game 6 this year, because I wanted to witness the moment when the Sox won, if they won.  Boy, was it ever magical.  I know there are so many Red Sox fans who came before me who never got to see a World Series win in their lifetime, so I feel pretty spoiled that I have seen three in the past decade.

This team was a very special one, as I think this Globe article proves.  I think there was definitely a tendency among members of the press to overstate the importance of this World Series to the city of Boston in light of the Boston Marathon tragedy, but it's undeniable that this team provided a much-needed morale boost to a city that has had an emotional year.  It has been proven that sports are part of the healing process following a tragedy, allowing people to temporarily escape from their grief.  It brought tears to my eyes to see Sox fans flock to the finish line of the Marathon following the victory, down on their knees and taking a moment to honor the victims.  Despite the gritty reputation that Bostonians have, the city, and its residents, was profoundly affected by the tragedy.  Boston Strong, indeed.

A few other gems from the playoffs:

- A rundown gone awry

- Oh Prince, you are so…special.  Laughing for days.

Well, it's safe to say that fall is officially upon us! The hot summer-like days of a few weeks ago have given way to crisp fall mornings and evenings, which makes this New Englander happy as a clam.  We went to Larriland Farm out in Howard County on Saturday, and that made me feel as though fall had officially arrived.  We picked a huge back of delicious Stayman apples, as well as a couple of pumpkins and small gourds.  Of course, we had to get a jug of cider for Dan {interestingly, he prefers cold cider, and I like mine hot and with a cinnamon stick}.  The farm is a lot of fun, for those of you who haven't been, and is only about an hour from DC.  Be warned: we were one of the few young couples there without children, but I really enjoyed watching the kiddos experience fall delights as we ate our picnic lunch.  Last night, I made a delicious apple crisp with the apples, from a recipe that Dan's mom sent me.

Yesterday, Dan and I ran the Army Ten Miler, which was a great addition to our weekend.  I had been excited about this race since we signed up in May, and I was especially grateful to be able to run, particularly since, a month-and-a-half earlier, I was in a boot and was essentially immobilized.  The first few weeks of running post-boot were definitely no picnic, since I hadn't been able to do cardio in about seven weeks, but the payoff of being able to race was incredible.  Dan was a rock star {duh} and ran it in 1:04, and I clocked in at 1:17.  While I can't keep up with that speed demon, I was happy with the race and my sub-8 minute miles.  Our parents were along various points in the course, which is always good for a pump-up, and it was truly inspirational to see so many wounded warriors running.  There was also a blind runner near me for a chuck of the race who was running with a guide, who was actually more like a coach.  It was really touching to watch them, and you could tell that the guy was really grinding hard.  After two great races this season, I am looking forward to doing the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler and the Nike Women's Half next spring!!

Things at work are definitely picking up, so I was glad that we got to experience a fun fall weekend, and had some really nomalicious dinners {Bistro Bis on Capitol Hill on Friday, Ristorante Piccolo in Gtown on Saturday, and, of course, Mellow Mushroom last night}.  I've been enjoying the cozy nights of putting my pajamas on when we get home from work and sit on the couch watching my Sox in the MLB playoffs, snuggled under our blankets.  I missed my guy when I was traveling, so it sure is nice to be back home with him for the foreseeable future :-)

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 ;-)