Days in the Life

What have I been up to lately?

Touring the White House Garden and West Wing...

Hiking up the West Virginia hills at a Grace DC retreat with Melissa (we make up 2/3 of the blonde trio)...

Finally getting to show Becca my life in DC...

Winning a few (okay, all except the Championship, but I'm not one to brag) flag football games...



campaigning my heart out for Senator Lincoln, and ultimately job searching and looking for new opportunities...getting to go to a Razorback football game....falling in love with my church, Grace DC, and all of the amazing people that it brings together who have become my best friends... riding in an elevator with Clay Aiken... turning friends in family... going skiing at Wisp in McHenry, MD (although there is, unfortunately, no photographic evidence of this adventure)... going to symphonies and to see "The Nutcracker"... learning what it means to really be living on your own, luckily I get to figure it out with an amazing roommate and friend... going through an emotional roller coaster with a friend through the diagnosis, treatment, and survival of cancer... trying new "hot spots" in DC...and mainly, just enjoying life and whichever curve balls and blessings get thrown my way!

Ode to Moving

When I can't sleep and get in a creative mood, this is what happens:

Miles away from a Sonic

Or bars with cheap vodka tonic

You’ll find two Southern girls

Just trying to make it in the world.

In an apartment with a red door

Nothing is for sure

As to why they started careers

Before any of their peers.

As each morning comes with haste

They get ready with no space to waste.

And the girls make their toast

While adjusting to life on the East Coast.

A checklist is read as they make their way out

Just in case either girl may have a doubt

Then off to work the two go

At the will of only the metro

Hoping just to get a seat

To a commuter, a true feat.

They part ways at Union Station

Sometimes with hesitation

Asking whether they’ll make it through the day

Or just would rather just go outside and play.

Their mornings fly by

With no time for a sigh

But as the noon hour grows nearer

Tummy rumblings are heard clearer

And they eat a meal with their flock

Or sandwich out of a lunch bag and ziplock.

Then work is to be done

Because staying late is no fun,

‘Cause these girls would hate to miss

Which boy Ali gave the diss.

Or the nights they take a bat to a ball

On the Capitol Mall

Even to get home to just chat

(They never get tired of that)

And watching Friends on DVD

To forget about missing family.

Though their jobs are great

The weekends can be such a long wait

For some freedom to decide

Exactly how to spend their time.

The girls have changed quite a lot

Whether they realize it or not

But one thing they see

Is they are where they should be.

Birthday Weekend!

So I am apparently not great at updating this, so forgive me! But this past weekend was my birthday weekend, and really the first thing I think "blog-worthy" since my move. Of course I could put up pictures of my super cute apartment, but I am not ready to do so until my room is completely decorated, which, granted, means it could be a while.

I suppose before digging into the birthday, I could reassure you that I do love work. My job is less than glamorous, but it comes equipped with business cards and lets me talk to people all day every day, which, of course, I love. I also have the best co-workers anyone could ask for. Someone is always up for a laugh or cup a coffee, and they are all so willing to help others and seem to be genuinely nice people.

Back to my birthday weekend! Friday night after work, a group of us went and ate at La Loma on Capitol Hill. From there, a smaller group broke off and went to Alero U and sat outside.

Tori, Zoe, Tina, and me

The next day, Becca Bradley and I went to the pool next to my apartment complex to get a little sun before taste of the South, which is one of the biggest parties in DC each year. It's a black tie event with an open bar, and food from each of the 13 southern states. It was a BLAST! Though there was no air conditioning or fans, we danced alllll night long to this awesome 70s cover band called the Right On Band. Check them out; they were the most fun! And afterward, we took the metro to Capitol Hill to grab a drink. This was quite possibly the highlight of my life--as we're waiting for the metro, everyone started rapping, and oh, fear not, the party continued on the metro! Everyone was dancing and singing, as if in a really bad musical. Seriously, though, highlight of my DC experience thus far.

Me, Emili, Becca, Elizabeth, and Christi before TOTS

No picture could fully capture this, but this is my feeble attempt

to catch this spontaneous rap session.

..and the party continues on the metro. Apparently Ash and Quinten are

cracking up, and take note of Becca's hands. They

were on the roof the WHOLE time!