Last weekend my dear friend Maggie and I threw a big, magical, happy birthday prep party chez nous in Washington, DC. It was a lot of work leading up to it, but the end result was so fun and fulfilling. I loved planning it with her. My birthday was a week and a half ago. Maggie's birthday is today.
Happy Birthday, Maggie! I'm so glad to be your friend.
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| Um, this was the best/only good photo I got on my camera from the party. |
I bought Florence's new Ceremonials album several months ago and I'm finally listening to it enough to really know it and love it. The band is coming to DC again in September. It's crazy to think that just over two years ago I saw them perform in the small 9:30 Club here in DC. It was their second performance in the U.S. Then all of a sudden they were opening for U2 and now they're the headliner for their own tour. It's fantastic.
I'm especially liking this song from the album.
beck
As I walked my usual walk from the metro to work this morning, I ran into some of the usual characters. The same "homeless" people day-to-day manning their spot. This morning I saw a new face and he had a fresh new message.
"I love all y'all. Hang in there. Not just for yourselves, but for the robot." True story.
I've expressed more frequently lately my burnout with DC. Perhaps it's just a new phase that needs to begin. Now I know the city pretty well. It's not really new and fresh. It's like an old friend and we've run out of things to say to each other. Crazy, right? For some reason, I feel a need to have a love affair with the city I'm in. Perhaps in this new phase, I can embrace the city as a home and a place of comfort as opposed to a place to do lots of things. I've still got some things to do on my bucket list here, but I've done most of what I really want to do. Now I just need to live fully.
I've been reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. The last bit I've read has focused on mindfulness and living in the present. It brings peace and clarity of mind. So I'm working on it... BUT I might still talk about moving to NYC or some other place--finding the next best thing for me.
beck
Technology is failing me. My wifi connection at home is slow. My camera is falling apart (and I never remember to charge it anymore). And my phone is on its last...signal? Needless to say I haven't been documenting my travels very well this summer. Here's a picture update.
First stop: Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky for Bailey's Baby Blessing
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| "Right dere Bailey." |
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| This girl got a bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum. It was a lil dangerous. |
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| It was windy and freezing and try as I might I couldn't get myself and the locomotive in the shot. Meh |
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| The Great Salt Lake. My pictures don't do justice to how incredible and awesome it was to see such magnificent and untouched space. |
So I'm in Fresno. Tonight I got my family to watch some of John Pinette's stand-up routine. I've probably watched this a dozen times in the last week since I rediscovered it. I love watching it and I loved laughing like crazy with my family.
You can watch one of the best parts of it here: http://comedians.jokes.com/john-pinette/videos/john-pinette---water-park It's also all on Netflix instant.
Enjoy!
beck
Weeks go by and I think about posting. Just a quick update: I moved into the District! I live in a lovely house with three roommates. There's a nice sized yard and bright sunny windows. It's actually the first house I've lived in as a young single person. I've lived in apartments throughout college and up until now in the DMV (District/Maryland/Virginia).
I'm taking two weeks off of work starting sort of today. I had some things to finish up in the office and I'm not leaving town until Saturday so it didn't conflict with my plans. My vacation destinations are Virginia Beach, Fresno and San Francisco. Woot!
I promise I'm still alive. My new life insurance policy proves that too. Yes, I bought life insurance. Maybe as a part of my quarter-life crisis. Maybe because it's cheaper than you think, especially when you buy when you're young and healthy.
That's all I've got at the moment.
beck
I got two new nieces in the month of March! Baby B was born on March 5. And she was named after me :) Lady was born on March 28. She was not named after me...but they'll probably change their minds about that soon. ;)
I spent all of last weekend in Kentucky cuddling B. I happened to be in Lexington during the Final Four game, so we were all sporting some UK gear.
