Weekend in DC

This weekend was fantastic. The weather was good, not perfect, but nice enough to go out, without being too nice, which kept the crowds away. The cherry blossoms were starting to open and the outlet shopping was a success. It was nice to get out of Boston for a few days and enjoy another city. It made me miss living in DC a little. I love the history and the buildings that make DC what it is. Of course nothing could be more home than Boston is, but I do enjoy the District a lot.

The Top Five Moments of the Weekend

5. Getting much needed manis and pedis in sketchy Chinatown

4. Seeing one of my really good friends from home in the District (we had to both be there on vacation to see each other! So wonderfully random).

3. Having Potbelly's turkey sandwiches for lunch...Saturday and Sunday!

2a. Visiting my other boyfriend Abe Lincoln (yes, he's my favorite president and yes, I love him) 

2b. Getting an AWESOME deal on the bag I wanted for Christmas at the outlets. Like 70% off good.

1. Asking my non-Welsh friend from Wales what the Terra Cotta warriors are made of (turns out they're made of terra cotta. Who knew?)

Overall, a great time. We saw the sites and took in some culture (the Terra Cotta warriors were so awesome). Getting home Monday in the rain was a whole lot less fun. But I made it. And it has finally stopped raining in Boston, so it's good to be home.

Our Nation's Capital

Someone has to deal with the health-care reform thing, so I'm off to DC to do it myself.Well...not really. But I am going to DC for the weekend! Maybe I'll have a stop and chat with good old B.O. and get some serious answers out of him.

Probably not though. I'll be too busy having fun with my non-Welsh friend from Wales. We're having Dim Sum and going outlet shopping. We're even spending one night with the Terra Cotta Army (which is not an armed force of potted plans, as it turns out). Be jealous. It's going to be amazing.

House Guests and Wishes

My birthday is in less than two weeks, and I am so excited. I love my birthday. Some people don't like to mention their big day, but not me. I'll tell everyone I know everyday for two weeks, and want to feel completely special on the day of. I think birthdays are fun and should absolutely be celebrated. This year is the big 2-5 for me. It's not old in the grand scheme of life, but it's the oldest I've ever been! And I think it's a great age. People take you more seriously at 25, but still don't consider you old. Ideal, I think.

I always make a wish list for my birthday. It's not that any one has to get my a gift, or that I'll be disappointed if I don't get them or anything like that. I happen to have a wonderfully generous family who often does give presents, so I make sure they know what I'd like. It makes their life easier and there is no waste (yes, I think another pair of slippers that I never wanted in the first place is waste). This year I would REALLY like a brand spanking new amazing camera...but that a little outside the birthday budget, so I'll just keep dreaming about being the proud owner of one of these puppies. Sigh. Some day.

On an equally interesting note, my sister and her boyfriend have moved into my tiny apartment. They were living out in the 'burbs, but have just sold their house to move back to the city (because it's better here). But of course their apartment is not ready to be moved into, so they are on our couch. It's cozy having four people in our place, but it's fun. I love my sister and would do anything for her. Hopefully I still feel the same by the time she moves out...

Pain

Today I hurt all over. I took a class at the gym on Saturday morning that I hadn't done in a while, and boy did it hurt. Squats and push-ups and shoulder pressing. Ouch. It's awesome, but I felt it. Not to mention I walked all over the city on Saturday in my flip-flops (always bad on the feet and legs) and then did gardening for my Gramma yesterday. Who knew weeding would be such torture on the sore muscles?

Walking hurts today. Sitting hurts. Standing hurts. Going from standing to sitting hurts. Going for sitting to standing hurts. I think you get the idea.

And I have a headache today. It makes staring at the computer to do work really hard. I'd like a nap right about now.

But that's enough complaining. At least the weather has been beautiful (besides today) and I'm going to Washington DC this weekend! If I can make it though the week that has started so painfully, I have a great weekend ahead!

Top Chef

Yesterday I made corned beef and cabbage for the first time. I am only like 1% Irish, or something really small like that, but there is Irish blood in the family, so I figured I should get on the wagon and learn how to make it. Luckily, I can always find at least three dinner guests in my apartment on Wednesday nights (thanks to America's Next Top Model being on), so they became the meal testers.

Turns out, it's not hard to make at all. I threw the meat in the Crock-Pot in the morning, and did the cabbage and potatoes closer to meal time. Not to toot my own horn, but it came out really well. We enjoyed the St. Patrick's Day dinner and some Guinness...well I drank root beer from a Guinness glass because I don't actually like the beer...and were all festive and wore green. It was a good time, and we got to avoid all the obnoxious drunk people who venture into Boston for the holiday.

I took pictures of the food, and friends, but I didn't post them...oh well. Maybe tomorrow I'll show us off in all our green glory.

Oh! And the baby cousin-in-law-to-be was born Friday night. A girl. So beautiful. My Gramma knit her a hat this weekend and we sent a package last night of the most adorable baby girl clothes. So exciting!

Friday

You know it's time to go home when people start cracking "your mom" jokes. It wasn't that funny, but we all thought it was. We've all worked too much this week (even me and my three day week was too long) and we're just beyond over it now. The weekend cannot start soon enough.

On another unrelated note, the cousins-in-law-to-be are at the hospital right now waiting for the arrival of their first baby. We're on baby watch! No news yet, other than safe arrivals at the hospital. Hopefully we'll have more news soon. The gender is unknown at this point, so that makes it even more exciting! :)

Vacation

It seems as though I've taken a blogger vacation. That was an accident. I did also go on real vacation though, and that was on purpose.

I went with the hubs-to-be and his married cousins down to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a week, and it was a wonderful week. We relaxed and got sun (maybe too much). We enjoyed the spring break drink specials, but made sure everyone knew we were NOT on spring break.

It was really nice to get away for a while. It was so warm. It will make it easier to get through the end of winter since I was able to have a nice break from it all. And the hubs-to-be and I have never been on vacation together before. We travel a lot, but always to visit family or go to school, so this was the first real getaway we're ever had. I loved it. I will definitely do it again.

But now it's back to reality. Back to work. Back to the cold (although it's much nicer than when we left the city). The work has piled up more than I can handle, and I'm hoping I don't have a breakdown before the end of the week. I know vacation is supposed to be great and relaxing and rejuvenating...and it was...until I got back and see everything waiting for me. It makes me wish I didn't leave work for so long. But I did. And it was so worth it. :)

For now I'm still in vacation mode. My brain is still on the beach and I'm dreaming of starting my mornings like this again...