Happy birthday Lulu!

It's hard to believe I've had my little Lu for a year now and that she is 3 years old.  Everyone is surprised when they find out how old she is because she just emanates puppy on our walks in the street.

We celebrated her birthday (as well as the birthday of my aunt, grandmother, and mom) in Asheville last weekend with family, lots of love, and even more food.  Here's to many more great years together!

Red light, green light

Not your typical schoolyard game.  It's my new game for running in the city.  I'll explain it but first let me start with the basic rules of running.  In case you didn't know, I'm a pretty serious runner (please note I did not say talented runner).  I have 3 rules that I abide by:
1. No music.  It distracts you from the whole running process.  I use running as my quiet time to work out the problems/joys/questions/stresses of my day.
2. Don't stop.  Just an overlap from my days on the track team.
3. Never turn on your heel to go home.  I always make a loop in some way because I'm afraid that stopping and turning in the opposite direction seems like a wimpy move for a jogger who couldn't keep going.  I always leave my house without knowing which direction I will go that day and make up the route as I go.

Being in the city with the nation's worst traffic has presented new obstacles, especially when I have Lulu ready to run in front of a car because she doesn't understand traffic signals yet (we're working on "Don't walk" and "Walk sign").  So I have devised a way to keep with my rules and not be trapped by the ever-present red light.

START
-Leave the house with Lulu in tow.  She picks left or right out of the gate.
-Whenever there is a red light, you have to change directions to follow the green light.
-Every good American knows that yellow lights are for speeding up, not slowing down.  Therefore, walk sign timers ticking with 10 seconds or less require a sprint pace to make the yellow light.
-Crosswalks/stop signs on side streets are the ample opportunity to cross sides of the street.
-Try not to get lost.
FINISH

Every day is different and I feel that I get to know a place much better on foot.  I feel pretty comfortable in my Dupont neighborhood.  As the fall comes and endurance kicks in, I'm looking forward to exploring the other neighborhoods in the area.

My apologies

It has been brought to my attention that since I moved to DC that I have been a terrible blogger.  I admit this and have one thing to say in response: Sorry I'm not sorry.

With the advice of my beloved cousin blogger (whose blog you should read instead because I've been having too much fun in my new life), here is a list of townie things I'm probably out doing instead of sitting at home blogging:
-Happy Hours in Dupont, U Street, Adam's Morgan
-Getting into the groove at Children's National
-Taking Lulu to play in Alexandria with her new BFF Marley
-Brunching
-Rooftop decking
-Pool stalking
-Celebrating holidays both legitimate and exaggerated (Independence Day, DC flag day, Pride, Bastille Day)
-Hosting out-of-townies
-Enjoying cooking for and bonding with my new roomie

As a testament to DC's traffic laws, I am no longer talking on the phone and driving (Yay!) so my neighborhood walks with Lu are my time for catching up.  Rest assured if you're not hearing from me as frequently that it means that I love it here, am being a safe driver, and it means the future blog posts will be filled with lots of fun details of city life.

Go 'Merica!

Celebrating Independence Day in our nation's capital was a truly unique experience.  With two hundred year old buildings lining the streets and tourists buzzing in multiple languages, it is easy to understand why DC is the place to celebrate the fourth.

I met up with a couple of friends on the National Mall and beat the heat in the shade of the Washington Monument until dusk.  The fireworks show over the Reflecting Pool was by far THE BEST FIREWORKS SHOW I have EVER seen.  My chest was booming and I kept whispering oohs and aahs as the bombs burst in air.

The only thing that was missing was my picnic on the lawn of the White House.  Barack must have lost my invitation in the mail.

Bex in the City

I have finally ARRIVED.  After six long months of anticipation and preparation I am now a DC resident and finding my way through the Capital City.

It is so clear now that I was meant to be in DC.  Disclaimer of gratitude: I could not have gotten here without my job and the people in Louisville, so I am thankful for that year of my life.  But now I'm moving on.

This place is hustling and bustling at all hours and I am in awe of how the residents are always moving, so well put together, and vibrant.  It's like a Mecca for young, attractive, ambitious twenty-somethings!  One week here has felt busier than one month in Kentucky.  I've seen museums, happy hour'd, held a refugee camp in my apartment after the power outages, seen old friends, made new friends, connected with alumni, spent an hour at the DMV without anything to show for it, and still there is so much left to do! 


The shock and awe of being a resident has not quite hit me yet.  I get a little ego boost every time I swipe my Smart Card at the metro because it makes me feel like a LOCAL.  I hope that feeling never wears off.  Someone asked me when I will know that I live in DC?...  My answer is this: When I've seen a change in seasons and Congress in session, when I say these things and really mean it, and when I get to show it off to all of my lovely visitors who are thrilled to have a friend to crash with in Washington.  Come visit!

A year in review: Louisville edition

What I'll Miss About Louisville, KY:
-the Frankfort Avenue train
-bourbon culture
-New2Lou and my favorite New2Louies
-horse racing at Keeneland and Churchill Downs
-the parks: Cherokee, Iroquois, Miles
-when it gets dark at 10 pm in the summer because we're so far west
-a great job with wonderful colleagues

What I'll Gladly Leave Behind:
-the worst pollen and seasonal allergies in the country in the Ohio River Valley
-terrifying thunder storms that are also a result of the Ohio River Valley
-never being able to find a recycling bin

Top 10 Louisville Experiences:
10. My many visitors
9. Getting Lulu
8. Train hopping
7. St. Patrick's Day festivities
6. Maker's Mark Distillery
5. Receiving a letter from the Mayor
4. Sunday Fundays
3. The RRG
2. The Moth
1. The Oaks & Derby

Truly Terrible Moments of the Past Year:
1. Leaving my keys in North Carolina.  It's STILL not funny.  The photo featured above is actually about 4 hours before I realized my keys were NC.

Love you Lou.

Happy friendiversary graduation!

Four years ago on this day, I met Meg for the first time.  We were instant friends and I have been so lucky to have a friend that embraces ridiculosity with the same passion that I do.  I have met my match in Meg and she has proven time and again what a special person she is.  Shoot, I popped out of a box for this girl last year!

So as we both close chapters in our lives and move on to new adventures, I take great comfort in knowing that Meg and I have a friendship that is going to carry us into our old age when we sit on hover rockers and reminisce on our younger years when we had all our teeth and our biggest worry was what the next kickball t-shirt design would be.  Love you Megly.  Happy 4th.