When Gavin was almost 8 weeks old, we drove him up to Boston to meet Kevin's extended family. We broke the drive up as much as we could, using it both to introduce Gavin to as many people as possible and as a dry-run for his first flight the next week. Overall it went really well. It was nice to see so many people. Though the trip was a bit of a whirlwind, and we ended up spending more time in the car than we'd really intended. Also, my boobs were not happy about how long we ended up going between feedings, though Gavin seemed fine.
We left around noon on Friday, with the intent of getting to Kevin's aunt's house, just outside Stamford, CT. This was the longest leg of the journey, and we hit some rush hour traffic near NYC that added some time. But overall it wasn't too bad. Gavin slept almost the entire trip. We pulled off at a rest stop in Delaware so I could wake him up and try to make him eat, and he went back to sleep right after. Then with about five minutes left in the trip he woke up, pooped, and proceeded to scream for the rest of the ride.
We got to Kevin's aunt's and had to go right upstairs to change and feed Gavin. But once he was sated we were able to come down and have a nice meal and visit. Unfortunately, in my desire to visit, I only had Gavin eat on one side, and I ended up with a clogged duct in my still full boob. I spent the rest of the night pumping, applying warm compresses, and massaging to try and get the clog out. I even used my electronic toothbrush at one point to try and break up and move the clog. Somehow it worked, though my breast was tender for a few days. And my breasts continued to be uncomfortably full for the rest of the trip.
The next morning we woke up to a lot more snow than was in the forecast. We spent some time hemming and hawing to try to figure out what to do. Kevin went to investigate the roads and was relieved to discover that outside of his aunt's neighborhood the roads were clear. So we decided to push on to see his family in Massachusetts. The snow did slow us down. What was supposed to be a 2 1/2 hour drive extended to over 4 hours. By the time we got to Kevin's grandmother's I had to pump for almost half an hour and ended up getting 8 oz (as compared to the 4 oz I usually pump).
I realize that I'm spending a lot of time talking about my boobs, but this was the real takeaway from this trip for me. Gavin just sleeps too well in the car, so I wasn't feeding him often enough. If we decide to do another road trip, I'm going to have to come up with a different strategy for feeding the baby.
We had a nice, if short, visit with Kevin's grandmother and other aunt and cousins. Then it was in to the city where we met some friends for dinner and games. Gavin did great with all the commotion, mostly chilling in his bouncer in another room. When he did start to fuss, we took off for our hotel outside the city.
Staying in a hotel went much better than I'd been expecting it to. It was nice to have our own space, as opposed to cramming in to Kevin's cousin's room. It was nice to not be worrying about Gavin waking up other people in the middle of the night. Having a couch made the middle of the night feedings much easier.
In the morning we got up and headed down to NYC where we met up with a bunch of friends for a late lunch. Becca knew a place with enough room for us to park the stroller and meet with a big group of people. It was sort of like an upscale food court, with a bar and a nice, big table tucked away in a corner. We spent a few hours visiting with a bunch of friends. Then it was back on the road so we could get home that night. But not without buying batteries so I could use my breast pump in the car, which made a huge difference on the ride home.
We got home a little after 10. In the days before having a baby, I would have just fallen into bed at this point. But those days are over. I was up for another hour, unpacking and doing dishes and making sure Gavin was good to go before I could go to bed. But I did eventually get to go to bed. The trip was quick and involved a lot of driving. But Gavin did so good traveling that we were feeling a lot better about putting him on a plane a week later.
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Overbooked
Last week I tried to do too much and burned out in a major way. I'd been feeling good, and I kept adding social events to my calendar without thinking too hard about it. It came around to bite me, as I should have expected. But I did at least find the time to recover.
After the baby shower, Kevin, Zach, and Sarah had plans to go to the baseball game. I had plans to finish my book and take a bubble bath. But since Autumn and Ben were in town and I didn't hate the previous baseball game I'd gone to, I decided to join the group instead. The game got off to a bit of a slow start, but it didn't end up lasting too long. I'm glad I went. The last several times we've seen Ben and Autumn I feel like we've barely hung out with them. I was busy with my sister-in-law's pre-wedding events or packing or moving or cleaning or just staying in a different part of the city. So it was nice to have a chance to catch up.
That led in to a Sunday spent playing board games with everyone down at Zach and Sarah's. Again, it was nice to throw responsibilities out the window. I'm not going to be able to do that for too much longer. But it did mean that I was starting to fall behind on housework with no plan for catching back up.
Monday night, Washington was playing their opening game of the football season. And since Monday Night Football isn't broadcast on local channels, we went to a bar to watch the game. This is where things really began to fall apart. I have a touch of insomnia and I'm exhausted all the time seemingly no matter what I do. So I figured it wouldn't be a big deal to stay out until 10:30 to watch the football game. It's not like I was going to be using that time to sleep anyway. It turns out I would have been using that time to relax and get ready for bed, and everything get pushed back farther because we were out late. It would have been worth it if we hadn't been destroyed so completely by the Steelers.
On Tuesday, I had the monthly ladies night with my neighbors. I was still feeling alright, and these are new relationships that I want to form and nourish. So even though these people aren't exactly my people, I joined them all for dinner and small talk. They're all nice and they're all moms, and it's good to be around other mothers when I'm so close to being one. It's nice to complain about some of the pregnancy stuff with the other pregnant women. But I also spend these evenings envisioning myself becoming a completely different person, and I'm never sure how I feel about that. On the surface, I don't have anything against becoming a "Suburban Wine Mom". I've been halfway there for years now. But I'm also not entirely ready for conversations about nannies and insane first birthdays.
The next evening I was supposed to go downtown for an alumni event. This was actually the first of all of these events to show up on my schedule, and I hadn't even committed to it until I scheduled 9:00 am doctor's appointment for Thursday. I figured that would give me a chance to sleep in and recover from staying out. But I hadn't quite counted on doing that for so many nights in a row. So when 2:00 rolled around and I was contemplating my second cup of tea to make it through the evening and Kevin expressed a lack of interest in going, I decided I wouldn't go either. Instead I went home and sat on the couch and finally started recovering from my whirlwind social life.
I did manage to sleep in on Thursday. And since I didn't have to go back to work after the doctor's appointment, I managed to bounce back from all this craziness pretty quickly. I even made a dent in the housework I hadn't done on Sunday, though I mostly just watched TV. I need to remember to balance my life and not push myself to exhaustion just because I'll be exhausted anyway. I only have a few precious weeks of relaxation left before the kid shows up, and I shouldn't waste them.
After the baby shower, Kevin, Zach, and Sarah had plans to go to the baseball game. I had plans to finish my book and take a bubble bath. But since Autumn and Ben were in town and I didn't hate the previous baseball game I'd gone to, I decided to join the group instead. The game got off to a bit of a slow start, but it didn't end up lasting too long. I'm glad I went. The last several times we've seen Ben and Autumn I feel like we've barely hung out with them. I was busy with my sister-in-law's pre-wedding events or packing or moving or cleaning or just staying in a different part of the city. So it was nice to have a chance to catch up.
That led in to a Sunday spent playing board games with everyone down at Zach and Sarah's. Again, it was nice to throw responsibilities out the window. I'm not going to be able to do that for too much longer. But it did mean that I was starting to fall behind on housework with no plan for catching back up.
Monday night, Washington was playing their opening game of the football season. And since Monday Night Football isn't broadcast on local channels, we went to a bar to watch the game. This is where things really began to fall apart. I have a touch of insomnia and I'm exhausted all the time seemingly no matter what I do. So I figured it wouldn't be a big deal to stay out until 10:30 to watch the football game. It's not like I was going to be using that time to sleep anyway. It turns out I would have been using that time to relax and get ready for bed, and everything get pushed back farther because we were out late. It would have been worth it if we hadn't been destroyed so completely by the Steelers.
On Tuesday, I had the monthly ladies night with my neighbors. I was still feeling alright, and these are new relationships that I want to form and nourish. So even though these people aren't exactly my people, I joined them all for dinner and small talk. They're all nice and they're all moms, and it's good to be around other mothers when I'm so close to being one. It's nice to complain about some of the pregnancy stuff with the other pregnant women. But I also spend these evenings envisioning myself becoming a completely different person, and I'm never sure how I feel about that. On the surface, I don't have anything against becoming a "Suburban Wine Mom". I've been halfway there for years now. But I'm also not entirely ready for conversations about nannies and insane first birthdays.
The next evening I was supposed to go downtown for an alumni event. This was actually the first of all of these events to show up on my schedule, and I hadn't even committed to it until I scheduled 9:00 am doctor's appointment for Thursday. I figured that would give me a chance to sleep in and recover from staying out. But I hadn't quite counted on doing that for so many nights in a row. So when 2:00 rolled around and I was contemplating my second cup of tea to make it through the evening and Kevin expressed a lack of interest in going, I decided I wouldn't go either. Instead I went home and sat on the couch and finally started recovering from my whirlwind social life.
I did manage to sleep in on Thursday. And since I didn't have to go back to work after the doctor's appointment, I managed to bounce back from all this craziness pretty quickly. I even made a dent in the housework I hadn't done on Sunday, though I mostly just watched TV. I need to remember to balance my life and not push myself to exhaustion just because I'll be exhausted anyway. I only have a few precious weeks of relaxation left before the kid shows up, and I shouldn't waste them.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Baby Shower
The weekend after Labor Day, Zach and Sarah threw us a baby shower. We had originally thought to do it back in August, but between moving and various other family and friend events, we weren't at all sure we'd be able to get a registry put together in time, let alone find a weekend for the party. So it got pushed back a bit, which ultimately worked well.
Zach and Sarah made all sorts of brunch food and Jen provided a couple of juices that were delicious with or without champagne added. We skipped over the typical baby shower games in favor of just visiting with everyone, which is much more our speed. And we even got a surprise visit from Ben and Autumn, who came down from NYC to attend.
It was a lot of fun to eat delicious food I didn't have to cook and sit in a chair and chat with people. We got a bunch of cute baby stuff with a decidedly Star Wars theme. I may have to work to balance that out with some Star Trek gear. It was nice and low-key and a whole lot of fun.
Zach and Sarah made all sorts of brunch food and Jen provided a couple of juices that were delicious with or without champagne added. We skipped over the typical baby shower games in favor of just visiting with everyone, which is much more our speed. And we even got a surprise visit from Ben and Autumn, who came down from NYC to attend.
It was a lot of fun to eat delicious food I didn't have to cook and sit in a chair and chat with people. We got a bunch of cute baby stuff with a decidedly Star Wars theme. I may have to work to balance that out with some Star Trek gear. It was nice and low-key and a whole lot of fun.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
New York Wedding
The weekend after our housewarming party, we went up to New York for our friend Becca's wedding. This was actually the second wedding. The first one was in India the previous month with her new husband's family. But New York is much easier to travel to than India, so we just went to the second wedding.
Being a second wedding, the whole thing was relatively casual and a lot of fun. Becca and her husband decided to do a Quaker-style ceremony where they married themselves, since the legalities had already been taken care of. The venue was a museum with a strange inflatable art exhibit, a planetarium show, and a mansion we could have toured (but we missed it because I am too slow).
They had dinner and dancing in a room in the lower level of the museum, after everyone had had a chance to explore the exhibits. There was a live band, which was fun. Except that the room was a little too small for a live band. The noise ended up being a bit overwhelming, and I spent most of that part of the reception outside on the balcony, where there were some lovely, comfortable couches.
All in all it was a very fun weekend. We got a chance to see some people from college that we really don't see very often, since Becca ran in a broader social circle than us. There were some people out from the West Coast that we hardly ever see. We ended up spending most of the afternoon before the wedding at a brew-pub with friends that I'm not sure we've seen since our wedding. It was great to play games and swap stories.
Being a second wedding, the whole thing was relatively casual and a lot of fun. Becca and her husband decided to do a Quaker-style ceremony where they married themselves, since the legalities had already been taken care of. The venue was a museum with a strange inflatable art exhibit, a planetarium show, and a mansion we could have toured (but we missed it because I am too slow).
They had dinner and dancing in a room in the lower level of the museum, after everyone had had a chance to explore the exhibits. There was a live band, which was fun. Except that the room was a little too small for a live band. The noise ended up being a bit overwhelming, and I spent most of that part of the reception outside on the balcony, where there were some lovely, comfortable couches.
All in all it was a very fun weekend. We got a chance to see some people from college that we really don't see very often, since Becca ran in a broader social circle than us. There were some people out from the West Coast that we hardly ever see. We ended up spending most of the afternoon before the wedding at a brew-pub with friends that I'm not sure we've seen since our wedding. It was great to play games and swap stories.
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Housewarming
About a month after we moved in to our new house, we threw our housewarming party. We combined it with our annual crab feast and ended up inviting a ton of people. It was by far the biggest crab feast we've ever had, the first time we actually finished all of the crabs at the party.
We invited our usualy friend group, who always comes to these events. Kevin also extended the invitation to his new colleagues, who all came with their spouses. And we invited a few of our new neighbors which accidentally spiraled into inviting the whole neighborhood. Thankfully most of them were still out of town or otherwise busy due to summer vacation. But a few stopped by and it was nice to get to know them.
A bunch of people brought beer and wine, and we provided a keg and a cooler full of beer and soda. And even though people stayed up late playing beer pong, we almost ended the party with more alcohol than we started it with. We even gota fancy new cooler (full of Coronas).
The party was something of a whirlwind, and I wasn't really much help as a host in terms of cooking or cleaning. I tried to at least talk to everyone who stopped by, though, and it was nice to get to know some of the new neighbors.
The Monday after the party, we hauled the remainder of the keg up to the end of our driveway and invited our neighbors over to help us finish it. It was a nice, more low-key way to get to know some of them. Though the short notice did mean that even fewer people stopped by. But it was ultimately a very fun and successful housewarming party. It's been almost a month now, and Kevin is still working his way through the excess beer.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Trading the Bs for Ds
Every year, we go to the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ festival at National Harbor. It's a fun day with unlimited tastings of beer, bourbon, and bacon (the bbq costs extra). The earlier you buy your ticket, the cheaper it is. So back in January I didn't hesitate to buy mine, forgetting for a moment that we were about to start trying for a kid.
I got pregnant and ended up giving my ticket to my brother. But I agreed to be the designated driver for my friends. Dealing with the metro+taxi is difficult enough when the metro is running reliably, which it definitely isn't lately. So having a driver made the entire thing smoother.
I didn't actually attend the festival this year. It's held in a parking lot, which gets super hot under the June sun. Instead I wandered around National Harbor. I found lunch and ice cream and looked in a few of the stores. I had planned to find an air-conditioned cafe to read my book in, but the weather was actually gorgeous. Down by the water there was a nice breeze and a bunch of benches under the shade, so I ended up spending most of my time there.
After the festival, we went back to Zach and Sarah's to play games and nap and eat pizza. Once people had recovered somewhat, we went to a party at Jen's. I was actually feeling surprisingly good for the entire day and even stayed out later than I'd initially intended. But boy did I pay for it the next day.
I did a bit of shopping on Sunday and did my best to help Kevin continue to pack and clean our house. Before long I basically collapsed, though. By early evening my entire body ached and it was all I could do to move from the bed to the toilet when I had to pee. Monday was no easier, and I essentially collapsed as soon as I was home from work. On Tuesday I finally started to feel better, but I'm going to have to remember not to push myself so hard in the coming months. The recovery time is just too long, and there's too much to do between now and when the kid arrives.
I got pregnant and ended up giving my ticket to my brother. But I agreed to be the designated driver for my friends. Dealing with the metro+taxi is difficult enough when the metro is running reliably, which it definitely isn't lately. So having a driver made the entire thing smoother.
I didn't actually attend the festival this year. It's held in a parking lot, which gets super hot under the June sun. Instead I wandered around National Harbor. I found lunch and ice cream and looked in a few of the stores. I had planned to find an air-conditioned cafe to read my book in, but the weather was actually gorgeous. Down by the water there was a nice breeze and a bunch of benches under the shade, so I ended up spending most of my time there.
After the festival, we went back to Zach and Sarah's to play games and nap and eat pizza. Once people had recovered somewhat, we went to a party at Jen's. I was actually feeling surprisingly good for the entire day and even stayed out later than I'd initially intended. But boy did I pay for it the next day.
I did a bit of shopping on Sunday and did my best to help Kevin continue to pack and clean our house. Before long I basically collapsed, though. By early evening my entire body ached and it was all I could do to move from the bed to the toilet when I had to pee. Monday was no easier, and I essentially collapsed as soon as I was home from work. On Tuesday I finally started to feel better, but I'm going to have to remember not to push myself so hard in the coming months. The recovery time is just too long, and there's too much to do between now and when the kid arrives.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Vegas Woooo!
Several years ago, a high school friend of mine posted pictures of herself and her husband in Las Vegas on their babymoon. What on earth does a pregnant person do in Vegas? I wondered. Of course, this was also right around the time I swore off all future trips to Vegas. They were always full of hot weather, loud clubs, and entirely too much alcohol. It wasn't fun for me anymore, but I didn't understand that there was a different way to experience Las Vegas.
Fast forward and here I am, five months pregnant enjoying a relaxing, extended weekend in Ls Vegas with fun shows, excellent food, and good friends. Not to mention plenty of sleep. At least, I would have gotten plenty of sleep if I weren't 5 months pregnant and waking up to pee every 3 hours.
Kevin went out to Vegas on Tuesday for a work conference. Danielle, Eric, and I joined him on Friday for a much-needed vacation. And a much-needed reunion; it had been over a year and a half since we'd seen Danielle and Eric at this point. Getting together with them was the whole reason for the trip. Then it turned out that my dad was also in Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker, so we were able to spend some time with him, too.
We stayed at the Palazzo, which is on the north end of the strip and connected to the Venetian with a mall. It meant that we didn't really have to go outside to get food or drinks, which was nice considering the oppressive desert heat.
On Saturday night, I had my pre-planned night of debauchery, which takes on a very different meaning at this stage in life. We went to Delmonico's for dinner, where I had a single glass of wine with my medium-rare filet. I know I'm supposed to be getting all my meat well-done, but if I'm going to pay $60 for a steak, I'm not turning it into leather. I was proud of myself for making the single glass last nearly an hour, especially since it was a rather stingy pour (our water got 8 glasses out of a single bottle). Then I had a sip of Kevin's port with my chocolate cake and followed it up with a cup of coffee in the hopes that I'd stay awake.
After dinner we went to a 9:30 performance of Ka, which was fantastic. It's an amazingly vertical show, with a stage that moves up and down and rotates on all three axes. The show was spectacular. Alas, it wasn't spectacular enough to keep me awake. Despite my carefully planned coffee, I slept through the final battle. I would have slept right through the end if not for a fireworks display during the finale.
We spent the next day hanging out with my dad while Danielle and Eric celebrated their engagement anniversary. We got to see the World Series of Poker, which was amazing. There were several ballrooms in the convention center filled with tables. Then we wandered along the strip and watched most of the Nationals game and all of the final hockey game. At that point the heat combined with a cold I caught on the plane to knock me out. Kevin and I went back to the room where I fell asleep. Then Kevin went out gambling and won almost $600 in half an hour, nicely recouping our earlier losses (I went through $100 alarmingly quickly at a cash game earlier). He decided to stop then, which meant that we ended the trip in the red, gambling-wise.
We also used our relative sobriety this trip to allow us to get up to Fremont Street for some people watching and the incredible light show. Kevin had attended a seminar about the technology behind the light display over Fremont Street, and I thought that knowledge made the show a lot cooler. After the sun set we went back to the Palazzo where Kevin and Danielle tracked down some absinthe while Eric and I ate dessert.
Around this we spent a bunch of time lounging by the pool (before the sun crested the hotel and took away our shade), playing games, and drinking cheap champagne. It was a fantastic trip with just the right balance or relaxation and doing stuff. At this point I'm eager to go back to Las Vegas, though it'll probably be several more years since I can't imagine taking kids there. But that's what grandparents are for, right?
Fast forward and here I am, five months pregnant enjoying a relaxing, extended weekend in Ls Vegas with fun shows, excellent food, and good friends. Not to mention plenty of sleep. At least, I would have gotten plenty of sleep if I weren't 5 months pregnant and waking up to pee every 3 hours.
Kevin went out to Vegas on Tuesday for a work conference. Danielle, Eric, and I joined him on Friday for a much-needed vacation. And a much-needed reunion; it had been over a year and a half since we'd seen Danielle and Eric at this point. Getting together with them was the whole reason for the trip. Then it turned out that my dad was also in Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker, so we were able to spend some time with him, too.
We stayed at the Palazzo, which is on the north end of the strip and connected to the Venetian with a mall. It meant that we didn't really have to go outside to get food or drinks, which was nice considering the oppressive desert heat.
On Saturday night, I had my pre-planned night of debauchery, which takes on a very different meaning at this stage in life. We went to Delmonico's for dinner, where I had a single glass of wine with my medium-rare filet. I know I'm supposed to be getting all my meat well-done, but if I'm going to pay $60 for a steak, I'm not turning it into leather. I was proud of myself for making the single glass last nearly an hour, especially since it was a rather stingy pour (our water got 8 glasses out of a single bottle). Then I had a sip of Kevin's port with my chocolate cake and followed it up with a cup of coffee in the hopes that I'd stay awake.
After dinner we went to a 9:30 performance of Ka, which was fantastic. It's an amazingly vertical show, with a stage that moves up and down and rotates on all three axes. The show was spectacular. Alas, it wasn't spectacular enough to keep me awake. Despite my carefully planned coffee, I slept through the final battle. I would have slept right through the end if not for a fireworks display during the finale.
We spent the next day hanging out with my dad while Danielle and Eric celebrated their engagement anniversary. We got to see the World Series of Poker, which was amazing. There were several ballrooms in the convention center filled with tables. Then we wandered along the strip and watched most of the Nationals game and all of the final hockey game. At that point the heat combined with a cold I caught on the plane to knock me out. Kevin and I went back to the room where I fell asleep. Then Kevin went out gambling and won almost $600 in half an hour, nicely recouping our earlier losses (I went through $100 alarmingly quickly at a cash game earlier). He decided to stop then, which meant that we ended the trip in the red, gambling-wise.
We also used our relative sobriety this trip to allow us to get up to Fremont Street for some people watching and the incredible light show. Kevin had attended a seminar about the technology behind the light display over Fremont Street, and I thought that knowledge made the show a lot cooler. After the sun set we went back to the Palazzo where Kevin and Danielle tracked down some absinthe while Eric and I ate dessert.
Around this we spent a bunch of time lounging by the pool (before the sun crested the hotel and took away our shade), playing games, and drinking cheap champagne. It was a fantastic trip with just the right balance or relaxation and doing stuff. At this point I'm eager to go back to Las Vegas, though it'll probably be several more years since I can't imagine taking kids there. But that's what grandparents are for, right?
Friday, June 3, 2016
Kicking Off the Busy Season
The Saturday before Memorial Day was the busiest Saturday I've had in a long time. Which is appropriate as this is shaping up to be the busiest summer I've had in a long time.
We got up at 6 in the morning. Kevin re-stained the stairs to the backyard while I swept and mopped and generally got ready for the barbecue we were throwing that afternoon. Then it was off to the home inspection for our new home at 8:30.
The inspection went well. There were a few issues, but some of them were maintenance things (trimming back trees that were overhanging the roof) and some we had been expecting (the seller had already told us she wasn't replacing the stove top fan, thus implying that it was broken). For the most part everything is in working order. The furnace is old, but it's still working, so that's an upcoming expense that we just need to keep in mind.
We ended up leaving the inspection a tad early. We'd gone over most of the major things and our inspector said that from there on it was just a matter of checking outlets and light switches. We went to the grocery store by the new house to see what was in the shopping center and pick up some last minute food items for the barbecue. Then I dropped Kevin off at home and went to my sister-in-law's bridal shower.
I arrived at the bridal shower almost an hour late because we hadn't really known how long a home inspection takes. But I was still one of the first people there. We ate some food and chatted and played some games and watched the bride-to-be open presents. Then I had to duck out a little early to get back to my house before guests started arriving.
Two of our friends were coming from NYC by bus. As I was leaving the bridal showed, I actually ended up behind their bus at a stop light. But then I got stuck in the wrong lane because I didn't actually know where I was going. I ended up missing my turn to get back on the highway and had to loop around a little bit. It ended up working out, though, as I still got to the bus stop right as they were getting off the bus.
From then the day is a blur of food and friends. Everyone from the bridal shower came to the barbecue, as well as a bunch of local friends. All told we had over 30 people through our house that afternoon, making it one of the biggest parties we've thrown and justification for the bigger house we're buying.
Sunday was devoted to my sister-in-law's bachelorette party. Though I'm not drinking, I had a lot of fun touring various local cideries and distilleries with the group. I'm looking forward to going back to Catoctin Creek once I'm no longer pregnant. They've expanded since I was last there and have a pretty exciting tasting menu now. Afterwards we all went to an escape room in Alexandria, which was a ton of fun. We made it out with 5 minutes to spare, which I think means that the puzzle was the perfect amount of challenging. Then we got dinner and I left the group at a karaoke bar while I went to pick up Kevin. He had been planning to metro home from our friend's house, but with all the track work going on lately, the metro has gotten really unreliable. It might have taken him two hours to get home that way.
Monday was devoted to packing up our house in preparation for selling it. We need to clear out a lot of stuff before the open house so that it doesn't look too crammed. We packed up almost all of the books and games, along with the clothes we aren't expecting to wear until the weather turns colder. Then Kevin got a storage unit and started moving boxes over while I filled up trash bags with junks we don't need anymore and things we want to donate. It's amazing how much stuff we got rid of and how much stuff we still have. But it's also nice to get a jump start on the packing, even though we won't be moving for another month and a half. Hopefully we'll be able to keep chipping away at this a little bit at a time and avoid getting too overwhelmed.
We got up at 6 in the morning. Kevin re-stained the stairs to the backyard while I swept and mopped and generally got ready for the barbecue we were throwing that afternoon. Then it was off to the home inspection for our new home at 8:30.
The inspection went well. There were a few issues, but some of them were maintenance things (trimming back trees that were overhanging the roof) and some we had been expecting (the seller had already told us she wasn't replacing the stove top fan, thus implying that it was broken). For the most part everything is in working order. The furnace is old, but it's still working, so that's an upcoming expense that we just need to keep in mind.
We ended up leaving the inspection a tad early. We'd gone over most of the major things and our inspector said that from there on it was just a matter of checking outlets and light switches. We went to the grocery store by the new house to see what was in the shopping center and pick up some last minute food items for the barbecue. Then I dropped Kevin off at home and went to my sister-in-law's bridal shower.
I arrived at the bridal shower almost an hour late because we hadn't really known how long a home inspection takes. But I was still one of the first people there. We ate some food and chatted and played some games and watched the bride-to-be open presents. Then I had to duck out a little early to get back to my house before guests started arriving.
Two of our friends were coming from NYC by bus. As I was leaving the bridal showed, I actually ended up behind their bus at a stop light. But then I got stuck in the wrong lane because I didn't actually know where I was going. I ended up missing my turn to get back on the highway and had to loop around a little bit. It ended up working out, though, as I still got to the bus stop right as they were getting off the bus.
From then the day is a blur of food and friends. Everyone from the bridal shower came to the barbecue, as well as a bunch of local friends. All told we had over 30 people through our house that afternoon, making it one of the biggest parties we've thrown and justification for the bigger house we're buying.
Sunday was devoted to my sister-in-law's bachelorette party. Though I'm not drinking, I had a lot of fun touring various local cideries and distilleries with the group. I'm looking forward to going back to Catoctin Creek once I'm no longer pregnant. They've expanded since I was last there and have a pretty exciting tasting menu now. Afterwards we all went to an escape room in Alexandria, which was a ton of fun. We made it out with 5 minutes to spare, which I think means that the puzzle was the perfect amount of challenging. Then we got dinner and I left the group at a karaoke bar while I went to pick up Kevin. He had been planning to metro home from our friend's house, but with all the track work going on lately, the metro has gotten really unreliable. It might have taken him two hours to get home that way.
Monday was devoted to packing up our house in preparation for selling it. We need to clear out a lot of stuff before the open house so that it doesn't look too crammed. We packed up almost all of the books and games, along with the clothes we aren't expecting to wear until the weather turns colder. Then Kevin got a storage unit and started moving boxes over while I filled up trash bags with junks we don't need anymore and things we want to donate. It's amazing how much stuff we got rid of and how much stuff we still have. But it's also nice to get a jump start on the packing, even though we won't be moving for another month and a half. Hopefully we'll be able to keep chipping away at this a little bit at a time and avoid getting too overwhelmed.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Where Does the Time Go?
I looked at the calendar today and realized that May is more than half over. And I haven't updated these blogs in going on a month. Which is unusual. I can't even plead exhaustion this time around. Or being too busy. Though I have been busy. But I've also been balancing that pretty well with down time. It seems like life is about to get crazy, though.
Before I get into that, I should back up and record all the things I've skipped over.
My trip to New York City was a lot of fun, even though Kevin had to miss it. It was nice to see the friends who live there and to catch with some people I haven't seen in nearly five years. I also enjoyed getting to spend some time wandering around the city by myself.
When I arrived, I walked from Penn Station to Union Square, stopping for lunch on the way. I was able to explore the enormous Barnes and Noble - I wish we had a book store that big in DC. And I spent some time reading and looking for public restrooms. Then I went over to the 9/11 memorial before meeting up with my friends.
The 9/11 memorial is really astonishing. I didn't know anything in Manhattan could take up that much space, but there are 8 acres devoted to the memorial and museum. There are two fountains where the buildings originally stood, each of them a full acre. Standing next to them was breathtaking and sad. The designers did a really good job, and I'd like to go back after the trees have grown up a bit more.
That evening we got dinner down in Brooklyn, and, thanks to a computer error, didn't have to pay for any of the beer we drank. (Well, any of the beer my friends drank.) The next day we had a delicious brunch, then Autumn and I went to see Hamilton before joining back up with everyone for a birthday party in Brooklyn. Then I had Sunday mostly to myself again before catching my bus back to DC.
All in all it was a surprisingly relaxing weekend. It was fun to see everyone and to balance that with time in bookstores and cafes. The bus was not fun, and I won't be going on another long bus trip until I'm no longer pregnant. But I survived it and even made it home at a reasonable time.
After that, life got a little bit non-stop. We had our all-hands meeting at work, combined with several new employees, one of whom I was in charge of training. I spent a weekend cleaning my poor, neglected house and running all manner of errands. I had dinner with my mother in law and went to a friend's house warming party. And before I knew it, Kevin was home. It still seems like we've barely had a minute to ourselves, since life is just refusing to let up. But at least he's home.
Before I get into that, I should back up and record all the things I've skipped over.
My trip to New York City was a lot of fun, even though Kevin had to miss it. It was nice to see the friends who live there and to catch with some people I haven't seen in nearly five years. I also enjoyed getting to spend some time wandering around the city by myself.
When I arrived, I walked from Penn Station to Union Square, stopping for lunch on the way. I was able to explore the enormous Barnes and Noble - I wish we had a book store that big in DC. And I spent some time reading and looking for public restrooms. Then I went over to the 9/11 memorial before meeting up with my friends.
The 9/11 memorial is really astonishing. I didn't know anything in Manhattan could take up that much space, but there are 8 acres devoted to the memorial and museum. There are two fountains where the buildings originally stood, each of them a full acre. Standing next to them was breathtaking and sad. The designers did a really good job, and I'd like to go back after the trees have grown up a bit more.
That evening we got dinner down in Brooklyn, and, thanks to a computer error, didn't have to pay for any of the beer we drank. (Well, any of the beer my friends drank.) The next day we had a delicious brunch, then Autumn and I went to see Hamilton before joining back up with everyone for a birthday party in Brooklyn. Then I had Sunday mostly to myself again before catching my bus back to DC.
All in all it was a surprisingly relaxing weekend. It was fun to see everyone and to balance that with time in bookstores and cafes. The bus was not fun, and I won't be going on another long bus trip until I'm no longer pregnant. But I survived it and even made it home at a reasonable time.
After that, life got a little bit non-stop. We had our all-hands meeting at work, combined with several new employees, one of whom I was in charge of training. I spent a weekend cleaning my poor, neglected house and running all manner of errands. I had dinner with my mother in law and went to a friend's house warming party. And before I knew it, Kevin was home. It still seems like we've barely had a minute to ourselves, since life is just refusing to let up. But at least he's home.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
The Rest of Life
Kevin's been away on a business trip for almost a month now, and he won't be home for a couple more weeks. I've been enjoying having the house to myself and being able to set my own schedule, especially as my sleeping and eating habits veer around almost constantly. It's been nice to not worry about accommodating someone else through all that. I eat when I'm hungry, sleep when I'm tired, clean when I have the energy, and watch hours of TV when I don't.
I miss Kevin, of course. It gets lonely sometimes, and the 6 hour time difference doesn't help. But I'm also pretty independent. Besides which, nothing can be worse than the never-ending summer he spent in Alabama. At least this trip has a definite end date.
The quiet life means that there isn't a lot to report. I went to a couple of local book sales and stocked up my to-read stack. I went on a tour of the White House with my college's alumni group. I celebrated Sarah's birthday with brunch and sunshine. And last weekend my dad flew out for a visit. In fact, I haven't had a weekend without plans since Kevin left, although those plans have mostly been minimal.
Next weekend I'm heading up to NYC to visit friends and see Hamilton (we got tickets for our anniversary). Then I'm taking a weekend off to clean my house and lounge around before Kevin gets back and my mom comes to visit. I anticipate life getting very busy in the next few months, what with the baby coming and our hopes of buying a new home before the baby arrives. So I've been enjoying the time to just relax and not really think too hard about the future. It's been a nice, quite, relaxing Spring.
I miss Kevin, of course. It gets lonely sometimes, and the 6 hour time difference doesn't help. But I'm also pretty independent. Besides which, nothing can be worse than the never-ending summer he spent in Alabama. At least this trip has a definite end date.
The quiet life means that there isn't a lot to report. I went to a couple of local book sales and stocked up my to-read stack. I went on a tour of the White House with my college's alumni group. I celebrated Sarah's birthday with brunch and sunshine. And last weekend my dad flew out for a visit. In fact, I haven't had a weekend without plans since Kevin left, although those plans have mostly been minimal.
Next weekend I'm heading up to NYC to visit friends and see Hamilton (we got tickets for our anniversary). Then I'm taking a weekend off to clean my house and lounge around before Kevin gets back and my mom comes to visit. I anticipate life getting very busy in the next few months, what with the baby coming and our hopes of buying a new home before the baby arrives. So I've been enjoying the time to just relax and not really think too hard about the future. It's been a nice, quite, relaxing Spring.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Leaving Vermont
While our weekend in Vermont was fun-filled and relaxing, the trip home was not. A snow storm hit Baltimore, which resulted in quite the adventure for us.
We set off for the three hour drive to the Boston airport in two cars: four people plus snowboarding gear in a van with Kevin and I following in an Elantra. Google pointed us to what should have been the fastest route. But we were quickly thwarted by a closed road. We pulled off to get gas and directions to the airport and elected to head south to the highway instead of trusting to the back roads.
It wasn't long before we reached the highway. And shortly after that we got the message that our flight had been canceled due to snow in Baltimore. We pulled off to get lunch and figure out what to do.
By the time we were looking up flights, the soonest available ones were three days out. None of us could afford to miss that much work, so we decided to try and drive. It's only eight hours from Boston to DC under normal circumstances, and we were sure this plan would get us home sooner and cheaper than attempting to find another flight. Next came a series of phone calls as we attempted to change our car rental reservations to carry out these plans.
The end result was that Jen and Steve drove the van and all the gear back to Boston, where they already had a flight for the following morning. Kevin attempted to find something bigger or better suited to the snow than the Elantra, but we had no luck with the next three Enterprise locations on our route. So Sarah and Zach joined us in the dinky car.
It was as we were attempting to get back on the highway that we realized Vermont didn't want to let us go. The on ramp was under construction and we got sent on a detour through some back roads in pursuit of the next highway on-ramp. We did eventually make it, and we all cheered when we finally crossed into Massachusetts, certain that the journey would be easy-going from then.
In Connecticut, I took over driving from Kevin. The weather had been up to then, and I was still naively confident that we might make it home that night. Then it started snowing, and I was sure we would at least be able to make it past New York City and get an early start the next morning. Then it got worse and worse. Somehow I survived one of the more harrowing driving experiences of my life, going 10 miles an hour and refusing to change lanes. We eventually found a place where I could pull of and let Kevin take over. But we only made it one more mile before we found a hotel and stopped for the night in Yonkers.
The next morning it was almost like the storm had never happened. The weather had warmed up enough that the snow had turned to rain. The roads had been plowed. We waited for the sun to come up fully, to make sure that the parking lot was clear, then hit the road again.
Kevin took the first driving shift and got us through New York and into New Jersey. After a couple of hours we switched so he could take a nap and, once again, I got hit with awful weather. This time it was rain instead of snow, so it wasn't as bad, but visibility was nearly non-existent. It didn't let up until shortly before we got to Baltimore and found our car at the airport.
We eventually made it home about 18 hours after we had planned to, safe and sound and with almost no evidence of the snow that had thrown such a wrench in our plans. Vermont wasn't able to keep us there permanently. And now there's enough distance that I can look back on this trip and see an adventure and a good story, rather than the most stressful drive of my life.
We set off for the three hour drive to the Boston airport in two cars: four people plus snowboarding gear in a van with Kevin and I following in an Elantra. Google pointed us to what should have been the fastest route. But we were quickly thwarted by a closed road. We pulled off to get gas and directions to the airport and elected to head south to the highway instead of trusting to the back roads.
It wasn't long before we reached the highway. And shortly after that we got the message that our flight had been canceled due to snow in Baltimore. We pulled off to get lunch and figure out what to do.
By the time we were looking up flights, the soonest available ones were three days out. None of us could afford to miss that much work, so we decided to try and drive. It's only eight hours from Boston to DC under normal circumstances, and we were sure this plan would get us home sooner and cheaper than attempting to find another flight. Next came a series of phone calls as we attempted to change our car rental reservations to carry out these plans.
The end result was that Jen and Steve drove the van and all the gear back to Boston, where they already had a flight for the following morning. Kevin attempted to find something bigger or better suited to the snow than the Elantra, but we had no luck with the next three Enterprise locations on our route. So Sarah and Zach joined us in the dinky car.
It was as we were attempting to get back on the highway that we realized Vermont didn't want to let us go. The on ramp was under construction and we got sent on a detour through some back roads in pursuit of the next highway on-ramp. We did eventually make it, and we all cheered when we finally crossed into Massachusetts, certain that the journey would be easy-going from then.
In Connecticut, I took over driving from Kevin. The weather had been up to then, and I was still naively confident that we might make it home that night. Then it started snowing, and I was sure we would at least be able to make it past New York City and get an early start the next morning. Then it got worse and worse. Somehow I survived one of the more harrowing driving experiences of my life, going 10 miles an hour and refusing to change lanes. We eventually found a place where I could pull of and let Kevin take over. But we only made it one more mile before we found a hotel and stopped for the night in Yonkers.
The next morning it was almost like the storm had never happened. The weather had warmed up enough that the snow had turned to rain. The roads had been plowed. We waited for the sun to come up fully, to make sure that the parking lot was clear, then hit the road again.
Kevin took the first driving shift and got us through New York and into New Jersey. After a couple of hours we switched so he could take a nap and, once again, I got hit with awful weather. This time it was rain instead of snow, so it wasn't as bad, but visibility was nearly non-existent. It didn't let up until shortly before we got to Baltimore and found our car at the airport.
We eventually made it home about 18 hours after we had planned to, safe and sound and with almost no evidence of the snow that had thrown such a wrench in our plans. Vermont wasn't able to keep us there permanently. And now there's enough distance that I can look back on this trip and see an adventure and a good story, rather than the most stressful drive of my life.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Team Chaos and the Murder Basement
Oh my god, it has been so long since I've written. I'm something like a month behind on this blog. I plead writer's block. I can't remember the last time it hit me so hard. Especially when I have things I want to talk about. But every time I sat down to write about this, I got completely stuck. Not one word would come out.
So journey with me, back to President's Day Weekend. We were still stuck in the grip of winter. That was probably the coldest weekend of the entire season this year. But we hadn't known it would be like that when we got a group of friends together to rent a house in Vermont for a ski weekend. I spent the entire time playing games in front of a roaring fire instead of skiing, but some people did brave the elements. Regardless, it ended up being a really fun weekend with lots of friends.
We were able to find a house that slept all fourteen of us near Ludlow, VT, pretty close to the Killington Ski Resort. But when you're trying to balance a group that large with a reasonable budget, you have to sacrifice other things, like a feeling of security. This house was basically a cabin in the woods, and there was some fear that we were all going to be murdered by an axe-wielding, mask-wearing villain. Especially when we saw the basement.
I say that, but the truth is that most of us only saw the dark staircase leading to the basement and decided to go no farther. It wasn't until the hot tub refused to heat up on the second night that a search for the circuit breaker led one of our members into the basement. I'm happy to report that he emerged unscathed, but with harrowing tales of loose wires and standing water. The breaker we needed ended up not being down there.
Other than that misadventure, which did eventually result in a working hot tub, no one came close to danger. A group of people went skiing on Saturday (when the high was 7*F) and snowshoeing on Sunday (I think it was marginally warmer). But as I said, I stayed inside, only venturing out for food and firewood. We had a great variety of games, though with fourteen people it's hard to include everyone all the time. Which led to some people interacting with the games from the outside with the goal of increasing chaos. It was a great use of everyone's talents.
I'm looking forward to getting together with this group again. Which, since it took me so long to write this post, is going to happen very soon! The weather should be nicer this time around.
So journey with me, back to President's Day Weekend. We were still stuck in the grip of winter. That was probably the coldest weekend of the entire season this year. But we hadn't known it would be like that when we got a group of friends together to rent a house in Vermont for a ski weekend. I spent the entire time playing games in front of a roaring fire instead of skiing, but some people did brave the elements. Regardless, it ended up being a really fun weekend with lots of friends.
We were able to find a house that slept all fourteen of us near Ludlow, VT, pretty close to the Killington Ski Resort. But when you're trying to balance a group that large with a reasonable budget, you have to sacrifice other things, like a feeling of security. This house was basically a cabin in the woods, and there was some fear that we were all going to be murdered by an axe-wielding, mask-wearing villain. Especially when we saw the basement.
I say that, but the truth is that most of us only saw the dark staircase leading to the basement and decided to go no farther. It wasn't until the hot tub refused to heat up on the second night that a search for the circuit breaker led one of our members into the basement. I'm happy to report that he emerged unscathed, but with harrowing tales of loose wires and standing water. The breaker we needed ended up not being down there.
Other than that misadventure, which did eventually result in a working hot tub, no one came close to danger. A group of people went skiing on Saturday (when the high was 7*F) and snowshoeing on Sunday (I think it was marginally warmer). But as I said, I stayed inside, only venturing out for food and firewood. We had a great variety of games, though with fourteen people it's hard to include everyone all the time. Which led to some people interacting with the games from the outside with the goal of increasing chaos. It was a great use of everyone's talents.
I'm looking forward to getting together with this group again. Which, since it took me so long to write this post, is going to happen very soon! The weather should be nicer this time around.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Super Weekend
I am so far behind on this blog. But I swear I'm going to catch up. Eventually.
Our annual Super Bowl party was far more epic this year than it has been in years past. We may have invited too many people, but we were at least able to find seating for everyone. Mostly. And there was so much food that I was eating leftovers for the rest of the week. Feeding everyone has never been a problem for us.
The weekend actually began Saturday night, though, when I decided to host an old-fashioned sleepover. Kevin went down to Zach's and some friends came over for dinner, movies, and games. We've been doing bimonthly* lady's nights, which have been a ton of fun. And this way I could host without worrying about everyone getting home after a night of drinking. We had a lot of fun watching Magic Mike XLL and almost every music video Beyonce has released.
In the morning we made breakfast, which is actually one of my favorite meals to prepare for a larger group. There are so many possibilities, and since Kevin only occasionally eats breakfast, I rarely get to make anything elaborate. I seize every opportunity I have. After breakfast we played games, watched Magic Mike XXL again, and slowly people started to trickle in for the Super Bowl.
We got a pony keg and brought another couch downstairs to accommodate everyone. People still ended up sitting on the floor, though. We just didn't quite have enough seating for the 12 or so people who came to the game. But it all worked out, and there was plenty of food and beer to keep everyone sated.
All in all it was a great party, a great game, and a great weekend.
*Apparently bimonthly means both "every other month" and "twice a month" because English is stupid. I'm using it to mean "every other month"
Our annual Super Bowl party was far more epic this year than it has been in years past. We may have invited too many people, but we were at least able to find seating for everyone. Mostly. And there was so much food that I was eating leftovers for the rest of the week. Feeding everyone has never been a problem for us.
The weekend actually began Saturday night, though, when I decided to host an old-fashioned sleepover. Kevin went down to Zach's and some friends came over for dinner, movies, and games. We've been doing bimonthly* lady's nights, which have been a ton of fun. And this way I could host without worrying about everyone getting home after a night of drinking. We had a lot of fun watching Magic Mike XLL and almost every music video Beyonce has released.
In the morning we made breakfast, which is actually one of my favorite meals to prepare for a larger group. There are so many possibilities, and since Kevin only occasionally eats breakfast, I rarely get to make anything elaborate. I seize every opportunity I have. After breakfast we played games, watched Magic Mike XXL again, and slowly people started to trickle in for the Super Bowl.
We got a pony keg and brought another couch downstairs to accommodate everyone. People still ended up sitting on the floor, though. We just didn't quite have enough seating for the 12 or so people who came to the game. But it all worked out, and there was plenty of food and beer to keep everyone sated.
All in all it was a great party, a great game, and a great weekend.
*Apparently bimonthly means both "every other month" and "twice a month" because English is stupid. I'm using it to mean "every other month"
Thursday, January 28, 2016
The Opposite of Hibernation
Traditionally, January has been a month to stay in. We don't make plans, we don't go out. We just cover ourselves with blankets and enjoy being home. But that hasn't been the case this year.
Kevin's company hold sits holiday party in January instead of December, which definitely makes it easier to fit into the schedule. It was thrown on the same day he got back from three weeks in Hawaii. So instead of spending his first night back at home, we went down to the Ritz-Carlton in Arlington. His company was generous enough to pay for the valet and provide us a steep discount on the room for the night.
The party itself was pretty spectacular. I got to meet Kevin's new colleagues and their partners. They were a fun group of people, and between the open bar and that fact that we were staying at the hotel we had a lot of fun. The next morning was a little rough, as Kevin was fighting both a hangover and jet lag. It took us a while to get home, but the night was well worth it.
That Sunday, Zach and Sarah came over to watch the Seahawks and the Redskins in the first playoff games of the season. We had a lot of fun playing games and drinking beer while we watched football. And even though Washington lost, they made it further than I could have hoped for at the beginning of the season.
The next weekend we had planned to host one of my high school friends who was going to be in town for a funeral. I was looking forward to seeing her, but due to a mixup she had to cancel at the last minute. Instead we went down to Zach and Sarah's for another evening of games and football.
That week my aunt was in town for business, so we went out to dinner with her one night. It's nice that her work brings her out this way as often as it does. We don't get to spend much time with her when she's in town, but we always take the opportunity to catch up. This time we went down to a tapas restaurant in Clarendon and enjoyed sangria and tapas despite the freezing weather.
All in all its been a very busy month so far. It's been fun to be as social as we have been, but it hasn't left a whole lot of time for relaxation or recuperation. It's a good thing I had so much down time over the holidays. Our schedule doesn't look to be lightening up any time soon.
Kevin's company hold sits holiday party in January instead of December, which definitely makes it easier to fit into the schedule. It was thrown on the same day he got back from three weeks in Hawaii. So instead of spending his first night back at home, we went down to the Ritz-Carlton in Arlington. His company was generous enough to pay for the valet and provide us a steep discount on the room for the night.
The party itself was pretty spectacular. I got to meet Kevin's new colleagues and their partners. They were a fun group of people, and between the open bar and that fact that we were staying at the hotel we had a lot of fun. The next morning was a little rough, as Kevin was fighting both a hangover and jet lag. It took us a while to get home, but the night was well worth it.
That Sunday, Zach and Sarah came over to watch the Seahawks and the Redskins in the first playoff games of the season. We had a lot of fun playing games and drinking beer while we watched football. And even though Washington lost, they made it further than I could have hoped for at the beginning of the season.
The next weekend we had planned to host one of my high school friends who was going to be in town for a funeral. I was looking forward to seeing her, but due to a mixup she had to cancel at the last minute. Instead we went down to Zach and Sarah's for another evening of games and football.
That week my aunt was in town for business, so we went out to dinner with her one night. It's nice that her work brings her out this way as often as it does. We don't get to spend much time with her when she's in town, but we always take the opportunity to catch up. This time we went down to a tapas restaurant in Clarendon and enjoyed sangria and tapas despite the freezing weather.
All in all its been a very busy month so far. It's been fun to be as social as we have been, but it hasn't left a whole lot of time for relaxation or recuperation. It's a good thing I had so much down time over the holidays. Our schedule doesn't look to be lightening up any time soon.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Ringing in the New Year
This year, as always, I spent New Year's Eve with Sarah and Zach.
It started the year after college, when it was just me and Sarah and her dog, Lily, and wine (some of which ended up on her wall)
The next year, Zach lived in Colorado and Kevin and I were back together, so it was the four of us, barhopping on Pearl Street and then retreating to my apartment for margaritas and monopoly (or maybe that came first?)
That spring I moved to DC, and by some miracle of the universe, Sarah moved to Pittsburgh in the fall, so we were able to spend the holiday together again without traveling too far.
And so a tradition was born. Zach and Sarah hosted and Kevin and I arranged our travel schedule so that we'd always be there to celebrate with them. We drink champagne and play beer pong and rage cage, and in the morning we have mimosas and play board games for as long as we can stand it.
This year things changed, ever so slightly. I still celebrated with Zach and Sarah. I brought Kina down and spent the night and in the morning we played a couple of board games. But Kevin was in Hawaii, working.
In some ways this was harder than spending Thanksgiving and Christmas without Kevin. Thanksgiving and Christmas have always been about family, my blood relations. I spent Thanksgiving with my dad and aunt and the following days were spent visiting my mom and her sisters. Christmas was a quiet affair, but Connor came over for a few days and we drank wine and watched old TV shows. The traditions around these holidays have been in flux since my parents separated when I was twelve, but they've always centered on family. In the ways that mattered, this year wasn't any different.
New Year's Day has come to be about my found family. It's the holiday I spend with Kevin and Zach and Sarah. One of many at this point. But this is the first post-college tradition that we established, one of the things that continued to bind us together after graduation.
It was fun this year, don't get me wrong. The group of people who attend this party is ever shifting, ever growing, and it was nice to see faces both familiar and new. We played games and I had a wonderfully nerdy discussion about Star Trek with some of those new friends. There was a fancy cocktail and plenty of champagne and a dog to cuddle with at the end of the night.
But there was also a subtle loneliness, a little something missing. New Year's Eve isn't one of the holidays that can shift and slide to fit around schedules. We can make a Thanksgiving feast two weeks early. We can gather and open presents before or after the actual holiday. But the new year can only be rung in once each year. And even though I was surrounded by friends, by the bulk of my found family, the most important member of that family was missing.
2016 promises to be a good year. We're turning 30. Most of us are turning 30 on a Saturday, which will make it easy to celebrate with abandon. We're trying for a kid, which will hopefully give us more reasons to celebrate. We already have trips planned for Vermont in February and NYC in April with more of our found family, and we're hosting them in June. The calendar is filling up faster than I remember from past years. Even January, usually a month of retreat and hibernation, has already contained multiple parties.
There are times in your life when you feel like you're suddenly accelerating towards adult hood, approaching important milestones with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Things you want with all your heart that manage to scare you silly at the same time. Graduating high school. Moving into a dorm. Graduating college. Starting your first job. Moving in to your first apartment. Moving in to your first apartment together. Getting a dog.
This is where I am right now. Coming up on the next big milestones and hitting the gas. Time is doing that funny thing where it speeds up sometimes and then slows to a crawl at other times. I'm looking forward to the changes that are coming this year, but part of me is scared, too. The homebody part of my that doesn't want anything to change, ever, must be soothed and coaxed and convinced that change is for the best. The anxious part of me that wants the change now, damnit, just get it over with, must also be soothed and calmed and reminded that time keeps moving forward and all we can do is plan.
I think the manner of ringing in the new year was an appropriate portent for how this year will go. We put rage cage aside, just as we're leaving our twenties behind. And if I occasionally feel lonely in the coming year, as I expect to, it will only be temporary. Traditions come and go and change with the years. Family is forever, and 2016 will hopefully see its expansion.
It started the year after college, when it was just me and Sarah and her dog, Lily, and wine (some of which ended up on her wall)
The next year, Zach lived in Colorado and Kevin and I were back together, so it was the four of us, barhopping on Pearl Street and then retreating to my apartment for margaritas and monopoly (or maybe that came first?)
That spring I moved to DC, and by some miracle of the universe, Sarah moved to Pittsburgh in the fall, so we were able to spend the holiday together again without traveling too far.
And so a tradition was born. Zach and Sarah hosted and Kevin and I arranged our travel schedule so that we'd always be there to celebrate with them. We drink champagne and play beer pong and rage cage, and in the morning we have mimosas and play board games for as long as we can stand it.
This year things changed, ever so slightly. I still celebrated with Zach and Sarah. I brought Kina down and spent the night and in the morning we played a couple of board games. But Kevin was in Hawaii, working.
In some ways this was harder than spending Thanksgiving and Christmas without Kevin. Thanksgiving and Christmas have always been about family, my blood relations. I spent Thanksgiving with my dad and aunt and the following days were spent visiting my mom and her sisters. Christmas was a quiet affair, but Connor came over for a few days and we drank wine and watched old TV shows. The traditions around these holidays have been in flux since my parents separated when I was twelve, but they've always centered on family. In the ways that mattered, this year wasn't any different.
New Year's Day has come to be about my found family. It's the holiday I spend with Kevin and Zach and Sarah. One of many at this point. But this is the first post-college tradition that we established, one of the things that continued to bind us together after graduation.
It was fun this year, don't get me wrong. The group of people who attend this party is ever shifting, ever growing, and it was nice to see faces both familiar and new. We played games and I had a wonderfully nerdy discussion about Star Trek with some of those new friends. There was a fancy cocktail and plenty of champagne and a dog to cuddle with at the end of the night.
But there was also a subtle loneliness, a little something missing. New Year's Eve isn't one of the holidays that can shift and slide to fit around schedules. We can make a Thanksgiving feast two weeks early. We can gather and open presents before or after the actual holiday. But the new year can only be rung in once each year. And even though I was surrounded by friends, by the bulk of my found family, the most important member of that family was missing.
2016 promises to be a good year. We're turning 30. Most of us are turning 30 on a Saturday, which will make it easy to celebrate with abandon. We're trying for a kid, which will hopefully give us more reasons to celebrate. We already have trips planned for Vermont in February and NYC in April with more of our found family, and we're hosting them in June. The calendar is filling up faster than I remember from past years. Even January, usually a month of retreat and hibernation, has already contained multiple parties.
There are times in your life when you feel like you're suddenly accelerating towards adult hood, approaching important milestones with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Things you want with all your heart that manage to scare you silly at the same time. Graduating high school. Moving into a dorm. Graduating college. Starting your first job. Moving in to your first apartment. Moving in to your first apartment together. Getting a dog.
This is where I am right now. Coming up on the next big milestones and hitting the gas. Time is doing that funny thing where it speeds up sometimes and then slows to a crawl at other times. I'm looking forward to the changes that are coming this year, but part of me is scared, too. The homebody part of my that doesn't want anything to change, ever, must be soothed and coaxed and convinced that change is for the best. The anxious part of me that wants the change now, damnit, just get it over with, must also be soothed and calmed and reminded that time keeps moving forward and all we can do is plan.
I think the manner of ringing in the new year was an appropriate portent for how this year will go. We put rage cage aside, just as we're leaving our twenties behind. And if I occasionally feel lonely in the coming year, as I expect to, it will only be temporary. Traditions come and go and change with the years. Family is forever, and 2016 will hopefully see its expansion.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Early Christmas
This year we celebrated Christmas a week early. The Friday before Kevin left for Hawaii, we invited his mom and my brother over for a lamb dinner. Jen and Steve came out, too, and spent the night before their early-morning flight out of Dulles.
Kevin prepared an excellent lamb dinner with roasted potatoes and a delicious loaf of bread. His mom contributed a green bean casserole. We ate and drank wine and talked, and I was grateful that Kevin had been able to do all of the shopping and cooking.
Before dinner, we exchanged gifts with Kevin's mom. It was a little more rushed and chaotic than most years, which has become a bit of a theme for this year's holiday. After dinner we exchanged gifts with Jen and Steve. Then we we finished off the bourbon I bought for Kevin last year and played a game.
We couldn't stay up too late, because everyone had planes to catch the next morning. But it was nice to get a chance to visit and eat some good food. As weird as it is to celebrate Christmas so early, I'm glad we fit the celebration in before Kevin left.
Kevin prepared an excellent lamb dinner with roasted potatoes and a delicious loaf of bread. His mom contributed a green bean casserole. We ate and drank wine and talked, and I was grateful that Kevin had been able to do all of the shopping and cooking.
Before dinner, we exchanged gifts with Kevin's mom. It was a little more rushed and chaotic than most years, which has become a bit of a theme for this year's holiday. After dinner we exchanged gifts with Jen and Steve. Then we we finished off the bourbon I bought for Kevin last year and played a game.
We couldn't stay up too late, because everyone had planes to catch the next morning. But it was nice to get a chance to visit and eat some good food. As weird as it is to celebrate Christmas so early, I'm glad we fit the celebration in before Kevin left.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Back when the release date for Star Wars was announced, I began to consider taking the next day off from work so I could go to the midnight premiere. I haven't been to a midnight premiere since college. The last few times I've attended movies that began after 10 I fell asleep in the theater. But for Star Wars, I was willing to insert an IV drip of caffeine so I could thoroughly enjoy the first showing.
It turns out that I'm not the only one for whom midnight premieres aren't exactly feasible, and the industry is beginning to realize this. Across the country, the movie was shown at 7 PM on Thursday. A cynical person might call this a money grab (Star Wars shattered records, and I'm sure at least part of that is because of the extended opening weekend), but I was thrilled for the earlier showing that meant I wouldn't have to chug coffee or miss work.
I was even more thrilled when Zach discovered that we could get tickets to see the movie at the IMAX at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. It was perfectly nerdy, and exactly the right place to enjoy the new Star Wars film. There was even something special about it being one of the few theaters to show it on film rather than digitally, not that I'm the sort of person who can tell the difference.
I wore my Jedi dress to work and was sorely disappointed by the reactions of my coworkers. Many of them hadn't even realized that Star Wars was premiering that day. One person complimented my hood, but then she admitted that she'd never seen Star Wars before. But it was all fine, because as soon as work was over I caught the train downtown.
Zach had arrived early to pick up tickets and secure a place in line. I snarfed a sandwich on my walk over because I wasn't expecting the Smithsonian to have food available. I was pleasantly surprised to find a concession stand that sold both food and beer. Our group stood in line drinking beer, talking, taking pictures, and generally getting really excited.
The movie itself was fantastic. I had done my best to lower my expectations, which worked in my favor. The plot itself was somewhat predictable, as though a fan were writing fanfiction of the original movie. But that's exactly what it was (albeit with an enormous budget), so I can't really fault it too much. The predictability drained the tension of a handful of scenes. But the movie was so much fun that I couldn't really care that much.
We ended up in the very front of the theater, so close to the screen that I had to physically move my head from side to side to read the rolling text in the beginning. The corners of the screen were outside my vision. It made for a delightfully overwhelming experience. Though I do want to see it again on a more normal sized screen, so I can better appreciate the movie as a movie and not just an experience.
This was the most fun I've had at the movies in a long time. Possibly in my life. I'm so glad the movie was as good as it was, and I'm really excited for the sequel. Here's hoping for another fun night at the Smithsonian in a few years.
It turns out that I'm not the only one for whom midnight premieres aren't exactly feasible, and the industry is beginning to realize this. Across the country, the movie was shown at 7 PM on Thursday. A cynical person might call this a money grab (Star Wars shattered records, and I'm sure at least part of that is because of the extended opening weekend), but I was thrilled for the earlier showing that meant I wouldn't have to chug coffee or miss work.
I was even more thrilled when Zach discovered that we could get tickets to see the movie at the IMAX at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. It was perfectly nerdy, and exactly the right place to enjoy the new Star Wars film. There was even something special about it being one of the few theaters to show it on film rather than digitally, not that I'm the sort of person who can tell the difference.
I wore my Jedi dress to work and was sorely disappointed by the reactions of my coworkers. Many of them hadn't even realized that Star Wars was premiering that day. One person complimented my hood, but then she admitted that she'd never seen Star Wars before. But it was all fine, because as soon as work was over I caught the train downtown.
Zach had arrived early to pick up tickets and secure a place in line. I snarfed a sandwich on my walk over because I wasn't expecting the Smithsonian to have food available. I was pleasantly surprised to find a concession stand that sold both food and beer. Our group stood in line drinking beer, talking, taking pictures, and generally getting really excited.
The movie itself was fantastic. I had done my best to lower my expectations, which worked in my favor. The plot itself was somewhat predictable, as though a fan were writing fanfiction of the original movie. But that's exactly what it was (albeit with an enormous budget), so I can't really fault it too much. The predictability drained the tension of a handful of scenes. But the movie was so much fun that I couldn't really care that much.
We ended up in the very front of the theater, so close to the screen that I had to physically move my head from side to side to read the rolling text in the beginning. The corners of the screen were outside my vision. It made for a delightfully overwhelming experience. Though I do want to see it again on a more normal sized screen, so I can better appreciate the movie as a movie and not just an experience.
This was the most fun I've had at the movies in a long time. Possibly in my life. I'm so glad the movie was as good as it was, and I'm really excited for the sequel. Here's hoping for another fun night at the Smithsonian in a few years.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Busy, Busy
Ever since getting back from Thanksgiving, it's felt like we've been going non-stop. I rolled from the holiday into a week of 12-hour days. Well, they were 8-hour days, but they were a two hour drive from my house. And they were full of meetings. Nothing but meetings. By the end of it, I was so exhausted that I skipped my Christmas party.
That weekend was spent cleaning and catching up on things I'd intended to catch up on while Kevin was in Hawaii. And continuing to recover from the extended work week. And just feeling down. I canceled my Sunday afternoon plans, opting to stay home and write and wrap presents. Then I just watched TV instead. It was frustrating to want to do things and just not be able to find the energy to do any of it.
But I rallied on Monday, and we went over to watch the football game with Kevin's mom. I actually only stayed for the first half, because I do need my sleep.
The following weekend was Mudd's 60th Anniversary Party, so we met up with a bunch of Mudders for an early happy hour in Adams Morgan. It was fun to see people we haven't seen in many years, and we got some light-up shot glasses. Though I think I'm past the point in my life where I want more shot glasses. Not that I was ever that big on shots anyway.
After the happy hour we went to a party at Jen's house. It's a little awkward arriving at a potluck with no food, but we tried to make up for it with alcohol. After a delicious dinner, it was back to Zach and Sarah's place for beer and card games and the first part of our fractured gift exchange. Sarah got me a Jedi dress, that I've been waffling on buying for several months. I'm so glad she got it for me, because I may never have bought it for myself (I have a thing about buying clothing without trying it on first), and I love it dearly. It's super comfortable with deep pockets and a deeper hood and I get to pretend I'm a Jedi when I wear it.
The next day, Zach and Sarah came out to our place so we could go to a sports bar that airs all of the football games and serves relatively cheap mimosas ($30 for a magnum of champagne and a pitcher of orange juice). We did the second part of our fractured gift exchange, watched some football, and then watched The Empire Strikes Back in preparation for the new Star Wars movie.
All in all it's been a very busy couple of weeks. As much as I look forward to a big holiday, it's nice to not have to worry about cleaning too much this year. This week has been all about relaxing and regaining some balance in my life. That's usually reserved for the beginning of January, but it's nice to have it come a little early this year.
That weekend was spent cleaning and catching up on things I'd intended to catch up on while Kevin was in Hawaii. And continuing to recover from the extended work week. And just feeling down. I canceled my Sunday afternoon plans, opting to stay home and write and wrap presents. Then I just watched TV instead. It was frustrating to want to do things and just not be able to find the energy to do any of it.
But I rallied on Monday, and we went over to watch the football game with Kevin's mom. I actually only stayed for the first half, because I do need my sleep.
The following weekend was Mudd's 60th Anniversary Party, so we met up with a bunch of Mudders for an early happy hour in Adams Morgan. It was fun to see people we haven't seen in many years, and we got some light-up shot glasses. Though I think I'm past the point in my life where I want more shot glasses. Not that I was ever that big on shots anyway.
After the happy hour we went to a party at Jen's house. It's a little awkward arriving at a potluck with no food, but we tried to make up for it with alcohol. After a delicious dinner, it was back to Zach and Sarah's place for beer and card games and the first part of our fractured gift exchange. Sarah got me a Jedi dress, that I've been waffling on buying for several months. I'm so glad she got it for me, because I may never have bought it for myself (I have a thing about buying clothing without trying it on first), and I love it dearly. It's super comfortable with deep pockets and a deeper hood and I get to pretend I'm a Jedi when I wear it.
The next day, Zach and Sarah came out to our place so we could go to a sports bar that airs all of the football games and serves relatively cheap mimosas ($30 for a magnum of champagne and a pitcher of orange juice). We did the second part of our fractured gift exchange, watched some football, and then watched The Empire Strikes Back in preparation for the new Star Wars movie.
All in all it's been a very busy couple of weeks. As much as I look forward to a big holiday, it's nice to not have to worry about cleaning too much this year. This week has been all about relaxing and regaining some balance in my life. That's usually reserved for the beginning of January, but it's nice to have it come a little early this year.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Searching for the Holiday Spirit
December is always a busy month. With the holidays come many more social commitments. Work holiday parties, work deadlines, time spent with friends before everyone leaves town for a week or two, plus all the gift shopping and wrapping and decorating on top of it. I always know this is coming, and despite my introvert tendencies, I'm usually excited about it. December also brings with it a jolt of energy.
At least it usually does. The long nights and cold air always seem to bring me to life. When the sun has set before I even leave the office, I'm left with a nice, long evening that always feels longer than it is. Cooler temperatures invigorate me. And the twinkling lights and good cheer keep my spirits up. Not to mention that the first (and second and third and maybe all of them) snow fall often has me almost literally skipping around my office.
This year I'm not feeling it. My social calendar has been as busy as ever. But instead of my usual excitement and energy I've been feeling lethargic. I'm going to blame a lot of it on the weather. Winter is simply refusing to show up. A week ago we actually turned the heat off and opened our windows because it was so warm outside. We've barely had a frost. And while it's been very wet, that's mostly just translated to a warm, muggy feel. Like summer, but dark.
The other reason I'm not feeling it is Kevin's work schedule, which has him in Hawaii for three weeks over Christmas and New Year's. I really shouldn't complain too much. He loves his job, and he'd been wanting to travel more. In the scheme of things this is only one Christmas. We'll have many more together in the future. And once this project is through his travel schedule should die down some, or at least become more reasonable and predictable.
But it does mean that I'm going to have a very small Christmas this year. We didn't get a tree or do any decorating, because I was worried about my ability to take it down by myself. Instead of a big home-cooked meal, I'll be going to a nice restaurant with my brother and Kevin's mom. Again, I shouldn't complain. I have family in the area, dinner will be nice, a few traditions are still in tact. But for someone who enjoys and has grown accustomed to huge, whirlwind Christmases full of family, food, and alcohol, it's hard not to feel at least a little let down this year.
I'm trying my best to look forward to the little things, like my four-day weekend coming up (also, thanks to the cruise, I can't take any extra time off for Christmas this year). The holiday is almost over, Kevin will be back home before I know it, and maybe winter will decide to show up at some point. Plus, I have all sorts of writing to catch up on. In the meantime, I'll muddle through as well as I can.
At least it usually does. The long nights and cold air always seem to bring me to life. When the sun has set before I even leave the office, I'm left with a nice, long evening that always feels longer than it is. Cooler temperatures invigorate me. And the twinkling lights and good cheer keep my spirits up. Not to mention that the first (and second and third and maybe all of them) snow fall often has me almost literally skipping around my office.
This year I'm not feeling it. My social calendar has been as busy as ever. But instead of my usual excitement and energy I've been feeling lethargic. I'm going to blame a lot of it on the weather. Winter is simply refusing to show up. A week ago we actually turned the heat off and opened our windows because it was so warm outside. We've barely had a frost. And while it's been very wet, that's mostly just translated to a warm, muggy feel. Like summer, but dark.
The other reason I'm not feeling it is Kevin's work schedule, which has him in Hawaii for three weeks over Christmas and New Year's. I really shouldn't complain too much. He loves his job, and he'd been wanting to travel more. In the scheme of things this is only one Christmas. We'll have many more together in the future. And once this project is through his travel schedule should die down some, or at least become more reasonable and predictable.
But it does mean that I'm going to have a very small Christmas this year. We didn't get a tree or do any decorating, because I was worried about my ability to take it down by myself. Instead of a big home-cooked meal, I'll be going to a nice restaurant with my brother and Kevin's mom. Again, I shouldn't complain. I have family in the area, dinner will be nice, a few traditions are still in tact. But for someone who enjoys and has grown accustomed to huge, whirlwind Christmases full of family, food, and alcohol, it's hard not to feel at least a little let down this year.
I'm trying my best to look forward to the little things, like my four-day weekend coming up (also, thanks to the cruise, I can't take any extra time off for Christmas this year). The holiday is almost over, Kevin will be back home before I know it, and maybe winter will decide to show up at some point. Plus, I have all sorts of writing to catch up on. In the meantime, I'll muddle through as well as I can.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Second Hallowiener
Jen and Steve couldn't make it to the official Hallowiener this year due to the wedding of Steve's best friend. So on Wednesday we gathered up our leftovers and went down to Zach and Sarah's for a second (and less beer-soaked) Hallowiener. Rather than just tossing everything on the grill, we actually took the time to prepare some of the meats and have a real dinner.
We marinated the remaining bear loin in a wine and lemon-juice mixture that we found online, then roasted it. The alpaca and venison loins were covered in grill rubs and grilled. Sarah found a recipe for the unagi that involved coating it with a delicious fish sauce. And we fried up the remaining rabbit and python sausages with some onions and bell peppers. The results were delicious across the board, and it was nice to have a slightly more adult variation on Hallowiener.
I'd really like to see this party evolve in the coming years as we start to have kids. The party we've been throwing for the past few years has a definite shelf-life. We just won't be able to sustain it for too much longer. But if we can start focusing in on 2 or 3 exotic meats and throw a fun dinner party, we'll be able to keep doing this for as long as we can find meats and recipes.
I'm glad we were able to have the second Hallowiener, both to try out a few recipes and to share around the leftovers. With Kevin leaving next week, it'll be nice to not get stuck with a fridge full of game that I have little interest in cooking. This way everyone got to enjoy the meat just a little more.
We marinated the remaining bear loin in a wine and lemon-juice mixture that we found online, then roasted it. The alpaca and venison loins were covered in grill rubs and grilled. Sarah found a recipe for the unagi that involved coating it with a delicious fish sauce. And we fried up the remaining rabbit and python sausages with some onions and bell peppers. The results were delicious across the board, and it was nice to have a slightly more adult variation on Hallowiener.
I'd really like to see this party evolve in the coming years as we start to have kids. The party we've been throwing for the past few years has a definite shelf-life. We just won't be able to sustain it for too much longer. But if we can start focusing in on 2 or 3 exotic meats and throw a fun dinner party, we'll be able to keep doing this for as long as we can find meats and recipes.
I'm glad we were able to have the second Hallowiener, both to try out a few recipes and to share around the leftovers. With Kevin leaving next week, it'll be nice to not get stuck with a fridge full of game that I have little interest in cooking. This way everyone got to enjoy the meat just a little more.
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