crab cakes and football...that's what maryland does!

we took an adventure out to annapolis for sunday funday this week, to get out of the city on the hottest day (90 degrees!) of the year so far. it was literally one of the most perfect days I've had in a while, sitting on the dock drinking beer and then cracking open some crabs at cantlers inn. ok, it was also the messiest day i've had in a while, as you'll see in the pictures below. those poor crabs never stood a chance. i felt very "new england" sitting in maryland, eating crab and drinking yeungling on a dock and getting sunburnt because we have all just barely survived a long, cold winter ;) good thing dc doesn't do spring and we jumped straight into summer this week! hello, sunshine!

so what should i plan for this summer? got any ideas for trips, activities, sunday fundays in the future? or you can all just come visit so you can also take part in them too. because i am not moving back south anytime soon. my heart is in this district. well, most of it anyways...

before

and after...

hey life, please slow down. love, bonnie

so it's been a while. i know. Thanks to my dear friend crob, i am updating but don't know where to start! Today was one of those days. the great days. The sun came out, I ran around some monuments and watched sweet kiddies fly kites, and then meg and I sat and watched the world go by from our porch steps. life doesn't get much better. seriously.

whit came to visit last weekend which was just what i needed and a little pick-me-up when i was missing home and loved ones. she is such a wonderful friend to me and i am lucky to have her in my life. we also had a bevy of other visitors, making our house seem like a hostel for a few weeks but we love it and welcome anyone who wants to visit the district! You'll fall in love with this place just like i have. plus i just have cool roommates.

And, for fun, here are a small list of my favorite blogs, which I think everyone should check out for a laugh or just a good read:

• I love you more than blank
• pioneer woman
• postsecret
• passive aggressive
• 1001 rules for my unborn son
• stuff white people like
  

Next weekend is the cherry blossom festival in DC, which means pretty flowers, a parade and japanese food, oh and also brett. well, he's not really part of the festival but he'll be here all the same so i put him in the same category...

priceless moments

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I am blessed beyond what I deserve. I just got to spend a perfect week cruising the caribbean with an amazing family who, no matter how far I am away, is loving and supportive and hilarious. It didn't seem long enough, but I am so very very grateful for the time I did get to spend with them. I danced to single ladies with my sister Claire (she is 14 now, duh), zip lined with James (who is a lot braver than I am), laughed with Lisa (whose laugh can light a room), listened to my grandparents as they told the stories of their growth, and watched my parents who are more in love than ever. Life is good.

Yes, I may have gotten delayed and stranded in Atlanta by Delta, but that meant I could see Brett which was unexpected, surprising and perfect. We "luck" out a lot. What I mean to say is God's plan is working pretty great right now, with little or no help from me- that's for sure. My delayedness also meant I got to work a half-day of work on Monday by accident, giving me a trial run before heading back into 9-hour work days. This month is going to be crazy, but that's just the way I like it! I will not complain about being busy in an economy like this. I am simply blessed.

a very merry-tacky-wonderful-joyful christmas to you

Just to be cliche, I love Christmas. I especially love Christmas in DC. I am lucky enough to live with a sweet Christmas elf who decorated our house to look like a beautiful winter wonderland, which I personally would like to keep well after the January 1 norm. Brett came to visit last weekend and how perfect that we should run into Santarchy 2k8. What is that you say? Click on the link here to find out. Suffice it to say, about 200 santas were running around the washington monument like crazy people. I think they might have actually been crazy. Well, anyway it definitely put us in the Christmas spirit. Oh wait, then a week later I went to nyc and what did I find? Santarchy 2k8 AGAIN. Just call me mrs. claus.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

change and stuff

yup. I live here. ok maybe not in the white house, but here in the nation's capitol. This week has really been the most amazing time to be in DC. No, I did not vote for Obama, but regardless of your political beliefs, this is a distinct moment in time. And we (hopefully) all took part in it. Everyone I know voted. Everyone knows more about what they believe than ever before. We are the most informed group of voters there has ever been, and that is very cool. When I walked into the poll booth to vote at the hospital around the corner from us here on A St. yesterday, I felt even more alive and more like I belong here in this city. Today, walking down the street, people were fired up and passionate and excited for the future, which is great, no matter your party. McCain went out with conviction and with honor, and for that I am so very very grateful . Our country has a long way to go from here, but I am confident that we will be ok. To top all of that off, I got to go to the Republican National Committee election party last night, courtesy of my dear friend Caitlin. It was a tad depressing, yes, but also just very "DC" and fun. Courtney came too and we celebrated the election being over and acted like we belonged there :)

Last weekend we all hiked in Shenandoah, VA and enjoyed the beauty that surrounds this city. A little adventure trying to find the highway. Ok, maybe the hard part was actually getting onto the highway. My bad. but we finally got on the road and made it there and back in one piece. Didn't even have to fight a bear or anything. Caitlin totally would have bailed and left me and Courtney to survive on our own. That's definitely how she would last 2 weeks in the wilderness while any normal person would not. Cheater. I love new friends and new places and new adventures. Life is pretty good and I am incredibly blessed. More to come...

transitions

I had a few requests for more pictures of my life in dc, so here you go! The first one is our view of the capitol building from about two streets over. Seriously. The next two are of our house and the street we live on! We are living on Capitol Hill which is a very residential, cute area with trees and sidewalks and row houses. I walk to the metro for work and we are really close to Eastern Market which is an open-air market on weekends and has lots of fun restaurants and cafes. Since I had never seen the area or our place before moving day, this is way better than I imagined and is perfect for us. I know this isn't a long post, but hope that gives a little more of an idea of where I am and what I'm up to!

lovin' america

I made it! A little bit delayed on the update, but I now live in dc in a sweet little house with two fabulous roommates and a challenging but wonderful job. Am I blessed or what? It almost seems too easy and perfect. Amazing to think that four weeks ago I had no place to live and was stressed beyond belief. No need to be restless and anxious, because in the end, it really does work out.

I am literally living the dream in the nation's capitol. I still look at the monuments and incredibly important buildings around me and think I can't believe I am lucky enough to live here and call this my home. Pretty amazing.

Side note, my job is awesome. On Thursday I worked a press conference for a client who happens to have Michael Phelps as a spokesperson, so I got to have lunch with him and hang out for almost an hour. Basically, he's pretty great and seriously one of the nicest people I've met. Down to earth and normal, which is hard to believe, but so true! I'm now a big fan and might even have a tiny (ok HUGE) crush ;).

While I really am having the time of my life in dc, I really do miss home and family and friends sometimes, so make sure to keep in touch and keep my updated on what's going on with you. and you have a place to stay anytime you're in the neighborhood or want to plan a super fun trip!