Christmas

Merry (late) Christmas and happy (late) holidays!

Right after opening presents (and mimosas)

Music

I miss going to shows.  I've been so  busy lately and need to find new, fun bands.

9:30 club, I'll see you soon.

Coffee...Again

Mmmmnnn.  My eyelids just started to droop.  I hate Mondays but Wednesdays may also be terrible.

Mid-week: Still....not....over.

This helps:

I love you, coffee.

Dammit

Aaaand I just posted the last post to the wrong blog.  Oh well.  Too lazy to switch it around. So. Tired.

Loud Sigh Day

I can already tell today is going to be "Loud sigh day".  There will be many, many loud sighs coming from my side of the office.  And no, it's not due ENTIRELY to poor grammar in emails and bad life decisions of people, but due to the fact that I'm FUCKING TIRED, yo.  I'm so tired.

And being tired makes me cranky and want to cry for no reason.  So, I'm not allowed on any rescue websites today.

(five minute pause)
......

Ohmygoddddd, I just went to one and...and...THEFACES!!!!  The faces, the puppy faces!!!!  Awhhhhhhhhh4y3hf3n9t2cttegrheroighergh!!!

But I digress, I'm tired.

I just started a new job, I've been running in races EVERY weekend for the last few weekends and my boyfriend makes me bike at least 70 miles every other weekend.  All I want to do is sit and relax, but nooooooooooooooooooo, nooooooooooo, my dog decides that THIS week is the week he wants to destroy my closet and bedroom (and partial bathroom waste bin destruction).  Sweet lord, no toilet brush or article of clothing is safe!

Run for the hillllsssss!!!!!




Mnnnn, coffee though, I have coffee!

I'ma draaank youuuu, coffee. (Taken in Boston)

This past month...

DC music and graffiti show

local graffiti

"lunch"

Elephaannt

I spotted this yesterday while I was walking to get coffee

I really love him!

*Pthhhhhhh!!* My birthday party.

Cooking

We all know I'm not much of a cook, but luckily most of my friends are (including my lovely boyfriend).
I had dinner with a friend I met in Australia (Cameron) who lives in DC now too! Cameron can COOK! He made all these fun and fancy things below. It was a good, healthy meal!

Okra

Squash/Zuchhini

random shit!

Jalepeno cornbread!!

Abby Loves Gaga!

A dog after my own heart! Abby loves Gaga!

Pretty Pictures

I love taking photos and I thought this bike was pretty.

Photos From Wedding Prep

My brother was married on July 9th! These are photos of the PRE prep for the wedding.  I helped with decorations and look pictures of the handiwork of others.

One Wedding Photo

I didn't drink during my brother's wedding but somehow (even without the drinking) I managed to misplace my camera.  This one is from my Aunt Rita!!

Happiness!!

Camera Fun (soon)

I have more film to develop from my Diana!!!

And wedding photos!  Next week.

My Sweet, Sweet Diana

I took my Mini Diana to the beach this weekend but the lens caps has decided it does not want any part of my camera, ever.  I would be out taking pictures, replace the lens cap and have people hurrying after me with the escaping lens cap.  I've resorted to a very fashionable and lovely rubber band.

Silly Diana lens cap, you can't get away now!

Film Photos!

Photos from my Mini Diana with high speed film!!

I really love this camera!  This was in the 24 x 17 setting where you can have mini frames!

My Dog, my boyfriend's ties, his dog

Trees/Pennies

DC

Flowers/Flowers

I Miss...

I miss New Zealand today and wish it wasn't so bloody expensive to go back and visit.  I miss running along the water in Wellington and the view from my flat in Queenstown.  I miss waking up every morning to the  emerald and blue colors of the lake in Queenstown.

If you haven't visited New Zealand--save and go.  It's the most beautiful place.

This was the view from my flat in QT:

Sigh

Today

Do you ever get so stressed out and you are wound SO tight you that you will burst into tears at the slightest little thing?

I DO!

I have already burst into tears twice this morning since getting to work.

I love my new puppy dog, I do.  I knew it would be hard, I did.  I had no idea what sort of separation anxiety he would have and that it would BREAK my heart to leave him and hear him howling pitifully at my door when I have to go to work.

Why can't I be independently wealthy again?  What's that?  I need money to do that?   Right.  Back to square one.

And then....

Come home to find my room torn to shreds.

Deep breath.

It's only 'things'.

I learned from a trainer that the best thing to do was not yell at the dog, I mean, he just freaked the fuck out and tore up your room.

I have no carpet anymore by my bedroom door.  He tried to tunnel out.

A few of my books are in pieces and he ate my laundry basket.

He left all my clothes and shoes intact and didn't pee anywhere in my room, so...that's good!!!!

Any advice???

I'll take anything. 

Dear sweet Lord.

New Puppppy

Which you can read about here!

My Boyfriend

To say that I love my boyfriend is a bit of an understatement and I'll tell you why.  He is, hands down, the most wonderful and giving person  I have ever dated or had the pleasure of having in my life (in a long time).  Now, I have awesome friends who are amazing, but he has become my best friend.

When he does things he thinks about how it will impact me first.  I can't say I have ever had a relationship like that.  The stone in my ring was loose, I took it off and I set it on his bureau.  I was worried would lose it -- he took it into the jewelers on his lunch break to have the stone soldered.

He surprises me with tickets to Paul Simon because he knows I have "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" as my alarm clock. 

He slaves away in the kitchen to cook for me and opens bottles of wine from his cellar that he's been saving so we can drink them together.

And more than anything else, he makes me laugh.  He is the funniest person I have ever met and he gets my weird humor.  I have loved him since the first week we dated and recently he told me he fell in love with me the first week too.

I can't!

What's "slow"?

This is a week night meal

This was 'last-night-on earth wine"

Crab Cakes

My surprise!

Coffee Porn (From Laura)

Images via

YUM!

New Blog Post!

I am way too lazy to attempt to update both blogs right now.  Especailly after all the eating and boozing we did this weekend.

But here is a photo of my boyfriend's favorite mushrooms in Eataly (which you can't get anyywheerree in DC)

Mnnnn, morels.

If you want to read more about my weekend in NYC you can click on the link to my other blog

CLICK ME NOWWW!

NYC

I had a conference in Georgetown that I was  facilitating last week and had to work part of the day Friday before I met C for our bus to NYC.  (DC is only 4 hours from NYC and it's superrrr cheap to take the bus).
I have tons of pics and will post more later.

We checked in our hotel and saw this:

Awhhh, we ate and drank it all!

PX

C and I went to PX in old town last night.  I made reservations about a month ago and was pretty excited about it.  As you may know, I love prohibition style bars.  A lot.  When I travel I try to check them out.

PX is located in Old Town, Alexandria and does not advertise it's name on the street.  The only identifiable thing about the bar is a blue light hanging over the doorway.  There are about five steps and you see a buzzer.  They always ask if you have a reservation

Photo Credit: Miami Herald

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Another favorite bar that is a speakeasy style is Motel Bar in Wellington New Zealand.
We used to go all the time when I was living in NZ.  I loved loved loved that bar.  I miss those cocktails!

From here

I didn't take any photos last night because I was a little underwhelmed by the decor inside PX.  However, the drinks were pretty great.  I had a Guinness infused gin drink and C mixed it up with orange infused vodka and their famous Gin & Tonic.  Would I go back?  Meh.  I'd rather fly to NZ and go to Motel.

xo

I Won!

Yayyyyyyyy!  I won a dish from Hannah over at  The Culture Connoisseur!!!
I'm very excited but this means I have to *learn* to bake.  Which means I have to *learn* how to not burn the kitchen down!

Anyway, I'm excited.  Thanks, Hannah!

Hirshhorn Gallery Friday

I went out with a group of my friends to the Hirshhorn "After Hours" Gallery event. It was so much fun!

We started off the night at Barcode in DC where they have half price wine & beer EVERY day from 4-7pm. Mama like.

I just thought it was funny Chicken Gumbo was the same price as beer.

I like this shot.

Paint Lady (as I call her)

Even the exit was artsy

The fountain with floating colored balls

Blue on blue in the fountain

Art Work

The Entry Way

Art Watchers

Liss & Laura

Building across from the Hirshhorn

The Stage

Rainbow Light Art

Rods

Shadows of Rods

Gorgeous Night!

Polka Dot Art!  (I want!)

Delicious (almost art)