Monday Rewind: Washington, District of Columbia...or the place I called Home for a while

Oh DC, I will always love you.  You taught me how to stand in the cold, miss the bus, grab a taxi and make it to work on time.  I was able to perfect the art of the paper towel dry-off in the bathroom when arriving to work sweating through my scrubs on one of your sweltering hot and oppressively humid summer days.  Because of you, I will always be able to assemble an appropriate and fashionable "business casual" outfit.  I'll never forget how much fun it was to play Frogger with the tourists on the sidewalks, while out on a jog.  Your traffic, with a rush hour that lasted from 6am until 7pm will always make me appreciate an open road and a parking space.  And from now on, whenever I find myself in a one-sided conversation with a gentleman who insists on talking about his all-important job in the Senate, where he went to undergrad, the small southern town where he grew up, how many triathlons he's done and where he plans to enroll in law school, I will be able to plant a smile and zone out completely until he pauses long enough for me to politely but firmly cut him off and re-join my friends.  

But in all seriousness.  I will always love that town.  I can happily and fondly call it my second home.  Its the place where I really grew up (wait, what? I'm a grown-up?).  I found my own dentist, eye doctor and didn't ask for any money from mom and dad.  So, yeah, I guess that happened.  

Washington, DC is a place that holds some of my very favorite memories:  Sitting in kayaks on the Chesapeake Bay on a rainy, rainy afternoon in Annapolis.  Car-bomb bar-hopping up and down U St on Saint Patty's day.  Snowmageddon 2010...  The thrill that never went away, of seeing the Presidential motorcade, or the Presidential helicopters landing on the White House lawn.  Driving through the cherry blossoms on my way to work, making a magical commute.  Having the National Mall as my running route and the United States Capitol in my backyard.  The way the Capitol dome looks lit up at night.  Standing on top of the dome and looking out over our Nation's capital city.  Union Pub on a Wednesday or Thursday night.  Countless broken wine glasses while living with the best pair of roommates I could have ever hoped for.  Encounters with friends or acquaintances on the sidewalk in the neighborhood, which made the big city feel small.  Wandering through Eastern Market on a lazy Sunday, sampling the produce and buying nothing, or something, depending on my mood.  "To-Go" paper cups of wine while walking around the Capitol and chit-chatting with Liz after dinner.  Haines Point swims and sunsets at the driving range.  The way the city just bursts with flower blossoms in the spring and lights up with color in the fall.  Those random 70 degree days in February.  Playing frisbee in the middle of Maryland Ave because we owned that place.    

Memories now, but always in my heart.  

itinerary: best of the south sound

Day 1: obtain lifelong friend from airport.  Head home and have a nice little lunch.  Grab running shoes and a change of clothes.  Jump in the car and drive to Chambers bay for some chit-chat and a brisk walk and cartwheels in the green grass.  After you've worked up a sufficient appetite (mostly from all the talking), go over the Tacoma Narrows bridge to Gig Harbor for a glass of happy hour wine and chicken tacos outside on the deck at Tides Tavern.  Since it might get chilly out there after the sun dips below the trees, stroll out on the public dock to chase the end of the daylight and check out the boats and crabs people are netting...just make sure to ignore the dirty old sailor man who invites you on board for a beer.  Hop back in the car and head closer to home to check out Fishtail Brewery.  Make sure to befriend the bartender so he will give you samples of all their ciders and seasonal ales.  After that, call it
 a night!

 

Day 2: wake up early because you have lots to accomplish today.  Grab a coffee at Batdorf & Bronson downtown and then shoot over to the REI store to pick up some outdoorsy gear (or a super cute fleece-lined red sweatshirt dress, which will keep you warm and look fantastic with your brown riding boots this fall) and while you're there, decide on a few new hobbies.  Then, stop by the Olympia Farmers' Market for fresh local produce and salmon for your dinner later on.  For lunch, indulge in some really, really awesome crab-cakes benedict from one of the market vendors.  Make sure to wander down to the boardwalk and look for starfish and harbor seals in the water before you leave.  After lunch, stop home to put on your hiking boots and head out to Mount Rainier National Park for a mid-afternoon hike.  Spend as much time as you need gazing at the mountain and all of its glorious scenery (this could take a lot of time).  Drive back into the sunset, pick up a bottle of local Washington state wine at a grocery store and since you're probably starving from your busy day, whip up a delicious and nutritious dinner feast from your farmers' market goods when you get home.  Goodnight!

Day 3: city day.  No need for coffee or breakfast because you're going to have both of these things at Pike Place in Seattle.  But if you want, stop for a Starbuck's on the way.  You are in Starbuck's country, after all.  This way, when you get to Pike Place, you can head straight for Pike Place Chowder before the big lunch line starts growing.  I also recommend Le Panier, to indulge your coffee and pastry tooth (pain au chocolat like they can only make in France, I do not kid).  Spend as much time as you need wandering the market, soaking in all there is to see; people watching, and sampling produce.  Be sure to chew a piece of gum, bring your hand sanitizer and stop by the fascinatingly-disgusting famous gum wall in Post Alley.  Add your specimen to the gooey mess.  Stroll downtown for a little retail therapy.  Then go down to the the Seattle waterfront and sit on those yellow adirondack chairs on the docks.  Afterward, swing by the Edgewater Hotel for a couple happy hour drinks and appetizers (you have to try the mussels, the best.  the. best).  Leave the city about 2 hours prior to sunset so you can make it to your final destination, the Alderbrook Resort (and Spa), in time to watch the sun set behind the Olympic mountains and the Hood Canal.  Spend the rest of the evening sipping wine by the fire and stargazing up at the crystal clear milky way. 

   

Day 4: are you exhausted yet?  Well, this is your rejuvenation day.  I recommend a trail run in the morning before checking out of your really, really lovely accommodations.  Its worth the fresh pine air in your lungs, and you'll see some very lush forest with really really big trees, if nothing else.  Head in to the teeny tiny town (think, post office, deli and tex-mex restaurant and not a lot else), for a 3 egg breakfast scramble and coffee at the Union Square Deli that will cost you about $6 total...try and finish the whole thing, I dare you.  Indulge the rest of the afternoon, soaking up the last of the summer sun on the Alderbrook dock, or by the pool.  Watch the harbor seals swim by, skip stones until your arm is sore and take a swim in the (cold and salty!) Hood Canal.  Polish off a most excellent weekend with a margarita on the deck of Dos Margaritas and try your best to memorize the incredible mountain and water scenery that surrounds you.  

Perfection? 

  

ps.  some of these photos are borrowed from my friend Jodi, who came out to retreat from busy life and soak up some friend time.  Thanks for everything my dear Jumbo.  Love you lots and lots.  

I've been on hiatus...aka really busy

hi!  remember me?  i've been running around like crazy the past few weeks, working and traveling, catching up with a few favorite people and places.  i crossed the country 4 times in an airplane in a week and a half.  craziness.  but we all know i love a life on the move and i've really, really enjoyed all the running around.

now its after labor day (when did that happen??) and its starting to feel like fall.  nice and crisp and cold in the mornings and evenings.  still have yet to see a cloud out here in the Pac NW though.  i'm loving the sun and warm afternoons, but actually kind of looking forward to experiencing all this rain they talk about.  its supposed to be a very nice weekend, which is good news because i'm expecting a very important visitor and have lots of fun planned for us.  

i can't believe i only have 2.5 weeks left on my first travel assignment.  again, when did that happen??  i'm sure i'll reflect more on it later, but for now, i'm searching for the next contract.  i'd like to stay around the puget sound region for a few months, but am also open to northern cali or wherever the wind blows and opportunity arises.  hoping to not work nights shifts, because man, they kill me.   

i'm feeling very blessed today.  how did i get so lucky to have this life?