classy night

Last night I went to a preparty for the White House Correspondents Association Dinner. We arrived via cab in front of the Hilton, where things were crazy. We got out on Connecticut and ran across the street. PETA people were protesting and others as well. We followed others in black tie into the building and wound our way around the main floor of the hotel. Finally, we went down an escalator to where the red carpet entrance was. So many camera flashes, but we couldn't get a glimpse of who they were taking pictures of. I wanted to stay and watch, but was trying to play it cool:) We found our way to the Atlantic Mo. party after running into one of M's colleagues who was freelancing for US Weekly, hoping to see if Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo spoke/if she looked chubby. We met up with friends inside who had staked out a standing table near the party's red carpet. Anyone could have their photo taken there, so we did that, too. First celebrity sighting: Bradley Cooper. Wendy Malick arrived with Patricia Arquette. I went to talk with Wendy Malick because we went to the same undergrad. I said "You went to Ohio Wesleyan" and she said yes!. I told her I was an '05 and she said I was just a baby. She gave the commencement address in 2001 and commented on how it had been right before 9/11 and that she wished she could have said something more inspiring especially since those events led her to have a new look on life. Madeline Albright rolled in shortly thereafter. Then, Bradley Cooper was back but this time taking a picture with the Jonas Brothers and Mark Warner. Padma Lakshmi arrived and then Chevy Chase wandered by. It was so interesting how some people would just go up to all of these famous people and talk to them or just act totally normal as if they were just another person at the party. We made our way out of the party and Wolf Blitzer was right by us. We had to go back by those escalators and just as we did Padma walked by and then Ashley Judd walked by in a long white dress with big white flowers in her hair. Everyone is so tall! There was someone in a red flowy dress near the entrance talking to the paparazzi. I don't know who it was.

We wandered outside, went to the Russia House across the street for a drink in our finery. As we came outside, we stopped at the bottom of the steps because a huge group of middle schoolers were walking by. A couple of girls started shouting "I like your dress!" "It's really pretty!" and then someone said to M - I like your suit too!. It was just really cute.

We then went to Grillfish for dinner, which was delicious and we sat outside and just enjoyed the quiet(ish). Then we decided we would not be able to get into a postparty and just went to the Round Robin at the Willard for a mint julep (bad decision, I don't like whiskey, but I always forget). A Rolls Royce rolled up outside, but it was just a bride and groom.

Then we hit up the Georgetown waterfront where some other friends were enjoying the warm evening.

It was all very cool. Despite the bad writing here...

Round II

It has occurred to me that this is the first time ever in my life that I am living in the exact same place doing the exact same thing as the year before. You might think that as a child I did that...same house, yes, but always a different grade (your job as a kid). It was nice to not have to pack up and move at the end of last school year, but at the same time, it's eerie to not have a transition on the horizon. I've never been a huge fan of change, but you get used to it, no matter how large or small the change is. Realizing that that change was not here for me this year made me realize that maybe I am have become accustomed to the changes and yearly life transitions.

With year two of city life upon me, I'm starting to reflect upon my loves and not-so-loves about this city. Here's the start of a list:

Loves:

- so many exciting things going on here...many beginning with the word "National", as in THE one of that thing for the country...for instance the NATIONAL Book Festival this weekend...people come from all around for that and I just had to hop the metro

- coming out of the metro and hearing some classical piece, jazz, etc played by a random assortment of instruments...fave so far...small folk group playing Vivaldi's "Four Seasons"

- being in a place where people WANT to come visit

- learning everyday about this place...gradually expanding my knowledge of this or that...there is something so satisfying about getting to know a city

- holly bushes, magnolia trees EVERYWHERE

- brunch

- happy hour

Not-so-loves:

- grocery shopping/any errands being an ordeal without a car. Yes, the metro/buses are easy to use, but planning my Sunday around getting groceries and considering how much I can carry back (or in my snazzy new pushcart) is frustrating. Contrary to being in a pretty technologically sophisticated city, I feel like I'm in the olden days where getting to the nearest Walgreens requires a 30 minute walk (uphill both ways)

- every person (exaggerates a bit) thinks they are SO important. I'm sorry, yes, this city is full of young people, but each and every one of you has the SAME desk/cubicle job, so get your feet back on the ground and don't look so pompous on the metro or on the street

- feeling like I have to have some guard up as I walk about so that I don't look vulnerable...I can't imagine how NYC would affect me.

- no yard, no balcony (this could be fixed)...no logical outside place to go that's not a roof. There's a park nearby, but it's sort of a process. So many daily decisions require a time commitment.

- no good bagel places

- no camp out all day coffee shops with free wi-fi. I miss my sweetwaters, that's all I'm saying

- CROWDS...ok this is also a quasi-love...being anonymous sometimes is nice, but fighting strollers and inept (wow, have I graduated to intolerance?) tourists stopping in the middle of the sidewalk is not fun

- just going to say it again - self-important people

the district

So I am in DC now. Good job, good place to live, good friends. I feel very lucky. Far from the parentals which is sometimes hard. They have visited though and give their stamp of approval on the next step of life. The city is a mess today since we had an ice storm last night/right now, and while every other school district is closed, we are delayed. I won't complain though.

Right now I'm enjoying All Songs Considered podcasts.

I worked hard last night...doing work but also getting the cable set up here since evidently we were not prepared for the digital switch which RCN decided to take care of LAST THURSDAY. Although not having cable for almost a week made me realize how much tv I actually watch these days. Well, "watch" is used loosely..."have on". It's just background noise for the most part.

Well, there is some stream of consciousness for you. Time to be productive.

last days of AA fun

Today:

icecream at Washtenaw Dairy

Roman Holiday at the MI Theater with Court and Mags wearing skirts + wine and antipasto at an outdoor cafe:)

yay

feeling sad about moooooving

my apt. looks unhappy despite the clutter

it's been a weird week

full of goodbyes and lasts and fun

Janis and I watched Hairspray on the big screen on the lawn and giggled at John Travolta and his creepiness dressed as a woman

it's been weird and my head is swimming

Done with Middle School, but not without a humorous last day

One eighth grade boy who is sort of a pistol found out Sara and I are in the Arb and the following convo ensued:

8th: Do you ever go to liquor stores there?
Sara: Um, how about you just list some.
8th: *lists one we know of*
Me: Yeah, I mean I've been in there to buy...chips.
Sara: I hear they have really great Arizona Iced Tea.
8th: Well, my brother works there.
Us: Oh yeah?
*conversation about where family members work, someone's mom works at Hiller's grocery store
8th: My brother's not allowed to go to Hiller's. He got kicked out.
Us: Wait, for what?
8th: He was buying milk...lots of milk...while it was on sale so that he could sell it for really expensive at the liquor store. Hiller's called the police and when they came, my brother told them he was having a milk party.
Us: They didn't believe him?
8th: No, so now he can't go to Hiller's
Us: Well we'll have to stop by the liquor store, pretend to buy lots of milk and when questioned, tell your brother we're throwing a milk party.