What's going on

Must sleep, but didn't want to leave the bloggie!

Here are some highlights from the weekend:

• bike 50 miles (round trip) to a u-pick blueberry farm (got 1 quart + whatever I ate while picking).
• saw the awesome Quaker private high school that my friend teaches at
• saw Golem at the Jewish Music Festival
• hung out with Grandma
  
• got some pretty flowers from the farmer's market
• hung out with college friends who made delicious dinner

I've also been listening to this one song by Sabina a lot. I can't find a great recording online, but the version I have is somehow more acoustic, harrowing, desperate and beautiful. It makes me want to learn how to sing. Maybe I'll practice it in the shower. Here's an okay version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPJlBxkWuj4&feature=related

Recap

Wednesday:

Had a good workout at the gym.
Got internet fixed.
Wrapping up a few projects at work.
Made delicious dinner with brown rice, goat cheese, cumin and pinto beans.
Walked to Trader Joe's - hurrah! Love that place. So many tempting treats!

Of note --

I saw someone (long beard, unshowered) shoplifting from Trader Joe's. He was taking one thing at a time and collecting it all in a pile outside near his backpack. After he unloaded whatever it was he took by stuffing into his shirt, he would go back into the store for something else. I decided if I noticed, the Trader Joe's people probably did, too. And, if they didn't notice, I was banking on the fact that he probably needed that food more than Trader Joe's needed it. I felt badly that he had to do that, though.

I was writing in English about a Mexican guy who had his B.A., M.A. and Doctorate in "Ciencias Penales" meaning, legal punishment system like criminal penalties. Unfortunately for me, that doesn't translate so well to say he was an expert in penal sciences. Penal, as in...you get what I'm saying.

I took a long way home walking from work yesterday. I was hoping to get a snack from a Chinese bakery in Chinatown, but I couldn't find any bakeries! Advice?

Just the gym, please

I think one reason I don't like the gym is because people are always watching you and they judge you. It's true. I'm just doing my thing, trying to do my best to get back in shape. I don't need you checking out what resistance or what incline I'm at. The comments I hate the most are about sweating. Like today, I'm leaving the gym and the woman at the desk says, "Woa, woo-wee, good workout huh?" What's that supposed to mean!? Yes. I sweat. I probably smell, too. It's like 80 degrees outside and then I go inside, with no fans, lots of other people working out in a small, windowless place and- gosh darn it - I worked out hard. So, yes, it was a good workout. And I was all sweaty. And smelly. Sheesh. I'll just take the gym, hold the judgment on the side, please.

B'more

Went to Baltimore today to visit a friend who I haven't seen in years. So good to see her, and fun to explore Baltimore a little. We went to lunch at Golden West and ate delicious food. We saw her cute apartment and went to this awesome place called "Book Thing." It's basically like an entire used bookstore, but they are free! It was awesome. I got:

Baudelaire, Les Fleurs du Mal et autres poemes
Uris, Armageddon
L'Engle, The Irrational Season
some book on U.S. policy in Latin America

free, people, FREE.

We unfortunately got a flat tire and had to wait for AAA to help us out. I ended up taking Amtrak back to D.C., which took a wee bit of time and I didn't get back early enough to go to the gym, as planned. Darn it!

I heard this conversation on the train:

Old Man: Are you a student?
Girl: Yes!
Old Man: I'm a teacher.
Girl: Really? Where?
Old Man: Princeton.
Girl: COOL! That's, like, awesome!

Saturday of nothing

Okay, it was not a Saturday of nothing, but I saw someone this morning with a yellow, 80s-ish tee-shirt that said, "My Saturday of Nothing Tee-shirt" and I thought that was a pretty darn good idea. I couldn't have a nothing Saturday today, but I'm definitely doing it next weekend. Who's in!?

What'd I do? I finished my paper! It's probably not, no wait, I know it's not so good. But, at this point I don't really care.

I skyped Charlie who is now in a subsidized apartment in NYC. Coolness! It was really pretty special getting to see him eat his cereal, especially with the occasional freeze screen. Good stuff.

Anyway, then I rushed off to the Metro and took it all the way to the end. From there I caught a bus and got off in random-land suburbia. I walked 1/2 a mile to my grandma's and showed up smiling, sweaty and received with open door before I even walked up the driveway. Seriously, how did she know I was there? We did chores. (She told me what to do and I did it.) We lunched. I cleaned. We chatted. Goodness, sometimes I just get overcome by emotion! She said something to the effect of "I still talk to Grandpa sometimes, I know that sounds crazy!" and then "I have his Redskins jersey sitting out and I like to touch it and remember Grandpa." Ohhhh, so sad. How does one pull it together to get on with life after losing the person who has been your love, your companion, your best friend, your in-it-together-for-life partner for over 60 years?

On the bus back I sat next to this African guy who had the longest legs. Ever. I swear. The length of my hip to my knee was half of the length of his hip to knee.

I got back and tried to take a nap (humidity + motion induced sleepiness) but couldn't sleep mid-day. I don't do naps. Put in some laundry and meandered over to the gym. I took my time, for once. No paper to write. No study or reading to do. No plans. No nothin'. I loved it!

Actually, I haven't seen any friends all week. I've just seen work people at work (all of whom I met just 4 days ago). Kind of weird to think about that. I'm not lonely, just basking in my ME time to do what I want, when I want. I think I'll live in anonymity a little while longer before I jump into the D.C. world, trying to meet people and learn the city. By the way, I did get 2 lovely pieces of mail from Denver friends -- a card and 2 pairs of running shorts. Lucky me! I have such good friends. :)

Finished off the night by making some Brown Rice, Spinach, and Squash Gatin. It'll make for good lunches. Ah, my Saturday of nothing really was pretty darn good.

Thursday Thunderstorm

Walked home from work in the rain today (thankfully I packed my umbrella this morning). I liked it! It seems like it doesn't rain much in Denver because it's either snow or sun. It really felt like summer, though. Thunder, lightening, rain with sun off in the distance. The air was warm and I was still wearing short sleeves. Ahhhh, now if I can just finish this paper and move ON with my life. I'm at 1,064 words. Counting down 'til 2,000 (or however long it takes me to say what I have to say). What do I have to say?

Bummer

Okay. Plantar Fasciitis-heel-spur-pain is still going on. I basically stopped running in February and have not recovered yet. What a bummer! I am feeling very out of sorts. Not my usual body. Clothes aren't fitting right, feeling new weight and oddly winded going up stairs and the like. I kept up a pretty good workout scheme in Colorado with my road bike and the gym, but the last few weeks with travel and no bike have been bad. I think I just need to give up on running and work harder at keeping in shape by bike, walking, and maybe swim? I joined the JCC. I walk a mile to and from work. I am borrowing a road bike in a couple weeks. I really, really, really, just want to get better so I can step out the door and go running. Sad that I have so much work to do to get back in shape. Probably no marathon this year, either.

Give me advice!

Officially an Intern

Wowzers, I am pretty tired after my first day of work! I'm interning at the American Bar Association. They have an international division called Rule of Law Initiative and I am working within their Latin America and Caribbean office. So far it's great! Basically we are consultants for international development that focuses on legal systems and promoting good governance and rule of law. The projects involve developing legal systems and laws, implementing reform to make countries have better governance and stronger rule of law. They just got grants to start multi-year projects in 3 countries: Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Belize. They already do work in Mexico, Ecuador, and Panama. I'm super excited and already have fun assignments to work on. For example, part of my job is to read news from Latin America (in English and Spanish) and keep the group informed about daily going-ons. How cool is that!?

Other cool things about the internship: there is a roof top for eatin' lunch, a park a block away, the White House a block away, it's a 20 min walk from my apartment, I have my own nice cube, computer, printer, phone and desk, there's a fitness center (yet to be seen) and my hours are 9-5:30ish. Hurrah!

I made a little shopping trip because I felt a little under-dressed. I also signed up for the JCC gym which is across the street from my sublet apartment. I'm pretty exhausted and didn't get much done on the paper front. Boo.

photo update

The adorable Rita at the wedding of our Penn friends, Ariel and Sam, in Nashville. Lots of wildflowers, humidity, blue grass music, thunderstorm, and good Southern soul food.

Holding Andi and Uti's new baby, Kai, as he sleeps away. I swear, he couldn't fall asleep unless you were hugging him. I was up for the task.

Andi and Uti's 3 year old, Oni. She's modeling (hence the hand on cheek).

Beautiful bride, Adi, at her wedding in Philadelphia! Fun wedding with Israeli music, dancing, vegan and vegetarian food, and interesting medly of international guests.

My good, old friend Peter and my new friend (his bride), Dara at their wedding in March. She changed out of her white bridal dress into a traditional red Chinese outfit. The ceremony and reception were at the Asian gardens of the Jacksonville Zoo in Florida.