Philly

Back in Philly. It really feels like I just posted that I was in town for my friend's wedding, but that was way back in May! I've had a summer and a fall since then. I just love this city. It has charm, grit, a feeling of excitement, motion, and adventure. Sadly, I noticed the light balls in Rittenhouse Sq. are not up! I'll have to investigate.

When I got off the bus, I knew right where I was and just started walking through the city West to get to campus. Despite the 23 degree weather and carrying my bag, I wanted to walk. I wanted to save money, but mainly I wanted to walk because I would be passing through the city. It feels great to land in almost any city along the east coast and know my way around. Something about the independence of travel, just me and my small bag (I'm notorious for packing light) - it enlivens me. I feel empowered and connected to the world - connecting both to places and to people.

Off to the more adventures in this next stop I'm making on the long way home...

friends!

Just a quick update to say that mainly my time has been spent with friends, the friends' families, and friend's babies. I had such a lovely time at A&M's wedding. So cool! I was her Chumerit - Jewish guardian. I spent the entire day with her through the hair, make-up, dress, setting up, breaking down. Really, her family treated me as another sibling and were just wonderful. The wedding itself defied a lot of American traditions - bride and groom saw each other a lot before the ceremony, it was in a large loft-like space (worked perfectly!), had appetizers and a buffet, no meat, lots of vegan food (red quinoa, hummos, cheeses, veggies, salads, avocado on multi-grain sandwiches), Israeli music and other shows of their personality. Also, there were cool wedding guests who flew in from all over the world. I had a great time. I feel so lucky because I am equally friends with the bride and groom. And, after the whole shebang was over, I got to see them the next day, just the 3 of us, for dinner and left over champagne.

I've also been staying with A&U (and O and K). K is 3 weeks old and just so cuddly and cute. I don't have the goods to make him happy (milk) but I can trick him long enough until A can feed him. And, he'll sleep on anybody all curled up like a little frog. O is a good big sister. We're sharing a room so far. It's been pretty fun dancing, eating, playing, reading with her. It's constant energy and a lot of talking. I've always loved kids, but now I'm slowly feeling more confident with little toddlers, babies and newborns. I no longer have that panicky, "Ah, I have no idea what to do with a baby! What if it starts crying?" type of feeling. I definitely don't always know what to do and can't always stop the crying, but it feels less foreign now. Baaaabies are cute.

I've been outlining my exam on technology as a way toward new utopian vision of human rights. Uh huh, that's right. I don't know what it really means either, just trying to use the language I know my teacher wants us to use. Ick. Hope that gets written somehow.

At long last

Quick update:

Philly was fabulous. I love it there. I went to campus and the button, walked by Clark Park farmer's market, ate Ethiopian food, saw my bestest of friends, played with little O., walked around campus, got a new comfy Penn sweatshirt.

Marathon - PR!! WOOOoooo! I finished in 3:10. More on that in another post. I was just so happy, felt stronger (mentally and physically) than I had in other marathons and had an awesome time. I was extremely sore for 2 1/2 days and then life got better.

D.C. was pretty good. Saw the lovely E. for tea at a beautiful little shop with nice wood floors and tables upstairs. Then, got to A. & S.'s place, which was awesome. Such a nice neighborhood, I thought I was walking in the wrong direction because I didn't believe they could live in such a grown-up, nice neighborhood. A. made a delicious dinner, which we enjoyed while visiting with our friends S. and G. (Soooo many couples!). Broken escalator at Dupont circle was my worst nightmare, give post-marathon soreness. Next day I spent with A., visiting her apartment, walking around the mall, work at a cafe and then dinner at good Thai. We baked a little to bring with her for Thanksgiving to M.'s family in Jersey. Finished the day watching an episode of The Office and collapsed into bed.

Wednesday - at long last - saw the family!! Walked a mile down to the Nat'l Geo Museum and waited in a cafe until family trickled in. We went to the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit (didn't compare to Incans!) and saw a photo exhibit, too. Walked by the White House, had lunch in the old post office building and then Nat'l Gallery of Art. People peeled off in their own directions and baby brother L. and I walked down to the capital building. Sat there and watched the sun set, then got a snack and took the Metro out to 'burbs. Made Cheesecake & watched a movie.

Thanksgiving - hung around, had the meal at cousin's house. Pretty good food, but skimpy on the vegetables and no stuffing! Watched Brother's Bloom with L. that night.

Friday - unveiling. Spent the morning with grandma, went to the cemetery for the unveiling. It was nice, a little sad, but mostly just a nice family gathering. Bummed around at Aunt's house eating without being hungry and talking to sibs.

Saturday ended up being flying back, getting a new phone because the old one died and going to the grocery store. Welcome back to Denver. :/ Miss the fam. already. :(

Back to studying for me...4 finals, 1 paper and 1 presentation before it's over and I go home to play with D.