Office Woes
Last night I went to happy hour with some of my co-workers. It was one of those, three strikes and your out, kinda things...which means, if you deny hanging out with them three times then they stop inviting you altogether. I had other things to do, but I couldn't risk being extradited from the office folk. I had a decent time...but I was ready to go after a few hours. We wound up staying for about four hours! Ugh. I was glad I went though...I now feel like I have a little bit more of a connection with some of the people I work with. I would like to think one of my social "gifts," if you will, is my wit. And thus far, I haven't been able get into any kind of groove to use it at all. That's getting very frustrating to me. I know it's silly but, that's how I make friends, and if I can't get my wit on, then how am I gonna make any friends???
Oh, but my favorite part of the evening was when a girl asked me, "So, where are you living?" I told her, and she said, "Wow! That's really far away!" Talk about a blow to the ego. I was already on edge about the apartment I signed up to rent for A YEAR. And then this girl just deflated any excitement I had about the place. *Sigh. It'll be fine, I was just saddened and annoyed to hear this.
Hands, Reaching Out, Touching Me, Touching YOUUUUUUU
So yesterday, I don't know what it was...I guess just a little bout of grey skies and loneliness. I was on the metro riding home listening to my ipod. It's set on shuffle which leads to a great variety of music, I assure you. My tastes go from one extreme to another and when my ipod is on shuffle, I get a taste of it all! But I digress...I was listening to my ipod when Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline came on. I BURST into tears! I was remembering the night all The Core was packed into Carisima's car on the way to the movies and Jeremy, Adam and I were singing that song at the top of our lungs...or when Jeremy and I listened to it to get us pumped up before we ran our 10k. Who gets pumped up to Neil Diamond, anyway? But it's such a silly song to make someone cry, especially because it is such an upbeat song. I think I'm just getting lonely and I'm still trying to decipher if my new apartment is a good idea.
Also, I'm trying to find furniture for my new place. I'm thinking about getting a futon. What does a futon say?: I'm too cheap to have a couch AND a bed! Or maybe, "This couch can turn into a bed at any moment, baby." You decide...either way, I'm not really a fan of the futon, but I think it would be best for space purpose. Especially if I ever decide I want to have company. I welcome any thoughts on the futon issue or any "what does a futon say?" comments. This is a picture of the futon I'm thinking about getting....classey, eh? Nothing says, "Single Lady" like a good futon.
On the Road Again...again
What a busy weekend I had...okay, so it wasn't THAT busy. Friday night I went over to happy hour at Yvonne's with Lisa. Yvonne is so great...very opinionated, and that's what I like about her! She's such a mother hen.
Saturday I drove all around DC (all by myself!) to check out some apartments. I decided the 1.5 hour commute everyday is going to start to get to me...especially come winter. So as I went on my quest to find a new place, I discovered a few things about myself. 1. I can drive in the city and not get completely lost (thanks mostly to mapquest). Maybe I'm growing...but the driving is no big deal...as long as I don't have to parallel park. 2. I hate having roommates!!! I've become so accustomed to coming and going as I pleased that after I met all these potential roommates, I decided I really don't want a roommate. But trying to find something affordable on my own around here is near impossible.
After a weary afternoon of searching, and not really being very impressed, I went out with Lisa and her friend Erica. We went to this Italian Chophouse. It was so much fun! I have yet to have a bad time with Lisa. Here's a picture of the three of us having a ball!
I decided Sunday was going to be my lazy, recuporating day. I slept in, ate some pop tarts, slept some more. Then I got a phone call. I didn't recognize the number so I just let it go to voicemail. I listened to the voicemail, and it was a dream come true! An efficiency apartment, in a great part of town, and in my price range! I rushed down to go check it out. While it's not a mansion, I think it will work just fine. It's SUPER small, but it does have a fireplace (that was the selling point). I quickly swiped it up and signed the lease. I'm moving in this weekend. Luckily, I don't have very much stuff, so hopefully the move won't be too big of a deal. I'm hoping to get Lisa to help me out (hint, hint ;)). I'm just hoping Roxanne doesn't freak out too much. Now all I really need is a bed...how important is a bed anyway?
Relief, Sweet Relief
This weekend was a flash in the pan and just not long enough. My friend came down, and while we had a rocky first day, things did finally feel comfortable again. We did a lot of exploring of Germantown...everyday I find something new there! There was plenty of eating dinners together and tons of sports watching, and I loved every minute of it. I'm just glad those things are fun for him too! We ran together as well. It's always good to know someone is in just as much pain as you are at the moment, yet neither of you want to quit. However, I did quit well before he did...silly over achivers! On Sunday we went into the city so I could show him my office. And although we couldn't seem to find the light switches, I think he was pretty darn impressed with my little que-be. I mean, who wouldn't be? I work at the freaking center of the world!! It had been a long time since he'd seen Roxanne and he absolutely fell in love with her. He just kept saying what a good cat she was and how much she loved me...all this I know, of course.
All in all, it was a great weekend and I look forward to our next meeting. It was hard, as it always is, to see him go again. But this time there was a sense of peace in the departure.
PS - My business cards came in today...look for one in your next (and every) piece of mail from me!
Sweaty Palms
Well, an old friend (and at times more) is coming to town today, and I am more than nervous. We haven't seen each other in a year and a half. Our communication hasn't ceased, we just haven't physically been around one another. I'm trying not to freak out too much, but I can't help but be nervous. I am not the same girl he left at the Tallahassee airport a year and a half ago. I'm not the same physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. He's very perceptive, and while I think he knows all this, I am still awaiting his reaction to it. I have no idea where our relationship will go. It's hard to keep anything alive when you are over a thousand miles apart. We are closer now, since I've moved to DC, but the distance still plagues us. I'm hoping this weekend will answer a lot of questions I have about him and us...good or bad, I just need to know. This anticipation is killing me.
I Don't Need to be "Hooked-up"
It's Monday...yawn. Monday's always suck. But today hasn't been too bad.
Friday night, amidst an iPod crisis, Lisa called and asked my to come over to her friend Yvonne's house. I decided to go, and I was so glad I did. Yvonne and her family are so great. I had a great time sitting around and chatting. The food was fantastic too! I learned they are "foodies." I'm figuring it means they are some sort of food snobs...but all that means to me is they sure can cook!
Saturday, I was pretty lazy. It was a beautiful day out...high of only 80! I "got lost" in Germantown and found some pretty cool places. I did go and get my car washed...$20 later,gulp, I'm considering never driving it again for fear I might get it dirty. It was the strangest thing though...I went through the car wash like normal, then a guy comes and takes my car and drives it onto a moving conveyor belt. Then about 8 guys attack the car cleaning the windows, dash, and vacuuming out the floorboards. It was crazy! I'd never seen anything like it before.
Sunday, I went to a picnic with Lisa at her boss's house. This gathering, however, was not as comfortable as the Friday night escapade. It was okay, but I totally felt out of place and completely underdressed. I've never seen a group of more perfect bodies in all of my life! All the women were 40+ and had PERFECT bodies...there was NO WAY I was getting in the swimming pool with them! It wasn't too bad, but I did feel extremely out of place.
And finally, to the header of my post. One of my housemates, Lester keeps trying to set me up with some of his friends.
He tells me his middle name is "Cupid." Oh Lord, here we go...On Saturday morning he asked me, "Do you like engineers?" I said, "As people? Uh, yes??" Then he proceeds to tell me about his friend who's 40, an engineer, and also a home owner. But my favorite part was when he said, "He's handsome, but he's not hot." What does that even mean?? So, apparently I can get someone cute, but definitely not hot. Ugh, Lester. I put him off and went on my way. THEN, later that night he comes down into my room and says, "So, do you like really (or as he says it, weally) good looking guys? Because I have this friend who's 22 and a lifeguard. He's not really smart, but he is very good looking." Are you kidding me??? UGH...just leave me alone. When I'm that desperate, Lester, you'll be the first to know...actually, you'll probably be the last, Sorry!
GOOOOOOOOOOO NATS!!!!
I went to a Washington Nationals baseball game last night. It was so much fun! Mike, one of my fellow Interns from 2005 is working on The Hill too. He had an extra ticket, so he invited me to come along. I love going to baseball games. We lost, 9 to 6 against the Marlins, but we made a big rally in the 7th inning to tie the game. Riding home on the metro last night was like walking into another world. First we sat on the same end of the train with about 8 hoodlum kids all around the age of 13. They spoke of "rumbles" and "trouble." I was never worried but they were so annoying! They kept running up and down the train yelling at one another. And they all had these weird carnival stuffed animals...very strange. Then, at one stop a guy and a girl run onto the train, as if chasing one another. The guy taps her and says, "you're it!" Then runs off the train. And then, this cute little Asian girl gets on the metro and starts talking to anyone around her announcing, "I'm a little drunk, we just went to happy hour." I'm thinking, this girl is doing EVERYTHING wrong! Not in a million years would I tell strangers on a train that I was wasted, especially if I was by myself! I'm pretty beat today, but don't worry...my good friend Johnny Starbuck always seems to pull through in the klutch.
I can't wait for the weekend! Sleeping in, running by the lake (there's a lake by my house), and staying in my pjs all day. Weekends are great refreshers. Lisa invited me to a picnic on Sunday. I'm gonna go, but otherwise I have no weekend plans. I'm gonna go "get lost" in Germantown and see what I can find. I also need to wash my car...it's pretty filthy from the 24 hour plus trip from New Mexico. It should be a relaxing weekend, and I can't wait!
Just Another Day in Paradise
Okay, so yesterday I found my car the very first time. I've found a few parking spaces that are always free, so I've been parking in the same spots everyday...that seems to help in the car search. After work yesterday I laced up my running shoes and went for a run on the Mall...that's right, I said the Mall. It was so nice...what an entirely different running experience. I ran all the way to the Washington Memorial and back. I don't know how far that is...I'm thinking about 3.5 miles. It was a beautiful afternoon with little humidity. Running back to the Capitol was so spectacular! It truly is such an amazing building. I still have to pinch myself every morning when I walk in. I plan on Mall running as often as I can squeeze it in.
I'm on my way home from work, my mouth had been watering for the entire commute thinking about the Chick-fil-A I would get in Germantown. So I'm in the drive thru, programming the radio stations in my car stereo. I'm totally not paying attention and completely MISS the speaker to order. So I had to wait in line, then drive back through the drive thru again and wait some more. How embarrassing! I'm finding my New Mexico license plate come in handy more and more everyday.
Today it's raining in the city. I finally figured out what those "wet umbrella" bags were for at the door to the office building. I'm just glad I had an umbrella to put in the bags! I'm not really used to carrying around such an item. It's beautiful though...all gloomy and grey. I just wish I was at home with Roxanne and not here at work. Speaking of Roxanne...we got lots of snuggle time last night. She must be finally comfortable with our new place. She makes this place and my loneliness so much more manageable. Okay, now I'm just rambling. Until tomorrow...
On the Road Again
I have been grappling for days about what I wanted to say on this, my second post. My life has been officially picked up, flipped over and shaken. I no longer live within the confines of my comfort zone, but miles away from anything even remotely familiar. What a crazy week it has been for me! This time last week Aspen and I were pulling out of our driveway to make the longest trip of our lives...over 1,600 miles to Washington, DC. We made the trip just fine (even Roxanne did such a great job handling the drive!) The only hitch we had was when I hit a huge tire in the road on the Interstate…talk about a freak out!! Luckily we were fine and the car was fine, so no harm no foul.
Once we made it to Maryland, we stayed the first few nights with Lisa, Aspen's friend who has a daughter with WS, then crashed at my new pad. I love my new place by the way, it’s huge and I have my own bathroom, and a fireplace and a little courtyard out back where I can smoke cigarettes…well, if I smoked cigarettes that is. (Thanks for all the apartment hunting, Lisa.) I really dig it, but it’s quite a ways from work…like an hour and a half from work. But I am slowly adjusting to driving in the big city…those of you who know me know that my driving skills leave much to be desired. My biggest issue at this point has been the parking garages! For two days in a row now I’ve wandered the garages looking for my car. I’ll get this overwhelming feeling that my car has been stolen…when in actuality I’m just the idiot who can’t find her car. And yesterday I learned there are two car garages…yes two…I viewed them both looking for my car, lovely places, lovely places. I’ll get the hang of all this stuff soon, I’m sure of it.
Aspen left me on Monday and what a shock that was. I’ve never felt so empty and alone in my whole life. It was official…I’m here…alone…left by myself to figure out parking garages and such. I’m so glad she got to come out here and see “my stuff.” She knows and understands the trials of morning traffic, metro herding, and even jalapeno bagels from the Au Bon Pain. I feel like she has experienced what I do on a daily basis and that’s comforting for me. I only wish I could have taken her to a hundred more places…it’s very hard to narrow down what’s most important in this city. But we did enough so that she got some good ole blisters on her feet, and that’s what’s important.
Work…work is going okay. I’m having a hard time finding my groove here again. Yesterday I ate lunch by myself, sigh. It was really no big deal; I just hope I don’t have to do it very much. I have a very slow-to-warm personality…meaning, it takes me a while to get involved in a group and feel comfortable doing it. However, I was invited to a party this weekend…hmmm, can you say awkward social scene??? I have yet to decide if I’m gonna go. I won’t really know anyone and I won’t have an anchor person (which is huge for me). Yesterday I experienced my first “Net Meeting.” Wow are those freaky! It looked like ghosts had invaded my computer…like someone was looking through all my dirty laundry right in front of me! Like I wasn’t even there at all! Jessica popped up with a new IM that said, “What’s up hooker?” And I had no control over my screen to tell her to go away. The guy working on my computer just closed it out. *blushing, turning red…oops, sorry computer guys. Luckily they fixed my computer, but it was very strange to see. Like I said, all my woes will soon be eased…I hope. All this just takes time, right?
I’ll keep you guys posted on my city growing pains…thanks for being so patient for my next post. Now I need to figure out how to put pictures on this thing.
