Long weekend in our nation's capital

Got back yesterday from a visit to DC to catch up with friends. We had a great time, even though the 90 degree heat was a bit more than we were expecting.

We were able to visit some of my favorite old haunts in DC (namely Zoo Bar) and check out my former town, Bethesda. We had a lovely time with our wonderful hosts and enjoyed lots of good food and drink.

I was happy to see all my old friends and I'm already looking forward to our next visit. (But it probably won't be until after the summer due to the crazy DC heat!)

Dolly's Beach Day

I was able to enjoy the beautiful weather today and so was Dolly. I took her to the beach for a little walk.

It was tough to get a good picture since I didn't let her off her leash and Dolly usually turns her head whenever someone tries to take her picture. But I had to share these anyways, even though they're not great.

I'll try for some clearer shots on our next beach visit.

My First Marathon Monday

I spent a good three hours watching the Boston Marathon on Monday when I should have been working on final projects. But I definitely made the right decision.

The route goes right by my apartment, so it was awesome to just walk out of my building and start clapping and shouting and shooting away with my new toy: a Nikon D60 camera. (Thanks, Rick!)

It was so much fun to feel like I was a part of this important tradition and so inspiring to watch some of the runners. It's easy to see how some people get hooked on marathons after experiencing the friendly and festive atmosphere of Monday.

This is the lead women's pack at mile 24 or so. American Kara Goucher was in the lead when she passed us, but she fell to third in the last few minutes of the race.


Here's American Ryan Hall, who also got third. I love how their feet aren't touching the ground here!


A double-amputee with his Marathon guide drumming up support and cheers--as if it was even necessary. Pretty amazing.


Another inspiring shot from a great day.

Baby animals!

Scenes from the zoo - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Posted using ShareThis

There was a great slide show of animals from zoos all over the world on one of the Globe's blogs today. I may be a little biased towards animals since I did work at a zoo, but the photos are too good not to share!

Happy Crocs Day!

I had a delightful birthday today, even though I spent most of it doing work. The sun was out, I received many wonderful b'day wishes (and a few serenades!), and I wore my ballet slipper Crocs for the first time this season.

These sweet silver babies were a b'day gift last year.

I resisted the Crocs phenomenon for a long time, but they're just soooo comfortable. And I think the ballet slipper Crocs are very cute. (Another find by Rick - nice work!)

If you've been anti-Crocs because you think they are silly-looking, I would suggest taking a pair for a test walk...

flickr photo

Just for fun

A little Dolly portrait -- too funny/weird not to post.

In case you were wondering

I have not been glued to my computer since Easter. I actually do think I am cured of my celebrity gossip Web sites addiction.

I have checked my favorite sites, but haven't gone overboard. I've learned to live without checking them obsessively.

In a strange coincidence, two of the sites dramatically changed their Web site layouts in my absence. Maybe they did it to lure my back. If so, it didn't work-- I liked the old versions better.

The End is Near...

With Easter less than 48 hours away, I am so very close to the end of my Lenten sacrifice. This means I could spend all of Sunday checking every celebrity gossip Web site that exists if I really felt like it.

But the truth is, I haven't missed the gossip sites that much -- not since the first week anyways. And I've found better things to do with my time, like updating this delightful blog.

So I don't think I have completely gotten over my celeb gossip habit, but this Lent has certainly helped me get it under control! Hopefully these past 40 days have helped me re-grow some brain cells I lost after all that time I used to spend looking at Perez Hilton...

We women like to read, too...

I bought Esquire magazine today. This is a magazine with the tagline: "Man at His Best." Yes, I paid $3.99 for a men's magazine, but there are a few reasons why.

First, Ben Affleck is on the cover and I have a biased love for Ben. He is a talented director (ok, maybe not the best actor) and seems like a cool, normal guy. (Related note: I also love Jennifer Garner.)

Second, there is a long profile on Jonathan Papelbon in the same issue. You know, the profile where he calls Manny a "cancer."

But the main reason I bought Esquire is because I know it has great writing in it. And it's not the only men's magazine with strong writing in it -- GQ, Outside, and even Playboy actually have well done articles in them. Compared with the same recycled diet/sex/beauty articles in Cosmo, Self, Marie Claire, etc., articles in men's magazines look like Pulitzer Prize-winning material.

Not to say that the men's magazines don't have the occasional crap in them, but give us women some articles we can sink our teeth into!

Another Musical Rave/Bargain of the Week

If you like good music, you should subscribe to this NPR podcast. The podcast is "Live Concerts from All Songs Considered" and it's awesome!

Free live concerts (in entirety) from artists like Ben Gibbard, Radiohead and The Swell Season (Bethany and Brian, you guys need to download this one!). Sounds too good to be true, but it's not.

The best find of the week! (Thanks, Rick.)

Sharing Musical Love

This morning, one of the first things I saw when I turned on the TV was Matt Nathanson's "Come On Get Higher" video. A few hours later, I heard it as soon as I turned on the radio.

Probably just a coincidence or Top 40 overplay, but it made me stop and think about my love for Matt Nathanson, a Mass native. I've seen him in concert at least six times and he is awesome live. In my opinion, one of the best live performers around.

His latest album, Some Mad Hope, has been his most commercially successful and he definitely deserves it.

I highly recommend anything by the man! Check him out and support a talented, quality musician.

flickr photo - Although I do have a picture of me and Matt after I met him my freshman year, but that was long before I owned a digital camera...

I suddenly want to go to dance camp in upstate NY...

I spent this afternoon dancing and clapping with hundreds of older women. That's right -- I saw a matinee of Dirty Dancing live onstage!

And like I really need to say this, but it was SOOO good! I went with my mom, one of my besties and her mom. It was the perfect mother-daughter activity.

Growing up, I saw the movie a few times, but was never fanatical about it. So it's great that the musical is for everyone -- not just die-hard fans. It was very well done and so entertaining.

The show is leaving Boston next week and continuing on its worldwide tour. It's already been a hit in Australia and England and I know it will continue to be one here. Especially if the actor who plays Johnny keeps taking his shirt off in all those scenes...

image from Flickr (that was for you, Steph)

Globe article on illegal parking

Illegal parking by Hub police unabated - The Boston Globe

Posted using ShareThis

The follow-up story on illegal parking at BPD headquarters that my classmates and I worked on is on page one of the Globe today!

It's exciting to see it published and also kind of weird to read all of the online comments people submit. There are a lot of folks out there who just want to give their two cents about everything...