Month 2

I have made it through month two and it went faster than the first one! Things are still going very well here in MD. Nothing much has changed since the last month. I am getting more familiar with the area and doing more things. I have learned a lot about myself. About how to keep myself occupied to not get homesick. I realized that I really like running and the running club has turned out to be great for me! Work is still going well, it's been slow lately but I'm sure it will pick up soon enough.

Top things from this month
1) Mom visited
2) Went to NC
3) Ran my first race of the year
4) .....I don't know what else.

March is going to be long. I am going home in APRIL and I wish it was now! I really need to find things to keep me busy this month or it will drag on. Hopefully the weather on the weekends will be nice, I have a lot of things left to see downtown. There are some big museums I still want to get to. But otherwise...not much. I am running an 8K the 18th but that is awhile away.

Well I'm going to keep this short tonight, got tv to watch!

Snow photos

Here are all the pictures and for some reason I can't take a straight photo. They didn't have the "WOW" factor I was looking for, but oh well.

The stream by my place

The White House

The Capital

Washington Monument

WWII Memorial with Lincoln in the background

Jefferson Memorial

John Deere tractor in DC!?!?

Washington Monument again

Lincoln Memorial again

Neat pathway

Pretty snow!

This morning I woke up to big snow flakes falling from the sky. I love snow and have missed it since I've been gone. Here we don't get snow, we get ice and sleet...lots of sleet. I figured the big snow flakes would only last an hour and be done. But to my surprise they lasted a lot longer. I decided to head down to the National Mall to take pictures. I was going to take my big camera but the battery was dead! Thank goodness I wasn't back home on a hot storm chase. So I grabbed my point and shoot and figured it would have to do. I put on my boots, layered up, and headed out.

I got there and it was awesome! The snow was sticking to everything and there was no wind to mess it up. I was pretty amazed and it was probably one of the cooler things I've seen in my life. I walked all around the Mall and was getting pretty tired. At this point I wasn't cold or anything, my clothing was doing well. I managed to get pictures of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, the Capital, the Jefferson Memorial and the White House. I really didn't want to head over to the White house, it involved more walking and metro-ing. But I talked myself into it. Somewhere between getting on the metro and off of it my boots decided to open up or something. I have no clue why but all of a sudden my feet were soaked! I still started walking to the White house and each step got worse. Then it started raining!!! Seriously?! I am a meteorologist and I have yet to learn why it goes from snow to sleet to rain? At home it is the opposite. My fun day was over then, I got to the White house, got my two stupid pictures and headed back. I stopped at CVS along the way to get a pop and that helped.

But all in all it was pretty cool. Who knows if I'll ever see the National Mall like that again but I'm glad I got down there. As for the pictures, since I don't have a digital camera yet I have to go one hour them. Which I could go drop them off, workout, get them. But that walk was a good enough workout in itself. Anyway, I'll get the pictures up soon enough!

Happy Saturday

So its Saturday and Saturdays are usually my long run days and it was...7 miles! I have never ran 7 miles in my life. It was an hour and 20 mins of fun (sure)! I am rather tired right now and will continue to be for awhile. But it was worth it. I ran on the Capital Crescent Trail again and it seemed like it was runner day or something. Anyway, it was a good run.

This morning I went out and finally bought a computer desk. I spent most of the afternoon putting it together. Now the challenge is just finding where it fits in my room. One wall is all windows, the other wall is closets so that leaves me about 2 walls left. I'll think of something. I'm just happy to not be sitting on the floor.

I am coming home in APRIL! I am pumped. I will fly in late April 11th and stay until April 15th. I can't believe that will be almost 3 1/2 months since I've been home. By that time I was all ready moved back to Lincoln from OKC for that adventure. I thought about going home early March but I had a week long computer class to take. That got canceled. But then I found out that someone very important will be in Omaha April 12th....KENNY CHESNEY! I don't even need to explain this one. I actually wasn't going to go to his concert this year since I went last year but he is having Pat Green open for him! Pat is my 2nd favorite to Kenny. No one really knows who Pat Green is and that is ok. I like it that way. I saw Kenny way back when he was just starting, he opened for Tim McGraw. So I am seeing my two favorites in one concert!

I'll probably be one of the few that know all Pat Green's songs while the rest of the Qwest center will be waiting for Kenny. Sugarland is also playing and they are pretty good too. Tickets go on sale March 3rd and I have to be quick on the trigger. I don't have much luck with ticketmaster and getting tickets (volleygate...Tigh knows). I will have Nikki trying to get tickets also. Last year they sold out in 6 mins!

I'm not gonna start a countdown for home just yet. It's too many days away yet. I hope March goes fast!

And I'm back...

So it's been a long time since I've blogged, I'm happy to say I've been busy!

I think I'll do a mini blog inside this entry about what I've been up to...

Thursday: My mom arrived!! It was really really good to see her. Her plane was a bit late due to the weather from the previous days, but it wasn't too late. We went to eat at Rock Bottom (my favorite) and then came back. I don't think I got to bed till almost midnight, which is late for me. But thats ok.

Friday: Get up, go to work, leave early. We then went to get the rental car, which we soon found out the WHOLE back left side lights were burnt out! So back to the rental place...this put us an hour behind and I was really itching to get on the road. We finally left and headed down the road. On the way there we went though a stretch of interstate where the trees were just covered completely in ice! (see picture) We arrived in Asheville about 8:30, just in time to see Paige before she went to bed...she is such an entertainer (more later)! I went to bed at about 10:30 while Mom and Kris talked till 2am, too bad for Kris, Paige was up at 6am the next day!

Saturday: We kind of bummed around a bit. Mom and I went to Kmart and bought some things. Then we hit up the shoe store. I got to watch Paige for about an hour or so and that was fun. I got my haircut Saturday and it feels good to have it chopped off (she took a little too much off to my liking), but it will grow back. Saturday night I went downtown Asheville with Kris and Lyn for their friends birthday. That was a good time, I sadly have not been out for awhile so it was nice staying out and having drinks!

Sunday: Race day! My brother and I ran the Frostbite 5K and it was fun! I never thought that I would of ran a race with Kris. He ran CC in high school and was good, I did not. He did track, I did not. He was the athlete, I was not. But now I am. It's a good feeling! That night we just hung around their house and it was nice and relaxing.

Monday: We had to take the rental car to the Ford dealer cause on the way down my mom dropped her ring down the seat. Luckily they found it! Then we went to a toy store and bought Paige a table. The rest of the afternoon we hung around again and played with Paige. We left that afternoon and it was sad. I know they are only 8 hours away and I wish I had a decent car to get there! On the way back we drove past Bristol speedway...it was kind of exciting, probably more exciting if I was a nascar nut! We drove halfway and stayed in a little town called Radford kind of next to Vir Tech.

Tuesday: The rest of the drive, we drove through a kick butt mountain range and through Shenandoah Park, it was awesome! I am pretty sure I"ll be back as soon as it warms up. It is only about an hour from DC and not busy! They also have huge caves there and we didn't stop. But I'll be hitting those up.


So now I'm back home, its been a rough day, I've been kind of homesick cause my mom left. But it will be ok and I'll get back into the swing of things. I think this blog is long enough and I'll type more tomorrow...but first...a couple of things Paige says that is just cute!
1) She puts her little cowboy hat and when she takes it off she says "Yee haw!"
2) Me: Can you say Go
Paige: Go
Me: Can you say Big
Paige: Big
Me: Can you say Red
Paige: Red
Me: Can you say Go big red
Paige : Go big
(she'll be ready by fall!)
3) I wuv u
4) Nooooooooo (when she really means yes after you ask her something)


Any, this blog is really long and I'm gonna put some pics at the bottom, prob more tomorrow!


Night

ice storm

Paige and I

Paige

Post race!

Yippy, Valentine's Day

I know I shouldn't be such a downer but I think maybe someday when I have a "sweetheart" for Valentine's Day I will be more excited. The past two boyfriends I had, well the 1st dumped me two weeks before the big day. And when I was dating Andy I was in OKC. So what fun those were.

Anyway, this leads me to my big Valentine's Day talk and relationships. I have been single for some time now and it really doesn't bother me. Someday I think I would like to find a boyfriend and I'm not opposed to the idea. But I feel like you don't need someone else to make you a whole person. I feel that some of my friends are just waiting for me to get married cause it's what makes you a person and the next thing to do. Well I am not like that. I'm not getting married or forcing myself to love someone cause its the "next step". See my blog down below, I take the long way around, I don't take the road more traveled. And this includes relationships and marriage. I look at some peoples relationships and think "why?" Why do you subject yourself to be in such a horrible relationship just to have someone? So all in all, I am happy with me, I am happy with doing things on my own and with my friends. Yes, it would be nice to have that someone around but I'm not desperate.

And as of now...not too many prospects. Last spring/summer I had a blind date and a couple other dates and they just didn't happen. I have people here trying to set me up with guys and thats ok with me. I would like more friends and if something else happens, great.


So anyway, now the fun part. We got off of work at 2pm yesterday due to the ice storm. That was fun. It's always fun leaving work early. Last night it proceeded to snow/sleet/ice/all of the above. This morning we had a two hour late start. I have to say last night was soooo quiet around here. My townhome faces a busy interstate and last night it was quiet, completely. It was so nice. Anyway, I usually get in at 7:15 or it would of been 9:15. I decided to get up an hour later cause I had to clean my car off and drive to work. Well to my surprise it didn't take long at all to clear the car off. It was fairly warm outside so that was good. I ventured out and I had to plow through 4 inches of sleet cause my parking lot wasn't cleaned yet. I get to the beltway and I started laughing. First of all....NO ONE was on there, and if they were they were all over the road. There was no such thing as lanes this morning. I have to admit it was pretty crappy snow removal for a city of this size but it is a big place. On my way there I saw a truck spin out cause he thought he could drive fast cause he had a truck. Then there are the cars that drive so slow they are as much a hazard as fast drivers.

I finally got to Georgia Ave and that was like Lincoln side roads! It was a mess. But people moved pretty well. I got to work and there was an abundance of parking. I also was there at 8:30! So much for getting in later, it only took me 10 more mins on the road cause there was no one on it. About 5 people showed up at my work out of 12. It was the same for the other side of the hall. Anyway, the drive home was much better and it should be even better tomorrow. I don't know why but I like driving in that stuff as long as I am in control and no one is around me. I used to scream my head off as a kid...my dad would think it was funny to act like he was going to drive up snow piles in parking lots and my brother would just laugh his head off. I would be in tears!!! I think I was also afraid of bad weather when I was a kid.....yeah.

Tonight includes nothing and nothing. I ran all ready (4.5 miles) and now I"ll watch tv and do laundry.

Pondering thoughts:
*Why do people yell on Wheel of Fortune? Hello......you are wearing a microphone! "I WANT TO SOLVE THE PUZZLE!"
*Why do people use a big incline on the treadmill but then grab the back of the front part to hold on? I mean if you can't walk it I don't think it's helping by holding on.
*Wow, this is a long blog



Hours till mom arrives: 23 HOURS!!!!!

Snow storm...CODE RED...stock up on bread, milk, and toilet paper!!

Ok, well we are supposed to get a snow/ice storm tomorrow. The place is going nuts. But thats fine, everyone will get in their tissy and get over it. But on my part, I think it might be somewhat bad.

I have a couple things I want to write about but can't seem to formulate my thoughts. It might be because I am watching tv at the same time and I'm tired. Briefly, I have been having little pitty parties lately and that needs to stop. Also, my thoughts on Valentine's day and the whole "relationship" thing. I'll save that for Valentine's day.

Only 2 days till mom arrives! (I don't count today or Thursday)

Slow Saturday

After a whirlwind week its the weekend...most people would be excited, but for me its not that way. Today was pretty boring. I would like to get out and do things but its just annoyingly cold to have to walk to metro stations and such. So what do I do on a Saturday....go and run my butt off outside. (I know I just said it was too cold).

I decided to head to downtown Bethesda and get on the Capital Crescent trail, the one I ran a couple weekends ago. The first half mile was cold! It was mostly the wind hitting me in the face and I really thought about turning around. But usually after the first mile I'm ready to go so I talked myself into continuing at least a half more. Well my "half more" turned into 6.5 miles! I have not run this far since the 10K back in Sept. I haven't really pushed myself this year and this time I did, I was tired when I got done and I wanted to quit at 6 but I didn't. I really like this trail, I ran all the way into DC (just the border). But once I got there I was running along the Potomac river and saw some insane houses! I can't even imagine the price tag on those babies. On the other side of those houses/Potomac was the GW parkway, which is the road I take to the airport. I was happy I could identify that.

I need a bike. Why you ask? Cause I want one. Ok just kidding, I want one because there is SO much to see and I can only see very little on my feet! I found myself wanting to go further when I was running cause I had never been that far on the trail before but I had to get back. I think once it gets nicer here I might try to rent a bike for the day. I should just buy one but my funds are at zippo right now! Hopefully after this month I"ll be a little better prepared with money and know where it's going. I still haven't got a digital camera. I also want a mini portable grill and a futon. I'm greedy. :)

Well tonights plans consist of nothing. I really should go out and buy The Office season 2 on DVD but I can't (refer to the previous paragraph).

If anyone cares here is the route I ran...
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=699431


Days till mom arrives: 4 days!

The bossman is in town

This week has been crazy busy. It all started Tuesday when my boss arrived from New Hampshire. I was at work for 10 hours Tuesday and then ran around the track 14 times that night. Wednesday and today were more of the same thing, minus the running, which is really throwing me off routine. Yesterday consisted of a whole day meeting. The only nice thing was eating w/my boss and two other co-workers after. We went to Capitol city brewery which is right across the street from Union station. It was pretty cool, I haven't been downtown since Melissa was here and it was nice going there and seeing the Capitol building and the Washington monument on the way in.

My boss and other co-worker asked if I was adjusting to DC. And I'd have to say yes, the first two weeks were nuts. Just crazy and I wasn't used to it, but now it's going pretty well. I like my job and I spent most of yesterday wondering how I got so lucky to be working at NOAA with all these smart people. They are doing some pretty great stuff with GIS and it's such a good thing for me to get involved with. I will have to say...I'll be happy when the bossman goes home tomorrow.

So I have signed up for two upcoming races. I am doing an 8K the day after St. Pat's day in downtown DC (a 5 miler), I am trying to talk my lunch buddies into running it but I don't think that is working well. I am also doing a 5K in Asheville next Sunday. I'm pretty pumped about that. I get two new, out of state, tshirts!!! Also, running the race in Asheville will be cool because my brother might run it. He was always the athlete in the family and here I am finally to a level where I can run a race with him. Also in the past I felt that maybe him and I didn't have much in common, with the age difference and living further away and stuff. But now it's pretty cool I can talk running with him and occasionally biking. He's the first person I call after all my races...even if I get last. :)

Only one more week till mom arrives! Next week at this time she will be here and I'll be packing to hit the road!


One more day of bossman......


Days till mom arrives and I get out of the city: 6 days!

Brrrrrrr....

Ok ok, I know I should not complain about the weather and being cold but it's cold here! I know everyone back home has had many more days of this than I have in DC. Right now the temp is about the same and it's not that fun. I think the wussy people here have rubbed off on me. Tomorrow will be another cold day but then should be better after that.

This weekend was fun. Turns out I have a cousin out here, he is about 40ish and has a family, he has been here for about 10 years now. He was nice enough to invite me over to eat with his family on Sunday. That was nice, even though they are strangers they are still family and we still have something in common. On Saturday night I ate with Wes and Gwen and Gwen's friends for her birthday. We went to Tara Thai, I have never had thai food before and it was pretty good. There were FOUR other Midwesterners there so that was cool. That leads me to another story.

Today at work there were some really really loud annoying guys behind me. Now these guys recap about their weekends every Monday for a good 45 mins. It includes complaining about everything and mostly their wives. Today one guy felt it was appropriate to make annoying noises also. So after the 5th stupid noise I got up and was ready to shoot them the "the shut the hell up!" eye. I walked over there but the cubical wall blocked me. However, on the way there this one cube had a Nebraska remote sensing map, just like the one in my old apt back home! I stopped in there, turns out the guy is from Nebraska, he is 35ish and went to UNL. He brother worked at CALMIT(before my time) where I used to work. This guy actually had Husker stuff up! He had pictures of his kids in Husker outfits, it was awesome!!!!! I'll be talking sports with him...hmmmm...wonder if he like baseball. The first game is the 16th!!!

In other news, running is going well. Turns out I like running outside when temps are around 30ish, its not that bad. Slap on a hat and gloves and go. I ran around my neighborhood the other day and that was nice. I think I can find a route by summer.

This week will be busy. The real boss is here tomorrow and Wednesday and Thursday and half day Friday!!! It's going to be pedal to the metal the whole time. Late days and long meetings. But oh well, I"m hoping it makes the week go faster!

Well thats all for now.....


Days till mom arrives: 9 days!

I am unbanned from UNL parking!!!!

Tomorrow I will be unbanned from parking at UNL!!! A lot of good that does me now. Most of you know the story but let me refresh your memory.

I had the bright idea to alter my UNL parking permit. This was done because I was sick of forking over money to these people and I only had one class on city campus anyway. The permits are windshield hang tags and on the bottom was DEC MAY AUG. Then parking services would hole punch when yours expired. Mine was DEC cause I only paid one semester. I had the bright idea to punch out MAY and put that shad into the DEC hole. I thought I had done this rather successfully and was pretty proud of myself. I should of known not to do this, I never get away with anything anyway.

I had made it through the month of January no problems...I was so pumped I had beat the UNL parking jerks!! But then one Friday I was walking to my car from class and I saw an annoying UNL parking car parked behind mine. I started thinking to myself, they better move I have work to go to. But then as I approached lumi I saw a ticket on her...that is when fear rushed to my head. I took the ticket off my car "$200 fee...altered permit"....and words flew out of my mouth!! To my luck, the parking guy was still there. He told me I was lucky to show up or my car was about to be towed. At that point another parking guy showed up, then the tow truck. They waived the towing but they told me I had to pay $200 right then. I spent my Christmas vacation working extra hours at AFWA and it all went down the crapper right there. I had to pay then, of course I was not happy and being a smart mouth and asked if I could put it on my NCARD, since that rules the university and you can use it all over. But not this time.

So I proceed to be not so nice to the parking guy and he finally processes my fee. I think I am done here and I can go to work. NOPE! He then tells me I am banned from parking on campus for a year!! I think I just about burst out laughing when he told me this. Then he told me I had to go to the office to sign a paper. It gets better. He takes my drivers license from me just in case I take off and try to escape AND THEN the two parking guys escort me to the parking garage...one in front, one behind. All I have to say is thank goodness Jamie did not walk by during this, he parked in the same lot! I get to the office and I can see the parking dude showing my altered hang tag to all his little UNL parking buddies and laughing...jerks.

Needless to say, I found places to park on the street the rest of the semester and had to park in the garage the last semester there. Whatever...I am FREE!!! But like I said, it really doesn't matter now.