Peapod

You know my life is brimming with excitement when I decide to devote a blog post to grocery shopping,
but I wanted to share a little story about the hells of grocery shopping without a car, while living no where near an actual grocery store.

One poignant memory from this summer sticks out: After having trudged up and down the red line metro to the nearest Giant, I emerged out of the underground tunnel toting several heavy bags. It had started sprinkling rain when I left the store, which I thought nothing of, but as I stepped out of the metro entrance I realized the skies had opened and all of the water in the Atlantic Ocean was pouring down into my neighborhood. The uphill walk to my apartment had turned into a rapid river, and people were huddled underneath bus stops and building overhangs. Annoyed and tired from lugging the bags I decided that instead of waiting it out, I would just walk the three blocks home (Note: I can be stubborn from time to time). As you may have expected I ended up drenched, my beige dress completely soaked and see-through. I looked as though someone had just pushed me into a pool fully clothed,  and my groceries were soaking wet- the cardboard cylinder containing my oatmeal had turned to mush. After that I rarely went to grocery stores, and ended up wasting money on eating out a lot more than I should have.

So you will understand my delight at discovering Peapod! It's a service run by Giant (the local grocery store) where you can shop online and have your food delivered directly to your door. It's strange scanning through page after page of pictures of food, and I firmly believe the ease of it all caused me to order way more than I needed. It was magnificent however, to select my delivery time from a timetable as I checked-out and have my food show up a day later, with no problems and no monsoons to travel through.

In a city where not everyone has a car, and grocery stores seem to be few and far between, it's a delight to know that with a click of a button (or 30) my grocery list can appear at my front door.

A little story about Hurricane Sandy, (or stupid things you do when you're young)

In case you hadn't heard, which I highly doubt, hurricane Sandy made her way up the East Coast earlier this week. Fortunately, D.C. was not hit nearly as hard as places up north and, at least in my neighborhood, the most damage that was done were broken tree branches littering the streets.  (Other areas were not so lucky, and my thoughts are with everyone still reeling from the effects of the storm).

This meant that I had two extra days off work, inside, with netflix and my stock pile of snacks to keep me company. Although I loved the ability to sleep in, and was thankful for not losing power, the restlessness kicked in pretty quickly.

Enter, a stupid decision.

Please note: I do not condone going outside in a hurricane with 55+ mph wind gusts, especially when your city is shut down in a state of emergency BUT...

My roommate and I realized we had mulling spices, a working fireplace AND Hocus Pocus streaming online. It was, despite the hurricane raging outside, shaping up to be the perfect fall evening. The downfall however, was our lack of ample red wine with which to mull. So we had a choice to make, forgo a delicious fall drink and let Sandy win, or walk the 10 blocks to the neighborhood wine shop that was still open.

Guess which one we chose.

After putting on our best 'hurricane proof' gear we headed out. From our seats in the living room the storm didn't seem as horrible as the news was making it out to be. Sure the wind was loud at times, but for the most part it seemed manageable and my roommate, who hails from Florida, was not impressed by the category 1 label Sandy was holding.

How quickly our disillusion disappeared.

Within moments of being outside we were soaked, rain was smacking into my face so hard at times I felt like I wasn't taking in any air. We quickly broke into a jog and started scanning the streets for a cab. By the time we had realized how dumb our decision was, we were already half way there.

So we soldiered on, and eventually found ourselves inside the warm wine shop as five male workers stared at our drenched clothes and offered us paper towels. At that moment I was realizing just how ridiculous, not to mention desperate, we must look. Quickly though we realized we weren't the only ones, as at least a dozen or so other people piled into the store.

Please note: I do not condone climbing into a white van with three men you don't know BUT...

There was no way we were running home again. We had learned our lesson, so my roommate started calling cab companies while I stood outside attempting to hail one down. After about 5 minutes, and zero cabs, the kind gentleman working at the store offered to give us a ride home.

So my roommate and I hopped into the back of a white creeper van with three male strangers, and headed on our way. Despite the van, the guys were great and we were thankful for the dry transportation.

In the end, we got home safely and were able to enjoy sweet mulled red wine while watching the best Halloween movie there is.

It may not have been the smartest decision, but when you're a twenty.something the best thing you can do is live and learn.


Happy November!
  

Return to Nature!

Now don't get me wrong, I have always been a city girl. I love the tall buildings, the eclectic neighborhoods, the crazy people, and the fast paced nature of it all. I'm not a country girl, and I know I would never want to live in a small town.

That being said, I love being outdoors. Oregon spoils you a bit in this regard, you're never very far from the ocean, the mountains, or the forest. Living in Corvallis, if I ever wanted to go to the ocean to clear my head I would hop in my car and 45 minutes later I was there. If I wanted to hike there were spots in town and right outside that I could get to in half an hour. D.C. is a little different, mainly because I am car-less.

My confines these last few months have been limited to the reach of the D.C. metro station, so other than some urban forest exploring in Rock Creek Park I really haven't spent much time near anything other than concrete.

That's why I was so thankful when a friend suggested we head out of town about 2 hours south to Shenandoah National Park. The drive down was pretty, dotted with small Virginia towns, apple stands, and Civil War sign posts. While I will always believe there is no better place for summer than the PNW, I have to give fall to Virginia. The colors of the trees were gorgeous yellows, reds, and oranges made all the better by the clear skies and sunshine!

I didn't realize the effect that my limited access was having on me until I got out of town. Hiking through the trees, and up waterfalls put me at instant ease. It was a beautiful day, and am definitely thankful for the time spent out of town... and friends with cars!

Here's some pics of the adventure!

Finding Center; a long awaited return!

Hello again! I have decided that my blogging hiatus has lasted long enough and it's time to make my return.... with a blog revamp to boot!

It has been a long 4&1/2 month journey from the point in which I found out I would be moving to D.C. and now, and I have to admit the road has been a bit bumpy. I feel as though my life has been placed inside a snow globe, shaken and flipped for months on end as I bounced around inside waiting for the pieces to land.

Finally, finally though the disruptions have seemed to slow and my dizziness has subsided enough to allow me a moment on my feet. An attempt to record the last two months would be both exhausting and somewhat futile, so I will skip that and merely attempt to begin from where I am now; at my new internship, in my new apartment (which I move into in about a week and a half), with new experiences.

The last few months were not the easiest of times, in fact they were probably some of the hardest. Many many times I was on the verge of throwing in the towel and heading home, but something always pulled me back and told me I had to keep trying. The week before I moved out to D.C. my grandmother told me "It's not going to be easy, you're not going to be happy all the time, but you have to stick it out... you have to give it a chance." So a chance is what I will give.

 Moving across the country has proven to be about a million times harder than I expected it to be. Fortunately enough, I have wonderful friends and family who have supported me through the toughest of it. A simple thank you here does not begin to do justice for the support I have received from everyone, but it's a start.

 What I have realized is, that amidst all this change I had lost sight of who I was. I was unhappy and letting my circumstances dictate my outlook. This can only happen for so long though and, as always, the light at the end of the tunnel appears, giving you the chance to resume the work of discovering yourself.

So once again, I toast to new beginnings. I have adopted a new perspective on this town and on my adventure, and am anxious to see what the next few months will bring.

A lesson on tardiness

I have never been a timely person. Generally I am running about 5 minutes late, no matter what. When I moved to D.C. I vowed I would be better, and for the first week I did awesome. Soon enough though my old habits started up again and the arguments between getting up or sleeping in were being won by my bed. Last Friday however, it was necessary for me to arrive at the steps of the Supreme Court at exactly 10am. I was going to have the privilege of meeting the first woman on the Supreme Court, Justice Sandra Day O' Conner. A once in a lifetime opportunity, laid at my feet, and all I had to do was show up. 

Enter ::Murphy's Law::

Once leaving my apartment, my morning took on '24' like suspense and I was Jack Bauer,"I must get to the Justice!" 

9:15 Leave my apartment

9:26 Board Red Line Metro

9:45 Exit Union Station 

9:46 Walk up the wrong road

9:50 Find the correct road, head towards Supreme Court

9:55;30 Wait for cross-walk sign

9:56:30 Cross street, pause in front of the steps to change my shoes

9:57 Enter Supreme Court Building

9:57:15 Get stopped by security and wanded because my belt sets off the metal detector

9:58 Go through the first entrance, find security guard, tell him where I need to go

9:59 Go up stair case, find another security guard start jogging behind him as he quickly heads toward a gate. 

10:00:15 Watch Sandra Day O'Conner walk down a hallway into the East Conference Room and the door shut behind her, all while standing behind a locked gate. 

10:00:20  Fight back tears as the security guard tells me he cannot take me into the room once the Justice has entered, and that I will have to wait until she finishes speaking before I am allowed to go in. 

10:00:30 Game Over. 

So that's it kids. I had the chance to sit in a room with no more than 30 people while listening to Sandra Day O'Conner speak and I missed it. If one thing had been different, if I had left my apartment one minute earlier, or I had decided I didn't need to switch from flats to heels, or I had a better sense of direction in this stupid town, one thing and I would be writing a very different blog post. But alas, my life never seems to be the story, but the lesson learned. 

In this town, you can never take a moment for granted. Never hesitate or second guess because the moment you do a large gold gate is shut on your face (literally), and you're left talking to a security guard about why he doesn't like the Beavers after they beat Maryland in the Emerald Bowl a few years back. 

I came out here to pursue my career, and hopefully get lucky enough to meet some of the most influential people in the nation. What I've learned, is that in order to make that happen 15 seconds means everything. 

( After her talk I was let in long enough to snag a pic. A few other interns, Sandra Day O'Conner, and me)

Today, just this.

Something Isa Garcia wrote for a friend going through a hard time.

More than fine.

Thanks Andrea for the link. :)

Happy Hour is the name of the game

The best thing about living in any city is the access to so many different restaurants, shops, and bars. It is never dull, and a new adventure can literally be right around the corner. Unfortunately on an intern budget, city prices can be a bit outlandish. For this reason, and this alone, I think happy hour was invented.

The concept is genius. Take regular menu items that people know and love, and make them cheaper! Then designate time right after work, when everyone is in need of a pick-me-up and bam! you have just created the best idea... on Earth.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been able to scope out some great spots around the district, and I already have a few favorites. Meeting new friends is definitely easier over a $4 drink and a delicious hummus plate!

First up:

The Mad Hatter

This place was great! The moment we walked in the bar area was packed with young people. After snagging a table outside on the patio we were able to enjoy delicious bruschetta, and pizza for $5 each. The drinks weren't great, we had frozen mango margaritas that were small for the price and melted really quickly. The food made up where the drinks dropped the ball however, and over all I would definitely go back! 

Beacon Bar

I really liked Beacon. It's about two blocks down from my office, and their specials were pretty good. They have a great sky bar which gives a view of the whole city, but the drinks are twice as much upstairs as they are downstairs. Once we headed back down, we had two hummus plates, and they were delicious! The drinks were priced well, and the different flavors of Sky cocktails (I had blood orange and passion fruit) were fun to try. 

Pizza Paradiso

This place has by far been my favorite. Once inside the restaurant it is divided into a seating area and the bar. The rule is that happy hour specials are only available at the bar, and let me tell you, it was packed! We had a group of 6 and there was no way we were going to be able to wedge ourselves in, so we awkwardly stood in the way of the staff while we tried to figure out somewhere else to go. Graciously the staff offered to seat us and told us we could still receive happy hour deals. This made us very happy, and we showed our appreciation.

The pizza here is amazing! The crust is a little different, but they have amazing toppings and the cheese is scrumptious. The best part was that they were only $10 for a large, when normally they can be between $14-$18. 

One of my qualms with D.C. is that after living in Oregon with it's many many micro breweries, I can't seem to find decent beer on tap. That's why I was so excited when I found Rogue listed among their IPA's. Normally I'm not a big IPA fan, but I was so excited about Oregon beer, that I had to do it, and it was actually pretty good. 

These are just a few of the places I've been able to visit thus far, but these have been some of my favorites. I have always been a city girl, and I am loving being able to explore with new friends and find new places to go! 

4th of July!

July 4th is one of my favorite holidays of the year. I love all of the American pride, the BBQ's, the fireworks, and the fact that it's smack dab in the middle of summer. This year I was extra excited, because I figured D.C. would be on American pride overload, and that's exactly what I got!

We started the day at the Washington Nationals baseball game. I don't know how many of you have been keeping up with your weather reports, but in case you didn't know the east coast is having some crazy stuff happen... like this heat wave. Normally I would not condone sitting in the direct sun on a 95+ degree day for several hours to watch baseball, but in the spirit of the 4th we sucked it up and did it for America!

(walking into the park)

(Lillian and I sweating out the beer we were drinking)

(Nationals vs. Giants) 

After the game I went home to take my second shower of the day (seriously, the humidity here is awful) and change. Then I met up with another intern from our office and we grabbed a drink before meeting up with Lillian at a friends BBQ. The food was delicious and we got to see a new neighborhood in D.C! 

Finally we headed to the National Mall, so we could view the fireworks that go off above the Washington Monument. We knew it would be packed and were nervous that it would take us hours to get home, so instead of going all the way into the Mall, we decided to park in front of a museum on 7th and Constitution. Close enough so we could see, without having to be right in the crowds of people. 

(fireworks and the monument)

All in all it was a great, fun, sweaty day! I'm continuing to get to know the city, and glad I get to be a part of celebrations like this. Happy Summer! 

Big Day in D.C.

Unless you live under a rock, or don't pay attention to Facebook, Twitter, Television, Newspapers, etc. you know that the Supreme Court made a ruling on the healthcare bill. Now I'm sure you have your opinions on it, just as I have mine, but I don't want to talk about them, at least not here. 

What I want to talk about is how cool it is to be living in the city where this large decision was made! I was in a meeting at work today when the boss popped his head in to say "They passed it, 5-4, Roberts was the swing vote!" Everyone in the office was running around, and live news coverage could be heard from various offices who were streaming it online. Instantly I knew I wanted to go and see all of the action! I knew the area out front would be packed with people, and secretly I wanted to see if I could get onto CNN (didn't happen). 

So when lunch time came around, Lilly and I headed out the door and took the Metro through the city to Capitol South. When we arrived we could tell we were now in a different part of the city. There were less people around than the area near our office, and it was quieter. Everyone was wearing suits, and people were talking intensely into their phones. 

Soon though we happened across the Capitol building, and stopped for a moment to take in the sight of it.

After that we crossed the street to find a ton of news crews set up, covering the action. There were the usuals... CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, and then there were also international press stations like Danish TV. 

I have only been to D.C. once before, and I have never seen the Supreme Court building. Walking up to it, it certainly lives up to it's grand title. The large columns and white marble immediately alert you to the importance of what happens behind the doors. Unfortunately by the time we got there a majority of the crowd had left. There were still some people around though, taking in the moment. 

It is days like today that make me happy to be in this city. I was literally right outside the door from something that has the potential to change our nation on a very large scale. I can't help but get the feeling that each time I ride the metro, or walk down the street, or eat at a food truck that I may possibly be standing near a Senator, or a columnist for the Washington Post, or the next Food Network Star. Everyone here is so driven, and so 'in it' I can't help but be in constant awe. 

I can't wait to see what else unfolds over the summer, and what other parts of history I will witness and have the chance to say; "I was there for that." 

First Day of Work!

(wall art on my floor at work)

I woke up early today, much earlier than I had in almost two weeks, to get up and get ready for my first day of work! The adventure began when I hopped on the subway. My route to work is pretty simple, get on the metro, wait two stops, and get off. I was confident I had this in the bag, and then the predictable happened... something went wrong.


After one stop the ENTIRE train was emptied due to "maintenance issues." This normally wouldn't be a big deal, but at peak hours the train was completely packed (like people's armpits in my face to hold onto the balance bar packed), and the next train that rolled in was just as busy. Everyone started pushing and shoving to cram into the second train, and only about half of us made it on. 


After that debacle however the ride went fairly smoothly. Sweaty and hot and uncomfortable, but smoothly. So I arrived at work and after a day of introductions, lunch, meetings, and new friends I was on cloud 9. I think I will really enjoy what I will be working on, and the people on my team seem pretty great. I share a cubicle with another intern, which is a great way to make a new friend really quickly! 



After work, my fellow intern told me about the softball team that some of the people in the office are on. I decided to come along to watch the game even though I couldn't play (pencil skirts aren't really softball attire). And what do you know? The games are held on the field directly beneath the Washington Monument.

After a fun game, the team decided to head out for a beer, and we all walked to Public Bar in Dupont. It was great to sit and talk with others working in the office, and even meet some people from the Pac-NW!

All in all I was gone for about 13 hours, and while I am exhausted I am incredibly excited to be meeting new people and exploring this new city of mine. The rest of the week is going to be just as busy, but I wouldn't want it any other way!

Here at Last!

                                         (the view from my roof of the Washington Monument)

As I write this I am sitting in my apartment on my third night in D.C. It's been great so far, getting acquainted with my neighborhood and exploring different parts of town with my Dad. I am so thankful he was able to fly out here with me, having him here is definitely making my transition easier. 

It has been a bit of a whirlwind, but I can already tell this summer is going to be jam packed with adventures!  There is so much to see and do, I need to start making a list to keep it all organized. 

Some of the highlights so far have included mapping out my route to work and seeing the building, getting my new smartphone so I can stay connected, going on a 'pub crawl' of sorts through different neighborhoods with my dad, and reuniting with one of my roommates from Australia that I haven't seen in about two years!

(Bankhead and I at the Mellow Mushroom) 

The past few days have been great, and I am so excited to start work on Monday. It's going to be a busy summer, but I can't wait! 

#CoPforLife!

Today is my last day of work at the College of Pharmacy, and after two years it is definitely a bittersweet goodbye. My roommates and I all have on campus jobs, and lately we've been talking about how these will probably be the best bosses we will ever have.

Once we join 'the real world' work will be assumed, it's what everyone does. Here though, with an on campus job, everyone makes the effort to let you know you are appreciated. The setting is a little less formal, because students are everywhere, which gives people a chance to really get to know one another.

My time spent here has been a tremendous learning experience, not just in administrative tasks, but in learning how to be a professional. I will be forever grateful for the people I have met here, and the things I have learned. It was the perfect experience to get me ready for my new adventures, and I couldn't have asked for anything better.

So thank you CoP for a wonderful two years, I will miss you greatly!

(my flowers and All-Star trophy on my last day)

Words of Wisdom

Things have been changing a lot lately, and life has gotten a little harder. It's been difficult to find the words I need, and whenever this happens I look to others for inspiration.

I have always been a person who loves quotes. They are a beautiful reminder that someone somewhere has felt the exact same way you are feeling right now, it connects the human in all of us, and reminds us we aren't alone.

So I thought I would share a few that are helping me at the moment, and maybe you could find a little help in them too.

                                                         

As you can tell most of these deal with change and moving on and growing up. My world is in the process of being flipped on its axis, and I'm just trying my best to find the center. Little reminders like these help me to realize that while one very large chapter of my life is ending, a new beginning is just over the horizon. 

One Month!

So looking at the calender it seems that right around a month from today I will be in Washington D.C! I am getting a little nervous as school is getting more frantic and I am trying to finalize details (like where I will be living).

I am so excited for this opportunity, but between me and you I'm scared out of my mind. Moving all the way across the country without knowing anyone is a little scary, and the idea of being away from family and friends makes it a little sad.

But seeing as I have spent 5 years in school and don't really feel the need to become the Van Wilder of Oregon State I guess it is time to go... so why not move to an exciting new place full of opportunities?!

Gearing up for this big adventure is going to be exciting, and I'm guessing there will be lots to come in the next month or so!

It's Friday!

It's Friday, and it could not have come soon enough! This term seems like it is moving at a glacial pace so each time the weekend rolls around it is definitely cause for celebration.

As the term is beginning to wind down, and graduation is looming over our heads it seems each weekend is begging to be packed full of fun and adventure. This weekend is no exception. With the amazing weather Corvallis has been having lately (sun in May, what a concept!) it seems BBQ season is in full force.

One of my closest friends finished up her Chemical Engineering degree at the end of last term and is getting ready to head out to North Carolina to start her new job. To say goodbye she is hosting a BBQ here in Corvallis tonight and a smaller going away gathering next weekend in Portland. It'll be sad to see her go, but lucky for us Raleigh and D.C. are only four hours away so we have plans to see each other over the summer!

After that shin-dig I will be heading over to Andrea's for her first BBQ of the summer. She just wrote a post about the work she put into getting her house ready, so you should check it out!

I won't be able to stay up too late though, tomorrow I am waking up early to catch my flight to Spokane, Washington for my cousin Hannah's graduation. It will be nice to be reunited with my family for a weekend and celebrate Hannah being done with school! I am also excited to see her commencement speaker, Desmond Tutu, who is an inspiration.

All in all it should be a great weekend full of family, friends, and celebration!

The Start of Something New

Here goes nothing!

For a while now I have played with the idea of starting a blog, but wasn't totally sure what I would write about. Now that my five years of undergrad are coming to a close and a move across the country for an internship is imminent, I figured now was as good a time as any.

I'm still not sure what exactly I want this blog to be. For now I will probably post every couple of days as exciting graduation and internship details come up. Once I get to D.C. I may make it more of a city guide. Once my internship is over... who knows? At this point with so much change being thrown my way, I feel it's best to be flexible.

What I do know is that I am a twenty.something. It is more than just a number, I believe it's a state of mind. It is the way I view the world and the way the world views me. It is a time of change and figuring out exactly who I am.

People closest to me know I am a bit of a hoarder. I like to display mementos as a reminder of everything I've done so far, so this blog will serve that purpose as well. It is tangible (kind of) and something I can look back on as I get older.

Change is hard and starting something new has me mildly completely terrified, but as much as I am nervous I am also excited. I can't wait to see what this year, and the coming years will bring and it's comforting to know that some of you will be along for the journey.

 So here's to new beginnings!