Dumpster Diving

I found this bookcase in the trash room this week.  I took out a couple of nails, straighten the back, hammered said nails back in and wiped it down.  Good as new!  Better than new because it was free!

Hiking in Rock Creek Park

The weather was beautiful Saturday morning for our hike/picnic. Okay, I turned it into more of a nature walk along the river but the weather was perfect. Low 80s. I remember to bring my camera. And now for the picture that you have all been waiting for...So pretty! Makes me want to go camping. What? That wasn't the picture that you wanted to see? Silly me.

Someday I'm going to take beautiful pictures like my cousin A*. All I can say is that if practice makes perfect Steve was patient enough to let me.


Getting better but still not satisfied.

Finally I made Steve hold the camera in hopes that we would get a better picture.

We did.

Another excuse for not taking pictures...

Friday, I had my second date with Steve. Second date, part one. One of Steve's friends is hosting Indiana Jones movie nights to build up to the release of the fourth movie. I carefully packed my camera, since there has been such demand for proof on my blog. I had such a fun time watching Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark, that I completely forgot that it was in my purse. Honestly.

The good news is that I have another shot at taking pictures of Steve.... with Steve on our hiking date this Saturday. Somebody call me to remind me to take my camera. Better yet, email me. I always forget to turn my phone on.

The moral of the story is... go to college!

One of my favorite things to do in DC Sunday afternoon is to spend time with my cousins.  Aunt L* has consistently offered me nutritious balanced meals.  This is a rare treat...  Uncle A* gives great book recommendations.  In return I have teased S*, P* and J*, beaten R* at as many card games as I could, and given A* and S* a million reasons to go to college.  Reasons that the school councilor never tells you.  Mr. Cook never advised me that you could have ice cream for breakfast at college.  I am so grateful for the time that I have spent with my family!  

P.S. Sunday afternoons are a complete party when A* and T* with their kids M* and H* come over too!  Okay, to be perfectly honest A* wins more than I like... I try to be mature about it but it's hard.

What the...?

After living with Grandma C* I thought that I had been served every combination of celery known to man.  So I was shocked and horrified to find celery pop on the shelves of my local grocery store.  This is just another sad example of scientists going to far without thinking of the ethical implications of their work.  

Things I swore to never do...

You read the program correctly, I went to a Sushi tasting last night.  Before you drop away in a dead faint, I can explain...  His name is Steve and he's cute enough for me to lose all my hard won principles.  

National Geographic hosted the Sushi night.  We started the night with a lecture on the history and common ingredients of sushi.  Fascinating!  We then moved to the banquet hall for tasting. No matter how good the lecture was, the sushi was still gross.  I ate more than one bite but alas it was a hopeless cause.   Raw fish is gross, especially when it is served with different plants that we were informed have "slight antimicrobial effect and aid in digestion."

I must admit that we left the event without tasting everything.  The sake was really good...  just kidding Mom!  We spent almost two hours walking and talking.  We ending the night with milkshakes and french fries.  Multiculturalism at its best.

These pictures were taken after the fact, as I forgot to bring my camera with me.  The bracelet proves that I was at the event.  Steve volunteered to act as my witness, that I took multiple bites of sushi when you all refuse to believe me.