Summer & Fall

All rolled into one! This summer I:

• drove my Grandpa's car to his lake house all by my onesie-stopped once! Maryland to Alton Bay, NH in 9.5 hours, yes I DID, thank you.
• Hit up NYC! with friends-can you say Max Brenner's (chocolate chocolate chocolate), biking central park, MoMA (Starry Starry Night!!), Newsies on Broadway, The Strand bookstore, 9/11 memorial. SO. MUCH. FUN.
• Enjoyed getting to know my coworkers and organization better since starting work with an educational non-profit in late April, especially at the National Conference in mid-July
• Ate bacon sundaes with my visiting teachers!
• Listened to my Grandma speak in Sacrament Meeting about her conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was her first talk since her baptism last year.
• Visited Erin in beautiful Norfolk, VA {who is having her baby right NOW!}
• went to pool parties
• celebrated with friends @ birthday dinners
• went to grad school orientation [eek!]
• flew back to NH to get the car with Rachel and went to a NEW COUNTRY where I got to practice French, eat delicious food, watch part of a French Film Festival, attend church in FRENCH, and see the Montreal Quebec Temple!
• spent lots of time on the National Mall (hello! world famous museums 25 minutes from my HOUSE!) and visited the White House for the 1st time.

This fall I will:

• Work full-time
• Attepmt to pass my 1st semester of grad school
• Continue being really excited and really impatient for Christmas {the Countdown to Christmas page that I "liked" on Facebook isn't helping btw}

So if you don't hear from me until December 18th, I'm either at work, or in my room, drowning under books entitled: American National Security, Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Major Problems in American Foreign Relations. Send a search party at your own risk. In fact, I should be organizing my semester and studying right now. So until Christmas, adieu. Ne vom revedea...someday...

Derecho

That's what the weatherman calls it. I call it Wizard of Oz on steroids. But whatever it was, Bronwen and I didn't know it was happening. We were just partying it up, jamming the night away at an LDS Singles Dance. 

It was the 12th "Are you OK?" text message that tipped me off. Hundreds of downed trees and dark neighborhoods later, we finally got back to our powerless house, whereupon I realized I'm still not prepared for an emergency. But I did find my matches and candles!! I propose the following when you have a friend in town and the power goes out:

Take pictures of storm damage

Poor Aunt Kay's car-don't worry, all better now

One of the reasons it took us 3 tries to get into our neighborhood

Attempt to go to the cancelled Folk Life Festival on the National Mall (darn derecho)

Instead, party it up at museums ALL DAY!

Sackler Gallery

Smithsonian

African Art Museum

Hirshhorn

Find as many interactive exhibits as possible, including the world famous masterpiece "Nap Time." K, so that's what I would name it, beds and all, in the MUSEUM. That's how to make your artwork popular!

Go to the most fabulous 2nd hand book and clothing stores in the land.

Bathroom doubled as the languages section

"What if you want the book at the bottom of the pile?"

It took a while to find. We were happy.

Go to the historic Busboys & Poets. Go see BRAVE afterwards. Have everything work out wonderfully time wise and come home to find the power restored!

Vow to be prepared for an emergency next time...hmm, we'll see.