life lately | january

January felt like the start of a race without the "ready" and "set" - just the blast of the gunshot and "GO!" We enjoyed every second of our last day of adventure and easy breathing in Quito on New Year's Eve with friends - one old and a handful new. We bolted to the airport to catch our 12:30am flight, and it feels like from those long minutes of trying (and repeatedly failing) to hail a cab in Quito to make our flight on time all the way to February 1, we didn't stop running.

The pace picked up the second we landed in Atlanta on the 1st. At 6:00am, Zan and I parted ways for our 12-hour layover; I spent the day with my family, and Zan spent it with his best friends and goddaughter. It bummed us out to split up and not see the people that mean the most to each other, but we wanted to make the most of the time we had.

When we finally landed in DC on the evening of the 1st, we were both bone-tired. I cried when Zan hugged me goodbye in my apartment. The emotion of such a long, incredible trip being over got to me. But there wasn't much time for dwelling on all that. My graduate school applications were all due in the first half of the month. I had 80% of them completed before I left, but I needed to finalize essays (so many essays!), make sure my last recommendations came in, get transcripts and other materials uploaded... and then get started on finishing my fellowship applications. On top of all of that, I had my biggest month yet of freelance work. And on top of all that, Zan and I were trying to get his place ready to rent so we can move in together. (How's that for burying the lede?!)

The second my applications were completed and my freelance work was done and Zan's place was painted, I felt like we'd won January's race. We've enjoyed being in town, sleeping in later on Saturday mornings than we ever have in two years of dating, trying new restaurants, seeing Oscar-nominated movies, and relishing the most stress-free quality time I can remember. January was a beast, but it was a beast of hope and excitement: the work is done, and in a short time, there will (we hope) be such sweet rewards.

1: We've been spending a lot of time in Georgetown. It was once my least favorite neighborhood in all of DC for its inaccessibility and commercialization. Recently, I can see past the brand names to the backstreets teeming with local shops. And I've fallen in love with the iced-over C&O Canal and Waterfront.
2: This sweet Christmas gift from Zander lights up my desk and my face every morning at work.
3&6: Theo's and my favorite place in the city is Rock Creek Park. No matter how often we go, I can't stop taking pictures. It's such a beautiful respite from fast-paced city life.
4&5: Each time a school sent me a confirmation that my application is complete and under review, I smiled so hard you'd think they had accepted me! To celebrate a new year and new possibilities, I chopped off all my hair. I'm crazy about my new short hairdo.
7: We've been on an Italian kick lately. Dino is closing in Cleveland Park, and even though it will reopen in Shaw, we've been filling up on pork belly and brussels sprouts, incredible wines, and the best bread pudding anywhere.
8: Etto on 14th Street in Logan has the best burrata I've ever had, and this fingerling potatoes and chorizo specialty pizza was downright crave-able.
9: While taking pictures of Zan's apartment to post on rental sites, I couldn't resist snapping a shot of these duckies. He has these three, a gigantic one, and just ordered a Redskins one. "Rubber ducky, he's the one...!" (And if you're looking for a beautiful condo in a great neighborhood in DC, I've got you covered! http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/4308357488.html)

How's life treating you lately?