life lately | march

March was the month that changed my life. For the rest of my life, I'll remember sitting in a crowded movie theater on March 14 and opening the email that said, "Congratulations," and it held my hand and opened my palm and placed into it my whole future, bright and open and so full of possibility. So much of these last few months has left me feeling stunned, feeling almost numb with unbelievability. Nothing that has happened is believable. It's funny, too, because it is believable. There is a part of me - that since the day I sat in the information session for Georgetown's international relations master program last fall and heard a fellow applicant mention she was applying for the Rangel Fellowship, and I played those unfamiliar words over in my head and on my tongue, that knew it was my destiny. Isn't that crazy? I can't believe I'm putting it in words. I daydreamed about that destiny until I laughed out loud alone in bed so many nights I can't count them because I've never been the sort of person to believe in destiny and fate like that. But it felt destined. It felt right through my core. I think now, now that it's becoming reality - now that I'm only 5 short, short, too short days from leaving my beloved job to embark on this crazy adventure that is this Fellowship and grad school in the fall - now that I know the rug isn't going to be pulled out from under me, and it's not all just one of those late night daydreams - I really see now that it wasn't destiny so much as a good fit. A perfect fit. I've dreamed of a life in the foreign service, I've planned it out, I've known for a while that it's in my blood. That kind of unsettled life is what makes me feel the most settled, the most content, the realest version of myself. This was the month of finding out the stuff I'm made of, and it rocked my world, it rippled through me in waves until I had to believe it - I did it. I'm here. My future is mine.

1&2: 2014: The Winter That Never Ended
3, 4, & 5: March was the month of Theo. My brother took him down to stay with my mom at the end of the month, until Zan and I can rent his condo and find a place of our own that allows dogs. And boy, did Theo and I live up every single last day together. We found a new favorite trail. I can't wait until we're reunited. My life is incomplete without him.
6: I moved! Matt and I said goodbye to living together. From a studio apartment where we shared a bed in LA to the slumlord in Bloomingdale all the way to the tree-lined streets of Cleveland Park, we were in it together until we met our matches. I found this note from my mom written on my old bible. I couldn't throw that old thing away because that note. And isn't her handwriting gorgeous?
7&8: Ellie came to visit! I talked a lot about her being there for me when I found out about Rangel. That's another friendship that's for the ages. We meandered around Georgetown after dress shopping for a girlfriend's wedding next fall and found ourselves planted on the giant green adirondack chair.
9: Zan and I celebrated our two year anniversary on Mach 24. Last year I made him a chocolate peanut butter cake; this year we booked a trip to Costa Rica. He's alright, y'all.

life lately | february

In the spirit of "better late than never," I'm time-traveling back to February. These "life lately" posts are some of my favorite to write... it's a nice snapshot into my year, you know? It's so easy to forget the details when life moves as quickly as it does these days, and I want to remember. As I was looking through pictures from February, even just a few months later, I had several "oh yeah!" moments. A stolen moment in Boston when Zan struck a model pose in the middle of a snowy street by a light pole that cracked me up. Playing fetch with Theo on one of those rare warm days, a reprieve from a long winter, and how full of energy and excitement he was to be running on grass and not snow. I saw a lot of movies, too, with my colleague and friend Jess and with Zan - Dallas Buyers Club and Philomena were my favorites this year.

February was a blur. It's a blur now for me, looking back. In a lot of ways, it was an in-between month for me. I was waiting to hear from grad schools. I found out that I was a finalist for the Rangel Fellowship and was waiting (and preparing!) for my interview. I was waiting for it to be warm enough to wear anything but layers. I was completely living and breathing and existing in this state of "what if?" I was afraid to breathe too deeply sometimes, to take in the possibilities, to acknowledge that all my career goals and dreams and aspirations could come true.

It was a month of bated breath. Of soaking up the small moments, putting one foot in front of the other, trying to manage my hope and contain my happiness of all that might be, trying to wait it out, live in every moment, but also begging the clock to speed up, for days to fly by, so I could know finally know what my future would hold.

1: Our winter of wandering the side streets and canals in Georgetown continued into February. I love this shot of the canals at night.
2&7: This is the winter that never ends... yes it goes on and on my friends! Zan made a snowman... a very well-endowed snowman, at that, while throwing snowballs at Theo and drinking wine. It felt warm that night, even with the snow coming down.
3&4:  I think I'll go to Boston! I don't know what's with me and the song lyrics today? But hey! I'll roll with it! Zan surprised me with a trip to Boston for Valentine's Day, and it was the snowiest, coldest romantic getaway and those kinds are underrated. (The hat I'm wearing was a gift from my long time friend Melanie. Y'all are in luck because she just opened an Etsy shop with all of her homemade goods!)
5&8: The night that I found out I was a Rangel Finalist, Matt, Ryan, Zan, my girlfriend Staley and her husband Brian, and I all went to happy hour to toast. Matt gave me the best congratulations card - well, half a card, I should say. And half a candy bar and half a piece of gum. Because I was "half way there." After, Zan and I celebrated the best way I know how - with sparkling wine and pizza - at Alba Osteria, the newest Italian restaurant from Roberto Donna, one of my favorite chefs in DC. I also love his restaurant Al Dente.
6: Funny story, Zan and I met at a bar 4 years ago while I was on a pseudo-date with the bartender... who happened to be one of Zan's best friends. Zan came in and sat down at the bar, and we were fast friends; we got together a year later. We're still good friends with that bartender, who invited us to Catoctin Creek Distillery one Saturday when he was guest bartending. Per usual, his drinks were incredible. (You can taste his cocktails regularly at  the Green Pig in Arlington.)
9: Duke Ellington, eternal on the campus of his school. Zan and I were goofy tourists in our own city that day.
10 & 11: Theo and I were walking up to our favorite dog park when I noticed this creepy giant panda chilling out on a neighbor's front porch! I mean, what do I even say to this?! It's amazing, is what. 

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? 

life lately | 2

During the summer of 2010, every time I heard the song, "Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga I went nuts. I danced - in my kitchen making dinner, in my bedroom in my underwear, in dance clubs with my eyes closed, in a bar even if everyone else was standing still. I loved that song so much that my friends still text me when they hear it. Life lately feels like that song - like I'm right in the jazz solo - my very favorite part - leading up to the climax, to those notes when Gaga lets loose and you can tell she's going a little nuts herself. I'm right there, right on the edge of the GRE, on the edge of my graduate school apps being completed, on the edge of a big trip to Ecuador, on the edge of everything I want and have been working so hard for. I'm on the edge, and for the first time, I can see the other side.

1. Nothing and nobody in the world is happier than this 3 year old pup of mine on a hike on a fall day. Except maybe me.
2.  Zan and I stopped by one of our very favorite wineries, Gadino Cellars, after a recent hike. I joined the wine club - I felt irresponsible for spending the money and like a adult with my stuff together all at once.
3. The last time I saw a drive-in movie I was about 4 years old, and my brother and I camped out on the hood of my mom's old Chevy S-10 pickup truck and watched Batman. It was a blast from the past and the most fun date night when Zan and I drove in to watch Good Will Hunting at the new Union Market in northeast DC. We ate gourmet popcorn from a food truck and I devoured a homemade apple ice cream cone.
4&5. After buying a bike, I wanted to test my limits and my thighs so Zander and I took the beautiful, scenic Capital Crescent Trail out to Bethesda for an arts and crafts fair. We rewarded ourselves with peach mimosas and apple pie punch at Brickside, one of our favorite restaurants in the area and biked really carefully back home.
6.  My favorite food? Homemade pizza. We do it right with extra garlic, sausage, and pepperoni. And mushrooms on Zan's half.
7. Sonia and I went to see If/Then, the new Broadway musical previewing in DC in November and December, starring the one and only Idina Menzel. The second she opened her mouth and let that first note fly, goosebumps covered my body, and I could hardly breathe. She's just spectacular. Walking to the National Theater, I passed the White House and stopped to take it in.

life lately

I'm in the thick of studying for the GRE, hanging on to new-old math concepts by a thread, and keeping up with growing freelance work commitments, while trying to thrive at my day job. I'm rediscovering the joy of Earl Gray tea in the morning to ease my eyes and mind open. I bought Boar's Head bologna this week and indulged in a fried bologna sandwich to take me back to Georgia. I'm settling into the present, looking forward to my fast-approaching 18-day trip to Ecuador, and finding comfort in cooler days and the anticipation of baked apple goods. Life is slower lately, and that's hard for me to accept, but I'm working on it.

1. Ryan shot a picture of me during my birthday dinner at Marietta in Brooklyn, and I love it.
2. Zander and I are still in a New York State of Mind after our incredible weekend in Brooklyn with friends. We broke out our Old Man Hustle koozie at a friend's housewarming party and shot a selfie to the NY crew.
3. We met baby Allie, our friends' 6-week-old newborn, at a "meet the baby" party last weekend. This picture says it all.
4. ...And then my friend Sarah & Zan recreated the picture later that night.
5. Zan and I met up with his brother & sister-in-law for a few drinks and a competitive game of shuffleboard at Bedrock Billiards in Adams Morgan last weekend. Have I mentioned lately how much I love having them so close by?
6. Zan & I have been spending a lot of time in the DC neighborhood Mt. Pleasant. It's quirky, diverse, and is ruled by a tricycle shrine. We're thinking we might call this area home come next February.
7. I ate my first ever Cuban sandwich at Mi Cuba Cafe in Columbia Heights. It's a perfect weekend lunch spot.
8. Sunday evening, Zan & I had an adventure in the Maryland suburbs. I bought a bike! And while we were there, we devoured the best pad kee mao (Thai drunken noodles) I've had in the DC area at Thai House in Gaithersburg.
9. My friends and old colleagues at the Feminist Majority Foundation and Ms. magazine, based out of Los Angeles, invited me to their annual Money, Women, Power Summit luncheon held in DC. Nancy Pelosi and other major women leaders who work every day to advance equal rights for women and girls around the world spoke, and it was an honor to be in their presence.

What's life like for you lately? If you have some time to spare, I love this post from Mel on the season of tea.