Zippidy Doo Dah

Wonderful feeling

Wonderful day

I have been scheduled into a lot of night shifts here in Georgetown which is unfamiliar to me but I am slowly getting back into the groove.  I have come to love slow cooking.  When I say love...  I mean LOVE.

When I get home from work, I "set it and forget it" (please don't sue me for using that line) and then I am ready for a meal when my ravenous body wakes completely disoriented to the time of day.  Recently, I made a slow cooker breakfast (below) and the smell was so amazing I woke up early to eat.   The after picture wasn't as pretty and is therefore not included.  Get your cavewoman on!

Shredded potato, not cheese.  Hay paleo!

I've also done this with dinner dishes...  lots of meats cooking for hours and then I have food to work on for the week.  Brilliant!


Meanwhile, Max continues to terrorize the neighbors and their pets from the low windows.

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The downside to being here is that I have had to enforce the "Plan B" in planning again.  "Well, if it rains, I can do this instead."  Unfortunately, the month of June so far has been less stressful but also, less dry.  It's hard to come across a sunny or rainless day lately.  I hear this is unusual for this time of year but I don't believe it!  I have taken to toting the umbrella at all times again.  Boo.


I found some great running trails near my place so in the event of a pleasant day...

This trail connects with a few others which is nice if you want a longer or shorter run (mileage is mapped out).  It is pretty flat and moderately busy so I was startled a few times with aggressive bikers and bells and whistles indicating that they are about to pass.  Git!  I'm trying to relax here.

When I moved in, I didn't get the nice tour of where everything is so I had to hunt.  I am cavewoman, I can do this.  I am happy to report that I found where to toss my trash (annoyingly, I have to drive it to a central trash compactor, eww! and inconvenient!) and I also found the pool and learned how to gain access (this was a bit of an issue and probably comical to the people relaxing inside).   There are no palm trees here.  The sun comes out sometimes.  What a spoiled brat I have become, huh?  Tough life.  I know, I know.

 And then the sun came out and everyone got excited and rejoiced!

Hahaha

 

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Once upon a time there were several rainless days in DC and I found the other trail near my house.  It is so green and pretty here, minus the bugs.  I am really digging that it is so close to my place.  

Did Boss Ross put these happy little trees here?

There was a little river on the side of the trail.  Someone was down there with their dog.  I may have to tell Max about this!

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I even found time for some eating, my favorite!  I mean, it WAS raining.  So, there is a top chef (Spike Mendelsohn) who has a restaurant in the area Good Stuff Eatery - Hollywood with a little political twist, if you will.  I got the Obama Burger (photo not included).  Not too bad!  

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Then I checked off one of the things I have been meaning to do and haven't since I was probably 7 years old?  What better way to spend time in the greens than zip lining!?  Finally!

You are here: Middle of nowhere

We drove out into the middle of nowhere in West Virginia to an activity center and geared up for an hour long zip lining tour.  I was excited but also aware of how strong my fear of heights have become in the past 20+ years.  Maybe my profession of seeing the consequences has instilled some fear into me.   

The starting line

We had to climb up spiral stairs to this platform (above).  The entire thing swayed and the guides relayed that it was like a skyscraper, it has to give a little so it wouldn't snap.  Ok guys but this is moving A LOT!  It may not snap but I'm not sure it won't just fall over, with me connected.  I vowed to have dry pants by the end of the tour. 

Zippidy doo dah!  Here we go!  My false sense of security..

The group included just a handful of us.  There were two especially chatty men.  Maybe it was nerves but the rest of the group displayed fear with silence, or shaking (me).  These two guys kept the tour entertaining though.  They were out for a surprise Father's day weekend, a 40 something guy and his 70 year old dad.  It was really sweet to see.  His 2 year old son was following below and kept shouting "Come down now, Daddy!" 

They went before me and cheered as I came through the trees and arrived at the next platform because they knew how afraid I was.

It may look like nothing but we were pretty high!

I finally got over my fear of zipping when I met the bridge.  It easily took me 1-2 minutes to cross this.  Instead of 2 hooks and a taut line, you just connect 1 and walk freely.  This bridge was so unsteady!  I couldn't get over how afraid I was!  I knew better but my body was frozen and I took baby steps until I made it to the other side.  Thankfully, I could focus on my cheering team and make it quickly past the last few steps to wobbly safety again. 

Hate.

By the last trip, I was pushing off the platform and enjoying the zip across.  I just grasped my trust and it was over.  We zipped to the ground and that was that. 

I mean really, if a 70 year old man can do it without fear, I can too right?

 Riiiiiight.

Terrified, shaking and hugging the pole for security and stability most of the tour.

The tour was over and I was rewarded with a trip to Wegmans!  What a great little treat to have that place back in my life again. 

Not the actual one I went to.

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So I continue to miss family gatherings since I've moved back to be more present with my family.  Fail. 


Will turned 1!  Happy birthday!

And there is a Father's Day dinner at my sister's place tonight.   Happy Father's Day!

Per tradition, everyone changes their Facebook profile picture in honor of this and other similar holidays.  This year, I threw it all the way back to 1984, maybe?  It is easily one of my favorite pictures with my Dad, sorry Jeff!  I wish I had one of us building the pool deck or camping handy!  Thanks for all the life lessons Dad! 


I am missing everyone but will see you very soon!  XO

Making Contact

May was a pretty miserable month for me.  June is finally here and things are already looking up.  I am pumped to see where this summer goes!


A lot of people have asked me how DC is compared to LA, especially in regards to traffic.  While LA's traffic was usually a headache in itself, across seven lanes or so of cars, dodging surprise motorcycles, I think DC has the potential to be horrific, as of yet no hiccups ::knock on wood::.  LA was laid out very clearly, this road intersects with that road and while the exit is a simple find, the volume of cars usually is what backed things up.  My mind is blown by intersections greater than 5 meet ups. 

WHAAAAA?

I have been slowly learning my way around my 'hood and can get to some key places without GPS already #winning.  I usually leave my GPS on anyway, just in case a traffic problem wanted to ruin my day, I got this. 

Now that my longest stretch of work days is over, I was able to stop and "smell the flowers."  I brought a piece of home and also my favorite flowers back to DC on one of my recent trips home. 

Now that I have the time and have found a few grocery stores nearby, I've started cooking again and even got a new cookbook to play with!  This is the first time I have stocked a paleo based fridge and it is exciting to see (mostly) clean options for meals.  Makes compliance that much easier!

YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES!

Paleo Pointers

First up, chicken enchilada lasagna.  The recipe recommended some special noodle for this but instead, I substituted zucchini.  I don't know how the real recipe tasted but my version turned out pretty darn good!  I wish I had doubled it!  I'll make this again in the very near future, for sure.  Maybe I'll even go that extra step and include a paleo-style margarita. 

I have been itching to try this from one of my favorite paleo recipe websites (Civilized Caveman).  Honestly, I was getting a little bored with carrots but wanted to find someway (fun) to incorporate them into my diet, if for nothing else, my grandma eyes could use it... 

Cured!  These roasted carrots were so simple and pretty and even tasty!  I made this again for my parents while I was home.  Unfortunately I did not take and after picture because they disappeared too quickly (both times)!

Oh, and we didn't just have carrots, I "made" beef, lamb and chicken kabobs.  They were a bit of a cheat since they were pre-made from Whole Foods and the marinade wasn't completely paleo...  but work with me here.  I am aware of my sins. 

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Some of my favorite things in life exist outside of food and cooking, believe it or not.  One of these things is laughing.  Hard.  Jessica?  We are due for a "hard-laugh chat" soon.

I wanted to share some giggles from the past few weeks since I made it to Alexandria.

I went to Target (big surprise, it was one of my first must finds here).  I was shocked when two birds flew by me in the clothing department.  I did a poo check before any purchases were made, but what?    They hopped and flew around like, "Where is that outfit?" "Can you point me in the direction of the tree house accessories please?"

There were actually two but I think one was in the fitting room...

And THEN!  One of my trips home recently, I missed my turn and thank goodness I did!  A little comedic relief in between the road rage, I mean, recalculating.  I see so many giggles in this picture.  Hope you do too!  I know, I am going on 12 years old eternally.  How do I even do my job with a straight face, you must be wondering.  I'll let you know if I ever figure it out!

The timing on this was incredible!

AND!  I love my neighbor!  I don't even know who he is (investigation into the driver seat revealed that driver is most likely male).  This is the best thing to see on a daily basis.  I want one. 

(Bill Murray for those of you who are squinting and trying to figure it out)

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I had been looking forward to my time off from work and my time ON, figuring out my new city.  Saturday night I went out with my first DC friend, who is another traveler from Ohio.  We went to dinner and quickly were sucked into a conversation with our table neighbors. There was a personality profile interview portion where he told us about ourselves.  Hey, it's cheaper than therapy and it made the night more interesting, for sure.  He was in town from San Francisco but originally from NYC where he was neighbors with none other than THE Ryan Gosling.  I am zeroing in.  This is the year, I can feel it!

On Sunday, Liz (Ohio friend mentioned above) invited me to a Vintage Virginia Wine Festival.  Wine is classy, right?  What a great way to meet new people, and the cost wasn't obnoxious at all!

We arrived and I had no idea what to expect.  Some of the group had arrived and was waiting on the shuttle bus aka party bus.  Everyone was so friendly and inclusive, it was immediately a friendly environment.  We grabbed food for the ride and hopped aboard (What did I sign up for again?  I AM 32.).

 

OMG.

Team Refusing to Grow Up.   I love what they've done with the space...

Before the wind, humidity and wine hit us - Me and Liz

And then before we even got there, these man tricks happened:

 

Finally, we made it.  Tons of tents covered this open area and we had a full day ahead of us.  First things first, we checked in and grabbed our glasses.  Virginia, I learned, is noted for the Cabernet Franc grape and so this was a very popular pour.  I had a surprisingly good Rose, which I am usually not a fan of.  There were fruity ones and dessert wines and fancy bottles also.  One of my favorites was the Unicorn Winery.  I took home a few bottles from there and plan to visit the winery before I head out of here.  

The glass inspired a new slogan of the day: Virginia is for Wine Lovers.  Despite the weather, it ended up being a pretty packed event.  Liz and I had the same nail polish, how embarrassing!  Even more so was the girl who was wearing the same maxi-dress as me (who wore it best) and the girl at the bar afterward who was wearing the same hat.  Thankfully I didn't concentrate on feet to much or else I may have spotted someone in my shoes.  Take home:  I am not as unique or creative in real life as I am in my mind.  

I promise I am getting a manicure next week! 

Look ma, teeth are still white!

Mini break for lunch, water and a band

Traveling female nurses with a side of dudes

Again, forever 12.  This Vineyard is run by a WOMAN!  We were all shocked! Ha!

In between all the wines, there were stations for local sales.  The usual festival stuff, shirts, toe rings, knitted things, etc.  One of the stands was selling honey.  I wasn't too interested or impressed but one of the guys in our party said it is good to eat local honey to fight allergies as it acts as a vaccine in a way.  Google it if you are interested.  Makes sense.  Anyway, I bought a jar of honey and also dark chocolate covered bacon, grunt. 

Blowing up my style.  My hat didn't come with those moves that she had though.

All in all, it ended up being a great and steady day.  No one (really) got out of hand and there was no drama (thank goodness!).  The weather could have been worse but the company couldn't have been better.  I look forward to my adventures in DC, now that I finally believe that I live here.  

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So tonight, I am heading back to work.  I can say that I had enough days off and a balance of fun that I am recharged and ready to go back.  It is also just for one night before I work the entire weekend, so we will ease into this week.  Hope everyone's week had a great start!  I'll be enjoying some fresh air on the balcony to hopefully knock me out before I have to head in tonight.  Until next adventure...

XO