Goals

New Years is always the time to set new goals and try new things. And I am not immune to the hopefulness that fills our gyms for the first two weeks of the year. So here are my resolutions for 2011.

1) Continue the weight loss and get healthy (15 lbs. down, 15 to go)

2) Complete the 10 mile Cherry Blossom Race in April

3) Graduate and finish the last semester with at least a 3.8

4) Sign up for classes (post graduation). The options are improv or language classes.

5) Get set financially now that I have a big boy job.

6) Travel to at least 2 countries - 1 of which must be Ireland.

I know its late, but goal setting should not be limited to the first week of January. I feel incredibly optimistic about what this year holds.

Jazz and Adventure

This past weekend I had a couple of awesome experiences I wanted to highlight for anyone visiting the metro DC area.

First, Friday night I headed out towards U Street area for a good times with some good friends. We ended up at a place called HR 57 (http://www.hr57.org/) to listen to some live jazz. It was a great experience. HR 57 is everything you think a jazz club should be from the tiny tables and candles, to the bare bone brick walls. And then there is the music. The Antonio Parker Quartet entertained the crowd all night. I am always so jealous of people who have musical talent like that. Eight years of piano lessons and I can only play Pachelbel's Cannon and Ode to Joy. But I digress. Next time you find yourself near Q and 14th streets in DC, make your way to HR 57 for a really unique experience.

The only way to follow up a great night is to have an awesome adventure right? Early Saturday morning I headed over to Savage, MD to Terrapin Adventures. Terrapin Adventures is a zip lining, climbing wall, adventureland. (http://www.terrapinadventures.com/) I have to thank my friend Deanna for inviting me out to celebrate her birthday with such an awesome experience. We did the zip line and the giant swing. For only $25 dollars, it was a great way to spend the morning and challenging yourself. While the zip lining could have been in a more scenic area, the giant swing proved to be the highlight of our visit. It really is a playground swing on steroids. In groups of three, we climbed on the swing, strapped in, and were cranked up 40 some feet in the air. Then you pull the ripcord! It was fantastic. What made it even better was that Rob was unable to pull the ripcord for the first couple minutes. The anticipation was killing me but the drop was certainly worth it.

Next time you come and visit, ask me about these places and I would be willing to go back in a heartbeat.

Travelin' Man

Its so hard to believe that the summer is almost gone. Through working and classes, it seems that the season has lost the laziness I so fondly remember. I long for the days when summer meant nothing but hours of playing tennis and reading some good books. But that doesn't mean my summer has been uneventful.

Things of note:

- I am officially past the midpoint of my two year graduate program.

- I have been forced to increase my knowledge of project management and budgeting (skills that may not excite, but will prove very valuable).

- Visits to the Jersey shore and reuniting with friends from London!

- Hunting for and finding a new roommate, one who comes recommended from a highly trusted friend.

So a lot has happened. A lot will still be happening. Financial Aspects of Public Management will be coming to an end here in the next week, giving way to three weeks without classes. This means that I will have three weeks of a real summer break. I don't know if that means I will really enjoy the 100+ degrees the area has been experiencing, but I do know that I plan to use the time wisely. These weeks will be filled with summer reading, work on my undergraduate thesis (I know, I know, I know), and some great traveling. I will find myself in Michigan from August 14th - August 22nd and plan to hit up Grand Blanc, Kalamazoo, and Mackinac Island. Over Labor Day weekend, I will be in NYC enjoying some world class tennis at the US Open with a mix of new and old friends. Finally, I have also booked my flight to go see my good friend Dave in Atlanta in September.

Though New York should be an awesome trip, I am looking forward to going home. I miss my mild Michigan summers. I miss tennis. I miss the movie theater, friends and family, and visiting Lake Michigan. I miss it and I can't wait to get back.

The Snowpocalypse

Washington DC was buried under snow for the second time this winter. For someone who wanted to move away from the snowy weather, I actually have really enjoyed all of this snow. The first flakes began to fall around noon on Friday and didn't stop until 9pm on Saturday. As usual, Washingtonian's freaked.

Before the storm began, American University cancelled my weekend class. The lines at the grocery store looped around the produce section and back towards the meat aisle, with wait times exceeding 45 mins. Armies of people carried snow shovels on the METRO trains readying themselves for the pending dig out.

Despite the chaos, I had a great time hibernating in my apartment. I had friends over to play card games and socialize on Friday. I spent all of Saturday w

atching movies in the comfort of my pajamas, and Sunday I enjoyed a good brunch at Morty's in Tenleytown.

Work has already been called off for Monday and lets hope that we get dug out soon!

Home for the Holidays!

Just so people know, I am flying into Flint tonight and will be returning to DC on the 31st. Let me know if you would like to hang out!

The Blizzard

I knew that the metro DC area did not get a lot of snow. But I never realized that when it did come, the whole city would shut down. It was great!

The snow began late on Friday night and remained steady through the night and well into the next day. Everything closed down. Lines at the grocery store were ridiculous. The busses and the trains either ceased operating or were so backed up, it made traversing the city impossible. And as I made my way in the midst of the blizzard, down to pick up some necessities, I realized how much I miss Michigan winters. The beauty of the snow and the chill in the air were just the thing to put me in the Christmas spirit. Being snowed in allowed me to have the perfect winter day filled with friends, reading, and a good deal of needed rest. Truth be told, I wouldn't mind another snow day soon.

New Digs

Photos of the new place.