Pre-Spring Clean.

I feel like I'm coming out of a Christmas-coma. Jake and I were away from December 18th till January 4th and it felt like an eternity. But today is my first day back at work and I need to pull myself together. 

It's like pre-Spring cleaning.

I just cleared all the Christmas out of the apartment, aired it out and now it's time to embrace 2013 and get a move on!

I'll be back up and running soon, I need to gather myself, say good bye to 2012 and move on.

Thanks for staying tune!

Toronto waterfront.

Looking In.

Sometimes I feel like God. No, seriously I do! Don't laugh. I feel like God...just without the life-altering powers, all seeing-ness and, well, the old age. 

I spend half my morning observing those in another world. I look into their lives, see what they're up to, what they did yesterday, what they're having for breakfast, what they're doing this weekend. I am able to look into lives that I do not influence on the daily but are connected to in ways. I am God, you see, I am able to be with these people, to touch their lives so subtly that they don't realize I'm here. I am looking in.

Looking In

By being God, of course, I mean that I spend 2 hours in Facebook stalking my friends who live back in the United States. I am physically nothing like God. Way hotter. But it's because of Facebook that I can be so far away and still feel like I'm 2 blocks away from my familiar. I'm constantly looking in. It's like I'm outside and peeking in. It's weird.

I talked with my mom last night about how I feel like I've been forgotten. Now, I'm not looking for pity or anything, it's not like that. I feel like I've been forgotten in the way that nobody contacts me, not really. Again, not pitying myself, it's just an observation from the other side.

Yes, I moved out of the country but that doesn't mean I'm in some twilight zone and I don't have internet or e-mail. [To quote my mother last night: "Do they have Craigslist there?" "Mom, it's not Neptune of course they have Craigslist."] It's just so interesting to observe these lives that I used to be a part of, to look into their day to day and it just seems like it was a dream, ya know?

Honestly, this just motivates me to create a world here of my own. It certainly doesn't feel like a vacation anymore. I'm working on making friends and getting a big girl job. I'm growing to like this invisible wall surrounding me. I feel like I'm in another world and it's all mine. I feel like an exotic explorer that can only be contacted my letter. I need to return home with stories of lands conquered, languages mastered and spirits freed. 

Look out, USA, soon they'll make a move about me! 

Stepping Back In: DC

Happy Monday everyone!!

It's a great Monday for me because for the first

time in a long time, I am not opening the bar!

I'm sorry but there's nothing worse then a Monday at a bar.

I thought I'd step back into reality for a little while

and share some high lights from my weekend in DC!

Crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge. 

We arrived in DC about 9pm on Friday night.

After catching up a bit with friends, we headed to a bar

called the H Street Country Club.

As we got off the Metro and into a cab, DC was hit by

the most intense thunderstorm.

As we drove, street signs were being torn off poles.

Scaffolding was flying through the air like paper.

Trees were being thrown around like dolls and we watched

many power outages.

But we made it to the bar!

This picture is of my friend Lizzie and I after out 4 second run from

the cab to the bar.

It was raining THAT hard.

Playing mini golf at the bar.

One of the holes was themed Zombie Presidents!

I <3 Teddy :)

Saturday, as my friends slept in, I got up and navigated my way to

Open City in DC to meet up with Brandi from Not Your Average Ordinary.

It was probably one of the best ideas of my life.

i'm at a cross roads and really needed to meet with a fellow blogger,

and not just any blogger!

I feel like Brandi and I really connected on different levels.

Go check her out!!

This is a picture of just one of the horrendously long

escalators taking me to the Metro platform.

Wanna hear the worst thing ever?

When I was on my way to meet Brandi, 

I had to CLIMB one of these bad boys....

I was slightly hung over...

and I was about 90 degrees.

No. Bueno.

The rest of Saturday was spent seeking refuge at the Smithsonian's 

Natural History Museum.

It was amazing!

I can't believe how many museums there ARE there!

While I could spend weeks wandering around,

I wasn't feeling it too much on Saturday.

It was hot, I was dehydrated and really tired.

I so not used to staying up late.

After a late lunch at a local Irish pub and a short nap

watching Ocean's 12, we headed to the east side of DC to see

Gareth Emery at Club Fur.

Man. It was probably one of the most amazing shows I've seen.

This is my life.

And I love it so.

After sleeping till 11:30, we pulled ourselves together

and braved the heat again to refuel.

We went to a little place called Blue 44,

and every single time someone said "Blue 44" 

all I wanted to say was "HIKE!"

or whatever they say in football...

I had Eastern Eggs Benedict which was a normal benedict

with a crab cake and fresh tomato.

It was incredible. And reasonably priced!!

We spent the rest of the day eating FroYo by the Zoo and watching America's Funniest Home Videos.

Jake and I braved the long 6 hour drive home and had a realy great time.

Sadly, this morning I had the hardest time getting up.

I really need to stop being so adventurous. 

It's exhausting.

9 days till TORONTO!

Stepping Out.

Happy Friday, all!

I hope you got some great Summer Salad ideas from earlier

for this weekend!

I'm just here to say that I'll be stepping out for the weekend.

Jacob and I are heading to DC to visit some friends

so I won't be posting for a few days!!

But when I get back,

you'll have stories from mini-golfing and 

a rave!!!

Rave.

[Note: This is a good time to tell you that I love raves or EDM (electronic dance music.) I love lights, loud music, crazy dancing, people wearing strange clothing and heart stopping, body moving, out of this world bass. It's a way I like to let go, to dance till your all sweaty and hot. I think it's fun. No, I don't do weird drugs or get black out drunk, it's just a way of expressing myself. Please, don't judge.]

What do you have planned this weekend?

Have a great one!!

Family Ties

Aaaaaand I'm back!

As I've mentioned, family was in town the past few days 

and I honestly feel like I've been gone for years...

So on that note, lets recap a wonderful weekend!

(This is my attempt to keep my weekend going for just a few seconds longer!)

Coconut Latte.

PeelsNYC. Best. Brunch, Ever.

Jacob in 50 years.

My fave ever.

I love food. 

Gobblecado.

Subway.

Taproom # 307

Fried pickles and wings. <3

Oh New York. You're so beautiful.

Beer Tasting!

Coaster. 

Water rides WHILE it's raining...true Oregonians! 

Wheel.

My greatest fear.

We did so much this past weekend!

I'm pretty sure we ate our weight in fried food

and beer BUT it was such a great time!

And a huge milestone for me!

I rode my FIRST EVER roller coaster!

My whole like I told people I was scared of them

when secretly I'd never actually ridden one!

So we went to Lake Compounce and I rode this:

Okay, I swear it was scarier then it looks here.

It's the oldest coaster on the East Coast...or something!

It had a 115 foot drop that almost 

made my heart stop.

I had my eyes closed the entire time.

Screamed a lot.

And clung to Jake's arm like

white on rice!

It was an excellent weekend and it was a much needed

vacation from life.

Now it's time to focus on the future!

Job hunting!

Apartment searching!

Toronto!

Here we come!