Cherry Blossom Love

No words this time, just pics. Enjoy my friends and keep the people of Japan in your thoughts and prayers.

Enjoying the Life I Live

I believe we all strive for an idealic life, to achieve those things that make us say, ah yes, it was for this I stayed home on Saturday nights, ate way too many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and wore those black pants even after it was hard to technically call them black. Everyday since my fortieth birthday I lie in bed and in my most humble tone I say, "ok God today's the day, I'm ready."  Then I rise, full of hope and anticipation of the life I know I've yet to lead.  I know it because I dream it, at least once a week.  The specifics of my dream change from time to time but the core theme remains; me sitting/standing/laying with a smile from ear to ear because I know...I just know.

But until that day comes I'm determined to enjoy the life I live and last week I sure did. As many of you know I live in Southwest DC an exciting neighborhood benefiting from new investments, an influx of young residents, and the revival of waterfront entertainment venues.  My neighborhood is on the verge, but it's not quite there yet.  For starters, we're limited in our restaurant and neighborhood gathering places (that's code for bars).  So I often walk the mile and half over to Capitol Hill for dinner, drinks, and social interaction.  Last Wednesday I found the infamous Tune Inn (http://www.yelp.com/biz/tune-inn-washington) featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive- Ins, and Dives hosted by Guy Fieri. As I pulled up a stool at the super small but absolutely perfect bar I ordered the deep fried hamburger.  Yeah, I said it, I ordered a beer battered deep fried hamburger and lets just say that thing was TASTEY!!! I ran 4 miles the following day to assuage my guilt.  I mean take a look at this thing - how could it not be good?

By Saturday I was at it again, roaming the streets of DC, searching ...what was I looking for?  Was I trying to add another restaurant to my favorites list, maybe a bar where I'd feel comfortable sitting alone and chatting with the other patrons...or maybe, just maybe it's a bit of rythm that I was looking for.  And man did I find it, in Woodley Park.  The Zoo Bar (http://www.zoobardc.com/) is located across the street from the National Zoo my favorite panda place on earth.  I walked through the front and instantly felt comfortable.  The Zoo Bar had just the right amount of patrons, a tiny stage up front, and was loud enough to make you tap your feet and do your best chair dancing.  I arrived late enough to see the tiny aisle between the bar and tables turn into a dance floor. Saturday I was treated to the blues.  Flat Foot Sam & the Educated Fools, played for two rockin sets and when I said treat I mean it....check them out http://www.myspace.com/flatfootsamandtheeducatedfools/music. The Zoo Bar is the true DC blues experience featuring a great house band with guest harmonica and vocals. I wasn't lying Sue Gail when I said I'd come back - you bet your sweet bippie I will, I most definitely will.

I don't know was that me living my authentic life or just the space until it comes?  Meh, I don't know...but I think if I keep down this path that smile won't just be in my dreams.

That was wayyyy to difficult

So I thought it was about time I updated the background on this blog.  Don't get me wrong, I love the old photo of me, my Mom, and her good friend Barbara in the White House Press Room.  It was an honor and a privilege to be there.  But my dear readers that was years ago - and while my features are similar, I have grown older.  Many of you know I'm a HUGE proponent of truth in advertising so if I'm going to share my truth in words, I'd better be prepared to share my truth in pictures...but I digress.

Holy Schmoly - it took me over an hour to change the background of this blog to a simple color block with photo.  Over and over I was bombarded with scrolling transparent pictures of the Serengeti, Eiffel Tower, or ducks in flight...Colors were crazed combos of symbols and numbers, fonts were unmodifiable, I could go on and on.  But look at me now!  I kept at it and slowly the picture I wanted to share began to emerge and the image and colors of my world look oh so beautiful. 

I feel rejuvenated - could this be the jump start my blog needed?  Did I mention my blog is popular in Germany?  Oh yeah, I'm international - take that Charlie Sheen.

It's time to whore myself out - I want readers!!

Yes folks, you read that right. Let's see if my crazy antics and ever so entertaining gift of self deprication and gab will help me in any way. I WANT MORE READERS and I'm willing to do just about anything to get them.   Gratuitus links to my blog on my Twitter page...Lady Gaga and CeeLo lip sync videos on YouTube with subliminal messages directing traffic to my blog, smoke writing over the Smithsonian Kite Festival and last but not least...a travelling billboard full of thought provoking, rage inducing stereotypes and mischaracterizations about women and minorities that can be found on my blog!  BRILLIANT, don't you think?

But, all of this will have to wait as I implement "Increase Readership Master Plan"
STEP 1: Invite a guest blogger...Yeah I'm looking at you Meghan Super Awesome Daniels- will you pimp my blog? Come on...pretty please?  I know your committed readers would be willing to follow you to foreign blog territory at least once.  Will you please use your status of "Blogger Prom Queen" to help the "Town Misfit" out (note the Breakfast Club reference there, oh shoot I forgot you're way too young for myarchaic John Hughes references - my bad)?

Meghan, the floor is yours.

tap tap blow tap tap hack tap tap blow...and repeat

OMG! If I go one more week with this hacking, wheezing, snot and phlegm producing cold I will go mad.  I know I'm not the only one suffering through this but since I'm a whiner when I get sick - I don't care about the rest of you, I JUST WANT TO GET BETTER.

January - body aches
February - head aches

March - body aches, head aches, and a cough that sounds like I'm strangling baby seals

Tap, tap - hack, tap, tap 6 friggin pages tap, hack, hack  monotheism and Islam, tap, tap how the hell do you quote the Bible using APA style?  Toot, toot, what the hell use is blowing my nose if nothing comes out? Tap, tap, grrr this is taking too long I'm just gonna lay down for a couple minutes...

Wait, was I writing something here?

Vacations bring clarity

So my friends, I've enjoyed an amazingly relaxing vacation amidst the chaotic backdrop of three children ages 4, 1, and 9 mos. I didn't think it was possible but between the bottles, naps, diaper explosions and tantrums I re-connected with four of my dearest friends. I've always felt I was a horrible friend, I don't call enough, I don't write enough, I might remember a birthday but can't figure out which one, and boy oh boy do I drop off the face of the earth when I get overwhelmed by my own world.  And these four people still talk to me, still email me, and for some ungodly reason still love and care about me. It's Lenten season and I have pledged to gain more control over my physical self by abstaining from desserts, but I wish I could have a do over, because what I'd really like to do is use these four as an example and pledge to be a better friend to all who have crossed my path, shared a coffee, listened when I've whined, held my hand when I've cried, and forgave me when I'd done nothing worthy of forgiveness. 

Damn I love Denver...