1. ARGYLE So, a couple weekends ago, I went to an Argyle party. That's right, an Argyle party. The entire downstairs of the house was wallpapered with colored paper that had an argyle pattern copied onto it. It was awesome! Pictures to come, as soon as my roommate emails me them... Everyone was wearing some form of Argyle and some, too many forms. Ha.
I met a bunch of people, salsa danced, and a cute Marine in the Naval Academy (the one I salsa danced with) even got my number. Hehe. Now, he hasn't called, but still it's always a nice time when you get to dance and he doesn't go running the other way.
2. WALMART So I went to the Walmart South of my house- yeah I had forgotten that it's better to go North lol. It wouldn't be a big deal if they had actually had a selection of items, but the things I was looking for, those aisles were a little bare. K, so imagine the following: I walk inside, and immediately notice, I'm the only white person in my line of vision, so I'm thinking, well, there must be some of the minority in here somewhere ... no. I was the only white person in an entire huge Walmart. I thought it was a great/odd experience for this white girl who grew up in a fairly white world ;)
3. CASSEROLE So, this weekend, I thought- I miss the family a little, I think I'll make the sweet potato casserole Liz made for my going away dinner with the Hollands- that will make me feel better. Yeah- it made me cry. I'm sure everyone has experienced this at one point or another- I'm really far from home, everything is pretty unfamiliar, and I just had one of those weekends- I wanted my friends, my family, my local shopping spots, my home. I cried a bit, I talked to someone who made me a feel a little better, and though I'm still feeling a little homesick, I think it will get better.
The thing about making a move this huge is that it needs time right? I think I'll reserve judgement on if it was a good move or not, for a year. It will take a year to get to really know the area, to make friends, to establish some of the things that make me happy and secure right?
I love you all who are reading this. I can't believe how I've been blessed with such awesome friends and family. I'm grateful everyday.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
The first of many D.C. posts...
Well here I am in Washington D.C.!!
The snow has been crazy! 55" is a lot for anywhere, but here they don't have enough snowplows and no one knows how to drive in it! Ha! My plan to come a week early to get a bunch of things set up before I started work turned more into a week of playing in the snow, shoveling in the snow, and trying to use public transportation in the snow!
So here's my first of I'm sure many stories from the city:
I learned:
1. I'm living in Washington D.C.! I think it finally hit me.
2. Buses and the metro don't run normally in the snow.
3. If you talk to a single guy for more than 2 minutes he asks for your number. Ha!
So, today I got to the metro, by roommate drop off (two of my roommates go by metro stops on their way to work, so that's awesome and convenient). So I left at 7 am, (needing to be at work theoretically by 8:30), got to the metro, and proceeded to wait for 45 minutes because the metro line had maintenance because of the snow. When I did get to the place I'll be working- that was great, it all worked out so good there right?
So then I decide I'm going to the Washington Monument in honor of President's Day- so I got a ticket and spent the time in between in the Julia Child's exhibit in the Museum of American History- awesome!! So that's #1, that's when I hit me, I was looking between the capital building and the washington monument and it hit me- I LIVE IN WASHINGTON DC!!! That was an awesome moment. I took time to just savor it. :) The Washington Monument is cool too. Oh, and I might become a member of the Smithsonian, we'll see.
So after a day on the National Mall, I decided to head home- well I picked a metro stop with a bus route that I thought was close to home- turns out- no, no, not at all. I get off the Metro - not the best area!! Good thing it was daytime! The Rhode Island Ave stop- yeah. So then after 45 minutes of waiting I get on the bus, it's the correct bus, I'm feeling all good about things, looking at the neighborhoods- yeah neighborhoods I won't be in after dark- and then the bus driver announces that he's on snow routes. SNOW ROUTES?! What does that mean? It means he doesn't go by my house- he doesn't even get near my stop. So I end up at the New Carrollton Metro. Ha! I took 2 hours of busing to get to another metro. Durr! So I call my roommate because there's no bus that goes near my house and see if she'll pick me up at the metro she dropped me at this morning. It's a go. So still making it, but not in style that's for sure. I then proceed to get on the very end of the red line and go all the way back into DC to then get on the Green Line and go to the end of that. Ha! She picked me up and 3.5 hours later I get home. Ha!
K, so when I was waiting for the metro at the New Carrollton stop- this nice looking young man started talking to me. I asked this guy if he was a regular at this stop (to see if it was safe to come home and catch the bus there (when it's not snow routes), and that was it- he talked to me all the way into DC. Very nice- from West Africa, almost done with a bachelor's degree here in the US. And he ended up asking me for my number. Hahaha, oh good times in the city.
So that's my story, I thought it was interesting, but maybe it only is because I lived it, lol. We'll see how I do tomorrow. My first day of work...
The snow has been crazy! 55" is a lot for anywhere, but here they don't have enough snowplows and no one knows how to drive in it! Ha! My plan to come a week early to get a bunch of things set up before I started work turned more into a week of playing in the snow, shoveling in the snow, and trying to use public transportation in the snow!
So here's my first of I'm sure many stories from the city:
I learned:
1. I'm living in Washington D.C.! I think it finally hit me.
2. Buses and the metro don't run normally in the snow.
3. If you talk to a single guy for more than 2 minutes he asks for your number. Ha!
So, today I got to the metro, by roommate drop off (two of my roommates go by metro stops on their way to work, so that's awesome and convenient). So I left at 7 am, (needing to be at work theoretically by 8:30), got to the metro, and proceeded to wait for 45 minutes because the metro line had maintenance because of the snow. When I did get to the place I'll be working- that was great, it all worked out so good there right?
So then I decide I'm going to the Washington Monument in honor of President's Day- so I got a ticket and spent the time in between in the Julia Child's exhibit in the Museum of American History- awesome!! So that's #1, that's when I hit me, I was looking between the capital building and the washington monument and it hit me- I LIVE IN WASHINGTON DC!!! That was an awesome moment. I took time to just savor it. :) The Washington Monument is cool too. Oh, and I might become a member of the Smithsonian, we'll see.
So after a day on the National Mall, I decided to head home- well I picked a metro stop with a bus route that I thought was close to home- turns out- no, no, not at all. I get off the Metro - not the best area!! Good thing it was daytime! The Rhode Island Ave stop- yeah. So then after 45 minutes of waiting I get on the bus, it's the correct bus, I'm feeling all good about things, looking at the neighborhoods- yeah neighborhoods I won't be in after dark- and then the bus driver announces that he's on snow routes. SNOW ROUTES?! What does that mean? It means he doesn't go by my house- he doesn't even get near my stop. So I end up at the New Carrollton Metro. Ha! I took 2 hours of busing to get to another metro. Durr! So I call my roommate because there's no bus that goes near my house and see if she'll pick me up at the metro she dropped me at this morning. It's a go. So still making it, but not in style that's for sure. I then proceed to get on the very end of the red line and go all the way back into DC to then get on the Green Line and go to the end of that. Ha! She picked me up and 3.5 hours later I get home. Ha!
K, so when I was waiting for the metro at the New Carrollton stop- this nice looking young man started talking to me. I asked this guy if he was a regular at this stop (to see if it was safe to come home and catch the bus there (when it's not snow routes), and that was it- he talked to me all the way into DC. Very nice- from West Africa, almost done with a bachelor's degree here in the US. And he ended up asking me for my number. Hahaha, oh good times in the city.
So that's my story, I thought it was interesting, but maybe it only is because I lived it, lol. We'll see how I do tomorrow. My first day of work...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Help 4-H out with 2 minutes of your time...
As many of you know, 4-H has been earning much needed funding through the Albertson’s Community Partners Program. I need your help to continue earning funds! All you have to do is link your Preferred Savings card to 4-H by going to,
www.albertson.com/cp/
All you will need is your preferred saving card number, your phone number and the organization number.
Utah County 4-H # 49000118401
Please link and tell your friends and family. We earn back 4% of your shopping dollars for every purchase you make. If you need help let me know.
Thank you for your support!
www.albertson.com/cp/
All you will need is your preferred saving card number, your phone number and the organization number.
Utah County 4-H # 49000118401
Please link and tell your friends and family. We earn back 4% of your shopping dollars for every purchase you make. If you need help let me know.
Thank you for your support!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
A Learning Experience
That's what I'm fondly referring to as the new house I'm renting...
In the month of April I'm paying double rent because I didn't plan well and my landlord (was a friend- yeah once you try to ask her for something to do with money, she's not very happy with you) wouldn't let me a month early out of my contract, and the new place started in the same month. So, double rent.
Then, we move into this house- it's two bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom with a huge backyard. Sounds great right? Yeah, that's what I thought when I did the walk through with people living in it. Well when I did the walk through with it empty, and signed the contract (stupid I have now learned), not so great. Cute old houses, in cute old neighborhoods, sometimes turn out to be old houses with lots of problems, cosmetic and otherwise, in semi ghetto neighborhoods! Ha! I do feel safe so that's good.
There are holes in the sheetrock, water damaged sheetrock in the bathroom, some of the doors don't shut all the way, and oh my goodness! It took me 5 hours to clean the kitchen. Whoever lived there before was disgusting! AND my landlord doesn't want to fix anything. I already signed a year contract, why would they?
So that's my learning experience, and I'm with it for a year.
I have learned- don't sign a contract until you really are sure, don't feel pressured, and ask for all the things you want done before you sign. I've learned I need to take pictures, and wait a day to think about things, and that life, life is a constant battle to not get taken advantage of.
Well...as I come up on my 25th year of life, (yes I'm turning 25, that's VERY weird), and I am changing my ways! That is what I have learned, and the cost- a lot of money, and stress because I'm living somewhere I can't properly clean, or feel comfortable in.
In the month of April I'm paying double rent because I didn't plan well and my landlord (was a friend- yeah once you try to ask her for something to do with money, she's not very happy with you) wouldn't let me a month early out of my contract, and the new place started in the same month. So, double rent.
Then, we move into this house- it's two bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom with a huge backyard. Sounds great right? Yeah, that's what I thought when I did the walk through with people living in it. Well when I did the walk through with it empty, and signed the contract (stupid I have now learned), not so great. Cute old houses, in cute old neighborhoods, sometimes turn out to be old houses with lots of problems, cosmetic and otherwise, in semi ghetto neighborhoods! Ha! I do feel safe so that's good.
There are holes in the sheetrock, water damaged sheetrock in the bathroom, some of the doors don't shut all the way, and oh my goodness! It took me 5 hours to clean the kitchen. Whoever lived there before was disgusting! AND my landlord doesn't want to fix anything. I already signed a year contract, why would they?
So that's my learning experience, and I'm with it for a year.
I have learned- don't sign a contract until you really are sure, don't feel pressured, and ask for all the things you want done before you sign. I've learned I need to take pictures, and wait a day to think about things, and that life, life is a constant battle to not get taken advantage of.
Well...as I come up on my 25th year of life, (yes I'm turning 25, that's VERY weird), and I am changing my ways! That is what I have learned, and the cost- a lot of money, and stress because I'm living somewhere I can't properly clean, or feel comfortable in.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
hahaha!
Oh this is a little too much like my life. LOL! No more though!
I have made some really positive steps and decisions lately about my "dating" life. So in order to prevent what I have experienced over and over again (similar to the comic above) here are my new rules...
1. Don't ____ with any guy I'm not interested in. (anything can be filled in here: i.e. cuddle, go on dates with (even pretend ones), etc. etc.)
2. Well that's as far as I've gotten, but hey, you have to start somewhere! :)
I'm sure you all are smarter than I, but I'm just learning this stuff. :) Must be why I need at a minimum, 7 years of singlehood. I have a LOT to learn!
I have made some really positive steps and decisions lately about my "dating" life. So in order to prevent what I have experienced over and over again (similar to the comic above) here are my new rules...
1. Don't ____ with any guy I'm not interested in. (anything can be filled in here: i.e. cuddle, go on dates with (even pretend ones), etc. etc.)
2. Well that's as far as I've gotten, but hey, you have to start somewhere! :)
I'm sure you all are smarter than I, but I'm just learning this stuff. :) Must be why I need at a minimum, 7 years of singlehood. I have a LOT to learn!
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