tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54624453107733713122024-03-18T20:06:21.591-07:00Our Dumb BlogDallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-33171046881097270172011-04-05T14:16:00.000-07:002011-04-05T14:16:56.035-07:00Tech Honors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Crystal is making me (Richard) blog this post, which is really hard to do because I hate talking about how awesome I am. So now that it is established that I am awesome, I will proceed to tell you why. I was selected for Technical Honors at work for my performance in 2010. For those of you non-Raytheoners, it doesn't mean I was technically honored, it means I was honored for technical contributions. The cool thing about tech honors is that it is peer-voted, so this is kinda like being on the nerd prom court. What adds to my awesomeness is: (1) 2010 was my first year here, so I made a good impression quickly, and (2) I got tech honors in TX in 2009, making 2 years in a row!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JYSnkETtL25NNxYfcUjqEZPulzyAQRm6YCidJ-PYJd2GFhSZYXa_4ArEBNUtIZDl7c9FJ8ma8RqHi3ogNdDOkBrD6taJf7rHlBIt1ohE721UsMBL6fRf1gb6AHVp6bPZ_9CAk8Wo105f/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JYSnkETtL25NNxYfcUjqEZPulzyAQRm6YCidJ-PYJd2GFhSZYXa_4ArEBNUtIZDl7c9FJ8ma8RqHi3ogNdDOkBrD6taJf7rHlBIt1ohE721UsMBL6fRf1gb6AHVp6bPZ_9CAk8Wo105f/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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There was a nice dinner and award ceremony that was far superior to the one in TX last year. I was able to bring Crystal to share the evening with me. My coworker Katie, below, said a few nice words about me and presented me with the award.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pJbmvC92bqbgnmfgrxMwfghvQB-EfJlUgokqpFbxs_gzJv7NwC9qHfXiO7pqtiYJEx0hU-ND04gEe2WkiP4pj6vy9GQ3HfmnanJ3xQR4ITzV51h_HUo6FjdrobWaB0ATGt45vVnIsKIb/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pJbmvC92bqbgnmfgrxMwfghvQB-EfJlUgokqpFbxs_gzJv7NwC9qHfXiO7pqtiYJEx0hU-ND04gEe2WkiP4pj6vy9GQ3HfmnanJ3xQR4ITzV51h_HUo6FjdrobWaB0ATGt45vVnIsKIb/s320/IMG_0025.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-69787586204901004162011-04-05T11:21:00.000-07:002011-04-05T11:21:43.997-07:00The Gridiron Dinner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGK-Knd7Ey4wTK9_sQ4Q0OeYGViSAA1ERhQeqqgyW-xxD_Dq_4ORSLc0-TthYUetDOUluP3NcKsfTxBQaTZ51KBchEhYyGL1Pl_0idsoHrQu8C2ebSUsTAlGHaQGU56olQsX6SKfyrAKh/s1600/Gridlogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="78" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGK-Knd7Ey4wTK9_sQ4Q0OeYGViSAA1ERhQeqqgyW-xxD_Dq_4ORSLc0-TthYUetDOUluP3NcKsfTxBQaTZ51KBchEhYyGL1Pl_0idsoHrQu8C2ebSUsTAlGHaQGU56olQsX6SKfyrAKh/s320/Gridlogo.png" width="320" /></a></div>The <b>Gridiron Club and Foundation</b>, founded in 1885, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious journalistic organizations in <a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Washington,_D.C."><span style="color: #0645ad;">Washington, D.C.</span></a> The Gridiron Club is best known for its annual dinner which traditionally features the United States Marine Band, along with satirical musical skits by the members and remarks by the President of the United States and representatives of each political party. The skits and speeches by various politicians are expected to be self-deprecating or otherwise sharply comedic. (Thank you to Wikipedia). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9i4ONdLwZG5X31FmoeJpuzSMuqp7DY9VAZiymuR9W6Kx0fbouiv4zt5P_H2g8t2V4NP5Tvc87_P7j4Yyq95KWGyA1CBCfJsNucFCOF7i4TVpj11k9Fb3ve7ZkJ00SG4VT-aZPp-k4rG6P/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9i4ONdLwZG5X31FmoeJpuzSMuqp7DY9VAZiymuR9W6Kx0fbouiv4zt5P_H2g8t2V4NP5Tvc87_P7j4Yyq95KWGyA1CBCfJsNucFCOF7i4TVpj11k9Fb3ve7ZkJ00SG4VT-aZPp-k4rG6P/s320/IMG_0064.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Now that you know what it is...We got to attend this year's dinner, thanks to Sara (who is in the aforementioned US Marine Band). The speakers were Kathleen Sebelius (D), Mitch Daniels (R), and President Barack Obama, they were all great. But the highlight of my night....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYI4FbYd8mxzEs8-u21OomQ0wCVYA6tJFvY3q5xrlTCCsKYCXQcg0MATe5JY9F2XTlAmSeQ1EvlLhJ28S468cXjIq0yD1l7KuiXGlTSOEdw3I5ageoo9yluDbjX03P7H-X0SXXrbpSUQt/s1600/IMG_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYI4FbYd8mxzEs8-u21OomQ0wCVYA6tJFvY3q5xrlTCCsKYCXQcg0MATe5JY9F2XTlAmSeQ1EvlLhJ28S468cXjIq0yD1l7KuiXGlTSOEdw3I5ageoo9yluDbjX03P7H-X0SXXrbpSUQt/s320/IMG_0075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLJ-B1j56Od4_87qTWAxJCunw2IyFWpkfCVyn_2rhgJF19FHhhwrsPKMU3vyYDj1dsjH73GtGgIKgWntycf-Lgoe3EMP_4H79FLaOTDXP3PJdBW2m6lSPMFL4rD_P0aGioEysB5qqgen8/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLJ-B1j56Od4_87qTWAxJCunw2IyFWpkfCVyn_2rhgJF19FHhhwrsPKMU3vyYDj1dsjH73GtGgIKgWntycf-Lgoe3EMP_4H79FLaOTDXP3PJdBW2m6lSPMFL4rD_P0aGioEysB5qqgen8/s320/IMG_0083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Meeting Katie Couric...She was really nice and personable, we sat just a few seats away... My biggest disappointment of the evening was that Bon Jovi had the flu, because he was suppossed to sit next to Katie (one seat closer to us). So I did not get to meet Bon Jovi, but it was still a wonderful evening. Highlight of the political skits, when President Obama gave his speech the band began playing "Hail to the Chief", but he waved them off and asked them to play the song they had discussed, at which point they began playing "Born in the USA".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4uKUaHDBYLwedVWNxrtJ_88S0gR45BjHQ2u__tWaT6Czl1CFNPJ07y2R-DTYIr-IwYlzi401Ek0dgTlYVCTE47ZO923fb-sBYfZ463IiK4sFgX1Dre-hN5IGIesbNw6GrTUt4zEukkJP/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4uKUaHDBYLwedVWNxrtJ_88S0gR45BjHQ2u__tWaT6Czl1CFNPJ07y2R-DTYIr-IwYlzi401Ek0dgTlYVCTE47ZO923fb-sBYfZ463IiK4sFgX1Dre-hN5IGIesbNw6GrTUt4zEukkJP/s320/IMG_0077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Afterwards, there was an afterparty with all kinds of important people that I don't know or remember... The best part was getting to spend some time with Sara and Tom, and an open bar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-cFK0evG5udkHf-q9bxa6pq5vS6h_uYfvqTMO9ZTT8xYr7UnjvsOtSLtdM00ZuYFKJaiTMrhEaEVPRRYS0ClMi6epAqxgsYVQmEgY-i-kZYMbwVzGhX9u4DMGECQyGdGbmp2yrsrk-b3/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-cFK0evG5udkHf-q9bxa6pq5vS6h_uYfvqTMO9ZTT8xYr7UnjvsOtSLtdM00ZuYFKJaiTMrhEaEVPRRYS0ClMi6epAqxgsYVQmEgY-i-kZYMbwVzGhX9u4DMGECQyGdGbmp2yrsrk-b3/s320/IMG_0088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you want to know more about the evening check out this report from the Washington Post:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/obama-gets-laughs-at-first-gridiron-club-dinner-as-president/2011/03/13/ABpqhgT_blog.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/obama-gets-laughs-at-first-gridiron-club-dinner-as-president/2011/03/13/ABpqhgT_blog.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWhFiDMI0HIVtJfihNiQrJFPnJcQMz-kKnY3IdIXYaX-nzGgiHwjXYUEVHzDACYY7kQiVmcbWGLEhUaPDEwTmfjL4ZtNMKIRTeVOewgnggqP2Vzr0-2sS2u_ePDbusGZ-tqyQVz2gvRRP/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWhFiDMI0HIVtJfihNiQrJFPnJcQMz-kKnY3IdIXYaX-nzGgiHwjXYUEVHzDACYY7kQiVmcbWGLEhUaPDEwTmfjL4ZtNMKIRTeVOewgnggqP2Vzr0-2sS2u_ePDbusGZ-tqyQVz2gvRRP/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tom, this is for you!</div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-31877753693912683652011-04-05T10:35:00.000-07:002011-04-05T10:35:57.616-07:00Mavs Fans for Life!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Richard and I have always been Mavs fans, we went to our first game together in 2003 three weeks after we started dating. We continue to really enjoy the games, so naturally when the Mavs were in DC we jumped at our chance to go. This was probably the highlight of our February! (We aren't fans of the cold, so we tend to stay home a lot during the winter months here...) But we braved to cold and enjoyed a lovely dinner at Brasserie Beck before heading over to the verizon center for the game. Richard had told me we didn't have very good seats...but then surprised me with super seats about 5 rows behind the Mavs bench.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBcxo2AAT1Lt7Yn9nixasFsv-8S_R1Dvd3O84JpDOsC3FKFpdSsj1pzfdsEvJEagPX1_tRpYKCQzchdSYJ9S-QWJ-j0I-1n0RMT24VJOfRl8sFxirrLrafS4OFBg_qxg8UfrQL8vy9WE3/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBcxo2AAT1Lt7Yn9nixasFsv-8S_R1Dvd3O84JpDOsC3FKFpdSsj1pzfdsEvJEagPX1_tRpYKCQzchdSYJ9S-QWJ-j0I-1n0RMT24VJOfRl8sFxirrLrafS4OFBg_qxg8UfrQL8vy9WE3/s320/IMG_0032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mushroom Gruyere Crepe from Brasserie Beck (fabulous Belgian restaurant)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaipyZOz4W-ntKaoDm-LpvT2Lmsp3aXpVwyE7VlzInQ9wc-VZFQ5Msb_0yCA937wwWjnduvsMhifa4z4y0r692ff0vRJOqziqcleEPLNSMxk1GfCD7AJVPHXNkvYX9dwcf8mzH0mD_iMQW/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaipyZOz4W-ntKaoDm-LpvT2Lmsp3aXpVwyE7VlzInQ9wc-VZFQ5Msb_0yCA937wwWjnduvsMhifa4z4y0r692ff0vRJOqziqcleEPLNSMxk1GfCD7AJVPHXNkvYX9dwcf8mzH0mD_iMQW/s320/IMG_0053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">After the game, we had facebook messages from friends in Texas that said they saw us on TV!</div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-9219002700260611042011-01-25T13:57:00.000-08:002011-01-25T13:57:18.273-08:00How do you like Gnocchi?Richard and I are by no means gnocchi experts, but I recently felt inspired watching Top Chef and decided that I wanted to give it a try. So naturally the first step was to start researching on the internet for best methods, which led me to the potato ricer... What is a potatoe ricer you ask? It most closely resembles the play doh spaghetti maker you played with as a kid.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU6lG0bzfIypXzW6DkYNSLCj8yCEcj704RRsk-fuqwXYiknS_J6Zg8Wdv1JfuUhi1SIh0Fhj_3WgfQrSxKrsxwy2Q3wkes6HOqERzgzYOL1HH-OodgH5zGEer1yeSh3JooMRxVNcVwFEw/s1600/IMG_3782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU6lG0bzfIypXzW6DkYNSLCj8yCEcj704RRsk-fuqwXYiknS_J6Zg8Wdv1JfuUhi1SIh0Fhj_3WgfQrSxKrsxwy2Q3wkes6HOqERzgzYOL1HH-OodgH5zGEer1yeSh3JooMRxVNcVwFEw/s320/IMG_3782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">was I right?</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">So naturally I went out and purchased a potato ricer at Bed Bath and Beyond, because you apparently need it for the lightest gnocchi, and if I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it right!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S9TzHNluIPYUflb9IGOHzQyUcB1fO9aOIWqFehFLBKb1eIVxisfXDAq5DOg-k_xxd3T0DoDiEJ8esWsMdGlKfUfYcCI1OAYrvezvb811cT_1PBXCevdzNALiYzpYoL2_VxoortUa1hyphenhyphenH/s1600/IMG_3780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S9TzHNluIPYUflb9IGOHzQyUcB1fO9aOIWqFehFLBKb1eIVxisfXDAq5DOg-k_xxd3T0DoDiEJ8esWsMdGlKfUfYcCI1OAYrvezvb811cT_1PBXCevdzNALiYzpYoL2_VxoortUa1hyphenhyphenH/s320/IMG_3780.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">So Saturday night we stayed in (as usual) to explore the culinary unknown. Since neither of us is really familiar with gnocchi, we weren't sure what type of sauce we were going to pair with the gnocchi. When researching the top runners were sage or thyme butter sauce, gorgonzola cream (yuck!), tomato sauce or pesto. We decided to go simple and chose a thyme butter sauce. Next we made the gnocchi per the recipe from our italian food bible, which included boiling potatoes, ricing potatoes, mixing with flour and egg, rolling and cutting and they turned out looking like fluffly pillows.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2odwfaEmJV6AQWHvPjFjO2O6fnlhl2sqc1a3wPgtgsPjCcqJUkB7P4HjcV37vNsko57CrzyI7qsX_O22T8c9GJe-FudUU3UdQtarEl8P3Q4L0KhLXYCAq5Ro9jGhgIbR46egsTT-tQf-n/s1600/IMG_3787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2odwfaEmJV6AQWHvPjFjO2O6fnlhl2sqc1a3wPgtgsPjCcqJUkB7P4HjcV37vNsko57CrzyI7qsX_O22T8c9GJe-FudUU3UdQtarEl8P3Q4L0KhLXYCAq5Ro9jGhgIbR46egsTT-tQf-n/s320/IMG_3787.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So here is <strong>my gnocchi verdict</strong>: it's good, but it needs something more texturally appealing than sage butter. So the next day I cooked some more and added some roasted pine nuts to the gnocchi with thyme butter, which I thought improved the dish. But I also decided to try gnocchi another way, so I made gnocchi alla romana, which is gnocchi broiled with butter and parmesean. It makes a glorious crust ont the outside with a soft tender inside, and I am in love! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now what I want to know from you is how do you like your gnocchi? If you don't know, try gnocchi alla romana!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-59137895954231432112011-01-25T13:31:00.000-08:002011-01-25T13:31:31.420-08:00Calling ALL TexansAs most of you know, I will be finished with school in December. So the big question on everyone's lips is what's next? That is exactly what Richard and I have been discussing lately, and we have come to a decision about what we want.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">TEXAS</span></strong></div><br />
We have decided that we would like to come back to Dallas when I am done with school. However, this may be harder than you would think. Seeing as there are two CRNA schools in DFW the job market is somewhat saturated. So I would like to ask that you all keep us in your thoughts and prayers (especially if you have a CRNA or Anesthesiologist around to share your thoughts with.)<br />
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The back up plan will be to stay here in DC.<br />
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So this means is you want to visit DC with a free place to stay, you only have a year left to do it and we are always happy to have guests :) Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-14351722842592517572011-01-18T08:08:00.000-08:002011-01-18T08:08:14.060-08:00New Year's ResolutionsI have never been one to make new year's resolutions, in fact I don't remember ever making one. This year I decided to change that so to speak... I didn't actually make a single resolution, but I made lists of what I hope to accomplish in 2011. There are two lists. List one was inspired by the fact that this could be our last year in DC and there is still a lot I want to do here, so it's a list of local museums and activities I hope to enjoy this year. List two is my culinary adventures list, which is a list of those items "I always wanted to make". So far I've knocked one off each list:<br />
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List 1 Item: Newseum<br />
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The newseum is an interactive museum dedicated to the what, when, where, why, and how of news. It's one of the few museums in the city with an entry fee, and a pretty hefty one at that $20, but of course I got a Groupon for less than 50%, so we finally ventured out to one of the city's best museums. I would highle reccommend spending even the full price for entry to this museum, allow yourself at least 4 hours to visit. Some of the highlights: a beautiful section of the berlin wall with a great exhibit, a moving 9/11 exhibit, and a collection of newpapers dating back to the 1500's including the first publication of the declaration of independence and the constitution...AMAZING! Only complaint, the museum closes strictly at 5:00, they usher you out, so make sure you get there early enough to enjoy all the sights.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO64dwkll27FvKaPdMFTu0JyMdNo4OfjqXiQX98rDkz65CUnRL-Z_KgS52vOWDtWn63RVoFlrIUiL1liFb1eLI_7h1KxaXFYjWOfPG9l9pQTZ1eyN8kX99I7YOKe5X53aiER4nocCje-uW/s1600/IMG_3749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO64dwkll27FvKaPdMFTu0JyMdNo4OfjqXiQX98rDkz65CUnRL-Z_KgS52vOWDtWn63RVoFlrIUiL1liFb1eLI_7h1KxaXFYjWOfPG9l9pQTZ1eyN8kX99I7YOKe5X53aiER4nocCje-uW/s320/IMG_3749.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
List 2: Ravioli and Lamb<br />
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Richard and I love to cook, and will be a bit more adventurous in 2011. The last couple of weeks we've done very well for ourselves. We started out with Ragu d'Agnello (lamb), a stuffed roasted lamb cooked in a tomato sauce. And as promised we made Ravioli. We have some work to do on our ravioli technique, but they were delicious none the less. We stuffed them with a four chees mixture including: mozarella, Romano, Parmesean, and Mascarpone, with garlic and basil. So here are the pictures... doesn't it make you want to come visit? We eat good here :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2261XaD2Qjmx6x40MVm4VAyvML46hLEmaR713hpHSvSBXcN4AQ8J5PvSRe3dvmje-eqIIBJaNo4_X3mgPRm6mOJEPDZQe0iNtT0WW-XRJeOjf3GyoeLeL_CJm7qRMNl06HNrWNeYmHtO/s1600/IMG_3744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2261XaD2Qjmx6x40MVm4VAyvML46hLEmaR713hpHSvSBXcN4AQ8J5PvSRe3dvmje-eqIIBJaNo4_X3mgPRm6mOJEPDZQe0iNtT0WW-XRJeOjf3GyoeLeL_CJm7qRMNl06HNrWNeYmHtO/s320/IMG_3744.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8xZt1rPgp9bUZw2ZL8SXT5ysmmBJ2MK8Zw_t7vdCp1Ov9IbgghVf9e2BNBX9Tj08axPkwSqKnk5HlzYTYWpPXQ_DwijAQDpr663wxmPV7kjDVxrwaLaxGhc5k2majaKS9aLAtSUrq3eM/s1600/IMG_3748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8xZt1rPgp9bUZw2ZL8SXT5ysmmBJ2MK8Zw_t7vdCp1Ov9IbgghVf9e2BNBX9Tj08axPkwSqKnk5HlzYTYWpPXQ_DwijAQDpr663wxmPV7kjDVxrwaLaxGhc5k2majaKS9aLAtSUrq3eM/s320/IMG_3748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-73723370820612516612011-01-02T13:04:00.000-08:002011-01-02T13:04:21.127-08:00This Year I GRADUATE!!!!Richard and I spent our first new year's eve outside of Texas ringing in the new year in our nation's capitol! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkV6EEHmYVt3lbmxHU8fS0GXkUe-KH1DEu1xRXB56eQpyMHGwenZin-JTg_1rSvreuhHGF3kXtbKsmQ8Z0Xj4Jgp1hdkLVRZSlzX_57owMp5H4GsC1kTPAbuzJsiyz6WmgJLwHaNSsFf4/s1600/IMG_3710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkV6EEHmYVt3lbmxHU8fS0GXkUe-KH1DEu1xRXB56eQpyMHGwenZin-JTg_1rSvreuhHGF3kXtbKsmQ8Z0Xj4Jgp1hdkLVRZSlzX_57owMp5H4GsC1kTPAbuzJsiyz6WmgJLwHaNSsFf4/s320/IMG_3710.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We went to a party at Lauren, Kate and Sean's place to celebrate with some our of favorite DC peeps.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxPTSNU020w2u2mUSKRfRuiGi1YH0KFgoC3ItYZqXLUoqcgJ-7NZG6yZpZ_v5zbx0aOhKOPoalMVvY7wDlHPTRlGg6oqt0wSorY2HVFcRCR2kZ5_fBF_MVjWJAjsLRs0QSyDP5vYpKi8-/s1600/IMG_3722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxPTSNU020w2u2mUSKRfRuiGi1YH0KFgoC3ItYZqXLUoqcgJ-7NZG6yZpZ_v5zbx0aOhKOPoalMVvY7wDlHPTRlGg6oqt0wSorY2HVFcRCR2kZ5_fBF_MVjWJAjsLRs0QSyDP5vYpKi8-/s320/IMG_3722.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Me, Lauren and Nicole (Heyni we missed you!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYblJv4ZM8PvtU8XiaAO8ZX55YzJMxN9AAQd9FC_lSDfWCc7fiYqWRrHJOWFNaooUOkvKQHbo_uEDHa1-Y7oBZFGXD0BXTkkwbZSHvi4lim_MlhcZzDXVKaOYUkG3b7cMRUyFoFZcrFaW/s1600/IMG_3734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYblJv4ZM8PvtU8XiaAO8ZX55YzJMxN9AAQd9FC_lSDfWCc7fiYqWRrHJOWFNaooUOkvKQHbo_uEDHa1-Y7oBZFGXD0BXTkkwbZSHvi4lim_MlhcZzDXVKaOYUkG3b7cMRUyFoFZcrFaW/s320/IMG_3734.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">This are four of my classmates we got to celebrate with!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">It was a great time, Tony taught me the Dougie, Nicole and Richard both belted some faux Karoke in a beautiful handcrafted microphone (thanks to me and Lauren), Jake clearly rocked the sombrero, and Nicole and I spent the first two and a half hours of the new year dancing and singing our hearts out to a medley of salsa, rap, and some nice 80's throw backs!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">As great as it was it's the first new year's in quite a while we didn't ring it in with our friends in Texas, we missed you guys!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Happy New Year from the East Coast!! </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">P.S. This year I finish school!!! (start praying now that I'll be able to come back to Texas)</div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-57815255088924205902011-01-02T12:46:00.000-08:002011-01-02T12:46:35.833-08:00Pasta alla'UovoThe best Christmas present I got this year was from my loving husband. He gave me the pasta attachment for my kitchenaid mixer, which I have been wanting for a long time. So the day after Christmas, Stephen, Richard and I came home and set out to make our first batch of fresh Pasta alla'Uovo (Egg Pasta). It went pretty well for our first try, we ran into a few technical errors, but overall it was delicious! <br />
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In case you are interested in trying this out for yourself, here is the recipe I used which was the perfect consistency, not too wet or too dry.<br />
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4 eggs<br />
2 1/4 cup of flour<br />
1 Tbsp EVOO<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
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Here is our Fettucine con Gambieri...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJh41McfWNoHDmHk4X3YqgSY4c9phxhbA2fUqTKX0M0HCeBHDJRgiD3hxPBweD7OOkXhIOLPjH54Dbhyphenhyphenov1SEhh_wgryP2ZXz2xXnP8yNXA6n7C1OCyAgbs2BW5invAmNJ1VILj8yj4sG/s1600/IMG_3701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJh41McfWNoHDmHk4X3YqgSY4c9phxhbA2fUqTKX0M0HCeBHDJRgiD3hxPBweD7OOkXhIOLPjH54Dbhyphenhyphenov1SEhh_wgryP2ZXz2xXnP8yNXA6n7C1OCyAgbs2BW5invAmNJ1VILj8yj4sG/s320/IMG_3701.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left">We are going to try our hand at Ravioli today...We'll let you know how it goes!</div><div align="left"></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-73949212259070675472011-01-02T12:38:00.000-08:002011-01-02T12:38:33.539-08:00Another Christmas Here and Gone...Christmas 2010 <br />
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As you all know by now, we were not able to come home for Christmas due to my work schedule. However, we had a great Christmas here in Virginia. We spent the holiday with Richard's family. Sara, Tom, Leo, Josey and Luca are all here, just about 20-30 minutes from us. So we had good bargaining chips to get the rest of the family here for the holidays, and Maria, Stephen and Nana flew in to join us for the festivities. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04kQtmOIu6633UU18-xwBN6snEJInRmpwlEz4XoW-nwZk0d3qfjF4y6fJNghHfHHLge1WNLu_R4gLxpmlK80W7eaekfpp_Qt1z4bFNs0CQrZQE8Bm_ypCUeT_f541IJlbXA1YqNHFEGR9/s1600/IMG_3614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04kQtmOIu6633UU18-xwBN6snEJInRmpwlEz4XoW-nwZk0d3qfjF4y6fJNghHfHHLge1WNLu_R4gLxpmlK80W7eaekfpp_Qt1z4bFNs0CQrZQE8Bm_ypCUeT_f541IJlbXA1YqNHFEGR9/s320/IMG_3614.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our family here in Virginia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We essentially had a four day eating festival, with intermingled rest periods filled with lots of family fun. On Christmas eve, Richard and I hosted lunch at our apartment, consisting of Shrimp Linguini followed by Baked Salmon with Veggie Lentils, and Hello Dolly's for dessert. Then we went out to Sara and Tom's for the traditional Christmas eve festivities, including Chicken salad sandwiches, velveeta cheese dip, and ambrosia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZp3bYykoEQtTpaVK6avSbCdGG31NZEsaigPhFcPqXgEDALvIG7uFir58V-pB3INotgUzU4yu-usjrbUuFyPpXB_RP6L_dauQQ3xBbV5mTes9Ci_dN3_rV_EN6yREpLNeQvgXUzDHp1t0b/s1600/IMG_3676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZp3bYykoEQtTpaVK6avSbCdGG31NZEsaigPhFcPqXgEDALvIG7uFir58V-pB3INotgUzU4yu-usjrbUuFyPpXB_RP6L_dauQQ3xBbV5mTes9Ci_dN3_rV_EN6yREpLNeQvgXUzDHp1t0b/s320/IMG_3676.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Christmas day we had the whole traditional holiday feast complete with Turkey, dressing, cranberries, etc... We also enjoyed a day full of playing with the kids new toys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNORNk80Wcylb0k8VlwLPlunCxem8_gdIL7rv-M0YNckZCJLBxlw2FY5uB2kSRcHQwHy4vDHY_EDHXkYpHiwNBCMh3J0lfjEgwsdzybI159kfAu7ritCq9K-QXewQF9uR2HUNvqmPgg4or/s1600/IMG_3593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNORNk80Wcylb0k8VlwLPlunCxem8_gdIL7rv-M0YNckZCJLBxlw2FY5uB2kSRcHQwHy4vDHY_EDHXkYpHiwNBCMh3J0lfjEgwsdzybI159kfAu7ritCq9K-QXewQF9uR2HUNvqmPgg4or/s320/IMG_3593.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then the day after Christmas we were finally able to indulge in Sara's delicious lasanga!!! Thanks Sara!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We just had a great time spending some quality time with our family. We hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and we sincerely miss all of our friends and family back in TX, and hope we will be able to spend the holidays with you next year!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6drJxWzID5IM44qasHfCSaEcmRPZi3Y41AoROW0FY95WyWgjur8CmG2Ab6ju5z-t0k6Ya8tfN47Pc-40_rO-MWtN8wqh_kl46N8NSutWgKBV0pIDs3HzTCircOGgR-81X-vYxjp8SkbbG/s1600/IMG_3649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6drJxWzID5IM44qasHfCSaEcmRPZi3Y41AoROW0FY95WyWgjur8CmG2Ab6ju5z-t0k6Ya8tfN47Pc-40_rO-MWtN8wqh_kl46N8NSutWgKBV0pIDs3HzTCircOGgR-81X-vYxjp8SkbbG/s320/IMG_3649.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-9187448404662846892010-12-12T14:30:00.000-08:002010-12-12T14:35:05.687-08:00Christmas Cookie Extravaganza!!!This year my Christmas spirit cup has been running over. For those of you who don't remember last year we skipped Christmas altogether, and spent a week in Mexico. This meant no Christmas tree, no Chirstmas presents, and an unsual but wonderful Christmas dinner in Playa del Carmen. It was one of my favorite Christmas', it was exactly what I needed last year. But I think the break was exactly what I needed to renew my Christmas spirit! Because this year it is running our my ears!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeA77SYso0SZP-qfpSz-jQcsxnEOS-gsEgpz2URKTWAHRVasuJlOW4aJlGX2tnHEqmb1UzOzH6ZHlOf5WlcHYnwbfiSrg6TgOmhxsxzPMupJuVtzKtJ23qTP5HT52eAmDPHS_LpsdMUvwJ/s1600/IMG_3522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeA77SYso0SZP-qfpSz-jQcsxnEOS-gsEgpz2URKTWAHRVasuJlOW4aJlGX2tnHEqmb1UzOzH6ZHlOf5WlcHYnwbfiSrg6TgOmhxsxzPMupJuVtzKtJ23qTP5HT52eAmDPHS_LpsdMUvwJ/s320/IMG_3522.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The day after Thanksgiving we put up our Christmas tree, our first real Christmas tree, and started our month long Christmas moovie marathon. Since then I've finished all my Christmas shopping, listened to lots of Christmas music, and planned and executed a delicious Christmas cookie party, which brings me to the point of my post...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Saturday, December 11th- Girl's Day and Night In</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC0NShYddMoM7FytVcoCqM4Si7M4ZoH4dHNsNNmKi_Ia8T9XkaNdg69INY4Fx5ZdLRJ0c1kFLVlODSp2W7uDsR0rxPsXCmrzQZrwZddX4QbuAKUWT0tz9bsTh77ueQJN-8Bo0d1oaBw7O/s1600/IMG_3515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC0NShYddMoM7FytVcoCqM4Si7M4ZoH4dHNsNNmKi_Ia8T9XkaNdg69INY4Fx5ZdLRJ0c1kFLVlODSp2W7uDsR0rxPsXCmrzQZrwZddX4QbuAKUWT0tz9bsTh77ueQJN-8Bo0d1oaBw7O/s200/IMG_3515.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had some of my girlfriends over for lots and lots of cookies! I made two different batches of gingerbread, a batch of sugar cookies, two different types of icing, plus dinner. Needless to say we had more than enough cookies for everyone to take home with them. I really enjoyed my company, especially getting to introduce lauren to cookie cutting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHh2STpkm_dr354O4u-Hofz2ntm6Q2nJBMPpBtNFviDHKdUP2EYdngxvxd5V7g6Bp31DU_G0RJ9dtnowJXrqJg7PnapG-AJxGhRQUGlWR3kHyqMUiurmjTOliUU4vlxdYXuiuU6Noxi33/s1600/IMG_3504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHh2STpkm_dr354O4u-Hofz2ntm6Q2nJBMPpBtNFviDHKdUP2EYdngxvxd5V7g6Bp31DU_G0RJ9dtnowJXrqJg7PnapG-AJxGhRQUGlWR3kHyqMUiurmjTOliUU4vlxdYXuiuU6Noxi33/s320/IMG_3504.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zFHZg18pRUUHi82yHzxAh0hvdj4iZ5F-jsk24Ss_tLLObAVNUEiHtFsMoD1nDYiTk9hwkJqvuhMEIdP2ptH0yjoxoj9wtEdlBdEF1Wp7-lGSSSM6AA7Gu2KnriqdO1uycXOlW4OC7mg_/s1600/IMG_3514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zFHZg18pRUUHi82yHzxAh0hvdj4iZ5F-jsk24Ss_tLLObAVNUEiHtFsMoD1nDYiTk9hwkJqvuhMEIdP2ptH0yjoxoj9wtEdlBdEF1Wp7-lGSSSM6AA7Gu2KnriqdO1uycXOlW4OC7mg_/s320/IMG_3514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-80058606753779113402010-12-12T14:08:00.000-08:002010-12-12T14:08:23.865-08:00Ugly Christmas Sweaters!Saturday, December 4th<br />
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We were invited to an Ugly Christmas sweater pub crawl, and really who can pass up a chance to dawn a heinous Christmas sweater in public? Not me! So Richard and I went to Goodwill to look for something to wear, naturally we didn't bring any Christmas sweaters to DC with us... Much to our shock when we arrived they did not have a single Christmas sweater. So, per my friend Lauren's suggestion I decided to make my own, and we headed to Ross to find the canvas. Richard found a Christmas tree tie and I bought a cheap red sweater, and headed to the craft store to find the decorations, next thing you know this is what we came up with...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">We spent an excited evening hoping around Dupont Circle with some good friends!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIebIT1PMikCM845GsYP3bW8CLFO8UjrYhLgkL-u4oa_UQvZagnU4qC4lPrdIejeMdMZZs_xwIBEKZ-_tyUlsjWKeWgzneKCPveULYFhGIZS5jSwLfSFIqCWcsbhqUKKo0Cwr6HG2k4M1X/s1600/IMG_3453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIebIT1PMikCM845GsYP3bW8CLFO8UjrYhLgkL-u4oa_UQvZagnU4qC4lPrdIejeMdMZZs_xwIBEKZ-_tyUlsjWKeWgzneKCPveULYFhGIZS5jSwLfSFIqCWcsbhqUKKo0Cwr6HG2k4M1X/s320/IMG_3453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-36142505999000619192010-12-01T15:21:00.000-08:002010-12-01T15:21:03.969-08:00One year from TodayOne year from today I will be finished with my clinicals and will be about 1.5-2 months away from being a real CRNA and about two weeks shy of graduation. I know that's not long at all but I'm afraid it's going to be one long year with a lot of 10 and 12 hour shifts between now and then. I think I'm going to be exhausted by then. <br />
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Today also has another landmark it is the first day I've officially been off 1:1 at work. Which means now I'm practicing with more responsibility because I'm only working with anesthesiologist's and they are assigned to more than one OR simultaneously. This is basically the same set up as I anticipate once I'm done with school.<br />
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1 down 364 more to go...Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-1011603711363952732010-11-30T12:41:00.000-08:002010-11-30T12:41:03.887-08:00ThanksgivingThis year for Thanksgiving Richard and I enjoyed a very special treat, we got the company of both of my parents. They arrived on Tuesday after my written final exam and stayed through Sunday. The day they arrived we took a very expensive trip to the Natural History Museum... Why, you ask? Isn't it a Smithsonian, which means free entry? Yes it is, but we decided to drive, and parked on Constitution where we recieved a $100 parking ticket. On the upside, my father did at least see one of the Smithsonian museums on his visit to DC.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQQjlFv65waj_F9PNLVbEVfE6yioQwfxUBk6cBcMGcnzGBK5FC_U_b-HZ6x9cB8mWObnE_3GVREr-e7k9kIGCl4Gbre_UB-yqW9GsQ3taBp0u2RD2O6eFjlkrk967QFfEacgkJHVvmDRD/s1600/IMG_3353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQQjlFv65waj_F9PNLVbEVfE6yioQwfxUBk6cBcMGcnzGBK5FC_U_b-HZ6x9cB8mWObnE_3GVREr-e7k9kIGCl4Gbre_UB-yqW9GsQ3taBp0u2RD2O6eFjlkrk967QFfEacgkJHVvmDRD/s320/IMG_3353.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In our cool 3D glasses for the Grand Canyon IMAX</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_w1XfV0E7uGg0W_Vg1ceRDy0fA4_fn1dd4jTzRFriglYUO9QjxfF8MGTZXsSAKJpnd3q3I_lFQwSJiGE4Kz6ywu1Oe67kFrQjaTbDT1Lj06rXwSj46MYTWc6WIK1S-lNJ-XRSkPapXgI/s1600/IMG_3354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_w1XfV0E7uGg0W_Vg1ceRDy0fA4_fn1dd4jTzRFriglYUO9QjxfF8MGTZXsSAKJpnd3q3I_lFQwSJiGE4Kz6ywu1Oe67kFrQjaTbDT1Lj06rXwSj46MYTWc6WIK1S-lNJ-XRSkPapXgI/s320/IMG_3354.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In front of the Easter Island Head</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">On Wednesday, I had to work while Mom and Richard started on the feast preparations...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday, Feast Day, Thanksgiving... We got up and per tradition watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, while preparing lunch. For four little people we had a 8lb ham and a 14lb turkey (which we actually put on the scale to confirm), plus all the fixins (dressing, cranberry sauce, green beans, gravy, rolls, sweet potatoe balls, pea salad, devilled eggs, chocolate pie, carrot cake, and a chocolate pecan pie).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofmGwCyA3fpjPCUp8ezd8agX6lbhNSaxm_4KL1vntRv0YPjsvULM9unl4NfP-Mlt19LvCEX2CJTGrifiy9g2d_NplUinI-HsLAQ7tsycCXKJh2b4PpXpLRtI1MSzVi_-wmyfhBcL8zwg4/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofmGwCyA3fpjPCUp8ezd8agX6lbhNSaxm_4KL1vntRv0YPjsvULM9unl4NfP-Mlt19LvCEX2CJTGrifiy9g2d_NplUinI-HsLAQ7tsycCXKJh2b4PpXpLRtI1MSzVi_-wmyfhBcL8zwg4/s320/IMG_0152.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On Friday...Christmas BEGINS!!!! We headed out and purchased our first real Christmas tree, and got my Dad out of the house long enough to take a trip to whole foods and to the Marine Corps Memorial.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybVwBnouiiBceqlLqGzGQ3eGhMHgWdTkfmA6ZHg9ssu_2Q7hYjZ-nd8EuwLuYEBS1uxaEzXkQcZFetbsP_pAvpZxDJpM4kKSvueknQnxVJF7V4mYyf7fJXt95ad02_CIBvdhDUvBu7AGZ/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybVwBnouiiBceqlLqGzGQ3eGhMHgWdTkfmA6ZHg9ssu_2Q7hYjZ-nd8EuwLuYEBS1uxaEzXkQcZFetbsP_pAvpZxDJpM4kKSvueknQnxVJF7V4mYyf7fJXt95ad02_CIBvdhDUvBu7AGZ/s320/IMG_0170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNB8h5t3vjii-_YylccJWmegtH5wjy45pLjMBeuXP-PUQGRVLF4lcpwjA9OVzkHlUq5yTTQMpFJxUHfTu_yPqduq5y22gyG04vvCx2JdS9R1F2iyvjZGzipvsx4AICRQhYxVrFjl9r_75/s1600/IMG_0175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNB8h5t3vjii-_YylccJWmegtH5wjy45pLjMBeuXP-PUQGRVLF4lcpwjA9OVzkHlUq5yTTQMpFJxUHfTu_yPqduq5y22gyG04vvCx2JdS9R1F2iyvjZGzipvsx4AICRQhYxVrFjl9r_75/s320/IMG_0175.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We even have a real star for the top!!! (Also, a first)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The rest of the weekend was spent mostly eating Thanksgiving leftovers, watching Christmas movies (and Pawn stars), and my dad not leaving the house. Me, Richard and Mom headed out on a few hikes/nature walks to Great Falls and to the Teddy Roosevelt Island.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98H9h9OgRVVLxQ53vr4mISq1vAO6yy6bxGhn6Nd68bRUvaLcociX0d4g1RtvgPFIWQTb5hnCS7hObTTRnUA5HDMYQTVFZki7fcnhkoI_651hCMsORWTGu0R2Ay7MBV6YZjKs09IU3KM8c/s1600/IMG_3393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98H9h9OgRVVLxQ53vr4mISq1vAO6yy6bxGhn6Nd68bRUvaLcociX0d4g1RtvgPFIWQTb5hnCS7hObTTRnUA5HDMYQTVFZki7fcnhkoI_651hCMsORWTGu0R2Ay7MBV6YZjKs09IU3KM8c/s320/IMG_3393.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At Great Falls</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIePciHVALG7CLF7gEhWcAaw2yX2Dy26n03IHVwyTASk1hBE7ieZDoGBDutrBwV3lolKbzcq-bO5ZX5z_AX_fOWpxdqGxa1s3eFqbOsJK2ix7Q9Hem01rWZPasbtFelrcEqOxsk4utYEU/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIePciHVALG7CLF7gEhWcAaw2yX2Dy26n03IHVwyTASk1hBE7ieZDoGBDutrBwV3lolKbzcq-bO5ZX5z_AX_fOWpxdqGxa1s3eFqbOsJK2ix7Q9Hem01rWZPasbtFelrcEqOxsk4utYEU/s320/IMG_0190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Island.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Christmas followed just two days after Thanksgiving...the big news...we got an iPad!!! Thanks mom!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also, I want to give Lauren a special shoutout for the wine and Cheesecake she delivered!</div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-11001352587898052332010-11-16T07:20:00.000-08:002010-11-16T07:20:45.768-08:00Great Falls, the name says it all!Saturday, November 13th<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-7-1rhwbqWy9eOXUOO_XefxJNuiXuhH9tNSLiSkfjVV566vQFOggqaXDnUJkLHik2854viB6pi6YXNaTyIT6W3BkUEWpU0fPegRO1Ql-PxjXeYwc4v3j7tcc9trjz0GYxPtoumMYUBZ-/s1600/IMG_3318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-7-1rhwbqWy9eOXUOO_XefxJNuiXuhH9tNSLiSkfjVV566vQFOggqaXDnUJkLHik2854viB6pi6YXNaTyIT6W3BkUEWpU0fPegRO1Ql-PxjXeYwc4v3j7tcc9trjz0GYxPtoumMYUBZ-/s320/IMG_3318.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Richard and I met some friends for a hike at Great Falls National Park. This is a park about 15 miles out of the city, on the Potomac River, overlooking yup, you guessed it, the falls. It was a beautiful place, and the weather was amazing, it was sunny and 60 on Saturday, and all the leaves are bright orange, yellow and read, with some green and purple interspersed. The fall is really beautiful here. I never knew what a great season I was missing in Texas, this is one of the few aspects in which DC has something on Texas. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMkwVyI8cMdiAp0vYOflgr5toveH8naTlT8cIXyNpnxz7lJ1pbNjSsknKu87bWe0-93_9pEwvMYSlgs9Rceo6Zgc7jtUdikifgN-IIqfFIEeeYDXuqiXSR8rWq8l8igyItDF5Tbsv9vWE/s1600/IMG_3322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMkwVyI8cMdiAp0vYOflgr5toveH8naTlT8cIXyNpnxz7lJ1pbNjSsknKu87bWe0-93_9pEwvMYSlgs9Rceo6Zgc7jtUdikifgN-IIqfFIEeeYDXuqiXSR8rWq8l8igyItDF5Tbsv9vWE/s320/IMG_3322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's also pretty amazing that something this beautiful and this rustic is 15 miles from the heart of our nation. It is amazing here how so areas feel so serene despite the location. I feel like one of the major reasons is that the governments around here are very big on preservation, it takes an act of congress to cut down a tree, so everything is wooded and beautiful.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkpvhYuzhfrmhuIyYWbC5a5Yo2Dv7LtqqUq3SWIp2-MbGNaKS3Y_sJ8AhVpr65eSE6MkvlzCLUCmDobpu-dslbq6Kx4iFvIYf2NnKJ8K-yIT2EPcWuhFFgbh-2FtvMKAnjWjFsSdIoFLp/s1600/IMG_3319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkpvhYuzhfrmhuIyYWbC5a5Yo2Dv7LtqqUq3SWIp2-MbGNaKS3Y_sJ8AhVpr65eSE6MkvlzCLUCmDobpu-dslbq6Kx4iFvIYf2NnKJ8K-yIT2EPcWuhFFgbh-2FtvMKAnjWjFsSdIoFLp/s320/IMG_3319.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-7516895265054713552010-11-16T07:08:00.000-08:002010-11-16T07:10:30.921-08:00Meeting Luca!!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzGy4n_wdTmG_8HbE0E4falD4fes-qqnCWf6g43VEkxqQNhGOj3g1RGqs2xHse7vPcH2OTMPC6_RDbkBqtUxtA-OEAKDTWCmYyswk0F5Lvv5X9AAhyphenhyphenrBFh7a9bO50ZGjuFECUZh8oAykB/s1600/IMG_3312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzGy4n_wdTmG_8HbE0E4falD4fes-qqnCWf6g43VEkxqQNhGOj3g1RGqs2xHse7vPcH2OTMPC6_RDbkBqtUxtA-OEAKDTWCmYyswk0F5Lvv5X9AAhyphenhyphenrBFh7a9bO50ZGjuFECUZh8oAykB/s320/IMG_3312.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
Sunday, October 31st<br />
As of Thursday, October 28, 2010, we are again an aunt and an uncle! Sara and Tom's newest edition Luca Taddeo Dell'Omo, graced the world with his appearance. Right on time as Tom pointed out, on his exact due date, he's starting out this life on a good note. Do you think he will always value puncuality? We shall see. We are thrilled to get to spend so much time with Tom, Sara, Leo, and Josey, and now we can add Luca to the list. </div><br />
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It was also Halloween, so we got to see Leo and Josey all dressed up for some trick or treating. Leo was feeling a little under the weather, and was so worried he was going to miss trick or treating, it was so cute! He was afraid he wouldn't get to show his friends his costume, which was pretty much the coolest costume EVER! Sara made him a firetruck...see for yourself, she's got talent! And Josey made an adorable lady bug!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KFi48uyb702ZG31W6nI8P2Y4qLqdEchFxeSJmhLUVSdC1zqMr8LA4B6WphSgTcBGcoyQTt0hqQxUrE92UGSk-lAjXpbtRPiJCHYccsuUn_sAkpQa3YTr9PCZSKvv4DJnb6ogMDBvJJ0D/s1600/IMG_3306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KFi48uyb702ZG31W6nI8P2Y4qLqdEchFxeSJmhLUVSdC1zqMr8LA4B6WphSgTcBGcoyQTt0hqQxUrE92UGSk-lAjXpbtRPiJCHYccsuUn_sAkpQa3YTr9PCZSKvv4DJnb6ogMDBvJJ0D/s320/IMG_3306.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPOIygL8rJkIQeLgS4EAU1IzBZ3xUbXqrXe5YX_EGpFri_831Oid4hDxiGfWCeX_J-y5TlXlfijRXruIv_SPhxgo-JfowJ3jFSGSHKrVXGWYurUEMgdhosKmJtNZRRwf8P9kVnFxc6WwM/s1600/IMG_3309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPOIygL8rJkIQeLgS4EAU1IzBZ3xUbXqrXe5YX_EGpFri_831Oid4hDxiGfWCeX_J-y5TlXlfijRXruIv_SPhxgo-JfowJ3jFSGSHKrVXGWYurUEMgdhosKmJtNZRRwf8P9kVnFxc6WwM/s320/IMG_3309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-76836982237537741662010-11-16T06:57:00.000-08:002010-11-16T06:58:40.347-08:00NO, I'm not the Statue of Liberty!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Saturday, October 30</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Halloween 2010 we competed in the DC Challenge Haunted History Scavenger Hunt, well sort of... This was the same day as the Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert Rally, which caused a mass influx of people resulting in jammed cell phone signals. Translation we had no Internet access on our iPhones. So we had difficulty figuring out the clues, plus we had no real game plan, and the clues were spread all over the city (see map for clue locations). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietA8KpJ4zu7uq0ztmnRcsQqGo7kYXB7nqpkUg-ZW6ZHEshgu3e9ufX_xZYUvSvoPeglzy8w_LQpb06lc_WX41XhMSPnheqCdxHqaNSxUEzKFDvZIxjGQeSR-kk2jWzNMPhBXGhpYRIF9V/s1600/DC+Challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="248" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietA8KpJ4zu7uq0ztmnRcsQqGo7kYXB7nqpkUg-ZW6ZHEshgu3e9ufX_xZYUvSvoPeglzy8w_LQpb06lc_WX41XhMSPnheqCdxHqaNSxUEzKFDvZIxjGQeSR-kk2jWzNMPhBXGhpYRIF9V/s400/DC+Challenge.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I mean really, would you know who the 24th president is or where he died? It was tough, so we basically figured out all the clues, and then decided it was way to spread out and we didn't have a map, so we went to two of the spots, then we got cold and decided to go back to the bar and hang out. So we gave up!...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was an immensely fun outing, on our way there the streets were packed with people and we were the only ones dressed up at 4:00 in the afternoon. But at least 10 people stopped us to take our picture because they enjoyed our costumes, so that was nice, except when we were in a hurry.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_9WWmS0k3RTLZYP5290QHOT8po3A1R8SsKV8gAPTJT1qJfIanhp-HL1Jeubze9jbox4SCG-cG7Qe0WhACOZGmjNMsxgo6ZqwkrA1dwNixOcllFCnDw4x73KXTh_G_8yZ_hLspPJL0F79/s1600/IMG_3235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_9WWmS0k3RTLZYP5290QHOT8po3A1R8SsKV8gAPTJT1qJfIanhp-HL1Jeubze9jbox4SCG-cG7Qe0WhACOZGmjNMsxgo6ZqwkrA1dwNixOcllFCnDw4x73KXTh_G_8yZ_hLspPJL0F79/s320/IMG_3235.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I spent weeks fervently trying to come up with a good, ORIGINAL, group costume Idea. I thought I/We came up with some pretty good ideas...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">California Raisins</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TMNT (way overdone, but still would have been fun)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pacman + ghosts (there were 3 of these at the party)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mythical creatures (cyclops, sphinx, Cerberus, etc)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's hard to come up with a good costume to fit your exact group, we had 3 girls and 1 guy (who was very picky)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then I started actually coming up with some good ideas, and the finalists were:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">National Cathedral Gargoyles </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(still would have been super fun, but definitely would have had to explain that one)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Medusa and Statues</span></div><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHD1iEzF6VDOdPTqSG5hnAHoas4EKQbs7AhxhjLDLKBGjieLcf_7oxsfHTkj0vzQOTuvUW6P_qYjb9sT19xSG-MEfro8jua01EarYlEryNaTYbuczcACfhueQg_6ld592hyphenhyphenOFwC3RAHEHC/s1600/IMG_3241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHD1iEzF6VDOdPTqSG5hnAHoas4EKQbs7AhxhjLDLKBGjieLcf_7oxsfHTkj0vzQOTuvUW6P_qYjb9sT19xSG-MEfro8jua01EarYlEryNaTYbuczcACfhueQg_6ld592hyphenhyphenOFwC3RAHEHC/s320/IMG_3241.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, it's clear which idea won...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The most unfortunate part of our costume choice was that we didn't take into account the stupidity of the general population. This is how the conversation went...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Person: "Oh, cool, you're Medusa, and you're a statue"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Us: "yes..."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Person: I don't get it</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Us: You know who Medusa is?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Person: Yes, she's the lady with snakes for hair, don't look in her eyes...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Us: What happens if you look in her eyes?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Person: You turn to stone...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Person: Oh! I get it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wow! Took you long enough!!!</span></div><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiil2VTczsg4bNetefcii3OImQuS80mNdE1uMxpeXg3FF3bhvRtENxTrddmjkMyFfEfLkMk7mwYrpYQvfVANbVKlbyyetxY1BWI9JnULJpAm4rMQJ20wprlVVHFum4QC-5ZZ-Ru7lTkWNGZ/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiil2VTczsg4bNetefcii3OImQuS80mNdE1uMxpeXg3FF3bhvRtENxTrddmjkMyFfEfLkMk7mwYrpYQvfVANbVKlbyyetxY1BWI9JnULJpAm4rMQJ20wprlVVHFum4QC-5ZZ-Ru7lTkWNGZ/s320/IMG_3242.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Our second mistake was giving our team a witty name, Snakes and Stones was our team name... So when it came time to vote for the costume contest, no one knew who we were...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We ended up winning 5th place in the costume contest behind the following:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1st: Super huge homemade Mr. and Mrs. Pacman</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2nd: Wine entourage (they had two people who were barrels, two bunches of grapes, a corkscrew, cheese, etc, very good execution)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3rd: Double Dare Contestants (Red and Blue teams)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4th: The Fallopian Swim Team (ya know sperm)</span></div><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQh1CBA9KclSABSMdHYkdxwydJ74_QvMhMoUvVM_kSO3yx3ow_02pdM-9dcG2XR4InhBqU2glBsKG_0qmseTOxM_h4cUvSwM7ogbwb8trZb9w_9C47UMVHbiyt6EKmz4iVd7DQ8uxn5ce/s1600/IMG_3294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQh1CBA9KclSABSMdHYkdxwydJ74_QvMhMoUvVM_kSO3yx3ow_02pdM-9dcG2XR4InhBqU2glBsKG_0qmseTOxM_h4cUvSwM7ogbwb8trZb9w_9C47UMVHbiyt6EKmz4iVd7DQ8uxn5ce/s320/IMG_3294.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The WORST part about this entire process, wasn't even the mess in the bathroom. It took us a full 2-2.5 hours to get ready, which is not too bad, but we were in a super hurry. But Sunday morning it took me 4 hours to get all the liquid latex off. It was super painful. Have you ever been waxed anywhere? Well it was like getting a full body wax, PAINFUL! My husband was very kind to help me get if off (he took his off the night before after several drinks...smart), however I do think he enjoyed it a little too much. Needless to say, if you ever get the urge to use liquid latex, it definitely has a place, but call me so I can give you some advice first.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I hope you all had as much fun on your Halloween adventures as we did!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">P.S. Happy Birthday to my dear friend Melissa! I miss you like crazy!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-85185804948624746152010-11-16T06:18:00.000-08:002010-11-16T06:20:17.379-08:00Happy Birthday LEO!!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Sunday, October 24th</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Leo's fourth birthday was quite an adventure. Seeing as Sara was 37 1/2 weeks pregnant, we weren't sure she would make it to the party, much less through the party. But she did! It was a great party, Leo was very proud because he "didn't even cry this time". I've posted pictures from birthday 3 and 4, so you can see why he said this. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is also the day I became Uncle Crystal... Leo was excited that Richard and I were coming and he told his grandpa that his Uncle Richard and Uncle Crystal were coming...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTF7xJ7c7uHQJOz19Vdw2wvjHCn6EUzy6bNdOkgiL2x1PpDHakHWrn5HivLPuA7539DDY_GEdUAR1kmaXcpKxXckt9tSvN8oMpeeMHFrLZY8gmS-rlByu-IIQPgbnnGBhJaRw1rP6HDnN/s1600/IMG_3225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTF7xJ7c7uHQJOz19Vdw2wvjHCn6EUzy6bNdOkgiL2x1PpDHakHWrn5HivLPuA7539DDY_GEdUAR1kmaXcpKxXckt9tSvN8oMpeeMHFrLZY8gmS-rlByu-IIQPgbnnGBhJaRw1rP6HDnN/s320/IMG_3225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He had a fire truck birthday if your curious about Richard's super cool tattoo.</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqUmjsGS-8qexJVW3a38xb1eZrpUUM86N_IRxUnNHvI2B4Aj6qBdRaQmb_NKjuZbc7LL5KD1rRd6eLzsmOqlYkikpGzTqvO9KxNACsPowfh8hj8lfa6HkL0mn4io5MGBC_8OJ3ebV-AvK/s1600/IMG_3226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqUmjsGS-8qexJVW3a38xb1eZrpUUM86N_IRxUnNHvI2B4Aj6qBdRaQmb_NKjuZbc7LL5KD1rRd6eLzsmOqlYkikpGzTqvO9KxNACsPowfh8hj8lfa6HkL0mn4io5MGBC_8OJ3ebV-AvK/s320/IMG_3226.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMhHL4BCOwaYH5Nb4jQ3ToQuW-1Swi4enJNxtFTo1ntuEUJn1pYs2OoiNMlgHolnIFLu50bKS6_sLMJGdSXsQk1auNqmmqy2JLtikxPmdmuve3vJl503Z5rN__u-uZgu73YwrG_uNWr0g/s1600/IMG_2281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMhHL4BCOwaYH5Nb4jQ3ToQuW-1Swi4enJNxtFTo1ntuEUJn1pYs2OoiNMlgHolnIFLu50bKS6_sLMJGdSXsQk1auNqmmqy2JLtikxPmdmuve3vJl503Z5rN__u-uZgu73YwrG_uNWr0g/s320/IMG_2281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Leo's 3rd Birthday, 10/24/09</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-vbn3UqBtVMC22FIIFjgQ8zuBk6IxwENDfuScMxXz0lZGNFropjwwrU3kg2FseojEBmOtejhNr9ZgT2Xt1Od-ce56x6cCgDeFncHSy9jg6moT2xRKcz6PHkgteE-GaWbzWshWxdhPgp5/s1600/IMG_3224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-vbn3UqBtVMC22FIIFjgQ8zuBk6IxwENDfuScMxXz0lZGNFropjwwrU3kg2FseojEBmOtejhNr9ZgT2Xt1Od-ce56x6cCgDeFncHSy9jg6moT2xRKcz6PHkgteE-GaWbzWshWxdhPgp5/s320/IMG_3224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Leo's 4th Birthday, 10/24/10</div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-65444418947850342212010-11-16T06:01:00.000-08:002010-11-16T06:01:15.292-08:00Happy Birthday Heyni!!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">October 16th</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Heyni's Birthday was October 9th (we were in Philadelphia), so we had a belated celebration<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bRNRIi4DuGtNW-rAo3xPQaoPrD51kI90KEtkX8WErwL35N6ukFYNp3Ty3amTnkFf5vZ4Y_RPsQyUgIZ5nRJk-mOcZAeubMsBX2qnKcm8gpcIBSP2YmzTuMY-XXZV3fsv6yhSOYq5LeGN/s1600/IMG_3207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bRNRIi4DuGtNW-rAo3xPQaoPrD51kI90KEtkX8WErwL35N6ukFYNp3Ty3amTnkFf5vZ4Y_RPsQyUgIZ5nRJk-mOcZAeubMsBX2qnKcm8gpcIBSP2YmzTuMY-XXZV3fsv6yhSOYq5LeGN/s320/IMG_3207.JPG" width="240" /></a>. We had dinner at Jaleo in Bethesda, and for the record I think La Tasca is way better, as far as tapas goes. We luckily arrived before she did so I was able to give the waiter her cupcake, to surprise her at the end of the meal. BTW the beautiful pan of carrot pineapple cupcakes I made, were all wrapped up, she had to open them at the end of the meal. So she didn't get her flan, but she did get her cream cheese icing. Once she opened them, she decided to dole out the cupcakes based on which ones fit our personalities....the results...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7mlFpgqrAe1UeCMWNfj2PZRnU5M2TTPR5GUps9xg0szA87gpZPlnOD3J8tHMXgscLMIRKKSyJFQwChjD4vmzurcnbAuwmr2RCcHwY6cKe7rBnQw6SGfmImGWGKM4C8aHQ58ilqwafrcb/s1600/IMG_3208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7mlFpgqrAe1UeCMWNfj2PZRnU5M2TTPR5GUps9xg0szA87gpZPlnOD3J8tHMXgscLMIRKKSyJFQwChjD4vmzurcnbAuwmr2RCcHwY6cKe7rBnQw6SGfmImGWGKM4C8aHQ58ilqwafrcb/s320/IMG_3208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Lauren got the long sprinkles...her fav...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZR3bGOSGHtzg2xlXdEiU1VPpVPmjNFt2bk9vQb15wvfYiVTIv1OOj40H4iI-Z6VRinDKcdWFNXcjeR-Ay1f7iZnf8RfpZje1FBGjpjJ6GIUP0RxUqtNT9_WLhMqVtOUd0RG96lQFDrB2/s1600/IMG_3209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZR3bGOSGHtzg2xlXdEiU1VPpVPmjNFt2bk9vQb15wvfYiVTIv1OOj40H4iI-Z6VRinDKcdWFNXcjeR-Ay1f7iZnf8RfpZje1FBGjpjJ6GIUP0RxUqtNT9_WLhMqVtOUd0RG96lQFDrB2/s200/IMG_3209.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I got one I like to call the birth of a vampire...I was feeling very artistic!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugHKU8a_VdYUTroV6k4xMLw3E_n9LEwU9NRmPSO16mSXFxoREu_FRxKZi5tuW6jdCnyxGUkTmy2me4WaZvBLulvavODBRUD885SWO0j7aeRYCKP15dCz0qP5UHMjsKDBWQKh_n6eIPObF/s1600/IMG_3213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugHKU8a_VdYUTroV6k4xMLw3E_n9LEwU9NRmPSO16mSXFxoREu_FRxKZi5tuW6jdCnyxGUkTmy2me4WaZvBLulvavODBRUD885SWO0j7aeRYCKP15dCz0qP5UHMjsKDBWQKh_n6eIPObF/s200/IMG_3213.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Richard got the Pumpkin, which he was not about to let me photograph.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yClS5Y9g9TisjL7o3DANCG9vFncBDwr-FZb8JDp8By35qOPRQX6ZLifepg_Fy-k1dg-7S0c2Ehd4XTU7ZS7lhqmb6qbUPJ15y4baQ4t0FdNlPhDmkjN1cE3bVpqFWb42oLxoUsK8M-tW/s1600/IMG_3210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yClS5Y9g9TisjL7o3DANCG9vFncBDwr-FZb8JDp8By35qOPRQX6ZLifepg_Fy-k1dg-7S0c2Ehd4XTU7ZS7lhqmb6qbUPJ15y4baQ4t0FdNlPhDmkjN1cE3bVpqFWb42oLxoUsK8M-tW/s200/IMG_3210.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Nicole got the yellow orange swirls of fire...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWDLwb0tXKMNVpIMRbRckE6lQXqsWHNMfohG1-r7E8DWnGi0IIpos1jvCLJQF9TknKSA2TzwzeHRUdXtkzB-vb3Gm-PnGckVq-qarp4GOYV6ENyRmPbwrm_4mdYgLfTZHmnotUeWi152V/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWDLwb0tXKMNVpIMRbRckE6lQXqsWHNMfohG1-r7E8DWnGi0IIpos1jvCLJQF9TknKSA2TzwzeHRUdXtkzB-vb3Gm-PnGckVq-qarp4GOYV6ENyRmPbwrm_4mdYgLfTZHmnotUeWi152V/s200/IMG_3212.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't have a picture of Jay, but he got the bats, because he rescued Heyni from a bat in her apartment once...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">After the cupcake sorting was finished we headed out to Markoff's Haunted Forrest, a bit outdoor haunted house somewhere in the woods in Maryland. It was an experience for sure. The line was crazy long, but once we got through to the waiting area, they had fire dancers, a zombie DJ, and giant campfires to keep us warm. Once in the haunted house the scariest part was just not knowing when they were going to pop out, the funniest part was watching Kate, Nicole, and Lauren react. Heyni could have been a ghost hunter in another life. The only bad part was when I almost had an astha attack from all the chain saw fumes, and having a chainsaw up against your leg (not my idea of a good time). But what's a haunted house without a chainsaw. Overall it was a very nice time, with great people.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-56759556387474791762010-10-19T07:12:00.000-07:002010-10-19T07:18:01.319-07:00Philadelphia, PA<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">The Reason:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">I had an oral exam the Tuesday after our anniversary so I had to study over the weekend, so we didn't get to do anything special. So we decided to take advantage of the proximity of cities in the northeast, and take a weekend to visit Philadelphia. Neither of us had been here before so it was just a good way to celebrate 3 years of marriage!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVc6sZ2EYoUpIVf6Z4axX6vazm63IkgG5AptTVkvU4f56NwjF4Pr8uHW5MY77GCF0p5lHf5grSzU_XT-fielHqGRy4unDiUaDfkgO2oge1PGYMlh1DNnedLEwPzWMEXVaG73mNT1_3xMuh/s1600/IMG_3056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVc6sZ2EYoUpIVf6Z4axX6vazm63IkgG5AptTVkvU4f56NwjF4Pr8uHW5MY77GCF0p5lHf5grSzU_XT-fielHqGRy4unDiUaDfkgO2oge1PGYMlh1DNnedLEwPzWMEXVaG73mNT1_3xMuh/s320/IMG_3056.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div><span style="color: red;">Richard and I had an amazing time, on our anniversary weekend. Saturday we went to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Christ Church and the Christ Church Graveyard, Carpenter's Hall, the First National Bank, etc... It was interesting to think about being in the birthplace of our nation, and pretty amazing to stand in the very same room that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. </span><br />
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</span></div><span style="color: red;">After a morning full of history, we headed to the Franklin Institute. This is an interactive science museum in honour of Benjamin Franklin, it was so much fun. They had a giant heart, and you could walk through the chambers along the path of blood flow. They also had an OR suite set up, so I was able to show Richard what I do everyday. If you have kids or are just a big kid yourself, and are planning a visit to Philly, you must go here. It was very entertaining, but the reason we went was to attend a temporary exhibit called "Cleopatra: The search for the last Queen of Egypt". This is a National Geographic exhibit, very similar to the King Tut exhibit, so if you enjoyed that, you will definately enjoy Cleopatra.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">Sunday, before heading home we visited the Rodin Museum (definately worth a look). Before taking a trip up the famed "Rocky Steps", to see the best view of the city. Then we headed to Pat's steaks for treat for the road. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQg9Sh57ngwEIatVCm0ubqyN4VbzjKGagq_wHoST_0BEFkhX0U8F0hRRwcOCEdlV1ASyO0G3LWA79pF-rByVRguhbXZVKIL9Tvq3qKatdunDNRZ7SOPRS-Beic6_7Uronh1kbz2A7L3j2/s1600/IMG_3198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQg9Sh57ngwEIatVCm0ubqyN4VbzjKGagq_wHoST_0BEFkhX0U8F0hRRwcOCEdlV1ASyO0G3LWA79pF-rByVRguhbXZVKIL9Tvq3qKatdunDNRZ7SOPRS-Beic6_7Uronh1kbz2A7L3j2/s320/IMG_3198.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">Hotel:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">Sheraton City Center</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">Hotel Review:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">A+. It was very nice hotel, in a PERFECT location. Situated right on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a short stroll from all the museums and the Love park, and about a 15-20 minute walk to all the historic stuff. The view was great too!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">Bistro 7****: We ate here friday night. Fabulous, intimate BYO restaurant, near the historic center. Very romantic atmosphere with an organic decor. The food was mostly local, seasonal. The highlight was the fresh butternut squash ravioli in a sage bacon cream.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">Reading Terminal Market*****: Saturday Breakfast. HIGHLIGHT of my trip. This place was like heaven for me. It's a huge indoor market with all kinds of local fresh food, produce, candy, seafood, meat, everything you can imagine. It was wonderful, they have just about any kind of food you could hope for from classic homestyle cooking, to crepes, to Indian, to Cajun and everything in between. We had Amazing crepes at Profi's Creperie (I highly reccommend), just as good as a streetcart in Paris. We also had the famous fresh blueberry pancakes at the Dutch Eating Place, a must! These were the lightest fluffiest pancakes, and you've only tasted blueberries this fresh if you've picked them yourself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhto6hx4N3jzYLcwP4Er8mEqNOUv7LUOY0jrlwa5y9EZuTb280-h45Q1ui0tTtof7wYYSizpcQJ6hysMynooypFm7WkGSVIRoQ9rQqng9USF1x9tF3AErqiznDltj2n0pxey9E7N3PBWftq/s1600/IMG_3069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhto6hx4N3jzYLcwP4Er8mEqNOUv7LUOY0jrlwa5y9EZuTb280-h45Q1ui0tTtof7wYYSizpcQJ6hysMynooypFm7WkGSVIRoQ9rQqng9USF1x9tF3AErqiznDltj2n0pxey9E7N3PBWftq/s200/IMG_3069.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="color: red;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">Gigi**: This was a wild card, we hadn't planned on eating here, but they had patio dining on a beautiful day and we were nearby so we stopped to eat. The hummus was great, it was combined with a traditional pesto, great combo. The sandwiches were good, but average, with a fresh delicious seasonal side salad. It's ok, but don't go out of your way to go here.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">Kanella*****: This is a Greek BYO. The food is fantastic, seasonal/local (see the theme) menu changes monthly. The atmosphere is lively and homey, feels very much like you are having an animated family dinner. We had Rabbit White Bean casserole as an appetizer, it was tender, hearty, and had a very luxurious feel. Try it out if it's on the menu.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIdHRVXdBoW5AHgfRrV4CxFgRRyY14zSkz-eiY0L2Tp1oyxs7PZxaaZMtYakV6wkn7FP8-NWPVJysQTbqy4KlWRF2ZCn4ZMnVdqaHzaxMLHicR6is4WZA_s-xNV_HU7rrvYzTyL0coxk2/s1600/IMG_3181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIdHRVXdBoW5AHgfRrV4CxFgRRyY14zSkz-eiY0L2Tp1oyxs7PZxaaZMtYakV6wkn7FP8-NWPVJysQTbqy4KlWRF2ZCn4ZMnVdqaHzaxMLHicR6is4WZA_s-xNV_HU7rrvYzTyL0coxk2/s200/IMG_3181.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBuNk0gCcRk1mXml3Hpkx30pwpOUx5iwQ1LA7SNfRKg5wm3kSoYYdckGjueEDPiX42bVykgNva9KYYnAi5K1vKqss4pBrEprRrxwqybWMAbyPt7O4M6uys2C3sGa35F0sK0gQHDCoT74I/s1600/IMG_3180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBuNk0gCcRk1mXml3Hpkx30pwpOUx5iwQ1LA7SNfRKg5wm3kSoYYdckGjueEDPiX42bVykgNva9KYYnAi5K1vKqss4pBrEprRrxwqybWMAbyPt7O4M6uys2C3sGa35F0sK0gQHDCoT74I/s200/IMG_3180.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">Sabrina's Cafe*****: This is one of the best breakfast's I've had at a restaurant and the chef seem's to have an obsession with Chuck Norris (which is always a plus). It's very popular, get there early on the weekend. We had the french toast, it was made out of inch thick brioche slices, soo soo great! Also, all their savory breakfast options come served with delicious crispy homestyle potatoes. </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwFhJ5MuJ7XPtiHAZQpiI1XvJtFKuKc4IzCAWpUZS1FYiWf6-LqdB7wnZr4gH36L2j5Bng4Z1xZcizB8fsArWcF9w6nvAPIt3ZuY2EjrumBF2L5scJEngJ7MxA9Yffv05KBWYlIOCt0hk/s1600/IMG_3193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwFhJ5MuJ7XPtiHAZQpiI1XvJtFKuKc4IzCAWpUZS1FYiWf6-LqdB7wnZr4gH36L2j5Bng4Z1xZcizB8fsArWcF9w6nvAPIt3ZuY2EjrumBF2L5scJEngJ7MxA9Yffv05KBWYlIOCt0hk/s320/IMG_3193.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;">Pat's King of Steaks****: The birthplace of the Philly Cheesesteak. The line was about 20 minutes long at noon on a Sunday. It was delicious, and we didn't even eat it for about 2 hours. I reccommend trying the Cheese Whiz, untraditional for most of us, but worth a try. Caveat: I've never been to Geno's so I can offer no comparison as of now.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUiN1NMK6FCz9dg0_HZwaEKcCKPLATP0xkODsVlvFQUILjoZPYamZvi0XtH_ug5NMG7UUiMVDg4nCKYAlU95O7B8wceohTrU_LxZItpCKL4gDmNPKtvZfFFpKhCWGzzlrN_OHY3Z9p59u/s1600/IMG_3203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUiN1NMK6FCz9dg0_HZwaEKcCKPLATP0xkODsVlvFQUILjoZPYamZvi0XtH_ug5NMG7UUiMVDg4nCKYAlU95O7B8wceohTrU_LxZItpCKL4gDmNPKtvZfFFpKhCWGzzlrN_OHY3Z9p59u/s400/IMG_3203.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-25396057696057608342010-10-12T13:54:00.000-07:002010-10-12T13:54:20.746-07:003 years and Counting...<span style="color: red;"><strong>9-29-10</strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiq_Bn2ewOlkr46p2DLUBhUu0qHc9AIQUvcw7jUQ4wg1FmAsnRzmRNIMAskeUO0gxrzPgMJAjN8GC-nIEonfxubSthOglBu-oBz8pJemx-2VQdI7rdNRilVlzfZwvKp0jnY6DvsZ-gy6Ot/s1600/IMG_3028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><strong><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiq_Bn2ewOlkr46p2DLUBhUu0qHc9AIQUvcw7jUQ4wg1FmAsnRzmRNIMAskeUO0gxrzPgMJAjN8GC-nIEonfxubSthOglBu-oBz8pJemx-2VQdI7rdNRilVlzfZwvKp0jnY6DvsZ-gy6Ot/s320/IMG_3028.JPG" width="240" /></strong></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>This was the anniversary of the best day of our lives! (the day we got married)</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: red;"><strong>Since it was the middle of the week, the celebrations were minimal, but we both enjoyed it immensely!</strong></span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>We tried out a restaurant in DC called Cedar, that Richard picked out. Neither of us had been here before, and we didn't know anyone who had, but decided to give it a go. It was A-mazing! If you need a restaurant rec in DC, try Cedar. I highly reccommend the braised oysters with leek in cream, it is the best appetizer I have had in a long time. If you don't like oysters, TRY IT, this is your chance! You will love it, trust me! Then Richard had a perfect NY strip on a bed of canellini puree and I had a perfectly cooked butter poached lobster on a bed of mashed potatoes and creamy crimini mushrooms, we both highly reccomend these dishes if you go. </strong></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ6LQlN_r9QgvcRGKWyNkhRmPbpijE4MqFP5TzF8K6qhiMyxiQlVXO7TU4oCRbs61zPBjQlVrNKTyeN1lPDnkX37k4UKkwW2WdnhLBwji9hAyy47Sf85KYj45ztq9XpeIho-eLRMZA_fJ/s1600/IMG_3046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><strong><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ6LQlN_r9QgvcRGKWyNkhRmPbpijE4MqFP5TzF8K6qhiMyxiQlVXO7TU4oCRbs61zPBjQlVrNKTyeN1lPDnkX37k4UKkwW2WdnhLBwji9hAyy47Sf85KYj45ztq9XpeIho-eLRMZA_fJ/s320/IMG_3046.JPG" width="320" /></strong></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Guess what we bought each other? We both bought SHOES! Haha! We had a good laugh about it... We both separately without discussing it, researched the traditional gift for the third anniversary, which is leather. Best leather gift=Shoes!</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9E7EOd9cBqIPOsNS5dlj8ba_gdg3OkoNQrC6qtqnr4BWse7hmEROO51gdPg8yZfxUscVDQsorBATfXj6L4etxUOnU6Z2I4o5nW0MdK28IePjjX8c0xUxpyACytNT5m3JwAeO2aLPphH8f/s1600/IMG_3042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><strong><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9E7EOd9cBqIPOsNS5dlj8ba_gdg3OkoNQrC6qtqnr4BWse7hmEROO51gdPg8yZfxUscVDQsorBATfXj6L4etxUOnU6Z2I4o5nW0MdK28IePjjX8c0xUxpyACytNT5m3JwAeO2aLPphH8f/s320/IMG_3042.JPG" width="240" /></strong></span></a></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-8323164082535159242010-09-27T14:26:00.000-07:002010-09-27T14:26:25.048-07:00A day in the life...So now that clinicals are in full swing I thought I might give you a little idea of what my life is like...(on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday)<br />
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5am-Get up<br />
5:30-Leave for work, the drive to the hospital is one of my favorite things about my day. At this time of day it's a short drive with very little traffic, and it's dark (for now anyway, we'll see in a few weeks with the time change). When it's dark in DC all the monuments are lit up, and it's really beautiful. I drive along the GW parkway and see the Washington Monument, the Jefferson,the Lincoln and the Capitol all lit up every morning. It's a glorious reminder of where we live, I love it!<br />
5:50- I arrive at the hospital, get all settled in, and check my assignment.<br />
6:00- I am in an OR setting up for the first case of the day.<br />
6:30- I pre-op my first patient of the day. Have you ever had surgery? You know all those people who come in and ask you the same questions and do the same thing over and over, while you are waiting to go back? Well, I'm one of them!<br />
7:30-First Case....Followed by other cases...with lunch and a couple of breaks in between.<br />
3:45-I leave the hospital to come home in DC's fantastic traffic. This is the part I hate. Unlike other cities (Dallas at least), the traffic pattern in DC is different every day! You never know what to expect so the drive home ranges from 30 minutes to an hour... This makes me a little crazy, why is there not traffic in the same place everyday? Transient city...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20ukM6JYDZm8bAYP-ShTLeS_PGWCRHabPEUHR0ebuqcQvU5BC_LbPG8FtV7sFYuHld1qkmqCx-qPV7Dduj4Ue_8tsIdnrwtN59qpaRh4jDR6NtGmmqNiOGWxF2frDk1xT8CZTcBjFulB8/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20ukM6JYDZm8bAYP-ShTLeS_PGWCRHabPEUHR0ebuqcQvU5BC_LbPG8FtV7sFYuHld1qkmqCx-qPV7Dduj4Ue_8tsIdnrwtN59qpaRh4jDR6NtGmmqNiOGWxF2frDk1xT8CZTcBjFulB8/s320/IMG_3016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me in my hat and scrubs after the weeks work!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Then I usually get home between 4:30 and 5:00, in time to workout (a little P90X action), cook dinner, clean up, and prepare care plans for the next day. So that's pretty much what my life will be like for the next two months...then the hours get much longer! So I'm just going to enjoy it while it lasts!Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-3949121191301521322010-09-12T18:28:00.000-07:002010-09-12T18:28:19.673-07:00First Week of ClinicalWednesday September 8th was an important day in my life this year for a reason other than the fact that it is my husband's birthday. It was also the day I had my first official day of clinical.<br />
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So at the end of the week I would like to recap how I've felt... I LOVE it!!!<br />
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It has been a tough week having to get used to getting up again at 5am everyday, and used to being up and on my feet all the time again (instead of sitting on the couch studying), and of course being the new kid who knows nothing. However, at the same time knowing so little is exhilarating, because you learn so much so fast. It's also nice, because there are 8 Georgetown students at Washington Hospital Center with me, so there's always a friendly face, and it kindof takes me back to my NIP days. So I just want everyone to know that this was a great decision and I am super happy to be starting this phase of my training. <br />
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From here on out I have 15months of clinical left, before I graduate. My only fear is that I only get two weeks of vacation TOTAL in that time period. I get one week between December and May and one more between June and November. Then I am planning a trip to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to celebrate! (but that's still a long way off...but a lot closer than it was a year ago!)Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-24169937543366560612010-09-12T18:18:00.000-07:002010-09-12T18:18:33.862-07:00The BEST present you can give a compulsive competitor!Wednesday was Richard's 29th birthday! Which of course he is not thrilled about, and neither am I seeing as I am going to get to spend the next year hearing about how he is "almost 30"! But we have had quite the week of celebration none the less. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJzVEkm5wtRuOMMGAncYDj1iTk-GXB1LLVGE6IvB6VqRsuK3vvQ_AQjDhObFSMb77ENVYtEsB_40WbnJbRQlOf4lTxx6DhkBNdORRIPDcXrwTnGehJU-ddTtGH3ZMFuPEHRUePVuNfJb-/s1600/IMG_2987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJzVEkm5wtRuOMMGAncYDj1iTk-GXB1LLVGE6IvB6VqRsuK3vvQ_AQjDhObFSMb77ENVYtEsB_40WbnJbRQlOf4lTxx6DhkBNdORRIPDcXrwTnGehJU-ddTtGH3ZMFuPEHRUePVuNfJb-/s320/IMG_2987.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wednesday also happens to be our kickball night, so after my first day of clinical I helped Rich make dinner, made some homemade birthday hats and we headed down to the mall for the game. It turns out the Wednesday after Labor day isn't a big kickball day and we only had sevegn players show up. Which means we had to play three players short... So after much debate we decided to play short handed, meaning we started with a score of negative 3 and every time we got through our batting order we had to automatically take three outs. So needless to say we did not anticipate a victory, but our team played a glorious game with a 15-8 win. So my husband was gifted with glory for his birthday!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We continued the celebration into the weekend with a romantic dinner for two and our favorite french place (best mussels EVER), and then the birthday party on Saturday.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLlZggwqzddwyqwTaF-H-x6UFRPwmBg8NFvkeCkMjz4ZGwl9TIqsHTD53XonJhnLm7oGvvvp39wiAnDFEplm56cBIHZ5pvTPhVhPLKqNos8wqZfDgb_y11fs1dQv8fHot07c1KFaIwKHL/s1600/IMG_2993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLlZggwqzddwyqwTaF-H-x6UFRPwmBg8NFvkeCkMjz4ZGwl9TIqsHTD53XonJhnLm7oGvvvp39wiAnDFEplm56cBIHZ5pvTPhVhPLKqNos8wqZfDgb_y11fs1dQv8fHot07c1KFaIwKHL/s320/IMG_2993.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this pic, despite my BIG head :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I planned a party and the Biergarten Haus on H st. and we had a great turnout with 12, including Sara and Tom (no small feat, thanks guys), Karen (Richard's friend from middle school), all of my besties from school, and Katie and Kurtis. This is a pretty authentic German Biergarten, complete with live polka band, German food, and our favorite German beer on tap (Franziskaner). We really had a fantastic time, although our other German travelling buddies were definately missed, and of course all our friends from home who we usually celebrate with. But I just wanted to thank you all for coming and celebrating with us!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkrf0fGXidoqhkZ63oZ53KSee-uHS4ej0NP5dyFkJ4MCobooC3paIZQA_wdpVABsc01va1fBYkKFeo9zKGe6970WiI8R-jjOa7C1gRethtNaZ3w8a3YPOTKXhxQdHjjVZ_Dhx2NGhTvxU/s1600/IMG_2990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkrf0fGXidoqhkZ63oZ53KSee-uHS4ej0NP5dyFkJ4MCobooC3paIZQA_wdpVABsc01va1fBYkKFeo9zKGe6970WiI8R-jjOa7C1gRethtNaZ3w8a3YPOTKXhxQdHjjVZ_Dhx2NGhTvxU/s320/IMG_2990.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSyKmow5sEKOoHuOUmYwERfq4tClNVjNyJGdaLVotHdpGzPu8DhNKzzf50vCiz5FIEqQ04UB9CqOUkAzpnXbHE9eKmJSuCkD9PKEGx8tjPlYj5lTHjJni92KPyvyA5zCftTrtLDZd1OpP/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSyKmow5sEKOoHuOUmYwERfq4tClNVjNyJGdaLVotHdpGzPu8DhNKzzf50vCiz5FIEqQ04UB9CqOUkAzpnXbHE9eKmJSuCkD9PKEGx8tjPlYj5lTHjJni92KPyvyA5zCftTrtLDZd1OpP/s320/IMG_2992.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67CxWLz32tS2sk2aXzV72ejXdjR-vVk1V48RQMMQaegAT-9Mu6sqvmfNi7pkDYlunY3NeQbc1SA8OMQ5yZl2VKGpeIJTc77p48D4-jEu1wLjVf0cA7izLd_g9-ZnWhS_eZVnaUeMsOUep/s1600/IMG_2989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67CxWLz32tS2sk2aXzV72ejXdjR-vVk1V48RQMMQaegAT-9Mu6sqvmfNi7pkDYlunY3NeQbc1SA8OMQ5yZl2VKGpeIJTc77p48D4-jEu1wLjVf0cA7izLd_g9-ZnWhS_eZVnaUeMsOUep/s320/IMG_2989.JPG" /></a></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-9384491106253086052010-09-06T19:08:00.000-07:002010-09-06T19:08:37.728-07:00What I missed most...<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">August has been my research month at school, which means I have not had any organized classes I've simply been finishing my thesis research. Needless to say, it did not consume all of my time by any means, so I've had time to resume some of my favorite hobbies and of course do some fun stuff with my husband and friends.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Hobby 1...Reading:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">1-4: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">These were actually better the second time around, New Moon wasn't near as depressing.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">5: Mansfield Park</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">It's no Emma or Pride and Prejudice, but still very good, it made me want to do a Jane Austen book club.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">6: The Gatecrasher</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">By Madeliene Wickham who used to be Sophie Kinsella, not her best work, but a quick read none the less.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">7. Snow Flower and The Secret Fan</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">This book was absolutely amazing, and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a good read. Definately the WINNER!!!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Hobby 2...Cooking</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">For the last month I've made all kinds of new and delicious treats, the highlights being homemade Focaccia and a Boston Cream Pie!!!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrr61NkwRleJaIMAIC8PbQFP8anyKFBbj0GHU0eBvp0_izULZYU6cFbFR4wOIZ5MGqqbJR0La1OaZOdug79fEtxFeO-DpYgBzA7yOA11jC6Dkf50lRE64qXVp324uzmEi5DEkIPA-j0uG/s1600/IMG_2906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrr61NkwRleJaIMAIC8PbQFP8anyKFBbj0GHU0eBvp0_izULZYU6cFbFR4wOIZ5MGqqbJR0La1OaZOdug79fEtxFeO-DpYgBzA7yOA11jC6Dkf50lRE64qXVp324uzmEi5DEkIPA-j0uG/s320/IMG_2906.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Focaccia Take 1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOj-kIPgE-L7eIL0Ai9xMVWnfnNhVdWAiUfMG1cMf8yeTp795CkYy870I1DsymFVVrDkJXv0RPmlvedXlweAT9eQ_MRFnSole4wKrSqFRgSW5cNlZ7yKQMCc2w6Db_xI7C4Ci7TLKj_WJ/s1600/IMG_2918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOj-kIPgE-L7eIL0Ai9xMVWnfnNhVdWAiUfMG1cMf8yeTp795CkYy870I1DsymFVVrDkJXv0RPmlvedXlweAT9eQ_MRFnSole4wKrSqFRgSW5cNlZ7yKQMCc2w6Db_xI7C4Ci7TLKj_WJ/s320/IMG_2918.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Boston Cream</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ6Uepnqd_VIcYdCepdEiwym8uOURNguCfPsTggcJ2DlqmitUEihlkBaNi52UrMxswDwuWVdHHcaI42PNikJVSX3eoDqIXM0juAnG7pxOtiWkIttIrR4UlFnWPccIJ_NmtcErXOSM0WJO/s1600/IMG_2924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ6Uepnqd_VIcYdCepdEiwym8uOURNguCfPsTggcJ2DlqmitUEihlkBaNi52UrMxswDwuWVdHHcaI42PNikJVSX3eoDqIXM0juAnG7pxOtiWkIttIrR4UlFnWPccIJ_NmtcErXOSM0WJO/s320/IMG_2924.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Focaccia Take 2</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Hobby 3...Having FUN!!! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Dinner's, Happy Hour's, the Zoo, Family, Inception, Brunch at the Kennedy Center, ect.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymKSP6fKGDynAhiLvGUfJ_fMxb7ThjTb69oLLC9Qh3P6sDtSzOsXOH62HJzl1Q0sFS0ExzVQMl-B6UwX6YHPP6w9djVyeHnpQ6r4uuwPzYXFONCLKn1ljLz7OAh5x0lIQqwv5kE6s2tSJ/s1600/IMG_2896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymKSP6fKGDynAhiLvGUfJ_fMxb7ThjTb69oLLC9Qh3P6sDtSzOsXOH62HJzl1Q0sFS0ExzVQMl-B6UwX6YHPP6w9djVyeHnpQ6r4uuwPzYXFONCLKn1ljLz7OAh5x0lIQqwv5kE6s2tSJ/s320/IMG_2896.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP9oh15hxGmcojOsgCbmWbs_FCWVCRvaCm9XuCU2OIWJJDBVbnVkdw2EQjaHYG_p3tMYbSUH7ryEhyVPQE8hO83K4PAkS2dZSgepODndMztrqoHXOBwHmPbZlXvlj1ftYpAPIC8M3G14c/s1600/IMG_2930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP9oh15hxGmcojOsgCbmWbs_FCWVCRvaCm9XuCU2OIWJJDBVbnVkdw2EQjaHYG_p3tMYbSUH7ryEhyVPQE8hO83K4PAkS2dZSgepODndMztrqoHXOBwHmPbZlXvlj1ftYpAPIC8M3G14c/s320/IMG_2930.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyi3bBczjf37i7dGp4i-dw3nRQNj4034lIOti29TPkgfuDujBIbH4l4d9PwLjdHrnzvaQ0xlGtSJlUXWYV_vVKSMt3RSAZAdZHmo7uWyPEti-cYMw3u7VdNBa3SdMqJLegqaTnG8lUHdW/s1600/IMG_2927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyi3bBczjf37i7dGp4i-dw3nRQNj4034lIOti29TPkgfuDujBIbH4l4d9PwLjdHrnzvaQ0xlGtSJlUXWYV_vVKSMt3RSAZAdZHmo7uWyPEti-cYMw3u7VdNBa3SdMqJLegqaTnG8lUHdW/s320/IMG_2927.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">What I didn't miss, but had to do anyway...</span></div><ul><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Laundry</span></div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Errands</span></div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Dentist</span></div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Dr's Appointments</span></div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;">Class president duties</span></div></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Either way August was a GREAT month, I'm going to miss it, tomorrow is my first day back to school!</span></strong></div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462445310773371312.post-73847422479327725722010-09-06T18:27:00.000-07:002010-09-06T18:27:42.432-07:00What's SUP?Last week Nicole and I went to Chesapeake Beach, MD to go Stand Up Paddleboarding. What is it you ask? It is exactly what it sounds like it is standing up on a board with a paddle to move yourself along. We did this in the Chesapeake Bay. You do not actually get into the water (which is good since there is a massive jelly fish invasion), you step directly from the dock onto the board and paddle. It is a very fun adventure if you have considered it, or ever get the opportunity I highly recommend it! Here are a few pictures to enhance your understanding.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI4Uq2Zw-6ay8viIZ2T1GzqBcQKwtsz_CXOjIzuG-8fLuUJ5LM7CjTk4JDrvH2VOSDa2LAXG6kWgAMQVLYwr0U19Ikds6fmAMhNnIfcmRahePlNuOOZzpeWqqfhLEopOJ5dmo9-Gre3b3/s1600/IMG_2853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI4Uq2Zw-6ay8viIZ2T1GzqBcQKwtsz_CXOjIzuG-8fLuUJ5LM7CjTk4JDrvH2VOSDa2LAXG6kWgAMQVLYwr0U19Ikds6fmAMhNnIfcmRahePlNuOOZzpeWqqfhLEopOJ5dmo9-Gre3b3/s320/IMG_2853.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I started on my knees, to make sure I wasn't going to take a dive with the jellies...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhievV4I3q8XHolqrZPL1IfgpxOryoetpnNZmlWWqaSnGqI6CEt3ukkNkBSu4AbvnIpe4oF2qujBggi6169ajyDuacxAu2tRsMK19wtJUw4qAicaXdX-oluSFhg157S6h90O_5Bka_xOFRC/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhievV4I3q8XHolqrZPL1IfgpxOryoetpnNZmlWWqaSnGqI6CEt3ukkNkBSu4AbvnIpe4oF2qujBggi6169ajyDuacxAu2tRsMK19wtJUw4qAicaXdX-oluSFhg157S6h90O_5Bka_xOFRC/s320/IMG_2861.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can also sit when you get tired or don't feel stable enough to stand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpbWdMSSpvnuJBIhxWxieK15muX2-swXLEsO3JKONVJLsb8i05PGNV06e8Kj07Gxz2wJ5V-f3eyKoaBCmhCK_HcdQbbOHEWSvI3bt3uo5o8qaqQvgWDhMIyHeK-fxTn-Yku2ue7969t05/s1600/IMG_2864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpbWdMSSpvnuJBIhxWxieK15muX2-swXLEsO3JKONVJLsb8i05PGNV06e8Kj07Gxz2wJ5V-f3eyKoaBCmhCK_HcdQbbOHEWSvI3bt3uo5o8qaqQvgWDhMIyHeK-fxTn-Yku2ue7969t05/s320/IMG_2864.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Standing in the Bay!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvU6MTuVlMHHtk11bcwgHIQKDHOHRppM8Lto9v_vkH-gob2rSBClipPh3crSxLwnVKxsS-RTKWNsYGp_HzN-4sPuQtk7RE_srvmkGuDV0p6Kgen06Zy9yeD91Py23TUCFN9prvx7ypG4KZ/s1600/IMG_2868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvU6MTuVlMHHtk11bcwgHIQKDHOHRppM8Lto9v_vkH-gob2rSBClipPh3crSxLwnVKxsS-RTKWNsYGp_HzN-4sPuQtk7RE_srvmkGuDV0p6Kgen06Zy9yeD91Py23TUCFN9prvx7ypG4KZ/s320/IMG_2868.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok, any questions?</div>Dallas to DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01409307337268552115noreply@blogger.com1