Summertime...and the Living is ...HECTIC

I've been neglecting the blog. I won't lie. It's been so busy here in VA that I have to remove one activity out of the equation. Since I usually don't have much worth blogging about. (what? you want to hear ALL about my working 6 AM to 6 PM and then rushing to tours for 7:00-9:30 PM???? You are glutton for boredom). It's the Pseudo-Government year end which pretty much means, we are the Govt's bitch until June 30. Lots of hours, not lots of fun. So I'll just give a small rundown.

-I do have some excitement lined up. Finally going to go see Wicked at Kennedy Center. I'm kind of glad for this one. I was late to the party on tickets and ended up getting the last remaining ticket under $100 and not $250. I wish I was exaggerating on this fact, but I'm really not. There was nothing left. I also have tockets to the LTA theater production of Hairspray. I'm fairly excited about this as well since Larry is performing the role of Wilbur Turnblad. I love my Larry :~)

-I have taken up rubber stamping and card making. We went down to Old Town and visited my now favorite store (after IKEA, of course...it will be hard to kill my absolute devotion to them), Paper Source. They were doing a demo on card making and embossing. Needless to say, I am interested in pretty much anything shiny so I decided to invest in some materials. Aaron, is also pretty into the process and has already made me a sweet card. Mellie of course spent the rest of her visit coming with different fun projects to create with the stamps......so Mellie..I blame you for this!!

-Exercise wise- still fat. Haven't seen much of a gym. Aaron and I had a talk amongst ourselves earlier this week and are going to make a joint effort to get off our asses and do stuff instead of staying home doing nothing or sitting on the internet.

-Have an exciting weekend lined up. Pedicure and Shellac-ing with Heidi and then some NPH on the big screen.


Deuces.

"Just a Small Town Girl...Living in a (Yuppy) World"

Well, it's official. I've lived in the DC Metro for 4 years. It seems like only yesterday I watched my family drive away, leaving me and the puppin alone in what would soon be known as Hell Apartment. It doesn't seem like long ago that I started my first construction job in tears, sitting on the side of the South Capitol street bridge, lost, and my van overheating, while screaming at my dad on the phone (like there was actually anything he could do.)

As a small town girl, the first few months were amazing. I filled my days with sightseeing and adjusting to life in the big city. The fact I could have anything delivered and drive most places in less than 5 minutes was pure heaven, especially after commuting between Jackson and East Lansing for the last 5 years prior. However, found myself longing for the days where I did have to drive a few minutes to get to the nearest house or restaurant. The day I can return to that world is far away.

I do have to say, a lot of pros come with city living.

1. Starbucks. Everywhere. On every corner, there is a starbucks. Granted after visiting each several times, you do find the preferred ones and those become your home. I do enjoy being able to walk into the E ST one by my office and my drink is already prepared for me. (I'm a creature of habit, don't judge me), then spend Saturday mornings in Old Town at my favorite one with good friends, right on the waterfront in a building built long before DC existed, (it was a huge swamp). Granted as you walk in DC or anywhere in the DC Metro, you will usually see 75% of the population holding a Starbucks cup...complete with new crappy logo.

2.Food Convienience. While I have not gone as far as Afghan Kabob just yet, the amount of food options is quite amazing. The king of all food is Chinese/Japanese and Mexican. The latter is great, as I have an incredibly unhealthy addiction to it. The former, while the Chinese part of it is delicious, the Japanese part was a new experience, ie Sushi. Granted you will never see my happy ass eating any sushi with fish in it, but the Avocado rolls are delicious and I am addicted. Special Shout out to Kels for starting the Ishiban addiction.
Also, pretty much everyone delivers. Yes, even the grocery stores. (I have NOT fallen to that level of lazy yet) If they don't personally deliver, services exist that you can pay to deliver food to you. Again, besides Chinese or Pizza, I have not yet sunk that far into laziness.

3.Public Transportation- I do admit that I am over the public transportation. Metro has proven itself to be extremely reliable (HA!) so I'm back to driving. However, if you find yourself wanting to go the Smithsonian with an excessive amount of people (family), the metro is the way to go. If you work at a place that is right off a stop, it is beneficial as well. If you are going alone, there are places you find that become your secret parking places that are free. Suck it, Colonial parking!

4. Good Movie Theaters/Entertainment-I do not indulge in the movie theater much, unless Groupon sends out good coupons, because you pay for nice theaters-$15 bucks a movie...plus concessions at their lowest start at 7 bucks. You pay it because popcorn with snow caps thrown in, is some damn good eatin'. There are theaters for actual performances everywhere. My personal favorites are "The Little theater of Alexandria" and "The Kennedy Center".

5.People watching-City living provides some gems. If you happen to live in a tourist city (like us) the possibilities of what you encounter are endless. My personal favs are- a. fanny packs with black socks worn with sandals and b. Foreigners. However, I do take some issue with the French. While at Mt Vernon, this past weekend, a few were talking and my Aunt in Law speaks French. Turns out they were dissing my man George's house. Oh hell no! You do not diss Washington. You can just get your "pepe" asses out of this country STAT! This also applies to John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Don't be hatin'.

Now for all of it's greatness, there are cons to the city as well.

1. PEOPLE. Everywhere. People. You can't walk without seeing one. I am so sick of people. You can't escape. In our high rise alone ,we live among 900 people. There are always lines to check out in stores and grocery shopping has turned into pure hell unless you go at 3:00 am and even still lots of people are shopping.

2.Bad Driving. Here me now. I will never again say a derogatory comment about Michigan drivers. Frankly, I wish people here drove like the Bats out of Hell that reside in Michigan. The people that drive here are seriously a step below ass clown. Most are foreigners who pretty much will never be able to drive. Cab drivers are idiots and if you see a Dioplomat plate....just move out of the way and let them go as they do what they want, which, I guess, is nice when you have no fear of being arrested.

3.Traffic. Here, I always though that Detroit had horrible traffic. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...Detroit traffic. 3 lanes of back up does not provide the joy of 6 or 7 lanes of cars sitting with no where to go. Granted I've yet to figure out where the roots of these back ups start but it's pretty much everyday. Also, if you see any flashing lights ANYWHERE...just pull over and nap because it's going to be a long commute.

I guess, in looking above, for our situation, the pros outweigh the cons. Some people were made for the country and some where made for the city. Some move to the city just to get by when the job market sucks and pay off the student loans so they can go back home someday. That, my friends, is where this small town girl's heart lies.

It's Manda, Bitch!

Wow. I really wanted to stay on the blogging this year. However, working 6am to 10 pm tends to kill the ability and the will to want to blog. So maybe in May I'll recommit Not a whole lot to report. Just working and tours. working and tours. The tours will be worth it at the end when I buy my new ugly ass UGG boots. HEAVEN on the feet. Also, paying off more stuff...love the getting out of debt feeling. Deuces.

Trying to brainstorm a Book

The phone rings. Sigh.

"This is Manda."

"Amanda," that all familliar Irish brogue that makes my entire body tighten in rage says, "when do you think you will be done with the conference room. The AV guys need to do their work."

"Well, Graham*, we plan to start tomorrow and are planning on being done by Wednesday."

"That's fine. When will you be done?"

"Um, Wednesday?"

"Ok, very good"

Click.

I place the phone back down and sigh. Just another usual day in the nut house. Sometimes I think I should look to see if I have a bushy tail growing out of my ass. I'm surrounded by enough nuts, literally and figuratively. What? It's construction. It's all men. I'm female. Therefore, I'm the stupid one at all times...........

*name changed to protect the stupid.

March Madness

So, I went to the gym twice in February. But I maintained so there's that I guess. I just have had no energy and the stress level has been so damn high at work, I just want to come home and do nothing but sleep.

Tours have started so I get to add that on top of my already packed schedule of 70 hours a week. So going to try to fit the gym in when possible. Sadly, I'm just at a point right now where I don't care. I'm still losing weight by just being careful with what I eat so I'll go with that until I hit the wall.

This weather really needs to make up it's mind what it wants to do. Hot or cold, just pick a damn temp

Winter/Early Spring Reading List

My husband got me a Kindle for our anniversary. It is the best gift I have ever been given. So much easier to maneuver than a book. It also renewed my willingness to actually read a "book". I went ape shit on Amazon downloading stuff to read and created a reading list for myself.

The first download ever was this book. I'm a ho for good Chick Lit and The title sold me. I'm glad I bought this book. Jen Lancaster is my author soul mate. So much voice in her writing and while at first you want to hate her, the book is so damn funny, it's hard to believe it's a memoir and you love her.

After I finished Jen's First Book, I downloaded her Third book. I definitely identified with "Pretty Fat" as she described her quest to lose weight, trying every fad diet on the market. Plus again, she is such an ass, it's hysterical. Her descriptions of wanting to die from the beating she gets from her personal trainer is a universal pain we all share.

Next on my list is the companion book to the show we have been watching on Science Channel called "An Idiot Abroad". I heart Ricky Gervais and everything he does. He is the definitive office person, Steve Carell can only hope to emmulate. This whole experiment he did is hilarious and Karl does nothing but complain. I can't wait to read his journal entries.

Once I finish "Idiot" I'm going to start reading "Water for Elephants" I started it a long time ago but things happened and I never finished it. Now, since it's going to be a movie, I would like to see how it ends in the book before Hollywood ruins the ending.

'Til Next Time

The Soul With a Sunny Heart

God bless the soul with sunny heart
Who brightens up each day
By spreading seeds of cheerfulness
While traveling on life's way.
God bless him for the stars of hope
He sets in each one's sky;
For the encouragement he gives
That causes folk to try...
With stronger faith to press ahead,
With courage for a mate,
And reach for goals, and build anew,
And smile and challenge fate.
God bless his laughter and his song
That drives dark clouds away
From troubled minds, and paints instead
A rosy-tinted day.
God bless the soul with sunny heart
Who's found in life his place,
And serves his God and fellow man
With humble, gentle grace.
The world has need of such a man
Who lifts the heart from gloom,
And in life's barren places plants
Sweet flowers of love to bloom.
He may serve as some men serve
With fame or high degree...
But his good deeds will ever shine
Throughout eternity.




Beverly J. Anderson