My dream becomes a reality...uh oh

Ah, Anthropologie. Your clothes, home goods and shoes enrich my life. The fact that you are always there when I am sad, excited or bored is so comforting to me. As I walked down the street in Old Town today, I saw that you have FINALLY put up your sign where the dilapidated Hallmark used to be, a happy reminder that you really are going to be just a half block away from where I work. I hear that you open on January 27th, how unfortunate since I will be away on work. I have no doubt you will welcome me with open arms the following week when I return. Please don't sell all the wonderful things you will have in store before I get there. I am a loyal customer and could suffer from a mental breakdown should that happen.

Yes everyone, I have an addiction. And this creates a problem considering I can literally trip into the new store opening on King Street while I go out for my morning coffee or lunch. This is a disaster, but maybe I will learn a little self control. I just have to share a few things that I am excited about that is in the new January catalog that I think the designers created just for me...no only if I looked like the model.

Cold Weather + Single Tracking = Sad City Girl

Today is the coldest day so far in DC for the winter season. I love cold weather, boots, scarves, bundling up and of course snuggling. But not today. I had to be at work early because everyone else had other engagements and so I woke to a icy floor beneath my feet and a slight sore throat. Perfect. So I drag myself to the bathroom to start getting ready and the hot water takes three times as long to show itself. Then I pick the most inappropriate cold weather outfit (cute skirt, tights, sweater, boots) because I know it will look good for my colleagues that I have a meeting with later today. They don't have to know I spent all morning hovered over a space heater practically scalding my hands as I prayed for more heat to come through the tiny holes.

So then it was off to the Metro. Yesterday I chose to bike into work as sort of a " hello 2012, I can handle you" stance, but my body is mad as a junkyard dog and refusing to do anything productive today. Guess I am not going to be using my new Stroga pass this week. Anyway, I got onto the Blue line train and everything was swell. Well, other than a little child singing at the top of her lungs, which had I made the coffee like the Squid asked me to it might not have been so annoying. As I transferred at L'Enfant Plaza to the Yellow line, everything stopped - literally. Trains in both directions were single tracking. What a nightmare. So me and about 300 other folks are standing there bitching about the Metro system. Did they not just have two weeks of down time to get the trains in order? I mean come on people. Finally after what felt like an hour, the Huntington Train was on the track. It looked like a sardine can. People spilling out from every crevice. Arms, legs, bags - it was so ridiculous. That is when the shoving started...I was literally carried onto the train by several large women hollering to "get on the train!" A young timid gentleman asked if I needed to use the pole to secure my footing and I just said, "no worries, I don't think I am going anywhere." It was true.

Needless to say, I made it to work in one piece and learned more about the six strangers surrounding me than I ever expected to, or wanted to for that matter. However, I was toasty warm, ah the silver lining!

Living in a big city is great when you are on your own time, you can explore and maneuver at your own pace. Today Washington DC owned me. I would like my dignity back please and thank you.

New year, new goals

Coming out of my New Years weekend haze - on Tuesday - I am faced with the yearly task of setting some goals for the New Year. They are typically always the same, to lose a unattainable number of pounds, to eat right and drink more water, save more money, volunteer more, etc. The list goes on and on. I have learned that those are things I should just do in general, these things should be a second nature to me. So instead of pledging my life away to things that I should already be doing, here is a list of new things I would like to accomplish for myself in 2012. 

• Learn to use my new sewing machine and create a piece that Anthropologie wishes they could sell in their store. 
• Have a better relationship with my dog. I know it sounds silly, but we could both use some quality time together. Over the holidays we both realized that we are stuck with one another. We have to get used to the harsh reality that he will never have thumbs so he can't help with dinner and I am never going to 
• Find a place to live that sticks and let it grow on me. I have this really bad habit of moving cities every two years and completely changing my life to feel normal. What a ridiculous idea. I would really like to see how "domestic" looks on me.
• Challenge myself as often as possible. Whether it be riding my bike to work in 30 degree weather with 33 mph winds (this morning, not kidding), or taking on big tasks to reap big rewards. I need to kick it up a notch.
• Spend more time with the Squid. Just because you live with someone doesn't mean you are spending quality time together. Austin and I have had a wonderful 2012 so far, spending as much QT as we can. Its not all about laundry and cooking folks, we have to keep the romance alive!!

I think this list will do for now - of course my favorite is "travel every month" but didn't feel like it deserved a spot on the new and improved list. 

2012, here I come!

Are you ready for this?

The time is upon us for reflecting on 2011 and ramping up for a world of new possibilities in 2012. Of course, before we move forward, I would like to reflect on the year behind me. Oh, by the way, I am REALLY into bullet points in the new year.Yup, deal with it.

• Blizzard - for the first week of last year I was house bound in Cumming GA with Squid and his family for a winter wonderland lock-down. No one in, no one out. It started with a death trip to Kroger for ice cream and hot coco (who eats ice cream in a blizzard) and ended with cross country skiing through the neighborhood. What a mess.
• Athens most beautiful wedding - Tate got married last year on January 8th and it was incredible. She was stunning and my former company A Divine Event catered everything from the bridesmaid luncheon to the reception. It was exhausting, but worth every minute I got to spend with her. 
• Job of a Lifetime - what a big, unexpected opportunity. I can't even believe a year ago I was headed to DC for a final interview with Kuoni on a Saturday (see above's reference to the Blizzard) and over sushi that night decided with Squid that I should take the leap.
• Erica and Lindley take Atlanta - this also happened in January (wow, what a big month) that my two best friends from DC decided to make a trip South of the Mason Dixon line and go out on the town with me and my local girls. Fado in Buckhead will never be the same, and neither will Lindley's dance moves.  
• Road trip to DC - Valentine's Day weekend I headed to DC with the Squid to get settled in with John and Kelsey as their new "roommate." Little did I know that they didn't have closet space for me, however I made due and the sparkle returned to my eyes as soon as I hit East Capitol.
• The commitment of my lifetime - The Squid also fell victim to my love of DC and shortly joined me with Traveler, our faithful k-9 in our Capital city. My life has literally never been better because I am living with the man I have always wanted and the dog I didn't know I wanted. So life is bliss, just a little more hairy. 
• Learning to live without four wheels - In all of the new changes brought something back from my past. The bicycle. I can't believe how long I had abandoned it for fashion, comfort and logistical reasons, but my life of pushing pedals is wonderful. 
• Going green - with veggies that is. I only lasted about eight months this time without meat. I loved being a vegetarian, but I always gain weight. A gal from Georgia has to eat meat. Its just too good.
• Losing a wonderful man - My grandfather Sterling Wilhoit also known as "Arch" passed away this summer just before the fourth of July in Ashville, NC. He is a man that taught me so many things, from gin rummy to pool, the "Wilhoit ways" are in my blood and I should have known the strategies I was learning with cards and cues would actually help maneuver the roads of life.  I will always adore "papa." 
• Getting back into the DC scene - Networking in this city never ceases to amaze me. The events, dinners, networking opportunities are endless. No wonder this city is considered the "pulse of a Nation."
• Most likely wedding to be picked up by a magazine - My friends Kelsey and John got hitched on September 4th in a very unique style. A beautiful tent at Oxon Hill Manor and a candy table of "sweet treats" showed all of the brides DIY tricks. She did an amazing job, and I am so lucky that I was able to stand beside her when she said "I do."
• Home for the holidays - I truly believe "home is where the heart is" and that is why my holidays were so fabulous. Mom and Paul came to DC for Thanksgiving and we had a delicious meal at the Georgetown Club. Then, Austin and I traveled to Colorado to see the family for Christmas. Of course with a stop at New Belgium Brewery. Magical.

That concludes the highlights of 2011. I can't wait to see what 2012 has to offer me!

The Travel Bug

It seems crazy to think that I have never ridden a train in the US (or not that I can remember) and it is so nice. Even though it is packed, people are really nice and it is quite peaceful. I do wish I had a travel buddy to hang out with, but I guess that is what my computer is for. Even though the wireless continues to go in and out, I am finding it comforting to get back to my writing.

I am writing this post on an Amtrak heading to Philadelphia. I am going for two reasons: the first, because I have a site visit for work, and the most important because I want to see my cousin Natalie for the holidays. I miss going to my Aunt Carol's house on Christmas eve and celebrating with my cousins. So, I bugged and bugged her until she said yes. She and her husband Joel just bought a house - WHOO HOO - and I am going to break in the guest room for them!

With this trip, I have officially caught the travel bug. I will be in Philly for a few days, then next week I head to Colorado for the Christmas holiday and then on the 7th of January I am hopping on a plane to go to Turks and Caicos! Whoa nelly! I have my luggage secured, camera charged and the charger cords for all my electrical devices...life has become complicated. So, here is a little travel food for thought.

• Check the expiration date on your passport. If its expired DEFINITELY choose the expedited service. Mine came in one week door to door. (Oh, you don't need a passport on the train, Philly isn't  its own country, its for Turks and Caicos.)
• Don't wait to pack the morning you leave because you will take a ton of random things, and forget all that is important, like underwear.
• Don't drink too much the night before you have a train ride...hangovers and train tracks DO NOT mix. Trust me on that. Also, everyone will look at you if you keep going in and out of the bathroom.
• Make sure to bring plenty of food and drink (especially if you are traveling alone.) Even through there is a dining car, you will lose your seat if you venture to it. I  have never been more parched in my life. 
• Check your computers compatibility to WiFi networks. - it sucks to be disconnected
• Bring a variety of things to keep you entertained, ie Kindle, iPad, magazines, games...but do not miss looking out the window - it is really important to take it all in and you never know what you are going to see. 
• Don't miss your stop because you will get kicked off the train. Seriously.

Whatever traveling you may be doing over the holidays, have fun and be safe. I know that I will be doing the same!