Dandiya Raas

I had a delightful weekend—which might explain the blahs I’m feeling today. The highlight was definitely attending a Dandiya Raas dance at GW. I was a bit reluctant to accept my friend’s invitation to join her and her friends. I have begun to eschew public dancing (in the absence of liquor) as I have gotten more self-conscious with age. But her enthusiasm, along with her reiterated promise that a certain individual would be in attendance, changed my mind. It didn’t hurt that she promised each of us a tradition Indian dress to wear.

I wore an intricately beaded, red tunic that was paired with a floor length, full shirt. It was beautiful—and heavy. I think wearing the outfit put me in the mood because I danced most of the night. There were so many beautiful, colorful outfits. Everyone seemed to sparkle and shine. First, we danced the 5-step and 12-step with dandiya sticks (which my friend taught us with large kitchen spoons before we left her house). Then, there was about an hour of free-style dancing which was also fun.

It was definitely an experience that I will never forget, and I hope that I get to do it again soon.

TGIF

I’m feeling so blah today. I blame it on the weather and the fact that I haven’t had a real August recess. In fact, it’s been the worst August recess ever. Sure, things are slower than when we were in session but the fact that we are understaffed makes me feel that I am doing three jobs (my own and the jobs of the two folks who left last month). I am exhausted, anxious and stressed. Thankfully, a new staffer and an intern start in a week, which will alleviate a lot of my workload. Then again, once the excitement of the Hill begins anew the workload and stress will increase for everyone. That means no real break at all.

But I shouldn’t complain. We’ve been itching for an opportunity to make a real difference after 8 years of Bush. I truly hope that we accomplish all the things we need to before attention turns to the elections again.

So what's a staffer like me to do? Sleep is obvious. And I am determined to take the rest of my comp days before recess ends (I have 3.5 left but I'll settle for using 2). And I will clean and reorganize my bedroom. Cleaning always has a way of relieving my anxiety and making me hopeful again.

Weekend Recap

I guess it’s springtime when I spend my whole weekend outside or out with friends. You can’t get me to leave the comfort of my bed and blankets when it is cold. Besides sitting on my front porch, watching the neighborhood and getting at least two dozen new mosquito bites (at this rate, I’m going to run out of unbitten skin in a month), I checked out two Chinatown restaurants/bars over the weekend.

La Tasca
Given the crazy downpour post-work on Friday, I was seriously debating blowing off this outing. But I am so glad I went because I had a blast. I was greeted by pitchers of delicious sangria and a huge, steaming container of free paella. It wasn’t the best paella I ever had but it was helpful in lining my stomach for the 5-6 glasses of sangria I gulped down that evening. The pitchers just kept coming and I kept drinking. I will be back.

Bar Louie
This place was a treat. Sure, it is a sports bar with tons of flat screen TVs. But the tap selection is solid and the food is great. I love it when I can get Woodchuck cider on draft—-it’s always my go-to drink on a lazy night out. Make it Strongbow on tap (does it exists in DC?) and I’m in heaven. The highlight of the night was the California burger I ordered. I wasn’t even that hungry but as soon as I saw the glistening bun and side of crispy tater tots, I knew it was going to be a gluttonous night. The California burger includes cheese, bacon, avocado, and crab. Yes, crab on a burger. It was an odd choice that was amazingly good. As a bonus, there was a fair amount of guys at the bar—-watching the finals. So, it would be a good spot to revisit, armed with a wing woman or two.

Something Old, Something New

Eek.  If only my work life would calm down, I could post more regularly. I apologize to my loyal readers, but my free time is limited these days. I'm hopeful that the upcoming 2-week recess will give me time to create a bunch of great posts. But I'm not making any promises.

 

Over the weekend, G.F.A., A-M and I went to one of my favorite DC restaurants, Busboys and Poets.  No, not the U Street location that is mere blocks from my animal house. We ventured to the spanking-new location north of Chinatown.  The food was perfection as always—one day I'll venture to order something other than the immaculate veggie lasagna.  But something was missing. The vibe seemed cold and less urban than the hip and always-bumping U Street location. Perhaps, it's just that "NoMa" (WaPost coined?) hasn't finished gentrifying so there are still many abandoned buildings and lots next to towering, unfinished/uninhabited condos.  Of course, I didn't let that interfere with my meal, but I don't think that I will return to that location any time soon.

 

Afterwards, we headed to Rocket Bar. I love Rocket Bar. From the moment I entered the bar, I was greeted by all the late 80s and 90s songs that I grew up with. It was crowded but we managed to score a table in the back between two pool tables. As an added bonus, I spotted several cute guys in the crowd that night---definitely a place I will return to with my single gal friends.

 

Chinatown is rarely an area where I choose to hang-out. It is always swarming with annoying high schoolers, Verizon Center junkies and movie-goers.  But the young, chill vibe at Rocket Bar makes me at least reconsider it as a weekend destination.

 

Speaking of Chinatown and NoMa, I have decided that I want to have a pizza party at Ledo's for my birthday. I love, love, love Ledo's, and I am so excited that a downtown location is in the works.  If only, they would build a Sparkles skating rink right next door. Then I could really go old-school.

Elementary School Lunch Nite

Over the weekend, A-M, GFA, and I had a dinner party focused on eating some of the foods we loved in elementary school. It was an idea born at least a year ago that finally was realized.

There are many things that come to mind when thinking about elementary school. For me, I remember mostly recess, field day, nap time, chorus, my first long term crush, and of course, lunch time.

I ate lunch at school everyday until 7th grade--when eating cafeteria food became uncool, expensive, and not so appetizing. I remember paying $0.90 in the early years and $1.15 later on. My allowance (aside from cash for grades) came from the small amount of change I got each week. It wasn't much, but I always felt lucky to add a dime or nickel to my piggy bank.

Saturday, our menu included two main courses. We started with an appetizer of fish sticks and tater tots. Next up was mini corn dogs and a salad--to balance it all off. Yes, it was a night of grease and breading. And we definitely opted for wine over cartons of whole milk. But it was memorable.

Next time, we're going to try for a dessert night. Nothing but flour, butter, and sugar allowed. Things are really crazy for us at work and nothing beats down time with friends and an abundance of not so healthy food.

Dancing Queen

It was so hard to get out of bed this morning after such an amazing weekend of napping, snacking, and dancing. Yes, the Hippo loves to dance!

Bravo Bravo: I haven't visited this place in years, and when I arrived to an empty place, I was a bit skeptical that I'd enjoy myself. But I did. I learned the bachata and got my fill of salsa, meringue and reggaeton. It got rather crowded and hot toward the end of the night, so we headed out around 130--when the party actually started to heat up and the thugs were headed in.

Black Cat: Sunday's Michael Jackson vs. Prince vs. Madonna (plus a bit of Janet) dance party was phenomenal. I don't think that I've ever danced and sang so much. I realize now how much Prince I don't know—and they seemed to play a lot of Prince. The dj didn't start playing the good stuff, i.e., back-to-back songs that I actually knew, until midnight. It was a great night of awesome music by the geniuses of pop.

I'll be back on the dance floor this weekend, donning a new minidress and killer heels—in my return to the club scene as an old lady for a symbolic last hurrah.

Nothing to wear

I have two girl’s night outs coming up and I have absolutely nothing to wear. Most of my clothes are casual and everything else is basic office wear. While I was at Pentagon City over the weekend to order new glasses (soon, I'll be able to see clearly!), I checked out a few of the stores. But I couldn’t convince myself to purchase anything. The things that seemed age and style appropriate were not within my budget and the stuff that was in my budget didn’t seem like something a 27 year old should actually buy and wear (I love Forever 21, but aren’t I getting a bit too old for synthetics and jersey knits?).

I’ll just dig around my closet for something to wear to Friday’s GLOG trip to Tuscana Lounge, a new spot on K Street. But for my return to the club scene after a 9 year absence, I promise that I will scour the stores for something that is both appropriate and within my budget—or at least a good investment piece. I want to have an awesome club night with my coworkers and I want to impress myself and my coworkers with a "uncharacteristic" outfit. For me, of course that just means something short, fitted, and feminine.

I used to enjoy getting ready for the club when I was younger. But now, my efforts don’t go beyond donning a clean pair of jeans and a tank in order to head out to a grungy, dimly-lit bar. I do miss the club scene but I fear that it won’t be as glamorous and exciting as it was when I was 18 and confident/stupid/oblivious enough to wear a mini-dress and heels (a.k.a., hooker wear).

The Raven

After another failed attempt at practicing my Spanish conversation skills at Dos Gringos, my new alum buddy and I headed over to the Raven for drinks. He has raved about the Raven ever since I first met him. I’m glad that I finally checked it out and I’m quite sure that I’ll be back very soon.

For the record, my favorite dive bar in the area is the Quarry House in Silver Spring. It also has a long history, dark, wooden interior and a jukebox.

But, the Raven takes the label "dive bar" to a new level. There is no kitchen and the rumor is that the roaches swarm when customers aren’t around. Since IC told me that the place once boasted athletic rodents, I entered the bar unbelieveably cautious of what I would find within. It is a small and dark bar with large black and white photos of musicians and other notables of the old days (e.g. Hendrix, Dietrich, Marilyn, etc). The bartender, John, was very nice and the patrons—mainly locals and buddies when we arrived around 8/9 were older and very chill. By the time we left, closer to 11, the place was starting to fill up with late twenty- and early thirty-somethings and the music playing on the jukebox was a bit more constant.

It doesn’t seem like a hipster bar as noted in the WP review, but perhaps it turns hipster later in the night (ummm, I don't even know who hipsters are, but I sense that I don't like 'em). That’s not at all my scene, so I’ll only return to the Raven earlier in night, like on Saturday, when the crowd is all non-hipster locals and I can drop my quarters without having to wait an hour for my songs to play.

Also, for the record, I can't believe that tonic contains as much sugar as a soda. Vodka sodas are truly horrible. Geesh, I need a new signature drink!

Tilly and the Wall

I went to the Black Cat last night to see Tilly and the Wall. It was a good concert, and actually a very good day.

I went to school with one of the band members and it was nice to chat with him and our other classmate (who also lives in DC). It was a mini-reunion of sorts that made me smile, though it mainly reminded of how quickly time flies. It was weird to see him after nine years. My recollection of him in high school was of quiet, straight-laced though odd guy. I can still see his high school mannerisms now but he seems older and more mature somehow and assumingly, to be having an awesome time.

The band was solid. Their sound and performance was a bit odd but I liked it. It was an eclectic mix of styles ranging from 60s/80s melodic pop to today’s alt-punk---with a bit of country/folk thrown in. Hmm…I don’t think that even makes sense. The key is that they had a lot of energy, and I loved the two lead vocalists. Of course, I was also amazed by the stamina of the tap dancer who kept the beat and the crowd pumped throughout the show. I really want a pair of purple sequinced wrist cuffs.

The openers were Exit Clov and The Ruby Suns. I really liked the sound of The Ruby Suns. They were all over the place but it was a fun ride.

A special thanks to my friend’s boyfriend for providing earplugs. The show was good but loud. I'm getting way to old to not be concerned about hearing loss. Good call, D.

One more thing. Guess what is coming up at the Black Cat!

Sun Aug 31- DJ Dredd Presents: PRINCE vs MICHAEL JACKSON vs MADONNA w/ live visuals

Oh, my! I am so there!

Friday Night @ Play Lounge

I went to Play Lounge on Friday night to celebrate a friend’s pseudo-birthday. I had a very good time. I met some interesting RPCVs who I hope to connect with again to talk about PC. One of whom, I am so sure I met before or at least he reminded me of the “I eschew you” guy that I met through L-M’s friends (Remember him, L-M?).

As soon as we walked in, my coworker observed that Play Lounge, in person, is absolutely nothing like the way it is characterized on its website. Some of the décor is reminiscent of you parent’s or grandparent’s 1970s basement. And I warn you not to plop down on the benches as they are very hard and clearly meant to be dance platforms for the girls. I did spot the striper pole and while I was there, only a handful of girls were bold enough to swing on it a bit. The pole really isn’t placed well as any trained dancer would quickly run into the wall if she started doing the normal moves.

The highlight was that it was a First Friday (and unfortunately, the last promotion of the year/season?) so there was an hour of open bar and $3 drinks thereafter. With the help of my friends, I stocked up on about 5 free drinks. So I was feeling pretty good.

Play Lounge isn’t a place that I’d recommend to my friends aside from the happy hour specials. The guy-girl ratio favored women and as expected, there were the normal groupings of wannabe players. Another unfortunate aspect is the coed, open bathroom. I kept getting a stall after a guy and of course, none of them are potty-trained (lift the seat up when you pee!). What a difference from the open bathrooms at Badlands/Apex. The girl’s bathroom was spotless so I didn’t mind sharing it with guys. Ah Badlands, good memories…

So Play Lounge gets a B+ because of the happy hour specials but take them away, and it’s only a grade C locale.

Next on my list is Fly Lounge.

Marvin

I don't think that I've yet conveyed my enthusiasm for Marvin on this blog. So here goes:

The Bar
After reading the Washington Post Marvin review last November, I was convinced that I just had to visit the hip new bar named after D.C.'s own. For months, I plotted excursions to Marvin , and the one night I had the opportunity to visit, I was confronted by a super long line (it wasn't even 11 pm!). Thankfully, this weekend, I finally got to check it out. I arrived around 9 pm and scored a great seat in the upstairs, indoor room right near the window. Enjoying the views of U and 14th streets, I relaxed and sipped my well-mixed gin and tonic. It was too dark for me to check out the photographs on the wall, but I did recognize a well-known poster of Josephine Baker, which I also have at home. I was disappointed that Marvin Gaye wasn't on a constant loop, but I liked the funk/soul music mix that was played. I will definitely be back to Marvin in the near future for an early drink (before it gets crowded and the DJ starts). It's a very chill place early in the night and, particularly if you can score that window seat, well worth the trip.

The Musician
Marvin Gaye is one of my favorite musicians of all time. I can remember listening to his music with my father as a child and grooving along to the Marvin Gaye hour when I first arrived in D.C. Few songs/performers can incite the sort of the sensual jubilation I feel when listening to "Come Get to This" and few can incite feelings of heartache like "Distant Lover" (live!) or "I Want You." I love his Motown sound, but I adore his later work, particularly "What's Going On." I can remember the first time I connected with that album. I was so amazed by his versatility. He soulfully expressed love, spirituality, and an array of emotions (hope/despair/anger) regarding the events of that time.

It is very sad that his life ended so early and that he had to endure so many significant personal struggles--that, I suppose, helped spur his creative expression through music. He was definitely a musical great and will be revered and on a constant loop in my CD player until I die.

Another Holiday Party

This weekend, I attended a very memorable holiday party. A-M and a bunch of her friends rented out the top part of the 17th Street Cafe to celebrate the end of the year. Most of my buddies from work were in attendance as well as the trio I met through Tree Hugger happy hour (Chatty-Chica rules! I can't wait for our trip to Marvin in 2008!).

I must say that I looked hot. I don't mean to brag or sound superficial, but I worked really hard to transform myself from my usual drab tomboy look into a pretty woman with actual sex appeal. Most importantly, I properly repaired and accessorized the Betsey Johnson dress I scored at Marshall's.

I am not a fan of Marshall's or any of those other discount stores. In fact, every time I enter those stores, I feel faint. My mom says it's due to the recycled, unfiltered store air--mixed with an overwhelming array of junk. But last spring, I scored a lovely purse and just a week ago, I landed a $35 fixer-up dress. The dress was ripped along the split and was missing its belt and removable straps. But I easily remedied it with careful sewing and sniping and a $7 lace scarf from Target. I paired the dress with a cute pair of shoes I'd been eying at JC Penny's for a month--only $14 after $46-worth of discounts!.

I think I did very well for a holiday outfit on a very tight budget. I doubt that I'll ever wear the dress again--I don't think such a thing would be useful in the Peace Corps and I'll probably return from the Peace Corps fat--so that it will be given to a friend or to the Goodwill. As for the shoes, they are super cute but not that comfortable. I'll probably wear them a few times before also giving them away.

It's rather silly and wasteful for me to have spent $60 on an outfit I'll never wear again, but the joy and ego boost I got from transforming myself was truly worth it. My look and aura last Saturday isn't something that I anticipant recreating that often--in fact I've only dressed up a handful of times this year--but it is a great reminder of my potential.

I thank A-M for inviting me to such an amazing holiday party and I thank all my work buddies for sharing such a memorable night with me.

Happy Holidays, all!

Edward Hopper at the National Gallery

Before I decided to write a rant on the holidays, I had hoped to talk about my weekend. I accomplished a lot over those 48 hours, but one of the most memorable activities was unplanned.

I attended another silent movie at the National Gallery (The Merry Widow). Given that I arrived downtown much earlier than expected, I decided to take an hour to view the Edward Hopper exhibit. A-M had been talking about it for the past few weeks and I figured that I needed a bit of culture that day. The exhibit was wonderful. Hopper's use of color, light, and perspective was phenomenal. Throughout the exhibit, I felt aspects of my own existence reflected in his work. I sensed my own experience of isolation, loneliness, and unease in the female figures' expressions/non-expressions and the cold-warm, bleak-beautiful landscapes and cityscapes.

The painting that struck me the most, and the one that I'll be back to view this Saturday (yes, another movie…) is Summer Interior. Interestingly, this painting is said to have been influenced by Degas' Interior, which is another troubling, beautiful and ambiguous painting. I won't bore you with my interpretation of either because it's irrelevant and personal—just mentioning it in this entry reflects my own psyche. But I encourage you to go to the National Gallery to view Summer Interior (near the exhibit's entrance) and Hopper's other masterpieces.

“Waiting to Exhale”

I look forward to a little rest and relaxation this weekend which is weird.  Last winter and spring, I had too much R&R time on my hands and I was looking for a little excitement.  So, I got a part-time job, signed up for new groups, decided to plan a trip to Paris and tried to fill my weekend "dance card" with social events.

Then, when I probably needed R&R the most--frankly, just time to think about how I was actually spending my summer, I chose to fill up my "dance card" even more.  This summer was a whirlwind of my creation and now I want to catch my breath and eventually, exhale.

This weekend will be my first opportunity to catch my breath, reflect and exhale without any distractions.  And I'm a bit worried, as I was this summer, that too much free time will result in me obsessing over my past actions instead of working to make my future brighter.  I do believe that a fair amount of time for reflection is in order (which demands solo time), but I also want to focus on moving forward.  I want 2008 to be a fresh start in terms of my career, personal, and social life.  2007 afforded me new (both good and bad) experiences that gave me a better understanding of myself and the world.  I hope to spend this fall and winter internalizing all that I've learned and preparing to soar in 2008.

And for the record, I think I'll disregard Shimmy-Shimmy's V-Day invitation next year...

Thursday's a Breeze

It’s been a pretty good week. I actually got some work done and spent quality time writing. One of the highlights of the week was the season premieres of ANTM and Gossip Girl (btw, Zac Hanson's Go was played during one of the scenes of GG. Yes, that's how much I like that song. I heard it once and now I can recognize it in a few notes. Ahh, "Name that Tune." I loved that show, but I digress...). I don’t have cable, so I rely on the major networks plus the CW and PBS to supply me with television entertainment. This season should be hot.

I can’t wait until the weekend. It is unfortunate that I won’t be singing along to the musical Hair in NYC, but I think that I’ve rather nicely filled up my weekend “dance card” in DC. I’m really looking forward to the weekend food outings: Matchbox on Friday, Oohs & Aahs on Saturday, and a picnic on the Mall on Sunday. I also look forward to returning to the gym for yoga and swimming.

Here’s to another solid weekend that doesn’t leave much time for relaxation but is heavy on satisfaction and fun.

Friday!!

Ah, this week has been painful.  I've had the hardest time waking up each morning and have been feeling sluggish and lazy at work.  I blame my pillows.  For some reason, I can't get comfortable in bed and I usually wake up with the pillows thrown on the floor.  Plus, I've been having a lot of distressing dreams about work or a male figure (usually, Floyd or my dad).  But, I'm hopeful that I'll soon be able to kick out the bad energy and turn my bedroom back into the warm, comforting sanctuary it was just a few weeks ago.

Given Mr. Rebound's return to the abyss that silly, scared boys seem to vanish to, I'm going stag this weekend.  I'm heading out salsa dancing tonight with Shimmy-Shimmy and looking forward to a Cheese Fest (Mac & Cheese + Lasagna) at a GRU movie night on Saturday.

It should be a good weekend, and I hope that it will help keep my mind off of Mr. Rebound, Floyd, and my uncomfortable pillows.

What I learned during a night out

I had a good Labor Day weekend.  I exercised, relaxed, watch movies (e.g., "El Juego de la Verdad" was good!), wrote and hung out with friends.  I could probably write a few paragraphs about the family barbeque I crashed Monday or the fact that Mr. Rebound has reemerged (and I now know his age…).  But instead, I want to relate a few important life lessons that I learned Saturday night.

1) Best laid plans of mice and men –or- Stick to the standards

1.5 oz White Rum
12 fresh mint leaves
1/2 lime
7 oz club soda
2 tbsp. simple syrup
(or 4 tsp. sugar)

I invited a few people over on Saturday to pre-game before going out to Adam's Morgan.  A-M and I decided to make mojitos and I spent Friday night cleaning my apartment and burning a great mix of song, including a few by Celia Cruz.  It was my first themed event and let's just say that it sort of flopped.  A-M forgot the mint and I didn't have any ice cubes, so the gang had to head to Whole foods while I awaited the tardy pizza and the last guest.

I'm not sure what we did wrong, but the mojitos were awful.  Perhaps, it was the (coolly packaged but awful tasting) rum or not enough lime or sugar.

I am really disappointed with the 10 Cane Rum I bought.  I saw it advertised in a glossy fashion magazine and loved the way the bottle looked and was intrigued by rum made from pure cane and not molasses.  But a mere few hours after drinking it, as A-M pointed out, the rum took out its knives and started stabbing our poor stomachs.

Lessoned learned: K.I.S.S.  And supply a full range of simple mixers.

2) Boys get malicious, men remain respectful

While walking to the Dupont Metro, this guy appeared, seemingly out of the bushes, and started talking to us.  He was the epitome of a spoiled generic Georgetown jerk.  After a less than successful attempt to befriend and steer one of us home with him, he got mean.  He left with a simple, "you look like men."

Um, okay.  That's it, the surest way to a girls heart or, in his case, into our pants is through nonsensical insults.  Once before, my coworker and I were verbally abused by a guy who we flatly rejected.  Hey, if I'm not interested, I'll let you know and if you blindly and annoyingly persist, you'll get harshly shot down.  But don't get hurt and mean, just respectfully move away, reexamine your game, and try it on some other unsuspecting female.

Lesson learned: Avoid boys.

3) Make the first move
A coworker noted that when she's out, she makes a purpose of smiling at guys and being nice to them.  For me, the bar is a war zone and guys are the drunken, horny enemy in a predator-prey scenario.  Perhaps, that's why I haven't been approached by a guy at a bar in years.  I'm just so hardened and put too many barriers up—expecting the worse out of the guys around me.

She also noted the importance of making the first move.  Case in point, this large chick (tall and big-boned) approached one of the cute guys in our group (sitting down, of course, while us girls danced uninhibitedly).  Needless to say, after a few bump-and-grind songs, they left together. 

I don't think that I have the guts to approach a guy at the bar.  I would worry how it would make me look (read: like a skank) because surely, you don't meet Mr. Right in a bar, just Mr. Right Now.  But, I'll try to soften my temperament when out and stop reacting so defensively to the advances of males.  Maybe.

Lessons learned: If you want it, swallow your pride and go and get it. Also, relax--not all guys are players or date-rapists.

Almost the Weekend

I cannot wait until the weekend.  I don't have much planned outside of a GRU drinking event and a venture to the Pentagon City Mall for a great pair of jeans.  I hope to spend my free time relaxing, working on my novel's storyline and watching a movie or two. 

I'm still feeling "the blahs," but I'm sure that a restful weekend will help cure whatever ails me.  It would help if I had closure with Mr. Rebound and Floyd.  But alas, not yet.

* * *

Indeed, it has been two years since Katrina and many problems remain for New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf region.  It is simply amazing what befell that region and the extent to which things have not improved for so many families.  I can't forget the images from the days, weeks, months, and years after the hurricane hit and  the levee broke.  And I won't forget the plight of the city of my family.

All is well.

I’m currently listening to Billie Holiday. It's my attempt to explore and appreciate the great vocalists of the past. It’s partly research for my novel, as the main character discovers jazz and it helps her express and manage all the conflicting emotions she’s feeling.

When I listen to the music, I think about my grandparents. I think about the oppression of African Americans and other minority groups. I think about the Hollywood greats (Joanne Crawford, Bette Davis, etc), the Wars and women’s fashion. But mostly, I think about the complexity of feeling and purity of the vocals.

In a few hours, I’m meeting the awkward guy I met at speed dating for Gifford's ice cream. I’m quite interested in how it will go. No, it’s not a date. It is just a casual meeting to chat for longer than the four minutes we were given at the speeding dating event. I sort of see myself in him--in his awkwardness and his shyness. If nothing else, I want to have a enjoyable afternoon of getting to know someone new. But mostly, I want to encourage him to come out of his shell.

Viernes? Viernes!

I'm so happy that it is Friday.  The past week has been unexpectedly busy during and after work.  I decided to forgo another Saturday volunteer opportunity this weekend in order to double-up on fitness classes.  I really need to resume my fitness schedule and workout at least three times a week.  Lately, I've opted to stay in and eat and watch TV instead of walking the .5 block to the fitness center.  Before long, I'll just become a huge blob of fat--nixing all the progress I've made during the past few months to tone my body.  That will all change next week.  I have no happy hours or meetings to attend after work so I have no excuse to not go to the gym everyday.

I've decided to get more involved in the Young Alumni Association.  At this week's planning meeting, I volunteered to plan an upcoming happy hour. Yay, me!  I'm hoping that my involvement will connect me with cool alum that I can learn from and drink with.  My freshman year roommate's friend was at the meeting.  It was nice to see her but I quickly remembered why I was never fond of her.

On tap this weekend: A trip to the library, Gifford's, and lots of time to daydream and focus on my novel's storyline.