Running Fool


We cheered on our friends Matt and Christina as they ran the Marine Corps Marathon yesterday. They are total studs! Watching the mass of people of every age and body type really inspired me. So here is my official announcement: Next year I am going to complete a marathon. Now that I've let everyone know there is no backing out. So feel free to ask/bug me about my training.

Fashion is Key

60% of In Style readers part their hair on the left.
So do I!
62% of readers don't wash their hair every day and 78% say the shine is the number 1 characteristic of great hair. Is there a connection?

ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz

One of our challenges with the move is being back in an apartment where we share walls with neighbors. Our building is 70 years old with really squeaky wood floors and we have a nocturnal upstairs neighbor. I can sleep through most of the activity but Eric wakes with every footstep - especially when our neighbor is doing laps around the room above our bedroom. We've tried leaving a fan on to create white noise and it does help muffle the sounds but between me waking every few hours to use the bathroom and our neighbor, Eric is not sleeping so well. I've thought about slipping Nyquil into his dinner drink but I'd like something a little less habit forming. So I'm putting a call out for help - any suggestions?

Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap, DC UNITED

Saturday night we watched DC United play Chicago Fire. I've never followed MLS but I think I could be a United fan pretty quickly. Although the game was scoreless there was plenty of excitment and the fans were the best. A packed stadium, rabid fans with flags, drums, cow-bells, smoke-bombs, and organized chants. I thought I was back at a World Cup game. It was great! I didn't realize there were such soccer fans in the US. For the next game I'm painting my face - or at least wearing DC black.

Trees, Orchids, and Dog Bites

Molly got attacked by a German Shepherd while running with Eric on a trail this weekend. The result was a visit to the emergency vet but luckily no stitches were necessary. She's doing fine - I think the worst part for her is having to wear an old t-shirt of mine to cover the wound. She's so embarrassed but I keep telling her it is better than a funnel collar.
Monday we went to the National Arboritum with the McArthurs (who just happened to move to DC a few weeks after us). 450 acres of every kind of tree you could imagine. Eric likes to stick his head in Banana trees for some reason. I loved the bonsai collection - they had a white pine bonsai that has been in training since 1625. The arboritum had an orchid exhibit and there were vendors from all over selling amazing orchids. We picked up a couple to add some color and oxygen to our apartment.

Spies Among US


Last weekend we went on a walking tour titled "Spies in Georgetown." It was led by an ex-military intelligence officer. We forgot our camera but didn't see any espionage in action so is wasn't too great a loss. Mostly the guide pointed out homes that CIA directors and interesting spies lived in. We also walked past homes of John Kerry, Madeline Albright, JFK, and others I can't remember right now. I think next week we are going to try a walking tour of Lincoln's assination. As long as it cools down! This humidity is killing me. We walked past the FBI building a couple of weeks ago - it is pretty ugly and not visitor friendly. Too bad.

Art from an Engineers View
I'm not an artist and I have a really hard time coordinating Eric's ties and suits but I love art museums. Last week we went to the National Gallary of Art a couple of times and for the first time went into the east wing - modern art - area. The bookstore/gift shop was amazing and we bought a few prints. In Paris, Eric found he really likes 16th century Dutch art, specifically Vermeer. I find my favorites with the French masters. Monet, Degas, Seurat, Renior, etc. So the question is: which prints should we put in our bedroom and which in the guest room. Would you as our guest rather wake up to Mrs. Monet

or Lady with a Pearl Earing?

Visitors Help us Have Fun
Last weekend we had 2 sets of friends from Corvallis visit. Robert and Jessica came out for an international motorcross race and Candice and Courtney came out for their grandmother's funeral. It was fun to see some sights with all of them and Eric was awesome for putting up with an apartment full of women on Sunday morning - 4 talkative ladies and 2 of the sweetest babies.

Wednesday I met a friend from childhood, Jess, and her inlaws at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. I especially liked the dolphin show and the poison dart frogs. So much to see and do! Come visit us!