summer
8/17/25
As summer winds down, I feel like this is going to be one that I remember well.
I think I did it right this year. I traveled a little, but mostly stayed put. Rested and worked. Entertained and accepted invitations. Careful not to wish it away too fast, and savoring the parts that are just here for now. Along the way I've amassed a list of moments that have lingered and demanded to be remembered. They made the summer what it was and I'm grateful for them.
My nephew sitting on my lap, his perfect blonde curls tickling my chin.
The railing digging into my forearms as I watch a fireworks show.
Taking an afternoon off of work and swimming lap after lap, having the whole pool to myself.
Giving the happiest, sweatiest tourists directions outside the National Gallery.
Watching The Intern with my parents and silently weeping.
The absolute delight at preparing my first ever steak and not failing at it.
Finishing a book late at night and waking up early to start the sequel because I just couldn't wait.
The sounds of the neighborhood in the morning as the walkers take advantage of the early light.
The crunch of puff pastry on the top of a chicken pot pie.
A mess of tan lines on my right shin where I inexplicably forgot my sunscreen in the weirdest pattern.
Peaches and cream for dessert.
8/6/15
 |
| Florida Highwaymen painting done by Harold Newton, date unknown |
And so I present things that have happened in my life in the past two weeks.
All of my laundry washed, dried, folded/ironed, and put away--including towels, washcloths, and bedsheets. I'm so adult.
Meeting up with my very best friend for a temple session and Chipotle.
Sitting talking to a friend, and all of a sudden I'm crying.
Spending a long night searching for my wallet, and finding it the next morning while getting dressed in my unmentionables drawer (not even kidding).
We've had some staff changes at work, and in the meantime things are a little heinous, and I miss my old boss.
This.
Salted caramel ice cream is life-changing.
Listening to CCR, Eagles, and the Rolling Stones.
Also, CHVRCHES finally has new music (technically, I'm a few weeks behind) and it's perfect.
I'm am once again attempting to stop biting my nails. Right now, we're three weeks strong.
Poldark is changing my life. I think I like it better than Downton Abbey, and that's saying something.
Faced the dilemma when you're going out of town so you don't want to buy milk, but you still want to eat cereal.
I was given some new responsibilities and was immediately overwhelmed.
Sister and Mother helped me calm down about said responsibilities.
I haven't set an alarm in a week and half, and I still wake up on time.
I've written about 10 blog posts and published none of them.
My older brother had birthday!
My little brother had a birthday, and since we're Irish twins, we're now the same age!
I received two wedding announcements in the mail.
And I'm thoroughly ready for a vacation.
We've had some staff changes at work, and in the meantime things are a little heinous, and I miss my old boss.
This.
Salted caramel ice cream is life-changing.
Listening to CCR, Eagles, and the Rolling Stones.
Also, CHVRCHES finally has new music (technically, I'm a few weeks behind) and it's perfect.
I'm am once again attempting to stop biting my nails. Right now, we're three weeks strong.
Poldark is changing my life. I think I like it better than Downton Abbey, and that's saying something.
Faced the dilemma when you're going out of town so you don't want to buy milk, but you still want to eat cereal.
I was given some new responsibilities and was immediately overwhelmed.
Sister and Mother helped me calm down about said responsibilities.
I haven't set an alarm in a week and half, and I still wake up on time.
I've written about 10 blog posts and published none of them.
My older brother had birthday!
My little brother had a birthday, and since we're Irish twins, we're now the same age!
I received two wedding announcements in the mail.
And I'm thoroughly ready for a vacation.
6/21/15
It's officially summer, ushered in last night with a real thunderstorm and it made me happy.
This is an important summer. For the first time since I was four years old, this summer will be the first that doesn't end with a school year (at least, not as a student). I'll finally be one of those people who's planner doesn't run from August to July. I'm trying to figure my life out, which involves lots of tears, phone calls, prayers, emails, meditation, and general exhaustion. I keep thinking that for how much work this is, someday it'll make a great story to tell my kids.
On top of that, I've definitely got summer-fever. Is that actually a thing? I think so. I don't really miss Florida that often, but I certainly do in the summertime. I miss beaches and barbecues and flip flops and Tropical Smoothie and afternoon storms and Wakulla Springs. I'm heading back home at the end of the summer, and honestly that trip can't come soon enough.
This summer's gonna be a long one. Hopefully a good one. Definitely a Brave one. And I'm gonna have to work my tail off.
Here's to summer.
7/30/14
Wanderlust: I'm feeling it. Since my little trip to North Carolina for my family reunion earlier this month, I've been wanting to get away again. I've been so tempted to just up and go away somewhere. I have about 11 tabs for Amtrak open on my browser at any given time. Virginia's great, but I'm kind of over it right now. I just want to get out.
I haven't been to the beach since March. It's entirely my own fault; it's not like the ocean is that far away.
I want to go. I want to sit on a beach with a book and a waterbottle and a pair of sunglasses and stay there for the better part of the day. I'll bring a sandwich and some Cheezits and bury my toes in the sand. I'll remember to bring sunscreen and reapply every two hours. I'll get there before everyone else, so I can pick the perfect spot and claim it. Maybe I'll fly a kite....except I don't think I can get it off the ground by myself. I'll try not be bothered by the others who show up, I mean it's not like I own the beach. It sounds rejuvenating and wonderful.
I'm not sure why, but I think I just need to get away.
7/7/14
Two weeks ago I went to the Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the State Department. Pictures will be up soon (I've been planning to put them up for a long time.....I'll get to it)
I'm currently at a family reunion in North Carolina and let me tell you my family is pretty great.
My car started making a noise and I'm not sure what it is.
I finished reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and picked up the audiobook the next day for my drive down to NC. I am obsessed with it.
Barack Obama showed up at my office building on Thursday to give the jobs report. I was sitting at the front desk when the president of the coworking space we partner with came to my desk and told me that the President of the United States will be here in 45 minutes. We went up stairs, got wanded by security, and then President Obama walked in the room. It was insane and definitely one of the coolest things that has ever happened in my life.
The Fourth of July was wonderful. It's one of my favorite holidays and this year it was the first day of this family reunion. We went down to a street fair, danced in the street, and watched fireworks. I just love America.
I've solidified my plans so I'm moving to a townhouse in about 3 weeks. All I've got to do is buy a bed. Never been mattress shopping before, but I'm pretty excited.
image via
5/15/14
Alright, y'all.
I did it. I finished my first year of graduate school. Hallelujah!
Now that it's over, and I'm trying to figure out a new routine. Last week, I started a new job. And to be honest, it was the least stressful job transition I've ever made. Except that I don't know how to make coffee, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna have to learn now that we got a new coffee machine. When the scariest thing you have to do at a new job is make coffee, I think that counts as a win.
The most stressful part is the commute into DC every morning. I'm experimenting with different methods and times; I have been quite early every single day, and I start at 8 AM. I'm enjoying my little stroll from the metro stop, though not on the days it rains. And the weather is getting pretty warm now, so the stroll might go down on my list of favorite things fairly soon.
It's kinda nice to have a reason to be up first thing in the morning that doesn't involve writing a paper before class. And it makes the weekends that much sweeter because I don't have to set an alarm. I get off work in the early afternoon, so I'm pretty much planning on spending my afternoons doing awesome things.
And I love my new job. I like the people I work with. I am definitely the baby of the office; I'm excited for the day that I'm not the youngest one in the room since that seems to always be the case right now (also, this morning at CVS when I stopped to buy cold medicine, the cashier didn't believe I was over 18 #typical). But nobody cares that I'm young.
It's just great.
And I'm just great.
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