The last month

I've really been struggling lately in coming up with things to write about here. (Which is quite unfortunate timing as I start a six-week writing class soon on personal essay.) But a quick browse through my iPhone photos revealed a number of activities that I haven't blogged about. And then reminded me of even more non-photographed activities from the past month.

Book Club

Generally my book club meets each month at a DC restaurant. But sometimes a member will host a potluck at her home just to mix it up and save a little money. This month I offered up my humble abode. It went really well and I really do love having people over. (Even though I had a number of anxiety attacks leading up to it, but that’s just how I roll.) About an hour before people were set to arrive I realized I didn’t have fresh flowers and I just can’t have people over without fresh flowers. So to Giant I went/ran and purchased these. Three weeks later, I just threw the majority out but still have a few going strong. Best $15 ever.

Joey and Michelle Visit

My brother and his girlfriend came for the weekend toward the end of September. I introduced them to my office, we took a tortuous drive through DC to get to the Nats game, watched the Braves prevail over the Nats, went to Eastern Market, went to the National Mall and visited the World War II and Korean War Memorials, took a Potomac River Cruise from Georgetown, and had some good meals.

Presidential Visit

The wax museum here recently revealed the wax figures of ALL the presidents. All. The. Presidents. The roommate and I were a bit excited about this. (More on this later.)

Les Miserables

In May I bought my ticket to see Les Mis at the Kennedy Center. Unfortunately, I was not a fan. Which I don’t quite understand as I love plays, love musicals, love history, love the French Revolution even, but did not love the play. At all.

Matt Nathanson

I attended my first concert at one of DC’s most popular venues, 9:30 Club, with my friend Lauren to see Matt Nathanson. He put on a great show and was really funny, too.

Good Times

This past weekend I spent an evening in Bethesda with one of my work friends, Shana. We had dinner and then just hung out and chatted at her place until 2 in the morning. You know how I keep going on and on about what great friends I have? Well, I mean it and I do. The next day I met Brandie to see “The Ides of March” and then have a late brunch at Austin Grill. Yes, I had a mimosa and pancakes at a Tex Mex restaurant. But B had a mimosa and tacos at a Tex Mes restaurant, so…

Day 274: Yunagi?

Another month, another book, another book club, another meeting with me and just one other girl. Oh well, I happen to quite like her and we have a good time with our club of two. Tonite we had dinner at a Japanese restaurant, where I tried my first sushi. No raw fish for me, just lots of veggies and shrimp and goodness. I am definitely a fan. And I kind of want more already.

Day 240: Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme

It's that time of the month again, book club time! Tonite we met at the lovely Rosemary's Thyme Bistro, which I have been wanting to try. We had a great waiter and good happy hour specials. Not a special, but very good, was the pide, which I tried, despite never having heard of it and only thinking about it for a minute. (I'm very picky and indecisive, this is big.) It was basically a flat bread boat full of feta and sausage and tomato goodness. So so good.

Day 206: More books, geez!

I think my next blog project is just going to be about books, I feel like that is what this one tends to be anyway. Tonite I had my monthly book club meeting, for the first time for a book I picked. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan. Interesting, to say the least, as his tend to be, but good. And as usual I am in awe of his writing skills.

Beforehand I killed time at Barnes and Noble, naturally, and took pictures of all the books I want to read. This is blatantly ripped off from my friend, Karey. I usually just write them down, but inevitably lose the receipt or to do list sticky note, and forget about them. But now I have photographic record on my phone. Like I needed another way to spend more money on books.

Day 165: TGIF...the 13th

Ah, the weekend. Finally. Mine started off by heading downtown for my monthly book club meeting. (Though I didn't quite finish the book.) I was excited because we were trying a restaurant I walk by all the time but never been to.

I arrived precisely at 7:15, as was one of the other girls. Fifteen minutes later...we were still the only ones. We were stood up. Ouch. But as we were hot and hungry, we didn't waste any time, and instead hightailed it across the street to a pizza place with no hour wait.

I got a lovely pepperoni pizza, and Sangria, which I've never tried at an Italian restaurant. Which means I have now had Sangria at Spanish, American, Asian, and Italian restaurants. I think the Asian place had the best.

It was the smallest club meeting yet, but it could have been worse. I could have been the only one to show up, and been forced to discuss the book with myself.