May Flowers, Part 1

Photos on Flickr.

It has been a crazy week and so I'm just now getting to writing about my busy last weekend before this one kicks into gear.

Of course I go weeks with nothing to do and nowhere to be, and then all of a sudden everything I want to do happens the same week. Such was Saturday, with open houses for the European Union embassies and the annual flower mart at the National Cathedral. I've done the embassy thing the past two years and the flower mart last year. I love them both and look forward to them every year. But this year I decided I wanted to focus more on the flower mart, so I only did one embassy: Great Britain.

Now, it might seem a little silly to get so excited to see the embassy of a country I have lived in and travelled all around, but trust me, it's not. And considering that it has been an unbelievable three years since I last set foot on precious English soil, it felt right being surrounded by jolly old England/Scotland/Wales again.

The main draw was to see the ambassador's gardens, which were lovely, of course. There was a real English telephone booth and a band playing British invasion songs. They also had food, with bread pudding and bangers and mash on the menu. Not to mention the whiskey samples which, oddly enough, was the same whiskey whose distillery I toured when I went to Scotland.

I walked around and just took it all in. I am happy with my life right now and have no regrets because I feel that my life will take me back to Britain one day. And until then I'll get my fixes however I can.

Missing in Action

The past few weeks have been physically, mentally, and creatively draining. Work has been nuts so my brain is like a limp, wet pile of spaghetti by the time I get home. And in the midst of all that has been graduations, fun stuff in D.C., and a trip HOME.

A not so brief recap...

Embassy open houses in D.C.

I went to just two this year: Ethiopia and Bangladesh. But at the Bangladeshi I had the fun of getting henna, which I've wanted for years. It finally faded toward the end of last week, which means I will no longer get to tell people that no, I didn't tattoo, draw on, or burn my hand.

Plant Sale at National Cathedral

My first visit to the National Cathedral was positively lovely. For pictures, go to my Flickr. I loved all the green grass and the carnival atmosphere of the mart. It was full of booths, games, and food. Oh, the food. But I'd like to go back on a regular day and actually go in the building next time.

Cinco de Mayo

The roommate and I hit up our local Mexican restaurant for some good old American celebrating of a pseudo-Mexican holiday. And though we completely resented the fact that we had to wait more than an hour, it was worth the free tequila shots and the I-swear-they-weren't-this-strong-last-time margaritas.

(This is a rather disturbing painting of a cock fight hanging beside our table. Insert any number of juvenile jokes that may or not have been made as the margarita pitcher got closer to empty.)

HOME

The next day I left for HOME. This was my first trip back since Christmas, which is the longest I've ever been away. (Obviously one of the dumbest, completely unintentional, things I've ever done.) I choose to live away from home, and I don't regret it. But I never realize just how much I miss it until I go back. And I've found myself missing it more than I usually do once I leave. But it's how I'm able to do the things I do -- always knowing I have somewhere to get back to.

And why did I go home? For this:

The little brother is a college graduate. He's pretty much the greatest and I know he's going to do great things in his life.

Ragtime

A few days after I got back I went to my first play in ages, Ragtime at the Kennedy Center. I took a class my freshman year based around the book where we read it and various other texts about the historical figures in the book. I got great seats thanks to the KC's program for those 25 and below, and it was really good. The set was beautiful and so was the acting and singing.

This past weekend - Trekkies, Rahm, and Mimosas

After a rough week at work and before a weekend of more work, I treated myself to a movie - Star Trek. I remember watching parts of the original, Next Generation and even Deep Space Nine with my Daddy, so I wasn't going in completely blind. On a whole I enjoyed it. Though I do think J.J. Abrams recycles too many plot devices from his past work. And also should chill out in the white light cinematography department or whatever kept flashing across the screen and blinding me. But I'd see a sequel. Even if the men continue to wear skinny jeans.

And then Sunday was one more graduation, GW's, on the National Mall. This is the first time I've ever attended a ceremony without knowing anyone actually graduating.

And why were the roommate and I up at the ungodly hour on a rainy, cold day? Because we have become intrigued by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Partly because of the crazy stories about him, partly because it makes us think fondly of The West Wing. And probably partly because we've been in D.C. just a tad too long.

It's no UNC, but we did get free ponchos, a nice view of the Capitol, and George Washington himself was there with his lovely wife Martha. I swear I couldn't make it up if I tried.

We capped off our Sunday [morning] with mimosas, leading me to decide that Sundays, or any day really, should start with mimosas.

And that's the past month. If you made it this far, I'll give you a cupcake. Or not.

Day 138: If I only I could get stamps in my passport, too

On a beautiful Spring day, I travelled the world.

Serbia, Madagascar, South Korea, India, Australia, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago. All without leaving DC. Today various embassies opened their doors to the public to partake in their culture - food, pictures, videos, dancing, and did I mention food? I not only entered an embassy, or seven, for the first time, I also ate all sorts of food I've never tried, and to be honest, don't really know what half of it was. Which I never do.

Serbian candy and a Munchmallow. Australian lamb and cheese. (Never had lamb before.) Indian sticky sweet rice ball and something stuffed with something green. Trinidad and Tobago chicken. A Peruvian olive. And Malagasy spiced stuffed something too. And more.

It was a great day spent being transported to other places, one of my most favorite things to do, even when it doesn't require me to change time zones.

Dancer at Indian Embassy:
Peru:Madagascar:Travelling the world is tiring. Resting my battered feet in the fountain at the Sculpture Gallery: