A Good May Day

The first weekend in May always brings the National Cathedral Flower Mart. I've been twice before and thoroughly enjoy it. 

 
The Cathedral grounds are lovely, the booths have excellent goods, the food selection is fun, and it just feels good. I missed last year unfortunately and was praying the weather would hold out and everything would go smoothly. Which it did. 

I spent a little while looking at the goods, and spent the most time at my favorite vendor, Willow Pond Farm Herbs and Everlasting. Each year they are in the same location and I make a beeline for them and buy more and more of their lavender goodness. (My favorite is the lavender Earl Grey tea.) 

After a little shopping, I got lunch and sat on the grounds near the book tent. (Which I did have to hit up, of course, but I only bought two books.) 

 
Then I explored the gardens. Somehow, during every other visit, I've missed this beautiful area with a nice flower garden and gazebo.

 

 

 

 

Beyond the gardens is a large wooded area with brick paths, benches, a covered bridge, and even an amphitheater. 

I'm still a country girl at heart and anytime I can find a good place that makes me feel closer to home in this city, I get a little calmer. I'll definitely be back here.

Things I Learned This Weekend

Updated because I forgot one.


Nothing ruins a Friday like the death of a Beastie Boy.
I'm honestly still in shock that MCA is dead. Beastie Boys don't die--they rhyme and steal, they fight for the right. They were the first rap group I ever listened to and the first CD I ever owned with a "parental advisory." He will be missed.

There's always something new to see at the National Cathedral.
For the third time I went to the National Cathedral Flower Mart. I'll write more about it later this week (and the Cape Party I mentioned I last week) but it was so nice to be on the Cathedral grounds. This year I walked through the gardens and a wooded trail, which I didn't know existed, and just smiled the whole time. I love the city but I'm still a country girl at heart.

Eli Manning + Saturday Night Live = Hilarious

As much as I love Eli, I was worried about him hosting this week since he's so quiet and shy. However, he blew me away and I laughed until my face was numb. Highlight: The portion of the Madden motion capture sketch where they ask him to fake throw a grenade. Also, everything else.

Dressing for The Kentucky Derby is fun. (And the race is ok, too.)

One of my friends has a Derby party every year and this year I went. It was a double party, a Derby Fiesta if you will, since it was also Cinco de Mayo. The occasion required a fascinator, of course, which I put together with some flowers from a cheap Forever 21 headband and another headpiece I already had.

 
What the occasion didn't require, but that I purchased anyway, was a very Donna Reed but also very Derby dress for $24 from Forever 21. I'm in love.

Mint Juleps are gross.

And very strong. I probably only had the equivalent of 4 tablespoons and could still feel it starting to take hold. This is why I don’t drink liquor.

Betting is fun when you only lose $3.

Everyone bet $1 per horse. I placed my money on Creative Cause, Rousing Sermon, and Sabercat. I didn't win.

A room full of intelligent, educated adults can't handle even the thought of the death scene in "The Lion King."
After the Derby, my friend channel surfed for something to watch. We all agreed that "The Lion King" would be good, as long as we didn't see the Mufasa death and Simba tugging on his ear scenes. She kept checking back every few minutes, and at one point it was right on the stampede scene, and every adult in the room gasped or screamed as my friend scrambled to change the channel. Crisis averted.


Even screaming can't ruin a good night's sleep. 
I slept for about 12 hours on Saturday night. I also had dream after dream after dream. None were nightmares, per se, but two resulted in me yelling and waking myself up as a result. (I know the first time I yelled "Help!" and the second time I just yelled.) Luckily, I didn't wake up the roommate or neighbors. Or if I did, they didn't say anything, so I'd rather not know. 

I can never buy another little black dress. 
I finally finished switching out my summer and winter clothes, sorting through clothes, reorganizing scarves and belts, and hanging up skirts and dresses even though they'll end up in a pile for most of the summer. I can't really buy any more clothing of any kind, but especially black dresses as I have…several. 

Having your kitchen in your living room is a real pain.
That's right, the contents of our kitchen are still in our living room. We're still seeing bugs and our complex told us if we still see them after a week, they'll come out and re-spray. So to avoid putting everything away and then taking it back out again, we're just leaving everything in the living room. You can imagine how much fun it is to try and put together a meal.

May Flowers, Part 2

Pictures on Flickr.

After the embassies came the National Cathedral. After a long uphill walk in the blazing sun and the realization that I had not had a meal in almost 24 hours, I hightailed it to the food section. Where long lines at every turn led me to promptly backtrack to the over-priced bratwurst stand, the same over-priced bratwurst stand I ate at last year, and probably for the same reason. But oh my was it good.

I then got my cash and debit card ready as I meandered through the stands. The main draw of the flower mart, of course, are the plants and flowers for sale. I browsed them but just ended up with some fake flowers and a pretty vase. The main draw for me was my favorite booth from last year, a lavender farm from Pennsylvania. I love lavender and they have it all: honey spreads, sachets, cat toys, and my favorite, tea! They were in the same spot as last year and I hit them first.

I then just wandered around, looking more than buying. Spent awhile in the book tent where I managed to not buy anything. Bought a wonderful strawberry and pineapple smoothie and continued browsing as the brain freeze sat in. Then I made my way to the main goal of the visit: the bell tower climb.

First and foremost, I am not good with heights. I've discovered over the years that I'm not so much afraid of them, it's more that my body and my head just can't handle them. I have vertigo and perception issues that make me light-headed and weak, which is pretty much the last thing you want as you ascend 300+ stairs in a centuries-old bell tower.

But the way I see it, I have been to the top of St. Paul's in London and St. Peter's in the Vatican, and I thought I owed it to my own country to go the top of one of its cathedrals. And so I did.

It got a bit scary at times. I had trouble breathing and I got really shaky, but I gripped the railings/walls and kept my eyes focused on the person in front of me, and made it to the top. And oh so very glad I did. From the views of Washington to the humongous bells to the bell ringers making their music, it was worth every rickety step. (I uploaded a video of the bells here. They aren't ringing the bells I walked by, but some different ones that we can't see.)

On the way down they led us through a Cathedral balcony. I went inside a few months ago for an orchestra concert, but this was different. With a stunning view of the soaring ceilings and stained glass, especially the rose window, I just couldn't have asked for more.

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.