Looking cool after a nice long ski
Friday, January 27, 2006
Monday, January 23, 2006
Election Fever in DC
Well it's finally over. Too much excitement for me. I headed down to the Elephant & Castle last night to join every other Canadian in watching the election coverage. I also brought along some of my American friends for the cultural experience, and of course, the $2 Molson beers. It was pretty wild there. Lots and lots of people. The Conservatives had a pretty vocal cheering squad but I feel that there was pretty good representation accross the board. We had our own little NDP cheering section. And one woman even had a "Parti Vert" sign! It so happened that I met a fellow from Balgonie there so we shared a few Saskatchewan stories, Corner Gas and such. It was a really great time, and I can't say I'm all that unhappy with the outcome. It was really nice to see the NDP make some gains, and I think it was time for the Liberals to be humbled. It should be pretty interesting to watch the Canadian political scene for the next little while.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Long Weekend in January
I think that having a long weekend in January is a wonderful idea. Particularly when it is in celebration of the life of such a remarkable man as Martin Luther King Jr. It was a good weekend in DC! Saturday I met my friend Ilana for lunch at a French crepe restaurant - sooo good. We had a great time catching up - she got to go home to San Diego for the holidays - must be nice. Although I really can't complain, I do like Saskatchewan winters, especially when I only get to spend a few days there. The rest of Saturday was pretty much a loss. I was really tired so I went home and had a nap. It was also really nasty outside - crazy Saskatchewan-like wind all day. Our garbage cans were blowing all over the place. I spent Saturday night watching the US figure skating nationals and drinking vanilla vodka and coke with two of my roommates.
Sunday was a much more active and productive day. Valentine, Katelyn and I headed off to services at Christ Lutheran Church in the morning. I love that church so much - and not only because of it's name! The people are so welcoming and the services are really good. In honour of Dr. King's birthday they read 3 excerpts from his writings instead of a sermon. It was very touching and powerful. Sunday afternoon was the inaugural meeting of the Pre-clergy book club at my friend's Carolina's and Sylvia's. A bunch of us - all seminary bound at some point - are planning on meeting monthly to shares thoughts on whatever it is we've decided to read for that month. It's a good group. Lutherans definitely represent, one Episcopalian, one Presbyterian, one UCC and one Reform Jew. I'm excited! This month, in honour of Martin Luther King's birthday we've decided to read "Why We Can't Wait" by King, "Jesus and the Disinherited" by Howard Thurman (an important influence in King's own life) and a short essay by King as well. A fair bit of reading but it should be good discussion. And these topics are right up my alley.
Sunday night we went back to CLC for the monthly Taize service and potluck. Did I already say that I love that church? I think we've found a really great community there which is just really exciting.
And another week begins. I'm holding out for this coming election. I've found a place in DC where they will be broadcasting the CBC election coverage!! And also having specials on Canadian beer. Probably close to the best combination ever. I'll feel very close to you all up there in Canada watching the election in shared time.
Sunday was a much more active and productive day. Valentine, Katelyn and I headed off to services at Christ Lutheran Church in the morning. I love that church so much - and not only because of it's name! The people are so welcoming and the services are really good. In honour of Dr. King's birthday they read 3 excerpts from his writings instead of a sermon. It was very touching and powerful. Sunday afternoon was the inaugural meeting of the Pre-clergy book club at my friend's Carolina's and Sylvia's. A bunch of us - all seminary bound at some point - are planning on meeting monthly to shares thoughts on whatever it is we've decided to read for that month. It's a good group. Lutherans definitely represent, one Episcopalian, one Presbyterian, one UCC and one Reform Jew. I'm excited! This month, in honour of Martin Luther King's birthday we've decided to read "Why We Can't Wait" by King, "Jesus and the Disinherited" by Howard Thurman (an important influence in King's own life) and a short essay by King as well. A fair bit of reading but it should be good discussion. And these topics are right up my alley.
Sunday night we went back to CLC for the monthly Taize service and potluck. Did I already say that I love that church? I think we've found a really great community there which is just really exciting.
And another week begins. I'm holding out for this coming election. I've found a place in DC where they will be broadcasting the CBC election coverage!! And also having specials on Canadian beer. Probably close to the best combination ever. I'll feel very close to you all up there in Canada watching the election in shared time.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
back in town
Well it's been some while since I've put anything up here. I definitely caught slack for that when I went home for Christmas so I apologise to those who actually do read my blog. I appreciate you ;)
I arrived back in DC on January 3rd after 10 days in beautiful Saskatchewan. Very nice to be back home, I got in a little cross-country skiing, lots of family time and even some friend time. But it is good to be back in the US again. I have to say I'm getting used to life here...it's pretty alright ;) My return flights were fine. Short layover in Minneapolis, long ride home from the Baltimore-Washington airport. After a bus ride, two metro rides and another bus, I finally made it to my home sweet home, two and a half hours after landing. And of course, right back to work on Wednesday. It was almost as though I never left...things were pretty much the same although quieter than before Christmas. My agency will be moving locations soon so that's the next big event at work. We have yet to set the moving date however, so much is still up in the air.
My first weekend back was wonderful. Saturday was pretty packed with a staff/board retreat from 9-1 at the Bethesda Country Club (very ritzy - but hey, this is Bethesda). In the afternoon I went for a nice bike ride down to the harbour (yes, a bike ride in January - and not through snow). The weather here has been gorgeous. Yesterday it hit close to 15 degrees celcius! Not typical for January, even in DC. And Saturday night my housemates and I checked out the Wizards basketball game against the Boston Celtics. Not too much action at the start but the last quarter was pretty thrilling. It came down to the last few seconds with Washington down by one and two foul shots (both of which were made! - winning the game for Washington 103-102). Afterwards we went home and celebrated by stripping our dried out fired hazard of a Christmas tree. All in all a pretty good day. And Sunday, of course, was our day of rest. I went to church, came home, and didn't leave the house again that day. It was a beautiful thing. And again, a new week has started. Hopefully more adventures to be had. I will say I'm looking forward to my long weekend!
I arrived back in DC on January 3rd after 10 days in beautiful Saskatchewan. Very nice to be back home, I got in a little cross-country skiing, lots of family time and even some friend time. But it is good to be back in the US again. I have to say I'm getting used to life here...it's pretty alright ;) My return flights were fine. Short layover in Minneapolis, long ride home from the Baltimore-Washington airport. After a bus ride, two metro rides and another bus, I finally made it to my home sweet home, two and a half hours after landing. And of course, right back to work on Wednesday. It was almost as though I never left...things were pretty much the same although quieter than before Christmas. My agency will be moving locations soon so that's the next big event at work. We have yet to set the moving date however, so much is still up in the air.
My first weekend back was wonderful. Saturday was pretty packed with a staff/board retreat from 9-1 at the Bethesda Country Club (very ritzy - but hey, this is Bethesda). In the afternoon I went for a nice bike ride down to the harbour (yes, a bike ride in January - and not through snow). The weather here has been gorgeous. Yesterday it hit close to 15 degrees celcius! Not typical for January, even in DC. And Saturday night my housemates and I checked out the Wizards basketball game against the Boston Celtics. Not too much action at the start but the last quarter was pretty thrilling. It came down to the last few seconds with Washington down by one and two foul shots (both of which were made! - winning the game for Washington 103-102). Afterwards we went home and celebrated by stripping our dried out fired hazard of a Christmas tree. All in all a pretty good day. And Sunday, of course, was our day of rest. I went to church, came home, and didn't leave the house again that day. It was a beautiful thing. And again, a new week has started. Hopefully more adventures to be had. I will say I'm looking forward to my long weekend!
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