I'm still here

I'm still here! I've been out travelling for just about the last two weeks, going from one end of the country to the other and back again (and coming back in between). And oh the stories...

But I'm back now, playing catchup at work and at home with errands and emails and that whole writing thing. It's a three day weekend this weekend (I think...assuming I have my dates correct as I write this trying to wake up) and I'll update you on what's been going on.

I went to Montana for a week about two weeks ago and then came back to DC for a day, and after that went to Florida for my Uncle's wedding. I haven't been to either state in years. It's been three years since I've been to Montana and well, quite possibly over a decade since I've been in Florida. In a way Florida could possibly count as my resolution to "go somewhere I've never been before" seeing as how I couldn't really remember anything about that state.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know I was still here and do have some stories to share. First up will be Montana with some pictures and links to more pictures. The first few days back are always a little crazy. Hope everyone's last few weeks were great as summer winds down.

waiting for Mr. Smith

A few weeks ago I watched an extremely good movie: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Despite my love of old black & white films and Jimmy Stewart, I had never seen this movie before. It was interesting to watch Mr. Smith's arrival, because my first arrival back in 2004 was similar...minus the honorary Senator part. I was still a student, the fall semester of my Senior year, and this was my first trip to Washington.

I was in awe of everything. Of the buildings, from the gleaming white Capitol to the little row houses lining the off-street and later in awe of the jewel-colored leaves as fall arrived. I loved that I could walk everywhere and see so much history and that each building had a little bit of antiquity to it. After all, as I had realized from my first trip to Boston many years earlier...the only thing that old in Dallas was the dirt. My first trip to Union Station made me think of the old train stations from the boom of Industrialization, making me imagine fictional giants of Dagny Taggert and John Galt. I even could picture some scene from an Hercule Poirot mystery, if he had ever ventured over to our side of the pond.

The awe was much the same less than a year later when I moved out here from sunny California, less than eight months after leaving that winter. I cross 16th Street at least twice a day and used to glance down the street at the White House and the Washington Monument. I went down to the Mall often and to the museums.

But...I don't do that so much anymore. I don't go out of my way to do these things. The awe hasn't gone. If I catch myself at a red light, waiting to cross, and can see the White House, I do have to pause and smile. I still grin and wonder who's inside the black cars of a caravan (they haven't yet become an annoyance).

But the film reminded me of that sense of awe that I loved. Many of us Washingtonians become jaded after living here. We complain about the humidity (a very valid complaint), tourists, ridiculously high cost of living, politics, etc., etc. Mr. Smith's secretary, Saunders, says something like that to the other Senator. She says that she came to DC with the idea of making a difference and now her eyes were green with (or for) dollar signs. But she changes, her idealism comes back. I'm not saying mine has gone, it's just...maybe currently liquefied with the humidity.

But even if we get fed up with the little annoyances, it's not hard to look for something to inspire. Washington is filled with monuments to the giants of American history and their triumphs. Their stories may have become the stuff of legends, but it's the idea of these people...it's the idea of America and even the idea of Washington that draws many of us here.

I know that jaded voice has crept in lately now that I've started my third year, but I also know that underneath it, I do still want to make a difference. And I know that once the monuments to those giants have failed to make me stop for a moment and stare, then it will be time to leave. I don't think I could live in a city as wonderful and beautiful as Washington if it lost its wonder.

fall cleaning?

I was going to be really good and do my spring cleaning this year.

Only...things got in the way and I kept putting it off. And putting it off some more. So, for the last few weeks I was looking forward to a three day weekend to really clean through the things I don't often get a chance to. Mainly...my closet and filing system.

But for some reason I really got in the urge to start last night. I went through all the tops (because my pants were good to go) I had hanging up and tried everything on to see if I still liked the fit and color, etc. I have a lot of clothes, and that comes mainly from working retail during college. And a lot of the stuff I have I haven't seen since college. Why keep them? Because I'm a pack rat.

This evening I went through my most of my drawers of folded tops and socks, finding a lot of 'lonely' socks that turns out didn't need to be so lonely.

InStyle had an article several issues back about shopping your closet. Which I guess is essentially what I'm doing because I'm pulling out things I know I'll never wear and uncovering items I used to wear but forget about when they get shoved to the back of my closet.

Now I realize this isn't the most riveting post I've had, but the cleaning and organizing is making me feel really good. It's good to get some things in order, especially if you're not feeling like your whole life is in order. I'm about 2/3 of the way finished with my closet (maybe about 1/2 of the way through if you count all the sweaters and sweatshirts that are folded neatly up top...but I may leave those until I'm feeling more 'sweatery' in the cooler fall weather) and looking forward to having a neat, organized closet. Which is good when you've grown up having a huge walk-in closet and now have about a shoe-box size.

I will have some more riveting posts later. Despite the artist stereotype, I'm actually a very orderly person. I like my closet organized a certain way, at work I need a clean desk in order to function, I need my files in certain ways and, yes, I alphabetize my books, first by category and subject and then by author. I had my DVDs alphabetized until I no longer had shelves and now they're just stacked up on the floor and I can tell you it's driving me crazy.

paris

I almost bought a ticket to Paris a little earlier today. It took a lot of willpower not to hit the purchase button on cheaptickets.com. Last year, right around tax refund time, I planned to take a trip to Paris sometime in the fall. Earlier this summer I thought I'd shelve that idea and use those funds to pay down some bills.

But I'm tired of waiting.

Years ago I had the opportunity to travel around Europe, and came pretty close to doing that until I had an epiphany: I can't experience Europe (Paris, Vienna, Rome, Venice) in a week. I can't enjoy the cities when I'm spending, at most, a day and a half in those cities. I need to spend at least a long weekend in each city. Especially Paris.

So I didn't go. And I don't regret not going. Because I know when I can stroll leisurely through the Left Bank and visit maybe one museum a day and spend the afternoons drinking espresso near the Seine and reading Hemingway or Voltaire that it'll be worth it.

But I'm tired of waiting.

25 is a good year, I think, to off and go to Paris. And I have a several months before I even turn 25. And if it gets to be towards the end of 2008, well...then I can impulse buy a trip to Paris. As it is, the idea of going isn't completely shot for this year. It's going to be highly tempting and I'll have to work to see what I can work on and see if I can convince a friend of mine to meet me there, but we'll see.

In the meantime, I satiated the need to impulse shop with buying a pair of shoes. In my defense, I do need them. I have a wedding to go to in two weeks and the best summer sandals I have are a little scuffed since they're my most comfortable and I've gone out dancing numerous times.

I needed these.