sabbatical week 1: care and upkeep of me

Tomato soup is simmering in the crock pot, and I've been watching The Flying Nun for the past hour, not a bad way to wrap up the first week of my sabbatical. I gave myself this week to ease into it--no big goals, no alarms to wake me up in the morning, and no writing. Having spent the last week leading up to my sabbatical writing a big grant proposal, I needed to give my brain a break. Kindness shouldn't just be reserved for others. Give yourself a break.

Thanks to Scarlet, I caught up on the first two seasons of Game of Thrones (and then proceeded to curse her for getting me hooked). I cooked hearty, winter meals (root veggie barley risotto [meh] and tortellini sausage soup [so good]) and whipped up these amazing energy balls. I got into The Goldfinch, was able to record a couple of episodes of Friday Night Dinner, and saw I, Frankenstein. My apartment finally got its first good cleaning since before my staff retreat in December (hey...I was out of town or working super long days) and spent some time on a few home projects. Finally, I had a few lovely people over for dinner, cocktails and good conversation.

Week 1 has been good.


Added the newest bowl to my collection, the purple and blue pottery by Roger Allen.




Created a loop to hang my uke from after realizing I'm not quite ready for this lovely investment.


New shower curtain and rug. I loved the solid white, but it was so difficult to maintain!


Friday night dinner guests. Everyone was tired, so they'll likely hate this photo, but I the moment needed documenting. :-)

Weekending, a river walkabout

It felt so good to get outside this weekend. Scratch that. It felt freaking awesome to get back in the river this weekend. The minute my hiking boots hit the water, the tread slipping slightly, my body seemed to reboot.



Dropping temperatures, lower river flows and the autumn equinox coincided with my somewhat spontaneous need to find wilderness and minimize the number of people and buildings in my immediate vicinity. Luckily, I found two friends who didn't think I was completely insane for wanting to hike through a river. They focused their questioning of my sanity on my insistence that we strike out before sunrise.

Still, they acquiesced. The car was loaded with caffeine, river shoes, cell phones, apples, and a very excited Serena as we headed toward Baltimore and the Patapsco River. Once there, we transformed into intrepid explorers, searching for the perfect walking sticks among woody debris and setting important walkabout rules (i.e., crotch deep is our limit and what we use to determine the point we'll turn back).



The Patapsco's sand and rock strewn bed provided stable footing for our trek with depths that ranged from ankle-deep and higher. The water itself was clear and crisp. Rock and sand outcrops provided an interesting change of pace and the opportunity for treasure hunting. However, the sections where the water flowed faster, sliding over rock in a series of riffles, were my siren song.

What's your siren song?

Bookish weekend update

Do we really have to go back to work tomorrow? I feel like I need two more days to de-stress from last week and make headway on some personal projects. I know the weekends aren't really supposed to be about accomplishing things, but if I'm good at anything, it's guilting myself into using my weekends to try to turn my list of ideas into reality.

I have about 10 things on my personal world domination plan and held "business meetings" with some of my co-conspirators this weekend! Ravena and I met at Jireh (above) to consume copious amounts of caffeine and chat about expanding That's What She Read and a new website we're plotting. On Saturday, Scarlet and I headed to McMahon's to plot a new podcast dedicated to the Gilmore Girls (I really do think we're probably this country's foremost experts on the topic) and a long-awaited sequel (by us) to our film, Reader's Advantage. Oh wait, am I supposed to do that blogger thing where I'm cryptic and make it sound important? ;-)

Do you see that biz meeting drink below? Silver Patron on ice. The only reason I ordered it was because one of the books I'm currently reading is The Drunken Botanist, chronicling the plants behind the world's liquors, and I just finished the chapter on agave. According to the author, if I get real tequila made with 100% pure agave, I should be able to sip it without any help from salt, limes or senor margarita mix. I was laughably nervous! I'll write more about the book later (am participating in a special book club with the author in October), but turns out it really was kind of sippable.



My other big weekend accomplishment was going a little crazy at the used bookstore. How could I not?! I was dizzy with excitement once I found two recent releases that are high on to-read list. I went back a day later for a business book I'd forgotten to look for. Beads of sweat sprang up on my brow at the thought of what I'd find. [I really, really hate that I perspire when I'm nervous :-(] I didn't find the book I was looking for, but I did score the trade paperbacks below for $2.15. Insert happy dance!



What did you get up to this weekend?

Paddling the Potomac River in Cumberland

I am a woman of few words after this long holiday weekend. I've been poring all I've got into a writing sample for a residency I'm applying for.

Luckily, I have some fun pictures from Friday evening. I drove up to the North Branch Potomac River earlier that day to meet up with a few local partners. Part of the project I'm working on involves an effort to get increased river access for anglers and recreational boaters. We decided to get out on the river and show everyone just how much fun it really is. :-)

Despite the heat, it was a beautiful day. Did you get out on the water this weekend?

Books and food in the City of Brotherly Love

I took a quick trip to Philly on Saturday, pretty much for the sole purpose of eating at Vedge.  
[This is a lie. It wasn't quick. It took 5 hours to get there.] It's one of those cities where, each time I visit, I explore a new corner. I never seem to be there very long, so it's kind of a slow courtship.


Before heading up, I looked up local comic book stores. This write-up was really helpful. A description of the neighborhood and its proximity to a used bookstore and Shane's Confectionery made visiting Brave New Worlds a no-brainer.



It turns out there were two bookstores nearby, one with a focus on used art and films books (how cool!) and The Book Trader. If not for a touch of claustrophobia, The Book Trader might have been a dream. Books crammed in every imaginable crevice, playing a precarious game of chicken with the ceiling.



The only repeat visit this trip was lunch at Blackbird Pizzeria. They serve mighty fine vegan pizza and have me wishing they'd open a branch down in VA. Of course, maybe then it wouldn't be quite as special. ;-)



I'll post a review of Vedge later this week. It was fantastic enough to warrant its own post.

Weekending, 06.29.13

I can't really explain it, but I'm just not ready to give up on this comic book thing. I'm determined to find something that resonates with me. So, when I found out the Annapolis Comic-Con was going to be this past weekend (and that it was only $10 to get in), I jumped at the chance to go, immediately texting Ravena to see if she wanted to come with.



I went expecting lines and costumes, but the thing I managed to forget was that people actually want to talk to you at these conventions (and they expect you to already know the ins and outs of their world). This had the potential to be a huge hurdle for this shy introvert, but luckily, I had two things going for me.

(1) I've learned to fake it and work through my shyness over the years. I think I do a pretty good job of appearing outgoing and chatting with strangers when, inside, I'm actually dying.
(2) I brought a translator (aka friend with comic cred).

Once I got a handle on my nerves and figured out which aggressive tables to avoid, I had a good time. I really enjoyed looking at artist portfolios and snagged the coolest (funniest) poster for my office door that I'll be sure to share once I snap a photo.



I was also on a mission to procure the first few issues of the new Wonder Woman reboot. I remember watching the TV series with Linda Carter as a little girl and liking this kick-ass heroine. I also have this theory that I may have an easier time getting into a series if I start from the beginning (or the new beginning in this case).

Do you know what was insanely frustrating? A seemingly unending sea of white boxes (see above) filled with random comics in no particular order. Who has time for that? Not this girl. I just don't have patience for that kind of hunt. I did snag the first few issues of Wonder Woman but ended up doing so from vendors who labeled their boxes and had the comics in alphabetical order. Score for the organized peeps of the world!

We ended the convention with a hop inside the tardis and took photos with The Walking Dead backdrop. Part of me wanted to stay for the zombie apocalypse training, but the crowds were beginning to press in. As we stepped into the bright sunlight, sidestepping yet another character I didn't know, Ravena pointed out that I might not be quite ready for the 30,000+ people that flock to Otakon in Baltimore. ;-)

Weekending, 06.15.13

Ah, weekends, so often the sweet spot of the week. Forty-eight hours spent racing the clock. Really, it's far too little time to reboot my brain, write all of the things, read all of the books and spend time with all of my people. That doesn't mean I don't give it my best shot though :-)

I managed to climb out of bed at a reasonable hour on Saturday morning to meet up with Ravena for a trip into Maryland to check out Hobby Lobby. Somehow I got it in my mind that they would have a sign with the word 'library' on it. They didn't. I can't help the fact that it was less than two miles away from the Dutch Country Farmer's Market (and things like candy apples, which I did not buy). When I got home, I spent some time trying to read a few Avengers comics in preparation for a post I'm trying to write comparing fanfic to comic books. It was nice to kick my feet up before getting ready to meet Scarlet at McMahon's in Warrenton, VA. If Stars Hollow were a business, it just might be McMahon's. I like it (and their vodka tonics) just that much.

I treated myself to This Is The End and Now You See Me on Sunday morning (thank you, $5 matinees) before grocery shopping and all of those other necessary weekend activities. Honestly, I expected to be disappointed by This Is The End. Sometimes I feel like I'm broken on the inside because I don't always find comedies funny like most people seem to. This, however, was freaking hilarious. Don't get me wrong. It was also stupid, but I found that I couldn't stop giggling.

The first two photos are actually from the Robinson Nature Center in Columbia, Maryland. I was there on Thursday afternoon, but the center was just too pretty not to include.

Weekending, Hagerstown

I found myself with a friend back in Hagerstown on Saturday. The air was thick, and the window units pumping in the antique malls were on their last leg. Still, there were plenty of odds and ends--treasures for someone--within Beaver Creek Antiques to make it worth the drive. The Turkish lamp above was dreamy.

And do you see that dog from Hempen Hill?  That baby was lunch and dinner (and worth every bite).

Thrifty DC: Farmer's Markets

This month the Washingtonian magazine published it's guide to the season's farmer's markets. This is a prime opportunity to combine a low-key outing with pesky grocery shopping. So many things are being produced in and around this region that I can easily get any staple I need at a local market. I also consider the people watching and chance for colorful pictures to be entertaining, but maybe I'm just easily amused.

How would I spend $20 and while away a Saturday?

9AM     City of Falls Church Farmer's Market      free entry

In addition to your standard fruits, veggies, eggs and dairy, they've got things like baked goods and coffee. All of my favorite things. One of the regular vendors is Atwater's. I've been known to pop by their Catonsville location for a fresh-baked loaf of bread when I'm up there for work and definitely recommend them. 

I've never been, but their website also mentions a monthly chef series.

Afterward, I'd recommend a walk over to Cherry Hill Park. It's right next door to the farmer's market and the perfect place to snag a picnic table and do some reading.  

One of the great things about living in the DC metro area is the abundant number of ways to entertain yourself for relatively low cost. It's so easy to focus on the more expensive restaurants or the must-see show, but the area has so much more to offer. I don't know about you, but I'm at my most creative when I'm feeling a bit skint. So, while I'm encouraging myself to save and shifting from the indulgent winter to simple summer pleasures, I thought I'd share a weekend (Saturday or Sunday) expedition each week that won't set you (or me) back more than $20. I plan out some of these to-dos for myself, so why not share it with others. 

Thrifty DC: Art Museum Day

One of the great things about living in the DC metro area is the abundant number of ways to entertain yourself for relatively low cost. It's so easy to focus on the more expensive restaurants or the must-see show, but the area has so much more to offer. I don't know about you, but I'm at my most creative when I'm feeling a bit skint. So, while I'm encouraging myself to save and shifting from the indulgent winter to simple summer pleasures, I thought I'd share a weekend (Saturday or Sunday) expedition each week that won't set you (or me) back more than $20*. I plan out some of these to-dos for myself, so why not share it with others.

I was psyched to learn that this Saturday is Art Museum Day, aka the day that the few museums in DC that charge will open their doors for free! That just might be tempting enough to get me to go into DC on a weekend during tourist season.

How would I spend $20 and while away a Saturday?

10:00AM     Corcoran Gallery of Art                             free

One of my favorite museums but one I don't get to very often. I'm looking forward to seeing David Levinthal's War Games exhibit.

11:30AM     Todd Gray's Muse                                       $4.00

Grab the pea and potato samosas at the cafe as I fight my way back outside.

12:15PM     National Museum of Women in the Arts       free

I've actually never been to this museum, and it's just far enough off the well-tread tourist paths that it might not be overrun.


*Let's keep it real. I'm not going to the trouble of adding in transportation costs.

Day in the Life, 03.30.13

7:00 AM Driven out of bed by a sore back. Grab a bottle of water and settle on the couch to read.

9:00 AM Meet workout buddy at the gym for some treadmill time. As much as I hate to admit it, I always feel better after leaving the gym.



10:00 AM Firm up my afternoon plans and grab a venti soy latte to fuel me.



1:38 PM Waiting to watch the premiere of Sign Painters (much anticipated by me and so good) at Renwick Gallery!



3:30 PM Checking out some of the pieces in the Craft Gallery.



5:00 PM Late lunch/early dinner at Sweetgreen in the Reston Town Center. I'm a huge fan of their earth bowl.

6:15 PM Picking up groceries and other supplies for the week. Five days until Seattle!

7:45 PM The portraits on display at Renwick were really cool. My favorite was a somewhat austere woman seated beside a gigantic gray cat. It inspired me to pick back up my wacky portrait project. Stopped by Michaels to refresh my paint supply.

8:21 PM Pajamas, water, couch.

A day at DC-area breweries

We celebrated Scarlet's birthday this weekend, and for the first time in a long time, I remembered to make an effort to snap lots of photos of the people around me. We all used to take hundreds of photos of ourselves at every event and outing, and over time, these photos evolved into pictures of signs, table settings, and what we've eaten. I created photo grids for a few of these same people for Valentine's Day and was reminded of how precious all of those (some would say self-indulgent) photos were. I got a huge kick looking back at older photos and reminiscing about the amazing times and the good life that I have. All of this thinking spurred some rampant picture snapping this weekend.

Speaking of, we spent some time at two of the DC area's breweries, DC Brau and Lost Rhino Brewing Company. Two vastly different experiences that probably speak to their respective locations (DC proper and Ashburn, VA). DC Brau was a madhouse! It's a relatively small space tucked away in NE DC, and it was filled with young DC. If I were the type to use the word hipster, I'd throw it out here. Once we got our initial bearings (insert momentary panic attack here) and figured out what was where, it was all good. The people were friendly, and the drink tickets were aplenty (and free). Minus the crowds, I loved the look and feel of this place. If you like beer and are looking for something free to do in DC, go here.

Lost Rhino was very, umm, northern Virginia. The crowds were decidedly more suburban and included a fair share of families with kids. While you'll pay for your drinks here, there's a bit more variety, and you have the option of ordering smaller sample sizes. They also have food for sale, which is a nice plus. As far as taste, everyone* seemed to enjoy the beer at Lost Rhino a little more than DC Brau.



*With the exception of this non-beer drinker.

First February

What my weekend looks like when I plan to be productive but just can't be bothered...

1. Coffee meet-ups and the matinee of Warm Bodies.
2. Being glad that they didn't show all the funny parts with the best friend in the trailers and that I only paid $5 for the show.
3. Death is a motherfucker.
4. Starting season two of The Walking Dead.
5. Snow flurries after dark, heated seats, and an awesome pal by my side.
6. Legitimate Irish pubs with friends I haven't seen for a while.
7. Exchanging pleasantries with Ripken the cat.
8. Sleeping in, a tiny bit of work, and chats with a friend.
9. Watching the rest of the second season of The Walking Dead.
10. Last half of the Super Bowl and feeling anxious about not working more.

Blazing trails in Prince William Forest Park

I'm lucky that I sometimes get to spend time outside as part of my job. I didn't really grow up outdoorsy, and many of my other favorite activities are indoor affairs. Let's not discuss how I feel about bugs. So, you can imagine how long it took me to make the connection between the exhilarating high of fresh air and exertion with my treks to rivers all across the country.

I've finally managed to put two and two together and decided to try to incorporate a bit of hiking into my weekend. This Saturday I convinced Ravena to come with me to Prince William Forest Park to hike down to a waterfall on Quantico Creek. I needed to evaluate its ability to pass fish for a future potential project and figured I could kill two birds with one stone. Also, I'm secretly trying to convince Ravena (also my gym buddy) that we should replace a day in the gym with outdoor hikes.

The parking lot for the trail in question was full, and the next lot was about 2 miles away. We ended up at the further lot, but my rogue nature kicked in. I was not interested in walking back along the road to the official trail and was more into blazing our own path. We took off into the woods with me trying to navigate with Google maps (hello, urban park) and the compass on my iphone. I was like a modern Meriweather Lewis.

Can I admit to being a little scared? I was a little scared. The park is pretty big, and once you're a ways into the woods, it all really does start to look the same. I knew that by continuing to move downhill we would run into the river, but what about when we turned to head back? I may have freaked out (internally) when Google maps suddenly put me in a completely different location.

P.S. If you can't handle conversations that begin with "what would you do for water if we got lost and were trapped out here for days", you probably don't want to go on an adventure with me :-)

I love marshmallows, or highlights from my birthday day camp

I'm still embroiled in attempts to meet my Nanowrimo goals. I'm most definitely behind but am feeling really good about where things are headed. Anyway, I took a little break to finally celebrate my birthday. We were originally headed out to Western Maryland to sleep in a yurt, but schedules just wouldn't cooperate. Instead, the day's theme was Birthday Day Camp! I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

Farewell, October

October and November are two of my favorite months of the year. Like most everyone else, I get all silly for fall traditions, layered fashion and warm drinks. I don't know about you, but this year my October was pretty much a blur. All told, I probably spent more than two weeks of it out of town. Still, it's amazing how many good times you can cram into the open spaces when you try.





October was filled with...
- West Virginia, specifically Elkins, the Monogahela and the Canaan Valley
- Out of town visitors (aka Allie from Germany and Terra back from Seattle)
- Ukelele concert at Strathmore with Steven and more work trips down to Staunton
- Riding out Hurricane Sandy in Philly with these guys
- Coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
This month I've got a pretty spectacular birthday to dream up, even more work and am planning to finally tackle NaNoWriMo (5,074 words and counting). I'll see you on the other side!

Search for Stars Hollow: Hagerstown, MD

Not to knock on the fine folks of Hagerstown, but we should probably get something straight right up front. Hagerstown is no Stars Hollow.

Still, even if it's not my mythical Shangri-La, Hagerstown has some good things going for it. Hands down, best reason to visit Hagerstown is for the antique malls.



Clustered right down historic Route 40 are three solid places. Antique Crossroads is my favorite. While there are certainly some overpriced booths inside this massive building, they are definitely in the minority. You're almost guaranteed to find some great pyrex, mid-century tins and cake carriers, blue ball jars for $2/piece, and so much more. You just have to know which booths to visit. On a recent visit, I walked away from an amazing unicycle and the above dresser.

If you make it through Antique Crossroads and still have energy left, you can head to either Beaver Creek Antiques and A & J Antiques to continue shopping. If you head into downtown Hagerstown, you can get your craft on at the Potomac Bead Company or find a show to watch at The Maryland Theater (though I can't say I saw anything that piqued my interest).



One of my better finds on a recent trip was Hempen Hill BBQ. The venue is fun, waitstaff friendly and the food was fantastic!


They give you enough food for leftovers. And, yes, please forgive the lighting.

Even better is the fact that they have a great selection of vegan and vegetarian fare. As someone who inadvertently begins to crave barbecue when hanging out with vegan friends, this place is downright miraculous. Do yourself a favor and get the smoked mac and cheese.

After you've had a good meal, go for a stroll through some of the Civil War battlefields near Antietam or rent a canoe and paddle down the river.

Research is fun when it involves a comics run

I've got a research project up my sleeve, and to kick it off, I ventured to Victory Comics on Saturday night. I wasn't a comic store virgin* (they have great toys), but I only know enough about comics to know how incredibly confusing it can be to dive right in. Instead, I took an ambassador (see above) to this foreign land.

Can I just tell you how much fun I had? I love passionate people. If you are obsessed with a hobby/job/issue, there's a pretty good chance I'll gravitate toward you. Comics people have passion in spades. They also aren't afraid to welcome you into their club**. I was clearly a poser and felt even worse going in asking about various Avengers spinoffs (research...just you wait!). Minus a bit of good-natured harassment, I spent over an hour monopolizing both the guy who worked there (aka Comic Dude) and Ravena (ambassador).

I went in with plans to pick up two comics for my project and left hoping that I discover a hidden love for comics in the volumes I picked up. As I told Comic Dude, two of my favorite things are art and reading so, theoretically, comics should be right up my alley. Holding up a compendium of The Walking Dead, he declared it a work of art with storytelling to rival some of the finest literature, and in that moment, I thought that maybe, just maybe, he was right.

*Both Austin Books & Comics (in Austin...duh) and Atomic Comics in Baltimore are impressive.
**Glen Weldon was right!

The sweet life in DC

Reishia, Ravena and I headed into DC this weekend to check out the grand opening of Union Market. As you can see from the photos above, they've totally opened the space up, giving it an airy, industrial feel. While many of the shops were still getting up and running (or not open at all), you can see the potential there. Perhaps one day it will be DC's own version of Reading Terminal Market. We didn't really* buy anything, but I'd like to give it a couple of months and go back.

Since we were on that side of town, we couldn't help but pop into Dangerously Delicious pies to pick up slices for later. The rest of the weekend wasn't quite as sweet (*rimshot*), but nonetheless, it was productive.

*I may have bought a small serving of sweet potato pie ice cream for us to try. Yum!