Friday: Week in the Life

Thank God for the weekend.

Thursday: Week in the Life

Special "Week in the Life" Behind the Bookshelf

I would normally post a Behind the Bookshelf interview on Thursday, but I thought I'd post a Week in the Life/Throwback Thursday/bookseller mash-up instead.

How did I stay sane while spending all of my free time at the bookstore? These guys! I hope you'll forgive the circa 2005 photos. I can't seem to find the originals and only have these crappy scans. Whenever the retail side of bookselling got to be too much (i.e., mean, messy people), they were always up for shenanigans. I love these guys.

Wednesday: Week in the Life

Let's be honest. I was rethinking a workshop I'd registered for in Smithfield, Virginia until I realized it would mean I'd have a different setting to photograph for Week in the Life. Don't get me wrong, the workshop was still relevant. I was just having a hard time convincing myself it was smart to spend a day away from this week's to-do list.

I went to Smithfield for the rivers. The town is situated along the James, not far from Norfolk, Virginia Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. I had no idea that it was also some kind of ham mecca. Trina, the sweet waitress at the cafe where I had lunch, recommended a couple of dishes they are known for. My appetizer, Piggly Sticks, is ham pimento cheese, set in an egg roll wrapper and fried. Holy hell. Trina also recommended the Smithfield Packer, saying folks often said it was the best sandwich they'd ever had. It was a sandwich--really more a conveyor of all things pig...smoked pork, bacon, sausage, cheddar and a fried green tomato--that made me consider going vegan*.

I'm ending my day with some juice and a little reading.

*It made me more uncomfortable than the time I inadvertently had pig anus at Pig in DC.

Tuesday: Week in the Life

You guys! This is difficult. I'm having trouble diverting time and brain power to photographing my day. Plus, if I'm not in the field or gallivanting to meetings, I spend between 9 and 12 hours at my desk. I talk on the phone, text, email, write, plan, read, research and think. None of these lend themselves to photos. I don't leave for lunch. My primary diversion is the constant cycle of filling my water bottle and emptying my bladder. So, I bring you the retrolicious bathroom at work.

Monday: Week in the Life

Fieldnotes

I spent the entire day on the phone. If I wind up tethered to my desk all week, you guys are going to become pretty damn familiar with everything cluttering my view. Note today's colorful outfit and lack of bloodshot eyes (that is no longer the case). It must be Monday!

Monday was all about connecting with colleagues and partners on update calls, knocking out those annoying tasks you find a way to de-prioritize for weeks and kicking my feet up at the end of the day. I kept switching back and forth between reading (Watergate by Thomas Mallon) and watching Gilmore Girls (season 3). Mondays are also good commuting days because both Book Fight and Book Riot release new podcasts!

Sunday: Week in the Life

Fieldnotes
It's Week in the Life time again! Personally, I enjoy the chance to throw up photos of my week and keep the posts simple. The challenge, of course, is to seek out variety in my day-to-day life.

I started this morning off with a quick trip to Maryland to check up on some volunteers. The rest of the day was spent tooling around my apartment, reading, cleaning and prepping fruits and veggies.

Art of doing very little

Last week was really busy at work with all day fish meetings, city council meetings in faraway cities, and other stuff. I was lucky enough to be able to stop in the midst of all that and have dinner with Katie, a college friend who happened to be in town. Katie and I spent a couple of years in college traveling around with a few others doing college debate. I love that we can just pick right up whenever we see each other.


 Lights at Lincoln Restaurant, where you should go if you have the chance. 

Still, busy weeks (and knowing even busier weeks are coming up) make me want to hole up in my apartment on the weekend and spend time reading and writing (and maybe even making). So, this weekend I wallowed in the art of doing pretty much nothing. I left my apartment to see the Avengers*, buy a few groceries**, and a visit to the Merrifield Garden Center.


I was on the hunt for another succulent and some advice on my growing tomato plants. I'm intimidated that I chose beefsteak tomatoes. All of my reading and conversations with my mom lead me to believe I'm going to have some massive plants on my balcony. I love the colorful cages above for giving my future plants some stability.

 

Needless to say, it was a relaxing weekend with very little to share. :-)

* <3  
** Fixings for homemade kale pesto

Sunday: Week in the Life

Fieldnotes
Sundays would be one of my favorite days if it weren't for the fact that it's always a harbinger of Monday.

I took my time leaving the apartment this morning, kicking off the day by ripping out yesterday's attempts to cover my couch and watering the tomato babies. I was happy to finally leave the apartment once I discovered how gorgeous the day was. Running to the grocery store and other errands of adult life are so much better with the sun shining and a light breeze. Blogging, getting to see this guy, and making guacamole for the first time rounded out my day.

How was your weekend?

Saturday: Week in the Life

Fieldnotes
It struck me last night how devoid of people my Week in the Life photos are. I spent time around people (gym buddies, coworkers), but the busy week didn't really lend itself to a lot of extracurricular activities. Instead, I decided to add a bit of me in the mix. My wild Friday night consisted partly of me trying a Hunger Games-style braid.

I got up early this morning to hit the thrift stores. Since moving to my new apartment, I've had my eye out for a dresser and nightstand. I was also looking for lace curtains for a little project I had in mind. I spent a lot of time hemming and hawing over to slipper chairs that seemed in really good conditions and a dresser that needed a little love. I'm still thinking about them. I really want to go back and get the chairs, but I'm so leery of thrifted upholstery. The only thing I couldn't resist is this colorful polyester quilt. It won't stay on my bed but will be nice for cabins and forts :-)

The lace I was looking for was part of a grand scheme to recover my old couch. I'm not particularly happy with the way it turned out, so I'll likely be pulling out staples later tonight. I did finish the quote I've been stenciling along a baseboard in my bedroom and am pleased as punch.

My nails were also in need of a little love. Several had recently broke and at least two others were getting so long they made typing difficult.

I love productive Saturdays. 

Friday: Week in the Life

Fieldnotes
I spent very little time away from my computer today. Like many days, I ventured away from my desk solely to grab my lunch and visit the ladies room. Sure, a few of my coworkers stopped by to chat, but I really did have my nose deep in research about mines in Western Maryland. Some people might wither on days like this. However, if you're a nerd like me, a day spent researching and writing can be as fulfilling as days spent on the banks of a river. The downside is that I'm really reaching for photos to document my day.

Thursday: Week in the Life

Fieldnotes
I spent the day in Staunton (and traveling) for a work meeting. When I made it back to Fairfax, I had two things on my mind. (1) Buy fruit and spinach for more smoothies. (2) Take a bubble bath. Done and done. 

Wednesday: Week in the Life

Fieldnotes
After barreling head first into spring, we had a cold snap in the DC area, and the tomato babies came inside. I paused on my way to work this morning to open the balcony blinds and snap this picture. Believe it or not*, I also took the time to make myself some breakfast. I've been on a smoothie kick, since blending strawberries into daiquiris on Saturday. This beauty has banana, coconut, and carrots!

The firefighters around the corner from my office are too cute. I love when they fire up the grill toward the end of the day. Ladies, this is a flirting opportunity waiting to happen!

Speaking of offices, I spent a decent chunk of my day moving. I was offered a bigger office with a window**, and I couldn't turn it down. Why, yes, that is the Washington Monument in the distance.

* This rarely happens. In fact, I would bet that I have he fastest morning routine of anyone reading.
** The office I moved from was an internal office with only a window into the hallway.