December Hiking at Strickler Knob

Before Christmas, Joe organized a little hiking expedition to the Shenandoah, near Luray Caverns.

We hiked a nine-mile roundtrip trail to Strickler Knob, which boasted some pretty amazing views.  I didn't capture any here, because I was too scared to get to close to the edge.  I don't like heights at all.

It was a beautiful trail, with a couple river crossings.  I did OK, except that I have a knack for managing to trip when the ground is perfectly level.  It must be exciting to walk behind me on the trail, as I'm turning my ankle and recovering every 10 minutes.

The last mile was all uphill, just an absolute slog.  I really thought I wouldn't be able to do it.  I started feeling faint and then I tried to breathe and I could only take short little breaths.  That's the closest I've ever been to a panic attack.  I can see why people check themselves into the ER for panic attacks. I eventually made it back to the car, after much struggle.  We said we earned our hamburger dinners at Burger Brothers after that.

Joe surveys the scene.

Here's the rock scramble at the end of the trail.

Alex M., Channing and Alex C. climbed up on that perch.  They are crazy!  I was so worried they would fall.

Look at pro-rock climber Alex M. jumping between those rocks.  Don't try this at home, kids.

Thwarted Ikea Trip

My roommate Christine and I had every intention two weeks ago to go to Ikea and buy a coffee table.  And perhaps a floor lamp for my bedroom.  This one, maybe?

We headed out down Georgia Avenue with the best of intentions, chatting away, when all of a sudden, Christine slammed on the brakes as the car in front of us skidded to a stop.  We kept rolling and tapped the car's bumper.

Luckily, there was no damage to either car.  The only problem was that Christine's brakes weren't working right.  That's a big problem.

So the Ikea trip was off.  I said we should get some dinner while we waited for the tow truck driver to arrive.  It was a desolate-looking stretch of road, but then, like a beacon, we saw a little diner down the block.  I looked through the window, and it seemed crowded, with people eating at every table.  Strangely enough, I saw a clown sitting at one of the tables in the window.

I explained our situation to the waitress and asked her if an hour was enough time to eat in the dining room.

"Well, we're pretty busy tonight, on account of the clown," she said.

I guess Bubbles the clown is a big draw.  While Bubbles whipped up balloon animals for the kids, Christine and I ate take-out cheesesteaks in the vestibule of the restaurant.  The waitresses were nice enough to let us do that.  Maybe I was a little loopy from the stress of this, but can I tell you that this was the best cheesesteak I've had?  And I've been to Philly!  Woodside Delicatessen, Silver Spring.  Try it! I'd go back.  The decor was quaint too.

The tow truck driver showed up right on time.  The two of us slid into the front seat with the driver after he hooked up Christine's car.  We tried to make conversation.  But the conversation veered in a direction I personally wish it hadn't gone, when he started talking about how he broke up with his girlfriend recently.

"She thought every female customer I had wanted to jump my bones," he said.  Polite laughter from us.

"Of course, I do date my customers sometimes," he said.

This wasn't going to be one of those times.

Then he continued that he liked to buy his lady friends cologne and fancy lingerie, not the trashy kind, mind you, real nice lingerie.  Real nice.  I was trying so hard not to burst out laughing.  I don't think he would've liked that response.

So we got the car situation straightened out and when we got out of the pickup truck, he gave us his phone number and said don't hesitate to call him if the car breaks down again, or even if we just want to talk.

More Museum Photos

This photo was taken during the Phillips Collection's Birthday Bash, during a demonstration by ballerinas emulating Degas paintings in the next room over.  So lovely!

I swear, Instagram makes any photo look great.  It's the democratization of photography.  A real game-changer.  At least I thought that until I looked at these pictures from National Geographic's photo contest.  Take a look and be inspired.  No app can capture those kind of shots, only people with real talent.

Hirshhorn After Hours Fall 2011

Christine and Serena and I used to go to every Hirshhorn After Hours, but it fell off our radar for awhile.  I hadn't been in about a year, but when we went back for old time's sake in October.  Still a cool experience, maybe not as hip a crowd as in its heyday, but fun nonetheless.  Fantastic art + drinks + music will always be a good time. We walked through the Andy Warhol: Shadows exhibit, the scale of which will knock you for a loop.

These girls are always the first ones on the dance floor.

They really crank the smoke machine up to 11 though. I could barely breathe. Every minute and a half, smoke would flood the dance floor.

This photo is going to be Christine's album cover.

High-five! Another party conquered!

Cosmo Couture at the Artisphere

Project Runway might be getting a little long in the tooth in its 9th season (!) but the concept is still so much fun. I was reminded of that on Wednesday at Cosmo Couture, a charity fashion show that challenged interior design firms and architects to create garments out of fabric samples and furnishings. My company had an extra ticket for the runway show at the Artisphere, and I was lucky enough to attend and help support our team.

In 2011, when no one has to make anything by hand and most things we see around us are mass-produced, it's fun to see what talented, creative people can create with the most unlikely materials. Creating something from nothing.

OK, maybe I'm waxing philosophical. The whole event was just plain fun. As the evening's emcee noted, Lady Gaga has nothing on these designs.

It is really hard to take photos at fashion shows. I just got a fancy new camera that I love, but I obviously still have a lot to learn about it, because my photos didn't come out very well. I put it on "Sports" scene mode. There ought to be a "Runway" mode.

Here's the judging panel, taking copious notes.

People using their iPads as cameras at events cracks me up. Maybe this is the new normal, but for now I say it looks silly.

There goes Audrey, wearing our firm's design. It was the prettiest one, in my estimation. The others were aiming for edgy, not pretty.

I didn't know that my former coworker Jenny was going to be in the fashion show. Not only was she in the show, she won the award for best model! She was so fierce! Mohawk, crazy eyeliner, badass attitude. She had a better walk than a lot of America's Next Top Model contestants I've seen, and I've watched at least six cycles, ha.

Luther and I sat near the stage, and Jenny told us after the show that she heard us saying "Jenny? Is that Jenny?" right as she turned the corner. It almost made her break character.

I loved the venue too. The Artisphere is enormous! It's new-ish, modern, with a sweeping staircase and an auditorium. If you get the chance to go to a party here, take it.

Grown-up coloring, cocktail in hand.

Could this turkey sculpture actually be a ride, like outside grocery stores in the '90s? There was a coin box, and I had to try it out. I put in my 50 cents, waited, and nothing! I've been scammed. But then, just as I was about to walk away, the turkey started bucking like a bronco. Everyone in the vicinity turned around to stare at the galloping turkey. It would be worth a trip to the Artisphere, just to see that, right?

Rasika At Long Last

I told Joe we ought to do something to celebrate our one year anniversary, and all month, I nagged him gently reminded him that he should plan something to celebrate. We decided that Friday, August 26 would be the anniversary date.

Every few days, I would ask him "Have you planned something yet? You haven't? Why not? [Minor screeching]" Rinse. Repeat.

Then on Thursday of this past week, over chimichangas and pupusas at El Reconcito in Columbia Heights, I said casually, "I'm going to the movies with my friend tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow?" Joe said, with a worried look on his face. "You're going to the movies tomorrow? On Friday?"

Me: "Yes, tomorrow. Why?"

[Five second pause]

Ohhhhh... that whole thing. The anniversary thingy.

So I interrogated him about planning a date for a month, then I forgot about the whole thing completely and made other plans. Sounds about right.

None of it mattered in the end. I got to see "One Day"* on Friday with my friends.

And thanks to Hurricane Irene, we snagged a last minute reservation to Rasika on Saturday - I've wanted to eat there for years! Even though the streets in Penn Quarter were empty, the restaurant was almost completely full. I ordered the cucumber cocktail, crispy spinach, mango shrimp and black cod. The waiter asked if I had been there before and I said no. He then called me out on my Internet research. Yes, I was holding the menu with one hand and skimming Yelp reviews on my iPhone in the other.

I was so excited to eat that I started spooning my appetizers onto my plate before I even removed the napkin. I looked down to see mango shrimp sitting neatly on the napkin. Good God! Who does that? How is that even possible? I swear, you can not take me anywhere! In my defense, they were the same color, but really.

How lucky am I that my date thought that was endearing instead of incredibly embarrassing for both of us, which it is. Ha. I am lucky.

*As someone who adored the novel, I had reservations about the casting of this movie. Ann Hathway as Emma? But she pulled it off! And I am saying right now, she should be the heir to Julia Roberts' romcom crown. Very charming. By the end, they were absolutely the Emma and Dexter in the book. And even though I knew what would happen, I still teared up at the ending. I had to compose myself during the credits. Call me sentimental, but I really liked the film. Go see it and read the book too...