2009, a recap

Before starting the new chapter of 2010 (is it the new decade or not... I could never figure out when it truthfully starts....) it seems best to recap the amazing year that wa 2009. Truthfully an amazing year. =)

NYE

It all started off in Boston. I was there with APO for our National Convention. I got a car-full of people from Maryland to stick around to ring in the new year in there. Unfortunately (or fortunately...) there was a blizzard, and even the fireworks in the city were cancelled. No fear! Had a great night with several thousand other APO brothers celebrating. At midnight we all went down to the lobby and sang our toast song. Amazing. =) New years day was less fun.... driving back from Boston to MD being the only driver in the car. But hey, awesome friends and music make it all better.

Winter Break - Skiing in Switzerland 

From there I enjoyed the wonders of the last of my amazing winter break. Month long breaks in college.... so amazing. =) Main event was going skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland. Week and a half trip with my parents. Such an amazing resort.... you can even ski into Italy! (just be careful to get back before the lifts close...). Also got to visit Liechtenstein and see some more of Germany. Kind of spoiled me as far as ski holidays go. =)

Last semester begins!
So begins the last semester of college. I decided that this semester would be enjoyed to the fullest. Had three days of classes a week, and dropped my physics minor on the first day of class. Taking 'Massage Therapy' and 'Human Sexuality' was much more interesting than 'Thermodynamics'. Sorry. =)

Virgin Islands

Did get to take one last excursion to St.Johns, Virgin Islands for a weekend. Parents were there for a week and I skipped a bit of class to visit. Magnificent beauty - clear blue seas, snorkeling right from the house... just paradise. I'd never gone to a Carribean island before and have been craving returning since then.

Adventures last semester

The last semester was a whirlwind. So many things happening! Spent a lot of it in various adventures with APO, my fraternity. Above is the spring retreat.

We were also lucky enough to get some snow in MD in February-snow days are amazing. Sledding around campus was even more amazing.

And what last spring in DC would be complete without a visit to the cherry blossoms? Such a DC event. So many more things happened in the spring like ski trip to PA, countless visits to DC, random hiking trips, repainting the kitchen, etc. But a small look at them. =) Overall, an amazing semester to finish it all off.

Graduation

And then... graduation! Five years (heh, well... yes) and finally there. It is over. Amazing memories, amazing times. Now on to the next chapter. =)


Summer trip: New Zealand/Australia

With the semester over, I really wanted to take the summer off to travel. Unfortunately (well maybe fortunately), I couldn't find anyone to travel with me. So eventually I just said 'screw it all' and went on a 5.5 week trip to New Zealand/Australia by myself. Amazing decision. It was hard to adjust to traveling alone (I am a very social person) at first, but then meeting people was so easy and it was a blast. Non-stop moving. Above is be standing above one of the volcano craters around Auckland.

New Zealand really won my heart. Especially the south island. This is one of the mountains right next to Queenstown. Almost got to the top of it... not quite though. Somewhere in there, about halfway up the above slope, my sense of rationality kicked in.

From there, it was over to Australia. Starting off in Sydney-one of my favorite cities now. It is like London.... except warm and a beach town. Amazing?

The wildlife in Australia is really something... Kangaroos are really everywhere. Wombats, koalas, camels, birds, emus.... =)

Took a bit of an expensive trip into the middle of the country to see Uluru. It is really a different world from the coast that most people see. The red centre is the heart of Australia. Then I went over to the coast and got my scuba diving certification in Cairns. The tropics were an amazing way to finish off the trip (aka, in the warmth, as I seemed to miss summer...)


July at home

And now... a moment to relax while exploring and saying farewell to MD. That month really made me wish I could just not work forever and explore everything. Made a huge list of things to do and see in MD while I was there, but only got a little done. Still great. Went to DC a bunch, kayaking, finally down to Charlotsville, general friends exploration, packing, Busch Gardens and much more. =)

Thanks here to some of the amazing folk I spent the month with. =) Missing you.


Alaska

Then to a completely different adventure-two and a half week trip with my parents to Alaska. Once again missing the concept of summer this year, but well worth it. The wildlife of Alaska is what really sold me. Well... and the mountains everywhere.

What can beat just walking around a glacier? (I also went ice climbing... that is a fair bit harder though...). =) Really want to return to Alaska - see some of the southern islands, and get up to the Arctic Sea (I know... it is not that exciting when you get there, but I want to do it... we only got up to the Arctic Circle while I was there).


Moving to Seattle

And then the real adventure begins. On a beautiful August morning flew out with the sunrise from DC into Seattle. It welcomed me with open arms. My new home. =) All the fears of moving and not knowing anyone and not having things to do really propelled me to be insanely proactive in all of the above areas. I explore every weekend. Made friends anywhere and everywhere people talk to me. =) As a result... this place feels like home. May the adventures and the amazing friends continue.


Adventures in Seattle

One of the best things about Seattle is the hiking. Just by the city there are so many amazing mountains. 45 min and you're on a great hike. Two and some hours and your mind is blown away. This is Mt.Baker in September.... probably on of my favorite hikes ever. Can't wait until next summer when I can get up into the high mountains again.

Then of course with the snow comes to skiing. =) Have only gone once so far but more adventures will come. Still... the mountains right by the water is really the selling point for me for this city. Just a couple of the adventures-there were many more hikes, a trip down to Portland, a weekend in Vancouver, mushroom picking, concerts, food exploration, farmers markets... etc.

And so-here is to the main thing that has made Seattle a home. The great people I've met. Here's to some of them (well the ones that came out to my b-day). =) And to the rest.

San Francisco visits

Being out west means taking trips down the coast is something that can be done without taking vacation time. =) Took advantage of that twice to see some friends and family down there. Going there really makes me realize how small Seattle is. San Francisco has the most amazing neighborhoods, pretty awesome weather, and a neverending pool of things to explore.

Visiting MD

And then... Christmas has come. Finally, after four months absence, a visit back home to MD. Being away is not so painful in this age of technology-I feel so much more connected to everyone as I can talk to them on phone, online, video chat... it is all there. =) But still great to see home, open presents and catch the remains of the great 2009 east coast blizzard. =)


So recap? An amazing year. As I measure things by travel often the count comes out to two new states, three new countries, and nine countries total. Pretty good I think. =)

Now here's to 2010! I'm excited, are you?

Hello again

Dear Blog,

Sorry for being such a horrible owner. I have neglected to fill your pages with my random thoughts, or at least with my enticing photos. You have gone lonely for far too long. I keep being afraid of touching you and dropping a 500 pound weight on you of all the things I want to say. I have too much love for you to have such a thing happen.

Yet from the ashes you awaken. Awaken in time for the new year. What brings the return? Well a couple of things.

First of all, I should really document in writing the adventures I have here. So many restaurants, hiking trails, walks, etc that I see, and how will I remember what is worthy or not? Memories cannot be trusted. When I return after years, I want to know where I did go and what is good or not. =)

Also, as I've used facebook and twitter to document my life, it has occurred to me that those are very unreliable sources. They are one line sentences that really do not say much about what goes on. Also incredibly difficult to compile.

And then there is my constant awareness of how completely oblivious I am to the intricacies of the English language. Writing is truthfully rather depressing as I realize how minuscule (hah!) my vocabulary is. So many words that should be used but are not. They are just sitting in the dictionary waiting to get out. Yet I am cruel enough not to open the pages and even find out what they are. Instead.... the regulars make frequent appearances.

Well and of course the year is coming to an end. Some people go and head to the gym, some people clean their apartment.... I go and think about all of the places I want to go, and things I want to do. Writing is a motivation factor. Part of the reason for not writing is that I feel like my latest adventures do not compare to my escapades of the summer... yet they do. It is just a different type of an adventure.

And lastly, something that pushed me over the writing edge, it is 'Julie and Julia'. Movies make quite a bit of an impact on me. Heck... I was rather traumatized by 'The Lion King', and hiding behind the covers for 'Transformers' and am currently avoiding continuing 'Arrested Development' because the embarrassment pains me. Movies have an impact. Well.... this impact is quite positive. I feel like I am floating. All is possible. Talk about an optimistic approach to a new year that is right around the corner. So many recipes that can be cooked! So many adventures to be had! It can all come together!

So yes... my dear blog. I have come to grace your pages again. I hope I will not disappear for a while again, at least for a while. =)

For now....

Goodnight, and good luck!
-Olga

Falling in love with Seattle

I love fall colors. Seriously. Adore them. The vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. It is as if the trees want to have one last kazoom, one last show for the world before they go dormant for the winter. And they put on an amazing show.

So I've been all about the colors here. Taking special paths to work trying to walk past the 'good tree' streets. Opening the blinds in the office so that I can see the trees out the window. Dragging folk up into the mountains for the colors...

Yup, this is pretty much me. But I guess that is okay?

<3

Do you feel like an impostor?

I haven't been to many talks that have really inspired me in my life. Ones that really feel like they are applicable to me. One talk that really stuck with me was when I heard Mia Farrow talk in London about her efforts in Darfur. That talk made me want to change my life.... but I didn't. Did not quit the technical track for activism. Yet I do like to think I can make some sort of impact on the world through the efforts of APO, my service fraternity.

Yet one of the panels I went to today at the Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Computing is something that really sticks with me, and I feel like it will continue to stick. It is something I have felt my whole life-I have after called it the 'inferiority complex', but I think that the term that is used here for it is much more applicable - 'the impostor complex'.

Do you have it? Do you feel like you should not be in the role that you are? That you were put there by some chance. That every success that you made was because somebody put down the wrong name... or picked you just because you were the only female... or that it was a raffle and you got lucky. And then every failure is because you were not good enough. That everywhere you are you are afraid of getting 'found out' in that you do not know what you are talking about. That you do not deserve to be there.

This is something that has been prevailing in my life. It has to be a mistake if something is good. One of the questions that was asked at the panel was 'when was the first time you felt like an impostor'. I think I remember the feeling most strongly when I got the audition as 1st flute in 9th grade at DC Youth Orchestra. I did not comprehend that I could be there... I felt like I would get booted off and found out any time. Then there was any leadership positions... why did I get elected to that? Why? How?

The feeling has escalated out of control in the past year, ironically enough as my self confidence has grown exponentially. You go to these job interviews and talk to the amazing people around you-how can you possibly get the job if the people around you are so smart. I went to interview after interview, not believing I can do anything. As an example of Amazon, I was 100% convinced I would never hear back from them. I was shocked when I got the email about the job offer... I did not want to tell people at first in case I got another email again telling me they sent it to the wrong person. It could not be? Then I started to feel good about it only to have all of those thoughts dashed as I flew out to Seattle to look at the company and see that I was the only female in the group of acceptees. Was I accepted only because I was the only female who they interviewed? Why the heck am I here? They are going to find me out when I start working... I will be fired. Even now that I have moved out to Seattle I am afraid to make plans with money, or plans for trips or even buying myself a year membership to the climbing gym because I am afraid of being found out and ousted before that time will expire. When people compliment me on my amazing job I put it down saying 'ohhh I don't know anything, they just hired me because I am female maybe... ', or some other thought going through my head.

But then... who said I was so bad? I see the interview process from the other side now. And it is really harsh indeed. The hiring bar is high. Yet I made it. I made it over the bar. I got multiple job offers. I overcame.

The panel was amazing. It was comprised of women professors, high ups in Google and Microsoft and PhD student and some more (apologizing for my horrible memory). These women explained how they felt like impostors in their life. It is amazing hearing this from somebody so successful. So we all feel it? So it is okay? So maybe you can be good enough?

I find it hard to wrap my head around this.

But I am making this my resolution. Take on the advice that was given. Stop doubting myself. Some of the things that the women mentioned were 'act confident and you will feel confident. Also telling others about your accomplishments... they really do exist! Also diving at what I am uncomfortable at... it can be overcome.

So just a statement to everyone else out there (and pardoning my horrible writing... this is why I am a coder and not a journalist), it is normal to feel like an impostor. But it is not good-and you are not. Look at the amazing things that have happened to put you there. I know I should drink some of my own medicine here but here is to trying.

PS-The Grace Hopper Conference is amazing. Amazon has a large representation here and it was wonderful meeting these amazing women both within my company and in general. So honored to be here, and also to check out a bit of the hot weather of Arizona. =)

Happy one month and two days in Seattle!

Can't believe I've been here for so long! Well long in one ay and short in others. Have been incredibly active. Why sleep? I can sleep later. Something to do... okay! I am in!

The city really is amazing... if only I could magically transport all of my friends and family here. Then life would be perfect.

I'm alive!

Fear not-this blog will not go dormant now that I am living somewhere and not traveling. Life has actually been pretty high-pace since I moved out here. I've had two evenings where I have just stayed at home since I moved three weeks ago. Been exploring the city and attempting to meet people pretty much constantly.

More detailed post on Bumbershoot coming up, as that was an amazing three-day music festival that I really want to remember. Apart from that I've gone climbing a couple of times, and gone out to eat at an incredible amount of places.

This is a great city-an amazing mix of a metropolitan city, and also a small town. Both feels in it. And enough diverse neighborhoods to keep you quite occupied.

Seattle first thoughts

It really is a great city. I had no idea how lively it is. Today I went for a walk looking for some free internet from my apartment and found it seems... everything. Incredible diversity of people and any shop imaginable. And all so close! Now sitting in a super-cute coffee shop, Argento, intersection of 12th and Olive St. Comfortable couches, amazing soup, and free internet.

The movers have come and gone. They also 'unpacked', aka took everything out of all the boxes and put it wherever, so now my apartment looks like a hurricane went through it. Starting to tackle putting things together, but it will be an adventure.

Still really missing internet in my apartment. It is crazy how dependent I have become on it. Compulsion to go and check email, message people, check news, wikipedia... all the time. And I can't! Silly people in my building having passwords on their wireless.

But it is a great city. I've already had a bit of a social life here, which is great considering I just got here.

Welcome home!

Well to the new home. Yesterday was the official relocation to Seattle! Complete with flying out of Reagan so getting first a sunrise drive through the city, and then a beautiful fly-over (forgot the camera transfer thing in apartment otherwise I would put pictures up). Overall very great weather on the way so great sights.

With arrival in the new city comes arrival at my new residence! I'll be living in a very, very nice apartment building in First Hill neighborhood. Aka, right near everything. 30 minutes walk to work. 20 minutes to downtown. Lots of fun places to eat/explore nearby. The place is beautiful - so white and clean and wonderful I am afraid of all of my things getting delivered today and messing it up! But then it still hasn't quite set on that this is my actual apartment. It will not have internet through at least August 29th though.... but I'm trying to find some coffee houses or something in the area that I can go to in the meantime.

I am most impressed (and one of the reasons I picked the building) with how amazing the management is. The manager was so complete in getting me set up for everything, choosing my parking spot, showing me everything, telling me where to go. This continues as I could see residents popping in while I was talking to her asking questions. This is not something I have experienced yet with my non-amazing College Park experiences and I am excited to have.

So for now, after an extremely restful night at an amazing hotel in downtown, I'll head back to my empty apartment and get ready to greet the movers!

Hope to get some exploration done soon!

Alaska photo-summary

The bad thing about not having my own computer on vacations is that I do not upload pictures as I go which leads to chaos upon return. Alaska was documented on three different cameras and it is quite convoluted. Therefore I will present a small summary of the amazing trip through a couple selected pictures in no particular order.

Jumping on Matanuska Glacier. Amazing glacier that, though the access to it is on private property, you can walk right up to and even on as far as you like after you sign your life away. As a result we walked as far as we could that there was silt or rocks to step on. Amazing exploring a glacier without any guides and well... cramp ons. Maybe not as safe but wonderful. Really recommend that glacier especially since it is maybe 1.5 hours drive from Anchorage?

Moose on the turn to McCarthy road from Richardson Highway. Right by the road and didn't walk away as we sat there and took pictures of it. Maybe a young one? There are so many animals in Alaska but the forests are so think it is hard to see them.

Kennicott. Abandoned copper mining town since 1938. Very inaccessible-either get there by small plane or by extremely difficult road built over old railroad tracks that incredible amounts of cars get flat tires on. But wonderful as the color is well preserved and the 10+ story mill stands over the glaciers. Truly a beautiful ghost town, and also right in the middle of Wrangell and St.Elias National Park. Many people have never heard of it but this was probobly my favorite place from the trip.

We drove up the Dalton Highway on a day trip from Fairbanks up to the Arctic Circle. 400+ miles round trip. Mostly on gravel road constantly passing very heavy industrial traffic headed from the oil fields. Amazing scenery though-love the tundra. Also saw the infamous Yukon River and a wilfire right on the side of the road.

Many people say that the Alaska Pipeline is ugly and damanged the country or is bad for migrating heards or whatever... but I think it is incredibly picturesque. Winding often times through rather bland surroundings (I mean... tundra just goes on and on and on). Also amazing to watch the engineering effort to have the thing survive the summers, winters, wildfires, gunshots and earthquakes. Incredible.

Denali National Park. People all talk about it when they mention Alaska though I will not. It is very visited, yet hard to get to. Only way to get around (save hiking, which not all people can do) is by bus where you are crammed in stopping to see animals like on a tour from windows. Not the best method. We spent the night there (meant to spend two nights but the wildfire burning nearby brought so much smoke into the park it was hard to see much and breathing was problematic so we left). But the clouds were magnificent the first evening we drove in. The size of everything in Alaska is amazing... and Denali has the great perk of having great open spaces with few trees allowing easier spotting of animals.

Fishing in Sewart. Silver Salmon. Once the boat picked a spot it caught almost immediately after dropping in the hook. Quota per person is six fish. We caught 14 or 15 for the family and shipped most of it home. Had delicious salmon for dinner tonight as a matter a fact... caught by us. That is me with one of the smaller fish. I also caught a shark. My dad caught two sharks, a flounder and some other fish (sorry forgot the name in english!). All let go either because of size or poison (shark).

Ice Climbing by Kennicott. My first time. I think I am more of a fan of regular climbing - you actually touch the wall rather than mainly figuring out how to bang your pick and crampons into the ice the best. That is not me climbing, but I climbed there about 10 minutes before the picture was taken. The overhang gave me problems as I couldnt get the pick in properly and well... overhangs are not my friends. But an amazing experience.

Santa!!! North Pole is a city just south-east of Fairbanks. It houses Santa's house and his reindeer and all that jazz. Loved the Santa-amazing real beard and all. Had everyone of any age sit on his lap and have delightful conversations.

Flying to Alaska. Either over Alaska or Canada... but just hours and hours of flying over mountains and glaciers. Magnificent.

Matanuska glacier again. Love the 'veins'.

We saw two cases where simple yards had huge planes parked in them. I mean houses where people live. Wings taken off and somewhere nearby. Why? Please somebody explain this to me.

Fireweed grows absolutely everywhere in Alaska. Many fires happen as it is great for the trees and animals. Just fields and fields of it. Love.

Caribou in Denali. We saw so many caribou that the bus drivers stopped stopping for them unless they were blocking traffic or doing something 'extremely exciting'. I adore their antlers.

Puffins are incredibly adorable. On the sight-seeing boat ride from Sewart.

Sea otters may have become my favorite animal. Incredibly cute, fuzzy and active. Constantly moving around and floating in extremely picturesque locations.

Sea lions are cute... but incredibly lazy. Mainly just laying around warming up. We did see one amazing one playing around in the water but I did not get any pictures of it that were good.

So here is the small collection of photos. We saw quite a bit more during the two and some weeks out there... but just an overview. Love the state. Would not live there, but I really want to visit more of it. A bit hard to get around, but maybe 'island hopping' from the south?

For now I will attempt to sleep a little as this is my last night at home before plane flight out west. Going through a serious case of denial that this is happening. But here's to new adventures!

Alaska's heartland

To begin with... I love the outdoors, but I could not live in Alaska. Have increasing respect for those who can. Brutal winters, and summers which are not always so nice. Even the cities seem quite remote from civilization.

Yet the outdoors realm is amazing. Fishing, berry-picking, mushroom-picking, hunting. All-natural food.

First stop in Alaska was Sewart. About 3 hours south-ish from Anchorage on the water. Went on two day trips on the water which were magnificent. First one just on a boat along the shoreline. Saw sea-lions, sea otters, seals, bald eagles, puffins, humpback whals, killer whales and much much more. Magnificent. I was most excited though by the amazing scenery and the glaciers. Their magnitude is just... astranomical. I will post pictures later but the pieces falling off of one of them into the ocean take quite a while to fall and create giant waves. This is the strength of mother-nature. The magnitude. Everything in Alaska is about magnitude.

The next leg took us over to Denali National Park. This is what everyone says is the 'must-do' in Alaska. McKinley is indeed amazing. The mountain stands above all others. I can't stay this is one of my favorite parks at all... but it is impressive. The greatest thing about it is that so few people can get there - the road to get there is long and then private cars cannot be driven in the park. This makes the land be very untouched. On the other hand... you are dependent on being around people when going long distances on the bus which is not pleasant when trying to have more of a one-on-one relationship with nature. But then they are great for the most part on stopping for wildlife sightings. Moose, caribou, bears, swans. I really want to see some mountain goats though! Hope to catch some later.

The one thing that we were no prepared for is fire. There are many forest fires burning in the area. This is normal and great for the forest... but quite a few now. The smoke has gone across a massive area. Our trip to Denali was cut short as we came to our campground and found it to be in a giant cloud of smoke. The nose got used to it by the middle of the night, but it makes wildlife and mountains hard to see. So headed out of the park a day early and are now in Fairbanks... where the smoke is still present. Hoping for some rain in the next couple of days so the smoke goes away, but for now will try some close-range-seeing activities.

Where the sun doesn't set

Ever since I went to St.Petersburg I have wanted to see the white nights again. Where the sun barely sets at all, and most of the night is spent in a beautiful state of dusk. The summer equinox has already passed more than a month ago, but the white nights are still blooming here in Alaska. It is odd to see most stores closed at 11pm when the sun is barely setting. And also the odd feeling of dozing out of sleep in the morning around 7am and feeling like it is noon from the way the sun shines.

Another amazing thing about Alaska is the amount of mountains. It is incredible that for hours-HOURS, flying from St.Paul to Anchorage you are flying over snow capped mountains. Non-stop. I was amazed enough flying over the south island of New Zealand where the mountains cover the west coast, but this is something more. It really does make sense why there are so few roads into northern Canada and how one has to take such a go-around route in order to get from Vancouver into Alaska.

Sadly I will not see much of Anchorage as we will be driving out to Seward today, but it rests beautifully in on the edge of the mountains. Hopefully the weather holds and I am extremely excited to see what Alaska has to offer. Internet will be of an unknown status until in Fairbanks on Thursday.

Counting the states

I love when I am going to a place I've never been. I love putting that check mark on the map. 'Ha! I've been there!' It is such an amazing feeling. Also I never really realize that I am going somewhere until I touch down there and see some landmark associated with the place. So I'll realize I'm in Alaska when I see some whales, salmon, mountains, bears....?

Keep browsing various websites looking for a map to buy for my apartment. We have amazing maps of the US, Europe and the world at my parents house marking all the places we have traveled, but I want one for myself to track where I've been and also where I want to go. I find that most of my goals in life are related to traveling.

For now-on to state #40 on my US list. Alaska! Be there by night.... not that the sun sets much there this time of year?

Most amazing last-week ever

So if I could pick a great way to say farewell to DC, the last week here has surpassed all bounds. Non-stop fun, social, and yet productive in the other parts. I feel honored really that so many people have wanted to wish me farewell and spend time with me. More still that I didn't get to see. A little sad that I have few pictures-Erica was my photographer for my going-away party and she took pics practically only of the juggling crew... but I promise others were there!

My going-away party. So much delicious food!

I love random dance parties!

Adventure playground in Germantown. May I never be too old to play around on swings.

Dinner at La Ferme in Chevy Chase. Fancy and beautiful. Live piano music.

Russian farewell bbq.

Now the time in MD is ending and now it is off to Alaska for two weeks before officially flying out west! Here's to more adventures!

Roller coasters and DC love

So many things happen between updates it is hard to see where to start.

Last weekend went on an amazing long-weekend with the 'juggling' crew (that is what I refer to them as-juggling club and friends) to Williamsburg, VA to Busch Gardens and Water Country.


No pictures from the trip really because we went on many water rides and I would not risk getting a camera wet of squished during such escapades. But I can tell you that Busch Gardens is wonderful. Just a bit further drive than Kings Dominion from DC, but much fewer crowds. Even on Sat and Sun, the crowds were not so bad that it was miserable (well a little in the Water park... the rides are so short it doesnt seem worth it to wait half an hour in line when you can just splash around in the water). To top that off, on Friday there was torrential downpour for a couple of hours. Since we were dressed to get wet in the rides, we were able to jump around in puddles and get completely soaked with no worries. Summer rain is the best. And then when the rides did open up the lines were of a magnificent length. I wish I could go and live that weekend again... nothing changed.

Also the trip made me really want to have my own pool. It is such a shame that in the resort pool and the water park no chicken fights or splashing or throwing are allowed. That is the best part of being in the water! Such a shame.

A couple of weeks ago before kayaking on Chesapeake. About half of the crew. My kayak is the one in the front. =)

Yesterday was a beautiful day so Poly and I did the good old Capital Crescent trail from Bethesda to DC, and then around the mall. The weather was magnificent and we took it very slow chatting practically the whole day making the experience even better. It is amazing how many parks DC has and how green the city really is. Harder to notice when you just use the metro, but the bike paths are magnificent. Took a bit of time strolling around the ever-amazing Air and Space Museum and checking with the old Post Office tower.

Biking around DC. I like the bird flying by the monument. Still have never been on top of it... all the tickets were gone for the day by the time we got to it.

View from the top of the Post Office building. Shorter version substitute for the Washington Monument? I love the free attractions of DC.

Early dinner in Bethesda afterwards. Raku, one of my favorite sushi places. The yellow dragon rolls were devine. Then Giffords for ice cream dessert.

In other news, I am completely done packing, so just now hoping my application for the apartment I want goes through, and then I am at peace.

I leave you with the delicious summer raspberries beat with egg whites. Anyone hungry?