whoops.
I think of things to put on here daily, but I never carve out a few minutes to post and now here it is, over two weeks, many runs and experiences later. Oh well. Better late than never.
Joanna, Asher and I went to Washington, DC a few weeks ago- Jo had a conference and so I took a few vacation days to watch Asher. It was a great time with great weather. Asher was an absolutely wonderful little baby. We went to the National Museum of the American Indian, Botanic Gardens (Phipps is better, but Asher was awake and very curious the whole time which was really cool), and part of the National Museum of American Art and Portraits (I look forward to going back and seeing more). I also got the opportunity to have breakfast with Jake Bryant one morning, have lunch with Lauren and Dustin Janes, which was great, and run the mall and around the capital while Lauren watched Asher. I ran from their apartment near the Verizon Center to the Washington Monument and around the Capital Building to our hotel. It was amazing to see how immense the crowd would have been a few weeks prior for the innauguration. I personally felt as though there were a different climate since I was last in DC (of course I was there for a protest...)
I have been able to make a few long runs- I did 10 miles on the 14th and 11 this past Saturday. Both were good when they were over, but my legs, specifically my hips, do feel a little sore. John and I did some long stretching on Saturday and I think that was extremely beneficial. Given the feeling after 11 miles, 26 does seem daunting...
After pasta at Bill and Kate's on Friday I went to David Wilkes to watch "The Future is Unwritten," a documentary on Joe Strummer. I like the Clash, to be sure, but am not a die-hard fan, as in, they are the "only band that matters." But it inspired me to listen to much of the three Dingees albums in a row while washing dishes and working on Beleza finances yesterday. (Dingees: punk/3rd wave ska from the late 90s that I listened to but don't know anyone else who did. in high school I drove my girlfriend, my brother and her brother up to Grand Rapids to see them and Skavoovie play in a place Downtown. When we got there, the venue was a pretty sketchy bar and my gf was creeped out enough that she did not want to stick around. I think we ended up going to Applebees or something)
I am looking forward to spending a few days in Philly next week (mostly working but getting to see Jeff and Maggie!) and a day or two in NYC to see Anneke!