Cabin Fever

So maybe you heard about the storm that hit DC last week...or maybe you haven't!  If you haven't, consider yourself in the majority; my parents didn't know about it until I texted them at 5 AM Saturday to say we were without power and it was 100 degrees in our apartment.  For whatever reason, it wasn't really widespread news, despite over a million people in the area without power and heat indices in the 100s.  Because we're so close to a Metro station, we only lost power for about 24 hours, and lost internet for 48.  It definitely could've been worse, but the stress from the storm, losing groceries and being hot and cranky nearly tore us apart.  (Yes, I am that delicate.  I'm not proud of it.)

A side effect is that nearly everything in the area is closed due to power outages.  I went to four different grocery stores yesterday, finding the first two were open with limited groceries (only boxed foods, which isn't what I normally cook) and the last two fulfilling only about 90% of my grocery list.  Thankfully Target has been taking care of most of my needs, but they don't carry craft supplies, besides scrapbooking.  No hate to the scrapbookers (I love pretty pens as much as the next gal), but why nothing else?  They can't get some DMC floss on the shelves?  Michael's and G Street have both been closed since Saturday and it's killing me.  I need zippers, floss, thread, and hoops--and I have nowhere to buy them!  Cabin fever can usually be cured with some crafts, but you have to have the supplies!

I'm hoping everything will be up and running by tomorrow, because I can feel time ticking away.  Have I mentioned I'm impatient?  Well, I'm not proud of that either, but that's just who I am.  In the meantime, here are some things I've been thinking about lately, in lieu of actually doing anything:

• Miniature Rhino - I've loved the Zodiac embroidery kits since before I was back into embroidery, but now I really want one.  I just started reading her blog and can't wait for the book to come out this fall!  The coverage of Renegade Brooklyn really makes me want to start focusing on my Etsy business more, offering custom items or little things people might like more than baby clothes.  Inspiration abounds in this blog!
• This fabic: . I bought two yards from Denver Fabrics last week and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.  It reminds me of the J. Crew fabric featured this past spring, which was navy and coral but had the fun heart print.  I'm trying to find a shirt pattern to use with this--I'd like something with a yoke, three-quarter sleeves and a simple neckline.  
• Disney!  I haven't been in almost two years (weird for a Floridian, displaced as she may be) but Jake and I have been reminiscing a lot lately about it.  I really miss it.  I'm definitely someone who hangs onto memories and I wish Disney would bring back the rides of my childhood: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the original Tiki Hut, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.  The day they close the Hall of Presidents will be the saddest day of my life.
• Soft-serve ice cream - do you know how hard it is to find decent ice cream around here?  I guess I'll settle for an IceDream cone at Chick-Fil-A, but I'd love a cherry dip.

What have you been up to lately?

Friday Already

...and, really, not a moment too soon.  I've had a week of training at work--which really means I've been setting up training everyday for a week for other people, but it's really involved and it means I work long(er) hours.  The week flew by, though, thankfully, and now it's a quiet Friday.

Some thoughts from this week (I know, I'm doing an awful job at posting regularly, but give me a break, summer is boring):

• For a girl who is pretty sure she'd be a terrible mother, it's all I can think about lately.  We aren't sure if we want kids, but we have some ground rules if we do have them: no daycare (I'll stay home--not a huge sacrifice, honestly), no technology (books!), super healthy eating (no childhood obesity--we also don't really eat fast food besides the occasional trip to Chick-Fil-A so this isn't a big deal or change).  But I'm so on the fence about it because, while I know I'm young, I also know I'd want to have them in the next five years, and I also know that I will probably be the least compassionate or sympathetic person ever.  I just...I'm not a kid person.  When I was a kid, I hated kids, and wanted to be around the adults.  They're not all beautiful--there are some babies out there who look like an extra from Saw. And they're on Flickr.  So help us God.
• I felt like I needed a new bullet here.  Anyway.  I'm reading Naomi Wolf's Misconceptions, about becoming a mother in America.  Holy shit.  I knew things were bad, but I didn't know they were this bad.  It has swayed me to seeing a midwife and having a homebirth without drugs, if I ever do get pregnant.  I absolutely hate going to the doctor and even seeing a needle makes me pass out (not an exaggeration), and this is completely my own opinion, but yeah.  No hospitals for this girl.
• I have had no patience for sewing lately.  I've cut out three different projects and they're just hanging around in plastic bags because Eleanor gets to them before I do.  I think I'm just tired, but if I don't get a move on, summer will be over and I'll have to wait another year to wear this stuff.
• Holy crap, guys.  It's August.  Doesn't that blow everyone's mind?  Okay, maybe not, but it does mine.
• Tomatoes are a perfect after-work snack.
• Why do some people feel the need to talk so loudly?  You're down the hall in an office--I shouldn't be able to hear your conversation.
• How does one become a doula?  Not kidding, this could be a career-change.  If I even have a career. A career-start?  I'll get back to that.
• I'm tired of reading about weddings.  I wasn't invited.  I don't care.  Please stop it.
• I feel like, because I'm not religious, I really got gipped on the "friends" aspect of church.  I'm not going to compromise our beliefs by dragging Nick to some temple every Sunday, but I know that church is a huge place to meet people.  And I think it's a shame that we've lived in DC for over seven months and we don't have friends besides people we talk to at work.  That's sad.
• I miss friends.
• I am so tired.

So there you have it, I'm quite obviously a mess and everyone knows it.  I'm going to see myself as charming, though, and because I'm wearing a totally cute shirt (and jeans--which I haven't worn since May because it's been too damn hot/summer), I'm going to believe it.

Have a great weekend, everyone.  Go have fun for me!

Happy birthday, America!

I love long weekends.  I have three days to do what I normally cram into two, Eleanor wonders what the hell I'm still doing around on a Monday (she knows her days of the week), and Nick starts to get on my nerves by Sunday night.  But no, really, they're the best.

We tried to step out of the box this weekend and not sit around for hours at a time, watching Say Yes to the Dress marathons ("we" = "I").  Saturday we spent the day in the sweltering heat, walking around Capitol Hill and Old Town Alexandria.  We really weren't prepared for the heat, as the last 90 degree day we had was in May.  It was a little rough and I single-handedly disproved the belief that women don't sweat, they glow.  No, I was sweating.  We were also verbally attacked by a Metro employee (we've reported her but have yet to hear anything back from WMATA) and dealt with really loud tourists.  But all in all it was a fun day.

The rest of the weekend was spent running various errands, though we did eat at Mussel Bar in Bethesda last night.  I thought it was delicious.  I don't eat mussels (or really any seafood, save crabs and lobster) so I had the prime rib steak sandwich with frites and a glass of rose.  I know, wine?  For me?  But their beers were mostly imported and I'm an American craft beer enthusiast.  We also ordered dessert, which I haven't done in God knows how many years.

So here are some pictures.  Did  you all have a nice weekend?  The next long weekend is Labor day!  Can you believe it?  This year is flying by.

Starting out the day as two innocent kids who had no idea of the messed up people they would encounter on their adventures.

Navy diver punching a shark, something you can only see at the Eastern Market

Mmm, green tomatoes

The vendor was offended I was taking pictures of her flowers instead of buying them.  Sorry!

Hill's Kitchen, where I bought two icing spatulas and a present for my mom.  Way to go crazy!

The stuff nightmares are made of.

Letterpress

I love these porcelain milk jugs

Ahhh, finally.

California Pizza Kitchen

Fried Mac and Cheese!

Some of the weird produce at Safeway

Eleanor enjoys helping us with laundry

A monkey dressed like a banana at the Paper Source in Bethesda