On the Move (And Some Other Thoughts)
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August 22, 2010 at 10:19 pm
[Note: As we were rambling up and down I-85 this weekend, so does this blog post.]
This past weekend we were assisting my brother and Dad in moving David (brother, naturally) into his new digs in Durham, North Carolina. For those who are unaware or generally don’t care about David (it’s okay if you don’t), David is going to be conducting a Master’s program at Duke University.
Being the model sibling and sibling-in-law, we made the five hour trek down from D.C. to help physically move very heavy things, piece together cheap furniture, and collate David’s somewhat extensive and large collection of books (seriously, this was obviously his pride and joy).
I am certainly not above self-moves, but after saving a few hundred dollars and paying someone else to do it, I don’t see myself going back to the “oneself option” anytime soon. That being said, Dad once again rented out the elephantine Penske truck, hired some strapping young go-getters to assist in the loading (in this instance, our second cousins once removed – right Brittany?) and manhandled the behemoth on wheels up to Bull City (much respect). After this move, I can say with full confidence that Dad is officially retired from this type of move (I think I am too).
Another thing, those particle board based bookcases which can be bought on the cheap at your chain superstore, pieced together by dowels and screws and will undoubtedly be assembled wrong (there are a few pieces that may or may not be upside down) — I’m through with them. It took Dad and I (both marginally handy) about two hours to put together a five shelf six foot high bookshelf. There is certainly something to be said about not only a quality piece of furniture, but clear and concise diagram design (neither was found this weekend).
Unfortunately, with all of the manual labor and heavy lifting (literally), we did not get a chance to check out Durham. That spawned a conversation on the way home about college towns.
Essentially, there is no way, however much we have more than likely romanticized it, that Brittany and I will ever fall out of love with Athens. We have plenty of reasons (rational, irrational, sentimental, momentous) so wherever we end up in the coming years (most likely a college town), Athens will be number one in our minds and hearts.
But, we have had the chance to take a small sampling of collegiate burgs the past few years. In short, tops on my list would definitely be Ann Arbor. The size, the variety, the history … Despite spending a few days there, it definitely wasn’t long enough to take in the shops and the food and drink (oh the glorious food and drink). The downtown was very, very awesome. On the flip-side, unfortunately, College Park has got to be worst excuse for a college town. There is one very small strip of local eateries (not even local shops) and the atmosphere is the pits (Brittany concurs).
Hopefully, in the coming years when we are looking at collegiate towns to move to, we will have a clearer idea of our wants and ideal characteristics.
Feeling at Home and Going Home
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August 14, 2010 at 9:32 am
As of the beginning of August, Will and I have lived in the Beltway area for 3 years. And, we’ve lived in three different places. We spent our first two years in our sky box near downtown–a great apartment in a not-so-great building. We were priced out and needed to move after two years, and we had the opportunity to rent a colleague’s home in Greenbelt Maryland (about 10 minutes outside of DC and 5 minutes from College Park). Greenbelt wasn’t for us, so we’re moved back in DC–but this time in Parkview Neighborhood. Will and I enjoyed reminiscing about our time here last night–really the past three years also closely align with our first three years of marriage. We’ve been blessed in our work/school, God has provided a smorgasbord of friendships, and a community of believers at GraceDC. Thanks God!
What a side bar. The above paragraph is nice, but not really what I set out to write. As August marks our moving-away-anniversary, it’s become somewhat of a tradition for me to go “back home” to Georgia some time during the month. And last week, that’s what I did. I spent nearly a week in the Atlanta metro area, visiting family, friends, and my favorite restaurants.
Family: I crave the time I get to spend with my parents that doesn’t involve a telephone. The parents took some days off, so we could share some extra time together. And, the ominous threat of a jury duty assignment for mom did not interfere one bit. Mom and I also took a drive to visit Will’s family in Thomaston for an afternoon. And, finally we spent a bit of time with G&G where Grandma used her magical powers to claim that I will be having a boy because I am carrying baby weight “all in the front”. We shall see Grandma.
Friends: Well the impetus for coming home in the first place was the baby shower that Melissa, Deena, and I planned for Heather. Sweetly, these girls also met me for dinner after Melissa retrieved me from the Atlanta airport. I was also able to see Grace in all of her teacher glory, and sneak some time with Monica and Erin after church.
Restaurants: My parents and I drove to Athens to dine at the Grit. I enjoyed a scrumptious Publix sub, which I’ve been craving. There were some fries had a Steak n Shake. I ate at Panera for the first time in forever. And, apart from restaurants, Mom made some yummy dinners:)
Enjoy some pictures from the baby shower and the Grit. (It’s clear from the quality of these photos that Will is NOT the photographer…my apologies).
Elephant cake.
Heather opening the gift from Mom and me. Loving the little hat.
The lovely ladies of apartment 728.
Angelic Dad with his Mondo Burrito at the Grit. He cleaned his plate.
Mom with her Pasta Fagioli.
My beautiful House Salad with sauteed tofu cubes. I’ll see you in October, Grit!
Half Marathon Man
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August 4, 2010 at 11:30 am
There is one thing I love to write about and that is running (the proof is in the pudding). I could wax poetic every week, as long as I am in some sort of state of training, which I find, I am usually within if you are going on the past few years.
I like it, I love it, I hate it, I loathe it. There are definitely feelings that range and vary in the most extreme fashions.
That being said, I have more to say about the topic.
I have finally secured, as I have mentioned before, what I will dub “The Half Marathon Marathon Week” which will run (pun intended) from October 16th thru the 24th (okay, so it’s actually one week and an additional day – sue me). During this week, I will be attempting to go 26.2 miles (and then some … with the travel and all) over the course of two days with a sizable 7 day break in the interim.
The first leg will take place in Baltimore, the second in Athens (where you go when you die if you have been good).
The hardest part has been lobbying my collegiate roommates to join in the final leg. Thus far, three-fourths have accepted the gauntlet I have laid before them. We are still working on that last fourth (with methods varying from reason to shame).
October looks like it is going to be a month of redemption (deferring the Baltimore Half to this year) and reunion (see above).
