New blog

I've got a new blog up and running now. It's a work in progress, but you can continue reading at http://kitchenmisadventures.blogspot.com/.

The honeymoon is over

When Ben and I returned from Hawaii on Friday, he declared the honeymoon over. Those who have celebrated many many more anniversaries than us say that's not true. The honeymoon keeps going and going. I hope they're right.

We're almost settled in Minneapolis. We have plenty of boxes to unpack, a few bookshelves to buy and pictures to hang on walls. I have change my last name. Then there's the job search. Who knew finding a job could be this damn hard.

Anyway, I don't have anything particularly profound or interesting to write about. I could recount the wedding, but many of you who read this were there. So I'll just leave you with this last post and a wedding photo. As I said earlier this summer, there may be another blog in the works. But I have to find something clever and focused to write about first.

Now that I'm a married woman, maybe it'll be about my adventures in figuring out the kitchen. Or maybe not.

Cheers.

Falling in

Before I left Washington -- almost 17 days ago -- I promised a lengthy post upon my return to Minnesota.

Sorry. I didn't fall in the toilet. But as much as home never seems to change, I've found plenty to do here. Wedding planning is a part-time job. And finding a place to rent seems almost as stressful as getting ready to buy one. I'm trying to do something about the whole unemployment problem. And I love catching up with friends and family, so I've spent a fair amount of time of talking people's ears off and listening to them (something I'm trying to do more of these days as I get older and -- I hope -- wiser).

I'm not ready to write that reflective post. And maybe I simply won't do it. For now, I'll leave you with a photo and a half-promise to write again soon. Perhaps.

*The photo is from a wedding shower my wonderful aunties Ann Marie and Paula threw this weekend. The hot blonde standing next to me is my sister, Brooke.

Almost empty

I write this sitting on the floor, one leg tucked under my butt and the other knee bent. It's not that different from how I tend to sit when I'm home with the family having dinner in the kitchen. I have weird sitting poses.

But tonight it's for a different reason. The desk and TV are gone, leaving me to sit on the floor and blog. I could read, but the lamps are gone, too. But I'm not in the dark. The ceiling fixture provides enough light.

My friend and drinking buddy for the last year picked up the TV and the desk tonight. The desk was his anyway, and I had to get rid of the TV. He asked if I was feeling sentimental. About the apartment? No. I have no attachment to this smallish studio. It collects dust bunnies too easily, and the bugs in the beginning turned me of really fast.

I went for my last run tonight on the National Mall. It was a little warm to feel sad. Running in our nation's Capitol was beautiful while it lasted. But I look forward to connecting with my running buddies and the Mississippi River this summer.

Perhaps what I'll miss most is the newsroom. That was fun. I had a fantastic opportunity out here. People my age don't often get to do what I've done during the past year. And of course, I'll miss the people. I didn't hang out with them outside of work at all -- they had families and other lives demanding them home early. But I'll miss stopping by their cubicles and talking their ears off.

So as I'm planted on the floor, I'm not that sentimental. There will be days when I miss Washington. But I'm ready for the next big thing.

Coming full circle

My last day at work was yesterday and so starts my vacation. Some would call it unemployment, but I didn't take a break between graduation and this internship. So this might be an extended vacation.

Upcoming timeline:
Friday: move from Washington, take my second to last Greyhound bus trip, arrive in Baltimore for weekend trip with Ben and his relatives
Monday: take my last Greyhound bus trip to New York City
Wednesday: fly to Minneapolis, go apartment hunting
Wednesday/Thursday: land in Tracy, finally

I've decided to end this blog, but I'll post a few times back in Minnesota. That way, this blog will have come full circle. I'll maybe come up with a different blog this summer.

The first lasts

As I walked to the gym at work tonight, I shed a few tears. Yeah, I cried. But just a little.

It was the last time I'd work out there. No, I didn't cry because my relationship with the treadmill there will be ending.

A lot has happened during the past year. I graduated from college, landed the most fantastic internship ever, got engaged, made an adult decision to move to Minneapolis and start my days as a married woman there.

Maybe I'm mourning my lasts in Washington.

New days ahead

Shame on me. I've really turned into a lazy blogger.

You know that your time is up when everyone takes you out to lunch. I dined with a colleague today. The conversation and food were fabulous. And I have lunch dates tomorrow, Friday and Tuesday. On Friday night, it's out to the bar with my pal and connection to the Minnesota Daily.

I have four days left at work, and I'm ready to be done. Not in the sense that I'm sick of the job, but whenever I get close to completing something, I can't wait to cross the finish line, put it behind me and move on to the next thing. Will I be sad to leave? Heck yeah. I've made a lot of friends in the newsroom. But is it time? Yeah. I've been an intern for 364 days. This little lady needs a real job. Oh, and there's that big wedding I'm looking forward to. Only 51 days to go!

I've written about what I'll miss out here, but I'm not sure if I've commented on what waits in Minnesota:

1. My family -- Now I just drive them nuts over the phone. In two weeks, I'll get to annoy them in person:)
2. My friends -- I envision trips to new bars, quaint coffee shops and runs along the river. Oh my.
3. New bars, quaint coffee shops and runs along the river.
4. Getting wrapped up in the Upper Midwest goodness.
5. Minnesota road races -- Twin Cities 10-miler, here I come!
6. Attending family gatherings. I haven't been home for a Thanksgiving in a long, long time. Or so it seems.
7. Less humidity. It was humid here a few days last week and next week. Yeah, I'm not a fan. I welcome the cooler days, although global warming is getting in the way of them.

I could go on, but I won't.