In which I tell the future and don't even know it

So I've spent the day going through my email and clearing out the messages and chats and things I don't want cluttering things up, and I came across this bit of fortune telling. It was just after Sam was offered his job last December, and we were telling friends the good news. As we are preparing right now to leave for China, my last comment struck me as particularly prophetic.

me: so . . .

Sam got an offer yesterday.

friend: OOOOH

and?

me: chances are high that we'll accept :)

we're getting pretty excited about it.

and . . . we're again thinking puppy thoughts, haha

friend: haha, perhaps moving in March AND a puppy

you are so daring

me: I know, right?

all we need is to throw a baby in the mix and we'll be nice and overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed indeed, though Fin isn't quite a puppy anymore.

And speaking of Fin, here's a cute picture of him to end things with:

A whole new world

So the reason it took me so long to update the blog is I really hate these kinds of posts--they're so boring both to read and write. So I took pictures and compiled lists so that I don't have to go all travelogue-y on you. You're welcome.

Things I miss about Utah:

•  Zupas

•  Cafe Rio [Though you might notice there is one now in MD. It's a bit of a drive, but we found it to be worth it. And yes, we have already been there. Along with probably all of the Mormons in the DC area and anyone else who's been out to Utah in the DC area.]

•  the dollar theater

•  friends

•  my books [most of which are currently in storage--what was I thinking?! I guess I need a Kindle . . .]

•  being physically present at my writing group

•  all our blankets [we only brought two, and I wish we'd brought them all]

•  the majority of our kitchen stuff, since we brought about five things and the stuff already here is scanty

•  my shoes [I was a little too selective.]

•  the Provo temple and working there

•  my friends' kids

•  our ward(s)

   

Things I'm sad I've missed in Utah:

•  my BFF's new baby's blessing

•  Shannon Hale and Jessica Day George doing a book signing/panel discussion

•  Ally Carter on book tour in both Provo and SLC [though this is a future sadness, as she won't be there until June. Bah.]

•   Going to see Thor with my other BFF

Things I would miss if the equivalent here weren't just as good (or better):

•  Provo library

Things I'm not that thrilled about in DC:

•  humidity [but at the same time, it's comforting--like home.]

•  how it's not possible to even go to Costco without paying for parking. Really? Really?

•  how I am getting taxed by the city for owning a car. Like car payments aren't enough.

 

Things I'm crazy about in DC:

•  the libraries

•  trees [I feel like I've come home--it feels so much like New England here. I love it.]

•  houses/architecture [again--New England flashbacks]

•  Panera [I haven't had the luxury of a Panera close by--though back in the day close was relative--since high school.]

•  no snow and thick rainstorms and shuddering thunderstorms

•  no billboards along the highway

•  having my view of the sky limited by all the trees [swoon]

•  our windows and dishwasher

•  our pool [yeah--it's totally open]

•  dog parks [Fin's personal happiest place on earth]

•  our beautiful new car

•  stores within walking distance

•  my SmartCard--I feel so cool whenever I used it

•  how Cafe Rio followed me out here

•  my new friends

•  our king-sized bed

•  the sights, though we haven't seen many yet

•  our new ward

I think there are more in each category, but I can't think of them at the moment. But I guess you could say I'm wildly happy here. Sam's a little homesick, but he's enjoying it out here, too.

Now for the pictures.

I am obviously very excited about being at the Capitol.

Yes, this is all the sightseeing we've done so far. Don't judge.

Fin also is very happy to be here. As far as he's concerned, there has been no change. We have a very chill dog. Unlike these dogs. And he's in love with the dog park by us.

We pass by this little sign every so often while on walks. She actually has a few along where the sidewalk boarders her lawn. And every time I see it I have to squelch the desire to give Fin the "pit stop!" command. I guess that makes me a bad person?

I've loved the spring colors! There are so many beautiful, remarkable colors--hot pink, magenta, brilliant red, pure white . . . they've been breathtaking. I'm sad they're all disappearing.

Here's an example. My phone really doesn't do them justice. They're so, so stunning.

This glove was in the gravel driveway of a house we pass by fairly frequently on our walks. It was there for over a month--and every time we passed by Fin lunged for it, since it was within reach--so finally I got fed up and tossed it in here. Now, every time I see it, I feel like Boo Radley. Only as far as I know no children have found it interesting. [Yet!]

Fin is the best-behaved dog in the world if he has a stick to carry around with him on walks. It gets him lots of smiles from anyone who sees us, since I guess most dogs don't walk around with huge sticks/branches in their mouths. Speaking of Fin, everyone here is so interested in him. In Utah, most people didn't really care. Here, though, we're always being stopped or having people tell us what a beautiful dog he is. I think it's because here people generally have dogs long before they have children (if they ever do), so it's customary to ask about one's dog the way one would ask about one's children in Utah. That's my best guess.

Sometimes his selections are a bit much for him, though.

And we'll end with the random little garden/grass gnome collection I saw the other day while walking Fin. I'm not sure what they're encircling--probably some blood sacrifice that was interrupted by dawn's light--but I'm intrigued nonetheless. Plus, one of the figurines is a T-Rex (or some form of dinosaur), which sold me.

Our apartment

And now, for the series of posts you've all been waiting for. [And I don't need any comments about how this was all promised two weeks ago--don't be haters.]

We will start with our apartment. [This is sort of the royal we--I guess I'm trying to sound grand or like a documentary narrator. Who knows. I'm tired.]

Here are the best parts of our apartment, hands down:

Yes. A dishwasher. This is the first time in our marriage that we have had one, and it's been like heaven. It makes cooking ok because I don't have to worry about hand washing all the dishes I get dirty. And speaking of cooking, I've become a regular housewife. Meals waiting for Sam when he gets home from work every day (mostly)--and from scratch, even! Who knew, right?

The window in our front room. Yes, it takes up a whole wall, practically. It leads out onto a pretty decent sized balcony, which is Fin's favorite part of the apartment. He could sit out there for hours with his head poking out through the bars, looking at all the cars passing by and the people walking through the parking lot. He is also typically content to just look out the window if it's too hot or cold outside for the door to be open.

The window in our bedroom. This may not seem like a big deal, but if you'd lived the past three or four years in a hobbit hole, however comfortable and loved, with three windows with the dimensions 1' x 1', and no window at all in the bedroom, you'd be rejoicing, too. We've been here two months and still get excited about all the natural light flooding our home.

Fin's second favorite place is the shower, as shown. While he fights to get out of it when we're giving him a bath [and by we're I mean Sam, since I'm usually in charge of the blow drying aspect of bathtime] [and it has sliding doors, so he's trapped in there once they're closed], if the bathroom door is ever open he almost always goes in to explore. He even goes to explore the shower before he goes to explore the trashcan in the corner, which I think is really saying something.

Other highlights of our apartment include Dish TV and a flatscreen TV in both the living room and bedroom. Shazam. I love our glorified hotel.