Return to Denvah

I just got back from a great weekend in Denver visiting Nick. It was such a nice break - work has been so super busy lately. I really appreciated the chance to slow down for a couple of days, even though it was so short. The whole time was so restful and pleasant, it was quite a shock to come back to a hectic day of work. Fortunately, I leave for Chicago on Wednesday - off to another conference!

Cabin John

I found a fantastic park very close to my house, Cabin John Regional Park. The name leaves quite a bit to be desired, and I haven't read enough literature at the park to know where it comes from, but the park itself is great. It is surprisingly large, given its location. It has tons of trails for running and hiking, and with the large amount of trees, it gives the impression of having left the city. My run this morning through the park was especially gorgeous because the trees are currently a range of brilliant colors.

You should all come see it before the leaves fall off.

You take the good, You take the bad

Tudy, you in trouble?

First the bad. My credit card and two debit cards were stolen. And used. It does not feel good, and it's quite a nuisance to deal with. I am hopeful, however, that I will not be responsible for the charges incurred.

Both good and bad. During the exciting Bartel Ikea extravaganza, I purchased some bamboo for my cubicle - two stalks (not a lucky number, I know). One of them has grown and flourished. Treating each equally, it is unclear to me why the other has chosen to whither and die. Perhaps I did not treat it with as much dignity as the Swiss. Since I have gone to Ikea on a mission for curtains for my sister, I was able to buy another stalk. Hopefully it will do better.





The good. My friend Amber was in town for an archeology convention, and we were able to hang out. I had a great time visiting with her. We ate at one of my favorite restaurants, Cafe Zorba. We also took a ghost tour of dupont circle. It was a walking tour in which the guides shared spooking happenings in buildings in the neighborhood. Good times.

Before the Crack

I got up at my usual time this morning (6:30 am) and was faced with the age-old choice: get out of bed or hit the snooze. I thought about my average snoozing time, and realized just how much I could get done every morning if I just rolled out of bed. Feeling inspired, I turned off the alarm, got up, and went for a run around my neighborhood. I can't believe how dark and cold it was! There was not even a hint of a rising sun anywhere. I can't say this experience will cause me to shorten my snooze time in the long run.

Last night I was going to attend the High-Heel Drag Race (exactly what it sounds like), an annual event in DC. However, "visible smoke" spotted on the red line metro prevented me getting there. Bummer.

The Finished Product

Here are my pie and little loaf of bread.

Yummy. . .

I am currently overwhelmed with the good smells of baking bread and apple pie. I am anxiously waiting for both of these items to come out of the oven, and can hardly stand the tempting aroma. Besides these two culinary delights, I also made a very tasty fruit smoothie this morning. I have spent more time cooking today than I have cumulatively for the past six months. I also may have gotten my fill for the next six.

Bet on Red

Atlantic City was a great trip. It was a fun city to visit and suprisingly productive.



The beach was fantastic, even though it was so cold.



So. . . when he heard I was going to Atlantic City, Nick told me to bet $100 on red. I didn't take this seriously. Roulette has never been my choice in a casino. In addition - betting $100 dollars at once goes against every Mennonite bone in my body. Today was the last day of our conference, and I had gotten through the trip losing less than $30 in slots. After the conference ended we packed up, had all of our stuff in the car, and were ready to leave without any roulette. At the last minute I drug my co-worker back into the casino. After twenty minutes of staring at the roulette table, I finally stepped up, changed some money, and bet $100 on red. And I won. I took my $200 and got as far away from the casino as I could. Here's a pic of me and my winnings.