Moving Day

Yesterday we moved all day and celebrated with Nate & Alicia who came by after work. As the night progressed we started exploring all the treasures that were in the boxes and landed upon my grandmother's art supplies. Nate, an amazing artist, instigated a drawing session which hopefully will be the first of many.

High School buddies catching up

Alicia!

Art supplies

Nate's drawing of Sohail and me

My first attempt at drawing Alicia with help from Nate

Round 2 - this time Nate only gave me 13 minutes. I think he was worried Alicia's may get a cramp in her neck... But it turned out better with some time pressure, I think.

view from my couch

those of you know know me well know that living in these circumstances is my nightmare... just one more day.

Renovations!

Two exciting updates: 1 - we're homeowners! and 2 - we get to update our condo as we wish which is what we did all day yesterday and will continue doing today. It's already looking much better.

Before

During

A break for lunch

Yum!

Some late night visitors

Sohail's Mom was thrilled with the visit.
The painting continues...

LEAF

We just got back from celebrating Sarah's 30th birthday at Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) near Black Mountain, North Carolina. It was a weekend of camping, dancing, concerts, poetry slams and other fun with my high school and college friends. I went twice a year with my family growing up but hadn't been back since high school so it was great to see it through an adult's eyes - it's just as fun as through a kid's eyes actually. This was Sohail's first time and he had a great time especially seeing Zap Mama play.

Lake Eden

A slide they've put in since we used to go that kids can use to slide from the mountain in the lake.

Spending a wonderful weekend with my fiance.

The Zap Mama concert was amazing!

With Sarah and Shirin - two wonderful college friends.

Beth - Shirin's friend from vet school. It was wonderful seeing her again.

Julia, a high school classmate of mine, with Lyndsey's son. He was a trooper in the cold weather.

Happy birthday Sarah!

We also visited Sarah and Barney's wedding location. It's beautiful.

Sohail watching a Los Amigos Invisibles concert with Sarah and Barney.

Shirin dancing Zumba Sunday morning with Sarah and Kathy.

On the way home... well before making to to DC.

Engagement

We're engaged!

Right after the most perfect engagement at Haines Point.

A private celebration at home.

Last night, Sohail's parents organized a dinner for some family that was visiting from Canada and then surprised the family with the good news via a cake after dinner.

Everyone was so excited - clapping and kissing us.

With the parents / future parents-in-law

With my new Persian family!

Dancing to celebrate.

Visite de MB & PY

This week we had one of the best treats ever - a visit from France (indirectly via the whole world). My cousin and her husband came to visit after a year-long trip/honeymoon around the world. The had great stories of international adventures and were such fun to hang out with.

Pierre-Yves in Annapolis with the local specialty, steamed crabs

All of us in Annapolis

We had several dinners on the roof deck of our building.

At a Nationals game. What's more American than baseball?

The chef making us a delicious dinner on their last night in DC.
It felt wonderful being a guest in my own house.

MB & PY come back soon!!!

reds in dc

Yesterday we drove past the national mall to run an errand and it seems the reds have found their way up I-95 right into our liberal enclave! Some of them seem to believe we're still in 1776 with their "don't tread on me" flags... or maybe 1989... One of their signs read down with czarist socialists... I didn't stop to ask them if that wasn't a mutually exclusive proposition. But I do see their point about universal health care. Maybe we should rethink the proposal for universal coverage if most Americans are as (un)healthy as this bunch appeared...

Anyone know what these flags are from?

"Thieves have more honor than Congress. They admit they are thieves."
Has this guy ever been on a jury?

I agree. All presidents should follow the Constitution. Does anyone know where this argument stems from? Presumably not the Iraq war but I'm sure it has some underpinning...

I guess some people changed their minds.

We spent the rest of our day apartment hunting. That was a blast!

phillips

Another great exhibit - the Phillps Collection's Paint Made Flesh.

Jenny Saville's Hyphen

At the Phillips after Five with Alicia and Rebecca

charleston visit

The rest of our trip was spent visiting Charleston and seeing family and friends.

Downtown

In an alley by the Circular Congregational church

Addy, Derek & Maman in the same alley

With Sarah!

Anna T and her colleague Melissa

Barney and Sarah

Joe and Edie

At Charlestowne Landing

A tree loosing its bark. I forgot the name of it...

Lunch with Melissa. I also saw a lot of my Dad and Joanne but forgot to get my camera out!

It was great seeing everyone and I hope to see you again soon!