esprit de l'escalier

A prime year

I had a birthday this weekend. A prime year: 31. So far, it's been a fun year. Friday held for me balloons, a yummy chocolate caramel tarte from Pistacia Vera, lunch with my parents, almost constant interruptions leading me to stay after 6 to get some stuff done. Then I went out with five of my favorite locals for dinner at Till. We had fabulous wine and food, and I had the cake (really a trifle) above. I always feel good when I've got my grandmother's pearls on and my favorite perfume (I almost never wear it, because I'm forgetful, but it makes special nights more special). I ended the night listening to my friend's cover band, dancing and yawning, 'cause I was exhausted. I'm hopeful for a good year. I have no idea what it will hold. At the moment I can't see anything big or life-altering on the horizon, but then again I usually don't see those things coming.

Things I spotted in DC

Friends in DC

Here are some of my photos from my trip to DC a couple of weeks back, almost a month ago now! There were still some cherry blossoms left, followed by some of the lovely people I saw while I was there. Check out those baby cheeks below. So damn cute.

Thoughts on book club

Book club just ended. People have left. My kitchen is tidied. My dishwasher is running. I love hosting book club. I think I may have started a book club at work as an excuse to invite people over and feed them. Although, I also love having people over with the pretense of talking about literature. I really should have been an English major in college; I love to talk books. But really, I think the overwhelming need for book club comes from me wanting to have social events in my home. I love hosting.

This round we read Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh. Only two (of the now six) of us finished it. Me and Erin, who chose it. Erin is the only one of us who has read all of the books. But I digress. We found Waugh off-putting for various reasons. It was a hard book to get in to, and a hard book to like since he did not seem to like any of his characters. That didn't preclude us from having good conversation about the book, and of course not at all when discussion of the book was over. I also like the people in book club a great deal. Especially those that stay late.

We try and have a themed drink around our chosen book. This book, Andy brought bottles of Prosecco with him. Since the characters drank champagne the whole time, it seemed very fitting. (Joe also made gin drinks, which also seeemed appropriate.) I made a bunch of food that was totally incongruent with the book - Mediterranean food (or approximations thereof). I made meatballs, tabbouleh, and a lemon tart. They were all a hit; especially the tart. It's so nice when you don't screw up the food you're making for your guests. Now I'm off to bed. This was all very tired-making.

Saturday hello

Hello lovely people. Thank you for all the kindness about my monster rug! It makes me laugh that it ended up so huge. I'm glad you all enjoy it too. Here's a quick Saturday hello. I was up early this morning, as I was volunteering for Earth Day at the Audobon Center. It's within walking distance from my apartment, and my friend Mel joined me early for some weeding this morning. It was nice. I think I might try volunteering there more often.

I just had a bit of a nap and a bit of snack. I had to get some energy up for this big dance party I'm headed to tonight. I'm excited. I've got to go get ready. Just thought I'd leave you with some pretty spring blooms from a couple of weeks ago... it's gray and rainy here today! 

My monster muppet rug

On Tuesday night I finished my first rug in weaving class. Now, I sort of jumped ahead of some of the other students, because instead starting on a loom from scratch, I jumped on a loom that was already set up with the warp, which saved me a lot of time. I used loopers, which are cotton loops that are leftovers from making socks. (Remember those potholder looms from childhood? Like those loops. Only I tied them all together before using them in the loom as the weft.) That made the rug sort of like a rag rug.

I didn't quite know how long the rug was going to end up; I thought about 6 or 7 feet. I just kept going til I ran out of loopers. Turned out it is over 11 and a half feet long... yep! It's gigantic. Luckily I have a long hallway in my apartment! As I was weaving it, I kept joking that it was my muppety rug, since it's mostly purple and blue. Now it's my monster muppet rug! Here are some photos, taken by my friend Esther, as I was taking it off the loom.

Me cutting it off the loom.

Me pulling it off the loom... it just kept coming!

Here it is all rolled out!

Happy Easter

My sister posted this photo to Facebook this morning, and since I scanned it for her last year, I thought I would share it here. It is hard to imagine this scene is from 25 years ago, but it is. I am pretty sure I am rocking a Care Bears shirt. They were my favorite. Oh Easters when you're little... I miss the egg dyeing and hunts, the chocolate and the plastic grass that got everywhere. I am having lamb tonight with my parents. Wish the two above were going to be with us.

Golden friends

I am still having computer issues, which is part of the reason I have not been posting much. The other reason is that I am not home a lot, which gives me less time for blogging and doing important things like fixing my computer, cleaning my room, buying groceries, etc.

Last weekend I went to DC to visit with some dear, dear friends. Back in February, after I had a bad day, my friend Ginny said I needed to come visit her and that I should do so the weekend of a kite festival. Apparently, I just needed someone to give me a concrete invitation to DC to actually book a ticket. It had been about 2 years since my last visit to DC, which was around my birthday, and when I was still unemployed. It was so good to be back and to catch up (in person) with my friends. I have photos, but of course my computer issues preclude them from sharing them.

I spent the weekend talking, thinking, laughing, eating, drinking, and exploring with my friends. I met new-to-me (but have been around a while) boyfriends, met a new baby, saw one friend I hadn't seen in 10 years, and flew a kite. Mentally, it was a wonderful freaking weekend. Like a big hug I needed. I am so lucky to have these people in my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

This weekend is full of the wonderful friends I have here. Full of celebrating birthdays, walks and talks, meals, etc. Plus some time with my parents, for whom I feel so lucky. It's nice to live close to them and to be close with them, too. I actually need to go get ready for the evening. I hope you have a great rest of the weekend.