Sunday, June 21, 2009

Slightly abashed, with a change of plans

Yeah, so...anyone who was excited to see Basel (on the edge of your seats, I'm sure) will just have to wait until I make it out to the farm stand for Basel 2.0, because the original Basel is now shriveled up and kinda, well, dead. I have no idea what happened! Except that I forgot to water him and then it stormed so he sort of got tossed around on the balcony and then it was super bright and he dried up. Yeah. Anyone who wants to trust me with a plant or a fish can take a number.

In other news, T. and I have hit up Annapolis twice in the last week and holy goodness, I want to live there. As I told T., it is the perfect mix of yup, prep, and hip. The downtown area has lots of historic rowhouses and cobblestone streets with original brickwork and I can already picture my idyllic life, sitting on my stoop with a glass of wine and walking down to the harbor to get ice cream and wander around at dusk with my adorable and well behaved dog Zeke, who is affectionate and well-liked by all my neighbors. Somehow in this fantasy I have also won the lottery and can afford a historic townhouse with all its traditional details preserved, bright and filled with vintage posters, stainless steel kitchen appliances, and solid wood bookshelves.

Sigh...keep dreaming....

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

A brief introduction

Having tried my (unfortunate) hand with two fish, and not being in a position to acquire a doggie of my very own, I've decided to take a different tack with small, living things dependent on my care. T. and I have adopted a little basil plant, who now cheerfully resides on our balcony. His name is Basel (pronounced Bah-zul), and please, no comments from the peanut gallery about the imaginative name.

Yes, it's true, I've changed class (phylum? genus? something like that. Bio was a long time ago). He seems to be doing well but when we first got him he started looking a little peaky. Some internet research informed me that a shady, air conditioned apartment was not the best environment for him, and he now basks in the full eastern sunshine every morning and is dutifully watered by yours truly at dusk.

It's late so I don't feel like staging a photo op, but rely on a picture of our household's newest member sometime soon.


In completely unrelated news, last night the fire alarm in my building went off at 1:43 a.m. As I shuffled down the stairs in pajama pants a little too big for me, squinting at all my neighbors, I experienced an uncomfortable flashback to all of sophomore year. Jeez. I graduated from college so I wouldn't have to deal with this. Fire trucks showed up, alarms blaring, dudes in uniforms tromping up and down stairs carrying sledgehammers--the whole works. T says that the system has been having some operating problems lately. I'll say.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

The start of something summerful

I've been working for three days now, and I can definitely say that it is an adventure! I've gotten some great projects right off the bat and also got to watch a docket call in court and tag along for some witness prep sessions. Due to the nature of the job the attorneys in my office are colorful and quick thinking and I can already tell that I will be learning a lot from them.

Otherwise, I leave work a bit earlier than T. does so I get to do most of the dinner cooking. It's been SO much more fun cooking for two, because I can do bigger and fancier meals without worrying that I'll be eating the same stuff for five days in a row. Probably one of the best parts about cooking for two is that the other person does the cleaning for two...hehe. It also helps that T. can come home for lunch most days, so he helps clean out the leftovers (I can't, because my office is too far away, so I've been packing PB&Js and fruit to get me through the day). My hours are great so I don't mind nibbling on my sandwiches while researching. In fact, I think it's pretty cool...makes me feel like a grown up (although I'm sure I'd feel differently if I worked normal hours!).

To be perfectly honest, I think this summer (work-wise) will be amazing. I already feel my mind absorbing stuff. T. and I also have a lot of adventures planned for the summer — trips to the beach, flea markets, etc. Should be a fun time! After so much time spent apart (we've done long distance for 2.5 yrs now) it's a treat to have so much time together.