Whiming

About a week and a half ago I signed up for a half marathon in DC, kinda on a whim. I've concluded that life is just more fun when you do things on a whim. I'm usually really into planning (everything), and being prepared is my thing. But sometimes you just need to forget about being logical and do things on a whim.  Life is too short to always be logical.   

The race is on March 14th. I decided to do it late, and only gave myself four weeks to train for it. We'll see how this rushed training works out. My friend Matt is doing the race with me. He's really nice to do it with me; when I first asked him, his response was a straight no.  But after some persuasion, and with my irresistible charm, I got him to agree to it. Having someone to train with really helps to be motivated to run in below freezing weather, at night, after a long work day. I honestly don't think I could do it on my own.

Matt and I did a seven mile run tonight around the National Mall.  It was 10 degrees, but with the wind chill it felt below zero. Lincoln was looking over us while we ran.

I got a library card to the Library of Congress!  It was super easy to get and so worth it. With a library card you have access to all 37 million books. I started on book 1 this weekend, only a few million to go. 

Proud owners of library cards. 

The Library of Congress main reading room. Just being in it makes me want to read.  

This weekend Jane's friend, Angie, came to visit.  She was so fun and we all had a good time getting to know her. It turns out she's in my ward this summer too, I'm excited. We went to a little french restaurant in Georgetown and got the best hot chocolate I've ever tasted. 

Mmmmm... 

We braved the cold and walked to the Jefferson Memorial. 

Jefferson has a pretty nice view. 

I went to Chinatown with my friends for a Valentine's celebration. 

We rented out a room at "Wok in Roll" for Karaoke and sang our hearts out all night long.  A very romantic Valentine's Day if I don't say so myself. 

Partying hard, karaoking harder.

I went with some friends to get some delish crepes in Georgetown. I need to remember the saying, "a moment on your lips forever on your hips."

It snowed Monday night and we decided to embrace it. 

I went to The Hamilton for lunch today.  My work payed for it; I never say no to free food.  It was a really fancy restaurant and the food was great.

A warm almond fudge brownie for dessert.

The Cherry on Top

Connections make life better.  Being connected with the right people is what gets you the job you've always wanted,  is what opens up the opportunities you never thought you'd get, is what gives you the perks that you don't deserve, and much more. Connections are the cherry on top of life. Coming to DC with 28 other BYU students who are also doing internships means that I have 28 new connections. This week my connections got me an exclusive tour of the Capitol.  A couple of my friends work there so they have badges that can access most of the Capitol.  It's all about the connections. 

We first went onto the balcony of the Capitol that overlooks the National Mall.  It was a very cool and unique view. 

The biggest American flag I have every taken a picture in front of. 

A random hall in the Capitol.  I thought it looked cool so I took a picture. 

The scaffolding really brings out the dome of the Capitol. 

We went to the Library of Congress after the Capitol since there's an underground tunnel that leads right to it.  We've all have already been to it but it's such a pretty and intricate building that it's worth going to more than once.   Majority of the floor in this building is made up of tiny tiles, each placed individually to create different designs.  I'm amazed every time by the floors because I just think of how long it must have taken them to lay all of it. 

On Saturday morning my friend Teresa and I went to a french bakery.  That round thing on the right is french toast.  It was SO delicious.  I've thought about it every day since I've had it and want to go back this weekend. 

Over the weekend we also went to Old Town Alexandria.  It's a neat historic little town and is really pretty. I loved it.  When you get off at the metro for Old Town Alexandria the first thing you see is this temple.  It's the George Washington Masonic Temple.  We didn't know what to expect going in, but it was a very interesting experience. We noticed that there were a lot of similarities to our LDS temples.  

(Teresa, me, Jadeyn, Jane)

George Washington statute. 

The Masonic ceremony room. 

Their symbols. 

This gavel was in one of the cases there. As it reads, it was carved from stone taken from King Solomon's Quarries and the handle of the gavel was made from olive wood grown on Mt. of Olives and Garden of Gethsemane. 

On the free trolley in Old Town Alexandria going down to the waterfront. 

The doc was a fun place to be and had a great view.  We already planned on when we're coming back. 

(Jane, McKay, Me)

I converted Jane, Jake, and JD to Vanilla Bean Frappuccinos from Starbucks (no, they don't have any coffee in them).    

We took our frapps down by the river in Georgetown, even though it was quite chilly and it's a cold drink. 

On Monday night I helped plan FHE.  We did a Mr. Barlow pageant. It was so funny and turned out better than we expected. All the guys got really into it which made it very entertaining. 

Jane, Katie, and I with all the contestants. 

This is the typical group of Bachelor fans who watches the show every Monday night.  Six girls and McKay. 

It has been a fun and crazy week, and next week is New York City!

Busy, The New Typical

I feel like I'm constantly busy and on the go in D.C.  Which is both good and bad, but mostly good. I've always loved being busy and constantly having something to do, but every once in a while it's nice to just do nothing, absolutely nothing.  Between work, hours and hours of homework, church, and socializing, free time has become extinct in my life.  My typical week looks like this: Monday- work, homework, FHE, watching the Bachelor with my friends (very important), homework, bed; Tuesday- work, homework, gym,  homework, bed; Wednesday- work, homework, institute, homework, bed; Thursday: work, gym, working on homework all night to finish everything due on Friday morning, bed; Friday- class, briefings, and then the weekend begins; Saturday- morning run, typical weekend activities (exploring DC, museums, shopping, eating out, movies, etc.); Sunday- church (takes 5 hours because the commute is an hour bus ride), much needed Sunday nap, socializing.  I find myself getting an average of 6 hours of sleep a night.  I get pretty tired during the day, but so far I'm surviving.

Here are a few pictures that recap the last couple of weeks:

After class on Friday some of us ventured over to George's King of Falafel

and Cheesesteak.  This hole in the wall restaurant in Georgetown.  

 I tried a Falafel for the first time, it changed my world of fast food. 

I was able to go to the D.C. temple with my friend Kelly.  Kelly is also interning at the same place as me and also goes to BYU.  I tagged along with her to her ward temple trip. The D.C. temple was so pretty. To get to it you go off this side road through a forest of trees and as you turn a corner the temple appears on a hill right in front of you.  I wish I could have captured in a picture how pretty it was. I will definitely be going back very soon. 

Jane and I bearing the wind. I have never felt such blistering

cold wind as I have in D.C.  It just goes right through your coat

and freezes you. 

  

Some of my friends and I went to the Air and Space Museum over the weekend.  This is one of my favorite museums.  Weird fact: the history of airplanes fascinates me for some reason. 

Again, I wish my phone could take a picture that did this scene justice.  Over the weekend, me and a couple others walked down by the water front in Georgetown.  It's really pretty, in person. And it would be a very romantic spot with a significant other.  I need to find one of those. 

Indulged in a Texas Sheet Cake Cupcake at Baked and Wired. 

 The Washington Monument at sunset. 

I'm starting to notice I post a lot about food, but it's all so good.  This is my meal
from BTS burgers and shakes. 

 And this, this is my favorite shake I've had since being in D.C., which is saying
something since I am the milkshake/ice cream connoisseur.