Northern Virginia Trip- August 2006

So the reason I went to DC this weekend was to go to Anna and Mike's baby shower.... but since it was a surprise baby shower and I invited everyone out who I know in DC/NoVa... and I invited them too- they came! I got to spend two days with them while I was here. Haha, they probably would have skipped it though if they knew I'd see them tomorrow. We started out our night with dinner tapas at La Tasca in Clarendon.

Mike, Anna, and me at La Tasca (also baby-to-be)

I got to meet Johnny's lovely and friendly new girlfriend, April

With my buddy Janice

Then we went to Mama Quans Tiki Hut for some outdoor drinks. I'd never been there before and I really like it.

Brooke at Mama Quan's

Darren giving Janice sexy-side-eye at Mama Quan's

Laura, Brooke, and I can never give up the party so we went on to Cheesecake Factory for a little dessert and some more drinks.

Laura and Brooke- cheers!

So happy I got to see everyone!

Second Date at Continental 2006

Kevin took me to dinner at Continental restaurant because he likes the food there. The original plan was to go to dinner and then go back to his place to watch a movie. He encouraged me to have a big margarita... or two. We had a lot of great conversation over dinner and he's very funny and attentive.

Toward the end of the date he mentioned that he was opposed to corn subsidies and I felt like this is a guy that really gets me! Though thinking about it today I wonder if he read all the comments on my Friendster page and saw Aubree's comment about how much I hate corn subsidies. Haha. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt though because he's an intellectual liberal that lived in Iowa during grad school so he probably really did consider this issue.

After dinner he suggested we take a walk around the UVA grounds. Since he was an undergrad here five years ago he showed me around his old haunts and pointed out a mural he helped paint in one of the dorms.

Part of mural that I could photograph through window

It was close to 11 pm by then and he suggested we go back and watch the movie, but since it was so late and I was full of margaritas, I politely declined. He brought me home and kissed me goodnight!

Good First Date Yesterday! 2006

My coffee date yesterday night was great. Kevin is cute, super smart, and funny. It was a good time. He's 26 and he teaches at Bridgewater College.

I dressed up to go to the Downtown Mall. I was wearing a black fitted shirt and white jean skirt and white sandals with little heels. Sarah and Donald dropped me off Downtown. Kevin was sitting outside reading the New York Times. Apparently, he does this every Sunday. The first thing I noticed about him was his bushy hair and that he was cute. In that order.

Kevin got me a cappuccino while he sipped a green tea. He tried to impress me with his two-book contract and personal Dave Barry connection (I love Dave Barry). I probably shouldn't have told him that I don't believe in happiness. That wasn't a good move on my part.

Mudhouse in 2006- even from the angle at which I approached.

Maybe he thought some ice cream would make me reconsider happiness? After Mudhouse, he suggested we walk over to Chaps for dessert. I was charmed. He drove me home to Ivy Gardens and asked if I'd be interested in another date. I said, "definitely."

Becky and Brandon's House-Warming 2006

Becky and Brandon had a house-warming party yesterday afternoon at their new place on Arlington Blvd. I talked with her about it beforehand and she invited a bunch of my friends that are here for the summer. She mostly knows them. Brandon is going to be a 1L this year, and he also invited a few of the new classmates he's met so far. Becky also surprised Cathy with a birthday cake! Her birthday is coming up. How nice!

Celebrating Cathy's birthday!

Jon, Becky, Cathy's cousin, Cathy

Sarah, Cathy's cousin's boyfriend, and Brandon

Donald and Josh... in love.

Cute little 1Ls

Blowing on dice during game portion of the evening

Busch Gardens 2006

Cathy really wanted to go to Busch Gardens and Josh, Jon, and I were all game so off to Williamsburg we went! Apparently, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg has an "old country" or Europe theme.

We started out near Ireland

Ireland

Then we went to Scotland for the Loch Ness Monster Rollercoaster ride. And back to Ireland's Corkscrew Hill for a 3-D show.

Rollercoaster selfie! With an old school camera no less.

Jon and I got distracted by a beer and liquor tasting. England?

We went hat shopping in France, as one does. We we rode the flume ride in New France, "Le Scoot."

I think each hat captures our personality.

Le Scoot, the flume Ride- Josh is amazing in this photo.

The Alpengeist ride!

We had lunch in Germany's Oktoberfest.

Festhaus

Oktoberfest

Cathy and I at "Oktoberfest"-- haha.

I think we took the sky ride from Germany to England called the "Aeronaut- Zeppelin Landing."

Aeronaut- Zeppelin Landing

I'm on a sky ride. Woo!

In Italy we did the Apollo's Chariot ride and a little bit of wine-making and shopping. Normal stuff.

Josh, Cathy, me and Jon on Apollo's Chariot

Making wine! Blurry but I still like it.

I also forced persuaded the others to take these dress-up old timey photos.

Polite Western folk.

Contrary to my politics, haha.

One last night time roller coaster ride! Wooo! !12 hours means it's time to go home.

Thanks for a long wonderful day, buddies!

JPJ Arena Opening 2006

Yesterday, UVA unveiled it's new JPJ Arena for basketball and they had an opening event. Jon, Josh, Katy, and I went and had a lot of fun.

Jon, Josh, me, Katy

As a side note, I lost 10 pounds since I went to Boston 18 days ago. So that's fun.

Donald Makes Law Review! 2006

We're not actually surprised but it's still a big huge deal! And we wanted to celebrate! We all went out for dinner and then Sarah and I surprised him with a cake.

Cake!

"Boom! Boom!" is Donald's victory exclamation

Sarah lighting the star candle

And balloons too!

Boston, MA 2006

Ever since I first went to Boston for the Fourth of July in 2000, I have maintained that Boston has the most creative firework-shapes. The fireworks and Boston Pops concert on the banks of the Charles River are famous. I also had time to hit a few more popular spots in Boston including a (not-pictured) delicious cannoli in the Italian North End.


Charles River and the Esplanade


Jaime and I find a comfy spot in the grass before sunset


Smiley-face fireworks


3-D Cubes


Nice view of the skyline


Jaime and Pete at Sugar and Spice Thai restaurant in Cambridge, July 5

  Me and Jaime outside


Dave Matthews Concert at Fenway, July 7


New England Aquarium and IMAX theater, July 8


Shark at the aquarium (better than Shark Week?)

Jaime's 28th Birthday in Ogunquit, ME 2006

For Jaime's birthday, she wanted to go to the beach. She lives in Massachusetts so off we went to shore of Maine. Ogunquit is a a popular summer resort town in York County, Maine.


Jaime on her birthday!


Town of Ogunquit welcomes me


The beach and the extremely cold ocean


My first lobster roll ever


Gelato at Cafe Prego

Happy birthday, Jaime!