Easter Bunny?

Apparently our neighborhood has a very mean-spirited bunny afoot.


Guess we won't expect much on Easter morning.

What's new pussycat?

Sprung

Well, folks... Spring has come to our nation's capitol. Seems like only a few weeks ago that tempuratures were below freezing (about a week ago, in reality!)... Andy and I took advantage of the warm weather this weekend and cleaned/raked/swept our yard. (It's amazing how difficult it can be to clean wet, caked on leaves off a brick patio. Note to self for future home ownership: Clean leaves BEFORE winter hits.) In the coming weeks we're going to celebrate the season with some more "fun" events: Cherry Blossom Festival, Red Sox games, etc.

Furry Neighbor

Lest you think our sign was a joke...

Vino!

This past weekend we went to the Washington, D.C. International Wine & Food Festival. There were over 280 different international wineries and 1,100 wines in all - and just about as many people trying to taste them.



We had a wonderful time, managing to taste wine from a myriad of countries including: France, South Africa, New Zeland, Portugal, Liechtenstein, Germany, Georgia, and of course from all over the United States.



For any of you worried about how we got to and from a wine festival, don't worry, we took Metro.

Postcard from Maine

Luck of the Irish

This past weekend marked the annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town. (Interesting Katie&Andy Trivia: We first stumbled upon our beloved House of Payne while searching for a parking spot for this very event last year.) We had a great day for it, and parking was a breeze.



The kids around sitting around us for the parade were easily the most entertaining part of the entire affair. One little boy, hardly old enough to walk, started marching in place after the military regiments went by. Priceless.


The British are coming! Okay, so maybe it's the Continental Army, but still...


Andy and I both love bagpipes. These guys did a great upbeat version of Amazing Grace.



No, Andy. That guy isn't going to hand over his vintage Mustang just because he's also a Red Sox fan.

Imperial Entanglements

We had a run in with the local authorities this weekend. Fortunately, we didn't have the droids they were looking for.

Tough Commute

Winter Wonderland

These photos were taken from our bedroom windows. Good thing we snapped them when we did; a few hours later, thanks to sleet and freezing rain, the scene was decidedly less "Winter Wonderland," and decidedly more "Slushy Mess."

City of Brotherly Love

This past weekend Andy and I drove to Philly to visit my best friend from college (before I met Andy, of course) and maid of honor, Diana. There she is giving us the grand tour of her neighborhood. She lives in a historic area with lots of Victorian era row houses, charm galore. The sidewalks were viciously slick, so we excused her from walking backwards. This time. The rear view of Independence Hall. The silhouetted figure, looking a bit stiff, is Commodore Barry. Unfortunately, despite the combined brain power of three major history buffs, we were unable to come up with exactly who Commodore Barry was, and why he's relegated to the rear of Independence Hall. (We also noticed a bridge named in his honor, so he must have done something important.) If anyone can fill us in, we'd be most appreciative.
Independence Hall from the front. Difficult not to feel a sense of pride and patriotism when one imagines what our founding fathers went through in this building (oppressive heat, endless debate, long-winded speeches from Jefferson and Franklin, not to mention the perils of declaring independence from a country that was wealthier, stronger, and more powerful than any other in the world at that time).
All of these trials and tribulations they endured so that generations after might have the freedom to wait in line to view the symbol of that freedom. Brings a tear to the eye.

When I was a little girl and my mother wanted me to pipe down, she'd usually say "Quaker's Meeting has begun, no more laughing, no more fun. If you show your teeth or tongue, you shall have to pay a forfeit." Of course, it took me a good ten years to figure out what a "forfeit" was, but in the meantime, I figured it was a debt I didn't want to owe and kept my mouth shut. Good to see she wasn't just yanking my chain all those years.

Getting along... most of the time

Over the past few months Nala and Athena have become friendlier towards each other. Here are a few examples of the latest phenomenon to visit the House of Payne:

Keeping an eye on our street..



...perfecting the art of lap warming...



...and resting so peacefully near each other.



They're so cute when they're getting along. It's like they don't even realize the other is there.

Uh-oh.






*No animals were harmed during this photo shoot.

26 years, 24 days

That's how long I managed to go without a cavity. Unfortunately my dentist informed me today that my streak is over. I will be spending at least part of my Monday off getting the cavity filled; hopefully after that I'll had another such streak for even longer.

15 Minutes of Fame

Some people say everyone is entitled to 15 minutes of fame. Who knew it would come to my iPod first? Let me give you the backstory: In my last few weeks at Kiplinger, we were working on the photoshoot for this article (Tech Stocks are Back). We ended up shooting in a nearby park in DC. We needed an iPod for the shoot, and Apple was being uncharacteristically lame , refusing to send us a sample (side note: expect a new version of the video iPod soon). Under tight deadlines, my sleek and sexy black video iPod was called out to the task. Here it is with the new Microsoft Zune (boo!). Notice that it is leaning on top of that clunky, worthless Microsoft thing. Not an accident.


There it is in the lower right hand corner. The back is a bit scuffed, but still beautiful. Might be difficult to discern from this picture, but the back is engraved with a quote from Andy and my favorite band. Frankly, I'm surpised they didn't photoshop that out.


**Unfortunately, I regret to inform the fans that my iPod is NOT available to sign autographs.

Banff

This week Katie and I went to see two screenings of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour (http://www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture/tour/) at the National Geographic Society. Every year after the Banff Mountain Film Festival concludes, 20 or so films from the festival go on tour. Lucky enough for us, since National Geographic is a major sponsor they show all of the films on tour during a five day period. These films range from four minute shorts (one hilarious one done by a twelve year-old) to hour plus documentaries; they cover topics ranging from B.A.S.E. jumping in Mali to the interactions between people and Siberian tigers in the forests of Siberia. Every time I go (this was my fourth or fifth year between Hamilton and DC) I am utterly amazed and constantly inspired. I leave each screening vowing to do more outdoors in the coming year - hopefully this year we'll be able to get out more and see this beautiful world. If you ever get the chance to see the World Tour (or better yet, go to the actually festival in Banff, Canada): do it.

Incomunicado

The good news is that our cable bill should be lower this month. The bad news is that we've been without cable internet or tv since Tuesday. Apparently our local squirrels have been gnawing on the cable line to the house for awhile. Maybe it's time to unleash the attack cats?

Old El Paso

What a week. With very little fanfare, and even less lead time, my new employer shipped me out to El Paso for a week of "fun" working on our major project with a certain branch of the Department of Homeland Security that shall remain nameless.


I'm pretty sure DHS would not approve of my taking that picture. Might compromise national security, you know. (Not really, I was tease for taking this picture. Apparently, this spot is not a prime photo op.)

While not my dream vacation, El Paso had its charms. I enjoyed waking up to views like these (taken from the parking lot at the hotel where I stayed):



I also found particular eloquence in El Paso residents' ability to switch from English to Spanish in mid-sentence and back again without pause. The hybrid language is interesting and beautiful to hear (Unfortunately often followed by some redneck racist remark, and thus the moment would be spoiled). My one regret (besides spending 4 days of my life in El Paso, TX) is that I never did get to see where they make the salsa. Maybe next trip.


Psst... those mountains are in Mexico. Kind of cool, huh?