Miss Shann Goes To Washington

We spent this past weekend visiting Bob's sister Rebecca in the Arlington, Virginia / D.C. area. Sadly the weather did not cooperate with us very much. Bob and I left straight from my work on Friday evening, only stopping at the bank to cash my paycheck before setting off. MapQuest told us it would take around 4-4 1/2 hours to get there. But that did not take into the account that it was raining the whole entire car ride down there. It was literally like driving through one of the circles of hell. I do not know how we made it alive, but we did. Crossing through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and finally into Virginia.

When we got there, it just continued to rain, rain, rain. Bob's sister took pity on us and came with us to this little diner in Arlington, Silver Diner for dinner. It was this kitschy little fifties style eatery, decked out with mini juke boxes in each of the booths. Just what I needed after a long car ride there.

Rebecca's place was just a little efficiency apartment in the Virginia Square neighboorhood of Arlington. It was nice, but a little cramped for three people. Bob and I had to sleep on the floor and her heat was not on either. So it was very chilly and hard to sleep the first night there.

When we woke up the next morning we new exactly what we wanted to do, go to the Smithsonian! Well mainly the Natural History part at least. It was still raining when we set out for lunch and the Metro station into D.C. We stopped at this little Vietnamese restaurant on a side street in Arlington for lunch, Nam-Viet. It was yummy, yummy. I had Seafood Pho, which was a noodle soup, Vietnamese coffee, and Bobby and I split an order of Pork Spring Rolls. It was the perfect way to start a horribley wet, rainy day. After lunch we walked down to the Claredon Metro Station and caught the metro to the Smithsonian station. So many people got of the train there! The Metro Station was right near the Mall and we could see both the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building from there. Finally we made it into the Natural History Museum. All I really wanted to see was the Hope Diamond but much to my dismay almost everyone else wanted to as well. It was completely crowded around but I got as close as I could. Bobby took pictures for me though. After the museum we walked towards the Washington Monument. Bob had never been there before, so it was interesting I had been somewhere he hadn't. Then we checked out both the World War Two Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. But by that time we were all sopping wet and decided to go back to Rebecca's apartment. For dinner that night we drove down the street from her place in Arlington to Taste of Morocco. It was interesting to eat there, they had couches for you to sit on!

The next morning we got up and went with Rebecca to the 11:00 am mass at her church, St. Charles Borromeo. It wasn't your typical catholic church at all. They sang some of the songs in both Spanish and English. And apparently the 1:00pm mass is completely in Spanish! After church and going to change into jeans, we hopped on the Metro this time to Union Station, a funky little shopping center in a the Train Station. They had an art exhibit going on there were everything was made out of or inspired by Red Bull cans. For lunch we went across the street to Capital City Brewing Company. Finally had a Maryland Crab Cake sandwich there and a pumkin beer as well. We stayed in D.C. until only 3:00pm that day before finally heading back to Pittsburgh.

And now that we are back we have to pack again. For this weekend's destination, Niagra Falls!!!

Pre-Wedding Jitters

I went to David's Bridal because they called me to let me know some of my items were in. Turns out all of my items are in, including my dress. It seems so odd to actually see it...

Mommy told me that she bought her dress while she was out with my aunt and cousin on Saturday. Apparently it is this dress. She got the one that is in the middle, but bought it in taupe. I'm not too sure on this because when I looked at the color chart for the dress taupe looked more beige than I would have liked. I'm upset that she would go look for and buy a dress without me there. Plus it was like $160 and she doesn't have that kind of money.

Also when we went out to Ben's yesterday, Bob hit me with the car! I was helping him parallel park and he pinned me between his car and the one behind me. I'm okay, I think. But my knees hurt...

We Are All Mortals In The End

Today has been a day of contemplation. We went into work early, so that Bob could make up some time he missed due to the Comcast appointment, and I was there for a while before anyone else showed up. That and John was out most of the day so there was more time alone. All that quiet time made me wonder what I am actually doing with my life. I don't want to spend my life working in a place like that. I don't feel like I am making a difference at all.

And then things just got odd and slightly sad. Bob sent me a message. Apparentely he found out from Chris that one of his friend's (Chris's) their girlfriend/fiancee had stomach cancer. And it turns out she passed away today. Now I only met this girl a few times, but she always seemed nice enough. And his friend was really broken up about it. It just makes you realize that life really is short. Apparently she was around my age too.

So just remember, live life to the fullest that you possibly can. Take chances, be brave, and do things you never thought you would.

Autumn Nights

Fall is just sneaking up on me these days. It seems that summer, my July trip to Vegas and my June engagement, were just days ago. But it is already October. I just don't know where the time has been going. As if to signify that autumn is truely here, right now I am on the couch while Bob has Monday Night Football on. It isn't even a Steelers game. Instead it is Green Bay vs Minnesota. And Bob isn't really watching either, he is falling asleep on the couch beside me. But still it is on.

Work is still truding along. My three year anniversary there is later on this month, on the 23th. I'm still not sure if they really appreciate me. I have been alone there in the office since last September and I don't think they are ever going to get me any help. Sometimes I feel like they take advantage of me and just push my kindness too far. And then there are times when my bosses are silly and nice. Like Friday when John offered to buy me a vanilla cappucino. I know I don't want to be there forever and it is not the best place for me, but logistically it works. It is close to home and on Bob's way to work. So for now it will do.

I got a phone call late last week from David's Bridal telling me part of my order was in. I don't think it was my dress yet, just my hair clips and slip but it is just hammering home all this wedding stuff. We haven't finalized a lot of things, and sometimes Bob is just horrible. A lot of things are weighing on my mind with this, I just wish I had some help because Bob has stalled with the planning.

It drags on...

Well our internet was down almost all last night and most of this evening. When Bob called Comcast they said it had something to do with the signal from them not being strong enough. But naturally none of them knew how to fix it. So very undependable.

Comcast is such a pain. Bob wants to switch to Verizon Fios and hi-speed but I am not so sure. I can't see paying more money. We don't need to fifty-million television channels, we hardly watch the ones we have now. Plus we would have to pay extra for and additional receivers in other rooms. We couldn't just hook a tv up to the cable and be able to watch it like we do now.

But you know when Bob gets his mind set on something there is usually no stopping him.