best. afternoon. ever.

I don't know if I have ever explained this before, but I have always had this preconceived notion of what fall back East would be like.  Something kind of akin to feeling like my pre-reincarnate lived back East and loved fall too.  (So, I probably haven't mentioned it before because that sounds really weird.)  Anyway.  My entire life I have had this idea in my head and....Monday afternoon completely made it real.  My goodness, I cannot even begin to explain.  But I will try.

So on Monday, I had work off for Veteran's Day.  So Emma and I decided to go on a little bike ride to a bookstore in Eastern Market.  There were a few glitches as we tried to get going, but w.  Totally fine.  We started off at the Georgetown Harbor, rode along the Potomac, up through the National Mall, in front of the Capitol, and along the most beautiful autumn street I have ever seen.  I was grinning the entire time.  Emma was giggling.  

Seriously.  The atmosphere was perfect.  The sun was shining.  ....Remember how I was kinda sorta complaining that D.C. was still green?  Well this weekend it was like the District suddenly decided to say, "Oh, okay Anna, here is fall in every single color you could dream of."

It was really, just perfect.  I wish I could have that afternoon 1,023,948 times over.

Oh and we had ice cream for lunch too so....yeah, that was awesome.

Two elderly British ladies were behind us in line, trying to figure out how to translate the menu.
It was quite funny.

The bookstore was wonderful too.  Naturally.  We spent a few hours in there.  The old man who works there was pretty funny.  (e.g., He put a bunch of labels on books that were really funny like, "Ron dies" on HP7.)  A cranky, sassy old man.  Kind of what I imagine great-grandpa McKean to be like.

And these are just some pictures from the Eastern Market area:

Also, I only have 20 days left.  Don't know how I feel about that....

[love you.]

for the beauty of the earth

Yesterday noon I set out on a run.  And it was one of those days that was so beautiful you want to set up an ice cream stand just to complete everyone's joy.  So as I was running, I just couldn't stop.  I decided I would go to a certain tree or bend, but then I would see something just as beautiful and keep going.  It was so wonderful.  About 4.5 miles in I took a break and just sat on a bench and watched the waves ease back and forth.  It was so peaceful.  Seriously, I don't think I can put to words just how much I enjoyed the run.  (Here's a little map for you mom because I know you'll want to see...)

As I ran past the Jefferson Memorial, I could barely contain myself.  So many beautiful trees.  So many wonderful colors.  I hurried home so that I could shower and come back with a camera.  Get ready.....

Today was just as beautiful, so on our way back from church Emma and I stopped off at the National Cathedral.  We sat outside and read for a while, and then attended a special service honoring the Marines.  It was so beautiful.  Gothic architecture, stained glass, choir boys singing, etc.

burgers with brie

It has been a busy week.  What with the election, homework, birthdays, and the looming end just a month away.  It is getting hard to find time to write...so here are the events from Friday to Friday.

Last Friday, class was not at the Barlow.  So naturally we had to stop at Panera for hot chocolate and muffins.

After class we were going to go to Shenandoah and Cafe Rio, but once we got to McKay's car he realized he forgot his keys.  So we went to Ray's Hellburger instead---so good.  I have come to the conclusion that burgers are best cooked medium.  Also, I put BRIE on it....BRIE.  We just sat in the restaurant and talked for hours.

All of Saturday was spent campaigning for Mitt in Virginia.  I was in such a beautiful neighborhood--Victorian/Jeffersonian houses and pretty leaves.  Didn't even mind the cold.

Wednesday we had a birthday dinner for McKay at Cafe Rio...

Also, look what I came across at work.....

Vandelay Industries, LLC

Finally, yesterday we went to Bethesda for an evening out.  We went to dinner at Mamma Lucia, ice cream at Haagen Daas, and then to Lincoln.  Got home really late, so I was happy to be greeted by my warm covers.

Election Night

Tuesday night was quite the event.  After going to Sprinkles to get a cupcake (I got a black & white cupcake), I went to a little place called Busboys and Poets with Matt and Kelsey.  It was great--decorated, balloons, high energy, lots of cheering whenever blue showed up on the screen.  We found an open spot in a little corner to watch the numbers roll in.  A {very drunk} man named Tony kept saying to us, "it's just a television show.  That's why they're waiting to reveal Florida."  I got a few interesting looks thanks to my Romney pin.  It was fun, just as I would imagine an election event, but kind of like being at a BYU-U football game in LaVell stadium with the Utes losing.

Kelsey and I decided to leave at 11:00 and waited at the bus stop for a while...until we called and found out that it stopped running after 9:00.  So we started walking toward the metro, and once we got to Chinatown we heard honking and some yelling.  We peered into a nearly-empty restaurant and saw people jumping up and down on the screen, so we figured some big numbers must have just been called for the Dems.  Then a man came out of Fuddruckers and yelled, "OBAMA!!!!"  Soon the streets were filled with people cheering and honking.  My heart sank a little.

It was a long metro ride home.  As we came out of the metro and got onto Pennsylvania Ave, crowds of students were running toward the White House.  More crowds of people.  More yelling and cheering and honking.  That was the night.


Side note, Kelsey showed me a beautiful website.  Click here.  It's awesome.  She also showed me a delicious song: