Getting everything together

So I signed a lease last weekend for my new apartment. A pretty big efficiency: it has a separate kitchen area and a nook for a kitchen table, a regular-size closet plus a big walk-in and then one big room for everything else. It's on the 6th floor, overlooking the front of the building (it faces south) so I can look at the courtyard and the elementary school across the street. Nice hardwood floors and big windows. No one lives there now so I was able to make sure everything was fine. I get the apartment Aug. 15 but probably won't move in to stay until Labor Day weekend. It's a big relief to know I have a place to live, and it is 3.5 blocks to campus so only a 15 minute walk to the History department. It is supposed to be a safe area, the Penn police go up to my street as part of their patrolling. And just a block away is a grocery store and 7 Eleven (yay slurpees) and CVS is actually diagonal from the apt. building.

Work has been good. Incredibly busy. Spent this weekend catching up on the house stuff since I've been in Philly the last 2 weekends. Caught up on ironing! A major accomplishment, actually, because I usually have a constant stack to get through. Not too much else to report, getting all of my Penn stuff together, bit by bit. Found out that there are 18 incoming grad students in the dept. (14 PhD and 4 MA), and I'll get to register for classes here soon. Can't believe I will be back in the academic grind in 6 weeks, I've sort of enjoyed not having a monstrous weight on my shoulders about what I should be reading or studying or writing instead of doing for fun. Ehhh.

LOVE the video of the JK wedding entrance dance. If you haven't watched it yet, you really should. I just want to know whose idea it originally was and then how they could convince everyone to do it for real. It's awesome.

Just a sneak peek at Philly

Went to Philadelphia yesterday to scout out some apartments. I was really nervous that I wouldn't like any of them or that I would love them but they would be really expensive or not close to campus but lo and behold, I liked several! Now I just need to review the pictures we took, compare all the pros and cons and start making moves to get a lease signed. Although it did just hit me what living in a studio is going to be like--- very very cozy. I appreciate the old Gainesville apartment more and more every day. A dishwasher AND a washer/dryer in the apt AND it was clean with no mice?! Oh.. the glorious days in Lexington Crossing... :)

I think I will be quite happy living in Philly though. University City (the neighborhood I will be living in, borders Penn) is cute, residential, definitely has personality. Lots of converted Victorian houses, quaint front porches (sadly none of the places I looked at had any but I will make friends with people who do. Perfect studying spots!) At most I will have a 15-minute walk to campus and there are lots and lots of little eateries nearby to tempt me from my economical and healthy home-cooking. (Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and this awesome dessert cafe, Naked Chocolate, are right across the street from the History Dept. and Library. You know, the places I will practically be living in for the next year. Its going to be a daily struggle not to indulge!

This was only my second time to the city so when we left we drove through Center City and I got a glimpse of the museums and Independence Hall area. Then it was off to Geno's to familiarize myself with the local cuisine. Got a "Whiz with" cheesesteak and it was delicious. also put me into a food-coma for the 2 hour drive back to Baltimore!

Fantastic July 4th weekend.
-Went kayaking because it was gorgeous out. Failed to put sunscreen on lower than my knees so I have lobster-red burns the length of my shins. So nice being outside, it really made it feel like a proper summer day.
-Caught the fireworks downtown at the Inner Harbor. Panch and I found a perfect spot, almost by accident. Figured since we were already paying for parking and were downtown we went to a dueling piano bar. So much fun. Really impressive how they just know so many songs. There were a few bachelorette groups, too, and I just cringed for all the embarrassment that those poor women were being put through.
-Capped off the weekend with breakfast at the amazing, delicious, and chic Ms. Shirley's. Cinnamon danish pancakes? Yummm.
-Pulled off making a strawberry shortcake. With homemade whipped cream. So freakin good. (I've been eating 2 slices at a time...)

July. Already?!

Work/Life are good. The days seem to be all a big blur. Weekends are here again before I know it. Not quite sure how I feel about the fact that the school year is just that much closer each day. Yikes!

Got to meet Justice Souter yesterday. The interns had an hour Q&A with him. Pretty sweet job perk. He was beyond brilliant. An entirely different level of intellectual-ness. He was also at times pretty funny. He is looking forward to "serious reading" during retirement, going to reread Shakespeare. Said that the usual 2 month summer vacation for the Justices only allowed for light reading, "like appetizers. They don't fill you up." He also talked about the law (of course), and one of the things I liked the most was when he was saying how there are no absolutes. Things are all in relation to other things. It was just incredibly amazing to listen to him talk, it was awe-inspiring to think about what he has read, how he thinks. Being a Justice is a pretty tall order (personally, I'd have to say its now my favorite of the 3 branches of government. Actual work gets accomplished here and on a really consistent and efficient manner at that. Yes yes a little prejudiced I guess but really. SCOTUS has its act together)

The Julia Child book was fantastic. I've moved on to Sweet Revenge, a culinary mystery (one of the latest in a series.) Easy reads but they revolve around food which is awesome. The main character is a caterer who just happens to have murders occur all around her! Plus there are recipes in the back of the books. never made one but they sound delicious.

No plans for the 4th. I do get Friday off (thank you federal employment) so I get to sleep past 6am. Yay! But will most likely spend the day figuring out private school loans and hunting online for apartments. ughhh, probably going to be frustrating. Think Pancho and I will go downtown and watch fireworks over the harbor. Maybe make a strawberry shortcake (you know, something really American-y). My Blockbuster movie this week is Rachel Getting Married, pretty excited about it. We liked Curious Case of Benjamin Button last week, a little on the long side but a good movie nonetheless.

TGIF. really.

Ahhh!!! What a stressful/crappy-ish way to end the week. Just a rough afternoon at work. Things just weren't going as they should, although to be easier on myself a lot of it a) wasn't my fault and b)couldn't be helped. BUT still. I like to leave work on a happy note, enjoying the brisk walk to Union Station on a nice sunny summery day (which it finally finally was today. No rain, no humidity. It was lovely.) I will move on. but I'm still, clearly, a little worked up over it.

Otherwise, I would say that the job has been great all-around. I like giving lectures in the Courtroom (had my largest crowd yet. 260 people) and I love love love giving private tours. But mostly I just like answering questions and talking with visitors who actually want to learn more and are interested in the history and stories that go along with most things in the building. Been working on some projects, too, and just got the one that I will be doing for the rest of the summer. From scratch, coming up with a plan for people to "self-guide" around the exhibits and spaces that are open to the public. Sounds a little vague, but thats pretty much because I'm starting at the very beginning. Should be interesting.... But, its all been good. I like the time I spend there, don't get bored (which is amazing. Thats always been one of the worst things about past internships/jobs. the lack of variety), and I think, I hope, that I am right about this being the field that I want to go into.

Just a few more items about work-- J. Ginsburg passed right by me the other day and I just smiled the biggest grin you can imagine. I heart her. Haven't actually met met any of the Justices but I have now seen all of them, been in the same room, etc. Got to sit in the Non-argument session yesterday morning for the handing down of opinions. Gets a little over my head when they start talking about Latin phrases and past precedents and statutes but its exciting just to be able to witness them doing Court stuff.

OHH! Its been so long since I updated that I havent gotten to mention that I saw Pete Williams from Nightly News. Like 3 times now! The second time we actually passed each other in the hallway and I smiled and nodded. And afterwards kicked myself for not saying Hi and how much I love NN. He knows B. Will. and therefore I am that much closer by degrees of separation of knowing him myself. :)

I'm the only one home this weekend. Pancho has been in Boca for the past week. And then Phil went to a conference so its just me, some cookies from my mom, and a night of watching What Not to Wear. actually sounds perfect. I like our new apartment. Its a total sty right now, but its such a vast and superior improvement over the rowhouse. Its as if I was living in squalor there compared to this. lol.

Just started reading My Life in France by Julia Child. I saw a preview for a movie coming out this summer about a woman who decided she was going to make all 500-something recipes in the Julia Child cookbook and thought it looked good. And then I saw the memoir at B&N (sidenote: there is not a Borders within miles. like several faraway miles. I cant use my Rewards coupons! its annoying. but thats why I was at bn which is literally 2 blocks away) and I know basically nothing about her and I figured since I like most cooking related things, why not give it a go? And its great so far. Its humorous, getting some cooking tips obviously, I'm learning more about Paris, its even inspiring me a little bit to brush up on my French.

Found out one of the other interns goes to UF. The Gator Nation really is everywhere! :said with childlike glee and wonder: So it was nice being able to reminisce. Talked about how much I miss Flaco's. Oh, its painful even to bring it up. What I wouldn't give for a twisty pastry with guava and cream cheese...

Last little tidbit: How absolutely cool are these White House cupcakes? I dont know if I have the talent to make little SCOTUS ones though. lol

<3 Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is awesome. I started last week, and it has been amazing. The other interns are cool, we've become a little pack. Nice to know you always have people to go chitchat with or eat lunch together. We're going out for Happy Hour tomorrow after work. I'm still learning how to do things, but definitely getting the hang of it. Every morning when I walk up to the Court, I think OMG, I'm just walking in, no big deal. It's incredible. Haven't given my first lecture yet, but I think it might happen this week. I'm ready. Can go on at length now about the history, the justices, architecture of the building. I'm curious to know how long I'll retain these many many trivia facts. I love it. It's going to be a great summer.

Pancho and I are finally into our new place. Spent the last week moving in, along with being utterly exhausted from my first week at work (The 1.5 hour commute each way takes a little getting used to...). It's nice, no mice (!!! sweet victory!), I can walk barefoot. These are big accomplishments. The only downsides are that there isn't a washer and dryer nor a dishwasher in the apt. but I will take that tradeoff for the next 3 months.

a few random sidenotes--- Au Bon Pain has really great vanilla lattes. I enjoy the new season of Jon & Kate Plus 8 but think that they should stop filming. Those kids are not having a normal childhood. I'd like to stay up tonight to see Conan on his first night but 11:30pm is quite frankly late for me these days.

After days upon days of endless rain, this weekend turned out nice and sunny-- quite unexpectedly. Good weather for sitting outside watching the Bluejays. Hopkins made it through Round 1 of the Lacrosse Playsoffs yesterday, (I saw Bill Belichick on the sidelines, watching the game; he's friends with the JHU coach) so I think we're headed down to Annapolis next Saturday to see them play again (and I have been wanting to go visit there anyways, so it seems like a fun idea). Slurpee run to recover from the heat. Perfect thing to cool off.

Watched Marley & Me which was both hilarious and so sad! I loved it. Pancho really wants a dog now. But I think its going to be awhile before that happens. Also, sidenote, Pops has been gone for almost a month now. Went to a nice family in Virginia apparently (I was gone for the weekend when he was sold) so its been quieter now and much much less doggy hair around. Although now I feel like our "breaking in" potential is higher. urgh.

Pancho splurged and bought Guitar Hero for PS3 last night, so needless to say, that was what we did last night. and this afternoon. My hands are hurting. but my drum playing has seen definite improvement... unlike my singing which is still tone deaf but passable.

Less than 3 weeks left in this house so we're starting to do some cleaning. It's all just so gross. Although there's another push to reclaim the downstairs from the mice. Set 3 traps. We'll see.
Baking and cooking again. Last week, I made apple cinnamon muffins and cornbread. Also been using the grill a lot more - Shish kebobs and grilled chicken with corn on the cob. And we ate at an Afghan restaurant, The Helmand, downtown on Friday night. It was good (I had an eggplant and yogurt appetizer with beef and lamb meatballs) but honestly not that different from other Middle Eastern cuisines. And the service was so fast, we finished and I thought 'Did I just have a complete dinner?' I'm talking 38 minutes from sitting down to walking out the door. We are still on a quest for decent sushi in Baltimore (and a good Cuban/Spanish bakery for that matter).