Life.

      I realize that it's been more than a month since my last post.  I would say that life has gotten away from me, but it hasn't.  It's not that I've been too busy to blog...it's that I haven't felt like it. 
 

     Life has been hard lately.  Every day seems to be another test of my endurance, my faith.  After being sick for so long, I had pretty much given up hope of ever getting better.  So, when I was finally diagnosed, I couldn't help but feel a little hopeful.  Although I knew that treatment would be lengthly, at least there was the possibility of feeling better.

     This started my regimen of remaining on a strict diet, taking a huge handful of pills twice a day, injecting myself in the stomach twice a week, and getting blood labs every three weeks.  In and of itself, these things are not a big deal.  I mean, swallowing 27 pills every morning and every evening is annoying, but it's not painful or even that difficult.  And sure, the thought of giving myself a shot totally freaked me out at first, but now I'm used to it.  

     Since going on the medicine, I have noticed a slight improvement in my stomach, but sometimes it goes to feeling even worse than before.  Since it feels better than it has in a long time (sometimes), I am hopeful that the meds are having a positive impact. 

  
     Everyone knows a few things about Lyme Disease.  You get a bull's eye rash.  Your joints hurt.  Ok...so I think that's about where the general knowledge ends.  What most people don't realize is that it greatly affects you neurologically.  It can cause depression, mood swings, disorientation...as well as feeling like you're going crazy.  I have been in all of those places.

     Before I was diagnosed, I didn't understand what was wrong with me.  I didn't feel myself and it scared me, because I thought it was my fault.  The hard thing about psychological symptoms is that they are so much more intangible, and easier to explain away than physical ones.  But they are no less real.  Being diagnosed with Lyme and learning about the neurological side of the disease relieved me and helped me stop beating myself up so much.

     In this area, I think the medicine has actually had a negative affect (ostensibly getting worse before it gets better).  I find myself being edgy and anxious, getting frazzled extremely easily, forgetting words, losing my train of thought, and in general being a basket case.  Sometimes I think it is a miracle that I get through each day. I am often overwhelmed, and have trouble making it to the end of the work.  By the time I get home, I have to rest for at least an hour before I have enough energy to do anything.  Most nights though, I end up staying home to curl up in bed to watch a movie or read a book.  Most of the time, I am perfectly content to do this, since I have always loved movies and books.  It has sort of become a routine, and is almost comforting.  

     But, at other times, I get so frustrated that I don't have the energy to go out.  I feel like I'm being anti-social and wasting my time.  It has been especially hard in that I haven't had as many opportunities to meet people and make new friends.  Plus, I often don't have the emotional energy to put myself out there.  Being in a new place, this has been really tough since I get lonely just sitting at home. 

     I know this is a lot...this is the culmination of feelings, frustrations and realizations from the past several weeks.  I promise there are lots of good things going on in my life right now as well.  I just felt like I needed to get this off my chest first (bad news first, right?).  

Having Lyme has been one long trial.  But God is faithful...with each thing He takes away from me and every difficulty added to my life, He is showing me that He is enough, and teaching me to rely fully on Him.  I am learning to take on day at a time...and I'M SO EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK!!!!!

Medical update

So I got home today, and I was welcomed by a cardboard box on the table.  "Perishable" was written across the top, so I knew it had to be the b12 that the Lyme specialist prescribed last week.  I was excited, because it is supposed to give me more energy and help me sleep better.  I ripped open the package and was greeted with...

Yes, those are syringes!  NOT what I was expecting...you can imagine that my enthusiasm for the meds went down the drain immediately.  The thought of injecting myself...*shudder*.

Last night, I got really overwhelmed by all of my medical expenses - doctors visits and tons (i mean tons!) of supplements.  This is my pillbox:

Actually, this is my nighttime one...I have another one for the morning.  There are no less than 23 pills in that little compartment.  I used to be able to down them in one gulp (with lemon-flavored magnesium dissolved in water), but now there are so many I have to do it in 2 .  And now I get to inject myself twice a week?!  Awesommmmme.
Oh, and this is just the beginning - on Monday, I'm starting the 'real' meds.  Up to this point, I've just been taking a slew of supplements (to help boost my immune system) and some anti-seizure drugs (I know, random).  But on November 1st, I'm starting on a cycle of 4 antibiotics (so then I will have 27 pills to swallow...).
I have no idea what to expect.  Apparently, feeling sick (well, sicker than normal) will be a good sign, because that will show that my body is going through detox, and flushing the damn bugs out.  The doctor told me "we want you to feel sick, but not too sick.  Like, we don't want you to be bedridden, but you might not feel so great".  Hmmm...not sure how I feel about that.  But you know what?  If this helps in the long run, it will be totally worth it.
...I'm just glad God is control

starstruck...yep, it happened

Ok, so those of you who know me know that I’m a big dork when it comes to things like Harry Potter and LOTR (that’s lord of the rings for you-who-aren’t-as-cool-as-me).  What you might not know is that I also really enjoyed Transformers 1 and 2.  So, last week when Abby informed me that the 3rd one was being filmed in DC, I almost flipped. 

     There wasn’t even a question whether or not we would stalk Shia, and maybe even be extras? Ok, maybe not that last part, but we were hoping to at least see someone famous!  

     Wednesday night found Abby and I downtown being blinded by impossibly bright lights and surrounded by crowds of fans.  Police tape made it impossible to get closer than 100 feet to anything remotely interesting...I mean, whole blocks were cordoned off!  I was afraid we would never see anything, and since nothing was happening (as far as we could tell), I told Abby we should ask one of the police men if they could give us any inside information.  I walked up to a cop with an extraordinarily bad haircut (kind of like this this...just kidding!! THAT is an extraordinarily bad and creepy haircut i discovered this week...Hugh Jackman, you know better than that).  It was more like this, but a little poofier (and about 100X worse):

 Anyways, I walked up and said “excuse me...”.  He put his finger in my face as he spoke into his walkie talkie.  I stood there awkwardly while he finished his super important conversation, determined to see if I could get any information out of him.  A minute later, he turned to me and said, “can I help you with something before I take police action?”. 

 Are you serious?  Trying to keep a straight face, I told him I was sorry for interrupting, and asked if he would happen to know the best place to wait...for something, anything to happen.  He pointed to one of the several places where hoards of people were gathered and said, “yeah, right there”.  Thanks a bunch officer! ...couldn’t have done it without you.

After an hour passed, the only thing we had seen were jacked up police SUVs tearing down the street and then reversing...in order to shoot the scene again.  Fascinating.  Riggght. 

Looking on the bright side, if we strained our eyes really hard, we could just barely make out a few guys in black running across the road...about a football field away.  I'm pretty sure they were someone famous.  We finally got tired of waiting, and figured that we wouldn’t see anything more exciting anyways, so we left.  The next day, I found out that 15 minutes after we had peaced out, they had started filming explosions.  Gahhh!!  I mean, it would have been exciting to catch a glimpse of Shia, but let’s be honest...seeing fake explosions would have been even better. 


To give you an idea of how exciting our night was...

The only picture we took.  haha

Determined to try again and wait it out until we saw something, we started planning for our next adventure.

Hospital saga...number 1

Has it really been almost a month since I've done a new post??  I can't believe it.  There's been so much I want to write, but every time I get home, I am just so exhausted.  That's one thing that sucks about the Lyme thing...it zaps all my energy!  One good thing though...I have found some really great tv shows on netflix (and only feel mildly guilty for burning through them).

Disclaimer: If medical things make you uncomfortable and/or queasy, then you might want to skip this post.  You've been warned.

My life at GWUH - Part 1

George Washington University Hospital was beginning to feel like home.  Ok, not quite, but after  4 visits in 8 days...well, let’s just say all the nurses knew me.  The receptionist and I are bff (although for some reason he insisted on giving me identical instructions every single time), and the wristbands might as well become a permanent part of my wardrobe.  

     The fun started on Monday morning, when I woke to the pattering of rain and near freezing temperature.  lovely.  After alternately huddling under my umbrella and bussing, I made it to work by 8, an hour early.    Then, I got to sit at my desk and starve until my appointment at 11.  Yay!  

I decided to hail a cab since a) it was raining (I really didn’t need any other reason but... b) my bike tire was still very stolen (let’s be honest though, I wouldn’t have biked anyway) c) waiting for and transferring buses was too risky (no way I would arrive on time...they never come when they're supposed to!) and d) the metro would take forever...plus, the taxi would only cost 7 bucks.  Totally worth it.

Once I had signed in and showed my ID (I guess to prove i’m not a terrorist, although i’m not sure how my ridiculous jersey license would prove anything), I sat down in the radiology waiting room.  

I'm not sure why I'm showing you this, but yes, this was intentional.  The lady at the DMV was like, "you're gonna have this picture for 6 years...you sure you want it?"  Duh! Anyways -

I thought I had escaped the barium contrast ‘smoothie’, but I was not so lucky.  “Patient Rein!” I heard as a small, bald-headed man approached me.  I groaned inwardly (or was it audible?) as he held out a nalgene-sized amount (think iced venti starbucks cup - no ice) of white, viscous liquid.  I was supposed to drink that??  Let me tell you, being handed a starbucks straw and told to “enjoy yourself” did NOT improve the situation. 

Now doesn't that look tasty?

Trying to be positive, I took a sip of the ‘berry’ flavored crap.  How bad could it be?  After about 30 seconds, I thought I was going to puke.  My positive outlook had vanished, and I wasn’t even close to being done.

20 minutes later, I was that person, slurping the bottom of the cup through my straw.  “Ok Joyce”, I told myself, “just keep it down long enough for the CT!”...even though I really thought I was going to lose it all.  Thinking the worst was behind me (oh how young and naive I am!), I was given two hospital gowns and shown to another waiting room.  I changed quickly, one gown in front and one in back.  I was told to leave my shoes on, so the next minute found me shivering in the waiting room, wearing the gowns and my knee high boots.   I looked ridiculous!  PS...whoever thought of making patients wear paper-thin cotton gowns and then setting the thermostat to 45 should be shot.

     As I sat there waiting, surrounded by 60 year old women, I couldn’t help but think, “why am I here?? I’m only 24! This is SO unfair”.  But you know what?  Life isn’t fair.  At least I have the health insurance to pay for hospital tests.  I am thankful for that.

     After what seemed like forever, nurse Laura ushered me into another room to get my IV put in.  Needles don’t really bother me, but I’ve decided that closing my eyes when they first prick my vein makes it hurt a little less (I used to have this morbid desire to watch every thing as it happened.  Or maybe that's just curiosity?).  She taped the IV to my arm, and then led me down a hallway to another waiting area.  By this point, my courage was beginning to fail, and I wanted nothing more than to have someone there to hold my hand.  I thought I could handle going to the hospital alone, but it was just so lonely and I felt like crying.  As I sat there freezing in my ridiculous outfit and with an IV sticking out of my arm, I just wanted it to be over.      

     And it would be, soon, but not before one last little bit of torture.  The tech came to get me, and he was very nice.  He explained everything - the reason for drinking the barium, how the injected contrast (iodine) would make me feel, and that I also needed an enema.  EXCUSE ME?? Ain’t no doctor told me that!  He asked if I was ok with that, and I cracked a smile and said, “I guess I have to be...just get it over with”.  He laughed and said that everyone says, “If ida known I was gwon to have all this done to me, I wouldna come!”.  Exactly.  Thank you doctor for keeping me in the dark and lessening my dread...although if I ever have another CT, I'll EXACTLY what to expect.  

I kicked off my boots, laid on the table, and prepared for the worst.  The enema was over before I knew it, and the iodine injection felt exactly like he had warned me - an immediate heat all over my body, and feeling like I had wet myself (honestly, do they find things like that for the express reason of torturing us??).  The CT itself only took about 30 minutes, not bad at all (if you leave out the various methods of getting contrast into my body).  And then I got to go back to work...yay.  

Stay tuned for part two...

Is there an end in sight??

So yesterday I was on to doctor #14.  Oh wait, I think I forgot one...it was actually 15.

After a period of almost 6 years, countless tests, frustrating answers (or lack thereof) it seems that someone can finally make sense of my extremely confusing, ridiculously broad, and terribly frustrating symptoms.  I almost don't dare hope that this might be the beginning of the end of feeling sick constantly...but I have to have hope.  

Having no hope is an awful place to be.  I know, because I've definitely been there.  With each month of feeling sicker, with each food I crossed of the Joyce-friendly list, and with each doctor's lacking answer, my hope died a little.  It was incredibly hard to visit doctor after doctor, learning to expect no answers.   It was frustrating and disheartening to have to put up with answers like, "you just have IBS...there's not much you can do", "just chew on some licorice tablets and change your diet" or my personal favorite, "good news, the tests came back negative...there's nothing wrong with you!".  Doctors like that make me want to punch them in the face.  

Then there was the Tibetan doctor I flew up to NYC to see.  THAT was interesting.  I mean, really, how much can someone tell from swirling urine in a jar and feeling your wrist pulses? Yeah, we didn't work out.

And don't forget Dr. quack, who charged me thousands of dollars, filled my diet with supplements, and pumped me full of IVs.  i booted him.

I could go on about the string of gastroenterologists, radiologists, chiropractors, alternative doctors and other crazies, but I don't want to bore you.  All this is to say...

I've been through it.  

I've done my best to keep my head up and stay positive, but that hasn't always possible.  However, I can't even began to tell you how good it feels to know that I have an answer.   Maybe.  Antibiotic treatment isn't always effective and Lyme is very tricky to treat, but it's looking good.  God has been so faithful, and he's only taught me more of his faithfulness through these years.  My hope is growing...I am hesitant, but want to believe.  I know He has a plan, and I know it's a good one.  We'll just have to wait and see what it is!

I'll keep you posted :)

Lightning update!

- I signed up for Chinese classes!! I start monday.  Super excited because i have been dying to learn languages again.  I figured since I love music and chinese is tonal...why not?

- still loving my coworkers...they are so great.  We laugh all day long and sometimes don't get as much done as we should..

- See my bro quite often, and we went to a little hole in the wall place for dinner the other night called malaysian kopitiam :)

- I love the couple I'm living with! It's the most stress free/chill environment I've ever lived in.  So thankful!

- I am obessed with Indian food, especially chicken curry.  Now if only I can find an indian momma who will teach me authentic aloo gobi!!

- I am sitting in my favorite cafe...and drinking masala soy chai.  I think God created it just for me. Mmmmm.

- I saw 12th night for free last week at the shakespeare theater...one of the actors mooned me.

- I am biking absolutely EVERYWHERE.  It's the most freeing feeling in the world...i love not having to live my life by the bus (un)schedule anymore!  Here's a pic of my awesome bike...admit it, you're jealous.

- Biking to work is 3 miles, downhill.  it's beautiful in the mornings!! plus, i'm saving lots of $$ :)

This is my bike...I know you're jealous!

I heart them!

Last weekend my mom and Diana came to visit!  We packed a lot in, and by the end we were thoroughly exhausted!  Saturday my mom and jeremy went to breakfast, so I had a special morning with diana...I took her to Tryst for breakfast (best granola ever), and then we checked out the zoo.  they have such a fun assortment of animals!! I introduced her to the naked mole rats, and they were her favorite! haha.
Here are some pics!

Diana's ginormous hot chocolate.  she finished the whole thing :)

She 'illegally' picked the flower and then proceeded to hold it on her face by suction.  What a ham.

Dupont fountain.  typical/great place for photos!

I've had it!

Have I ever told you how many doctors I've been too?  Well, let's just say too many...about 10 in the past 5 years.  And you know what they have all told me?   Nothing.  You know how much they have helped me?  not a bit.  Every test has come back negative, every hope that I would begin to feel better has been squashed.  Maybe they think they're being funny when they say, "good news, your test came back negative!".  No.  Not funny, especially if you waste my time and money and then have no answers for me! I am sick of having blood drawn, samples taken, doctors throwing medicine at me...

And that brings us to today...where I had yet another wonderful experience to add to my arsenal.  I had asked around the office to try and find a good GP, but most of the responses I got were "oh, I haven't been to the doctor in like 6 years".  Wouldn't that be nice?!  One of my coworkers suggested a Dr. right around the corner, and I hoped rather than expected that I would like him.

I walked into the office...and it was shabby, badly painted, and out-of-date.  That's ok I told myself, you can't tell everything from the waiting room!.  The receptionist was really friendly, which, it ends up, is the only thing the place had going for it.

Several minutes later, I found myself being led down a corridor to a scale, having my blood pressure taken, and getting my temperature taken (my, this seems familiar...).  Another side note - I don't think anyone spoke English as their first language.  I'm just sayin.

So the doctor took me into the room, asked me a few perfunctory questions, made me feel awkward and stupid, and then said "the doctor will be in shortly".  Right, that must have been the nurse.  If shortly mean 20 minutes later, that's news to me.  The worst part about it is that it just gives me time to get nervous, feel like I will forget everything I need to tell him, and then get so frustrated by his lack of care/compassion/knowledge that I have a breakdown.  This is why I love going to the doctor.

Over the past few weeks, I had taken the time to write up an easy-to-read bare bones timeline of all my various symptoms during the past 6 years, including the fact that I have felt sick constantly for the last 2 1/2.  This was the first time I went to a doctor since I had completed it, and I was NOT impressed or encouraged when he glanced at the first page (of 3) and then handed it back to me.  How the heck are you going to diagnose me if you don't take my symptoms into consideration?!!

The good news is, he agreed to do a blood test for Lyme disease.  I have been researching it a ton in the past few weeks, and, for the first time, my symptoms actually seem to make some sense.  I have an appointment with a specialist, but it is a 3 month wait...so I figured a GP in the meantime might be helpful for a blood test or two.

Dr. what's his name (something like Rashim Khurram) got up and said "They will take blood.  After, I will come in and examine you".  By this point, I had been in the office for about 45 minutes.  I didn't love the doctor (not very personable), but he wasn't on my black list yet.

It takes what, like 2 minutes to draw blood?  I sat in that dim little room for THIRTY minutes waiting for someone to come stick me with a needle.  Finally, I was so agitated that I stuck my head out into the hall and asked a nurse to get someone to take my blood.  He said, "ok, no problem.  I take care of it right now".  Ten minutes later, the doctor sticks his head back in, "they've taken blood?".  NO.  I'M STILL WAITING.  Another 5 minutes, and that nurse comes in.  He acts like he can't remember what things he needs, as he stands there thinking and remembering what it is that he is looking for.  Heck no! I am not having some rookie with no skills take my blood!  I was so frustrated by this point that I didn't think twice before saying, "How long have you been doing this?".
"Oh, it's my first day" he said, smiling.  Whatever.  He kept joking about that for the next few minutes while I watched the blood that would most likely lead to another negative test drain out of my arm.  "Not bad for my first day, huh?  Please recommend me with your friends!".  I kind of wanted to smack him.  I'm not usually short tempered, but I just get so frustrated with the crap I have to put up with every single time I go to the doctor!
As he was leaving I said, "could you please get the doctor for me?  I have to get back to work".
"Sure, he is right out here" was his response...although I wasn't expecting much.

I sat there for probably 15 more minutes, all the while getting more and more worked up.  To say I was frustrated would be a massive understatement.  I sat on the examining table, trying to reason through the good of my staying for him to examine me.  Finally, when the tears started to well up, I decided I had had enough.  I grabbed my bag and stalked out of the office.  Man did it feel good.  I will never go back to that office again.
The end.

Just another day...

Rain.

Sometimes I hate it.  But most of the time, I love it.  

Getting to work in the rain has to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever been a part of.  As soon as I woke up, I could tell it was  grey, wet and cold outside.  I wasn't quite prepared for the torrential downpour, but I had to get to work...somehow!  My bus was due any minute, so I grabbed all my crap and ran outside.  

I clutched my umbrella in one hand, and my (rice) english muffin with (fake) cream cheese in the other.  I waited impatiently while my bus took it's sweet time.  Then, as it pulled around the corner, I contemplated how the heck was I going to get on, hold my breakfast, close my umbrella and swipe my card, all without getting wet or slipping.  

As we made our way down the rain soaked streets, I finished my breakfast and contemplated how dry I could possibly stay between transferring buses and walking the rest of the way to work.  Possible, but not probably.  Actually, no - impossible!

A man passed by as he exited and jokingly said, "Can I borrow your umbrella?".  I smiled, but was really thinking, "over my dead body!".

A few minutes later, I get off to transfer to my next bus.  I huddled under the bus shelter, but little good it did me - a Honda element streaked by, spewing a tidal wave of street water at me as it passed.  I never had a chance...all I had time for was a little yelp of surprise.  As I stood there wondering how long it would take my sneakers and leggings to dry, I saw something that made me smile.  

A girl encased in an oversized poncho slowly makes her way under the awning, her backpack a huge lump  underneath the plastic.  The suitcase she is dragging behind her matches, with the wheels poking out of a white kitchen trash bag.  Ten long minutes later, our bus arrives.  Surprisingly, baggage girl makes it up the steps (albeit not without some difficulty) while juggling her purse, umbrella, suitcase and backpack.  And then she proceeds to stand in the aisle, taking up the space of two normal people and blocking the aisle for the remainder of her ride.

At V street, a girl walks on with her umbrella still open, and sprays water all over the poor bus driver as she closes it.  She giggles and says, "oops".  I mean, really??  As if that isn't bad enough, the fare reader is broken.  You would think this would be helpful, but it actually causes a traffic jam - as each new customer steps onto the bus, the driver repeats patiently, "Fare reader's broken, come on back.  It's broken...".  For some reason, no one ever hears him the first time, probably because they're too preoccupied to notice others.  

Everything continues to be fairly normal until we come to the Florida Ave. stop, and an old man who looks to be about 97 shuffles on.  Poor man, he can't hear a thing!   The bus driver attempts to get his attention and explain about the fare reader, getting louder with each try.  "Sir, the fare reader's broken.  Sir.  SIR.  SIR!!! IT'S BROKEN".  Nothing.  The little old man doesn't bat an eyelash as he continues to pat his pockets in search of his money.  He doesn't notice a thing until the driver starts waving his hands.  As he holds out his dollar, the bus driver points at the machine and shakes his head.  A look of confusion spreads across the old man's face, as he questions, "freeeeee?".  Aw :)  He finally understands, and slowly lowers himself into a nearby seat.

I get off the bus a few stops early, having decided to brave the deluge and walk 5 blocks to Cosi - how could I not get a soy chai on a day like today?  Besides, thanks to that punk in the Honda, I'm already soggy.  Along the rain-soaked streets, I see a cute couple sharing an oversized umbrella while walking and drinking coffee, a girl with a sweater tied around her head, and several smart people in rain boots (do I earn enough to invest in a pair?).  Oh how I love the rain :)  I finally make it to Cosi, get my chai, and tuck myself into a cozy window booth to watch the people pass by.

When did I become such a girl?

I like to think of myself as an easy going kind of girl.   Make up? Maybe a bit.  Nail Polish?  Once in a while. Hair products?  Right, I am so not that high maintenance.  Or I wasn't...until my hair decided to take on a life of its own.  It wasn't until I finally grew my hair out again that I realized my hair had become... wavy!  No warning, no instructions...just out of control!  I realized this after let my hair air dry once, and it was, in fact, not straight.  The sad thing is I denied it for awhile, thinking that I couldn't possibly have anything other than stick-straight hair.  Then, I tried to work with it, but I thought using hair products was cheating.  I know, silly.  It just looked bad.  So, I finally gave up and decided to seek the help of a few professionals.  I now have a much higher respect for hair stylists - they know a lot more than how to cut hair!  I think perhaps I have started to figure out what I need to use and how.  It's set me back a few bucks and I now have enough hair products for five people, but it's worth it.  I always wanted to have curly hair, but never imagined it would happen!  

Just a few products I've acquired...

This is sort of what it's looking like these days

Thunderstorm!

The weather is CRAZY right now!  I got up early so I would have enough time to do yoga and still get to work on time...but it looks like I'll be going in late today.  It's raining so hard I can barely see across the street!  The sky is so dark it feels like it's still the middle of the night.  No way is my little polka dotted umbrella going to keep me dry...I think I'll just wait it out.

I am sitting at the dining room table in the midnight lighting, and baby Pearl is just on the other side of my mac, sitting on the table in her booster seat.  She's chowing down on cheerios and jabbering away in her baby language.  She has to be one of the happiest babies I've ever known...and I've gotta say, I  kind of missed having a baby around! (Don't get any ideas...)

I'm continuing to love my coworkers.  One of the really great things (among many) about work is how laid back and friendly everyone is.  This picture is from the company picnic we had a few weeks ago:

I bet you would never guess that the one on the right is my boss...Kristen is the one who called me about my application, interviewed me, and apparently liked me enough to hire me!  She is super friendly, doesn't micro-manage, and I feel like I could talk to her about anything.  Nancy (on the left) is the program officer who is in charge of France, so she's one of the people I work pretty closely with.  She got Kristen this awesome hat in Jamaica.  Our office is full of great people who often stop to chat, and I can guarantee lots of laughter on any given day.  It's the best environment I could have asked for, and I am SO thankful!

News

So much has happened in the past few weeks that I don't even know where to start.  I kept meaning to write, but I was either too busy, too tired, or just not in the mood.

Quick update - 

This is how my room looked for a week...

I have a new home!  My sublease for July ended, and I was left scrambling for a place to live.  I had been looking since before I moved up here, but nothing seemed to fit.  Places that sounded perfect fell through.  People that seemed promising turned out to be crazy...and, like always, God provided just the place right when I needed it.  I am now living with a couple who knows Jeremy through church, and I have my own room!  They have the cutest little house and baby, and have been so welcoming and yet so chill.  I am settling in nicely, especially since getting furniture...for my first week all I owned was my bed.  Let's just say that once I found my (free!) dresser on craig's list, my stress level definitely evened out.  It's no fun living out of boxes and bags!  

It was driving me crazy, but there was nothing I could do!

Anyways, I am excited to get to know Justin and Erika (and Pearl :), and I can really see them becoming good friends.  Having a couple as friends is a newer experience for me, and so far I like it.  A lot. (Shout out to my roomies in raleigh!).  I have been here since Tuesday, and feel completely comfortable coming and going as I please, hanging out downstairs, holing up in my bedroom, eating dinner with them...basically it's a sweet deal.  As if all that isn't enough, the rent is exactly what I was hoping for with my budget, something that seemed impossible to find in such an expensive city.  He had everything worked out, even to the smallest details :)

Thoughts.

Housing has been on my mind a lot lately.  That's because...I don't know where I'm living after July!
Up until last week, I was almost certain that I would be moving into a house of christian girls - I heard about it from Abby my (awesome!) cubemate.  It just seemed perfect, so I didn't even look at anything else (I know, I'm still learning.  Don't put all your eggs in one basket!).

Well, after a long interview with the girls, I started feeling the Lord tell me that this probably wasn't the best living environment for me.  I was confused, because I had been so excited and certain about it at first.  But I put it before him, asking him to lead me into the perfect housing situation he has for me.

Get this - 1 week later (July 21st, with my sublease up on the 31st), I have:
  - An offer to housesit for 1 1/2 weeks at the beginning of August
  - 2 couches offered for me to sleep on
  - An offer from my current roommate to just stay until August 22, because she'll be gone for work!

Basically, I have an added 2 weeks to look for housing!  And not only that...

I've been looking into living with Erin and her two roommates on capital hill, and we found 2 row houses that look amazing!!!! So, I am no longer stressed, just excited about what God will provide.  Doesn't it always turn out that his plans are so much better than ours?

Another pic from the weekend...but right now I'm almost this happy!

You know you're friends when...

--You can take pictures for hours and never run out of faces (it never gets old!)
--You  can say one word, and the other instantly knows what you're talking about (any place, any time)
--You can snort while laughing and be in good company (thanks viv, I never used to have this problem!)
--You can have the best weekend just by chilling (and eating!)
--You can laugh at things that anyone else would find stupid (Free!)


Here are a few more pics from the weekend, complete with my favorite quotes:

Vivienne, putting sugar in her water..."Sugar gives me energy! I need some SUGAR!! Hummingbirds drink it, why can't I??"


















   At Tryst, a guy says, "Mind if I look at your menu?"Trying to say "feel free" I blurt out, "FREE!"...followed by, "I feel stupid.  I feel like Johnny English stupid!"

I don't think you will ever see Vivienne happier...this is an escalator to DSW.  And she still  has her sugar water (I'm just glad it wasn't caffeine!)

Viv being artistic like usual :)












So, if I could summarize my weekend in 2 words, I would say...not possible!  But...So Good :)

The Best!

Vivienne AND my dad came to visit this weekend!! To say that this has been my favorite weekend of my DC life would be the most gigantic understatement.  This weekend was the best :)

It all started Friday morning...
I got up extra early, and made it to work by 8 (I know, I was impressed)...I didn't walk the 1.5 miles though, I caved and took the metro.  ISEP is awesome about flexible hours - I got to leave at 4 so I could meet up with Viv!

Unfortunately, the moment I got off work and went to meet her...she was caught in traffic, stuck to the leather seats of Jumbo.  Friday was sweltering.  Jumbo has no air conditioning.  NOT a fun ride...but once I got some mint iced tea into her and stuck her in front of the AC, we were ready to start our weekend! 

Surprisingly, we didn't do anything touristy.  We did, however, frequent my favorite cafe no less than 4 times (yes, in 2 1/2 days).  Cafe Tryst is just so cool! Besides, it has the best iced soy lattes I've ever tasted...and we discovered that their food is just as tasty! Best hummus EVER.

This was our Saturday morning breakfast stop as well...  :)

Then I got to show Viv where I work!  She got to see my cubicle and everything.  I know it's not much, but it feels official...and I love having my own workspace, even if I don't have a door.

I have to say, this weekend we ate, and we ate well.  As if having Tryst food a few times wasn't enough, Dad took us all (me, Viv, Jeremy and Erin) out to a delectable Indian restaurant.  I mean, we couldn't even talk when our food came because it was that good.  It was heavenly.  I probably could have eaten my weight in chicken curry...twice.  Good thing we walked a mile to the restaurant!

After dinner, Dad and I walked to Tryst to get some tea and catch up.   Ok, so tea was the plan...he ended up with a latte and blackberry lemon tart, and I got a huge platter of strawberries and nutella! Mmmm.  It was great to chat and share what had been going on in our lives.  I'm so thankful for you Dad!

City Life!

Have I mentioned I love living in the city?  Well, I do.  And here are a few reasons:

It's the nation's capital! I mean, how great is it that I am at the center of all of the most important goings on of our country?

I snapped this on the way to the marine corps concert.  Love it all lit up!

Cool little houses like this all over the place! 

 I also love the street I'm living on - each building has a different facade and architecture.  So beautiful.

I also really love random street performers that do things you've never even thought of.  I came across this cute old man last night when I was in old town alexandria.  He's a christian, and he played the craziest most complicated songs on his glass contraption...like star wars, mozart, the national anthem...crazy! 

This is my new favorite cafe (you know how I love them...).  Cafe Tryst has a really cool atmosphere, lots of deep, comfy, chairs, delicious lattes, and is only a 1/2 mile from my pad.  Which reminds me, I also LOVE walking everywhere!  It's so cool to have a few miles of walking be a part of my daily routine, and it's an addition I don't even think twice about (except for the times I decide to walk even farther than I have to, by skipping the metro or bus).

     And that's just to name a few :)  The city life is so fun - always something to do, somewhere to go, people to meet.  That being said, I have been feeling a little lonely on the weekends.  I am so happy to have a 9-5 job, and in the evenings I am perfectly content to go home and relax/cook/watch a movie etc.  But on the weekends when I am faced with 2 whole days of figuring out what to do with myself, I have found that I am a bit at loose ends.
     I know that I just moved here, and it will take time to meet people, but I guess I am a little impatient.  I know God has great plans for me here...every step of the way he has made it so clear that this is where I am meant to be.  He has given me a great apartment, amazing coworkers, and connections with random people (I have now run into no fewer than 6 people that I know, but I had no idea they lived here...cool!).  I am confident he will answer my prayers of finding a good church, complete with that fellowship and community that I have been longing for.  I guess, as always, I just need to move forward in faith and trust in Him.

Yay :)

Guess who I had lunch with today?? No, no one famous like the president or Ralph Nader (Ha I heard he's been sighted in DC recently).  Who is important enough for me to get into work early and stay late just so I can take an extra-long lunch?
Family!
My mom, Diana and Benjamin were on their way up to good old jersey, so of course they stopped to buy me a nice meal (ok, ok so they actually came to see me but I will never turn down free food, especially now that I am learning to budget!).  It was really fun to see them...but also just reminded me of the fact that I really do live in DC! I have a real job and I am living on my own.  This thought crosses my mind at least once a day, and just reminds me how grateful I am to God for providing just what I wanted and needed!  It doesn't get much better than that.

Anyways, here are some pictures from our lunch rendez-vous -

Me and my stinky :)

Ben and momma.  Hopefully she survived the ride with those two the rest of the way!

Ha typical. B always tries to cover his face for some reason.

Melting!

ok, so when I walked out of my office today, I felt like I was walking into the fiery furnace.  GAHH!! I was going to walk the 1 1/2 miles back to my apartment, but quickly decided to splurge and ride the metro.  What good would saving money be if all my skin melted off and I was left in a puddle? Right, not much.
So, 20 minutes later, I am now at 2628 woodley place practically sitting on top of the window unit.   Much better!  The only thing that could improve this situation is...

YUM.

If I could, I would drink the biggest iced soy mocha in the world right now.  Or maybe just get it in IV form.  And yes, yes that is a chocolate croissant in the background.  What's your favorite drink to beat the heat?

Comes with the territory...

Whoever designed the DC grid system should be shot. Seriously, what were they thinking??

I woke up this morning with the intention of visiting Capitol Hill Baptist, hoping to find a church that was similar to the one I loved so much in Raleigh. After downloading directions, I booked it to catch the 10:16 metro to Union Station. I arrived there at 10:30 (with the service starting at 10:45) which should have given me just enough time to walk to church.

What came next is as follows:

- Implicitly followed directions, and realized something was wrong when I ended up at another metro stop.

- Cursed the DC layout as I stood sweating in the 90 degree weather, trying to figure out where I went wrong

- Looked at the metro map to get my bearings, but could not locate First St. NE nor A street anywhere.

- Refused to let this get the better of me and let my good sense of direction be insulted; set off in the direction I thought I needed to go.

- Passed a Starbucks and grabbed an iced green tea to prevent death by dehydration, continued on my quest.

Hot, tired and confused, but not beat

- It was now 11:30, 45 minutes after the service started. Since I had long ago given up hope of making it in time for any part of the service, I stopped to take a picture of this darling 4th of July picnic layout -

- Moving on, I arrived at A and 5th, where the church was supposed to be, but was nowhere to be seen. Oh, my bad, it must be the OTHER A street, 3 blocks over. Seriously, so stupid.

- Finally, an hour after setting out from the station, I FOUND IT. (see??)

At this point, I was just laughing at the absurdity of it all. Me, wandering around aimlessly trying to find my way in this new city was not something I was expecting. My pride in my sense of direction definitely got knocked down a bit...however, I satisfied my need to prove that I could find it, and will hopefully make a less adventurous trip next week.

* * * * *

As if that weren't enough, as I waited for the metro, I had a balding, middle-aged man with tall white socks come up to me and start asking me random questions. Trying to be polite and yet always on my guard in the city, I talked with him about the 4th until he said, "you're cool, do you have a boyfriend?". Taken off-guard and not knowing what to say, I replied, "I don't think I need to answer that". It turns out he was autistic, and after telling me this, he apologized and went on his way. I felt bad, but I guess it's better to be safe and a little rude.

After this, I made my way to Books-a-Million, got the newest Real Simple, and munched on this delicious salad from Sweet Greens.

My morning turned out quite differently than I expected, but I guess it's all part of moving to a new place and learning to get around. I am quite enjoying myself :)

Success

You have no idea how blessed I feel right now. After a week in the city, I am ready to live here forever! I absolutely love it, from walking everywhere and people watching to soaking in the sites and finding cool places to go. And, although I’m sure it will wear off before too long, the metro is pretty fun too.

At Dupont Circle, 3 blocks from my office

It is SO great to have a regular schedule. No more of this getting up at 5 am crap! I love setting my alarm at the same time every morning, and knowing that it will give me plenty of time to do some yoga, spend time with God, eat breakfast and get ready for work. Yes please.

I already love my coworkers. I went out to lunch 3 times with them last week (definitely won’t be the norm on my budget, but it was a fun introduction!), and already feel quite comfortable in the office. This is HUGE. There is a lot of turnover at ISEP and I clearly will not be there forever, but it is a great place to gain experience in my field. The fact that I can have that and love my coworkers is just amazing (and so far I found out that one of them is a Christian!). I am so grateful.

Woodley Park is a fun place to live. My apartment is right by the metro, as well as 2 blocks from the zoo and within walking distance of several restaurants and shops. In fact, right now I am at a cool place called Cafe Tryst I found down the street from my place. Emily, my housemate, is great. She has been so welcoming, helpful and thoughtful. Just what I needed to transition into my new life. I am only living here for July, because I can’t afford the rent for more than a month. I was only planning on subletting for the month, to get a chance to look around and familiarize myself with the area. I am now certain I want to live IN the city and not outside (in VA or MD), and I am confident that the Lord will direct me.

On our way to first friday art galleries

A random sculpture we found...

I had lunch in the park yesterday with the other PAs (Program Assistants)

Scott, on the right was my predecessor/awesome trainer