Spaceship in my Mind

This road trip almost took a turn in my life. That’s the exciting thing about decisions. They lead your future somewhere else, but you can never really decide where that place is. You just keep making them until you arrive there, or maybe you never arrive there. And then the famous quote gets inserted in : It’s about the Journey, Not the Destination. With that said, I am making my way back to Georgia where I feel I belong, for now. That is until I backpack later this year.. 

New Friends!

Cobbler from mysterious corner men

So the last few days in DC, I’ve been meeting exceptionally cool people. Some nice guys in the corner bought a friend and I a cobbler. Strange huh? We thought so too, but in a good way, so we laughed, accepted, and enjoyed a free dessert. It was the ultimate way to get a girl’s attention at a diner haha…

One thing I will miss for sure about this city is the food. It makes being a vegetarian so easy and delicious! Here is one dish from Noodles and Company I particularly enjoyed during my lunch break. It. Was. Divine.

Working and talking to people on the streets of DC ensured you that you will meet a bunch of fascinating people. Some times, even just once, you will find someone with red skips too OR lonely artists asking to go with you for a beer after. My favorites are the enlightened ones, the ones who cannot let their smiles rest when they speak. And they speak of the world so kindly. I love them most.

I’ve been touring this crazy, fast-paced city and this is what I found. Streets are completely closed off when the Prime Minister of Israel is in town, Michelle Obama was signing her books at the Barnes and Noble as I passed, and Hilary Clinton will wave to you if you wave to her first.

Prime Minister Causing a Scene

Michelle Obama causing a Scene

Hilary Clinton causing a Scene

Also, the Hope Diamond is smaller than you expect, you can crunch the White House with your fingers, the Famous Idaho Potato is bigger than you know, and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History is more interesting than you expect, and you do not have to wait in line for the Famous Georgetown Cupcakes at 6:18 on Tuesday nights.

I saw the sidewalk where Ronald Reagan was shot, the Ford Theatre were Abe Lincoln was a goner, and architecture that mimicked the Notre Dame, which was still beautiful, but no comparison. Oh and the signs protesters make in this city are vulgar.

Whose Penis? Whose Body? Whose Rights?
About the birth control controversy.. 

true i guess..

And now for the cheesy monument pictures: da da da da da da!

  

no special effects

And that was my trip to Washington, DC!

Thanks for Reading!!

Times Like These

It’s been INSANE.

I haven’t felt so unsure and excited in a long time! The rafting trip led me to good contacts. I landed a small position promoting a grassroots green organization and it looks like I’m moving here to DC!! Problem is, I don’t live here. So the last few days I have been floating around from futon to floor, couch to hopefully bed soon! I have met some super great people too. AND I had the world’s best falafel at Amersterdam’s in DC. Before that, I had AMAZING sweet fried mushrooms at a complete vegan Chinese Restaurant called Vegetable Garden. I cannot describe how good it was- you omnivores would even agree!

Tofu, asparagus, and brown rice in white sauce with fried mushrooms. Delicacy. 

actual picture

Let’s start from where I left off. Saturday June 2^nd: I had just spent my first free night in DC. Sunday: 2^nd rafting trip. Monday: I worked on a newsletter and an e-mail blast for my internship. I went on walks in Maryland and it was absolutely beautiful. The  people here are so conscious of everything. For one, coservationalists filled oranges with raisins and seeds and hung them on trees for birds.

Then, I went to an interview in Adam’s Morgan in DC. I landed the position, and they asked me to start the next day! So, without real hesitation,
I agreed. When I agreed, I knew, this means I’m staying here. YES, I just agreed to move here. Here to a town I am unfamiliar with. A city where I have only made a few new friends and now, without a place to stay, I said yes to a job. I still have an apartment in Georgia. My lease ends July 30th BUT I am going to abandon that part of my life and do something different. So here I am. To stay. At least for a little while longer.

So canvassing for this organization requires energy and communication. There is a lot of rejection and support. My favorite part? I get to talk to some really interesting people. For instance, I met an upcoming musician in a hard rock band, and he invited me to his show at the Hard Rock this Monday! I also met someone who works for a health organization and is completely vegan! He took me to his vegetable garden last night to water his plants. Yes. You just read that. A male vegan who has his own veggie section in a community garden. Awesome. He too travels alone, like his last big trip to Bali!! This city seems so promising at times.

Watering the Garden 

I have had my doubts though. I have been a nanny for four complete years, and that part of this move will be one of the hardest. I’ve spoken with both of the kids, and it breaks my heart! I haven’t gone back to give them a proper “Until next time, loves.” So that bums me out a little.

Another thing: my friends. I have had a lot of support from my new friends, even my old professors which is soo great, and it helps me more than they know. The best of my classic friends are supportive too, but I know that these unofficial goodbye-for-nows will be hard for me.

On the sunny side, my family has been super great! They are all excited and encouraging. No doubt they wouldn’t be. I couldn’t ask for better siblings, and it helps we are all so close in age that they understand how enlivening a move like this can be. My pops especially though. He is always great, positive, supportive, and always offers the World’s Best Advice.  

So, now, on my first day off, I found a quaint cafe, enjoyed breakfast, and grabbed coffee. 

This means, my friends, I am going to pause the road trip north. I will get to Philly in the next few weekends, and I even have a place to stay in Baltimore too! But I need to head back south for my things next weekend. Until the next big thing, I am running out of clothes and need to run to a consignment shop, take it easy!

Blue Cup Specialty Today: Bold Black coffee

Thanks for reading!!

Trois

Day 3: It’s been an effin awesome trip! I spent two days rafting down the Potomac river and only fell out once, voluntarily. The weather was perfect and the water felt great too and it was BEAUTIFUL. This place will be hard to leave. 

I went to the town’s Folk Festival with local artists and vendors, just like the Stars Hollow town. . 

note the lady to the left.. pro.

instructor, i kid you not.

I made a few new friends. Two of which took me to Busboys and Poets, a veggie-friendly restaurant in D.C. where we ate wonderful dishes and vegan brownies and oreo vegan cheesecake! MMMM!

I saw the capitol for the first time, so I told Suzze to lick it, the capitol that is. Suzze is a vegan personal chef, and Allie is a real estate agent. Both are from Baltimore and very fun people. After Busboys, we went to Madam Organs and The Black Squirrel for beverages. Oh, and I received the nickname Brittany Off The Rocks. *Has to do with the way I order H2O*

licking the capitol... or my back

we enjoyed it a little more than usual..

goofy in front of serious!

Please clean up the poop. I am tired of stepping in piles of rainbows.

Friend from Rafting Trip in DC

who's that lonely girl at the bar--- :D

me getting weird.

and weirder.

and creepy.

optical illusion: check out the mirror! 

My other new friend Z is an intern at the capitol! She wants to give me a tour later this week! I’m looking forward to that.. I’ll ask a ton of questions and put her Yale education to work ;^) We both sat at the front of the raft and guided the speed. Although there was no competition, we won, so she says. Four other rafts were behind us and kept missing the “line” but not us. Anyway, she was sweet and will be burned tomorrow.

Once those rafting pics are up, I’ll post them on here.  Other than that enjoy these!

Remember Rudy? The shy Dotson rescued from the puppy mill? He is laying right next to me. Oops, now he’s up!

Blue Cup Specialty Today: Grits!

Thanks for Reading!