Goodbye, my love?

Anyone who knows me knows I have had a very serious love affair over the years with books.  I just love books. I love the way a new book smells. When I was just a kid, I dreamed of having one of those rooms in my house that's a "library," you know -- with a ladder that goes up to the ceiling?  I've been collecting books for a long time.  I've cleaned them out before - but getting ready to move into a tiny studio apartment - I'm looking at breaking up with my books forever.  Where in the world would I put them all?  What do I do?  Beg my sister to store them in her attic? Jam them under my bed? Is this worth it? Or, is it just stupid?  It's all just stuff, right? Even the books.  Hoarding stuff is not healthy. 

1/2 the space for twice the price

Okay, so I'm back from my trip to DC.  I had a blast with Becky and her friend Angela, who manages to be the owner of a darling little shop and the mayor of Shirlington!  I have never been treated as such royalty.  Note to self: when I get to DC, I will make sure Angela is with me where ever I go so I can get free champagne and crab cakes.

I seriously ate THE. BEST. BANANA. PUDDING. EVER.  I thought I made a pretty good BP but clearly it has evolved past my church lady recipe.  I must eat that often.  Caramelized vanilla wafers, people - that's what I'm saying! (I wish I had pictures)

So, I found a place.  It's in a nice, safe area.  I'll get a deal on the crazy move-in fees.  But, here's the deal: It is half the space for twice the rent that I'm paying now. Welcome to Washington, Miss Brown.

I have to get rid of A LOT of stuff.  We're talking dozens of books, dozens of CDs, lots of clothes, luggage, bags, some pictures, a grill, a tv, and quite a bit of furniture.  This is where I need you -- blog poll: How should I sell this stuff? Craigslist? Garage Sale? Should I take my books, DVDs and CDs to one of those stores that buy that stuff?  If anyone knows of a consignment shop in Pittsburgh that takes nice women's clothes, let me know.  My stuff is too "grown up" for that one place (the name escapes me now)

Okay, so -- vote.

Yesterday the UV Index was quote - "very high."  As I was driving home from work, I realized just how painfully white I am. It's quite embarrassing for late June. So, I put on the 'kini, grabbed a towel, a couple of magazines, my lotion and drove to the wave pool.  I'm driving around and around the parking lot, not seeing any cars. I thought that was strange, because the sign said the pool was open.  So, I saw a couple of guys on a riding lawn mower and asked them - and they told me the wave pool doesn't open until 11:30am!  11:30! What? The pool should be open before then! They're not even serving breakfast at fast food places anymore.  By 11:30, the day is in full swing, so is the sun. 

I drove home, tried to stay awake -- but by 11:30 I was asleep in my bed with the TV on.  Today, I got home later - I'd probably have a better chance of staying conscious until 11:30 - but, of course, it's cloudy.

So, I made fajitas.  Good night.

*Oh, just in case the administrator of the Boyce Park Wave Pool is looking for suggestions -- how about an early bird special? You can charge us hard core sun worshipers more, we'll pay it.  Or, cut us a deal... like the business membership at Sam's Club.  They let you in at like 7am, before everyone else.  Let me in, I'll be asleep before all of the toddlers get there, and I'll wake up in just enough time to spend some more money - at the snack bar.

I'm just saying, it's something to think about...

Other random thoughts as I drift off:

1. If I see another soundbite from LKL's interview with Paris Hilton, I'm going to do that forehead wrinkle again, and I just don't need to do that - I think I'm getting a couple of permanent lines.

2. Tomorrow I drive to the DC area to apartment hunt.  I'm staying with the fabulous Becky Barber!! I'm dreading the drive but looking forward to having fun and checking a major "to do" off my giant list.

I have had two smoothies in two days. Homemade. You so wish you were at my house.  Well, don't.  I live in a townhouse here in Pittsburgh (which I will NEVER EVER do again).  It's always HOT upstairs!  I have to put it on like 60 to get it to cool off.  I don't even want to see my electric bill.  That's why I don't get the mail.  And why I drink an exorbitant amount of frozen drinks.

Cheers!

I just realized I have the same coffee maker as Nate Berkus. Score!
I remember when I was 12, I realized I had the same alarm clock as Clarissa Explains It All.

Coincidence? I think not.

I am my mother. And that's just fine with me.

You know we're all turning into our mothers, right? I don't think we can fight it. Well, perhaps we can, but only to an extent.

Yesterday my mom asked me who Tony Snow was. I explained to her like 47 times that he's the White House Spokesman.  Sigh.  I think she still thinks he's the Speaker of the House.  How, exactly, I ask, did I come out of this woman?

That aside, however, I am, actually, my mother. I would say I'm a "little" Cindy, but my mom is tiny.  I think I could fit her in one of my thighs.  I'm hoping that shrinking thing will happen for me one of these days. C'mon DNA!

Really, the only differences I have left from pretty much being my mother are my fascination with current events and the fact that I can cook.

That's it.

Seriously.

A few months ago I pulled up to a Barnes and Noble and I saw my reflection in the front of the store. I pulled in fast to the space in my silver SUV.  Pulled down the sun visor.  Flipped up the mirror. Applied lip gloss. Blew air through the spaces in my teeth. Smiled at my reflection. Grabbed my purse. Then I called my mother to tell her - it's happened. I'm you.

Except I know who Tony is. 

Breaking News!

Most of the people close to me already know this - but here's my BIG NEWS: I got a job in Washington, DC!!  This has been my "destination point" for so many years - now, it's here and I don't even know what to think about it.  I'm overwhelmed.  There isn't a word that really describes the feeling - there are words like "excited," "pumped," and phrases like "looking forward to it" and one of my favorite states of mind... anticipation.  They're all accurate, however, none seems to be good enough right now.  I'm just, so, .... well... AAAAHHHHHH!!!! You get the picture.

I'll be moving in August.  I appreciate all of your prayers. They are definitely needed. Please pray specifically that I will find a good, safe, affordable place to live. 

I can't wait to meet:

And I can't wait to spend lots of time with:

"Robin is on 26"

So, many of you will not understand the title of this post, but my friend Robin will, and that's what counts.  Robin and I worked together in Roanoke, which in some ways seems like forever ago, and in other ways, seems like yesterday.  She's one of those people I was instantly friends with.  Something inside of me just gets the inside of her.  We are kindrid spirits, I guess.  Robin is smart, funny, creative, and sometimes she scares me when she's laughing really hard because I think she actually stops breathing.  Seriously, there is no noise. Nothing coming in or going out - It's even scarier to hear on the phone.  We happened to both be home in VA the same weekend - so you know we had to celebrate.  We had dinner in Smithfield, which is a quaint little town -a la - Stars Hollow.  We had a blast.  Thanks Robin for the pictures!

I like how we both brought the sunshine.  And it wasn't even planned. I swear.

Highlight of the night.  I forget what the official name of this dessert was, but I'm pretty sure it fell from heaven. It tasted like my grandmother... made a little debbie cake.  It was two pieces of pound cake, with vanilla ice cream in the middle and this hot fudge on top that was TO. DIE. FOR.  You know, the kind of thing that you just keep stuffing in your mouth, even though there is no more room in your stomach? This is that thing.

See?

It was no small feat.  But, we did it together.  We reached the summit. Conqured the top of the cake. Devoured the divine.

Breaking News: We have a live update here from the scene - another wall has just given way and there is goodness spreading all over the place.  Forks and spoons are being evacuated.  The governor has just declared a state of emergency, we should start seeing National Guard vehicles any minute now, John. That's the latest live at the scene, back to you.

It's a media circus, I tell you.

Robin, thanks so much for all of the laughs.  One of my favorite things to do in life is laugh so hard it hurts - and I definitely did my fair share that night. 

By the way, I checked with Emily Post and it turns out it is completely socially acceptable to leave a restaurant with your pants unbuttoned.  At least, as long as someone in the room has been to Lobster Camp.

Okay, now, "I gotta go."  :)

Fun with Brayden

My youngest nephew, Brayden, just gets better with age. He's 5 now, can you believe that?  We had a blast together - I took him to the station, where he did the weather, along with Brokaw.  And we had a photo shoot with this really strange rug that my sister has in that room in her house that no one ever goes in.

I seriously have the best family. Ever.

The best Granny. The best mom.

The best sister.

And brother.