4 Months of Hard Work

For the past four months I've been working on a pro bono design project designing a logo and redesigning the website for a local non-profit, Urban Alliance. It's been an awesome experience. I've been working with a great team from my office and we basically created an entire new brand identity for Urban Alliance. I'm so proud of the work we've done, one, because it's a really great organization—100% of Urban Alliance participants graduate from high school compared to an apalling DC-wide average of only 50% of students. And two, the new website and logo are a big improvement over their old website and logo. I think our efforts will really impact their success. I hope you'll check out the Urban Alliance website.

Next time, bring a tarp

Not five minutes after staking out our prime lawn location with a premium view of the stage at Wolftrap, the monsoon started. And didn't stop for 2-and-a-half hours. Regardless, we huddled under our tiny umbrellas and sat on our soggy blanket, drank our wine and ate our fried chicken. All while enjoying the National Symphony Orchestra and the music of John Williams, embellished with light sabers and lightning.

Six Tomatoes

Our balcony garden hasn't been very productive this summer, but we just harvested the first (and likely only) crop of tomatoes. B chopped up one for nachos tonight. The flavor is so much better than anything you can get in a store. Tastes like summer.

Our New Addition Arrived Today!

Our new computer arrived today! I've been waiting for this day for years. We even rearranged our furniture to make a spot for the new addition.

A Pancake Coma and 25-Mile Bike Ride

After recovering from an husband-induced Pancake Coma this morning, we rode our bikes to Alexandria. Along the way we saw why it's illegal to swim in the Potomac (those are tires, trashcans, and gas cans just below the waterline, ew), watched planes touch down at Reagan National from just yards away, and joined hundreds of other Washingtonians outside enjoying the summer day.

Big Saturday: 8-inches less and the Half-Blood Prince

So, even though I had been thinking about it for months, it was still traumatic to cut off 8-inches of my hair today. But I'm trying to focus on the greater good, rather than the strike to my vanity—I'm donating the hair to Beautiful Lengths. And anyway, I'm adjusting to it and B assures me it looks cute. Afterward, we went to Gallery Place to escape with Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince.

Vintage Press Blocks at Eastern Market

Eastern Market reopened last weekend, after a massive fire a couple of years ago. Today we went to check it out. Lots more booths than in the past and now they close the whole road out front. And busy! It was great to see so many people out supporting the community. These tables of old press blocks and dice and mahjong tiles at the flea market were great.

Is it time?

No, not an Obama slogan (this time), but a question about my job. Ugh. Hard decisions!

July 10th: Long Walk at Lunch and the H Street Country Club

Walked to Georgetown at lunch to ponder career options and check out some books at the library. Wished I was paddling the Potomac instead. Later, joined some friends at the new H Street Country Club for some skee ball and indoor mini-golf, plus yummy margaritas and Mexican food. My new favorite place!

July 5th: Details on the farm

July 4th: Meg (the dog) gives me a tour of the farm

July 3rd: Unintentional Detour to Chocolate World

Followed by a fireworks show over Lake Ariel, while rubbing elbows with hundreds of middle school age locals. How does anyone ever escape Gravity? It seems as though few do. My guess is that people can't find their way out because the roads aren't marked, or paved, and all lead back to the same place.