Earthquakes, Soccer Games, Heat Advisories, and Other Firsts

7/24/10

Location: Arlington, VA/Washington D.C. area

This summer marks the first summer I’ve lived somewhere outside of North Dakota and Minnesota, and accordingly, I’ve had a few other firsts as well.


Last week, July 16 to be specific, I suddenly woke up around 5 A.M. It sounded like someone was shaking Whitney and I’s bedroom door in its frame, rattling it, like they were trying to get in. Think an unskilled burglar jostling the lock. I opened my eyes and pushed back my turquoise comforter, and stared at the door while propped on my elbows. But just as suddenly as it arrived, the shake was gone. “What the hell…” I thought sleepily. I rubbed my eyes and then brushed it off. I figured maybe Anna and Kristi were leaving for work early and slammed the front door, causing ours to shake. Whitney woke up as well, and opened our door to go to our bathroom. She was just as confused, but given that everything seemed to be order, we went back to bed. 

Just an hour and a half later, Whit and I were getting ready while listening to the radio. A lightbulb turned on in my mind when I heard the DJs say earthquake. 

“Hey Whit,” I called. “You know that shake?”

“Yeah?”

“That was an earthquake!”

Yes, the Washington, D.C. area was hit by its largest earthquake since 1974. It had a magnitude of 3.6, and although it was centered in Rockville, MD, it could be felt up to 30 miles away. While it was a large quake for the area, it was by California standards, a baby of an earthquake and caused no damage or injury. Needless to say, Whitney and I were fairly excited that we had “survived” our first earthquake!

Another first I had recently was attending my first soccer game! I went to see the D.C. United take on the L.A. Galaxy at RFK Stadium with Rachael and Marissa. I was never a soccer fan by any means until the World Cup, and it was easy to get caught up in that excitement with the game watching parties and united, rambunctious support for Team USA. I saw Team USA’s star Landon Donovan on TV all the time, and at the game I got to see him in person! He plays for the Galaxy, as does David Beckham. He was warming up right in the corner we overlooked, and I gotta say, he and his teammates aren’t too hard on the eyes. David Beckham wasn’t there, sadly, as he has been out with a foot injury that he suffered before the World Cup even began. Even without Becks, and even without really understanding soccer, the game was a lot of fun.

Something else I’m unfamiliar with? The intense heat. They say D.C. is a northern city stuck in the South, and I have to agree. I’ve experienced many cold and wind advisories, but D.C. is the first place where I’ve had a summer of multiple heat advisories. One hundred and five degrees Fahrenheit plus 85 percent humidity is not my cup of tea. Oh yes, and no wind…an occasional, slight, slight breeze if you wish for it really hard. So many people warned me about the summers here before I left, but it’s truly worse than I imagined before arriving. Toss in dress clothes and hang an oversized purse containing heels, an umbrella and an assortment of other items on your shoulder for an extra dose of misery. It makes me glad my apartment complex has a deliciously cold pool to relax in on the weekends (and a frozen yogurt window…I know, I have it good) since my apartment’s AC can’t keep up with the heat, either.

Finally, the most exciting first of all—my first trip to New York City is coming up! I am traveling to the Big Apple with my boyfriend, Jake, over my 21st birthday. It just makes sense to do it this summer since I’m already living on the East Coast and can get there much more cheaply by bus than by plane. Jake is flying to D.C., so we will have two days here and three days in New York for the perfect vacation. My 21st will mark yet another first—my first legal drink…in the United States. Living 15 miles from Canada has its upside. Anyway, I absolutely cannot wait to go to NYC! It’s been on my must-see list since I was a little girl and I can’t wait to see Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, the Empire State Building, a Broadway musical, and just being in the city that never sleeps! 

I’m particularly excited for my birthday in the city. Jake and I will be eating dinner at the 21 Club, taking in West Side Story at the Palace Theater, and then hitting up a few NYC bars. I don’t know which ones yet; I’ve gotten dozens recommended to me. Feel free to comment and add to my list. I’ll let you know how it went and what I thought of NYC when I get back!

Even though I am more stationary now than I was in May on my world tour, this still feels like a travel blog. And honestly, I like it that way. My life is much less interesting when I am less transient. New cities mean new adventures, which means something new I want to write about.

Really, this whole year has been a lot of firsts for me. Each one affects me uniquely, but all further me as a person and make me realize both who I want to become and who I already am. Voyages to other places often become journeys in self-discovery, as well. That’s the kind of fact you hear in motivational speeches all the time, but you don’t fully understand until it happens to you.  Living in a metropolitan city 1,537 miles from my home alone has made me more confident and mature, and I’ve already had so many incredibly, enriching experiences during my internship and on my down time that have greatly expanded my perspectives and understanding. It’s both exhilarating and sometimes startling to grow up. Does one every truly stop growing up? I surely hope not.

Donovan and the L.A. Galaxy.


He's good.


D.C. United vs L.A. Galaxy


Marissa, Rachael, and I


Surprise! My family is getting a new puppy. Here he is.
His name is Ace. Isn't he adorable? I can't wait to meet him!

Light Up the Sky

7/5/10

Location: Arlington, VA/Washington D.C. area

Fourth of July tonight in the nation’s capital. It was absolutely…dazzling. Is there any other way to describe the flare of shining white gold, twinkling royal blue, and shimmering brilliant pink flashing across the dark night sky over the illuminated white Capitol and gallant tower of the Washington Monument? The fireworks and the layers of instruments in the music of the National Symphony built into a simultaneous powerful crescendo of light and sound in the air…maybe that sounds cheesy, but really, that’s what it was like. It was just stunning and I was able to view the entire spectacle from my 10th floor apartment with my family.

My family is visiting me in DC this week and it’s been a little rough. Being a tourist is stressful. The daily back and forth about where and when to go and how to get there combined with the heat (over 100 degrees a couple of days!) and people wears on all of us and I’ll be honest and say our tempers have gotten the best of us a few times. I don’t know if it was the brilliant display of light, or the laidback feel of Darius Rucker’s “Alright” (love that song), or the beer and Mike’s Hard that took the edge off for us but all I knew is that we all were a little more relaxed and little more aware that all we have is each other and while we drive each other crazy sometimes, we share more with one another than anyone else on the planet and we would be lost without each other to rely on.  I love my family more than anything, but I know I take them for granted sometimes. Here’s to cutting the fuse on my fiery temper and tossing that stick of dynamite out the window. The phrase “life’s too short to be anything but happy,” is a little unrealistic for me because I’ve lived long enough to know that not everything in this world is good. I prefer “Life is too short not to make the best and most of everything that comes your way everyday.”-Sasha Azevedo

CONT. 7/12/10

Besides the big Capitol Fourth celebration, I gave my first solo tour of the Capitol to my family, and we visited the National Archives, many museums (Smithsonians of Air & Space, American History, Natural History, the Spy Museum, the Newseum, the Holocaust Museum…you get the idea. A lot of museums.), the Washington National Cathedral, and completed a night tour of all of the monuments and memorials. Some of the monuments I hadn’t revisited since I was here in high school in 2006, so it was good to see those again and the monuments and memorials look heavenly at night. They really take on a different air and I loved seeing how the Lincoln Memorial lit up like a gold treasure box on a pedestal and how life-like the Korean War Veterans Memorial’s soldier statues looked in the green shrubbery around them against a pink and orange streaked sky. I still think the Capitol is the most beautiful building in the city. I see it every weekday, but it still leaves me in awe whenever I see it.

Washington, D.C. is a wonderfully historic city, but the areas are as well. I’ve spent a few weekends in Georgetown, the famous neighborhood in NW D.C. that used to be the stomping grounds of John and Jackie Kennedy. It’s home to many retailers, both those whose items I can afford (H&M, Urban Outfitters) and those I cannot (Chanel, Coach). It also is home to the famous Georgetown Cupcake, one awesome little cupcake shop that makes cupcakes so damn good, they now have their own show on TLC (DC Cupcakes). You know that if you have your own show on TLC, you’re good. Well, if you are not Kate Gosselin that is. My family and our family friend Bob and my friends Whitney and Michelle ate at a place called Farmers & Fishers on the waterfront of the Potomac in Georgetown and it’s actually owned by the North Dakota Farmers Union. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed because there’s not much for Midwestern fare (although they do use ND wheat, durum, etc. in most dishes) and you do not get a discount for being from North Dakota or associated with the Farmers Union. Two and half stars.

Another cool area is Old Town in Alexandria, VA. Old Town is the “historic center” of Alexandria according to Wikipedia, and if narrow cobblestone streets that date back to the 18th century is historic to you, then I guess that is correct. All I know is that they also have cool shops like Georgetown, but they have much better places to eat, IMHO. We ate at the Chart House on the waterfront in Old Town, and it was way better than Farmers & Fishers. I ate there with Bob in 2008 too when I was in D.C. for Obama’s Inauguration, and I reprised my favorite blue crab cheese dip with French bread. Superb. For main course, the best Maryland crab cakes on the planet. Four and a half stars.

After my family left, my high school friend Julie was in town for a convention so I got to do some fun D.C. stuff with her, too. It was wonderful to catch up with familiar people, and my boyfriend, Jake (since I'll see him twice in four months, I really miss him!) is coming to visit me in August to help me and D.C. friends celebrate my 21st birthday! I can’t wait for my first drink.;) Well, first legal drink, yes, but still something to be celebrated. Especially for a youngin like me—it’s not fun to do everything last, months after your peers have gotten their driver’s license, voted and bought lottery tickets (not jealous of the smokers whatsoever), and been able to go out to the bars. My mother tells me I’ll like being younger more after I am over the hill…ehh, maybe. I don’t really want to think about that, anyway!

In other news, internship is going well, GRE prep is going alright, and my tan is building slowly. My family is getting a new puppy in October and he’s as cute as a button. You can see him and his sibs here. His name is Ace and I’m sure I’ll love him, but no one will replace Rex for me. Especially since I rarely am home, Ace will hardly get to know me. Nonetheless, I look forward to meeting the golden red furball. Oh! And Whitney and I are planning a trip to New York to visit Michelle, which I am also very excited for. A weekend for Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, and just being in the city that never sleeps? I’ll take it.

Thanks for being patient with me with my sporadic updates lately. Hopefully, some people are still around to read this. Well it’s 10:00 P.M…good night!

My family on the Pennsylvania Ave. terrace at the Newseum.

4th of July celebration in Washington, D.C.

My brother Rob and I representing ND.

Lincoln Memorial at night.

Rob, Mom, and I spent one day at Six Flags waterpark when it got to be 102!

Washington National Cathedral...just so beautiful.

Julz and I on the Metro.

Darius Rucker: "Alright"

brb...again

So, you may have noticed I haven't updated this for a couple of weeks. In my defense, for the first week I was incredibly busy and the second week I was on vacation. Yes, a vacation! Complete with family, friends, fireworks, fun, and the fierce heat of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and 85% humidity. However, I have missed writing. Much more than I expected. Hopefully, I'll have time this upcoming weekend to let my fingers find their way around my Macbook keyboard. It reminds me of a piano; the keys are smooth and black and it feels so good when they're pressed in the right order. I miss playing piano, too...it's been months since I've played. You can never forget about the things you love. Once they become a part of who you are, they'll never be erased from your memory. Anyhow, I'll be back soon.:)


In the meantime, you can check out:
-My Twitter, which I update much more often than this. I can manage 140 characters every day or two fairly easily.;)
-Bangalore Bound: My friend Julie's blog about her time in India this summer. Her anecdotes and insights are wonderfully written and eye-opening, especially if you haven't been to India.
-DC Interns: A hilarious blog about the antics of DC summer interns. Most are Hill interns and I definitely see some of those kids described around...


Stay cool!