DC bucket list

I admit that I love making lists. I'm not sure if it is my Virgo nature or just part of my personality but I enjoy creating all kinds of lists. So when we moved to the DC metro area this past summer it didn't take me long to put together a DC bucket list of sorts. Truth is that this area is known for being transient and we probably won't be here forever, but I would hate to leave without exploring all I can of the region. So this is the working list so far of what I must see and do while living in DC.

1. George Washington's Mount Vernon home in Alexandria, VA

2. Manassas Battlefield Park- Manassas, VA (completed)

3. Monticello/Charlottesville day trip (completed)

4. Richmond, Va day trip/ Poe museum #2

5. National Zoo -Washington DC  (completed)

6. Gettysburg National Park

7. Fredericksburg, VA battlefields (completed)

8. Visit Eastern Market in the Hill district of DC (completed twice and love it)

9. Tour of the NPR headquarters

10. Have an authentic DC brunch (completed)

11. Brave the line at Georgetown Cupcakes

12. Explore the Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria  (completed)

13. Visit Shenandoah National Park (completed)

14. Visit the Supreme Court

15.  Make a Philly day trip

16. Visit National Harbor in Maryland

17.  See the MLK memorial

18. Visit the National Cathedral

19.  National Museum of the American Indian (completed and disappointed)

20. Fredrick Douglass house tour

21. Visit Great Falls Park

22. Have a night cap at Lincoln Memorial like in the movies

23. Annapolis day trip

24. Explore all the DC neighborhoods

25. Take a picture in front of the Einstein memorial

Any suggestions for my DC must see list?

2015- The year of self

I suck at keeping new years resolutions. I have lost count of how many Januarys have started with me saying I was going to exercise more or stop procrastinating. That is why I love the concept of assigning a theme for the new year as a guide to things you want to accomplish instead of using the traditional resolutions. I feel like the last year was one filled with transition. I completed the transition from a non- teaching job and then I moved out of state in the middle of the year. Almost 7 months into my new area I am finally starting to feel more at ease in this new place. When I was thinking about what I wanted to focus on in 2015 I kept coming back to the thought that I wanted to focus on myself. I am one of those people who tend to put others first and unintentionally put myself on the back burner and this is something I want to change. So this is the year of self. This year I will focus on discovering what makes me happy and exploring things that bring me joy.


1. Read more books. I go through stages in which I read a ton and others when I'm barely reading. I want to become a more consistent reader.


2. Explore what I want from my career.  I loved my last job despite not making a great salary. Going from teaching to non-profit was not an easy transition at first but I loved the work. My current job isn't exactly giving me the same feelings. I signed up for a free web course from Idealist.org to learn more about my strengths to see what jobs fit me best.


3. Try new things big and small.


4. Travel somewhere I've never been before.  I have pretty much traveled the majority of the east coast from Florida to New Hampshire, but never ventured into the Midwest or gone further out West than Las Vegas.




Does anyone else do yearly themes? What is your theme this year?

DC Snow fail

Let's be honest, even with one New England winter under my belt, the blood that runs through my veins is Floridian. The majority of my winters were not spent dealing with snow or scraping it off my car. For the last few days a light snow was in the forecast for the morning commute and it was predicted to be a light dusting up to an inch. When I looked out the window at 6:30 am it was clear that we would be getting much more than a dusting of the white stuff. Driving in the snow in Worcester were the snow plows were on top of things was not the same experience I had today in Northern Virginia. The snow was excepted to hit during morning rush hour and yet even main roads around town had not been plowed by the time I left for work at 8:00.

What normally is a 10 minute (at max 15 minute) commute to work took me 2 hours. The roads were in horrible shape and cars had to go extremely slow and cautious. I must have prayed to God at least dozen times to let me make it there safely. I was shocked that the department of transportation had not plowed or salted the roads prior to morning rush. I am thankful to have made it to work with my car in tact. Hello Winter. I guess this is why people move to Florida.