Don't go Chasing Waterfalls

Yeah, Nate came up with that title. Sparked your curiosity didn't it? Good, he'll be proud.

Before I get into the waterfalls reference, I want to take a minute to brag about how impressive Nate can be. We were going to go out to dinner, I had a long day and needed to keep working so I wasn't in the mood to cook (ok, just another excuse... I really hate cooking sometimes). But Nate said, no, sit and keep working, I got this. I heard lots of clanking, the door to the back deck opened and closed about 20 times and this is what I found in record time...

Amazing. I think he secured making dinners for, oh let's say the next 50 years...

So last weekend we went out on a long overdue date night with the Jacksons. We stopped in Alexandria just in time to catch some fireworks then continued on to Julie's "surprise location". Had know idea what was in store and got a little nervous when we headed into SE DC.

She took us to a new gem - the Yards Park, a new park on the river. There was a little water fountain, waterfall into a shallow pool which was inviting when it was 95 degrees at 10pm. There was also a big boardwalk, several layers of grassy areas perfect for a picnic and little nooks with lounge chairs. Very nice, must say!

So it was really hot. Julie and I decided to take our sandals off and splash around in the water.

Then Julie figured out we could walk behind the waterfall, which was pretty fun. We're kids at heart really.

I had to include this one because it turned out so creepy which is funny because poor Julie is so very afraid of scary movies and here she is looking crazy scary!

So then Julie asks if I'll run through it with her. I only asked if we were going anywhere else afterwards and she said no so 1,2,3 we ran through!

The looks on Nate and Jonathan's faces when they looked at each other, looked at us, looked at each other and said what the heck just happened?! was priceless. Also priceless - feeling like a kid again!

 "OMG, that was so fun!!"

"High five, we did it!"

We honestly thought we'd only get a little wet. But to our surprise that was one powerful waterfall and we were completely soaked. I lost an earring not even realizing it. Meh, price of having too much fun. So just like when you get off a rollarcoaster we yelled let's do it again!

 "Wait, is my butt hanging out?!"

I guess I found the cold blast to be a bit surprising... and no I didn't have the patience to fix the crazy eyes. My apologies. 

So here we were, dripping wet on date night with our dates silent in shock. We decided what better way to dry off then run around the boardwalk and the Navy Pier.

 Looking only slightly drowned...

 Rock Stars

 Nate didn't want to get too close :)

 Didn't realize this was happening in front of security...

To no surprise we dried off relatively quickly in the high temps. I love letting loose and acting like a kid. Makes you forget all the stresses in your life and it's so refreshing to just enjoy. Thank you Julie for being my spontaneously fun friend... these moments are priceless!!

Date night this weekend was a little classier but very fun. Nate and I went to the Kennedy Center to enjoy seeing the Addams Family. 

Enjoying a glass of wine on the deck overlooking the river and Georgetown waterfront before the show.

Nate can't stand to disappoint so of course we ended up with Ah-mazing seats (ps - seeing a show on a Sunday night = super cheap tickets!). 

But we were a little sad to look next to us and notice two empty seats where the Jacksons should've been but sadly they couldn't make it. 

I really enjoyed it. I used to watch the show so I could appreciate the performance and they had some pretty clever humor in there too. All too often, I disagree with the critics and thought it was great!

So that's been our recent date night fun. Chasing waterfalls (in the good way, not the way TLC warned against), enjoying the theater and some good home cookin makes life pretty darn awesome if you ask me!

Chasing Running

I'm in a rut ... and it's a crater of a rut! Possibly the size of the Grand Canyon. I am also my worst critic. So when I'm in a rut I criticize myself for allowing myself to be in said rut. Awful, awful habit.

To summarize, I haven't been running. I haven't been cooking and I've barely been cleaning. I haven't been reading and I can't get off the couch when I get home from work. Bad rut.

I'm not depressed, just exhausted from work, ok, and lately haven't been medically 100% but I can usually power through all that. I know I can't though when I'm not running. Running makes me awake, sleep better, and just overall happier. I feel a sense of accomplishment especially since I've always despised it.

So last week I decided to get back to it. Laced up my shoes, hopped on the treadmill and started running. Could barely finish a mile. Wth? I chalked it up to being "the first day back" and tried again the next day. Same thing. Grrr. Tried again the next day but went outside which typically lifts my spirits. In frustration, I had to walk after the first mile. So angry with myself, I ran another mile. That second mile ended in tears. What have I done? Why did I let myself seriously derail this time?!

It broke my heart and made me so very disappointed in myself that I worked so hard to get up to 10 miles and yet here I am back at square one, but with a worse attitude. The half marathon is in 1.5 months. How the H am I going to pull this off?!

I know I can, and I will. It's just so interesting to me how quickly it all went away. In a flash all my hard work was out the window. My body missed it and immediately became lethargic and my mind lazy after work.

Luckily I got back up to three miles this week and tomorrow I'm going to see what happens when I try for 6. I know that might be a bit much considering I haven't been running but I'm a little out of time and need to go for it. And I carefully chose my words "see what happens" - if it doesn't work out then I won't feel defeated but if it does, BAM, I'm back at it!

Writing this down does make me feel better. I'm hoping putting it out there for others to read and for me to go back to read with give a sense of accountability I need to get me through the next month.

1,2,3 GO!!!

Derecho

A Derecho is a widespread and straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms with gusts and winds often exceeding hurricane-force. In other words, a quick land hurricane.
Friday was a sunny, hot day. I remember hearing that we could have a thunderstorm that night, but nothing alarming and we really needed the rain and break in the 100 degree weather!

 
That night we went to a late movie with Julie & Jonathan. Julie and I were sitting in the theater waiting for the movie to start while the guys were getting snacks. Then the screen and lights went out. We were confused, but figured it was nothing. Power came back on and we enjoyed the movie. Moonrise Kingdom was different and funny btw.

Walking out it was sprinkling and obvious that it had been raining. Driving home was a little creepy. The streets were steaming from the day's heat and there were small branches and leaves everywhere. Hmmm, that thunderstorm must've hit. They dropped us off and we walked up to our front door and I asked Nate why he had turned our porch lights off. At that same moment he opened the door and tried to turn them on. No power. Dangit!

Then we heard Julie yell, "you guys, look!" and she was pointing down our street. We ran down and saw that our neighbor's tree was split in three, one side blocking the street. Wow, must've been some storm!

Nate's creepy eyes made me think of how scary it would be if we had a zombie attack while without power.

Luckily they still had power and it appeared only our street was without. So Nate and I settled into our basement to sleep for the night as it was the only spot in the house that wasn't 80 degrees already.

The next morning still no power and we went outside to check out the tree. It was burned down the middle, so we're guessing it was lightning. Our neighbors said the storm hit fast and was like a sudden hurricane and then they heard the loudest bang, power went out and the tree was down. Thankfully the tree just barely dented their car, but didn't smash it.

I had plans to go shopping for wedding dresses with my mom that day so I called her and learned she too was without power. Luckily the store we were going to had power, so we planned to go anyway and enjoy the A/C. I drove to work first to check on the building and we luckily had power there too.

Driving to my mom's was scary. Trees were down everywhere - even on the highway! And when I say trees, I don't mean the little ones. HUGE trees knocked down like they were nothing. Listening to the one radio station that had power and was able to be on, I learned that we had been hit by a Derecho. Half a million people were without power. Trees hit houses. Two were killed in Springfield (where we live) - one was hit by a tree while driving, one hit by a tree in her own house. So sad.

I got off the highway and Old Georgetown Rd. looked like a complete war zone. All traffic lights out. Idiot drivers not knowing that you have to treat it like a 4-way stop so I watched about 3 almost horrible accidents. Driving was like an obstacle course because of all the trees down and debris everywhere. Half-mile long lines to the gas stations as everyone needed to gas up their generators and most gas stations were without power.

Then I noticed my mom's neighbor, two houses down. It was split in two by a tree. The tree fell directly into the middle of the house and completely cut the house into two. No one was hurt, but it made me realize how horrible the storm was so thankful that my mom was safe and so were we.

We made it to the dress shop and enjoyed our day :) News hit that we should prepare for the power to take days, if not a week to come back on because of all the damage and amount of people without. Then Nate called and said our power made it back on. YAY!! Mom came and stayed with us until power was restored in her area.

Being without power is one thing. Being without power when it was 90-100 degrees everyday was pure misery. I am so thankful that we just happened to be one of the first areas with power restored. But I felt so bad as we talked to others and heard the news how miserable people were as their houses reached 90-95 degrees inside. Metro buses were turned on and stationed as cooling centers. People turned to all the malls just to walk around and cool off. I'm sure restaurants have made plenty as everyone has been eating out.

Each day since another 100,000 people have had the power restored and I think we're down to the final 100,000 without power. Mom's finally came back on yesterday. Cleanup is almost done. End of the tunnel is very near!

Last night Nate and I went to dinner and noticed lightening. Crap. We watched the storm get closer and asked the waitress to grab our check so we could make it out before the storm. Just as we were chatting with her about how bad Friday's storm was, the power went out. NOOOO!! Luckily it came right back on but we had to wait for the credit card machine to come back on. So we didn't beat the storm, we watched it hit. Crazy winds and lightening all over again. As we approached our neighborhood, all street and traffic lights went out. Not again!! Luckily they too came back on a minute later. Anxious to see if our house had power, we turned the corner and I've never been so happy to see our porch lights still on!

So this 4th of July we're so thankful for our freedom, our power and safety!