En Un Dos Por Tres

I got another mailbox surprise!

The cameraphone doesn't do it justice. And it's a step up from my tiny little spy camera but not as cumbersome as the Mother Lode. Neil got it so I could take pictures for YOU and post them here!

So I had fun with it this weekend.

"Bad To The Bone" at the Capitol. I'm lovin' the kitten-heel biker boots.

Saturday was rainy and created this beautiful, shimmering evening. The G-20 folks were still in town, and I can't help but think there was something in the air to make D.C. glimmer just for them. It definitely didn't feel or look like a normal night. The air was super-clear, and although there were clouds, they amplified and illuminated the clarity.

The Washington Monument and Capitol were literally glowing.

Ron's band rocked.

This series of houses where we parked looked like a movie set. They were all so small, neat and not very tall, and the street was completely quiet. It looked like they could be made of plywood and might fall over on us at any moment.
The addresses on the houses on the bottom right say "HALF" beside the door. So small!

Tuesday night we went to the Annual InterFaith Concert, held this year at the Washington National Cathedral. An awesome, awesome venue for an amazing concert.

Neil took me to the concert two years ago for our first date. Good work!

His uncle conducts the Mormon Choir of Washington, D.C., and they gave an amazing performance.
Wait a minute, who are those two young men in the middle-right panel, front row?? (Click to enlarge -- Hint: We're all related.)

The acoustics in the cathedral were incredible. I love that place. This picture doesn't have the right perspective to suggest its enormous size -- it's the sixth-largest cathedral in the world!

Personal Mosaic

Concept:
1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
http://www.flickr.com/search/
2. Using only the first page, pick an image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php
(choose four columns and three rows, also choose individual URL's)

Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your nickname.


I saw this on a blog I landed on, and I thought it was fun. Try it!

What A Croc

These are not Crocs.


OK, they are!

But not the hideous monstrosities I usually associate with the word "Crocs." Ugh. I would rather impale myself on a baseball bat than wear those.

... OK, ACTUALLY, a couple of weeks ago, I had to borrow a pair for a minute from my cousin-in-law ... 's son (?) to traverse a field, and I will honestly say, despite the fact that I wanted to "shout at my shoes" as my mom would say (i.e., VOMIT) every time I looked at my feet, the unprecedented level of comfort afforded by the cushioned sole and the EXTRA-roomy, ventilated interior made my feet feel like they were in a cloud.

They felt great! They looked revolting!

A week later, I got a package in the mail. Neil likes to surprise me with occasional online shopping presents, and since I am obsessive about checking the mail, he knows I'll get it right away.

Hm, was I obsessed with checking the mail before or after I started getting occasional gifts therein? I digress.

So I opened this particular package, and what should I find inside but a pair of CROCS! But not just ANY Crocs -- WEARABLE Crocs.
They actually looked cute! And when I put them on, despite the fact they are only 1/3 the size of "normal" Crocs, I still felt the roominess and extreme amount of cushioning in the sole. Heaven!

Thankfully, they are not air-conditioned with all of those ridiculous perforations that make Crocs suitable for use as a colander. Instead, they are finished with a "sueded" look, although they are 100% synthetic. They are actually warm and waterproof and have excellent traction on the bottom.

I haven't been able to take them off my feet! For a long time, I felt an overwhelming disdain for everything about Crocs -- but today I am a CROCS CONVERT! I think you can see another reason why I like them -- they look like my ballet shoes.
Before I go too far, I will say that I still don't condone wearing the ginormously offensive Crocs in public. If you want to indulge in their comfort, I still think that's best done at home.

But these little beauties that I have on my feet this very second are perfect for everywhere! I don't want to take them off. IF you decide to get them -- -- ---- I know, I know, you hate Crocs, but TRUST ME, these ones won't make people think less of you as a person --- ---- you should order one entire size smaller than your normal shoe size. The first package I got were size 9, my yoozh size, and they were too big! They don't have half-sizes, of course. So I got the size 8 on Fri. and they are a perfect fit. I have worn them every day since I got them! Even Sunday!! I think they are appropriately tasteful for Church and PERFECT for chasing los niños around in Nursery.

Of course, take all of this with a grain of salt -- I have been wearing a lot of impossibly high heels lately. Wooden shoes would probably be a relief after that.

'An Extraordinary Step Forward'

Remarks from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice:

"... the extraordinary election last night ... was an exercise in American democracy, of which Americans across the political spectrum are justifiably proud.

"... I want to note that President-elect Obama was inspirational, and I’m certain he will continue to be.

"... As an African American, I am especially proud because this is a country that’s been through a long journey in terms of overcoming wounds and making race not the factor in our lives. That work is not done, but yesterday was obviously an extraordinary step forward."

Eight of Everything

Monique tagged me awhile ago, so here goes. This one is a little unique in that you have to think of EIGHT things in each category:

8 TV Shows I Love To Watch
Disclaimer: We don't own a TV. Sad, but true. I don't really watch any TV, but when I can, I like these shows:
1. CNN

2. C.S.I.
3. Bones

4. I used to really like J.A.G. Is that still on?
5.-8. I can't think of any others.

8 Things That Happened Yesterday
1. I got a compliment on my sweater. Target!
2. I started Spanish classes!
3. I took several personality tests, including the Hartmann Boundary Questionnaire, which was hilarious.
4. I had the nastiest cafeteria lunch ever: Shrimp "stir fry" (freezer burned shrimp stewed with mushy carrots and cabbage) over Minute rice, with a squash pancake and syrup on top of it all.
5. I laughed a lot ... when I was not freezing to death in an air conditioned classroom (yes, it's Nov.!)
6. I processed (peeled and froze in Ziploc bags) bananas, until ...
7. ... I got a delightfully unexpected phone call from girlfriends I grew up with and we had an impromptu girls' night out: girl talk at home, Lauriol Plaza for dinner, Mr. Yogato for dessert.
8. I still met my goal of going to bed by 11 p.m.

8 Things I'm Looking Forward 2
1. Argentina
2. Christmas and my birthday
3. The results tonight.
4. The next time I see Neil.
5. New shoes!
6. Parties
7. Thanksgiving
8. Cleaning my house, or rather, my house being clean.

8 Things on my Wishlist
1. To reach my next career goal
2. A pony
3. To lose 10 lbs.
4. Long hair
5. A monogram letter to hang on my wall.
6. To become a ballerina
7. For Neil to feel better (no more coughing) today.
8. J. Crew and Anthropologie gift certificates??

8 People I am Tagging!
1.-8. If you want to do it, consider yourself tagged.