I would walk 500 miles and I will walk 500 more...

NEW Shoes!!!!

I love that first run in new shoes. It's like running on a cloud. My old shoes were probably a year or two past their expiration date (eeek!) 

Taking Back Sunday

This morning I decided I was in a Taking Back Sunday mood! So I preceded to play every album and this song came on. I forgot just how much I love it. Subsequently I had to put the song on repeat. Pretty sure it was for like an hour... hey what can I say, I love it!

. . . . . 

...and how can one not think that this long haired, scruffy, tattooed singer isn't handsome?! 

. . . . .

It's an awesome TBS classic and I have a soft spot for dual boy/girl vocals (its sooo pretty). Plus I really like Michelle DeRosa.

Enjoy!

"Shit ... Say" videos- Love 'em or Hate 'em?

I'm not quite sure when the "Shit ... say" videos decided to spread through the interwebs like wild fire but they are every where now and there also seems to be a video for every stereotype, ethnicity and now major cities.

I think the majority of them are kind of lame but there are 3 that I have come across that are pretty darn funny, knee slappers I should say :)

First-up: Shit Yogis Say- It is just laughable ...especially the last line!

Second on deck: Shit New Yorkers Say

Last BUT certainly not least: Shit People in DC Say- It is painfully accurate! Which makes it all the more fun!

... Namaste

Bike Tour

So now that I have a bike I thought that I would put it to use (besides just going down the block to Big Bear). Switching it up today, I went down to Eastern Market/Capitol Hill to have the BEST/cheapest breakfast in town, Jimmy T's! awesome nom nom!

This plus some delicious biscuits & gravy and a pancake (I couldn't help myself) = lovely morning

I saw these gems at Jimmy T's and couldn't help but ask if the waitress can bring them down so I can take a picture... too funny!

However, not exactly the healthiest food, I believe it is essential to splurge once in awhile. If not... I'd go crazy! So I spent the morning here loading up on my daily fix of caffeine and playing a couple games of sudoku ... then I had a thought, since I'm already down on the Hill I might as well go for a little ride around the monuments. The last time I walked around them was probably 2 years ago now. I also thought it would be a good way to relieve some of my food guilt from the morning haha.

 

                                                                                      Home means Nevada.... home means the hills...

Shout out to the state that I was born in! 

 (almost) every time I see/think of the Lincoln Memorial I think of Plant of the Apes... ahhh thanks Tim Burton 

Also, riding around the LM I had a West Wing moment. Like when Amy was riding around and talking to Josh (ya thats right I am a WW nerd) pretty sure that was season 4 and it was the Jefferson Memorial

            (on the right) That's the new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Hadn't seen it till now. It's pretty awesome!


So right around now I started thinking, "hmmm what am I gonna do now? Oh look a path along the river. Why not?!" So I pedal down and ride along side the Potomac river for a bit, take in the view and then I realized, "ouch!!!! Fudge Monkey!!!! my bum hurts!" Pulled over for a bit to relax and get feeling back in my back-side. New saddle is a must. My boney bum and a hard saddle = no bueno

Silly me If I thought I was gonna be doing as much biking as I did and will be doing on the way home, I would have dressed more appropriately and not in skinny jeans and my Vans slip-ons (see below)

.....

Lots of pacing back and forth on the bench... I like to pace when I think

My resting spot in East Potomac Park. Lots on thinking/talking out loud to myself here. Thank goodness no one was around. They would have thought I am a crazy person. 

Bike team? Sure seemed like it. These dudes were too focused to be out for a joy ride.

Not the best picture but this group of intense cyclists kept riding by like clockwork. I waved to them each time and was soooo tempted to start cheering them on, Tour de France style!!! Should have done it!

Now I'm home, legs sore, tired, and hungry. Hippie Crack time (granola, fyi) and aqua!! 

Oh WOW, I have some major catching up to do...

Happy Halloween!.
   Happy Thanksgiving!!..
      Happy Christmas!!!...
         HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!....

So my absence from writing is strange. I was overwhelmed by work the last couple months of 2011. My boss went on maternity leave so it was left to me to do the work of two people, of which, I had little knowledge/practice of doing her work. So ya, that was fun.
I made constant notes in my journal/to-do book of things that I wanted to write about but just never got around to it.
Well now I have plenty of time. You see, I have been let go from my position... budget cuts. Woot woot! (major sarcasm in that statement) I am now a professional job searcher (...again) I really need to stop making this a habit.
Don't sweat it though, I have a couple good prospects. One of which I REALLY want and would be an awesome opportunity to work with amazing, experienced, and in-the-know DCists. Lots to learn from these folks. But at this point its a waiting game. Something Im not particularly good at; patience. I know, I know, I always say its a virtue but do as I say, not as I do :)

Updates:
besides loosing my job, on a happier note- I have moved into a new house (or at least new to me) in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of DC. And I completely love it. I have had a bunch on friends in this area and would visit often. So now its my hood too!

I got a new set of wheels! Totally makes getting around the city easier. No more waiting for the metro, bus, taxi or the long arduous walks everywhere. But those who know me know I love walking so thats not really a problem at all.

I got a sweet vintage Schwinn Continental and its in fantastic shape!

I spend my days lately at my fav new place, Big Bear Cafe. Spiffy lil joint with the BEST mochas in town. It fills in the empty hours of my day.

I know that this is a picture of tea, but let my explain. At this point of the day when I took this picture, if I had another cup of cafe au lait I would have jumped out of my skin. I mean really, I was already so jittery.

Likes:
New Angels & Airwaves album- Love pt.2
New Blink 182 album- Neighborhoods
    ...lets be real, is there anything these two bands would do that I wouldn't like?!
The Submarines-
     ...fantastic duo that my friend Jamie got me hooked on. Check them out! Now!
It FINALLY snowed in the District.
    ...YAY, about time it looked like winter here!if its gonna be cold there better be a storm, either rain or
       snow (prefer snow) to accompany it.
Portlandia
    ...Dear lord this is a hilarious show on IFC. Netflix it! Freakin' funny sketch comedy featuring SNL
       funny people Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.
Instagram
    ...ya ya i know its been around awhile and that I've had it on my phone but I'm now just using it. love
       the filters. fun to play with.

Reading Musical Festival 2011 pt1

Reading + Leeds

Here are a selection of my favorite performances :)

Friday

 

My Chemical Romance -- "The Kids From Yesterday, S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W & Helena"

 

My Chemical Romance & Brian May!!!! "We Will Rock You/Welcome to the Black Parade"

This is MCR's rather EPIC ENCORE!!!

 

30 Seconds to Mars  -- "Kings & Queens"-- My favorite!!!!

 

 

The Naked and Famous!!!    -- "Young Blood"

...................

Saturday

                                                                                  

The Strokes!!!!!!!!!!!!! -- "Under Cover of Darkness"

                                                              

The Strokes!!!!!!!!!!!!! -- "Is This It?"

CHECK OUT THE REST OF THEIR LINE-UP! iT's gREAT AS aLWAYS

Crystal Castles  :)  --"Celestica"

Tattoo thoughts..

So for years (literally years) I have been contemplating getting a tattoo(s). Its taken years because I take the idea of inking my body seriously, you know given that its permanent and $$$. My tattoo want list is up to 6. Yep 6! I've known what Ive wanted for years and months.

1)  Florentine Fleur-de-lis                   OR                   Traditional Fleur-de-lis             

2) Om Mani Padme Hum (in traditional Sanskrit) Yoga/Buddhism has been a large influence in my life.

3) Spread Hope Like Fire (in Hebrew)

4) La Dolce Vita

5) 1 Corinthians 13

6) the first verse from the poem Invictus

Now I just need to find a place to do it :)

Molecular necklaces

Ok How cool is this???

It totally appeals to my nerd-self. For those of you who didn't take Biochemistry for four years... that there is the molecular structure of caffeine, aka my vice, my daily obsession, the thing that keeps me going throughout the day!!! Aroha Silhouettes has some amazing pieces. The one pictured is by far my favorite!!

and I found that around here...

In This City

Just a thought ...

DIY

Recently I have been on a DIY kick and it started with a couple of posts I saw on a few blogs that I follow. It intrigued me and I do like to be crafty every now and then!!!
These are the 3 crafts that I am going to tackle this weekend.

Wish me luck! haha

New Album??!!!!

So a couple of weeks ago I saw a posting on Phoenix's FB page about hitting the studio to start on their next album! As you can imagine I was completely and uncandesently elated about this!!

If you click the link you can see the rest of the pics on HEIDI SLIMANE ROCK DIARY.

Summer Dreamin'

With the District's gloomy weather today, I caught myself wondering what the weather is like where my little sis is, the Oregon coast.
I imagined it looked something like this...

Ok.. I may have also been thinking about Hawai'i, Bali, Thailand...  the South Pacific-- Really anywhere that isn't DC with its HOT, humid and rainy weather.

Casual- no-frills

So one thing that I really like doing from time to time (sometimes more frequent than that) is going down to my neighborhood bar and grabbing a brewsky and relax with mes amis! Unfortunently the area of DC I live in is pretty darn residential and seriously lack local bars. Which is why I venture into the diverse quarters of DC to find my neighborhood favorites.
I'm working up a decent list. The newest addition was introduced to me this past weekend, American Ice Co. in the U street area

I really like this place! It has a casual no-frills environment which I really like! Great beer selection (a little on the pricey side) and a decent sized patio which was terrific! Totally recommend this place if your looking for a "hipster-chic" bar haha... I saw that in a review I read about the place.

Summer living

Here's to the GOOD LIFE!

Mon dieu! Il a été si longtemps!!!

Alrighty, wow, didn't realize it has been a month since I have written a post... life has been a bit crazy but now, its back to the usual comme si comme ça.

Time to catch up...Life updates:

• San Diego trip- work and play
• Matt & Kim concert- which was FREAKIN' AMAZING!! They put on a crazy good show (..pictures to follow soon, once I find my camera cord to my computer)
• Found my new FAVORITE beer haus- thank you AB for taking me there
• Loving Instagram
• KAO alumni events- Im a mentor to a youngster in DC
• Bought another pair of TOMs- I *heart* these shoes! Plus, it helps support a terrific cause. See my shoe addiction can have a positive effect in the world LOL

Up and Coming:

• Taking Back Sunday concert in Baltimore next weekend!!!
• Long weekend trip to Brooklyn, NY- DTBA

Newest Band Obsession:

• The Strokes- almost forgot just how much I love them

Song of the Day:

• Crystal Castles- Celestica

xoxo

A little pick-me-up playlist.

So I firmly believe that music is a cure for just about anything. And when it comes to emotional state of mind, music plays and integral role. It can change your mood instantly.
Lately, meaning this past week, I have had a bit of a rough time. Because of that, I have been in major need of Happy music. That and rock/punk music (used as a distraction aka The Strokes, The Ramones, The Killers... im sensing a pattern here).
Here is my "Pick-me-up Mix"
1. Better- Regina Spektor
2. Waiting for a star to fall- Boy Meets Girl
3. Send me on my way- Rusted Root
4. King of Anything- Sara Bareilles
5. Smile- Lily Allen
6. Ordinary Day- Vanessa Carlton
7. Here- Hellogoodbye
8. Unwritten- Natasha Bedingfield

GaGa for The Strokes!

So The Strokes new album came out like a month or so ago and it is amazing!!

Quite similar to Julian's solo album, which is another fantastic album, but still true to their garage band sound.





This video is Grrreat! Its a song from Casablancas's solo album.

This Weeks playlist.

Because of Memorial Day and the fact I was driving half way across the country (so it felt like) yesterday- Wednesday is the start of my work week and therefore that is why the list is up now!
So we have some new bands on this one. (No particular order)

1. Julien Casablancas- Out of the Blue
2. Friendly Fires- Skeleton Boy
3. Vampire Weekend- White Sky   -- this is a great pick-me-up song/ need a burst of energy
4. Black Kids- Hurricane Jane
5. Santigold- Creator
6. Tegan & Sara- Back in Your Head
7. The Big Pink- Dominos
8. Martin Solveig- Hello   -- Spiffy song
9. Regina Spektor- Better
10. Lupe Fiasco- Words I Never Said   --a bit preachy of a song but its a good one none-the-less