Maggie's Sweet Face

Maggie's Sweet Face
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

Over Thanksgiving, Rob took some "art shots" of our adorable pup. We've been meaning to get her picture taken professionally forever. Luckily Nicholas' dad is a photography genius and FREE!

Thanksgiving

Family Portrait
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving in Atlanta with Nicholas' family. We drove down with Pamela on Tuesday night and came back yesterday. The meal itself was wonderful and spending time with family, especially the new addition Stephen really was nice. If only I didn't have to come back to finals!

I'm in love

Meet Butterstick

WARNING: Do not click this link if you have impending deadlines, errands to run, or basically anything to do for the next couple of hours.

Dear Pizza Hut, You suck. Love, Sarah

Tonight at approximately 6:30 I ordered a large cheese pizza and an order of breadsticks from Pizza Hut. Now, I had a credit for the breadsticks because last time they were out - that took about five minutes to explain. So, I got off the phone and waited and waited and waited. Around 7:45 I called and they said it would be 15 minutes. The pizza showed up at 8:30. Let me rephrase. The chicken pizza showed up! As most of you know, we do not eat meat. So, we chased the pizza guy down and he said to keep it and he would bring us a cheese pizza. We called the store and they said they would give us a store credit and another pizza was on its way. That was about 8:45. At 10:00, I called again and after sitting on hold for 10 minutes the manager explained they thought we only wanted the store credit. He's sending a pizza right over.

It's 10:30. There is no pizza yet. We are hungry.

Trick or Treat!

Maggie as Pumpkin!
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I WON!
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

Fall Retreat

In front of the falls we didn't get in the picture
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

My hubby took me out of town this weekend for what he repeatedly referred to as "leaf peeping." We went to Staunton, VA and stayed at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel. Had a lovely dinner at Mrs. Rowe's and went to see North Country (not a whole lot of nightlife in Staunton). Then today we drove Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park and stopped for a nice hike. A lovely weekend all around.

Stephen

Stephen 101605-01
Originally uploaded by Gerver.

This is mine and Nicholas's new nephew Stephen Garrett Holland. Pretty cute huh? When I told Nicholas the weirdest part was thinking this little baby would be our kids' cousin, he quickly replied "Yes, their MUCH older cousin." :)

Things That Suck

1. Law School - seriously one year was plenty!
2. Commander in Chief - it really pains me to say it, but its true
3. Verizon Video/New Jersey - for stealing my husband
4. Lack o' free time - see number 1
5. The end of summer
6. Grating my finger with the micro-plane grater - OUCH!
7. Missing my family
8. The obnoxious guy in my CrimPro AND BA class.
9. My friend Haley living so far away :(
10. Not having a car.

Things That Are Awesome

1. Hot Yoga - 600 calories in an HOUR AND 1/2!
2. Maggie - soooo cuddly
3. Finally getting tickets to Paul McCartney - Oct 8!
4. Floating Mountains, Singing Clouds
5. Fall Movies - North Country, Elizabethtown, The Family Stone
6. Desperate Housewives - I've miss you ladies
7. Pamela - having an extra person to help with the dog AND do the dishes (and she's pretty funny)
8. Amalah
9. Oprah - the old standby
10. Not having to pay for gas

North Carolina and TV

Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

We just had two lovely weekends in North Carolina. The first we spent with our friends Jennifer and David and there beautiful new baby Isabel. We got to see people we hadn't seen since we left and went to an awesome Coldplay concert. (Although Alltel Pavillion is a clusterf*** if I have EVER seen one!)

Last weekend, we went to our friends Pete and Pam's wedding at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. It was an absolutely lovely wedding with chocolate cupcakes and lots of dancing which is always a good combination. They had a live band which was fun and different in the age of DJ's.

Since we've been back, I've been watching ALOT of TV since the beginning of the new season. I've stopped watching Lost (I got tired of being jerked around) and The West Wing (it just hasn't been the same since Sorkin left) so I have some room. So far My Name is Earl is the only one for sure being added to the line-up b/c damn Jason Lee is funny. I'm going to give How I Met Your Mom one more chance although Rome and Kitchen Confidential are probably not going to make the cut. Otherwise, I'll still be watching Desperate Housewives, Wife Swap, and OFCOURSE the absolute best show on television My Super Sweet Sixteen.

Assateague National Seashore

Ponies in the campsite
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

Sarah and I went with our friends Annie and Kyle to Assateague National Seashore. This island has a bunch of once domesticated horses that are now "wild." They are a small breed, so they are affectionately known as wild ponies. The ponies, as evidenced by this photo, are pretty used to people. They were also quite unafraid of Maggie.

We had a wonderful time camping out and we hit the beach on Monday for a last gasp before the end of summer. The water was cold and pretty choppy, so there wasn't a whole lot of swimming, but the weather was beautiful. Maggie enjoyed the beach, but was confused by the sand and waves. Unfortunately, we failed to take a single picture of her. Ah well.

Hurricane Katrina Update

Now it seems Pamela will be attending American University for the fall semester and becoming the newest roommate at 9th and C. It's going to be a little crowded but she's a tiny little thing so that should help. Mainly, we are just glad we could be there for her. She arrives on Monday.

Hurricane Katrina

I don't know where to begin. Everytime I turn on the TV or check CNN the news seems to be getting worse and worse. The effects of Mother Nature and the actions of humans (good and bad) seem to boggle the mind. I've been horrified by images dead bodies and brough to tears by the tragic stories of survivors.

Luckily, it would seem we are turning the corner and now finding concrete ways to help the people of LA and MS. First of all, I am so proud to be a student at the Washington College of Law. They have offered up 20 free spaces to 3rd year law students at Loyola and Tulane law schools. The bookstore has offered free textbooks and the school is organizing free lodging. We have volunteered our extra bedroom. It felt indescribely good to do something concrete and positive although we don't know yet someone will be using it. Apparently, we aren't the only ones looking to help the refugees.

On a personal note, all of those we know and love in New Orleans escaped unharm. Nicholas's little sister Pamela was set to begin her senior year at Tulane. It now looks like she will have to at least spend her fall semester at another school - probably at home in Atlanta. Our friend Jeff is staying with a friend and also made it out ok.

VMA

Dear MTV,

We need to talk. It's time for some honesty in our relationship. We've been together a long time - 24 years, both born in 1981 and we've gone through alot. Overall, I've been incredibly happy with you. You've really given me so much. The Real World, Sex in the 90's, reruns of My So-Called-Life, Rich Girls. Recently, I thought you were really hitting a stride. I mean Real World/Road Rules Challenge is really something special. Your documentaries, especially True Life have brought me to tears. And My Super Sweet Sixteen! Jesus, words cannot express my love for that show.

However, twice a year my high opinion of you suffers a serious blow. Once in early summer during the MTV Movie Awards and again in late summer during the Video Music Awards. I mean seriously I don't even know what to say except I remember a time when these awards show did not suck so completely. And it seems yesterday night with the 2005 VMAs you reached a new low. It was really really painful. Awkward P. Di--- I mean Diddy dance numbers, weird comedic interludes, mediocre performances. In fact, and this is hard for me to say...I don't think I'm going to watch them anymore. They are just too awful. Really I want to cling a few more years because I'm getting older and I do want to stay relevant. But I fear you too are getting older and your irrelevance is creeping across the stage at these events.

I mean maybe if you got some help. Maybe you should hire whoever makes all those amazing commericials. But until then MTV awards shows I have to say...We are officially on a break.

Love,
Sarah

Georgetown

Ok so let's recap:
I was supposed to hear from Georgetown in early May.
1. They deferred their decision till my second semester grades came in.
2. They put me on the wait list.
3. They told me I would hear by August 3.
4. They told me I would hear something by August 19.
5. They told me I would hear something this Monday or Tuesday.
6. They told me I should get an email this morning from 9am-12pm.
7. At 1pm I call and they tell me I will get an email around 3pm.
8. At 4:45 pm, I CALL THEM and they tell me that they haven't had any "movement" and they don't anticipate having any. I ask "So basically the wait list is closed." They say, "Pretty much."

Needless to say, I am leaving the experience with a bad taste in my mouth. HOWEVER, I am an optimist and I really do think it is for the best. I am on Moot Court at AU and have recently graded onto the Gender Journal. Plus all my friends are there. If only it was closer to my house!

Back to reality

Los Padres National Park
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

I start school tomorrow which is bad enough, but made worse by the end of our wonderful vacation only a few days ago.

Nicholas and I went to visit my father in California for a week. Since he'd never been before, we decided to pile in as much as possible. We met my dad in Los Angeles and did all the tourist stops: Graumann's Chinese Theater, Rodeo Drive, where O.J. killed Nicole. Then we drove north up the Pacific Coast Highway.

First, we stopped in Santa Barbara. We shopped downtown and ate at Oprah's favorite restaurant in Montecito - Trattoria Mollie. While we didn't see Oprah, we did sit across from Carole Burnett. Of course I had to talk to her and tell her I still had the signed picture she sent me when I wrote her in 3rd grade. She was very very sweet.

Second, we stopped in Monterey. On our way there, we stopped at Edna Valley vineyard and tasted an amazing Pinot Noir (I know so Sideways!). We tried to see Hearst Castle but it was sold out for the day.

Last, we spent a day and a half in San Francisco. We ate clam chowder from a sour dough breadbowl on the wharf, drank tea in the Japanese Tea Garden, sampled fortune cookies in Chinatown, and had breakfast at the Pork Store in Haight Ashbury (shouldn't that be in Castro!).

All in all it was an absolutely wonderful trip made even more wonderful by the generosity of my dad who paid for the whole trip and drove us where ever our hearts' desired.

Thanks Daddy!

I DID IT!

In 1998, the American Film Institute released the top 100 movies of all time. I don't remember when I decided to try to watch them all but it was soon after they were released. When I first looked through the list, I think I had seen about 20 or 30 of them. They spanned from 1915 to 1996 and I'd seen most of the recent ones: Fargo, Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump. I've spent the past seven years watching the rest. I wasn't completely hard core and my rate of watching would dip and wane. First, I would search the TV Guide and record them on the VCR. Then Tivo came along and really sped the process along. Finally, we joined Netflix and I got to see all the rare ones or really dirty ones uncensored. But I watched Mutiny on the Bounty this evening and finished the list. Here's a rundown on some of my casual impressions:

Better then I expected: Casablanca, Jaws, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Apartment, A Clockwork Orange, Gold Rush
As bad as I expected: Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, 2001: A Space Odyssey
Worse than I expected: The French Connection, The Birth of a Nation, From Here to Eternity, The Jazz Singer

Weirdest plot twist: Chinatown - You're sister is your WHAT?
Most annoying child: Shane - MAAAAAAA!!! PAAAAAA!!!!
Best chemistry: Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Most unnecessary ending: Easy Rider
Hottest man ever: Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Hottest woman ever: Elizabeth Taylor in A Place in the Sun
Most homoerotic film: Ben-Hur - Best friends from childhood my ass
Most anxiety producing film: High Noon
Craziest Eyes: Sunset Boulevard - I'm ready for the close up of my crazy eyes Mr. DeMille
Most confusing trend: Boxing films and use of the word bum
Worst villain: Captain Bligh from Mutiny on the Bounty - SERIOUS asshole, I'd go mutiny on his ass too.
Best costumes: Gone With The Wind
Saddest character: Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire
Worst book adaptation: Wuthering Heights


So those are my preliminary impressions. Now I guess I'll catch up on the post-1996 classics. Anybody own a copy of Rush Hour 2?

Weekend with the girls!

IMG_2164.JPG
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

Well I just got back from Louisville. I went in for my friend Alexis's wedding in Lexington, which was beautiful. (pics on flickr) However, the best part was getting to be with my girls!

Me, Elizabeth, Erin, and Aimee have stood by each other through breakups, family drama, weddings, babies, and relocation and that just since we've graduated! When we get together you can bet there will be lots of gossip, sex stories, and Arbor Mist and very very little sleep. This weekend was no different although our friendship got a very exciting addition. Our group of four became a group of five! Catherine has been with us from the beginning but this weekend we made it a "official" which basically means we said "Now you have to go on vacation with us and write in our correspondence journal!"

So, all in all a really great weekend especially since my really great parents decided to drive up from Paducah and take us all out to eat and visit for a couple of days. Between amazing friends, family, and a damn near perfect husband I really am the luckiest girl in the world.

A NEW Post

IMG_9748
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

I've been done with my internship since July 1 so in theory I should have been posting like a lot. But seriously I'm busy ya'll. I redecorated our apartment, finished my wedding scrapbook after TWO years (bringing the grand total of albums up to six!), went to Paducah, went to the beach, threw a kick ass Harry Potter party and a kick ass birthday party...and of course met some more famous people!

My friend Samantha won tickets to a Ben Folds concert and an opportunity to hear him play up closes and personal at the radio studio. We were already going to the concert but she invited me to the radio show yesterday since I am a huge Ben Folds fan. It was amazing. (Thanks again Sam!) We had seen him at the 9:30 Club a couple of months ago and he was really great. This place was a lot smaller and we got to sit on couches on the front row which was really really cool. He played about five songs and he took requests. Of course I yelled out "Angry Dwarf" and he took my request. This was really special because I told Nicholas before the last show that the only songs I really wanted him to play was Angry Dwarf or Song for the Dumped, neither of which he played of course. But this more than made up for it!

OH! I almost forgot! I've also been progressing through the AFI's Top 100 List slowly but surely. (For those of you who don't know I've been trying to watch all 100 since like high school.) Well Netflix and all this free time revolutionized my viewing and I was down to the very last one! So I put in Mutiny on the Bounty and am all excited because I'm going to finish the list! YEAH! And I shit you not the freaking DVD was broken. They are sending me another one. I mean seriously people!

Me & Barack

Me & Barack

Okay, so one day I'll start posting about something besides the famous people I meet but not today people, not today. I met Barack Obama!!! There is a lecture series for interns every summer and he was the speaker on Tuesday. His speech was amazing. He conveys such integrity and honesty. I might agree with him on everything...like really truly everything. Anyway, after his lecture I ran, jumped, maybe stepped on a couple of children to get to the side exit and caught him on his way out. He shook my hand. You are all wecome to drive to D.C. and shake the hand, try to soak up the magic.

P.S. When I worked for NOW I did Election 2004 research. There was a state senator in Illinois that had announced he was going to run for Peter Fitzgerald's seat. He had some funny name, Barack Obama. I told my boss he didn't have a chance in hell. :)

Vintage Virginia

We had a good time last weekend at the wine festival, although it was hotter than when we went the first time and we had a dog to pick up from the groomer's, so we spent a lot less time there.

We liked several of the whites that we tried, but we ended up buying only the Barboursville Viognier (the influx of good and cheap Australian, Spanish, and South African whites colored our perception of value this time around). We passed on Barboursville's very good Octagon VI (probably the best red in VA). The rest of the reds were highly questionable, especially the Cabernet Francs. Apparently, many Virginia wineries grow Cab Franc for their Meritage blends. Unfortunately, many also choose to put out a 100% Cab Franc, and they are universally terrible. Perhaps you've heard of "fruit forward" wines, and perhaps you've also heard a wine described as having "hints of tobacco." Now, just for a moment, imagine a tobacco-forward wine. That was the only way to describe one of the Cab Franc's we tried. Sarah threatened to hurt me if I made her try another one.

Yes, we are quite spoiled and bourgeois, especially by the very good wine store that I ("have to") walk by on the way from the Metro to Home.

Me, Amy, & Emily

Me, Amy, & Emily

So, Wednesday night we went to see the Indigo Girls for Nicholas birthday. It was a really great concert and Amy even played "Romeo and Juliet" which she rarely does live so awesome all around. BUT...the really cool part was the next day they came to the Hill to lobby for low power FM radio and I went to the little briefing. I got there early and sat in the second row. Then Emily comes in and sits IN FRONT OF ME. They played Closer to Fine, Yield, and Galileo six feet in front of me! It was amazing. They were totally unplugged, no mics or anything. It was totally great to see them up close and personal. Afterwards, I got to thank both of them and chat with Emily about advice for one of my closet friends who wants to become a musician. It was just so absolutely freaking cool.

Summer of Fun

Sarah, Maggie, and I went to Harper's Ferry last weekend and hiked up a huge hill to get to what is supposed to be one of the finest views within two hours of DC. It was a lot of fun, even though we got rained on. Maggie was intrepid as we hiked the 5 mile trail. She nearly pulled me down the hill she was so excited to be out in nature.

Tomorrow we are dropping Maggie off to get groomed and are going to Vintage Virginia, the wine festival featuring Virginia wineries. We went a couple of years ago. Some of the wine is decent, some not so much, but at 20 bucks a head, you can't beat it for something to do on a Saturday.

We have Harper's Ferry pictures, and should have some from the wine festival, which we'll post soon.

Dream Come True

Dream Come True

Today was my first day as a Capitol Hill intern and I have to say it was pretty great. All the people in my office are wonderful and the Congressman is incredibly warm and friendly. I already have exciting legislative assignments and tomorrow I will be going to my first committee meeting. In other words, I'm in hog heaven!

Remember Me?

Remember Me?

So I did it. I actually completed my first year of law school and now I can blog, read, watch TV, just plain old exist without thinking "I should be reading" "I should be studying" "I should be OUTLINING!" It's pretty amazing. It feels like it's been a million years and five minutes all at the same time. I'm proud of myself for sticking it out because it is the most academically challenging thing I've ever done.

Here is what I've learned:
1. You SHOULD NOT go to law school unless you really want to. If you're thinking "Maybe I'll go to law school" or "I'll just go to law school." You are making huge mistake. Only go if you can't do what you really want to do without it.

2. In stressful situations, people regress and act like middle-schoolers. Of course, when you take the bus to school, eat in the cafeteria, and have lockers you really don't have any other choice.

3. I'm actually pretty smart and not just getting by on red hair and cleavage ;)

4. My husband is the most supportive wonderful patient man in the world.

5. Lots of awesome legalese like: fee simple subject to condition subsequent, joinder, impleading, Palsgraf, and Learned Hand...oh and lots and lots of Latin.

6. I will never never think like a normal person again. (Case in point: I was listening to a great song by the legendary Loretta Lynn called "Women's Prison" about this woman sitting on death row b/c she killed her husband when she caught him cheating on her. And I thought "No way she'd go to death row b/c that's definitely adequate provocation and she'd only be charged with voluntary manslaughter." SAD!)

So anyway, I'm hoping to blog a lot over the next few months as well as do a lot of reading for pleasure! I start work for the Honorable Representative Ben Chandler for the 6th District of Kentucky on May 23rd. But I'm only working there till July 1 and then I'll be tracking around the country to catch up with all the people I haven't' spoken to in the past several months!

Mmmmm...minty.

Mint Julep
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

Though there was no hope of a Derby Party yesterday - what with Sarah studying and us far away from the Bluegrass, but I was undeterred, crafting a mighty fine mint julep.

The recipe:

1 julep cup or "old fashioned" type glass (we own a julep cup, but it's off limits since it was a wedding gift from our college President)
1 tablespoon hot water
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 oz. good Kentucky Bourbon
5 fresh mint sprigs
bunch of crushed ice

Place four of the mint sprigs in the bottom of a separate cup and pour the tablespoon of hot water over them. Add sugar to the mixture and allow to steep until the water cools, making sure the sugar dissolves. Then muddle the leaves in the water with a muddler (or the back of a wooden spoon, like I did). Strain the mint leaves out of the water and then squeeze them over the glass so as to get all the delicious mintiness out of them. Discard mint leaves. Add bourbon and stir. Fill julep cup to overflowing with crushed or shaved ice, preferably making a rounded top like a snowcone. Pour bourbon/syrup mixture over ice. Add straw and place last mint sprig so you get a big whiff of mint when you sip from straw. Enjoy responsibly.

There are all sorts of recipes out there to make massive amounts of mint julep mix, but I've found this one to make a pretty good one serving version. Also, I did not think Giacomo would win yesterday, though I did go on record saying I didn't think any of the favorites would win. Unfortunately, I placed no bets.

Well, that was dumb

Using a taser on a librarian to steal library books from Transy is a really stupid idea, trying to sell them to Christie's is an even stupider idea.

Baseball

I went into work at 6 am this morning to bill some hours so that I could take part in my first "businessman's special" - 1 o'clock baseball at RFK stadium. The Braves were in town and my friend Paul at the firm has season tickets, so we took off around noon to go to the game.

Long story short, Braves won with two unearned runs in the ninth - I was happy.

We also got a flickr pro account from Christopher, so you can expect a lot more photos soon.

Awesomeness

Went to The Fiery Furnaces concert tonight. They frickin' ROCKED OUT....

Sarah went to dinner with a friend of ours to whom she lost a bet (Presidential election bet-d'oh). I'll let you know if the restaurant is worth going to.

All Apologies

We realize that after several months of very occasional posting most of our "readers" have given up on us. Trust that we really want to do better, but both of us sit in front of screens and type all day, so it's not exactly our dream hobby to do that when we get home. Still, we swear we'll do better.

Currently Sarah is trying to transfer to Georgetown and is finishing up her first year of law school. Nicholas is working hard and loving his job, except the occasional long day.

Benjamin was in town this evening and he and I went to dinner, while Sarah held a long-planned clothes-swap. She's quite the entertainer. (Example: We traveled to a less than safe neighborhood last night to get individual champagne bottles. Sarah walked up to the glass encased employee and said "I called earlier about the champagne," to which the employee answered " I knew that when you walked in.")

As for the aforementioned trip to NYC, it was fantastic, and if you're ever in the Village and get to go to Po or the Magnolia Bakery, GO, you won't regret it.

This weekend is our first Cherry Blossom Festival, and they are all blooming perfectly, so we might have some good shots. Please, we know we've been less than reliable in the past, but we'll really try.

All Apologies

We realize that after several months of very occasional posting most of our "readers" have given up on us. Trust that we really want to do better, but both of us sit in front of screens and type all day, so it's not exactly our dream hobby to do that when we get home. Still, we swear we'll do better.

Currently Sarah is trying to transfer to Georgetown and is finishing up her first year of law school. Nicholas is working hard and loving his job, except the occasional long day.

Benjamin was in town this evening and he and I went to dinner, while Sarah held a long-planned clothes-swap. She's quite the entertainer. (Example: We traveled to a less than safe neighborhood last night to get individual champagne bottles. Sarah walked up to the glass encased employee and said "I called earlier about the champagne," to which the employee answered " I knew that when you walked in.")

As for the aforementioned trip to NYC, it was fantastic, and if you're ever in the Village and get to go to Po or the Magnolia Bakery, GO, you won't regret it.

This weekend is our first Cherry Blossom Festival, and they are all blooming perfectly, so we might have some good shots. Please, we know we've been less than reliable in the past, but we'll really try.

Congratulations to Sarah!!!!

Sarah made it onto Moot Court yesterday, which is a very big honor for any law student. This means she gets to go to national competitions and argue - can you imagine a better activity for Sarah?

Not Much to Report

Sorry we went more than a month without posting. February has just been a little blah...work/school, etc. March should be better, we're going to NYC for a weekend, and I get to go to Orlando for work while Sarah heads to Paducah during her spring break. Better times ahead.

Brrrrrrr...

Snow Angels on the Mall
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

We skipped the inaugural celebration because it was too cold, but we weren't going to miss out on our first snow in DC. We have a few pictures at flickr.

It's Snowing...

We're supposed to get 9 inches from now through tonight. Pictures may follow, watch flickr.

Maggie Got a Haircut

Who's that pretty dog?
Originally uploaded by The Smooze.

Isn't she cute?

No, seriously....

I'm supposed to be impressed by this?

I don't think so. Especially knowing this and this.