Today I woke up early, a consequence of a 7:00AM (or earlier) alarm during the week, and stared at my ceiling. Then, rolling over onto my stomach with a sleepy and rather unladlylike "Oomph," I stared into my black pillowcase. I hardly remember if it was black because of the fabric or my closed eyes, but it doesn't really matter. After a while, I sat up and texted Abby to see if she wanted to go to Eastern Market with me. Over an hour later, we hit the ground towards Union Station. The Girl's Day with Abby was a sweet, spontaneous blessing. Abby has this way of making you feel comfortable in your own skin, and conversation with her runs easily.
Once we made it to the Eastern Market stop, we weren't sure which direction to head, so we walked around until we came to a church rummage sale. That was a blast. We ended up buying a few stuffed animals- two for her dog, and one as a gag gift for my brother, although there were a few things that caught our eye. Fortunately, our pocketbooks were saved by the fact that we had no way to take many of these things home (like the crystal serving bowl we were both eyeing; or the ladder-style book shelf that would have looked great in my apartment.... oh well!).
Thirty cents poorer, a lady directed us towards Eastern Market, and we began to walk again.
Eastern Market was a lot of fun! It was a cross between a flea market, a farmers market, and whatever is between the two. I'd like to go back with a grocery bag because the produce looked good and reasonably priced, and they had huge bouquets of flowers for $6.00.
I was tempted. So tempted.
Once we made it to the Eastern Market stop, we weren't sure which direction to head, so we walked around until we came to a church rummage sale. That was a blast. We ended up buying a few stuffed animals- two for her dog, and one as a gag gift for my brother, although there were a few things that caught our eye. Fortunately, our pocketbooks were saved by the fact that we had no way to take many of these things home (like the crystal serving bowl we were both eyeing; or the ladder-style book shelf that would have looked great in my apartment.... oh well!).
Thirty cents poorer, a lady directed us towards Eastern Market, and we began to walk again.
Eastern Market was a lot of fun! It was a cross between a flea market, a farmers market, and whatever is between the two. I'd like to go back with a grocery bag because the produce looked good and reasonably priced, and they had huge bouquets of flowers for $6.00.
I was tempted. So tempted.
Abby found a beautiful fresh-water pearl ring, and I bought a sunhat, and we moved to a different section. There was a lot to look at, and it was a perfect way to spend a Saturday. Most days until now, barring this past week because I've been feeling under the weather, have been jam-packed with something. We're in DC, so we have to make the most of it, right? I'm finding that a bit more moderation is necessary. Yes, we only have ten weeks... but that doesn't mean everything has to be done in the first five. It's an unreasonable demand, and your body will let you know that.
After wandering around most booths, Abby and I had girl talk, nachos, and shared a burrito at District Taco (second time in two days-- that good, and pretty affordable for fast food here). I hadn't realized how very, very much I missed my sister-in-love (thus named because we can't legally adopt one another as siblings), Bridget, until today.
On the way back to the metro we grabbed sunscreen/tanning oil at a corner CVS (you can guess which my European turn-red-but-never-brown skin grabbed), and then ducked home to throw on swimsuits. Girls at the Solaire had offered to let Abby and Kendra use their guest passes for the pool, and another girl had given hers to my roommate and I to use. Saying yes was terribly easy.
Before we knew it, the sun was heading down and we had been lying sleepily beside the pool for three hours. I was a bit disappointed that I didn't have a tan line. That's silly, isn't it? At least I didn't burn. I had wanted, desperately, to have a pretty tan. Oh well. Does tan develop over a couple days?? This is something I don't know since I've never purposely tried to tan. (Usually my time is spent slathering on more 500SPF sunscreen.)
This was my first time in a swimsuit in years, really. I think the ChapFit program last semester really built my self confidence and the way I look at myself. The fact that most of the people at the pool were female probably helped, too. Either way, I got a great half nap in. Yawwn.
After I got home, showered, straightened my hair for Sunday, and returned from Walmart with groceries, it was past 10PM and I really didn't feel like eating a heavy dinner. Laying in the sun so long had dehydrated me, and so I was battling a headache as well... so I ate a nectarine for dinner and went to sleep. It's a rough life.
All in all, it was a very relaxing day. I'm glad that we didn't go running all over creation to look at as many DC hotspots as we could. Instead, it began by watering a sweet friendship, continued with a call from the young man who always finds ways to make me smile, and ended with a call home to dad. Beginning or ending a day talking with my dad is really the best thing ever, and I'm thankful when either opportunity presents itself. I feel so blessed to have the relationship I do with both of my parents. DC is a fun, enriching experience, but being home in six weeks will be equally amazing.
After wandering around most booths, Abby and I had girl talk, nachos, and shared a burrito at District Taco (second time in two days-- that good, and pretty affordable for fast food here). I hadn't realized how very, very much I missed my sister-in-love (thus named because we can't legally adopt one another as siblings), Bridget, until today.
On the way back to the metro we grabbed sunscreen/tanning oil at a corner CVS (you can guess which my European turn-red-but-never-brown skin grabbed), and then ducked home to throw on swimsuits. Girls at the Solaire had offered to let Abby and Kendra use their guest passes for the pool, and another girl had given hers to my roommate and I to use. Saying yes was terribly easy.
Before we knew it, the sun was heading down and we had been lying sleepily beside the pool for three hours. I was a bit disappointed that I didn't have a tan line. That's silly, isn't it? At least I didn't burn. I had wanted, desperately, to have a pretty tan. Oh well. Does tan develop over a couple days?? This is something I don't know since I've never purposely tried to tan. (Usually my time is spent slathering on more 500SPF sunscreen.)
This was my first time in a swimsuit in years, really. I think the ChapFit program last semester really built my self confidence and the way I look at myself. The fact that most of the people at the pool were female probably helped, too. Either way, I got a great half nap in. Yawwn.
After I got home, showered, straightened my hair for Sunday, and returned from Walmart with groceries, it was past 10PM and I really didn't feel like eating a heavy dinner. Laying in the sun so long had dehydrated me, and so I was battling a headache as well... so I ate a nectarine for dinner and went to sleep. It's a rough life.
All in all, it was a very relaxing day. I'm glad that we didn't go running all over creation to look at as many DC hotspots as we could. Instead, it began by watering a sweet friendship, continued with a call from the young man who always finds ways to make me smile, and ended with a call home to dad. Beginning or ending a day talking with my dad is really the best thing ever, and I'm thankful when either opportunity presents itself. I feel so blessed to have the relationship I do with both of my parents. DC is a fun, enriching experience, but being home in six weeks will be equally amazing.
Blessings,
Clarice
Clarice