cilantro plant made a comeback, even in

cilantro plant made a comeback, even in this horrible heat!

Football Pool: Week 2

Spoiler alert: I’m still in after two weeks of picking winning teams (Quick recap: everyone must pick one team to win each week; once they’ve picked that team, the can no longer choose it later in the season). Week one it was Tennessee; they won easily. Week two, Green Bay. Also an effortless win. Week three, well, I’m not so sure. I have some thoughts but don’t want to reveal them too early.

Primary Day

In D.C., because about 98 percent of its voters are Democrats, the Democratic primary day really is the election day. And so, I woke up today and rushed to the polls nearby to cast my ballot in the tight race between incumbent Fenty versus challenger Gray. And guess who was at our voting station preparing to cast his own ballot

A Sports Flick Doubleheader

Late last week, as Dan partook in his fantasy football draft, I popped in a movie about the sport most associated with fall and leaves and grass. Halfway through The Blind Side, I was totally engrossed.

My Own Eat, Pray, Love

Wednesday afternoon found me excused from work (electrical outage, AGAIN!) and at the movies, watching Julia Roberts recover herself and her happiness in her adventures in Italy, India and Indonesia. I had read the extremely popular book when it was still in hardback, before all the craze (trend setter, I think SO!) and loved her triumph over the difficulties life throws at people.

On the Flip Side

For most of the day, your feet are grounded. Sit at the computer desk–feet are grounded. Walk up the driveway–feet are grounded. Even run on the street–feet are grounded. But for a few hours this weekend, I floated my feet into the sky and let my upper body do all the work my feet usually do. Background: I had my playing around with headstand in my yoga practice for years now–kicking up a leg here and there. Around six months ago, though, I lifted both legs and they stayed. I was so surprised I almost fell over. I love the feeling. I feel light, airy, playful. I liked how even if I drift away for a split second, I’ll tip over. And something about reversing the natural order of things–head on top, feet on bottom–indulges my love for doing things a bit differently.
Since then, I’ve been enchanted with inversions, making my husband, parents and whoever else watch me enter the pose. So when I saw an inversion workshop was being held at Tranquil Space Yoga, I signed up! The class was intense. After warming up the core and shoulders, I found myself in two different headstand poses, but the elusive handstand and forearm stand still, well, eluded me. Something to work on for the next few years and then, I suspect, I’ll get into them when I least expect it. Or maybe I won’t….

Aug. 23, Really?

As I was getting dressed this morning, I heard on NPR that DC public schools are starting Aug. 23. August 23! Never in my precollege days did school start before September (I don’t really remember when classes started in my pericollege days, but let’s not dwell on that). I know, I know–times are changing. Some might say I’m old-fashioned.

This Post Has Nothing to Do with DC

So the blog is about DC; it doesn’t mean that every single post has to be. Especially as the temps are supposed to graze triple digits today and many Washingtonians wish they weren’t right now. Okay, you’re asking, so what’s the post about. South Africa!

Summer Time: (Wanting to) Get Outta Town

At lunchtime today, needing a break from the computer screen staring at me, I ventured outside for a walk. It didn’t seem so hot, no sun beaming down on me or anything, but when I returned to the office, I felt that the humidity had defeated me in a battle I didn’t even know was on.

Being Social: The Weekend Food Edition

My weekend, which started with Comet Ping Pong (if you count Thursday night), was filled with more firsts in the eating department. Friday night, I took Dan out for a belated birthday celebration at Social, a year-old micro dining (i.e., sharing dishes) establishment in Columbia Heights. Delicious, delicious, delicious.