Oh Happy Day!

Looking back, my Sunday was a "Day of Food." And not in a holiday grazing sort of way, where you have to loosen your belt, but in a pure enjoyment sense. It was a gorgeous day outside and I unintentionally spent my entire day eating good food, as well as taking in plenty of food-related sights and smells without the disastrous caloric intake.

On Sunday morning, I dropped Bret off bright and early for his full-day practice multi-state exam (which he then proceeded to ROCK!), and headed to Luna Grill for brunch and good conversation with my friend Heather. I've been to Luna half a dozen times or so, since it is just down the hill from us in Shirlington Village, and so have been aware of what a gem Luna is for quite some time. I'm a huge fan of their Eggs Benedict & Home Fries, topped off with several cups of coffee (something about diners makes me drink a week's worth of coffee in one sitting). Since it was Heather's first visit, I am under the impression that you might find more of a "first impression"-type review over on her blogspot.

After brunch, Heather and I headed over to Penzeys Spices in Falls Church. I have passed the place a million times and had no idea what joys lay inside. All kinds of spices, and spice mixes- for chili, bread dipping, baking, rubbing... Unfortunately, I stocked up on the few spices I knew we needed when I made a recent pilgrimage to Wegman's, but it is comforting to know that the next time I need something for the spice rack, it's just a hop-skip-and-a-route-7-traffic-jam away.

After Penzeys, I headed back into Arlington to pick up Bret and enjoy the last couple of hours of a gorgeous day walking hand-in-hand with my husband through Georgetown. (Apparently I was not the only one to have this idea, as there were about a billion people milling about in the dwindling sunlight.) I also thought I could revive Bret's law-soaked senses with a trip to Dean & Deluca. While we barely escaped without buying any of the fresh fruit, deliciously stinky cheese, gourmet prepared food, and brightly colored candy, we simply enjoyed ducking in from the busy sidewalk to take in the sights and smells.

On Sunday night, Bret took a break from studying for a late dinner at Bastille, a little French bistro near the water in Alexandria. I used the occasion as an excuse for my first contribution to Tasting Serendipity, and you can check it out here.

The funny thing is that I didn't realize how food-centric that entire day was until I sat down to discuss it here. I just knew it was a wonderful day. Just goes to show what makes me happy: good conversation, quality time with my husband, spring weather, and Food.

And in one last food-related note, though not on Sunday, I tried this recipe for the Braised Beef Shortribs that I bought at Wegman's a couple of weeks ago. And IT. WAS. DELICIOUS. Due to the annoyingly sparse availability of both veal stock and demi glace, I substituted beef stock with no apparent sacrifice in the taste of the final product. We whipped up a batch of way-too-rich mashed potatoes to go with it, but I think it may have been better served by a loaf of crusty bread instead (to sop up even more of the tasty sauce). This is one of the rare occasions where I am actually excited about leftovers tonight.

Happy New...errrr....February!

Hellooooooooooooooo! Is anybody out theeeeeeeeeeere?

If anyone out there is still checking, I apologize for the absence. It's not that I've been too busy to blog, so I won't even attempt that excuse. The truth of the matter is that I haven't felt that I have much to blog ABOUT (and Bret has, legitimately, been too busy to blog, and you probably don't want to hear about the world of corporate tax and bar-studying anyway).

But all of that will change, my friends. Being, as I recently saw it put, "the opposite of employed," I have come to the realization that I should somehow enjoy this time. I mean, sure, I am applying and searching and generally soliciting my legal services for employment, but what I have decided to give up is the time spent fretting about it. Because I will find a job, and we are not starving, and it will do no good to worry. (In the words of a wise sort-of-US-Senator, "I'm good enough. I'm smart enough. And doggoneit, people like me!")

I have finished my college scrapbook that I started in June 2004. I'm slowly making progress in my "Books I've Been Wanting to Read" list, thanks in part to a newly-acquired Arlington Public Library System Card. I'm registered for a photography class that starts next week. And as for culinary pursuits, I've teamed up with my friend Carmen to "guest star" on her blog, Tasting Serendipity. I am hoping that will inspire me to cook more new and interesting things (maybe even actually use the shelf-full of cookbooks we've managed to acquire), and speak up about the restaurants we try (it is almost Restaurant Week, after all!).

As for Bret, pray for his soul. If you remember MY state of mind studying for the Colorado Bar last summer, imagine Bret working full-time at a brand new job and doing the same. Except in Virginia. A Commonwealth, with its silly little Commonwealth idiosyncracies. I wish I could unload part of his burden, but aside from caring for Elsa, keeping the house in order, and keeping him fed and watered, all I can do is reassure him that his suffering is finite.

The point is that we're back, folks. Or I'm back at least, and reporting that Bret is still alive and well. Well, alive, anyway. And I'm going to blog more. And you're going to read it. OK?

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas to all....



....and to all a good night!

* Boxes in the background were not editted out in order to preserve the memory of moving during the holidays. Recommendation: Don't do it.

More to come on settling in back in the old 'hood, etc. Needless to say, we made it here safely, and we hope that you are safe, happy and healthy, and have a tummy full of holiday goodness as you read this.

It's not Goodbye, It's See You Later

If you're counting, you know that this weekend was our last in Denver. What you may not know is that it was immediately preceded by Finals Week. Mix in a heavy dose of whatever cold/flu virus that is going around, and the related medication, and the result is that, well, we weren't prepared for this weekend. In any way.

I have been so busy cramming for my last three finals, and adding to our moving to-do list, and generally looking past the leaving part and towards the move itself, that I hadn't yet stopped to think about what we are leaving behind. We are leaving behind our first year and a half as a married couple. Our first house together. Our church, and our amazing church community, in which we found our place together. The only friends that don't know us any other way but together. (Not that I discount in ANY way or love any less all of our other friends, scattered about the country, who have known each of us separately for many years and now know "us".) But we moved to Denver, just the two of us, and took root, intending to stay "indefinitely." And it's just....bittersweet to leave.

And speaking of those friends we've made.... What amazing friends they are.

On Friday night (after I completed my LAST final, and thereafter received my DIPLOMA!), the Fisks hosted a "Farewell Lewises" dinner at their home. There were yummmmmmmy french dip sandiwches (for the record, one of my favorite dishes), handcut french fries, beverages, and Ohhhhhh the Pies. The pies were scrumptious. And so, we spent the evening with the Fisks, Whitneys, Hansons and Leppkes, chowing down, catching up and enjoying good company.

The ladies

The guys, playing Wii

Thank you, friends, for a thoughtful and lovely sending off.

On Saturday morning, after tackling a few items on our to-do list, we headed to our friend Syd's house, where she made us a deeeeelicious brunch, complete with a dutch baby pancake with fresh strawberries, bacon, coffee, and mimosas. We will sorely miss Syd as a friend and as a hostess.

After brunch, the three of us headed to our old 'hood -- Old South Pearl Street -- for the Winter Wonderland. We bid farewell to the ladies at our favorite pet shop (The Whole Cat & Dogs Too!), and to the cupcakes at Mulberries cake shop.

This morning, we attended our last service at Denver Community Church. We can only hope to find a comparable church community back in D.C. It has been amazing to watch our church grow in size and in spirit, gaining a reputation as a church that cares for its community and is proactive in helping those in need. We have been so fortunate to be a part of that community. After church, we had lunch with Jarrod & Amy Hanson and Heidi -- fitting, since they were our very first friends at DCC.

I hate goodbyes (must be hereditary), and because I KNOW that we will be back to visit at every opportunity (and our door will be open to Denver friends who come to our home back east) and I HOPE that our journey someday leads us back here, I refuse to say goodbye to all of the amazing friends we've made. So instead, it's See You Later.

Now, it's back to the actual packing...the movers will be here bright & early.

First Snow

It's been snowing since late yesterday evening. We're holed up inside, studying for final exams, but the view through the window is quite distracting. So we ventured out with Elsa for a quick and refreshing romp in the up-to-that-point undisturbed blanket of snow.

T-Minus Three Weeks

It seems the movers will be on our doorstep three weeks from today. LUCKILY, we visited D.C./Northern VA last week and found a place to live! We're headed back to our old neighborhood of Fairlington Villages, with it's lovely brick facades and tree-lined streets. Elsa is quite excited at the prospect of seeing some of her old doggy friends.

In the meantime, we are struggling to finish up this quarter's classes and not be too distracted by the lengthy moving-related to-do list.

"I think you guys are allergic to staying in one place..."

The title of this post is a direct quote from one of my dearest college friends who is never afraid to tell me exactly what he thinks. This particular quote was in response to our latest news....

We are moving baaaaack to the Washington, D.C. area. IN FIVE WEEKS.

Yes, in the same week, I was sworn in to the Colorado Bar, and we decided to move back to the east coast. And no, we are not gluttons for punishment, despite appearances. (Wait....this will be our third move in two years...well maybe we are gluttons for punishment, but that's not why we're doing this to ourselves...I think...)

Bret has an amazing job opportunity that we just can't pass up, and after many weeks of praying and pros & cons list-making (Pro: all of the friends we've been missing since we left in May 2007; Con: missing all of our new friends in Denver!), we think that this is the right choice. Since making this decision, we have had many bittersweet moments when telling our close friends here and there (and returning our recently purchased skis).

The thing is, Denver never seemed more like home than it has since we decided to leave. It will always be one of our favorite places due to our many unforgettable friends and memories here and I have no doubt that we will make our way back eventually.

For Heather (Steele), before it's no longer our address.

In the meantime, we're preparing to leave our charming little house on the corner, from which we can zip into downtown Denver in 7 minutes or into the foothills of the Rockies in 15 minutes, for the land of politics, delicious food of all kinds, traffic, pricey one bedrooms, glorious fully stocked grocery stores. and the time zone that I never seemed to have stopped living on.

Seems we'll be looking at the peaks of the domes and monuments of Washington instead of the peaks of the Rockies on Christmas morning this year. Funny where life takes you, huh?