Things That I've Learned

1. BEST CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH IN THE WORLD can still be found at Union Station, in D.C. It comes from a gelato place. When in D.C., go there, try a sample. If it doesn't make you want to immediately buy said sandwich, then you're not human. Just sayin'.
2. There are shockingly few Christmas light or window displays in D.C. Exception: Giant wreathes at Union Station which look like they are made from crystal. This said, the White House is incredibly beautiful on a clear cold night, perhaps more so since it's not covered in twinkly lights.
3. People LOVE Christmas music. Even hastily put together or incredibly tacky Christmas music, it doesn't seem to make any difference. I'm OK with that. I've had two holiday concerts with EPC, played Christmas duets at two different churches four times, played twice at the Museum for MDAB:Holiday Edition and will play at both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services this coming weekend. Oh, and a huge New Year's Eve concert later this month for which I am currently in rehearsals. I literally had only two days without something on them in December and they were both at the beginning of the month.
4. I need to remember to update my blog more often. Might start another one for movie reviews, which I used to do occasionally on LiveJournal, but haven't in a long time. I saw quite a few films in my theater worker days, not so many now, but I still enjoy watching and thinking about them.

Things that are Awesome

1. My dad fixed my car! It doesn't do that weird coughing thing when I'm idling at lights anymore. Woohoo!!
2. I spent last weekend in NYC with my dear Uncle Duane and his partner Lee. It was refreshing to see them in the context of everyday life, outside of visiting with family or them visiting here. NYC is smelly and dirty though and I don't think I could live there.
3. Traveling by Amtrak, assuming the trains are relatively on schedule. My ride home was pleasant and quick (by Amtrak standards anyway). The ride to NYC, on the other hand, was a complete disaster. Twelve hours on a train that should have taken something like ten. Amtrak shares its rails between Erie and Albany, NY (and other routes in the US, not necessarily just that one) with a myriad of freight lines, so unfortunately, traveling can take much, much longer than expected. Especially if the train is delayed by something before it comes in to Erie. I don't mind traveling by train, it's comfortable and pretty cheap, but it just doesn't go anywhere quite fast enough for my liking.
4. New York City Museums. OMG. Visited MoMA FINALLY and it is AMAZING. Want to go back, like tomorrow. Also saw more of the Met's 20th Century collection (I refuse to refer to this as contemporary or modern art, the terms are pretty blanket and I truly think that in 2011, 20th century art, like Warhol, is no longer quite contemporary). I'm slowly becoming an art snob the longer I work for the museum, so now I'm starting to recognize certain artists' works before looking at the labels, at least enough that the names aren't an incomprehensible jumble anymore.
5. MTA/the public transit system in NYC. Despite the map looking like a pile of multi-colored spaghetti, the buses and subways in NYC are quite efficient. I'm glad I didn't have to figure them out myself though, or I'd probably STILL be standing in Penn Station from Thursday night going, but if I take this train, will it get me where I'm supposed to be going??

Things I have learned today

1. My car sometimes doesn't like to start. Apparently, it just needs me to step on the gas while turning over, but this seems somehow counterintuitive. Anyway, it tried to do the "I'm not starting" thing this afternoon on the turnpike on my way to Virginia and I was like, no car. Don't do that here. I still have three and a half more hours of driving before I'm even close to anyone I know. Good think I have AAA.
2. Airport area hotels--sometimes a reasonable deal. I'm staying at a Hyatt Place, with a little suite for about $60 a night. It's 12 miles farther northwest from where Dennis lives, but it's nice and not full of bedbugs. Woohoo! Also, free internet. Slow, but free. So that works out.
3. There are at least two types of bike trainers, which is this neat little gadget that allows you to use your bicycle as a stationary bike indoors. Both attach to the rear wheel of your bike with some kind of little spinner thing for resistance. One wears the tires down, the other runs on the rims. They're unfortunately kind of expensive, so I'm still looking.

Things that are AWESOME

1. Spending time with your BFF's. Word. I spent some serious girl time with Gena and Zara this weekend. (independently... so time with Gena and time with Zara, not time with both. Though that would rock too.) Old friendships are often the best kind and rekindling them or keeping them going is a process.
2. HP7.2, which I saw a second time with Z this weekend. Though it still makes me cry. :(
3. New sweatshirt and boots. Shopping was productive and relatively reasonable.
4. Not having to work Sundays. Which I won't have to do anymore after the end of the month. Woo!

Awesome

Things that are awesome this week:

1. Turkey bacon. It's like bacon, but slightly better for you. This comes with the caveat that turkey bacon is gross when it's not cooked right, like this morning's at IHOP. Disappointment.
2. Getting to see my boyfriend AND my best friend in the same day, however brief. This also counts for last week.
3. Combining Benadryl cream AND hydrocortisone cream for ultimate bed bug itch stoppage. These bites are like a thousand times worse than the rashes I get from Tide. Of course the combination is probably making my skin turn into some kind of radioactive sludge or something. At least it doesn't itch.
4. Unfailing loyalty from someone else's dog. One of Julie's labs hasn't left my side since I got here. Kinda cute in a sad, he probably misses his family kind of way.

Things I've learned this week...

1. Bed bugs suck. Straight up. They sprayed for them in Dennis's apartment last Thursday, but since I've been here, I've been eaten enough to look like I have the chicken pox. Or maybe just regular pox. Except only on my right arm and foot.
2. You can jump start a car with a corroded battery. Not necessarily should, but you can. Or, you can use one of your AAA calls to have them come and jump start your boyfriend's car instead. Membership is already worthwhile.
3. The BEST chicken salad sandwich in the world can be found at Union Station in DC. Amazing.

More later.