Wine Festival

    Saturday was the annual Wine Festival held at Bull Run Regional Park.  Wine plus a gorgeous day...of course, we were there!  I packed up the cheese ball, brownies, and bottled water, and we headed to Bull Run with AJacks and KielMac.  I was most excited that we would be heading to Bull Run, which, for those history buffs, was the place where the first major land battle during the Civil War occurred (also known as First Manassas).  Although we didn't see any reenactments or memorials, we did toast to our nation's unity over a glass (or several) of "wine tastings."
    Little did I know that Virginia is the 5th largest wine producer nationwide with more than 200 wineries.  Many of these were represented at the festival, each offering tastings of their unique wines.  PDub and I have been to Napa and Sonoma twice now, visiting and tasting at a few wineries.  These trips do not compare to what I experienced on Saturday.  No, you didn't get the picturesque winery in the background, but yes, you did get tents and tents within frolicking distance to try new wines and and see live bands and jugglers.  From the Chardonnays to the Cabernets, our glasses nearly never emptied.  I must share with you a description because these amuse me every time:


"This Chardonnay was steel fermented at cool temperatures, eliciting robust fruit notes, a medium body, and refreshing acidity.  Flavors such as banana, pineapple, and red pear shine through on this wine that pairs fine with food, but stands alone as a Fall-sipper just as well."


    Doesn't it just make your taste buds water?  Dee-Light!  I think I am becoming a wine connoisseur because at the beginning I truly tasted all of these flavors.  However, as the day went on, they kind of all ran together...I guess it was expected.

Bull Run Regional Park with all of the wine tents

No, we didn't carry this around with us...

Best corn dog EVER!

AJacks and me

Our loot...or bootie...whichever you prefer...

Landmarks

    Since I can remember, I have been playing the St. Louis Arch game.  When entering the city, the first person to see the arch and declare it wins the game.  In addition to playing it with my friends on the way to the city, PDub used to send me a text every time he passed it on the way to school stating: "I see the arch; I win."  This let me know where he was in his journey.  From time to time, I still receive a text from his mom saying the same thing.  We obviously haven't been able to play this as often as we used to seeing that Houston does not have any major landmarks; however, we hit the jackpot in D.C.

    Over the past week, PDub and I have travelled the 8 miles into the city for dinner, drinks, and errands (yes, we have made more friends...I'll introduce you to them later).  Each time, PDub decides to play the arch game only with the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, White House, Capitol Building, Kennedy Center, Jefferson Memorial, and any other landmark that we should pass.  If you ask me, he has a case of the cheating...

Lincoln Memorial

White House (our new neighbor)  

Washington Monument

    I am amazed at this new home we have made in our nation's capitol!  I am no longer a tourist in this city, but I will always love driving past these landmarks knowing that I get to see them as often as I want.  As for the game, it's time for some ground rules!

Fanny Packs

    "A fanny pack (US, Canada), belt pack (US), belly bag (US), Buffalo pouch (US), hip sack (US), waist bag (US), hip pack (UK), bum bag (UK, Oceania, Ireland), cangurera (Mexico), koala (Venezuela), banano (South America), riñonera (Argentina), pochete (Brazil) or moon bag (South Africa), is a small fabric pouch secured with a zipper and worn by use of a strap around the hips or waist" (Wikipedia).  Fanny packs received their name for their original placing, which was right above the boomcherattum aka buttocks.  Now you may be wondering why in the world I am writing about fanny packs.  Well, you see, I'm trying to awaken their existence...the fanny pack comeback!
    Fanny packs are the perfect accessory for a hiker, biker, and garage saler.  It's the optimal place to store important items such as identification, cell phones, and snacks.  Additionally, the fanny pack does not hinder your shoulder and arm movement like a purse or a satchel.  If only Indiana Jones would have had this information!  It has easy accessibility unlike a backpack.  You whip it around your waist, and bam, you have your stuff.  It also does not restrict your biking or hiking, and it's the perfect place for money storage when pick pockets are present.  Bonus!  They are still for sale at many department stores!
    When we were downsizing our house back in Texas for the big move, I came across my fanny pack and reached a dilemma.  To store, to take, or to sell?  That was the question.  My decision, a fanny pack would be perfect for our touristy activities in D.C.  When I busted it out for our first time for our dog park trip (no worries, we took Maya), PDub informed me that we would never make friends with me sporting such an item.  I guess he really didn't take me seriously until I exited the car with it on.  I had my cell phone, identification, and dog treats in it.  What more could you want?  PDub proceeded to ask me if I had remembered to bring Maya's frisbee...TA DAH...in the fanny pack.
    We may not have made friends (they probably were all jealous that they had rid themselves of such a coolness a long time ago), but every dog at the park was interested in such an accessory (could have been the treats).  Either way, I will still bust out my fanny pack from time to time and point out every individual wearing one.  You really shouldn't pass people up like that.  I might even have to bedazzle mine...bring more attention to it, you know.  So, in ending, I ask that you dig out that fanny pack, bum bag, banano, etc. and consider taking it for a spin!

Jealous?

How about now?

Bedazzled!

Stylish!

Public Transportation

    As you can probably guess, PDub and I are not accustomed to public transportation.  We grew up in a town where public transportation was non-existent.  In Houston, although public transportation was present, it was easier to drive everywhere.  Our new home in Arlington is three blocks from two different metro stops, so it was necessary that we become acclimated to public transportation.

 
    My first experience with the metro in D.C. took place approximately two years ago with two of my close friends.  We descended into the tunnel where you could buy your pass (a card that you put money onto), walk through the gates, and (hopefully) choose your correct train.  The three of us purchased our passes and proceeded to the gate.  The kicker: only one of us had ever used this system before, and of course, that person shot right through the gate and out of vision.  The other two of us inserted our tickets, surveyed the unopened gate, and helplessly looked at each other.  Luckily, a not-so-polite business woman (that I still picture as twice my size) said, "You gotta take your ticket."  We took our ticket, and go figure, the gates opened.

 
    Now PDub's first experience was a little different than mine, as his always are.  PDub first visited D.C. with his family when he was in the fourth grade, and his sister was in the seventh grade.  Their problem wasn't getting through the gates, but instead, determining which train to get on.  Being the confident young woman she was (and is), Doubles Shark-Whisperer quickly found the correct train, grabbed PDub's hand, and jumped on it leaving their parents behind.  To this day, I still picture the kids staring out the train window waving goodbye as their parents still debate over the accurate train.  As you can probably guess, PDub and his sister were located and rejoined with their parents.

    I recently took the metro for the first time by myself.  Destination: Reagan National Airport.  Time: Rush Hour.  After my first lesson with tickets and carefully planning out my trip, I breezed right through the gates and found my train.  However, this train was packed full, but this did not stop me from getting on it (I had a flight to make).  I had to stand, hold onto my carry-on (preventing it from falling on people's feet), and grip onto the bar above.  All while every portion of my body touched something/somebody else (I'd rather not think about it), and at each stop, even more people joined.  I probably should have stretched before this trip because I am a little too short to reach the bar above and my luggage was a bit heavy.  I most likely pulled something in my back after the ride, seeing that it hurt for a couple of days after.  This experience has confirmed that I'm a bit of a germaphobe and a little claustrophobic.  The metro is very convenient; however, avoiding it at rush hour is best...Lesson learned.

Our Little Wiener

    I must introduce you to our little wiener....Maya.  She is our 2 year old, mini dachshund who has given us a glimpse into parenthood.  Maya is your typical dachshund; she sits, shakes, rolls, fetches, barks at nothing, and eats everything, and we can't get enough of her.

    Our country girl wasn't made for the city, and therefore, moving has been pretty stressful.  She has gone from a huge house with a large back yard to a tiny apartment with no yard at all.  We have basically had to potty train the girl again.  She has already graced two hallways and one crosswalk with a little bit of herself.  The crosswalk wasn't too pretty, seeing we were trying to dodge Virginia drivers (another story).  Also, Maya has had to get used to seeing other dogs and people, nearly all the time.  The girl shivers with anxiety when met with another dog.  Let's just say the dog park wasn't as exciting for her as we wanted it to be.

A country dog bathroom...

A city dog bathroom...    

    Other parts of Maya have remained the same.  She still has three stages of sleep (increasing with the depth of sleep).  She also still barks at anything, already getting us one noise complaint.  No worries though, she's told every time that she begins to bark that the whole family gets in trouble for it.  After a couple of weeks, she began her daily run around the apartment ("I just felt like runnin'"-Forrest Gump).  Eventually, Maya will become a city girl; it's just going to have to take some adjusting...and most likely more treats.

Sleep Stage I - Legs extended, on belly

Sleep Stage II - On her side...usually occurring with a "tree falling" sound

Sleep Stage III - Belly up...very proper, Momma taught her well

Gotta look cool when moving to a new place

Making New Friends

"Best friends are those who, when you show up at their door with a dead body, say nothing, grab a shovel, and follow you." -Unknown Author

    Well, PDub and I are officially settled in; all of the boxes are unpacked, and the pictures are hung.  The next thing on our list is to make friends.  Our best friends are hundreds of miles away, and typically dead bodies need a good burying before that length of time (not that I would know).  For our game plan, we selected this Memorial Day weekend.  Here, I must take a time-out for a tribute to our troops and what better way to do this than with the use of  Zac Brown Band:

Salute the ones who died
The ones that give their lives
So we don't have to sacrifice
All the things we love....
Like our chicken fried, cold beer, jeans that fit just right, and yes, the radio up!

    On this weekend, our pool opened for the first time this season (of course, I started working out three days prior to this, gotta get that beach body!).  We expected to see and meet plenty of new faces, or at least, that's what we thought.  We are pretty introverted individuals which handicapped our friend-making skills.  Saturday morning, I refrained from being the first one in the pool this season and allowed the youngsters a go at it instead (really PDub wouldn't let me).  We eventually made our way to the pool for a little Vitamin D and some water immersion.  As I watched the kids dive down for their sticks, I couldn't help but reminisce.
    I'm sure most can attest to this but especially my childhood friends.  Nearly everyday of the summer, we were at the country club pool playing gutter ball, underwater tag, and sharks and minnows.  It didn't matter what school or town you came from, you were immediately accepted into this group and close relationships were made.  Even at break time, the clubhouse would be full of kids shoving tables together, eating mini tacos, and playing card games (B.S. was our selection).  At age 25, making friends isn't as easy as it used to be.  I mean PDub didn't even want to play underwater tag with me!
    After failing poolside, we decided to try pew-side.  According to their website, the selected church for the weekend claimed to have a contemporary service with a congregation composed of 100 individuals in their 20s and 30s.  The website was accurate, and we fit in perfectly.  With so many prospective friends, we of course lost all courage and bailed out immediately after the service ended.  From a positive standpoint, we found a church!
    Luckily, my sister-in-law, or Doubles Shark-Whisperer (found this on a PADI Scuba Diver Nickname website...deal with it, my friend), has just moved to Baltimore for a three-month rotation at Johns Hopkins.  I like to call it her new nurse-ing home.  Anyway, she and friends of a friend joined us for a pool/patio picnic on Memorial Day.  As for these friends of a friend, I can officially say that the paperwork is complete, and we have adopted them as our own.  AJacks and KielMac, we welcome you as our first friends!  So we may not have made more friends this weekend, but we did have some good times with Doubles Shark-Whisperer, AJacks (this is so close to Apple Jacks...hehehe), and KielMac.  If you live in the Arlington area and would like to join in my adventures (or just become our friends), please submit your resume (must have own shovel)!

Church of Clarendon

Riesling anyone?

Doubles Shark-Whisperer and PDub

AJacks and KielMac

Texas Pints

    My PDub is in France right now shaking hands with French operators at the refinery, receiving dirty looks from non-English speaking waiters, and avoiding collisions with his rented manual car...Jealous?  I think so.  Anyway, I spoke with him last night via Skype, and yes, we were a little frustrated that there was a lag time in our conversation, overlooking the pure beauty of talking to someone across the the Atlantic Ocean for free.  I have never been to France, so of course, I had several questions about the people, food, and area.
    As an aside, our family lives from meal to meal.  As in, we eat breakfast and are already planning what's for lunch and dinner.  We really don't think about much else.  Therefore, the majority of our conversation was about his meals for the day, and specifically his dinner that evening.  He told me that he was a given a rude look after the waiter asked him what wine he wanted, and he said red.  I guess the waiter snootily asked him what type of red wine.  At this point in the storytelling, I couldn't help but think of the Texas Pints story because you see, this type of answer from PDub isn't a one time thing.  It's happened before...
    Back when we lived in Texas, my fellow beerknurds and I enjoyed going to the Flying Saucer for a few brews.  This downtown bar has over 200 beers and the best pretzels!  Anyway, we would usually start off by ordering the Fire Sale, and on this particular day, any Texas pint was the special, meaning any beer brewed in Texas.  We each went around the table ordering a specific pint, and this ended with PDub ordering: "I'll have a Texas pints, please."  Of course, the conversation came to a halt, and we, including the waitress, looked at PDub in confusion, when really he was the one confused.  Unlike the waiter in France, the Texan waitress smiled and politely asked which one.  He proceeded to tell her, "The fire sale...the Texas pints."  She finally rolled off a list he could choose from, clarifying for my PDub that Texas pints includes several different beers.
    We still bring up the Texas Pints story from time to time and laugh about it.  Living with PDub is never boring!

Oh how I miss you...

At the Flying Saucer...

If this wasn't the reaction to PDub, it should have been....