Happy New YEAR!!

I know its been a little while since my last update. Ok. A long while. We had a lovely drive up from Florida (no traffic, unlike the hideous trip down). I introduced my Aunt Diane to the wonders of driving without stopping for an hour every two hours - strait through, with running in for gas, food and bathroom. She was whining a lot about it, but then was suddenly delighted when we arrived in D.C. at 7 pm instead of her original projection of 10 pm.

Florida was awesome. Wish I could've stayed longer. I loved visiting everyone! I need to start planning for my next trip, but now this work thing will probably get in the way (sigh).

And the inevitable party

Anyway, after one of the best pizzas I've had in my life (thanks Karen for pointing out the local Pizzeria Uno to my Aunt Diane), I headed to old Alexandria to the twins' house for a New Years Eve part. First, I have to say, I loved their house. Its one of those brownstones that you only find in urban residential areas like in DC or Philadelphia or Boston. Three floors. A beautiful living room with bookshelves built into the wall around the fireplace. Oh, I wish I could find a place like that in Houston - but somehow, I picture it as more a northeast house layout.

The party was great. Somehow I think they made a profit by charging a 10 dollar cover. Their friends were awesome. It was even cooler that they were all "normal" people... By "normal" I mean they were NOT engineers or scientists. I need to find more of these people to hang out with. I talked to a few International Relations students specializing in strategic studies of eastern Europe. Then I talked to some law students about product liability. Then I talked to an aspiring fiction writer (she's actually writing full time) about exercising to encourage creativity (something I need, because despite all my expository writing, I find it almost impossible to write fiction). Then, I argued Israeli politics with some very right-wing zionist extremists. Oh, and we drank and gambled for prizes.

I met Sharon's new cat - Etilda Archibald. ETilda is because it looks like ET. ArchiBALD because, well, its BALD. Its a kitten (a sphynx) and looks like a baby Mr. Bigglesworth. So ugly, she's kind of cute. Unfortunately, there were also two other kittens in the house that did actually have hair, which triggered a post midnight allergy attack and I had to leave before 2 am. But it was a really awesome party, I am so glad I went. I really miss the twins. My high school friendships and my college friendships are about 180 degrees opposite. Both types I value completely, but they are completely different. I formed my closest friendships in college because of shared interests, shared activities, shared career goals. I have none of those things in common with my high school friends, but everytime we get together, everything is instantaneously rekindled. Sometimes I feel like my college friendships would become much more strained if we weren't in constant contact (there are a few exceptions to that generalization, and I consider those exceptions my closest college friends). I don't know, its just different. Maybe I will see more of them if I go back to DC in a few years from now to do my masters in Public Policy (an idea that sounds more appealing everyday).

And, finally, on the move

Well, the movers are here and packing. Its so satisfying. You know, all my life, I have done my own packing. My parents never worked for a big company that provided movers, so when we moved, at least in my memory, we moved ourselves. And then, there's the coming and going from college - I had help, but still, by myself and the kindness of famiy and friends. But it was a nightmare. It is a nightmare. I love living in new places, but the process of moving is AWFUL. Oh, how I love movers...

Now, I just need to find a place to live in Houston that I can afford and has a nice view of the water. Anyone looking for a roommate??