NOOBS

What happens when 2 Utah girls who haven't had food for a week go crazy at Costco...only to realize they don't have a car to put all of their food in when they leave the store??

They have to steal the cart...walk 1 mile home in back alleys...and push the cart through gravel...in the freezing cold.

We even walked past three cops who just looked at us like we were idiots. In Provo I am pretty sure we would have been arrested. 

Man, we are really smart!

When we FINALLY got back to our apartment, we didn't have a way of getting our massive cart up the stairs to the elevator, so we had to use our original small cart we have at our apartment and take small trips up the 11 floors...and that was the EASIEST part of the journey!!

I hope this post made you smile. Happy MLK day!!

A Day In Philly!!

Don't be fooled by "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

IT WAS FREEZING TODAY.

My day began at 4:00 am when I woke up, got ready and caught a 5:30 bus to Philly. It is now 11:30 and I am finally home and winding down. I spent the ENTIRE day walking around Philly (yes, I am extremely sore, but firmly believe that all my hardcore shopping better prepared me for today compared to some of the people I was with). We PACKED it all in. I will illustrate with pictures:

First up: The Famous Rocky Steps

Philly should be called the City of Statues, cause they have statues EVERYWHERE!

Town Hall

We went to the Masonic Temple and they told us they had a really old copy of the Book of Mormon. It was published in 1842 in Nauvoo just 2 years before Joseph Smith died. They let us handle it and everything! So neat!!

We also got into the temple tour for free because we are LDS. LOVED IT. 

Of course you HAVE to get a Philly Cheese Steak for lunch!! It was DELICIOUS, but FREEZING!

Coolest part of the day: Being in the room where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were created at Independence Hall. I was in the same room as the Founding Fathers! That blew my mind!!

Below is where Washington sat. Neat eh??

Liberty Bell: HUUUGE disappointment. Our friend read that it was 12 feet. We got so excited that it was this MASSIVE bell. Well we got to it and it DEFINITELY wasn't 12 feet. We went back to read again and found out it has a 12 foot circumference. The bell was just a let down after that!!

Last but DEFINITELY not least: Mutters Museum. This showed body parts with CRAZY abnormalities. Unfortunately, they don't let you take pictures inside. 

While today was a blast and all, I was ready to get out of Philly. That is definitely a one-day stop for me, I didn't LOVE the feel of the city like I love D.C. but I am glad I went and saw Philly with some great pals!

Funny Observations

Sad Warning: This post contains ZERO pictures. My bad. 

Apple: I turned my phone into a WiFi hotspot and now have internet in my apartment (very good news for Life in the Sexy Lane).

Lemon: You know when you travel and feel like you are forgetting something VERY important? Well, I forgot a very crucial thing in Utah: My Voice. I am really hoping I feel better real soon cause being sick across the country from your family SUCKS. 

Okay, so I have made some very funny observations about this city that I wanted to share:

1. If there was an actual Zombie Apocalypse, it would begin in D.C. I was literally FREAKED out walking to work the other morning. EVERYBODY wears black, and DOES NOT smile. It serious freaks me out! People just speed on past you without making eye contact or smiling. I really feel like I am in a scary dream with Zombies or something!! I really want to walk around and smile at people just to see how they react, but I am kinda scared! These folks are intense. 

2. Escalator Etiquette: If you want to ride up, ride on the right...DO NOT stand on the left side. That is the "passing lane" for people who want to walk up. People take this rule VERY seriously and yell at people who don't follow this rule. You only make the mistake of standing still on the left side once in this town. 

3. If I wanted to be completely entertained for a day, I would go to the GWU Hospital. That place is straight out of a movie. I had to go visit a coworker the other day and I literally felt like I was in Grey's Anatomy. Codes are being called, people are being rushed in whilst doctors are pumping their chests, and it's a haven for local crack whores. It seriously is SO busy, unlike the low key Utah hospitals that may have one or two real emergencies per day. Also, like on Greys, there are surgical residents who have interns following them around and the residents treat them like crap and tell them when they are asking dumb questions. I was truly entertained. I hope to never have to be admitted into the hospital, but I really want to go back just to be entertained!

4. Metro during rush hour = most stressful time of my life. There is no such thing as personal space. People just cram themselves into these trains. I have never been more up in someone's business as I have been the last few days. Not to mention the thought that crosses your mind every time a train comes close "Is someone going to jump in front of it?"...seriously my life is like a movie. 

5. In D.C. you don't get complimentary grocery bags. You are charged 5 cents per bag. I guess they are trying to discourage the use of plastic bags and people are supposed to bring their reusable bags. Such a foreign concept to me slash kinda ticks me off that if I buy a bunch of stuff at a store, I am then required to pay for the dumb plastic bags to put them in!!

So there's a few funny things I have noticed in just the past few days. This really is such a different culture to get used to, but at the same time SOO entertaining. I keep finding myself thinking "Is this real life?". 

Exploring

I don't wanna brag or anything...

But I live in the coolest place EVER!!

Yesterday, my roommate and I decided to get on the metro and explore this place a little. There is sooo much to see and I am so glad I will have four months to get it all in. I really think a week vacation here would be EXHAUSTING trying to see it all. Yesterday, we went out to the national mall and saw the Washington Monument from far away since it is closed, and the Jefferson Memorial. I love the feel of this city and all of the history. There is no way you couldn't become more interested in history after living here. Here are some pictures that FINALLY uploaded after trying a million times. Blogger and I aren't friends right now, so they are out of order (irritating to a Type A personality like myself). 

Sadie and I. We just met 2 days ago and we are instant pals!

Washington Monument

We just walked past the Treasury and I got excited!

Jefferson Memorial

View from Jefferson of the Washington Monument

TJ- Such a legit guy!

I absolutely LOVE it here! WARNING: The next four months you may or may not be jealous of my life when you read my blog. 

An Adventurous Day ONE

Well folks, I made it!

I am the newest resident of Crystal City, and let me tell you, it is a very magical place. 

So this is how my journey went down:

Early morning on Friday, Cath took me to the Provo airport where we said goodbye. Once we said goodbye, I pretty much FREAKED out, as any healthy person would do. I just kept shaking. I didn't cry at all. I just couldn't stop shaking. Like, extreme panic attack that I had no control over. Well, that all diminished when the flight attendant complimented me on my new coat. Love nice people. 

So then I have a layover in Denver. By this point, I am cool, calm, and collected. I am very excited to get to D.C. and start a new adventure. At the same time, I am slightly panicked because I had 3 huge bags and didn't really know how to get to my place in Crystal City. 

Insert small miracle: 

About 10 minutes before boarding the plane, a young man comes and sits next to me. He told me he could tell I was Mormon and he was also Mormon. He asked what I was doing going to D.C. Well, when I told him I am moving into a new place and have no idea what I am doing he was quick to take action. First, he called his roommate to pick us up from the airport to help with my bags. Then, he took me to dinner at the Kabob Palace (surprisingly tasty). Afterwards, he drove me to various stores to pick up my bedding, food, and other living necessities. 

As Rosie and I always say: Must be a tithing blessing.

Seriously though, God straight up had my back on that one! Just another confirmation that this is where I am supposed to be at this time in my life. So today I am pretty much EXHAUSTED. I slept in until noon, and now I am chillin in the "business center" of my apartment building where I get free internet and breakfast. Basically...I feel like I live in a hotel!

I am so ecstatic to be here and experience a whole new culture! Apparently my singles ward is one of the largest in the country with 300 singles. Crappy part- it's at 8 in the morning and people don't dress casual at church here! 

So I think that is about it. I will take more pictures of my place and of this beautiful little city in the next few days! Work starts on Monday, I am only slightly nervous!

Adios

 All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

Airplane ride is looking to be terrific with: 

My new running book

Juicy Magazines

Snacks

And of course, a GREAT flying playlist. 

See you in four months!!

Gonna Miss This Face

I mean, who wouldn't??

Thank heavens for Skype. 

Utah, we only have 1 day left together.