Info

http://www.washingtonian.com/authorprofiles/12218.html


Cool bio of me on the Washingtonian site...I can't pose for a photo for the life of me. HAHA

From Sea to Shining Sea

"We go eastward to realize history and study the works of art and literature, retracing the steps of the race; we go westward as into the future, with a spirit of enterprise and adventure."

~Henry David Thoreau from Walking

I came across this quote while reading A Journey North by Adrienne Hall, who quoted Thoreau in her novel which is based on her experience on the Appalachian Trail.

This quote called out to me.

I have gone eastward...to study the works of...journalism (and literature I would presume). I am here for academic purpose more so then by my own spirited will. I'm not trying to say I don't want to be in Washington D.C., I do, but I'm not here to live forever. I generally like living here, knowing that this is not permanent. I enjoy not having to sit in traffic or drive (even though I do miss my truck at times). I enjoy riding on the metro and walking everywhere. I enjoy being able to run to the capitol building and the Lincoln memorial while I zip zag through the clusters of tourists. I enjoy being in a location where so many influential people congregate only eight blocks from where I live. D.C. has so many historical sites from landmarks to museums--even walking through Union Station gives me chills to know that I live here.

But as I soak up all the monuments and buildings, all the exhibits and congressional leaders, I know that my future is westward. Being here makes me realize how much of a west coaster I am, how much I appreciate my life back home and how much I want to continue to live my life that way.

But I would trade running along the path of the reflective pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument for running around Balboa Park. I think the historical significance alone can vouch for that.

Will you be my Valentine Washington, D.C.?

So I joined a small group at the church I have been going to. The group is called AT (Appalachian Trail). We did a small hike today at Great Falls on the Maryland side. It was GORGEOUS! Rocks every where in the most beautiful formations. We even spent some time climbing up some, A couple of us did a fun one that was maybe three stories high! (not to mention the landings for all of these were terrible, but the climbs were still fun! and worth it!) I want to go back there with my climbing shoes and give 'em all a go again. I was wearing my hiking boots which go up to a little past my ankles so they weren't the best for climbing on vertical walls with very little edges.

Great Falls

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Also, check out this link




http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/artsfun/afterhours/11221.html

Another Blog online I wrote! yay! iPhone apps!

I had a really awesome day today.

I'm beginning to like DC again. Back to the honeymoon stage.

But 16 more days till I'm back on the other side of the continent for a bit!

Natrual Selection

Happy Birthday Charles Darwin...


http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/artsfun/afterhours/11196.html


...and Abe Lincoln too!

I'm Leaving on a jet plane....

I had to purchase it! The departure times are to good to be true!
My Itinerary:

Depart D.C. a little after 5:30 on Tuesday evening with a connection in Texas, then arrive in San Diego after 10:30 pm that night

THEN,

I am here (home) from Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday AND SUNDAY. But I leave Sunday evening a little bit before 10 p.m.!

YA! Five full days home, I can't wait.


Sorry this isn't a description of the last two days, all I have had is class yesterday mixed with two naps (I was exhausted from my weekend of climbing and hiking) and reading of the two outdoorsy books I have, A Journey North, by Adrienne Hall and Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer, to promote and stimulate my constant day dreaming of the fresh air, tall pines, and somber grass fields. When I went hiking Sunday to, what D.C. claims as a National Park known as Rock Creek, I finally had the chance to hear wildlife. I heard the quite hooting of an owl, perched on top of a branch above me. I was almost hypnotized in place, as if God had broken through a thick billow of clouds above to call my name.

I joined this Hiking group from the church I have been attending and this Friday night is their first meeting. We are going to get dinner and then go ice skating in preparation to get to know everyone for the following day's hiking venture. I am really excited, not just to hike local trails, but to meet people in the city with a common interest.

But I am beginning to realize I'm going to have to take advantage of living here at some point...I mean I still got three months here...

I did find this environmental film festival that will be in D.C. in March that I am looking forward to, considering most of the films are FREE! There is a film on the Appalachian Trail that I am looking forward too and one on the addiction to plastics. A lot of the films will be premieres as well.

21 more days

I left my heart in SD

I have come to the conclusion that living in the city (without personal transportation) is not for me. I can't hop into my truck, leave the concrete jungle and head to clean air and trees. Nope. Not in D.C. It has begun to wear on me, I am a little irritable at times, and though visiting museums are all fine and dandy, I like being outdoors. I'm not trying to whine or complain about being here. D.C. is a great place, but not for me to live in it.

Coco's countdown to sanity:
24 days until I am in San Diego for a week to visit.

and

82 more days until I am back in the motherland.

Yesterday, I decided to go to a rock climbing gym in Maryland to revive my spirits. The 35 min metro ride seemed relaxing, as I brought one of the books I had purchased to remind me of the outdoors (Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, I'm about a third into it, and so far, it's a good read) I then proceeded a little more than a half of a mile of the metro station platform in Rockville towards the Earth Trek climbing gym. I walked in, and was greeted with the familiar musk. I purchased a 7 visit pass (and I plan on going every weekend) and proceeded into the gym to put my bag down and get ready. I was at home. Just seeing the familiarity of this environment made the trip there forth it. I walked through towards the back where the bouldering walls were. It wasn't too packed, but being it my first time, I checked out all the marked problems. After some debate, I proceeded to start off on a reasonable V2 to warm up on. I was so excited that I almost sprinted up the wall, until I was at the top and looked down.
"Is this the last one?" I asked a young guy below me, he looked friendly enough to not blow me off and instead provided a friendly response.
"Ya, it doesn't look like it tops out, you're good!"
The reason I asked was because the way the wall hung over a bit and I really couldn't see the markings on the holds.
I came down.
"That was pretty good," he said.
I humbly thanked him for the compliment and thanked him for his spotting.
I didn't have the notion that he was from around these parts.
We began talking, and Wes told me he had just moved to D.C. for an internship from Boulder, Co. He was feeling the pain of living in the city as much as I was. It was nice to meet someone who had the same magnitude of frustration of not being able to see mountains and trees.
We continued bouldering, he helped spot me on some harder problems before my arms got too pumped out. For not bouldering for almost four weeks, it felt amazing to climb.

I climbed for about an hour and a half and before I left, I gave him one of my new business cards and told him that if he ever needs someone to go trail running (in what trails they have in the city, which are quite pathetic compared to back home) that he had a running partner as well as a climbing parter. It was nice too, to meet people outside of the program I am in. There isn't really anyone in the program that would rather run to the National Mall and along the Potomac or go to Rock Creek instead of shopping in Georgetown. I mean their aren't any west coasters, true outdoorsy west coasters out here that are in so much abundance back home. I miss it. But I know that this is not permanent and is just a season in my life. Hopefully this season goes by fast.

Lomaland invades D.C.

In 24 hours, I will be assimilated among the Washington gatekeepers. The gatekeepers of entertainment, food, dining, and lifestyle that is. I start my internship at the Washingtonian
tomorrow morning. I really don't know what to expect. Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic over the fact I get to work in such a prestigious office. But I am not hold up expectations of being able to do certain things. I know that I will be blogging and working on their online content (uploading stuff) as well as I will be able to go out to events. I share an office with a young women whose name I will become refreshed with tomorrow since I am so bad with names. and I get my own desk top iMac! I really think that being in a magazine instead of working for a newspaper will really help me career wise since that is the medium I am looking to dive into (Outside magazine being only of my ultimate goals along with National Geographic, ESPN magazine, or Sports Illustrated.) So I hope this is the right step forward--I think it is.

The last couple days have been ...pretty boring actually. I mean I've done stuff but they haven't been as jam packed. I was fortunate enough and grateful to see three people this weekend; Dr. Sue Atkins, and Bob and Linda Brower. I felt like Point Loma had come to me for a couple days. See those familiar faces really helped suppress some feelings of being homesick which have been acutely trickling upwards. Thursday Dr. Atkins (a professor at my school who, I believe has really shaped my writing--WRI250 and WRI110 i believe) took me out to dinner to a great Thai restaurant near Eastern Market. But before we could enjoy some curry since the restaurant didn't open until 5, and we arrived early, we enjoyed a cup of coffee and some donut holes. It was really nice being able to talk with her and get to know her more and vice versa.

Sunday, I met up with Browers (the President of my school and his wife) at Union station for church and then they took me, Christina (Natalie's roomie) and Natalie Anderson (other Natalie who is from Olivet Nazarene) out to lunch at the Thunder Grill. We had a great time and a wonderful lunch. I really think that if I was not at Point Loma let alone a small school, I would not be able to get this personal, one-on-one relationships with faculty and professors. Point Loma is provides such a blessing through community on their students and staff. I miss being there, but I am glad it was able to come here for a couple days.