I Don't Think I Even Have to Say Anything

The only thing I do need to say is, What is with all the red on the East Coast????

Any good stories?

Dating in DC can be interesting. I know I have said that before, but after going to lunch with my friend and laughing hysterically, I feel like I need to give some examples. Lately I haven’t had any dating stories to tell, not even funny ones. However, I have had some rather good stories from years past.

But first, let me tell you what my friend said happened to her. She went out with a guy last year or something during the summer. He had been in the Peace Corp in Romania, near Transylvania. They met up for a drink, she wore shorts and he wore long sleeves and pants. She said he was rather pasty, which isn’t bad just part of the story. When they got inside of the bar, he asked if they could go downstairs to the basement (where it was dark). While they chit chatted over drinks, he asked her what her favorite musical instrument was. She said she was sort of thrown by that question but answered it and then returned the question. To which he answered, the pipe organ! He said that he really started to like it while he was in the Peace Corp! She said the thing that really clinched it for her was that when he smiled she noticed that he had very pronounced and sharp canine teeth. Ha Ha! I asked her if during the date she felt the need to pull out a mirror or get some garlic or something.

I have not had any dates with vampires, but I have had some pretty bad dates. When I was a few years younger and believed I was going through a dry spell in my dating life. (Little did I know it only got worse) I met up with a guy from the internet. After this experience, I learned the lesson of talking to the person online for more then two emails and getting more pictures. But I was young and naïve. I told this guy, lets call him Fry (since his name was almost as bad), to meet me in a public place, I at least knew enough there. When he walked up to me I was a bit disappointed, but I felt bad for having those thoughts and told myself not to be so shallow, he is probably nice. So we headed off to the Natural History Museum. We walked around a bit and the conversation was mostly on his end. I don’t really remember everything he said at the time (it was a while ago). I do remember how I felt, which was BORED! After walking around for a bit, he had to go to the bathroom. So I was left in the middle of the museum lobby, by the elephant and wishing I had stayed home to do my laundry. I kept checking my watch and it seemed, at the time, like he had been in there forever. I started to think about how I could escape, just walk right past that elephant and out the door. It was that easy, just leave. You don’t owe this guy anything, he was boring. Just leave… The next thing I knew I was running past all the school children, practically pushing them out of my way like George Costanza and I was out the doors.

It was at that point that I thought what a bad decision that was. How once that poor guy gets out of the bathroom he is going to wonder what on earth happened to his date. How it might scare him away from dating anyone for a little while. But after I was outside, the smell of freedom was intoxicating. Plus, it would have really sucked to have had to explain to Fry why I was walking through the entrance again. So I went home, feeling slightly bad but only for a bit. By the time I made it home and explained why my date was over to my parents. The phone rang. It was Fry. My mom made me talk to him (something about feeling bad for the underdog). I apologized and tried to make the situation sound reasonable. His response was what really erased all regret from my mind. He scolded me! O.K. I know I had just run out on the guy, but I was young, internet dating was very new, potentially dangerous and my apology (I thought) was very well grounded. After he scolded me and tried to make me feel guilty enough to go out with him again or something. I pretty much told him “I don’t know you, I don’t owe you anything and you can’t scold me you aren’t my mother. Bye!”

Now that everyone thinks I’m a cold hearted devil…. No seriously, I do feel bad about how I handled that situation, but I can’t change that now and it only makes for a funny story ten years (or more) later. Please tell me any funny/bad dating stories you might have. They don’t even have to be from DC. I know people have them and we can all bond over our experiences.

Looking back

Now that I have had sufficient time to recover from my jet lag, I find myself in the post vacation blues. I am still half packed from my trip (completely sad and disgusting I know, but I did have a weekend trip to Chicago in there), peeling from my sunburn, showing people pictures, handing out souvenirs and telling stories. But my trip is over and I'm back to work, sitting at my desk and starting to get pale from the lack of sun and fluorescent lights. Don't cry for me, I know I just got back from vacation while most everyone else was stuck at work or at home.

Looking back on my vacation I realize that I not only had a great time, but I still have a lot of things I need to see in Cape Town. I did not climb up Table Mountain, didn't go to Robbin Island, didn't go to a Township, didn't drive down the Garden Route or go to a big reserve for a better safari experience. So I guess I now have some things on my list for my next visit.

I did, however, get from my vacation in Cape Town loads of memories, new friends and time with an old friend. Which, to me, is better than any walk up a mountain or a prison (no offense, Mr. Mandela). I feel truly blessed to have friends who are willing to take me into their homes and lives for two weeks, feed me, drive me around, and give me a trip I will never forget.

Thanks Sara and Mattias!

Just in case no one believed me....

Here are a few pictures from the Great White Shark Project (that was the name of the company we went with to see the sharks).



I tried to take pictures in the cage, but the water was a bit murky. Here is my best shot.


I think I like this last one the best.

Pictures from Africa

Since I couldn't do anything about pictures until I got home. Here are a few main highlights.

Last Day - Cape Town

My last day in Cape Town was pretty relaxed, we were still recovering from the sun burn. So stupid to not put on sun block! We shopped around town and I tried to make sure that I bought enough gifts and souvenirs. I know I'll never forget this trip, but I still needed to have tangible reminders.

Friday night we started off the evening with a picnic on the beach in Camps Bay. Some of Sara and Mattias' friends and a bunch of other people got together to enjoy the sunset... only problem was it was too cloudy to see the sun. But we had a good time with food, wine, volleyball and fireworks. The fireworks were someone else's but it seemed to be perfectly planned.

We then headed into town for dinner, I wasn't really hungry at this point but we had plans. We went to a place called Hayko or something like that. It was a very nice Japanese tapas place, I know that sounds silly but that is how it was explained to me. After dinner we went for drinks at Bang Bang and then a few other places. Since it was my last night in Cape Town and another friend of the group's first night we really celebrated. I felt like I had truly one of the best vacations ever and everyone was so nice to me... not just my friends.

Day Eleven - Cape Town

Yesterday we went out to Langabaan, to a national park up on the West Coast of South Africa. We found a deserted beach and had a picnic. We also laid out (to get tan) but we ended up getting burnt. I look like a tomato!

We had dinner at a cute little place on the beach which had excellent seafood. The restaurant was in a fishing village with all white houses. It was a nice day to just relax and enjoy the weather. Except now I'm wishing I had used more sun block.