12-31-14

If you want the purest expression of love, devotion, and adoration, get a dog. 

But make sure he loves, is devoted to and adores you best of everyone you live with. 

I'm not sure how to ensure that, but I can tell you there's really nothing better than that. 

Last night when we got to Jimmy's mom's house, Mac entered first and spoke to Leo. I waited at the door and called Leo, who did a double-take, barked twice and ran as fast across the slippery floor as his little legs would carry him to me.  

Pure bliss, I tell you. 

12-30-14

Today was work (again).

But the saving grace of the day is that I now find myself at the airport, waiting to board my flight to Charleston. 

And the next saving grace of the day is that we're going to eat wings after I'm picked up at the airport. 

Those two things should cancel out work. 

12-29-14

Today's agenda...

Work

Work

Work

I could really get used to 2- or 3-day workweeks. That seems so much more civilized. 

After work, I got a fabulous manicure at what I think must be the best mani-pedi spot in DC. Patsy's Nail Bar totally rocks. 

This week I'm sporting How Great is Your Dane by OPI. It'll look good until later tonight when I scrub a dish or tomorrow when I stick my hands in and out of file boxes at work. 

12-28-14

Today's agenda:

I woke up super-early and took down the Christmas tree so I don't have to face that when I come back from SC. 

Then I went to Arlington National Cemetery as soon as it opened at 8am. There were only a handful of other people there and since they were tourists, they headed straight to the popular touristy sights there. I ventured off to parts unknown and wandered around the streets that pass through the back part of the cemetery. It was so beautiful and peaceful, hushed and reverent. 

Later on, I headed to the mall to get my Christmas present watch sized and to shop for "foundation garments".  I read that every woman should go to a bra shop that actually sizes you properly because it's apparently life-changing to wear the right-sized bra. Or so Oprah says. 

My life has not been changed because I was wearing the right-sized bra already. That's what I get for being a Type A perfectionist. But I will be wearing new foundation garments that didn't come from Target. That feels very adult. 

Next up?  I channeled my dad and Sunday-afternoon dozed on the couch through the Browns-Ravens football game. 

Now I'm watching my favorite movie of all time, Legends of the Fall. The heartbreak, the love lost and gained, the family emotion and betrayal and reconciliation, the music, the poetry of the narration, the horses, the costumes, Montana, Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Julia Ormond. Sigh and swoon. I could watch it over and over and over again.  Please tell me you love it as much as I do and we can be best friends forever over our shared good taste. 

And soon I will make one of my favorite pastas of all time, cacio e pepe, for dinner. 

Back to work tomorrow...

12-27-14

The boys - all three of them - took off this morning for SC. I dropped them at the airport at 6:30 and away they flew. By all accounts, Leo was a champion flyer on his inaugural flight. 

I will fly out on Tuesday night to join them for the rest of the week. 

This means I have 3 nights and 4 days all by myself. Two of the days really don't count because I have to go to work, but we'll still call it 4 days. 

No dog to walk or treats to prepare. 

No picking up after anybody but myself. 

No healthy meals to plan and cook (because 4 days of cereal will not kill me.)

What to do, what to do, what to do. 

Today's agenda?  A Costco run as soon as it opened at 10 (and it was blissfully empty), a leisurely lunch date with a friend at a nearby Mexican restaurant, some online clothes shopping while watching the Gamecocks win their bowl game, and catching a wonderful performance of Pippin at the National Theater with the Maynard ladies. 

I can't believe the first day is already over. That flew by...

12-26-14

Boxing Day Haircuts for 3/4 of the family!

Before:

After:

12-25-15