Wow, this is the longest hiatus I’ve taken from blogging… I think ever! While all for good reasons, I’m feeling less and less inclined to share personal things on the Internet. I’m not sure if it’s age, the fact that people have become exceptionally nosy or that fact that it just simply isn’t a priority… But I’m not as into it as I used to be.
But alas, I feel like I will regret it if I don’t at least write my little “year in review” post. It’s fun to look back on the things from the year and set intentions for the new one to come!
January
Dang, this was a busy month and I didn’t even realize it!
Richmond, VA
Frickle and I went to see my friend Joseph and his dogs, Shelby and Elvis down in Richmond and had a blast! We got to celebrate Christmas together, had lunch and did some shopping.
Lancaster/Hershey PA
Jim and I took a day trip up to Pennsylvania to see some dear friends and to watch a Bears (hockey) game. Yes, we drove back that night and yes, it was a long day but it was so, so worth it!
Augusta, GA
While walking into the Hershey Bears game, I got a call that a friend’s father passed away so my friend Lindsay and I went to Augusta, GA to be with her. It was such a beautiful funeral and I’m so glad we went!
New Smyrna Beach, FL
At the end of the month, we got to go to NSB to spend some time with Jim’s parents. I’ve always been partial to the Gulf side of Florida, but have really grown to love NSB. We had dinner at The Garlic (truly one of my all-time favorites), brunch at Third Wave (coolest ambiance) and went on a dolphin tour! God as my witness, the dolphin photo below is not photoshopped! It was SO fun to see them playing!
February
New Orleans, LA
Get ready for a photo dump! We went to Mardi Gras for the first time since 2020 and it was one of the highlights of my year. I SO wish we were going back this year but it’ll have to wait (I think. Maybe we will. Sometimes Often we’re last minute people…). I had more jambalaya than I can count; went to the Jazz Garden, watched several parades and downed several coffees with king cake liquor (amazing). Fellow yanks have asked me if going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras is overrated and the answer is NO. It’s so, SO great.. But you do need to know where to go. The French Quarter is fine for one night out, but it’s definitely better (and way more fun!) to watch the parades in Uptown.
New Smyrna Beach, FL
Yep, we went back and it was as lovely as ever! This time we went to Yellow Dog Eats, went on another dolphin tour and ventured over to Daytona to buy stuff we don’t need at Buc’ees!
March
Uzbekistan
Random fact about this guy right here: He’s been to Uzbekistan. So, when I heard that the Uzbek Embassy was having a party, I immediately signed us up. No, we didn’t go over to the actual country, but it was interesting hearing about their local culture here in DC! Fun fact about many of the embassies–they’re often in what were once Gilded Age mansions. So cool!
Sweethearts and Patriots
Continuing our theme of visiting other countries right here in DC, we attended the Sweethearts and Patriots Gala at the British Embassy. Words cannot express how fun it was! It’s sponsored by DAR and SAR and raises money for veterans’ causes. I loved everything about it!
Houston, TX
I went to visit a friend from college and to attend the Houston Rodeo… And to meet her new puppy… And to eat a kolache. It’s the little things in life.
St. Patrick’s Day
On a freakishly warm St. Patrick’s Day, I spent SIX HOURS at my favorite bar, Murphy’s in Old Town. It’s owned by salt of the earth people and I solicit it every chance I get.. St. Patrick’s Day is always the most fun, though.
Starr Hill Brew Garden
No joke, this is my favorite place to hang out on a warm day.. And a warm day we got in March, 2023! I remember wearing a sundress this evening while watching March Madness on the big screen. Cannoli approved too. It was so fun!
Sad Time…
We lost a friend suddenly in February and I’m frankly still processing it. It’s mind boggling to see someone so vivacious just.. gone so suddenly. His memorial service was in March and I baked for it.
King’s Dominion
We ventured down to the Cedar Fair-owned King’s Dominion to meet up with the Roys for part of their spring break trip. The park is fine but far inferior to my beloved Cedar Point… Having a view of I-95 just isn’t the same as stunning Lake Erie.
April
Easter
For the first time in a long time, we were in DC for Easter. Jim insisted that we go to the Basilica for the Easter Vigil and, after some resistance from me (it’s loooong), we went and I LOVED it. It’s very somber and beautiful. Highly recommend.
We went to Old Ebbitt’s after Mass, slept in a bit on Easter Sunday, I made Easter bread and then we enjoyed brunch at the Club.
They had a little petting zoo there! So fun.
Then we spent the rest of the day up in Annapolis enjoying the water views and snuggling with my friend’s new puppy. Frickle paddles every time we hold him above water and the Severn River was no exception! Hahaha.
Marco Island
After the Easter festivities, we ventured down to see my parents (and some burrowing owls) in Marco. It was stunning, as always!
Another Bocce season!
We bid arriverderci to some friends who were sent to Italy! It was a great season but we miss them so much!
DC DAR State Conference
I served as a Page for the first time. It was quite the experience and I’m so glad I did it!
White Ford Bronco Concert
If you are in DC and have never seen a WFB Concert, WHAT are you waiting for? They’re a 90s cover band and are sooooo good. It was a blast, as always!
May
Baby Chicks
The second grade teachers at school got eggs to hatch and I was DEFINITELY more excited than the kids were! I loved these babies so much!!
School Gala!
My company sponsored the gala again and it was one of the best yet! The cocktails were out of this world.
Learning Pottery in Fredericksburg, VA
Joseph and I met up in Fredericksburg to do a pottery class, which made me want to murder people. Have you ever tried to throw pottery? It. Is. So. Frustrating. Luckily we had Castiglia’s afterword to make me feel less violent.
Ocean Shitty City
We spent Jim’s birthday on the ocean, which was an EXPERIENCE! The weather was super crummy but we still had fun, got a ton of walking in, played some arcade games, and got to see the ocean. I will say, though, that I did not realize how different OC is from Rehoboth…
Assateague Island
On our way back from OC, we swung by Assateague to see some wild ponies. It was so cool!
June
Gettysburg, PA
I took a solo trip to Gettysburg but Jim met up with me later in the day. I did a bus tour and then he and I went to Upper Crust for dinner (Ashley, I love/hate you for introducing me! It’s SO good) and to the most STUNNING little church (in neighboring New Oxford) for Mass.
Heather’s Birthday
Remember our friends who came down to King’s Dominion? Here they are again! We went up to Ohio to open up the lake condo and to celebrate Heather’s birthday on her boat! Our plan had been to go to Put-In-Bay (an island in Lake Erie) but there wasn’t any dockage so we went to Middle Bass Island instead. For all my years going up there, it was my first time on MBI and I LOVED it. We rented a golf cart, did some Geocaching, had lunch at J.F. Walleyes and even found a speakeasy behind their little coffee shop!
Cedar Point
This weekend was also the first of many, many Cedar Point trips for the year!
Back to DC…
I came back to DC to finish out the school year and found this little guy living next to my place!
… And back to Ohio
I spent only a week in DC before packing up and hauling up to Ohio. The rest of June was very chill. Jim came and went and I spent some solo time venturing around, avoiding Mayflies, walking the dogs on the beach, attending lectures at Lakeside, spending time with old friends and wallpapering my room 🙂
Ok, that’s enough for right now! Dying to know how I spent the second half of 2023? Come back soon and I’ll eventually tell you.. In case you were wondering, these posts take eons to write 😉