Advent season on Capitol Hill

Here are a couple snapshots from my phone from the Christmas season on Capitol Hill.  It was chilly here this December, but welcomed weather for the season.  It seemed as though every window had a lighted tree in it this year.  While work kept me particularly busy, I did manage to squeeze in time to make a few batches of cookies, walk down to the Capitol Christmas tree, admire the lights around the neighborhood, hang lights in my kitchen, and enjoy memories from last year's Christmas in Germany-- such as the incense snowman pictured below.  I even made it to the White House to admire the decorations within.

It's a silver duffle...

Well, this sight certainly is not ever a welcome end to a day of travel, especially when that day starts out with a beeping body scanner machine, hand swipe positive for explosives, frisk, scan of every item in my carry ons, and a delayed flight. At one a.m. when I landed in Baltimore, I soon after discovered my bag did not land at BWI along with me.

So now here I sit in DC, mind still not made up about how to celebrate the incoming year, wishing I'd be down at Old Ebbitt with my dreams playing out perfectly, knowing I'll be on the Hill instead.

And you know, despite all of my non-problem problems, I'm a very happy woman. I was lucky to be in Wyoming with my family for Christmas this year, the pictures of which will follow in another post. Katie and I have been reminiscing of our silly, absolutely delightful New Years in Antwerp last year, too. Bring on the new year... with or without my belongings, resolutions, and kisses.

Chinatown Starbucks

Today I woke up early for a Saturday and gave a tour of the Capitol to some nice folks. Afterward, B and I headed to RFD to indulge in a German beer or two and some lunch- fish n chips for me. We wrapped up the afternoon with a coffee from the Starbucks in Chinatown, which is where I snapped this shot of the world moving right on along outside of the window. This city is so pleasant, gloomy, shuttered, and hopeful all at once.

Seven December

On this day last year, I was in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland eating this:

And today, I am in Washington, DC looking at this:

Union Station

Not bad. Not bad at all.