My Townhouse

I finally have a few pictures of my townhouse in Old Town! My bed is currently occupied with what I'm planning to wear to work tomorrow, so I haven't taken a picture of it yet. Ha! Here are the main areas, though:



I'm the one with the red door!







Also, here is my old backyard:



and my new, wonderful backyard, thanks to Mommy!



At work today, I worked on a few CAD files, Revit files, and spent a while looking at materials for my new project! Of course, I'm having a really hard time with materials...I need to do a lot more research tomorrow and make a bunch of calls to a few reps!

I actually got tired during work today...not sure why, but I felt like I could take a nap around 2pm! It could be the piece of decadent, dark chocolate cake dripping with chocolate ganache and topped with strawberries I had after lunch...Ha! It was Brian H's birthday this week, so Alex made him cake! Honestly, sometimes I think I am going to gain so much weight with all these baked goods and sodas in my reach at work, but then again, I walk a mile a day just to and from work so maybe it'll even out! I would really like to start running, but I'm not quite comfortable around the area yet to go exploring...Once Rhianna is back, I bet I'll feel like going out for a jog, but until then, I might just stay in watching So You Think You Can Dance while enjoying the rich rich rich chocolate mousse Mom and I got at the Italian Restaurant!

Busy busy!

This might end up getting monotonous, hearing about my days at work, but hopefully it won't be too boring to you!

I worked on a bunch of random things today at work, including surveying at a job site, attending a few meetings, getting assigned to a new project that I now need to pick materials and furniture for, and helping with a few marketing assignments! I got to sit down to lunch with a bunch of people I work with, and it was so nice to be able to have a group to talk to! Everyone is so so nice, and I actually look forward to going to work partially because of them!

The metro was pretty boring, considering most people are either sleeping or listening to their iPods. One thing I think is crazy is that not many people talk on the metro...at all! Strange business people.

Now I'm home, watching Modern Family (yaaay!), and eating leftover french fries with ketchup for dinner. Yes. Dinner. I am a grown up business young woman, and I want fries for dinner. Except for the fact there weren't many left, so I'll probably end up eating some really really yummy Italian leftovers soon.

Can I just say that being in my life right now feels so strange? "Why, Courtney?" Well, you, I pretty much feel a mixture of things. (a) I feel like I'm on vacation, since I'm in a new place with so much to do. (b) I also feel like I need to be concerned about what classes I am going to take in the fall (ha). (c) I also also feel like I could walk out the door and go see Anthony, which I know is impossible, but it feels so natural to be able to go visit. I haven't quite adjusted quite yet, in other words. Haha.

I honestly can't wait to go to bed early tonight!

Second day on the job

Good news is that I still love my job! Bad news is I am already beginning to understand why people like to go to bed so early...

Today, I just did random assignments at work until after lunch. I visited a site with Ben, one of the Principals of KGD, and toured around a building in Silver Spring that had been abandoned for 3 years. A developer asked him to go check it out, because he was thinking about investing in it but needed an architect's point of view. (I went for the ride, of course.) I found it very intriguing...and was impressed with my imagination for creating what it would look like 20 years down the road after the remodel! That took all day, actually, so I headed home afterward. Did I mention he drives a Jaguar? (It's pretty nice, if I say so myself.)

Then, Mom and I went to an Italian restaurant down the road for dinner. She had lasagna, and I had some tortellini, chicken, and cheese baked dish. Yummmmmm!! We spent the majority of the evening watching Dancing with the Stars and the Biggest Loser finale. How do some of these people weigh less than me now? I need to go running.

I'm actually really sad Mom is leaving. I had such a wonderful time with her here this weekend, and it really helped me adjust having her stay with me. I like having someone to come home to in the evenings, and I am going to miss her when she leaves :(

I guess I'm not going back home to Blacksburg until Grandpa's Memorial in July. I might go visit Heather over 4th of July weekend, but other than that, I have no trips planned (yet). I have a few friends in the area, including Jill in Annapolis, Meredyth and Stephen in Rockville, and Garrett in Bethesda. Other than that, Robert will be in Alexandria until June 4th, and Karen, who used to work for Bob with me, will be in Old Town for the summer. I haven't met her yet, though, but have talked with her on email...

PS: Did I tell you Mom spent a good majority of the day fixing my backyard?? I had talked about weeding out the stuff back there to fix it up, and Mom did it all! It looks AMAZING!!! I can't wait to sit outside now :) (I'll take a few pictures of the townhouse/backyard and show them to you later this week.)

Well, I can officially say I'm absolutely exhausted and can't imagine another minute awake. I'll write more tomorrow. Good night :)

I guess I'm a business woman now

Business woman? Business young woman more like it, considering I'm still an intern trying to land that job!

Today was day one of practically 90 as an Interior Design Intern at KGD Architecture in Rosslyn, VA. The Metro commute was only 25 minutes, and a piece of cake, besides the fact that we were all packed onto the train like canned sardines at the Pentagon City stop! I arrived 30 minutes early - almost too early - but got there early nonetheless. I met the other interns, Ningning and Chad (one of which I already met prior to today), and filled out a bunch of paperwork for a while. We got our desks figured out, introduced ourselves to a few people, and got a complete tour/information session by the receptionist, Rachel, and marketing woman, Kate. Us interns were invited and treated to a really nice pizza lunch up the street from KGD, and after we ate, I helped Jill prepare for her 5pm presentation of materials and furniture choices to a group of people.


My own desk!!

The meeting lasted an hour an a half, so I was a bit late getting out of the office. (Fortunately, though, Mom waited for me to eat dinner, and we headed right to Five Guys! Yummm!)

Unfortunately, I can't say much about the work that is being done in the firm, because I signed a form saying most things are confidential. The website is http://www.kgdarchitecture.com/flash/ if you'd like to see their previous projects, though!

So far, I am loving working at KGD! I know, I know...it's only my first day, but I feel like I fit in! Drinks are provided to us if we like, office supplies were waiting for us at our desks, and better than all else: everyone was super nice and welcoming!!! Can't wait til tomorrow! In the meantime, Mom and I are going to watch House and the Bachelorette...a few of the shows I get amongst the four channels on my TV!

Before I sign off, check out these two pictures! One is of Lilly, Grayson, and Evie (cracks me up!!), and one is a great one I wanted to share of Anthony and I!

Walk walk walk

Mom and I had three goals to start our day: (a) eat breakfast at Bittersweet on King St, (b) purchase a Smartrip Pass for me, and (c) go visit the Arlington Cemetery all before 4pm. Success!

We ate a great breakfast of scrambled (almost omelet-like) eggs, crisp bacon, fresh fruit, and coffee. Then we headed to the Metro! We traveled to Rosslyn so I could figure out how to get to work tomorrow, then to the Metro Center to purchase my Smartrip pass, and finally to the Arlington Cemetery. We walked through the Visitor's Center to get a map, and headed past the lines of tombstones to the Kennedy Memorial and Eternal Flame. Fascinating, actually, that it never goes out. Then we walked up the hill to the Arlington House where Robert E. Lee and his family lived. Believe it or not, the interior was completely empty except for individual posters in each room to show you what it looked like before they started its renovation. In a year or so, it should be redecorated to what it once looked like. After seeing the house, we got back onto the Metro and headed home. Here are some pictures:































Later in the day, we went to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie!! Really really really good!! Fortunately, Kiera Knightly is not in the movie!!!!!! It's not that I don't like her personally...she just has a weird lip/jaw thing going on, and it seems like she does it on purpose which is why it bugs me! Penelope Cruz is soooo much more fun to watch!! I truly think the third movie is still my favorite...

Who knew shopping could be so tiring?

It's day 2 living in Old Town Alexandria, and there's so much to do! My mom's here with me until Wednesday, which is nice.

Yesterday, we spent the majority of our time preparing my townhouse and getting groceries. I'm not used to cooking with gas heat, so I pretty much ruined our pizza but it was still good-ish.

Today, we walked and shopped all day! I found a few stores I KNOW I am going to LOVE: Potomac Bead Company, Mint Condition, and 3 Sisters! I'm actually pretty excited to maybe take a few bead classes there! Mint Condition is a high-end consignment shop, which I found some really nice clothes for work. 3 Sisters is a pretty expensive boutique, but it's worth getting accessories in, since they're not as pricey. There are also cupcake stores, restaurants, and misc. craft stores to spend my time in!

A couple places surprised us in particular. One was a boutique on King Street. The door was locked, so we had to knock to be let in. The french woman introduced us, and as we were looking around the store at the dresses, we noticed everything was absolutely ADORABLE but veeeeeeery expensive. Through the overview she gave us, we learned that (a) we cannot try the clothes on, (b) we cannot touch the garments themselves, only the hangers and the bottom of the dresses, (c) she took all the furniture from her home to put it in the store, (d) she's offended that people on the street think her store is a consignment shop, and (f) each dress is on display 3 fingers apart from the next one. What did Mom do (not on purpose), of course? Touch the shoulder on a jacket. What did the french devil do? Slap her hand away!! Instantly, two thoughts popped into my head: "Did she just do that?" and "Is Mom going to hit her back?" Instead, she just turned around and said, "Thanks!" and we started to walk out of her store. Of course, when we got to the door, I couldn't figure out how to get outside because of her lock. She pranced over, cut in front of me and said, "We're a low-stress environment. See?" She simply turned the lock, we walked out, and she slammed the door behind us. Good riddance!! Needless to say, I definitely won't be going there again.

Besides, I love consignment shops. What's better than getting really nice clothes for really cheap prices??

One thing that I find fascinating about this part of Alexandria is how people treat their dogs. Tons and tons of people walk their dogs along the streets, shop with them, and eat with them at their feet in the restaurants. A lot of the stores, including the banks, have water and dog bones set out for them. Can you believe it? I haven't seen a poor-mannered dog yet, either. It must be the water here, honestly. Every single dog is proper, polite, calm, and friendly. I'm not saying the dogs in Blacksburg aren't well behaved; they're just more hyper and a lot louder!

As far as my townhouse goes, it's very quaint. Small, but cute. It's got a lot of character, that's for sure. My bedroom is all set up, with only enough room for my single bed, a small shelf for my books, and a bedside table. It's actually a blessing, though, because I will be living a simple lifestyle this summer! The Kitchen is really cute, and probably one of my favorite aspects of the place. There's not a lot of counter space, but it's very efficient and cute. The shower is the best part of the townhouse, though. The water pressure is amazing! This is one thing I have never taken for granted. Tell me: how many times have you visited someone or gone to a hotel and the water hardly comes out of the shower head? It's miserable!!

My roommate, Rhianna, won't be back from China until May 28th. She's studying abroad to gain credit toward her masters of Urban Planning through Virginia Tech's Alexandria campus. I don't know a lot about her, but she seems very very nice. One thing I already love about her is how generous and thoughtful she is. I've lived with a lot of girls in my lifetime, and every single one has their quirks. Some are so worried about their belongings that they don't even want anyone to BREATHE on them. Rhianna, on the other hand, is allowing me to live here and use all her belongings, including her kitchen utensils, dishes, cookware, furniture, TV/DVD, etc. I don't think she'll be here very often, though, which is fine with me. She sounds like a pretty busy girl.

In the meantime, I'm going to prop up my feet and enjoy a glass of chardonnay with Mom. Until next time!