Rêve, Rire, Risque.: The Icing On The Cake.

Here I am, back on California soil, happy to be in weather above 50 degrees (not sure I thought I'd ever hear myself say that). My latest trip to DC was awesome, though definitely different than my previous trip. I've now experienced the beautiful weather of late summer/early fall, and the cold snowy days of winter in January. The only snow I saw there my first few days were the piles of snow on the sides of streets and sidewalks around the city, where it had been dumped from the street ploughing after the big storm a few weeks ago. But then it snowed one night after we left the movie theater, and it was actually a fun experience to stand outside in it, twirling around, for a few minutes before going back inside to get warm again. The next morning the town was white, and it was beautiful. There's something about the beautiful architecture of DC, the bricks, the East Coast-ness of it all that is simply breathtaking in a way I don't think anywhere else quite is. So yes, I survived the cold snowy days, though when the wind picks up and bites at your exposed face is when it's truly miserable. Tricks to staying warm -- wearing leggings under jeans, tall/thick socks under your boots, scarves, scarves, scarves, and a little alcohol didn't hurt either.

Lots of the trip was spent on Craigslist pulling up listings for apartments to go look at. Saw quite a few places, none of which really jumped out at me. They tended to be decent spaces in a not so great neighborhood, or decent neighborhoods but a place that was just so-so. Finally, Saturday night rolled around and as we were getting ready to go out for the evening, I pulled up Craigslist again. A posting had recently appeared for an apartment that seemed too good to be true -- very cute, in my price range, and in a good neighborhood. I immediately emailed the woman asking if I could view the place the next morning before I left town, and she agreed! So after 3 hours of sleep after a fun Saturday night, I dragged myself, along with Dan and Jess who were total troopers and huge helps in this whole endeavor, to view this final apartment. I have to say, I was never a believer before, but it was love at first sight! Cute neighborhood on the Hill right by a park, adorable little apartment, great landlords, walking distance to Jess and Dan and everyone... everything just worked out perfectly. Filled out my application on the spot, I'll sign the lease and put a security deposit down this week, and boom, I have myself a place to move into next month!!

One afternoon as I was walking around the city by myself, I stopped and looked up at the Capitol and, while this sounds cheesy, I was just filled with this sense of "rightness," like knowing that no matter how overwhelmed and freaked out I get about moving and leaving family and friends, I love the place I'm going to be living in and it just feels so... right. The city takes my breath away. So I can't say that I'm not still overwhelmed at all, because I definitely am, but I am genuinely excited for what lies ahead of me. Finding the perfect little apartment today was just the icing on the cake.