Last week I had the opportunity to tour the Finnish Embassy as part of my NBM volunteer group. Architecturally, it’s a really interesting building inside, more so than the unassuming facade might lead you to believe. It was the first LEED certified green embassy in the US, and many others have followed behind the Finnish Embassy in practicing green measures in their building applications — things as simple as switching to LED lighting and increased recycling. We got to see the famous sauna room while we were there, and learned that saunas are a huge part of their culture and daily lives. I srsly need to find a way to get myself on the invite list for the next sauna event that they hold. It apparently switches from week to week between male-only and female-only events. Anyone out there have any Finnish connections?? Anyone?

There was a photography exhibit currently on display there with beautiful images from the Åland Islands, a lake region between Finland and Sweden. REALLY WANT TO GO THERE. And combine it with a visit to Helsinki to see the architecture of Alvar Alto. Too many places on my travel to do list….

Last summer, our neighbors gave us some of the extra cucumbers from their garden. They were incredibly delicious and far more so than the wax-covered ones you get at the grocery. I guess this is true of most all fruits and veggies, but anyways I made myself a mental note at the time to remember to try and plant some cucumbers this year. So I went for it about 2 weeks ago and BY GOLLY they have sprouted!!!! If I seem way too excited about this it’s because I’ve never really grown anything or kept a plant alive for more than about a week. I’m really better at remembering to care for things that bark, meow, or otherwise push their food bowls across the kitchen floor at me every night as a reminder to feed and tend to them. Now I have turned into an over anxious gardener and kinda feel the need to go check on them another time today. I really hope they keep on going and if I get to eat even one cucumber from the backyard this year I’ll call it a success.

(Those other few pots in the background are my hot pepper starters. hopefully my hot peppers that is. Come on peppers!! Their package said 21 days to sprout though, so I’ll just keep waiting)

This past weekend I went to Austin with 10 lovely ladies to celebrate Jessica’s last hurrah before she gets married next month. We had an amazing time checking out the best parts of the city — live music, delicious Mexican food, the craziness of 6th Street, drinks overlooking Lake Austin, the campus at University of Texas… and I’m sure much more that we missed because it was such a quick trip! The best/most random compliment of the trip was a comment from a passer-by while walking around the campus: “Good luck on finals, ladies!” We all decided it was okay that we can still possibly pass for college-aged.

We spent time some time perusing the Pecan Street Festival, trying not to completely melt in the hot hot heat, placed some bets and cheered for our horses in the Kentucky Derby, did some shopping, and completely over-utilized the hotel cookie shuttle to get around town the entire time. The highlight of the weekend for me though was our visit to Rebels Honky Tonk, where we spent the night dancing and trying to learn the two-step. Oh, and watching the bachelorette ride the mechanical bull. Yes, a great time was had by all. I’m ready to go back to Austin again already.

Willie!

   

everything is bigger in Texas, signage included

   

sights at the Pecan Street Festival

   

Turkey Legs

   

kung fu

   

avocado stuffed with chicken and cilantro, deep fried

   

ready to go out dancing

   

George Strait.

   

Hoeks Pizza. I probably should have stopped to get a slice, if only out of principle

   

my Kentucky Derby horses (not winners)

   

the bachelorette and a mechanical bull

   

bye austin!

   

]]> http://www.juxtaexposed.com/2012/05/07/a-texas-sized-weekend/feed/ 1 http://www.juxtaexposed.com/2012/04/28/3158/ http://www.juxtaexposed.com/2012/04/28/3158/#comments Sun, 29 Apr 2012 02:03:01 +0000 waz http://www.juxtaexposed.com/?p=3158 We did the American Odyssey Relay this weekend, our second year in a row as part of Team Wharf (Matt’s 3rd year doing it overall). It was another crazy adventure this time around, consisting of 200 miles from Gettysburg back to DC, with 12 runners, 3 legs each, on very little sleep, with loads of trail mix and gatorade mixed in. Matt put in a total of 17.2 miles at a 8:54 pace and I put in a total of 14.4 miles at a 9:31 pace — our time-keeping was far more diligent this year than in the past. The grand total for our team was 27 hours and 29 minutes of continuous running, at an average pace of 8:19 – wooooohooooooooo! And to top it off, we were awarded the prize for best van decorations, thanks to Gaby, and we each got to take home a commemorative beer glass. GO TEAM WHARF.

   

Team Wharf – the car decorations before departing

   

lobster and other maritime themed decorations

   

the starting line

   

annnnnd we’re off! Bao is already in front of the girl with the hot shorts

   

rolling through the countryside

   

crossing the tracks

   

put some dirt on the car

   

competitors car decorations 1

   

competitors car decorations 2

   

this is the definition of the middle of nowhere

   

Matt takes off on his first leg of the race, sometime late-afternoon on Friday

   

farm land!

   

Matt coming in on his first leg, at a Walmart parking lot

   

signage at one of the transitions

   

Lindsay coming in strong on her first leg!

   

CHEESE

   

beautiful sunset

   

waiting for some water for my hot cocoa at one of the transitions. time: approximately 2am

   

waiting in line for some pancake breakfast, after van #2 finished up all our night legs. time: approximately 4am

   

analyzing my final leg, 4 easy miles. start time: 9:53am

   

things keeping Matt going for the last leg – Bengay + Beef Jerky

   

Victory Beer!!

   

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Yesterday I played some hookey and spent the day at Sandy Point State Park with my mom and sis. It was a perfect day – sunny, though slightly chilly — great beach sitting weather without getting roasted. We were practically the only people out there, save a few other dog walkers and another family, so we felt like we had the place to ourselves. We packed some blankets and a picnic of fruit, veggies, and chips and just relaxed, looked for beach glass, and watched the cars and trucks endlessly cross the bay bridge. We spotted a beautiful heron trying to catch fish at the edge of the surf, a few big black buzzard-looking birds (stalking cloesly behind the heron), plenty of seagulls, and a giant ship passing under the bridge span with the words Wallenius Wilmhelsen painted on the side. I made some beach art out of the white oyster shells that were littered all over the sand… hopefully someone came it across it after we left.

_______________________________________

   

Jill, the ever-intrepid photographer with her new camera, took a million photos, paparazzi-style. I hope she feels honored to have made it on Justaexposed. Here are a two of her shots:

   

   

   

In the afternoon, on our way home, we stopped by Freedom Bakery in Severna Park for some cupcakes and cookies to take home with us…. Perfectly indulgent way to cap off a lovely day. Can we do it again tomorrow? And every day after that?

   

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