My new apartment in swanky Coral Gables

That's where I live now. Coral Gables. Sounds positively, FL doesn't it? The apartment is very nice, and new. Never been lived in before. I have photos but haven't worked out all the technology yet. As in ... my movers come early next week. So for me this is as close to camping as I want to get. We brought an aerobed down but it was having trouble with the aero part. As in it wouldn't hold aero. Those marble/tile floors are lovely to look at but my oh my they are hard on the back.

Elliott, being a good sport and the provider of the aero bed, bought a new one to leave with me. Janet lent me a chair and a tv table and all is right with the world until next week. Its powerful quiet in there but that will change soon. Max and I sat out on the balcony today. I think he likes that. He definitley likes the strong morning sun.

The master bathroom has an awesome shower stall with shower heads on both sides and a seat. Now that I have a towel, I've actually tried it out. Nice stuff. Fancy shower, balcony, pool on site --this is FL living. Don't have a key to my mailbox yet but that's the small stuff. Not sure how many people actually live in building yet... but, cuts down on noise and traffic.

Oh and two bedrooms, did I mention that? Visitors are welcome. I am walking distance to a very fancy mall with a Neiman Marcus and Jimmy Choo store. Lucky for me there's more normal things like a Borders and a Gap. I haven't gone exploring yet... soon.

Tonight is Halloween and since I know there won't be any trick or treaters at my apartment, I am spending the evening with my friends. Tomorrow I intend to stick my foot in the ocean some kind a way. I promised, promised Elliott ocean the next time she comes back. I just have to find it and its all hers!

The Road Trip

Let's start by saying that I am not a road trip kind of girl. Just never been my favorite thing. Now, having said that. It wasn't so bad.

Elliott, Max the cat and I set out about midday on Tuesday. After a short bit of loudness from the cat, Max settled down for a pretty uneventful ride. We had a few "adventures" with Max but nothing we weren't prepared for, Thank goodness. We made it to Santee, SC about 9 pm and crashed at the Quality Inn. Max liked the hotel room. Elliott was happy to be done driving for the night. I drove a good 5 hours on Tuesday she drove the rest. I was the one with the speeding ticket, thank you very much, Hopewell, VA. I handed over my license and registration and the officer -- complete with tattoos all over his arms and fingers -- asked if it was current address. Being the despicably honest person I am ( why or why?) I said well, yes and no as I was moving to FL. "Right now?" he asked. Uh, yeah. See the cat in the back? What a weird question. Why do I care. Its my contribution to VA. Thank you and good bye.

After a yummy southern breakfast we were on the road again. Savannah breezed by... sad we couldn't stop along the way and see the sights.

Then comes FL. Damn that's a long state. We drove there forever. We had a P.D. James mystery to listen to and we didn't finish. She's nothing if not verbose. Elliott will have to catch me up on the end.

I think the highlight or weirdest point in the trip was when we were pulled over at a Walgreens to clean up a Max attack when we were approached by two women with a camera. We had Max out of the car and out of the carrier and we were clearly dealing with something when they approached and asked if they could take our picture. Elliott was quick to say no and off they went. Thankfully she answered quickly. I was too stunned to answer and would have stuttered something bizarre off that might have included a yes. What the ...? You want a picture of that for the family vacation blog? "We stopped for some fun at the Walgreens near Jacksonville and saw some women cleaning up a cat. See picture for real details. " Wha? People are freaks.

The farther along we got, the more comfortable we got with taking Max out and letting him sit on the grass, or rest a bit while one of us went for food or the rest room. I think he likes the outside. Luckily he's old and never tried to get away. Not that we let him get that far from us but he just didn't want to. Only one seizure on the road for Max that I'm aware of, although we've had a couple at the new apartment.

I'm sure there were more adventures along the way but I've blocked them. Elliott... add away! Max, no comments from you. Remember where you live.

Movers, moving and leaving DC

Well, let's see.. .looking backward its such a blur now. The movers arriving to take all my worldly belongings and drive away was a tad weird. First we took stuff from the apartment. How in the word did I accumulate so much stuff there? Then on to the storage unit. Wow. I had forgotten so much of what I had. I learned of the difference in packing and wrapping things between a local and a long distance move. Long distance costs more every which way. But better safe than sorry. That's how they get you every time.

Off my things went in a big truck. I hope I see those things again. I can only hope they'd rather have my money than my stuff.

Leaving DC is bittersweet in that it really hasn't hit me yet. It is weird to have my car here in Miami. But still not for real yet.

I said goodbye to many but I also left without saying goodbye to a good many as well. Its just too hard. I'd rather say, I'll be back. Watch my city for me. Leah has offered to take over. Hmm. Not sure she's earned that full mantle yet, but she's there and I'm not. So I pass the torch for now.

I voted in DC before I left. If only I could have worked it out to vote here. I think they'll need me. McCain Palin signs far too prevalent for my tastes. Time will tell.

My new home

It finally struck me last night that I'm not just looking for an apartment, I'm looking for my new home. While I couldn't find the PERFECT condo to buy in DC I've felt far more cavalier about this whole apartment hunting process. Not sure what all that is about but no matter. Yesterday I looked at 8 different apartments and found the perfect one. Today, my "offer" was accepted and I am 98% to my new home. The apartment is in Coral Gables in a building called Gables Marquis and it is on the 18th floor. It has the most amazing view to the east, (see Nancy I am educable) and you can see the bay. Wow. It has 2 bed, 2 bath and 2 balconies. It is really quite beautiful. A corner apartment that even has space for a small table in the kitchen- never expected that. It really will be a home.

The building was a huge selling point as well. It has an amazing rooftop pool and fitness room. Its also walking distance to the grocery store and a new "mall" is being built a block away. A PetSmart, no less. We cruised the neighborhood again today... a bakery, a Cuban restaurant, a Honduran place, a Taco Bell and a Burger King. I definitely won't go hungry. Life is good. Life is good. I am so happy and excited now all things can flow. A moving date, moving in, new stuff, getting started on the new business. I guess I didn't realize how much I was holding my breath for this next step.

It has rained here all weekend. Last night we had a terrific thunder and lightning storm. I was starting to think about arc building... I wonder what a storm like that will feel like on the 18th floor. I'll know soon enough! I remember the fist night with a storm in the house on E Street with skylights. This is will be another experience like that...Now if only I can get up that early, I imagine the sunrises will be killer! I can't wait to see it at night with all the lights of the city.

Hannah's big adventure is definitely under way. I know what it felt like to start to end things.. but now I'm finally getting a taste of what the new beginnings will feel like. So far so good.

Apartment hunting part deux

So off I go again to find the perfect apartment in my new southern city. This time Elliott comes too. Truthfully I think she regretted her decision not to go last time. We had a ball.

We got amazing airline tickets -- only $50 round trip per person. don't ask. I'm just that good. If you live in dc check out Spirit Air and their $9 fare club. that's my secret.

So off we got this Saturday. We have appointments to see three different apartments in Coral Gables. I am not coming home without a lease. that's my plan and I'm sticking to it!

the weather here has been so awesome. I hate leave during fall. but I understand I'm heading down there right in time for the best weather in Miami.

I'll take pictures and keep you posted!

A new twist on an old haunt

I had the most distinct honor and very surreal experience of attending a dinner at the US Supreme Court. Yeah, I know, I didn't realize that you could rent out the highest Court in the land either. Leave the jokes aside for a moment. It was beautiful. The best part is really coming up to those front steps and looking at the grandeur of the building itself and all that it should stand for.

I actually entered the building from the side but it was the front and then the side so it was sort of like entering up those steps. What was so weird for me was how many times I had protested outside, at the base of those grand steps. I couldn't help but think of all those Roe v. Wade demos freezing in the cold and snow. I was reminded of the time that we slept out to ensure our spot in the court for the reading of the Webster decision. I remember all too well protesting the Gore v. Bush decision. there is now a semi-circle of those metal/concrete pointy things -- I'm sure there's a more technical term than that -- that they use all over the city now to keep trucks and what not from driving right up onto the steps.

How odd, or should I say familiar, that I was more at ease with the workers standing out in the rain greeting guests or hovering outside of the dining room than I did inside the room with members of our board of trustees. No matter. Its a beautiful building. So much is off limits, however, that once inside it looks much the same as other buildings of the same period and style. Huge marble building, lots of pictures of old white men. Almost looks like the bowels of Union Station or 30th Street Station in Philly. It didn't feel like the Court on the inside.


What it did feel like was a full circle for me. Its what I love about DC. the ability to take your issues right to those hallowed halls where the laws are made or interpreted. I've been so lucky to live here in the capital all of my adult life and I could run a tour of all the places around the city where we've demostrated.


Vatican Embassy anyone? Attempting to sell soda at a Grateful Dead concert to raise money? March after march after march? Promise Keepers? Antis? SEC demos? Burma shave demos early in the morning? Hunger strikes. Daily vigils. Innumerable supreme court nominees. Tracking anti abortion demostrators deep into the wrong neighborhoods or traipsing on private property trying to find the goods on a guy who it turns out bombed clinics. sheesh. sometimes I do wonder what we were thinking. But I digress. I am waxing nostalgic on all of those adventures. It was heady times. That's for sure. Luckily I was young and fearless. When I think of some of the things we did, I am amazed we came out unscathed. So given the choice, while dinner was amazing, I think I'll stick to the "outsider" strategy and leave the fancy insider to others.