January 10, 2011
The things that keep me up at night
Well friends, happy 2011! I hope you enjoyed the holiday season wherever you were. I had the privilege of spending it at home in California. Not only did I spend some long overdue time in Bakersfield with my family but was also able to spend some time in Napa Valley and LA. Not a bad life. But it has stirred some questions in me that I have yet to answer…
Spending great time with my family only makes it all the more difficult to say goodbye to them, even after extending my stay several days longer than originally planned. Sometimes I wonder what I am doing living so far from home. Why DC and why politics? Will I regret it years down the road that didn’t spend as much time with them as possible? Am I chasing something that is futile? Where do I even want to be in five years? I don’t know. I just don’t know and that scares me a little. I turn 25 next month, and I feel my quarter life crisis coming on a bit early. Well this is just great.
Bakersfield is a humble place, nothing glamorous and nothing more than a middle class town in the Central Valley. I was born there and spend 18 years of life there. I left over seven years ago and since then haven’t spent more than a few weeks there at a time. When I do come home I tend to look around and think this isn’t the beautiful California most people think of. But then I remind myself that this is where I grew up and I don’t regret that. It may not have the best scenery but there are some really great people there and it is because I grew up there that I turned out the way I did. I wouldn’t change that for the world.
Sometimes I ponder going back to my roots but as quickly as that thought comes it is dismissed again because most jobs center around oil and agriculture. So I keep trekking along in DC the only way I know how. And when these emotions of anxiety and fear come over me I have to remind myself that I need to take one day at a time and rely not on my own strength but He who gives me strength.
Signing off for now.
XOXO,
L
December 14, 2010
Our Christmas Tree!
I wanted to share a few pictures with y’all of the Christmas tree my two roommates and I went and picked up and then carried home a couple of weeks ago. Taylor, one of my roommates, has a fun tradition of carrying home the Christmas tree. I was a little worried about this at first but thankfully the tree lot we went to was only 8 blocks away. What fun traditions do y’all have for the holidays?
Kate and Taylor at the tree lot
Our tree all decorated!
September 27, 2010
Santa Barbara, here I come!
In just a few short days, less than a week now, I will be in sunny California celebrating my sister’s wedding! I can’t believe that the last time I was in my home state was December of last year. Where has the time gone?! Here are pics of the last time I was in SB.
This year has flown by and I am looking forward to the family reunion and festivities of the weekend. Weddings are so much fun! Because most of the more than 300 guests are from out of town, there are many activities to fill the weekend. From a BBQ on the beach, to bridesmaid brunch in the Biltmore garden, rehearsal and wedding of course, as well as brunch the day after the wedding! Whew!
The ceremony is at the Methodist Church downtown and the reception is at the Biltmore Four Seasons (check out the awesome photos HERE) To top it off, I actually like my bridesmaid dress, which is made by LulaKate. My sister’s wedding dress is to DIE FOR! I can’t what to share pictures with y’all after the wedding, until then, I will remain hush hush as to what it looks like and who the couture designer is!
I can’t wait to share with friends and family in this celebration. I know that the wedding will be beautiful and can’t wait to see how it all comes together. My mom sent me the 8-page detail of events this morning and I have to say I was a bit exhausted just looking at it!
But what am I also looking forward to? Getting off the plane and going straight to In-N-Out for a #2! I miss you California~
September 9, 2010
Such Is The Campaign Life
I have battled through enough election cycles and been on the loosing end one too many times to know that this industry we call politics is not for the faint at heart. It is all-consuming, high-adrenaline, exciting-in-the-moment and exhausting-till-the-end.
I don’t talk politics in this space much, just because I often use this platform for an escape from the political world. I have lived it and breathed it for the last, oh four and a half years, and know that having a life outside of work is equally important. But being that we are 54 days from November 2nd (for those of you out there- that means Election Day!), I thought I would pause to touch on this for a minute.
This past year has been filled with more ups and downs with work than I have been willing to admit (however I have done my fair share of complaining to my friends) and the energy before an election in what keeps me going and gets me through it. It’s unlike anywhere else.
The stakes are high. The competition is fierce. The hours are long. The work is daunting. The people are crazy.
But, if you win, the rewards make it worth it.
The good and bad of working in campaigns is that there is always an end date. Come the day after the election when everything is over, pretty much so is your job. This was stressful when I first started working in campaigns and my nature wanted to tell me to have everything planned out. However this industry gives you a good dose of reality that there are many things beyond your control. Usually when the dust all settles, something will come your way but you have to know there may be a period of uncertainty.
So, that time is quickly appoaching again where the election will be over and who knows what or where I will be after this. I hope that the experiences I have gained and connections I have made have prepared me for the next big adventure.
But until then, back to work!
September 6, 2010
A Year Of Adventures
Last night my boyfriend Tripp and I celebrated our “One Year”. It’s crazy how time flies and while a lot has happened over the past year, it all goes by so quickly. Neither one of us had ever dated someone this long, so hitting this point in our relationship was new for both of us.
Tripp picked me up and greeted me at the door with some beautiful flowers that are now displaying in my living room, see below.
I had no idea what was planned for the evening, but in an effort to both do something for each other I had made him a chocolate cake and framed some pictures of us together and he was in charge of handling our dinner plans. As we were leaving the house, he mentioned that I might need a sweater because we would be getting drinks outside. So, I brought a sweater along and as we stepped outside he mentioned that we would be heading down to the Georgetown Waterfront for drinks, I was excited because it was such a nice night out.
When we arrived at the Waterfront, he asked what I thought about taking a river boat ride over to Alexandria. I didn’t pay much attention to this question, as I didn’t think this was part of the plans. However at the same time he was putting his hand into his pocket and pulled out a reservation for the boat ride. I was very excited that he was so creative and this had been one of the adventures we had wanted to do, but also because I was genuinely very surprised and proud that he put a lot of thought into this.
Potomac River on our ride over to Alexandria
The weather was perfect and the sun was setting on the ride over. We docked at the pier near King Street and then walked five blocks to a restaurant called Columbia Firehouse.
We shared a bottle of red, fresh oysters and each had an amazing steak! It was a great night and a great way to celebrate a year of awesome adventures.
Some highlights: a wedding in Charleston, Ocean City, A day on Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Tubing, snow adventures, Bermuda, Nantucket, Visiting Washington and Lee University, New York City, Philadelphia, art galleries in DC, Jamaica, concerts, VA wine festival, and so much more!
Tripp and I, October 2009
April 28, 2010
Birthday Meanings
I’m told this is fairly accurate about me….
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/february-18-birthday-astrology.htm
Find out what your birthday means… if nothing else it’s entertaining!
March 11, 2010
Irie, Ya Mon’
View from the plane flying into Jamiaca
In Jamaica they have a term that describes all “positive emotions or feelings, or anything that is good. Specifically it refers to high emotions and peaceful vibrations,” and this is called Irie, so Wikipedia confirms.
The Grand Palladium Resort
Peace is definitely what I felt for the six days I was in Jamaica. The warm sun, cool breezes and clear water.The resort had everything… many places to eat, bottomless drinks, pools, beaches and more!
The Beaches
The Pool
5 American Guys and 1 English Girl…
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The Crew
The Guys
The Guys and Kim, an adopted mom (of sorts)
The Boys and Bernie?
Other Pics…
This women felt she needed to help Evan apply sun screen hmm..
Sleepy Days
Sun and Shades
a bit disheveled I must say...
By the pool and ocean
the tub in the middle of the room
The girls and Randy
February 23, 2010
As good as it gets…
Well last week in celebration of my birthday I decorated my small cube with presents I received at the office from family back home. And as you can see I think this is the best my cubicle will ever get. Although it has all since come down as it was a bit too cluttered for such a small space. 
In other news…
I only have 6 more days in the office until my Caribbean vacation next week. I can’t wait but I also can not believe that it will be here in just a matter of days! So, expect me to be MIA from March 4th through the 9th as I am off laying on a beach somewhere! But don’t worry I will make sure to take plenty of pictures to share with y’all!
December 3, 2009
San Fran Over Thanksgiving Break
While I was in California over the break I went up to San Fran for a a couple of days to hang out with my sister and parents and ate some great food and of course some great shopping!
Pacific Heights
My sister and me at my parents' hotel
cute house in Pacific Heights
Fillmore Street Shopping
