Pittsburgh to DC by Bike

Biking the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal from Pittsburgh to DC has been on our biking bucket list for a few years. At the end of October, after we said our goodbyes to our DC co-workers, we made it happen. We had incredible weather - highs in the 60s most days, only one morning of rain - and blissfully no issues along the way. 

Overview

To get to Pittsburgh, we rented a cargo van and drove straight to a friend's house to spend the night. In the morning, we returned the van, got the bikes loaded up, and biked through downtown Pittsburgh to the beginning of the Great Allegheny Passage trail in Point State Park, (complete with giant fountain and sports stadiums in the background. Mile 0 of the C&O Canal in Georgetown is considerably less grand; just a post hidden behind a boat house).

Left: Setting out from Pittsburgh on Sunday morning
Right: Arriving back in DC on Saturday afternoon

We averaged ~50 miles of riding per day; in PA on the Great Allegheny Passage, this meant we could stay in hotels/Air BnBs in towns for the first three nights. On the C&O Canal in MD, towns are 60-70 miles apart, so we tent camped for 2 nights and spent the last night of the trip in a historic lock house. Links to where we stayed, picked up food, and restaurants worth visiting are included at the end of the post.

Packing / Gear

Over the years, we've collected quite the arsenal of biking and camping gear. The only thing we purchased for this trip was our very own set of lightweight camping cookware, and now I think our collection is complete! We both rode steel frame touring bikes outfitted with racks for panniers, dynamo hubs to charge the lights, and flat pedals. My dynamo hub even has an adapter that charges phones!

Keizo rode with 4 panniers - 2 in the front (sleeping pads and jackets) and 2 in the back (food/camp kitchen and tent), and I had 2 giant panniers with our clothes and sleeping bags on the back of my bike. We each had roomy handle bar bags as well that held the map, snacks, sunglasses, gloves, etc. Insulated sleeping pads and tarps got strapped to the rear racks.

Setting out, it felt like we were carrying a lot of stuff and we were both curious to see if we had overpacked. At the end of the trip, the only things we hadn't used were some extra pairs of socks/underwear and most of the contents of the first aid kit (a very good thing not to need!)

While we used almost everything, certain things made daily appearances and worked as hard as we did:

• Spending that many hours on the saddle, the differences between a bargain pair of bike shorts and a nicer pair of bike shorts are quite noticeable. 
• Riding gloves. Necessary in the morning and late afternoon, as well as give a bit of extra padding on rougher surfaces.
• Buff. I wore a merino one in the mornings, as well as at night when we camped and it kept me nice and warm. Stays on better in the sleeping bag than a hat does.
• Layers. My base layer was bike shorts and a tank top; followed by a lightweight long sleeve shirt and leggings. My outwear included a packable down jacket and waterproof shell. I rode in pretty much every combination at different points of the trip - shorts and tank top on the warmest afternoons, and completely covered up in the cooler mornings and evenings.
• Our blue tarps came in handy the morning that it rained, as picnic table / bench covers, extra waterproofing under the tent, and as overnight bike covers.
• Extra velcro straps. Keizo has a bunch of these from work, and they got used a lot for attaching things like jackets and extra water on the outside of the panniers.

Riding / Camping

The first day from Pittsburgh to Connellsville was the was our longest. We rode the last hour or so in the dark, so coming around a corner and seeing the hotel straight ahead was a very welcome surprise. 

On the last day, I forgot to account for the 10 miles from mile 0 in Georgetown back to our house in Takoma Park, which made it our 2nd longest. It worked out fine and we got home just before dark, but I'd tried really hard to plan an easy last day.

Left: Last day on the GAP, heading downhill into Cumberland, MD
Right: First day on the C&O Canal, getting ready to leave Cumberland

For us, 50 miles/day on the C&O plus camping was a pretty good balance. It let us take our time in the mornings, have a mid-day break, and set up camp and start cooking before it got dark. If you don't want to camp, you'll need to do 60-70 miles/day on the C&O, which is not paved (but would be carrying less stuff than we did). As with lodging, the C&O Canal in general has fewer places to stop for food, especially along the eastern parts. Apart from one glorious takeout pizza dinner while we were camping, we relied on snacks and easy to cook (i.e. boil some water) meals like pasta with tuna, instant oatmeal, and tortillas with peanut butter. We also planned our days around a stop in a town for a big lunch, except for the last day when we closed out the trip with a gourmet pairing of Lunchables and mini-wine (bought the day before). We also ate a lot of trail mix and some Sour Patch Kids (instant energy) throughout the days of riding. 

C&O in the rain and along a stretch right next to the river

Camping just the two of us in somewhat isolated locations was right at the edge of my comfort zone as a city dweller, and I didn't sleep very well in the tent. During the day, the lack of other people on the trail was quite nice, but once the sun went down it felt a lot more remote. Setting up and taking down camp also sapped some mental and physical energy. With a multi-day trip under our belts, (we had previously only done one night bike camping trips), I totally get the benefits of credit card touring - what reasonable person wouldn't want less stuff to carry, a warm shower and a comfy bed at the end of the day!?! Regardless, I'm looking forward to our next bike touring adventure, whenever/where ever it might be! 

Stay

• Comfort Inn Connellsville (right on the trail)
• Rock Stop Air BnB (two blocks from the trail)
• 1840 Bruce House (uphill from the trail, but not too far. Easy walk back downtown for dinner/groceries)
• 15 Mile Creek Campground 
• Opequon Junction Hiker/Biker Campground
• Lockhouse 28

Eat

• Mitch's Fuel and Food, Confluence, PA
• Rock City Express, Rockwood, PA (cash only)
• Ristorante Ottaviani, Cumberland, MD (this was our splurge before 3 nights of camping started. I think we both devoured a whole pound of pasta each)
• Cafe Mark, Cumberland, MD (we're repeat customers here having stopped on previous camping trips)
• Buddylou's, Hancock, MD
• Tony's Pizza, Williamsport, MD (we got 2 small pizzas to-go and managed to put them on the bikes and bring them to our campsite for the night)
• Third Base, Williamsport, MD (beer to-go; cash only)
• Maria's Taqueria, Shepherdstown, WV (really good, very friendly owner)
• Beans in the Belfry, Brunswick, MD (didn't get to stop on this trip unfortunately)
• Corner Store, Brunswick, MD (the source of all our food the last 1.5 days; highlight was the wine in mini plastic bottles)
• White's Ferry Store & Grill, White's Ferry, MD (wasn't sure this was going to be open, but they had pretty good coffee!)

Currently - December '22

For what appears to be the first time ever, I am 12 for 12 with Currently posts this year! Just to be clear, this means there's one each month, not that they've all been posted in time for the link ups. 😜

And speaking of link ups, you can find a whole collection of Currently enthusiasts over at Jennifer's blog. Happy Reading!

Spotted in the lobby of The Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, AR

loving - I am definitely loving my extended break from work and being able to spend plenty of time with my parents and brother's family. We've been hiking, playing board games, doing jigsaw puzzles, and are gearing up for some marathon holiday baking sessions. Keizo and I had our first unsupervised playdate with our niece yesterday at the park and I may have had more fun than she did rolling acorns down the slide. 

Some days the lack of structure makes me feel bored or a little anxious, but then I think about how worn down I'd been feeling a few months ago and remind myself that rest is important and one of the big reasons I asked for personal leave in the first place. 

gifting - We're not great gift givers in my family. For one, we are very lucky to have more than we really need; two, some of us are pretty particular; and three, we don't tend to wait for special occasions to buy things for ourselves. I do enjoy wrapping presents though, and have already told my sister-in-law that I'd be happy to do hers!

wrapping - I haven't started gift wrapping any presents yet, but I am trying to wrap up Keizo's hand-knit gift (definitely not a surprise, since he's seen me working on it) by doing a few rows a day. I've finished up the 'pattern' so to speak, so now it's just a few more inches of plain ribbing and my least favorite part of sewing in all the loose ends. 

hoping -  that Keizo and I will find our own place to live by the end of the year. We've toured a few places and have sent some additional inquiries. Some rental prices seem to be coming down which is very nice to see and makes me wonder if we shouldn't rush into anything right now.  

attending - My entire social life these days revolves around family and holiday events, but Keizo and I have made plans to attend (and interact with some new people) an "Introduction to Mountain Biking" class next weekend. 

Bye Bye Boyd Avenue

Moving from a ~600 sq ft, 1 bedroom apartment to ~1000 sq ft, 2 bedroom apartment in 2016 was a game changer. Not only did we get a 2nd bedroom and more square footage, but we also gained access to a storage unit/communal space that became Keizo's at home bike shop, a yard with a friendly dog, and great next door neighbors. We lived less than a mile from a trail, about a mile from the Takoma Metro station and a few blocks from bus routes, a grocery co-op, bakery, Korean restaurant, and small business center.

I'm not sure we would have stayed put for 6 years without the pandemic, but during the very crazy early days and aftermath, all of the amenities above, (plus rent control) made staying put very appealing. Let's go for a tour, shall we?

Patio

We lived on the ground floor of a 2-story building with direct access from the front yard. We used the patio a lot, especially in the summer to eat meals outdoors. It was also home to our compost bucket, which got picked up every week with the trash and recycling. The photos below show it decorated for fall, plus how the door looked for a 4th of July and the 2021 holiday season. I loved how the big holly leaves turned out and kept all of the materials to use again somewhere else.

Main Room

Entering the front door brought you into the main room (floor plan included at the end). The main room was L-shaped, and we decided early on to cut off the leg of L near the kitchen with tall bookshelves that fit nearly perfectly under a soffit. When we had just 2 bikes, they lived back there, along with other sports equipment, coats, shopping bags, etc. so we deemed this area the "garage." 

We divided the rest of the main room into our living and eating/dining areas. Pre-pandemic, the dining table was centered in the space and we had people over pretty regularly. A favorite memory was hosting 11 adults + 1 toddler for Friendsgiving in 2018 - a record for the number of people in our apartment at one time! During the pandemic, the dining table and chairs got pushed aside to make room for yoga mats. 

For Christmas, we set up the tree in both corners, but for the past two years, the tree replaced the big pink chair on the living room side, where we could see it from the couch. Much cozier I think!

The view coming in the front door. Since the door was in between two windows on the front wall, we didn't have much of a 'drop zone.' The cabinet in the background of the photo above was always a mess of mail, sunglasses, phones, etc.

The dining area all dressed up for Halloween! We bought the dining set at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore shortly after we moved in (along with some other odds and ends, including our first bike rack for the car for a cool $250), and we donated it back again with the move. It was a great set, with two leaves and 6 chairs, but rather bulky and passing it along to new owners helped us fit everything we wanted to move into 2 storage containers instead of 3.

The living room side. The black shelves we used to divide up the main space are visible on the far left above. It was a pretty cozy set up; good for two people who like each other, but not a lot of guests.

Kitchen

The weekend we moved in, I wasn't sure I'd ever feel at home in a kitchen where the top and bottom cabinets didn't match. Thankfully, I got used to it pretty quickly, and definitely appreciated all of the storage. 

The galley-style kitchen was cozy. When people came over or my parents stayed with us, they often asked if they could help, but the best thing was for them to stay out of the kitchen! Keizo and I frequently bumped into each other when we cooked together, but the compact size also meant it was possible to stretch across and grab the right utensil while simultaneously stirring or pouring something else. 😋

I wish we had painted the back wall a fun color or tried wallpapering the fridge, but oh well. The photo below is of the right hand side of the kitchen; on the left was more cabinets and counters where we had the microwave, coffeemaker, and cutting board, plus the fridge on the back left.

Hall / Bathroom

If this was an in-person tour and we left the kitchen and turned to our right in the main room we would now be looking down the hall to the bedrooms and bathroom, just like the photo on the left below. The hall stayed pretty bare all 6 years we lived there, and apart from a seasonal shower curtain switch or two, so did the bathroom. I didn't care for the pedestal sink - zero storage and it was hard to get a vacuum or mop around the base so it mostly just trapped dust. On the plus side, a small bathroom doesn't take very long to clean!

Closets

This 2 bedroom apartment had 5 closets, not including a white Ikea number we got for the "garage." This worked out really well for our different organizational methods. I had a closet for my clothes, Keizo had a closet for his clothes, and then we had a coat closet, a bathroom/cleaning supply closet, and linen/art supply closet. Four of the closets had mirrored doors, which I definitely thought about covering early on, but like those kitchen cabinets, I got used to them and they helped bring more light in. 

Main Bedroom

The main bedroom where we slept was only room in the apartment with two exterior walls. With one of the walls east-facing, there was a lot of light in the morning (pro). With the other wall facing north, it was definitely the coldest room in the winter (con). 

The bed divided the room into his- and her- sides. Keizo's side, with the white dressers is visible in the middle photo, and my side, with the brown dresser is shown on the right. The hanging jewelry was the main decor on my side - definitely Pinterest inspired. I tend to wear the same 2-3 necklaces now, so I kind of doubt this will be recreated in our next space.

2nd Bedroom / Home Office

I don't seem to have any photos of this space! It was the last room that we 'finished' after moving in; in fact, it was mostly boxes until just before my family came for their first visit. For the first few years, it was used mostly as a guest room / laundry hanging spot / occasional reading room, but in March 2020  it became my home office and I spent many hours within its walls. 

As a home office, it got more plants and an adjustable sit/stand desk. I am very grateful to have had the separate space to make working from home as pleasant as possible. The window faced east, so it had great natural light in the morning, and it was probably the warmest room in the winter (unless the oven was on in the kitchen). 

not to scale

And there you have it! Boyd Avenue was a wonderful place to call home for six years. I got a little misty eyed as our moving/storage containers were picked up and driven away. That feeling was replaced by exhaustion though as we triaged what was left (lots of donations!), cleaned, and packed the car for our trip west. But that is a different topic for another time. 😊

Currently - November 2022

Welcome to the 11th Currently post of 2022! I'll give myself a little pat on the back for consistency, and then let's jump in. Please check out the other posts on Jennifer's blog as well.

View from the GAP somewhere between Frostburg and Cumberland

borrowing - these prompts (ha ha). And it's not really borrowing, but I've definitely appreciated all of the packing/moving tips and well wishes friends have been sharing with us as we prep for our move.

buying - Fresh food only. And annoyingly, some more dish soap and other essentials that we're out of but still need. We're also mentally adding things to our Christmas wish list and will be doing quite a bit of shopping on the other end of the move once we've found a place to live.

planning - With our bike adventure behind us, it's time to plan our cross-country road trip to AZ. As the amount of time before Thanksgiving gets shorter, our route has become a bit more direct than initially planned. Also trying to plan our last outings with friends and extended family in DC, which include a happy hour, my last knitting group meet-up, and visits to the Library of Congress and big Air and Space Museum out by Dulles.

prepping - For the move! We're making some progress each day, although this week we've got to ramp it up, rent a truck to donate furniture, etc.

reading - Not a whole lot I would recommend lately, though I did enjoy a break from packing with this month's Real Simple magazine. I redeemed some airline points a few years ago for a subscription and it just keeps coming; I've thought about canceling it, but I do enjoy the bit of off-screen entertainment it provides each month.

Best of October

• DC Bike Party - Something I've always wanted to do, but been a bit discouraged by the ~6 mile ride to the starting point in Dupont Circle. Thankfully this year's Halloween edition was on a Friday, and a few of Keizo's co-workers were participating, so we decided to join and had a great time. Also learned that the metro runs late on Friday nights!
• "Finals Week" at work - Working late to get things wrapped up, then spending almost 1/2 a day clearing ~8 years of papers out of my desk at the office maybe wasn't the most enjoyable in the moment, but afterwards I did feel like I'd done my best to leave things in good shape. There was also a goodbye happy hour and a separate company gathering after work that felt nearly pre-pandemic/hybrid work in terms of the number of people that came, which was really nice, though somewhat bittersweet as I will return to work in January almost fully remote.
• GAP/C&O bike ride - Stay tuned for a separate post about this, although it's hard to put into words exactly how awesome it is to spend a week riding bikes past gorgeous fall foliage on 300+ miles of trails without motor vehicle traffic.

Currently - October '22

A new month, and new Currently host! Jennifer has picked up the reins and is hosting the Currently link up on her blog; you can check it out here. I hadn't read her post before picking out this month's photo, I swear! But it's not like you can have too many fall leaves, and seeing them start to change is always magical.

anticipating - Just 9 more days of work before taking personal leave through early 2023. We'll spend the end of this month on an outdoor adventure before getting serious about packing and getting ourselves across the country in time to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family (<-- pretty big motivator right there).

admiring - Anyone who has packed and moved across the country. I know this includes me, but it feels like such a long time ago, my mom helped a lot, and there was only my stuff to deal with. It did me good to stumble on the Young House Love blog posts about downsizing and moving two years ago. We don't have a new place lined up yet, but imagining what our stuff might look like in it or could be repurposed in different ways is kind of fun.

spending/consuming - Not proud to admit it, but there's quite a bit of procrastination going on these days in the form of too much time on the couch consuming some of the many things Netflix has to offer. I've watched some good stuff though, including Junior Bake Off and Call My Agent. Another form of procrastination recently has been attempting the NYT crossword most mornings, but a couple of tricky ones over the weekend have broken my streak. 

wanting - To finish a draft report that's been two years in the making before I take leave, but it still needs a lot of work. I also want to fit in at least a few DC 'bucket list' type things before we move. Not working 5 days a week will give me more time for that, right? 

purging/deleting - The living room and both bedrooms each have bags or boxes collecting items for donations. Today I went through and purged picture frames (anything with crystal embellishments or a novelty shape got the boot), but there's still a long way to go. How did we end up with so many books!?!?

Best of September

• End of summer baking - A friend in my knitting group helps test recipes for The Washington Post, and she brought along her test batch of this blueberry poke cake to one of our meet-ups earlier this summer. When the recipe popped up in my feed a few months later, I definitely wanted to try it for myself. The results were quite good, though next time I think I might add some cream cheese to the topping to see if it cuts some of the sweetness.
• Bike rides - Keizo and I revisited a couple of our favorite MD trails for some longer rides "preparing" for our adventure in a couple of weeks. One weekend we did a 20-mile spin around College Park and Hyattsville with a stop at Streetcar 82, and another we did the loop around BWI airport and part of the BNA trail. 
• The last Thursday evening outdoor yoga class - since it's now pretty dark when class finishes at 7:30 PM. So glad I found this series earlier this summer. Even before the pandemic, it had been ages since I'd gone to an in-person yoga class. Being outdoors, this one had the added bonus of bird sounds and sweeping views of the sky and leafy green trees.
• Hyper-local professional conference - My first in-person conference in ages, it was nice to dip my toes back in with a small, local conference hosted by the Montgomery County Planning Department. Most of the sessions I attended were well done, I earned some continuing education credits, and learned about aspects of planning (environmental planning, housing) that I don't deal with often at work.

Currently - September '22

For this month's prompts, I took a look back at the prompts from September 2020, which I found in an unpublished draft. The last couple of weeks in 2022 have included a lot of soul searching, and I intentionally picked September 2020 to see what I was doing/thinking during another challenging time. Most of the 2020 responses could easily apply two years later, but I also came up with some new ones for 2022, apropos of the 'soul searching' bit above.

1st trip back to National Portrait Gallery in a long time 

appreciating - (2020) social connections. 

(2022) Still so true. I've had two recent happy hours with longtime and former colleagues, and we had friends over for dinner for the first time in a long time at the end of August. 

anticipating - (2020) The changing of the seasons and cooler fall weather. I'm sure I'll be complaining when it gets too cold and dark way too early, but for now, I'm looking forward to any changes in temperature that permit wearing something other than shorts and tank tops. 

(2022) Some big changes, like taking a sabbatical from work and using the time to move across the country and travel. Most of the details are still to be determined, but after meeting with my supervisor last Tuesday, I started telling people (including my family!) about it last week.

collecting - (2020) left blank

(2022) I'm adding to the collection of books from high school and college that I'm re-reading now, nearly 20 years later. Recent re-reads have included Fahrenheit 451 and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The descriptions of the talking walls and constant search for distraction in Fahrenheit 451 felt eerily accurate to the social media landscape of today, and I'm trying to remember how old I was when I read Roll of Thunder for school. This time around, I was really struck by the racist violence, and it's fair to say that most of it went straight over my head back in the day. It's excellently written, and is one of the best books I've read this year.

starting - (2020) left blank

(2022) To figure out the details of taking time off work, moving across the country, traveling etc. One thing we would like to do before we leave is a week-long bikepacking/camping adventure from Pittsburgh back to DC on the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal. There's not a lot of time to train, but I can definitely be more intentional about getting more rides in. 

finishing - (2020) A couple of books. After tearing through Where the Crawdads Sing on vacation, I've managed to keep the streak alive at home with a few books collected from various Little Free Libraries, including Kitchen Yarns (memoir) and Postscript (fiction). I'm also most of the way through Drinking Coffee Elsewhere (short stories).

(2022) - Finishing out summer by enjoying the bounty of produce as long as possible - peaches, corn on the cob, tomatoes, etc. We're really going to miss our weekly CSA when we move, and we will have to seek out another farmer's market after we get settled in AZ. 

Currently - August '22

Without an official 'currently' link up this month, I looked back into the archives in search of some prompts to reuse. I randomly picked August 2015, which was right before Keizo moved to the US. A very different time in our lives to say the least! 

Fast forward seven years, and here's what I've been up to in August 2022:

creating - I've started a second attempt at a haramaki (tummy warmer) for Keizo, but it's a little slow going. It's basically a large, ribbed tube, so kind of boring to work on and maybe August just isn't really the time to have a bunch of wool in your hands / on your lap, but I would like to finish it before it actually gets cold. I'm also very tempted by the new yarn and patterns I bought to make stuff for myself!

wishlisting - more vacations / travel! The photo above is from our recent getaway to Ohiopyle, PA where we rode bikes and visited Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. Really the only thing in the way is planning them; both Keizo and I are lucky to have a bunch of vacation time stored up, but finding a time to use it can be hard.

hoping - next week at work is a little calmer than this past week. There are new projects starting without any of my other ones wrapping up, and it's really hard to keep track of everything and stay focused on any particular task long enough to make much meaningful progress. 

eating - After eating out and consuming fewer fruits and vegetables while we were on vacation at the beginning of the month, we've had a lot of salad the past few days. We got a bunch of tomatoes in this week's CSA box and the slow cooker is currently full of beets that have been piling up for weeks (dang, those things keep a long time!). I'm planning to make beet hummus and I saw a recipe for beet cupcakes. Maybe I'll have to start posting about recipes again to document how they turn out. 😉

watching - We've been pretty hooked on the dubbed episodes of the late 90's Iron Chef cooking competition on Peacock. There's some manufactured drama of course, but overall, it's very civilized and the number of dishes they're able to prepare in an hour is pretty amazing.

Best of July

• Closet clean out & finding a nice pair of earrings that I thought I had lost a long time ago. I gathered 5-6 bags of stuff we're not using anymore for a donation pick-up, which looked like a lot more stuff stacked in the living room than it did on out on the curb!
• Jack Johnson in concert - we had great weather and a fun time people watching from our seats on the lawn. 

Currently - July '22

I'm not sure which is harder to believe - that we're half way through 2022, or that this is the 7th Currently post this year! And while we've already passed by the first Wednesday of the month, I'm glad that it's not too late to link up with Anne in Residence and the other Currently devotees.

enjoying - I've really been enjoying the Ologies podcast lately as an escape from current events and a way to learn about the many interesting things way outside of my professional field.

having - We had my parents stay with us at the end of June, and it was really nice to see them and take some time off work. We got pretty lucky with the weather (80's and a bit sticky, but went up to the 90's the day they left), so we spent plenty of time outdoors, taking them to some of our favorite parks and to a crab house by the water, a summer 'tradition' we haven't done the past two years. 

hoping - for some light at the end of the tunnel at work. Things have been super busy, we're hiring a bunch of new people, and while I'm glad people are taking vacations, they seem poorly coordinated with the set schedules for certain projects. 

picking - some concerts, performances, baseball games etc. to go to, hoping that it makes it feel more like summer around here! 

We also are in the position to pick out a new (at least to us) car, which we sort of knew was coming, but is causing a fair amount of sticker shock nonetheless. Hopefully we will make a decision soon and can do a late summer road trip, perhaps?

using - this July 4 to read some chick-lit, start this post, and do a few others things around the house. Probably won't brave the crowds on the National Mall to see the fireworks later, but would like to check out the local concert and street fair right nearby.

Best of June

• New kitchen light - it felt like something of an ordeal at the time (as in 3 weeks for the landlord's handy person to get it fixed), but now that it's done, the kitchen is nice and bright!
• HH in Downtown DC - I met up with a friend after work and we grabbed some gelato, were serenaded with surprise music and bubbles at City Center, and strolled over to the newly renovated Franklin Square Park to check out the new design. 
• Friday night brews - On most Friday evenings recently Keizo and I can be found at one of the handful of local breweries within walking and biking distance. We happened onto a free concert at Streetcar 82 a few weeks ago and really enjoy the proximity and very low key vibe at 3 Stars.

Currently - June '22

Greetings from the patio on a lovely, 72-degree Sunday morning. My current view isn't quite as sweeping as the one below, but it's not too bad either. And while it's not the first Wednesday of the month, I'm not too late to link up with Anne in Residence and the other Currently devotees!

View from Bear Chase Brewing

celebrating - There's about a month to go, but I've started to think about how we can celebrate Keizo's birthday on 7/7. So far ideas include camping, getting together with friends of his we haven't seen in-person since before the pandemic, and/or a weekend in New York City. Plus birthday cake of course!

giving - Baby gifts! I gained 5 new cousins (including two sets of twins) last month, and went to a friend's baby shower last weekend. All the new arrivals are receiving a few of the tie-dyed onesies that were featured in the photo of last month's post. 

taking - Some time off towards the end of the month when my parents will be visiting! We haven't had house guests in ages, and it will be nice to do some 'touristy' things with them, or at least shake up the normal routine and have dinner together.

trying - To be more active during the long daylight hours and eat fresh foods while they're in season. My extra pandemic pounds haven't gotten the message that the world has moved on, and I'd like to fit into my shorts again.

wearing - Right now, and probably at least once a week this summer: a soft, stretchy, black and white romper. It's been hard to resist the urge to buy another one, but with returning to the office some days and my current collection of summer dresses that are just as comfy, I really don't need another romper.

Best of May

• Summer weather - Not everyone was excited for temperatures in the 90's, but I preferred it to the cool, grey, and cloudy week we had right after.
• Outdoor yoga classes - The location is well-situated between work and home, and it's been so nice to go to a class in-person, with plenty of space, the sounds of birds, and views of lush green trees. Well, except for yesterday's when the grass was being cut nearby.
• Two 3-day weekends - We didn't end up going camping in May, but did get to spend 3 days off together versus the usual 1 per week. Keizo had to work Memorial Day weekend, but I took full advantage of Monday off to get some extra reading and relaxing in.

From the Archives

What my June was like in:

• 2021 - emerging from our bubble to go to a wedding and get on a plane, 
• 2020 - the days after George Floyd was murdered,
• 2019 - getting ready for RABRAI, 
• 2018 - sharing our new favorite camp breakfast, 
• 2017 - work travel, and 
• 2016 - back when there were multiple posts per month!

Currently - May '22

My oh my, where does the time go? I started this draft back at the beginning of the month, and here it is two weeks later and I'm just now trying to finish it up. 

Trying out some shibori-style dye patterns on some onesies and tea towels

consuming - Greens of all kinds - baby arugula, kale, spinach & spring onions - from our CSA, as well as fresh bagels from the farmer's market. I also made pretty quick work of consuming all the episodes of the new season of the Great Pottery Throw Down and I'm on pace to do the same with Season 5 of the Great Canadian Baking Show.

feeling - Sad about some staff departures at work and a little uncertain about the whole "hybrid" work thing. Will leaving the house ever feel second nature again? Right now it seems to take an inordinate amount of prep work - making lunch, checking the weather, making sure to pack computer and notebook, etc., etc., etc. And then you go, and we're mostly on Teams/Zoom with people elsewhere. At least my desk at the office is large and next to the window!

finding - I found an outdoor yoga class on Thursdays after work and really want the weather to cooperate so I can make it a regular thing. The first class had around 12 people and it was really nice to gaze at some trees and flowers during downward dog.

following - The "Our Workplaces Think We’re Computers. We’re Not." episode of The Ezra Klein Show is almost year old now, but I've thought about it several times lately when I feel overwhelmed by my to do list or just kind of "off." It helps me remember all of the changes and uncertainty going on around me (see "feeling" above) and approach things with a little more grace.

spending - I'm getting a little better at starting my weekdays earlier, thanks to Keizo's work schedule and the sun rising earlier. I like to spend some of the time knitting, or maybe reading some non-fiction (I used to do this almost every morning, pre-pandemic) to get my brain going again.

Best of April

There's a common theme to all of these = more time outside!

• Camping - First trip of the season was a success, and the first time we'd made Japanese food over a campfire. The gyoza got extra crispy, and the okonomiyaki wasn't to bad either. Will definitely make again.
• Going out for happy hour - Both to meet up with friends, as well as revisit our favorite brewery patios with Keizo. 
• Charm City Bluegrass Festival - Our first big concert in a few years did not disappoint. We had pretty perfect weather (sunny & 70's), and it was set up on two stages so that when one band stopped, the next was all set to start. 

Currently - April '22

Saving the photo for this month's post, it appeared as though every previous April post included a photo of cherry blossoms. Nearly every single one talked about wanting spring to fully arrive so I could pack up the coats and thick sweaters and that hasn't changed a bit this year. But I did find a few surprises among the five other cherry blossom posts. Back in 2016 and 2017 I was a much more regular runner; 2018 wasn't anything special; and I guess it's good that 2021 seems so long ago? After that little trip down memory lane, here's what I'm up to currently: 

Be sure to stop by In Residence to read other's posts.

getting - A hair cut on Thursday! My last one was in the fall (I think?), so my strands definitely need some attention.

going - Camping in Cape Henlopen, DE next weekend. We went around the same time last year, and while the weather the first night was freezing (literally), it was sunny and increasingly warm the next two days. Hoping that this year will only be a repeat of the latter part.

planning - Just starting to plan an epic bike camping adventure on the C&O Canal / Great Allegheny Passage. Step 1 is getting more miles in, and thankfully the weather and longer daylight hours are starting to make that feel possible, and even enjoyable, rather than a multi-layered torture expedition.  

posting - A belated birthday card to my high school best friend. She's always very punctual with mine, but I'm about a month late with this one. Oooops.

thinking - Too much at work these days, managing several projects with upcoming deliverables, and on top of that, attending trainings and trying to figure out our new accounting system. The old one did about 97 essential things, and we're only being trained on one thing at time in the new one. It feels like a long road ahead.

Best of March

• Arizona trip - I can't believe this was less than a month ago. I'm ready for another getaway - cue camping trip!
• Fieldwork - I had two full days of fieldwork for work this month, which were rather enjoyable for a few reasons: the weather was nice enough to be outdoors, I wasn't sitting in front of a computer all day, I could focus on just one project that day, and it made things feel a bit more "normal" after working remotely for 2 years.
• More social interactions - Between being in a "full" office a few times this past month, to get togethers and eating out with friends, it's nice to have more variety and options for things to do!

Currently - March '22

We started March with an early "Spring Break" in Arizona to see my family and celebrate my niece's first birthday. I took a full week off work, and finally managed to stop thinking about it sometime on Wednesday. The weather worked out in our favor, and we enjoyed a couple of hikes and a bike ride while it was 70*+ and sunny. Here's what else has been going on currently:

Saguaro National Park

collecting - While the house collects dust, I've been collecting excuses, St. Patrick's Day ideas I won't follow through on, too much junk in the trunk, and books from the Little Free Libraries in the neighborhood.

craving - Our walk through the snow this morning left us craving soup for lunch, which we made happen with some pesto sandwiches on the side. Starting yesterday afternoon and continuing today, I've been craving brownies. My parents, Keizo and I split a particularly large and delicious one from 5 Points Market & Restaurant when we went through Tucson last week, and I'm a little worried the next one I make or buy won't quite live up to it.

picturing - I've been trying to picture what life would be like if I moved back to Arizona and spent time with my family on a regular basis instead of only 2-3 times a year. On one hand, it sounds ideal; on the other, I've lived on the East Coast for 10+ years now and losing trees, four seasons, my professional network, friendships, and my very walkable neighborhood with Metro access to DC makes the decision really difficult. 

playing - When we were in Arizona, I had fun playing with my niece - passing flash cards back and forth through the door of her doll house and stacking plastic rings on her little feet and wrists. From afar, we've had some good times making funny faces at each other on FaceTime.

wishing - There was a bit less going on at work. Multiple projects have deadlines and key milestones in May and there's a lot to do between now and then. Before signing off for the weekend, I tried scheduling my to-dos on my calendar and Monday and Tuesday are pretty much booked solid. :-/

Currently - February '22

A friend said the other day that we are in the "armpit of winter," which made me chuckle, at least until I started over thinking it. Aren't armpits hot and sweaty? My feet and hands are perpetually cold. Or maybe she just meant this is a stinky time of year, in which case I have to concur. At least January is behind us and omicron cases are falling. Here's what else I've been up to currently:

loving - After a pretty restricted January - partly self-imposed (Whole30, no alcohol) and partly due to omicron - it's been nice to have more food and activity variety in February. Carbs in particular have been welcomed back with open arms - bread, pasta, and tortillas were all missed much more during the winter than when we did Whole 30 for the first time last summer.

making - So many ideas; so much less execution! This month's photo features the brightly colored yarn I purchased for making some colorful beanies for walks in the dark and I'm about a dozen rows of knitting away from finishing up a haramaki for Keizo. I made up the pattern for the haramaki and have my doubts that it will function as intended, but I had fun coming up with my own design. I've also got several friends with babies on the way, and grand designs to dye a bunch of onesies for gifts. 

taking - Another trip to AZ to see family, soak up some sunshine, and celebrate my niece's first birthday! We leave in just over a week.

wanting - Winter to be over. The days are getting longer, which is wonderful, but the weather is being less consistent with some very cold days followed by some warmer ones, then back to cold, etc. I know it's only February, but a girl can dream.

wondering - Still wondering what my goals/resolutions should be for 2022. I had been feeling inspired at the end of 2021 and made a gigantic list of ideas, but don't feel much closer to choosing any of them. 

Best of January

• Sub-freezing bike rides - When you can't take the cabin fever any longer and you put on a bunch of layers to hop on a bike in questionable conditions. I did two of these in January, learning a bit about the art of layering each time (Hiking boots and wool socks = yes. Thinking a pair of hiking pants was windproof = no).
• Make-up Christmas dinner and sledding with cousins - So nice to be able to get together and enjoy a classic, outdoor winter activity.

Currently - January '22

Happy New Year! Let's get right to it, shall we? Also, please visit Anne's blog to see posts from other Currently devotees.

anticipating - I'm keeping my expectations pretty low after 2021 ended feeling way too much like 2020 for my taste. We had to cancel holiday plans with my cousins and I'm being encouraged not to come into the office in January due to omicron. The sun has been rather elusive the past few days as well, adding to the overall feeling of gloom, so perhaps a mid-winter beach trip is in order!

organizing - I've been doing some organizing/prepping for Dry/Whole 30-ish January by using up or relocating non-compliant ingredients and gathering recipes. Our regular veggie CSA ended just before Christmas, so it feels weird having to remember to add staples like carrots, onions, and potatoes to the regular grocery list. 

reading - Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I'm enjoying the story and characters, but all the paragraphs move seamlessly into the next one and there are very few chapter breaks, making it a little hard to stop reading in any sort of logical place. 2021 was a great year of reading for me; I finished over 30 books and hope to continue my streak in 2022.

resolving - I've filled nearly a page in an 8.5x11 inch notebook with draft ideas for 2022 goals. I like writing them all down and then seeing which ones stick with me before committing. Certainly a focus for January is diet, as mentioned above, but beyond that, there are a few that are rooted in trying to reduce my environmental impact, such as buying more things secondhand and eating more vegetarian/vegan meals. And despite my generally low expectations for the year, I do think it's safe to bring back a favorite resolution from pre-pandemic times: trying a new restaurant each month!

scheduling - Already thinking about taking a long weekend at the end of the month, as well as trying to get some social engagements planned so there's something on the calendar to look forward to.

Best of December 2021

• Associates Graduation - This event wrapped up two years of participating in my company's internal leadership development program. The program's organizers recapped our work, shared compliments about each one of us, and had festive beverages delivered to our homes. We were allowed to bring guests, and it was fun to see significant others, pets, and kids on Zoom, providing a more holistic look at each of the graduates' lives beyond work.
• Baking - I got warmed up with some classics, like Peanut Butter Blossoms and Foolproof Fudge, and then moved on to this year's 'showstopper,' a Buche de Noel. I had enough ingredients left to make a second one for New Year's Eve, adding frozen cherries to the filling in the middle to cut some of the creaminess. 
• "Merry + Bright" decor - I like to come up with something a little different for Christmas decor, and this year's theme was inspired by the oversize holly I made to go around the front door. The bright red and green color scheme was repeated in garlands and I used bright paper chains and our most colorful ornaments on the tree. 
• Sharing holiday traditions with friends - Early in the month, they invited us over for takeout and ornament painting and then we had them over for New Year's Eve. We also served takeout and invited them to join us in our annual recap via flash card conversation starters and taught them how to play Wingspan.