The verdict on 2006? Not as exciting as 2005, but it’ll do. Here’s a recap for all my readers that ran out of more interesting sites to read on the internets:
January: In a bizarre turn of events, I somehow thought it would be a brilliant idea to move back to DC. “Why, there’s nothing for me to do here in Palm Desert! I should move back to DC!” And then I got off the plane in Dulles and OH MY GOD IT’S FREEZING I SHOULD HAVE TRIED HARDER TO STAY IN CALIFORNIA! Liz and Nick let me crash in their guest bedroom and watch their big screen TV because they’re cool like that.
February: I finally found a place to live in the “gentrifying” neighborhood of Columbia Heights and stuffed A LOT of envelopes while working at various temp jobs. I also discovered that, yes Virginia, you can find a decent burrito on the (l)east coast.
March: After delaying entry into the real world by studying in London for a year, I finally landed a real job. Like, one where you get business cards and stuff. My parents were proud of me, but more so overjoyed because it finally meant those overpriced degrees were worth something, even though they were in political science and Russian whatever the hell. I still think they lie to all of their friends and tell them I work for Greenpeace or the DNC or something rather than for the “dark side” as they so aptly put it. Hey, we’re the clean-burning fossil fuel thankyouverymuch.
I also took my first business trip to San Diego, where I was betrothed to some Russian businessman’s “strong and handsome” son. Damn, I can’t wait to move to Moscow.
April: Saw my boys play at Camden twice.
Travelwise, I went to San Antonio for a work trip, stayed over the weekend with some family friends, and finally saw the oh-so-tiny Alamo.
May: Went to NYC for Liz’s bachelorette weekend!
June: First time I’ve ever been to Houston, and I really liked it. I was there for work, but stayed over the weekend to visit Alicia, one of my friends from LSE. I got lost in the underground tunnel system, sang “Deep in the Heart of Texas” at an Astros game and briefly worked for Halliburton on an offshore oil rig.
I also went back to NYC to take a class for work. Math was involved, which frightened me.
July: Liz and Nick finally tied the knot in Pennsylvania, where we were treated to Greek dancing and Nick’s dad’s awesome baklava. Mmmm baklava.
A few days later, Laura and I boarded a British Airways 747 to visit Liz and Taline, who were working in Yerevan. We visited some monasteries, drank too much vodka, and argued with taxi drivers in Armenia, and then drove to Tbilisi to gorge ourselves on authentic, artery-clogging, heart stopping khachapuri. We then followed my Caspian oil obsession to Baku, where I bought a carpet, worshiped some flames, and frolicked on the shore of that big Sea (“I know it’s filled with oil and sewage, but it feels so right.”)
Andrew, Taline, and Brian. Taline says she is not featured on my blog that much. I disagree, but this one is for you, Taline!
I fought the law and the law won
Haghpat Monastery
Yerevan
Tbilisi
Baku
Oil fields outside Baku
The Caspian Sea
Ateşgah Fire Temple
On the downside, my awesome dog died, which really effin’ sucked.
August: It was hot and humid here in DC, which made the beginning of soccer season absolutely miserable. I also had my front page debut in one of the local rags for my mad wiffleball skillz. No sponsorship deals yet, so it looks like I’m sticking with the day job.
I got a bigger picture than the President! Take that, Bush!
September: DC was driving me absolutely insane, so I bought a ticket to San Diego and told my parents to pick me up at the airport. I spent Labor Day weekend surfing, eating Mexican food, and watching the Padres play. I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend, but it also made me realize how much I missed California and wished the District of Columbia would just sink into the marshland. Seriously.
October: I went to Houston twice and later decided it was finally time to buy one of those newfangled automobiles I’ve been hearing so much about. Shortly thereafter, a giant Arctic ice shelf broke in half. Coincidence?
November: I went to Carmel for another work trip, had my double double from In-N-Out, and once again asked myself, “Lindsay, you idiot, why did you voluntarily leave this state, again?”
December: Back to sunny California for Christmas. Had some fun acting like a fool at the local driving range, hiking around the local mountains, attempting to get over my fear of rocks (“How ya gonna climb Everest if an effin’ 12 foot boulder scares you?”), and, of course, shooting. But, once again I had to bid farewell to the Golden State and board a flight back to DC to start off the new year.
Haven’t the slightest clue what I’ll be doing in 2007, but I imagine it will be more of the same since I’ll still be living in DC. Trying to pick a new international destination to visit…still leaning towards a surf trip to Costa Rica, but suggestions welcome.
From Pavle:
In DC at the moment… been walking around GW campus, bothering some folks at the elliot school.
From Lindsay:
Pavle! The Elliott school? Say it ain’t so. J/K, they’ve got some kickass Russian profs there.
BUT GO TO LSE!!!!!!!!!!
From Cincysundevil:
All in all a great year. I look forward to more of your trips around the world and more blogging!
From Angela:
Hey Lindsay! Want to come with me to Ethiopia?
From Lindsay:
Hmmm…Ethiopia, eh? When?
From Angela:
I haven’t picked a time to go because I have nobody to go with me. I’m game for almost any time. I’ve wanted to go for so long and know a lot of different things to do and places to stay. If you are seriously up for it, let me know.
From Angela:
Hmmmm. My post didn’t show up. I hope it doesn’t go through twice.
Anyhow, I have no particular date in mind because I want a travel partner and don’t have one yet. I’m flexible. If you would ever really consider going, let me know and we can talk about it. I have wanted to go for such a long time, that I have so many ideas of where to go, where to stay and what to see. Let me know.
From Angela:
Damn dial-up. I guess the delay is what made me put the message through twice. I miss my DSL at home. (I’m house-sitting until tomorrow for my aunt and uncle.) Sorry!
From Turan:
Azerbaijan forever Baku nice city fuuu yerevan ))))