Our Washington DC Stay-cation

Richard and I have been living in the Washington DC region for over three months now. I still can't tell you how to get to the Jefferson Memorial from the Lincoln Memorial or what direction the Potomac is from my work (although, I did recently learn how to pronounce "Potomac" which I had apparently been saying wrong for weeks).














Now, this may be partly due to the fact that, well, I am a stereotypical female with a horrible sense of direction, a husband who enjoys driving me everywhere and a GPS that -- most of the time -- leads me, guides me and walks beside me.

But I am determined to get to know my new hometown better! When Richard and I first moved in, we got round-trip vouchers for a river cruise from Old Town Alexandria to Georgetown. Since they expired on November 2, and it was one of those rare Saturday afternoons where Richard could take a break from studying, we decided to do the whole tourist thing in Old Town Alexandria and Georgetown. It was probably in the top 10 best days of my life.


First of all, Old Town Alexandria is SO beautiful in the fall! My sister came down last Tuesday, and despite the horrible weather, we ate a wonderful French meal on King Street (in the heart of Old Town). Thanks Carma! But when we went down on Saturday, the weather was perfect (75 degrees, not windy), and the leaves were changing on the trees. I couldn't believe all of this is a 5-minute drive from our house.

After walking around Old Town for awhile, we hopped on our boat to head to Georgetown. While we were there, Richard met a recently-graduated law student from Michigan who had the same professor that Richard has! He promised Richard that he would send his outlines from the class (which he did), and according to Richard his outline is amazing and has really helped him! What a fortunate coincidence.

When we got to Georgetown, I decided that I would do a photo shoot of model-Richie. My favorite is the first one. I love the leather jacket!

Finally, it was time to go back home, boo. I did get some great shots of the sunset over the Potomac though (PA-tome-ICK). Basically, it was so much fun to "discover" our own city. I know I'm always dreaming of going places (Australia, Argentina and Romania to name a few). But there is seriously so much to do here in our own backyard! I love Washington DC!

Happy "Howl"oween!

Last night, the Hotel Monaco Alexandria put on a "Happy Howloween" doggie costume contest to end their weekly summer "Doggie Happy Hours."

Sarah and I spent a lot of time trying to get the media to cover the event, and it was a huge success! We were expecting about 50 dogs (and, of course, their human companions) and got well over 150 dogs there!! This is great because the contest was benefiting the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, and we were able to raise a lot of money for a great organization.

I was working the registration desk -- by myself, most of the time -- and spent spend several hours trying to get everyone and their dog (literally) ready to go. But it was a lot of fun and totally worth it. I might LOVE doing special event planning and promotion.

The AWLA volunteers were dressed up as beekeepers, and brought 5 adorable puppies in need to adoption dressed up as bees. I am, and always will be, a cat lover but last night I wanted to adopt about a million puppies. So cute!

We had 4 prizes to give away for the event. Here are the winners for your Halloween enjoyment:

“The Best Dressed Couple” Award
(Awarded to the Most Creative pet/owner costume)
Owners Name: Nachelle Wilkinson
Dog’s Name: Koda
Breed: Jindo
Costume: Top Gun/Naval Aviator


“The Most Glamorous Get-up”
(awarded to the dog who best lets out his/her inner diva)
Owners Name: Beth Connolly
Dog’s Name: Isabella
Breed: Tebetin Spaniel
Costume: Designer Diva






















“Best Political Pooch” Award
(awarded to the best politically-themed costume)
Owner: Nicole Cerguitella
Dogs: Mischa & Spencer
Breed: Coton & Mini Labrador
Costume: Sarah Palin, a Moose and Joe Six Pack




















The “Top Dog” Award
(The Grand Prize for best all-around costume)
Owners Name: Kevin Kelly and Patricia Andronicos
Dog’s Name: Scooby
Breed: Labradoodle
Costume: Gangsters

Tonight, I am working another event that Kimpton is hosting (the 4th event in 3 days, mind you... it's been a busy week!). This one is a Alice in Helixand (human) costume party at the Hotel Helix.



Happy Halloween from the Petersons!

Habib Winners!!!

My sister had her baby on October 15 and, as my nephew so graciously reminded me on the phone last night, I have not yet awarded my prizes to the winners of his family "guess the weight/date" game.

The winner of the weight..... DAVID BYLUND!!! (guess: 7 lb. 8 oz., actual weight: 7 lb. 10 oz.)

The winner of the date...... ERIC BYLUND!!! (guess: Oct. 15, actual birthday: Oct. 15)

As mentioned in the e-mail, part of the reward is "knowing that you love your future son/nephew/cousin/grandson more than anyone else in the family!"

But that's not fun.

Here are more prizes:








Thanks for playing, everyone!

We love you Joshua!

PS- For those of you that are confused where the name "Habib" came from, Joshua's older brother Spencer often says "off bib" when he is done eating. But it comes out sounding more like "Habib," hence the in vitro nickname for our newest addition.

You can take the Bylund out of Omaha...

...But you can't take the chintzy and tight out of the Bylund!

No. seriously.

Over the past few months, I think I have gone to 3 seminars on how to "scrimp and save" during these lovely law school years (once at my ward, once at a work meeting, and once at a Law School Wives Association event). So, I have decided to really take it to heart. And I found out that it is actually a lot of fun to try to spend as little money as possible -- it's like a game! Plus, it makes me feel like I am fighting back against consumerism!

First of all, I learned how to cut coupons "appropriately" -- when to use them, where to use them, and which ones you should use. I have high hopes that our grocery bill can be under $100 a month! (I'll do an update next month.) I've also learned the wonders of Extra Care Bucks from CVS (Walgreens has a similar program). Some good blogs that help teach me tricks and motivate me are here, here, here and here. Check them out.

As far as entertainment goes, pretty much "dinner and a movie" is out for us. Ever. Instead, we play tennis a lot at a court down the street, go on walks and pick up free movies from RedBox. (RedBox sends out free rental codes via e-mail or text every Monday! You can sign up here.)

So basically, this is my new hobby. And it sure beats my old hobby (spending loads of money in Europe). Also, I have to have a new passion, since we all know what happened to BYU Football...

GPS: Friend or Foe?

My brother-in-law recently forwarded me this news story about someone whose GPS may or may not have attempted to kill him. A little help with photoshop helped me to recreate the moment:



http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/30/gps-sends-another-driver-onto-train-tracks-of-doom/

About the same time that he sent me the article (literally, to the hour), I was driving around Virginia, terrified that I was speeding/not yielding/going too slow/about to die, etc. I hate. hate. hate driving in the East, and refuse to do so unless I absolutely have to. Unfortuantely, this was one of those cases: I had to (well, I wanted to) go to the mall and Richard had to stay at the law school and do homework.

"Exit left in 400 yards," Elphie2 (our GPS, a TomTom) told me. As I exited, I noticed some police cars further down on the exit lane, with a couple of cars pulled over to the side. "Suckers," I thought as I tried to pass the police cars. Then, one of them told me (ME!) to pull over. I did so with confusion, as I knew that I had not been speeding.

Our dialogue went something like this:

Cop: "So, I pulled you over because you took an HOV exit."

Me: "I'm sorry! I'm new the area and my GPS told me to exit here, and she didn't even ask me if I wanted to avoid HOV lanes (pointing emphatically to Elphie2)"

Cop: "Sorry, it's the 30th of the month and we haven't yet met our quota for tickets, so we have to give you one anyway."

(Cop leaves)

Elphie2: "Ha ha ha! Gotcha!"

Me: "Grrrrrrrr."

Okay, the cop didn't actually say that. Neither did Elphie. But I knew that's what they were thinking.

Now, before you say it: I know I should have still been looking for HOV signs even with Elphie on. But I still contend that this is a prime example of GPS: Foe.

It must be said that Elphie has done well most of the time and kept me from getting lost, helped me find the nearest Wendy's and encouraged in life generally. But sometimes she just gets me into major trouble. Besides this incident, she once got me, Richard and Carma into a major traffic jam near the Lincoln Tunnel when she should have had us take an earlier exit.

So the question must be asked: Is your GPS a friend or foe?

Washington: The Mecca of Metropolitan Transit

...well, that may be going a little overboard, but seriously, the Washington DC Metrorail just may be the best system out there! Can I get an "aaaaa-men"?

Sure I've had my fair share of delays, rush-hour squishedness, and pacing back and forth waiting for a train to come, but that is most certainly to be occasionally expected of any big-city system. Coming from New York City, which may possible be the worst/dirtiest metro known to man, my spirit leaps for joy every time I walk into one of the DC stations.

I have, naturally, developed a Top 5 for why the Metrorail will forever have a special place in my heart:

(5) SmartTrip cards are plastic and can be read from inside your purse (or wallet, for those men out there), so you don't have to spend time fishing for that pesky paper card in front of the entrance.

(4) I get cell phone coverage while I am riding on the Metro. Apparently, Verizon (my provider) has a contract with them, so they have phone lines lining the cars/stations. (I recently learned this, after assuming for months that I would not have phone coverage.)

(3) They have electronic boards which list how long until next train comes. No more staring down the platform, wondering when you will see the light at the end of the tunnel (both proverbially and literally).

(2) The stations are clean, well-maintained and air-conditioned. 'Nough said.

(1) The huge, vaulted ceilings eliminates all claustrophobia you may have about the fact that you are hundreds of feet underground.

Also, yes this is a covert PR ploy to get friends and family to visit me in Washington DC. You know you want to ride this glorious system!!

Organization Heaven

Yesterday, work sent me to a Franklin Covey all-day seminar about time management training. To those of you who know me even a little, you know that this is Disneyland for me (not literally). I was so excited the night before our training that my conversation with Richard went something like this:





Me: I can't sleep! I'm so excited!!

Richard: You are acting like this is Christmas Eve, or something.

Me: More like the night before the first day of school!



(Note: Yes, I was more excited for the first day of school than for Christmas morning. I am a nerd. Also, the photo is not me, but stolen off the first google hit for "first day of school.")

The workshop did not disappoint. We were all given free "starter kits" binders (which I immediately upgraded to the cute red binder and stationary, natch). The Franklin Covey system focuses on planning your life pyramid style: starting with your values, then goals, then weekly planning and finally daily planning (with each task given a A,B or C rating). We also focused on the different "roles" that we each held in our life and how to get the "big rocks" taken care of for each role (I could have sworn I have heard the same lecture in a young women's lesson...).

My favorite part of the day had to have been during our "goals and values" section where we introduced ourselves as if it were 10 years from now. I created an elaborate scenario for both me and my family/friends. For details on where you'll be in 10 years, contact me. As for me, I'll be living it up in Boston, 2 years in to my Ph.D. program, teaching university courses part time, doing PR volunteer work for a non-profit, and celebrating my 10 1/2 year anniversary... all with an undisclosed number of children.

Basically, the whole day was like an early birthday present that I got paid for -- thanks Kimpton! Oh, and don't think I didn't write "blog about Franklin Covey training" on my daily tasks for today (don't worry, it was a "B" not an "A").