the trip, in photo form (with super long captions)

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This was the first of the self-portraits (sad that it took us until Sunday to take it). Anyway, this is the only photo that’s out of order, but I felt it would be appropriate to start with a photo of Anne and me, as that is what the first two days of the trip were all about. This was taken just before we went in to see the most ridiculously political IMAX movie I have ever seen in my life. It was Sharks 3D. What I was expecting was blood and carnage. What I was expecting was a shark to scare the crap out of me as it came out of the screen to eat me. What I did not expect was the political propaganda that poured forth from the speakers.

Don’t misjudge me, please. I love the ocean. I love sharks. I love diving with them (well, the different reef varieties…I have yet to see any other species while under the sea). It makes me sad that there are people who kill them for their fins, or teeth, or just because. I hate poachers and think they are cruel, horrible, greedy people. It makes me sad, when out diving, to see the damage people do to coral reefs. I hate that there are fewer and fewer places to dive that aren’t damaged. However, I am just not a believer in environmental propaganda, especially when I am paying to be ENTERTAINED.

Here are the lyrics to the worst song I have ever heard…in terms of annoyingness (although later on that day, in the restroom at Chili’s, I heard the Melissa Ethridge song…you know, the theme song to Al Gore’s movie, and if it weren’t for the fact that I actually do like her voice, it would definitely win…it’s a close call). Oh, and the words in italics, those are my thoughts/feelings.

Still Be Blue (which is how I felt listening to this song…blue, because someone thought this was a good idea)

Dark and light
All the shades of gray
Colors overbright (what the hell?)
We can make them fade away

If we respect the balance
of life upon the planet
The sea will still be blue

Sail away to another place
You can feel the air
Feel the wind upon your face
The sea is far below you
It seems to still be blue

If we reject the balance
of life upon the planet
The predator becomes the
prey and so it goes (aren’t all predators prey to something?)
Everybody knows that
the sea will still be blue.

lyrics by Claudia Phillips

The lyrics are bad, but if you have a death wish, go ahead and combine them with the music. Vomilicious. And this is why non-profits need marketers. They could have made this message so much easier to swallow. Instead, it was like one of those disgusting horse pills that makes you think, “Wow, being sick/malnourished from lack of vitamins really isn’t that bad compared to this nastiness.” A spoon full of sugar…Mary Poppins taught some great life lessons. Lessons that Jean-Michel Cousteau might need repeated.

Moving on…

This is Georgetown. If I could afford to move here, I would have done it yesterday. I love the feeling of a city at night, but the quaintness of all of the town homes and gardens. I seriously peeped in windows. I remember doing this on my mission, in one town specifically. I was in Yverdon, Switzerland and there was a little alley we would walk through to get home and I could just see over the fence of this one home and into the back window. I don’t know what it is about looking into a window in the evening, when the lights are on, but I feel like I’m getting a little glimpse of a fantastic secret. Mind you, this is not in the Peeping Tom sense at all (I promise, I’m not like that). It’s just fun to get a glimpse into someone’s life. And I assure you, the town homes in Georgetown are a delight. I drove through this area last year, but it was during the day and I didn’t get out to walk around. We had a lovely time walking around, shopping at Paper Source, people watching and eating. Lots and lots of eating.

The streets of G-town were also the location where our high-speed chase took place. And by “our”, I mean, where we were caught in the middle of a high-speed chase. Anne thought her car was making funny noises, but I assured her it sounded to me like a helicopter. The sound got louder and louder…and then, there were sirens. Lots and lots of sirens. We pulled off to the right (why is that people in this state, Utah, often don’t know how to do that?) and were passed, first, by a big truck with a trailer, and then by cop car after cop car, until probably 20 had passed us. I’m not exaggerating. I’m not sure if they were chasing the truck, or if he was just an idiot who didn’t get over in time. In any case, cop cars started pouring in from different directions, as well. We were at one of those intersections with streets coming from more than four directions, so it was a bit more hectic than your average intersection.

It was after this that we realized that the helicopter we had heard was part of the chase, shining a large spotlight down into the area. Unfortunately, we never did find out what had happened. My sister asked if perhaps it was a police escort. I told her I thought not. I am pretty sure police escorts don’t involve choppers with spotlights or cop cars tearing around corners and coming in from a gazillion different angles. I could be wrong. Anyway, it added a little excitement to our Saturday night.


It was restaurant week in D.C., so we took advantage by eating at this delicious restaurant. The decor was amazing. Exactly the type of elements I hope to have in my fabulous loft and/or townhouse someday. It was oh so contemporary, but very warm and comfortable. And the food, well, it left nothing to be desired.



I know carrot cake may not be the dessert you think of when you think of a posh, contemporary restaurant serving a three course meal, but I assure you it was delectable. And there was something about eating such a homegrown dessert in such modern surroundings that I really enjoyed. Can you tell I love the eating experience?

Anne staged this little photo. It’s something I’m working on. Photo composition. It’s not one of my talents, but I think I’m starting to have a better eye for it.

The bed, after climbing into it, at hotel #2 in downtown D.C. They were gracious enough to find me a room with two double beds so that Anne and I could have a slumber party.

And the sightseeing we did on Sunday. This was the beginning. I love this photo, except that I think I could’ve composed it a bit better. I’m not sure I love the placement of the flowers, but I do love the colors and that the capitol is out of focus.

So, I like to take weird pictures…like this one of my reflection in the hand dryer in the ladies’ room in the botanical gardens. Thinking about it now, I realize how weird it must’ve looked to anyone watching me. Whatever. I’m weird. I’ve accepted it and moved on. I hope you will do the same.

The botanical gardens.

This is the art museum. I didn’t go in it on this trip (I spent hours there the last time I was in D.C.) but I loved the lines of the building from this angle, so I decided to take a picture. I really should crop the top corner, but it took forever to upload these pictures and I’m too tired to bother.

Anne taking a picture of the sculpture garden.

Self-portrait #2. We literally took this photo six times (that is only the number with my camera). I know what you’re thinking. “Six times and this is the one you post?” Yes. We couldn’t seem to get the capitol in the background ever, so…this was the one.


I love this sculpture. This was a new addition to my D.C. sites. I love how the light is illuminating the book in Einstein’s hand. I love that this is a full body shot and I don’t hate it.

The Washington, D.C. temple. We stopped by to leave a package for my old roommate who’s a missionary at the Visitor’s Center. She wasn’t there, but I’m glad I made the effort.

And the last self-portrait. Probably my least fav, but it needed to be included.

Ahh, the suite where the stress began. Thankfully I did have this wonderful room in which to be stressed out. This is the hotel just across from the corporate offices. This is the room where I stared at myself in the mirror for over an hour as I recited my presentation, watching my hand movements and my facial expressions to ensure that I wouldn’t look totally lame. This is the room where I donned that fabulous suit that made me feel like I could take on the world…or at least the executive committee of the company. This is the room where I watched “You’ve Got Mail” on HBO into the wee hours of the morning in an effort to fall asleep without getting stuck in my head, a movie that always makes me angry because I hate the final scene between Meg and Tom. Does he really have to say, “Don’t cry Shopgirl,*” and did they really have to do such a bad job with the sound editing? I mean, it doesn’t sound like they are in a park AT ALL. (I didn’t used to be such a movie snob…but then I met Sarah ;-), although I knew there was something off about the sound.)

This is also the room where I got a phone call from my dad at 3:45 am wondering where I was and if I was okay. I love that living at home doesn’t mean that my dad is totally involved in my life, especially because I often don’t see him to tell him what’s going on…and he doesn’t have the greatest memory. I also love that he was worried about me. Worried enough that when he realized I wasn’t home at 1:45 am on a Monday morning (it’s par for the course for me to get home super late (or early) on Fridays and Saturdays, but not Sundays), he decided he should probably try and get a hold of me. I love that, as I told him I was going back to sleep, he said, “Love you, punkin'”. Sure, it disrupted my sleep, but there’s nothing like a little love from Nev to help stress level decrease.

*Thanks, Jules, for reminding me about the worst part. “Shopgirl”. Gag!

in pieces

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This title refers to both how I am going to post about the trip to D.C. and the state of my body after running 15 miles. I’m not a fan of travel logs or play by plays (I find them a bit, well, boring), so I’m going to try to keep things as interesting as possible. I have a million thoughts to share, so this may take a while. If you would like another perspective on any of the weekend activities, you can visit Anne’s blog.

So, let’s go ahead and get started with the run. I have some thoughts pre-run, but I’ll save those for later.

First of all, 6:00 am comes very early when you are in the Eastern Time Zone, but still on Mountain Time and you don’t get to bed until 1:30 am. And it seems even earlier when you you sleep in a bed that is so comfortable, you really believe you could just live in it.


But somehow I managed to roll my butt out of bed and get ready for the run. (P.S. and by the way, when you are packing for a three day trip that involves running 15 miles and a presentation which requires professional clothing, you feel like you are the world’s worst over-packer.) It didn’t hurt that the aforementioned Anne was picking me up, so I had to be ready to go. Apparently that was her motivation as well.

Anne arrived on time, looking as bright eyed and bushy tailed as myself, and we were off. Part of what made getting up less difficult was the anticipation of meeting Anne. We have been running blogger buddies for a while now and we will be running St. George together, so it was so fun that I got to meet her and we got to run together. You are all missing out. We both had little “runner” gifts for each other. She gave me a fabulous arm band, which I used and I discovered that sweat bands really do help, although because it was Under Armour, I really did look like a walking (well, running) advert for the company with my tank top and pants to match.

The run was absolutely fantastic. Everyone here in Utah had warned me of the heat and humidity, but I got very lucky and was able to run in about 75 degree weather with very low humidity. It was great! What was even more great, though, was the amazing sites I got to see while running.


Have I ever mentioned how much I love technology? Like the fact that my phone can take pictures. The photos are courtesy of my camera phone. I have to say, it did pretty well for what it is. I don’t know what the little black marks are in some of the pics, but I didn’t feel like editing them out.

This is a picture of the Washington Monument from whatever bridge we ran across to get over the Potomac.

Anne told me what this building was, but I can’t remember. I do know that it reminded me of buildings in France and so, I loved it. (I know there are haters out there, but I am not one of them).

Duh.

Duh, again.

I will probably edit this one to get rid of the little black blob because I really love this picture of the capitol. Impressive for a camera phone.

Jefferson Memorial (I think) from the bridge on our way back.

Hain’s Point

So, that was our run…at least what we saw. It seriously was an amazing experience to run around our nation’s capitol and see all of these sites. Hain’s Point (the last pic) is my new favorite. You may not be able to tell from the picture, but it’s a man emerging from the ground (or sinking, maybe). Absolutely breathtaking, as were the 15 miles we ran, as in, dying for breath. We were both ready to be done at the end. 15 miles is a long way to run. I can’t believe we are going to have to do that, plus 11.2 in order to finish the marathon.

Having not run with someone in a very long time, it was fun to discover that a) I really do enjoy having a running buddy, and b) I can now chit-chat while running, as opposed to just listening. I do feel bad that Anne had to be the one present while I made the latter discovery. Sometimes I just can’t shut up. By the end of the run, however, we were both speechless.

The good news is that, while I was in lots of pain the rest of Saturday, the rest of the trip I was just fine…an indication that I am training how I should be. No blisters at all, just some fantastic under arm chafing. Anne and I were discussing the stages of chafing afterward. It really is fascinating. I wish I had taken pictures of each stage, but I only got this one, of the final stage…the crusty, painful, scabby stage. (It may not look that bad, but “the torture, I assure you, was acute”.)
The best part of the run, besides the fact that it was over and that there were 6 cold water bottles and an ice-pack waiting in Anne’s car because she’s brilliant, was going back to the hotel and getting in the pool. Seriously fabulous!

*My playlist is relatively the same as it has been for the past 3 long runs, so…you can check the 13 miler for details. Yes, we were both listening to our iPods with one ear, and each other with the other. My multi-tasking abilities are uncanny.

feeling in the air

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This trip to D.C. was something that I had been looking forward to for a long time for several reasons. Not the least of which was meeting Anne. But something happened to me when I got off the plane in Virginia and walked outside to wait for the shuttle to the hotel.

I was standing on the curb with some time to just think. It occurred to me that my only memories of this city were thick with the boy. It was just over a year ago that I had been there for the first time, on my journey away from him. I remembered wishing that I’d had him there to share it with me. I remembered all of the time I spent on the phone with him as I walked around the monuments and museums. It’s funny how little things can effect you in such unexpected ways. I hadn’t really thought about how I would feel being back in D.C.

My thoughts then wandered (yes, I was on the curb for a while…the shuttle comes every 15 minutes and apparently I had missed it by seconds) to a list of questions. These unknowns began spinning in my head; can I really spend three more years in P-town above Nev’s garage? am I really prepared to never get married if it never happens? what if I don’t ever get to have children of my own? how will I ever afford grad school if I go somewhere besides this school? how did I, the girl who’s not even in the MBA program, end up here, on a fully paid-for trip to make a presentation to the CEO and executive committee of this company? Yes, it is exhausting having my brain. It never stops.

Most people would face these questions with some anxiety and much apprehension, but on this beautiful, breezy night, those were not the feelings such questions procured. I began to feel this overwhelming sense of peace. I thought about where I was a year ago versus where I am today. I thought about all of the things I have faced in the last year that I would have never thought myself strong enough to do/endure/survive. And then I thought about my future. I thought about all of the possibilities ahead of me. I thought about all of my options. And I began to feel an amazing sense of gratitude and hope.

There was something in the air (and no, it wasn’t the exhaust from all of the buses, shuttles, cars and cabs). Something that just calmed me down. It was this feeling that my life, right at that moment, was exactly as it should be. I’ve experienced this feeling on several different occasions, but there was something so amazing about such a feeling when I feel like there are so many unknowns in my life at the moment. It was one of those moments that you wish will never end. I could have stood on that curb for hours just to keeping feeling that feeling. It’s those moments, those small, unexpected, absolutely delicious moments, the ones you wish you could drink, that make life wonderful.

I knew it was going to be a great weekend…and I was right.

it’s over

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My weekend in D.C. is coming to an end. One fabulous blogger has been met. 15 miles have been run. One gourmet meal has been consumed. One high speed chase has been witnessed. Two movies have been watched (one, the fabulous “Stardust”, the second, shark propaganda to the max…song included). Three fabulous nights have been spent in gorgeous beds. One presentation to the executive committee has been made. All in all, it’s been great. Details to follow!

weight watchers weekly – week ten

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And here’s what you’ve all been waiting for. I know you missed my deep thoughts last weeks, so here we go.

I’m going to start with the weight loss…because that’s where the thoughts stem from. I lost 1 lb since the last time I was weighed. Two weeks ago. Not my happiest moment. But, better than a gain. And therein lies my problem.

It’s all fine and well that I can talk about how great it is to lose weight slowly, when I’m not losing it slowly. But with this average of .5 lbs/week for the last two weeks, I get to see if I’m buying what I’m selling. I think I am…but I’m not totally convinced. A few more weeks like this and I think I’ll know for sure. But as I write that, I think, “Over my dead body will I have a few more weeks like this.” Do you see my predicament? Why is it that I can cheer for my friend and her weight loss, even if it’s only .2 lbs (and be totally supportive if she gains) but if I don’t lose what I want to lose, I get very frustrated with myself.

The thing is, I can list exactly why I didn’t lose more weight, and it definitely wasn’t lack of exercise. It was Serrano’s and Hogi Yogi and mini-chocolate chips and a sweet tooth that wouldn’t go away and a lack of writing down what I had eaten. Having suffered from so many poor choices (yes, they weren’t my fault…I was suffering the peer-pressure of my sweet tooth and the menus at restaurants that called to me in low, deep, seductive tones…like that damn World Class Chocolate ice cream so many weeks ago), it’s a wonder that I lost any weight.

Okay, enough of that. Let’s talk about the positive (hey…maybe I am buying this whole “slow and steady wins the race” thing). I learned a few very valuable things over the last two weeks. Now, for those of you Diet Coke addicts, you may want to stop reading right now (or at least skip the next paragraph…ignorance is bliss).

First, you all know that I had to give up the drink. It was a sad, sad day. Although, truthfully, now that the addiction is gone (whoever says that caffeine is not a drug is WRONG), I am allowing myself the occasional DC. I’ve had two in the last week. Not bad. Okay…moving on. I really believe that DC hinders weight loss. Now, you may be thinking, “But Chloe, the weeks you were on the drink, you lost much more than these last two weeks”. And you would be correct. But…you didn’t see what I ate over the last two weeks. Between traveling, family dinners and an obsession with frozen yogurt (sure, it’s fat-free, but that doesn’t mean that consuming a quart of it a day won’t do some damage), I am truly amazed that I lost weight. I don’t know if it’s as much the Diet Coke consumption that does it, as the fact that when you are drinking DC, you are not drinking water and water plays a huge role in the losing of the poundage. Either way, I’m a believer.

Second, I really think that sleep makes a huge difference. I know that may sound weird. After all, if you’re sleeping, you’re not moving, you’re not exercising (you’re also not eating), but it seriously makes a difference. And I don’t think it’s all about the “not eating”. I’m sure there are all kinds of physiological reasons why sleep helps, but since I decided soon after that first anatomy class that I was not going to be a doctor, I do not know the reasons why. Just trust me. Get your sleep.

Third, and this is the most important truth I learned this week. I mean, I have known it in theory, but seeing as how I have never put it into practice, I had yet to see it for myself. Losing weight the slow way really does make it so you can have a “bad” week (or two) and recover from it. I know I’ve mentioned that this whole slow program is new for me (and really, I have no room to complain with an average weight loss of 2 lbs a week), and that it was going to be hard for me since starvation and laxative popping really do work so well…you know, until you DIE! But I am a believer after these two weeks.

I’m really not kidding when I tell you that I ate like a horse (do horses even eat a lot?). Between friends leaving, family gatherings and just the normal social stuff, I spent lots of time in restaurants over the last two weeks…and lots of time making treats and eating them…and lots of time enjoying whatever everyone else was eating in the portions everyone else was eating, including regular old pizza (which I don’t even like that much). I finally buckled down once I was back in P-town, but even then I wasn’t tracking like I should have been. And guess what, my body still let go of one whole pound. That is a big deal. Seven years ago, in the throws of my third (and final) bout with eating disorder manifestations (the truth is, once you have one, it really does live with you), I could never have done that. I could never have eaten everything I ate these two weeks and not gained weight. I could have never eaten everything I ate without absolutely hating myself. And I could have never eaten everything I ate without feeling like I had lost all control and just giving up.

The eating disorder mentality still lives in my head. My first reaction when I eat something “bad” is still to be upset with myself. But then I get over it. Then I think about the fact that I am human and, as such, will always enjoy a banana split (and just so you know, according to Aristotelian logic–thank you GMAT prep course–if you do not enjoy a banana split, you are not human…so good luck with that). Then I think about the fact that I have managed, in ten weeks, to lose 23 lbs without once popping a pill, starving myself, throwing up or feeling like I had to spend five hours in the gym. And that is a big deal!

Oh, and in other news (along the same vein) I had to get a suit this week for my “business trip” because one of my fabulous sisters insisted that, when presenting to the board of directors of a multi-billion dollar company, you have to have wear a suit, even if it is Washington, D.C. and it will be a gazillion degrees with 2000% humidity. The same fabulous sister also paid me in advance for services to be rendered (apparently, I’m back to being her slave when I go visit her at the end of September) so that I could afford said suit…and darling shoes. So, why do I share this here, in this post? Because I didn’t have to set one foot in the plus-size section. Not even a toe. Everything I tried on fit me. Some of it was really and truly awful and nothing I would be seen in publicly, but it all fit. Such a great feeling! And I found a fabulous suit, although it did take much searching and many phone calls to find the jacket to go with the most perfect skirt ever made, since the P-town Nordy’s didn’t have it. The skirt, top and shoes are all packed and ready for my flight this evening, and the jacket is awaiting me at the Tyson’s Corner mall, to be picked up on Saturday. Life is good!