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our first baby Benjamin James 11 lbs 7 oz Born: 12/15 |
| carrieann on twitter |
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had a bit of fun this weekend. wound up going out on friday night, and had a blast! went to two places... finn mccool's and the ugly mug. both were great places... and my friends and i closed the place down, and wound up not getting home til 4am :) then i had my dreaded haircut on saturday, and then went to see cirque de soliel in 3d. i liked it! for those of you that have seen it live, it's definitely not as great... but still worth the $8 tickets. having it be in 3d was like watching it live... the people stood out as if they were on stage. then we wandered out to buffalo billiards... but there wasn't much going on, so we walked over to sign of the whale, and wound up staying out late again :) i really like that place... definitely one of my top five places so far :) i spent sunday trying to catch up on sleep... but i'm still muy cansado.
this week there isn't anything too major going on. we're having a meeting tonight with other dog park people to discuss what's going on with the issues still outstanding. then this sunday is the super bowl, and my friend robyn invited me over to watch the game :) there was talk of trying to get together to go out dancing at some point... but we'll see if it happens. might need to chill out this weekend, and save some dollars :)
this week there isn't anything too major going on. we're having a meeting tonight with other dog park people to discuss what's going on with the issues still outstanding. then this sunday is the super bowl, and my friend robyn invited me over to watch the game :) there was talk of trying to get together to go out dancing at some point... but we'll see if it happens. might need to chill out this weekend, and save some dollars :)
| posted at 8:16 AM ~ comments (0) |
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if you know me at all, you know i've never had short hair in my life. i hate it. so i always get nervous going to a new stylist... because they always assume that because i need my haircut, i'm looking for a change. wrong. so today, i say i need it a little shorter... and bam. i now have the shortest hair i've ever had. i hate it. i need some super vitamins to make this crap grow... cause right now i'm fighting off tears. i know it will grow back... but for god's sake... now i have to hate myself in the morning every day for the next month and a half. i don't know why my hair is such a big deal... it's nothing spectacular... and everyone back at home yells at me to do something different, since i've pretty much always had the same style. but it's me. it's what i like, and i didn't want to change. it's hard enough feeling attractive in a city filled with beautiful girls all around... *sigh* drama.
| posted at 12:02 PM ~ comments (0) |
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so i'm reaching a point right now in my career... where i feel like i'm at a 'now what' stage. given my skills and experience, i'm almost maxed out on how far i can go. i've never considered grad school an option for me. my undergrad was terrible... despite my last semester being the best of my career. i woke up and realized that in order to be successful, i needed to get my act together... but those last few 4.0's weren't enough for me to graduate with a gpa that i'm proud of. i was also coming out of going to school for 6 years straight... every summer, fall, and spring... and i was sick to death of classes. but now i've had a break... and it's not so intimidating anymore. i have several friends and colleagues that have gone on to get their masters... and the more i look into the programs, the more i see how much i can learn, and how much it can help me reach my career goals. so guess what. i'm going to grad school :) the biggest hurdle to me, is figuring out how to afford it. even though i believe my company reimburses me for classes... there are supplies, fees, etc... and i have to front the money in order to start. then the other daunting task, for me, is the fact that i most likely will need to take the GRE. yikes. tests scare the hell out of me. i was denied a job due to failing their 'computer aptitude test'... i'm horrible at timed exercises. *sigh* so it will take me a lot of preparation in order to do what i think i am capable of. but god bless the option of the retake :) knowing it's not an end-all show-stopper if my scores are not my best definitely helps decrease my stress level. anyway, so that's the big decision of the moment. i'm planning on taking the next six months or so planning and applying for grad school... with my expectation to start next spring, and finish by summer/fall 2008. i'll be celebrating my 30th birthday that year... which is a little crazy to think about. but more motivation all the same ;)
| posted at 10:50 AM ~ comments (0) |
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i got the best compliment ever on friday. i was at vince's wedding, and a friend of mine commented that i'm doing a great job on maintaining my weight loss, and that he doesn't even remember me being heavy. that was amazing to me, as i still think of myself as needing to shed some pounds. it is still very fresh in my mind on what it feels like to be very overweight. so for someone to tell me that they can't picture me like that makes me feel very proud. scary, in a way, since i've been heavy for most of my life, that it almost feels like a part of my identity has been forgotten... or lost. but i can honestly say that i will never go back to living how i used to... my eating habits have changed for good. i look back on the person i used to be... and how much i have really changed. jackie once tried to get me to sign up for a 3 day walk-a-thon... and at my peak weight, i told her flat out that she was nuts, and that i am not that kind of a person. now here i am researching when to start training for the marine corps marathon. :) i have renewed self confidence... and it shows in other parts of my life i didn't expect. i'm not saying losing weight has made my life easier. but accomplishing what i set out to do has shown me that i can do things i once thought impossible :)
it's a great day out today... over 40 degrees outside! it put me in a great mood, and it makes me long for spring. it's supposed to drop back down this weekend... but i'm enjoying today, anyway :) going running tonight... determined to make that month goal of running. i'm up to 55 minutes... i ran 6.1 miles on monday. farthest i've run. ever. i can't wait to break that record :)
it's a great day out today... over 40 degrees outside! it put me in a great mood, and it makes me long for spring. it's supposed to drop back down this weekend... but i'm enjoying today, anyway :) going running tonight... determined to make that month goal of running. i'm up to 55 minutes... i ran 6.1 miles on monday. farthest i've run. ever. i can't wait to break that record :)
| posted at 1:53 PM ~ comments (0) |
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i finally broke down and decided to try out flickr... and i like it! it lets me post right to my blog! so i might forego the textamerica account, and just post photos directly in the blog... we'll see how it works out :)
| posted at 11:26 PM ~ comments (0) |
wow! i made the goal of three weeks of running! if i run tomorrow, friday, and sunday... that's a whole month! and to make it even better, my pants that were too tight at the beginning of the month have now loosened back up, and fit me again :) down 4lbs and feeling great!
i'm also planning some fun this weekend... going to the IMAX to see a show, and then heading out for drinks and appetizers afterwards :) i love this city... i have been here for a little over two months, gone out at least twice a week, and haven't been to the same place twice... not counting the movie theater. and i still have places that were recommended to me that i have yet to check out! :)
i'm also planning some fun this weekend... going to the IMAX to see a show, and then heading out for drinks and appetizers afterwards :) i love this city... i have been here for a little over two months, gone out at least twice a week, and haven't been to the same place twice... not counting the movie theater. and i still have places that were recommended to me that i have yet to check out! :)
| posted at 8:41 AM ~ comments (0) |
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i got the photos from vinnie's wedding online... but i didn't get very many :( we got to the ceremony late, so we were way in the back... then at the ceremony, it wasn't announced when things were going on... so i missed the cutting of the cake, and various dances... :( but here they are, all the same:
vince and sarah rabaut's wedding
vince and sarah rabaut's wedding
| posted at 10:47 PM ~ comments (0) |
yay. monday. bleh. i have a full work week this week... and no plans for the next couple of months. my next trip to michigan isn't until may... so i have lots of time to explore around dc :) lily has now gone into heat... what drama that is. i can't take her to the park unless i want to get her pregnant... so meanwhile, i will be doing lots of cold, cold walks outside :( this is supposed to last about 3 weeks... so i've got two and half more to go. *sigh* but that means that next month she will be getting spayed... i'm hoping that goes well. then it's still wait and see as to whether or not she will need to undergo additional surgery for her problem. i'm really hoping everything resolves itself... poor girl. anyway, i'm trying to make plans to go out this weekend, and then next weekend is the super bowl :) i'll be going over to robyn's to help her cheer on the patriots... even though i think i'd like the eagles to win ;) should be a nice weekend... and thank god we are getting back into the 40's. i'm sick of winter already. time for the spring!
| posted at 7:44 AM ~ comments (0) |
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well i'm off to michigan today... vince's wedding is tonight, and then i'll be back on sunday. short trip home, and my last for a long while. i most likely won't be back until may, for my cousin's wedding reception.
i'm proud to say that i woke up early to go running today. a first in my life :) i'm determined to make my goal of running every other day this week. i did it the past two weeks, so this would make week three in a row of running every other day! :) if i make it this week and next, that's a whole month! woohoo! alright, time to finish packing and get the pup to the vet's to be boarded for a couple days. poor girl... i wish i could bring her... but i can't buy a ticket for her on the plane :)
i'm proud to say that i woke up early to go running today. a first in my life :) i'm determined to make my goal of running every other day this week. i did it the past two weeks, so this would make week three in a row of running every other day! :) if i make it this week and next, that's a whole month! woohoo! alright, time to finish packing and get the pup to the vet's to be boarded for a couple days. poor girl... i wish i could bring her... but i can't buy a ticket for her on the plane :)
| posted at 7:18 AM ~ comments (0) |
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hi my name is carrie, and i watch american idol. i've watched it from the very beginning... made my poor roommates watch it... and had great fun picking my favorites each season. this year is no different :) however, these auditions are starting to really scare me. not only are they bringing out more and more people that have talent... but the people that are bad... but *think* they are good... are somewhat disturbing. some people have obvious mental issues... and it's a little scary. but at least there are a ton of good people this year... i'm hooked :) apparently i'm hooked to reality shows this season again... i watched 'the bachelorette' last monday... and again this monday. it's so cheesy... i love it. hey, i never said i had taste ;)
tomorrow is shaping up to be quite a fun evening! i'm meeting a bunch of people out for happy hour, since the majority of us don't have to work on thursday :) should be a great time... then i have the day off on thursday... and then i leave friday for michigan for vinnie's wedding. i'll be wearing my fleece lined jeans though... it's gonna be freakin FREEZING back in michigan. i was cold today, when it only reached the low 20's... but it's about 10-15 degrees colder up there. brrrrrr.... looks like i will have to dance to keep warm :)
tomorrow is shaping up to be quite a fun evening! i'm meeting a bunch of people out for happy hour, since the majority of us don't have to work on thursday :) should be a great time... then i have the day off on thursday... and then i leave friday for michigan for vinnie's wedding. i'll be wearing my fleece lined jeans though... it's gonna be freakin FREEZING back in michigan. i was cold today, when it only reached the low 20's... but it's about 10-15 degrees colder up there. brrrrrr.... looks like i will have to dance to keep warm :)
| posted at 10:23 PM ~ comments (0) |
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man i love days off. sleepin in... woke up, went and got coffee with a friend... now i'm just chillin around the house. i cleaned and did laundry on saturday... it's nice to have gotten that all done. saw napolean dynamite again last night... it was great! i love his dance moves :) i am thinking of going out to a happy hour on wednesday, since the majority of us have thursday off for the inauguration. so it will be a short work week... and then the next four days will be a blast. the country line dancing on saturday night was fun... definitely will be going back, especially if my sister ever makes it out here. she'd have a great time :) i'm also looking forward to vinnie's wedding friday night... always good to reunite with old friends!
alright, time to get back to lounging. but i need to go running today... i missed yesterday, but managed to run for four days last week, and i intend to do it again this week. so i have to do it today, wed, fri, and sun. wish me luck! i'm determined to get back into that habit. now that my alcohol intake has increased, so has my pants size. but with the running schedule back in place, it should come back down in no time. i'm up to running 50 minutes/5 miles each time! that is amazing to me, seeing as how i remember barely being able to run a 5k (3.3 miles) in under 45 minutes! so i'm definitely improving! i am also determined to run a marathon this year. the marine corp marathon is in the fall (26 miles)... so if i start training in march/april, i can definitely be at a decent position to do it by october! that will be a huge accomplishment for me. going from no activity at all 3 years ago, to running a marathon. just crossing that finish line would prove a lot to myself. now i just need to get a new pair of running shoes to mark the occasion... lily ate my new balance's... they are good for jogging, but if i want to train... they definitely need to be replaced. anyone want to donate for that cause? ;)
alright, time to get back to lounging. but i need to go running today... i missed yesterday, but managed to run for four days last week, and i intend to do it again this week. so i have to do it today, wed, fri, and sun. wish me luck! i'm determined to get back into that habit. now that my alcohol intake has increased, so has my pants size. but with the running schedule back in place, it should come back down in no time. i'm up to running 50 minutes/5 miles each time! that is amazing to me, seeing as how i remember barely being able to run a 5k (3.3 miles) in under 45 minutes! so i'm definitely improving! i am also determined to run a marathon this year. the marine corp marathon is in the fall (26 miles)... so if i start training in march/april, i can definitely be at a decent position to do it by october! that will be a huge accomplishment for me. going from no activity at all 3 years ago, to running a marathon. just crossing that finish line would prove a lot to myself. now i just need to get a new pair of running shoes to mark the occasion... lily ate my new balance's... they are good for jogging, but if i want to train... they definitely need to be replaced. anyone want to donate for that cause? ;)
| posted at 12:18 PM ~ comments (0) |
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well, i've had a great weekend so far... we went out to whitlow's last night to hear the shane hines band, and i wound up staying up way too late :) but it was well worth it! tonight my friend katie and i are going out to a country/western bar down in alexandria... she talked me into going line dancing... look out! :) it's dancing... doesn't matter what kind, and i'm down! so that should be fun. took lily to the vet this morning, worried she had the start of another infection... but luckily i think i caught it super early, so we only had a $100 vet bill this time around. *sigh* but we had fun at the dog park... cold... but fun :) i also got a lot done as far as cleaning around my house... woohoo!
now i just have to finish laundry tomorrow, and then spend the rest of the weekend relaxing! i only work tues/wed next week... then i have thursday off for the inauguration, and i took friday off to fly back to michigan for vinnie's wedding for the weekend. should be a great week! :)
now i just have to finish laundry tomorrow, and then spend the rest of the weekend relaxing! i only work tues/wed next week... then i have thursday off for the inauguration, and i took friday off to fly back to michigan for vinnie's wedding for the weekend. should be a great week! :)
| posted at 5:56 PM ~ comments (0) |
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happy birthday to my sister... she turns 24 today! hope you have a great day! :)
in other news, nothing major going on this weekend. going out with robyn tomorrow, to see a band she likes. other than that, i need to clean my apartment. i've been so tired this week... i haven't stopped to do anything. i did give lily a bath yesterday, so she's squeaky clean... but now my bathroom is a disaster. maybe i can round up some folks to go dancing on saturday... or sunday, since most of us have monday off for mlk day! ahhh... 3 day weekends rock. even if i wind up staying home... i welcome the relaxation.
in other news, nothing major going on this weekend. going out with robyn tomorrow, to see a band she likes. other than that, i need to clean my apartment. i've been so tired this week... i haven't stopped to do anything. i did give lily a bath yesterday, so she's squeaky clean... but now my bathroom is a disaster. maybe i can round up some folks to go dancing on saturday... or sunday, since most of us have monday off for mlk day! ahhh... 3 day weekends rock. even if i wind up staying home... i welcome the relaxation.
| posted at 7:33 AM ~ comments (0) |
well, apparently channel 9 news put my 2 cents on air, and johnny managed to find the clip on their website:
my short clip at the dog park
thanks for that! good to know i didn't look like a complete idiot ;) but i have heard all about how i have a ridiculous midwest accent, especially after that clip. hmm... still sounds normal to me! :)
my short clip at the dog park
thanks for that! good to know i didn't look like a complete idiot ;) but i have heard all about how i have a ridiculous midwest accent, especially after that clip. hmm... still sounds normal to me! :)
| posted at 6:05 AM ~ comments (0) |
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i went to the macromedia user group meeting in dc tonight... and ben forta made his annual visit out to the meeting! it was GREAT! i've never actually seen him before, in person... so i was thrilled. he's such a rockstar ;) he talked about the event gateways coming with the new release of cold fusion... and got me all fired up about it. i won't be using it at my job in the near future... but it will be really cool to see what people do with it! this week is starting out great! :)
| posted at 9:31 PM ~ comments (0) |
well, i'm not mentioned, but i am really excited that our story got posted, and that in a small way, i'm helping :)
dog park poisoning
read all about it, and what's been going on!
dog park poisoning
read all about it, and what's been going on!
| posted at 7:40 AM ~ comments (0) |
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the meeting was GREAT! we had a ton of people there, as well as the washington journal, channel 9, 7 and 4! i got interviewed by all three, so i may be on the evening news tonight! i really hope this gets the information out there... and really inspires people to report anything they know. those of you that come here and are looking for more information, go to:
www.arlingtondogs.org
for all the updated information, or visit the towers park group on yahoo:
groups.yahoo.com/group/TowersCCA
here are the photos from tonight, with the police speaking out to calm people's fears:
if our story makes it into the post tomorrow, i'll be sure to post the link!! :)
www.arlingtondogs.org
for all the updated information, or visit the towers park group on yahoo:
groups.yahoo.com/group/TowersCCA
here are the photos from tonight, with the police speaking out to calm people's fears:
if our story makes it into the post tomorrow, i'll be sure to post the link!! :)
| posted at 9:22 PM ~ comments (0) |
well, the big meeting is tonight for the dog park issues. i got a call from a reporter from the washington post, and gave her all the background information on what was going on. she took my name, and lily's name... so we might be in the paper tomorrow, regarding this story :) i'm really glad we are catching attention now... so many people have come forward with more information... i'm hoping it all helps to nail this person! some people have come forward with sick dogs... who were not aware of the issues going on at the park... so we may have even MORE cases to report. every little bit helps! the news crews are also attending the meeting tonight... so watch for the story tonight, if you live in the dc metro area!
| posted at 2:08 PM ~ comments (0) |
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well the meeting today went really well. we had a meeting at the dog park to hand out fliers for the $1000 reward for any information that may lead to the capture of the guy who is poisoning dogs. the press was rumored to show up... but they didn't. the police and county members will be at our meeting tomorrow, though... along with channel 4 news. the police are actually expecting the guy to show up amongst the crowd, so a few of us are bringing video cameras... and i'm going to bring my digital camera to take photos, and try to determine if he is there. so hopefully, all our efforts will help, and we'll catch this asshole before someone gets seriously hurt!
but now i'm off to go bowling... should be a good time tonight. back to work tomorrow... still working on the parking situation, so i'll still be metroing it. hopefully i can get a spot this week!
but now i'm off to go bowling... should be a good time tonight. back to work tomorrow... still working on the parking situation, so i'll still be metroing it. hopefully i can get a spot this week!
| posted at 6:23 PM ~ comments (0) |
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well yesterday was an eventful day! one of the girls i know from my complex who takes her dog to the park, her dog chloe ate a poisoned hot dog! so then the emails started flying and one of the guys i talk to from there sent the word out to the tv stations in the area bout the drama that is going on. so last night, our dog park was on the fox and nbc news at 5:30 :) they even mentioned our meeting on monday night, so we are expecting a huge crowd. i'm really hoping this means we can come up with a way to make the park safe again!
then i met up with my friends downtown in chinatown at an irish pub called 'fado'. it was great! i liked that bar a lot. but after starting off there, we decided to head back to capitol hill, and went to 'hawk and dove'. that place was great :) a couple smaller bars downstairs, and a dance floor upstairs. i spent a good hour just shakin it on the dance floor. good music... it was so fun. i will definitely be heading back there again. i wound up getting home around 2am... so not a super late night... but when you've been up since 5am, it makes for a long day. long, but very fun :)
so today, my friend robyn wants to see 'phantom of the opera'... and i'd gladly go again :) so we may do that this afternoon... then my other friends are having a barbeque... which may be interesting considering it's raining :) regardless, i may swing over there... and then see what else is going on tonight. then tomorrow we're going bowling in falls church... what a fun filled weekend :)
then i met up with my friends downtown in chinatown at an irish pub called 'fado'. it was great! i liked that bar a lot. but after starting off there, we decided to head back to capitol hill, and went to 'hawk and dove'. that place was great :) a couple smaller bars downstairs, and a dance floor upstairs. i spent a good hour just shakin it on the dance floor. good music... it was so fun. i will definitely be heading back there again. i wound up getting home around 2am... so not a super late night... but when you've been up since 5am, it makes for a long day. long, but very fun :)
so today, my friend robyn wants to see 'phantom of the opera'... and i'd gladly go again :) so we may do that this afternoon... then my other friends are having a barbeque... which may be interesting considering it's raining :) regardless, i may swing over there... and then see what else is going on tonight. then tomorrow we're going bowling in falls church... what a fun filled weekend :)
| posted at 11:53 AM ~ comments (0) |
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if it's not one thing, it's another with this dog. i came home to quite a mess this afternoon... poor girl. a trip to the vet and another $160 later, we're back on antibiotics. at first i flipped out, thinking she had gotten into something at the dog park, from the crazy guy. but it turns out, the vet thinks she has giardia... which is not pleasant, and still probably got it from something either at the park, or when we went swimming on sunday. so we're taking a hiatus from the park for a while, until she's better and in the clear. even then, we're gonna have to make those trips less frequent... i don't think i can handle another bout of *that* again... yech...
| posted at 8:33 PM ~ comments (0) |
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well, so far so good at the job. still working on the parking situation. a friend recommended a parking place nearby, that is $90/month... MUCH better than what i was finding. still walkable, so i can go home at lunch, and as cheap as the metro. can't beat that! :) the job is good... i'm glad to be there. my first day, i showed up bright and early at 7am... completely forgetting my boss told me not to show up until 9am. doh. and not only was i early, but i didn't know which building it was, so i had to call him at 7am, and wound up waking him up. doh doh. so i went back home and went to bed for another hour :) hey, at least i wasn't late :) nothing big planned for the weekend. might go out with some friends on friday night to an irish place downtown. lookin forward to it... still havin a great time out here :) the dog park situation is also looking up. a bunch of us are meeting monday night to figure out what we all need to do to get lights up, and to get rid of the psycho with the tainted meat. craziness. but at least i'm doing something about it!
| posted at 10:39 PM ~ comments (0) |
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well lily had a great day today, at least :) i found the beach on roosevelt island that she can go swimming on... and she did, without any hesitation what so ever! she never went far enough for her feet not to touch... so she wasn't truly swimming... but man, she frolicked with the best of them ;) she and another chocolate lab ran around for a good hour and a half... then later, we ventured back out to the dog park, and had a good time takin photos and running. it was a great day :)
i on the other hand, am trying to get myself ready for work in the morning. my big day on the new job, so wish me luck! i'm still debating on whether or not to fork over the extra money to drive to be able to come home at lunch... *sigh* we'll see. i'll try it for a week, and then gauge how well we both adjust ;)
i on the other hand, am trying to get myself ready for work in the morning. my big day on the new job, so wish me luck! i'm still debating on whether or not to fork over the extra money to drive to be able to come home at lunch... *sigh* we'll see. i'll try it for a week, and then gauge how well we both adjust ;)
| posted at 6:05 PM ~ comments (0) |
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man today is gorgeous. it's 69 degrees outside... i went out to the dog park in a tshirt! in january! :) last night was fun... i was home by 3am. i laughed when i read last year's entry for new year's... wrote about how much my life had changed in 2003, and how i hoped 2004 was more calm. Ha! so here's hoping 2005 brings some stability and good luck in my life. i started the year off on a good note... met a nice couple at the dog park who have a chocolate lab, and who invited me to bring lily to this place nearby (like a 10 min drive) that has a small beach on the potomac river that the dogs and swim in. and since it's so warm today and part of tomorrow, lily will get to go swimming for the first time! i can't wait! she's gonna love it!! apparently it's lab city there in the spring/summer :) or when dc has winters when it almost hits 70 degrees ;)
| posted at 1:56 PM ~ comments (0) |