Pittsburgh, Part 1

My interview adventures brought me to Pittsburgh last week, a city that I had heard good things about but that remained in my mind a crumbling, smoky, steel town. I was excited to explore a new city, nervous about doing it on my own, and unsure what the experience would ultimately be like. As the airport shuttle drove me to my hotel, I was amazed by the stunning view of Pittsburgh's downtown lit up at night, and I knew that I was in for a good time.

I had an afternoon interview, so I made sure to maximize my free morning by hitting the pavement and walking around the neighborhood surrounding the University of Pittsburgh campus. It was starting to rain, so I had to cut my walk short, but I was able to enjoy the beautiful buildings, the most striking of which was the Cathedral of Learning. I admit that I felt pretty self-conscious snapping away on my camera in front of all the Pitt students (I hate looking like a tourist), but once I started, I felt more at ease and embraced my visitor status.

The William Pitt Student Union

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum

After my interview, I decided to go for a short walk near my hotel to try to get some shots of the sunset. Unfortunately, I wasn't at the best angle, but these couple of shots give you an idea of how nice it can be to see a setting sun through tree branches. Quite lovely!

Later that evening, I took a funicular up the Duquesne Incline to experience the beautiful Pittsburgh skyline at night. It's $5 for a roundtrip adult ticket, and the car has windows all around so that everyone can get a decent view. I was the only one on my car, which was a bit creepy, but I was relieved to see that there were other folks up top checking out the view.

The view was really beautiful. I saw quite a few couples cuddling as they looked out at the skyline, and I think this would be a cute stop for a date night. Since I was solo, I at first was focused on finding the right camera setting for a good photo, but I reminded myself to put the camera away after a while so I could just appreciate the view. 

My first photo attempt from the overlook. I know it's very blurry, but I like the abstract look of it, anyway. :)

Much better!

This time with the Three Points in the lower left.

Since I didn't want to just take the funicular back down after a few minutes, I decided to walk around the neighborhood. There are a few restaurants that capitalize on the view of the river of skyline, as well as several houses. I walked along until I found a break in the buildings and took a few photos of the skyline from a different angle. It was nice to go for a solo stroll, and even though it was dark out, I felt safe walking around with my camera.

The view from down the road

By this point, I was feeling a bit chilly, so I decided it was time to head back down the funicular. I was glad that I had made the trip up the mountainside, as there really is something beautiful about gazing down at bright lights and their reflections in the river. 

The view was a far cry from the podunk, rundown steel town I had originally envisioned. As I would find out the next morning, downtown Pittsburgh had its own special charm to offer...

The Sunday Currently : 2

I'm feeling particularly tired this Sunday morning. Yesterday turned out to involve a nearly full day of travel as I came back from Pittsburgh. After a flight delay, a missed train from Baltimore to DC, and a broken metro escalator, I was wiped out by the time I actually made it home. Despite this, I somehow ended up staying up past midnight when I really should have hit the sack a bit earlier. I slept in late this morning and am now trying to piece together the day so that I feel rested yet productive. Oh, Sunday.

currently

reading : Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I love this book!! I've temporarily given up on Those are Real Bullets (don't worry, I'll go back to it), and reading this book reminds me of how much I love/adore/swoon for good literature. I'm hoping to finish reading this one today, but it might also be nice to draw it out a bit longer. 

writing : Thank you notes for past interviews. I also need to answer a few e-mails that have been piling up in my in box. I just wrapped up a couple of posts on my recent trip to Pittsburgh that I'm excited to share this week!

listening : To Gossip Girl season 2 in the background. Also the sound of cars driving on wet pavement outside, which is always soothing.

thinking : Of future adventures! The hubs and I still need to book hotels for our honeymoon, which means planning our itinerary and thinking of how we want to spend our time. I think my parents are also planning a family trip to France over the summer for my dad's birthday, which would be lots of fun. 

smelling : My favorite Mrs. Meyers snickerdoodle candle. It's sweet, but not sickeningly so, and it instantly relaxes me. I need to stock up on these so I can enjoy it for years to come.

wishing : That it were summertime! The episode of Gossip Girl that I'm half-watching is one of the Hamptons episodes, which of course makes me think of the beach and how much I would love to be lounging in a bikini right now. 

hoping : That I will make the right decision when it comes to ranking the sites where I've interviewed. Truthfully, I am really stressed about this!

wearing : Leggings and one of the hubs' flannel shirts. This year I fell in love with J Crew flannel button-downs, but unfortunately the ones I love are no longer in stock. To remedy this, I've taken to raiding the hubs' side of the closet. :)

loving : Being at home. Even though I had a great time in Pittsburgh, I missed the hubs.

wanting : To learn more about photography. I've been having so much fun playing with the hubs' camera, and I'd really like to have a better understanding of all the different settings. He's been toying with the idea of a major camera upgrade, which would be very fun, but I'd like to know how to use it properly.

needing : Some breakfast. Or lunch at this point. I'm moving in slow-motion this morning and haven't progressed past my orange juice. 

feeling : Restless. I need to settle back in to being at home.

clicking : On The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and The Lydia Bennet. They're modern-day, YouTube vlogging-style adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, and I love them! 

Link up!

Earl Grey Carrot Muffins

The time has come for another recipe! One of my New Year's resolutions was to make something from every cookbook the hubs and I own. I decided to start with one of the books that I had never even opened before. The hubs and I have a collection of vegan cookbooks, partly because I used to be vegan (now just vegetarian) and partly because the hubs subscribes to a book service that sends him random books every month or so. The end result is several vegan cookbooks that are, shall we say, underloved.

Vegan recipes have the potential to be kind of gross. Tofu can be boring after a while, and if I'm being honest, I think that fake cheese tastes like plastic. However, there are lots of great vegan and vegetarian recipes that taste fresh and flavorful, and even my meat-loving husband agrees that they are satisfying and delicious. Since I don't like to cook with meat and can't stand the smell of seafood, we end up cooking vegetarian meals about 98% of the time in our house. I was definitely up for the challenge of finding a new vegan dish to experiment with.

Maybe it was the cold air outside or my desire to have the apartment smell delicious when the hubs came home from his week away in LA, but I decided to bake muffins from Cook, Eat, Thrive: Vegan Recipes from Everyday to Exotic. This is a great cookbook that has a lot of international dishes, from empanadas to cous cous to brioche. I bookmarked a lot of recipes to go back to, but I decided to kick off this set of recipes with muffins. The recipe for Earl Grey carrot muffins sounded intriguing and relatively simple, and since I love Earl Grey as a beverage, I wanted to see how they would turn out when put in a muffin.

*1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
*1 teaspoon Earl Grey tea (powder form- crush in a mortar & pestle or in a coffee grinder)
*1 teaspoon baking powder
*1/2 teaspoon baking soda
*1/4 teaspoon sea salt
*1 cup sugar
*1 cup grated carrots
*1/2 cup water
*1/2 cup vegetable oil

This recipe was simple enough. I heated the oven to 350 and quickly mixed all of the ingredients together. Technically, the book says to separate the ingredients across two bowls, but that has never made sense to me, so I put it all in one large mixing bowl.

I mixed the ingredients just long enough to get rid of any dry clumps and then promptly scooped the mixture into a muffin tin lined with baking cups. The recipe is supposed to yield 12 muffins, but I think I overfilled the muffin cups because I only had enough for 10. Close enough!

After the letting the muffins bake for 20-25 minutes, they were done! These turned out pretty well, and I loved their Earl Grey fragrance. These were also unexpectedly sweet, but this might be because I used sugar in the raw rather than white sugar. The end result was delicious! My only complaint was that the bottom of the baking cups were pretty oily, which I assume was from the vegetable oil. I don't typically like to bake with vegetable oil but since this was a vegan recipe, I couldn't use eggs. If I were to use this recipe again, I think I would substitute the eggs for the oil, but otherwise, I thought these muffins were pretty tasty as is. Yum!

Have any of you tried vegan baking before? What did you think of it?

Project DC: The Lincoln Memorial

Last time I wrote about our visit to the National Air and Space Museum. After our museum adventure, the hubs and I decided to play around with his camera a bit more and walk from the far east end of the Mall near the Capitol all the way down to the Lincoln Memorial at the west end.

There was a bit of rain and snow earlier in the day, but it had all melted by the time we ventured outdoors. Still, the crowds on the Mall were pretty sparse, and as we walked towards the Washington Monument, I thought about how lucky we are that our Saturday evening stroll can include some of the most recognizable, famous structures in our nation and maybe the world. Even if you're not particularly patriotic, that is a pretty amazing feeling. I live here, and I feel so thankful for that.

We stopped at the World War II Memorial along the way. I'm still getting the hang of the hubs' camera and could have used a tripod since it was dark outside by this point, but even without being a pro at nighttime photography, I think this monument is particularly beautiful at night. I've been there during the summer in the daytime, and while it's beautiful then, too, there is something haunting about the way these lights illuminate the columns and how quiet and sad the wreaths seem that rest at their bases. 

Once we arrived at the Lincoln Memorial, we were feeling pretty frozen since neither one of us had worn a hat, gloves, or proper scarf. Still, the view of the monument in the distance, growing larger as we came closer, was enough to make us forget the cold. This monument is my favorite in all of DC, and I was so happy to bring the hubs there for his first time. The views of the Reflecting Pool are beautiful, and the sight of President Lincoln illuminated and framed by the beautiful white columns against the dark night sky is enough to bring tears to my eyes.

I think what I love most about the Lincoln Memorial is that it really does feel like a temple. When you walk inside, you feel tiny next to the giant statue of President Lincoln reclined in his chair. Your voice bounces off the walls. The Gettysburg Address and inauguration speech that are etched into the walls read like a religious doctrine. When you stand before Lincoln, you feel as though you are paying homage to something holy. In some ways, I think you are. I always cry a little when I visit this place because I feel so moved and so connected to it. Even with the crowds, it's possible to stand in a corner and quietly observe what's happening around you, silently absorbing the respect and awe that so many people have for this president. It's a wonderful feeling.

After a while, the hubs and I started the long walk uphill to the metro to return home. It had been a long, cold evening, and I lost feeling in my fingers, but I felt utterly happy. That's the entire point of doing Project DC. I live in a truly great city, and if I don't take the time to enjoy what it has to offer, then I am missing out on a good part of life. If nothing else, this is a way to make sure that my life has more good moments like that evening.

***

Want to read more about having fun in DC? Follow along as I embark on Project DC:

1. Go to the Air and Space Museum.

2. Go for a leisurely hike in Rock Creek Park.

3. Go on a White House tour.

4. Buy DC artwork at Eastern Market.

5. Visit Old Town on a day trip.

6. Take a day trip to Annapolis.

7. Go to the Newseum.

8. Go back to Jazz in the Garden when it starts up again in the spring.

9. Go to the Holocaust Museum.

10. Eat at Ben's Chili Bowl.

11. See the FDR Memorial.

12. Take the hubs to the Lincoln Memorial.

13. Go to the National Portrait Gallery.

14. Go to the Corcoran.

15. Visit the Vietnam Memorial.

16. Go inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

17. Go to more embassy events.

18. See a show at Rock & Roll Hotel.

19. See the drum circle at Malcolm X Park.

20. Mini golf at H Street Country Club.

21. Evening drinks at POV.

The Sunday Currently : 1

This has been a really lovely weekend. I went to see Les Misérables with a work friend, went out to dinner with another friend and her husband, and had a delicious brunch this morning with two other friends from school. How very social of me! It was nice to get out, catch up with people, and overall just have a nice time. I like my Sundays to be lazy so that I feel rested on Mondays when the work week starts, and although today is a travel day for me, I feel good about sitting in the quiet car on my Amtrak train, reflecting on how it's nice to spend time with quality people.

In that vein, since I enjoy reading the Sunday Currently on a few other blogs, I've decided that it's time for me to join in. So without further ado, here we go:

currently

reading : Those Are Real Bullets: Bloody Sunday, Derry, 1972. I was hoping to like this book more than I actually do, and, truthfully, I'm having a hard time getting into it. I wanted to read this book because I wanted to learn more about Northern Ireland and the infamous Bloody Sunday, but this book assumes prior knowledge about the history of Northern Ireland that I lack. That makes it hard to keep up at times, but I'll keep trying.

writing : Well, I'm trying to write future blog posts. I have a lot of interviews coming up in the next week, and I'd like to schedule a few posts so I don't fall behind. I should probably also be jotting down talking points for my interview tomorrow.

listening : To silence. Amtrak's quiet car is awesome, and it's nice to be in silence so I can gaze out the window as we journey northward and daydream without my thoughts being interrupted by cell phone conversations and loud chattering. Silence can be very peaceful. 

thinking : About how much I need to put the Les Mis soundtrack on my iPod. I don't know why it never made it on there, but that will have to change. 


smelling : Nothing in particular. I think that's a good thing. 


wishing : That the hubs were here to travel with me. He's been in LA for the past few days visiting family, and I miss having somebody to talk to all the time. 


hoping : That I nail my interview tomorrow, particularly the group portion. I hate group interviews. You can't come across as too aggressive, but you also need to make sure you're heard. Ugh. As if interviewing isn't stressful enough!

wearing : Comfortable travel clothes: jeans, t-shirt, cardigan, and my trusty green Chucks. I contemplated wearing something chicer but then decided that the quiet car on the Amtrak train probably doesn't care about my wardrobe.

loving : Life! I just feel really happy today. I've been eating good food and spending time with good people, and I feel thankful to have really settled in to my life in DC. 

wanting : To see Les Mis again. Seeing the film has made it impossible to stop singing! This is hands down my favorite shows of all time, and I thought that the film did a great job of translating the story to the big screen. 

feeling : Nervous! Can interview season be over, please?

clicking : On some serious Enjolras love on Tumblr. I love his character in Les Mis, and Aaron Tveit brought him to life perfectly in the film. Plus, he's not completely unfortunate to look at. :)


Well, Les Mis has clearly taken over my life this weekend, and I'm okay with that.

Now go link up with Lauren!

Friday Gratitude

“The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.” 

— Friedrich Nietzsche

This morning I am taking some time to focus on gratitude. Too often we operate on autopilot, mindlessly rushing from one place to the next, our actions part of a routine that we could do with our eyes closed. When we forget to pause, to open our eyes, and to simply be, we risk losing a connection to our own lives. Today I am pausing, looking around me, and focusing on gratitude.

Even though I am stressed about performing well at my interviews this month and have moments of anxiety, I am so grateful to have so many options and to already have done so well at some of the sites I most want to be at next year. 

I am thankful that my supervisors want me to do well and encourage my abilities and growth. They have helped me feel nurtured, and I am so happy that I'm in the right place.

I feel a little lonely with the hubs being away visiting family, but it's a short trip, and I get to talk to him every day and send him silly text messages. 

I am thankful that sometimes, all I need is a quiet night on the couch with my cat gazing lazily at me through one eye to make me feel at peace.

Although our schedules have been busy, my friends here make time to see each other, and I'm very excited to have Sunday brunch with them this weekend to catch up and relax. I am so fortunate to have such supportive, loving people in my life.

I'm writing this from a comfortable, warm bed that makes me feel tranquil, and I live in a wonderful apartment in a great, safe neighborhood in a wonderful, engaging city. My basic needs have always been taken of. 

That's just what I'm feeling this week. What are you putting on your gratitude list?

Project DC: National Air and Space Museum

January is going to be a pretty hectic month for me since I have six interviews around the country, but I made it my mission to relax and unwind as much as possible before the craziness started. This basically included a lot of cuddling in bed and watching "The West Wing" on Netflix, but I started to get restless after a while and needed to get out of the apartment. I asked the hubs if we could venture outdoors, and we decided to be tourists for the afternoon and head to the National Air and Space Museum.

The museum is located on the south side of the National Mall and a short walk from the Smithsonian metro stop. As soon as we stepped off the train, I realized that we had probably picked the worst time to go to a museum-- a weekend afternoon. The tourists were out in full force, walking slowly and standing on the wrong side of the escalator. The walk to the museum wasn't too bad since everyone was spread out along the Mall, but the moment we stepped inside the museum, I saw how crowded it was. Children were running everywhere, screaming and bouncing off of other unsuspecting tourists, and large groups were gathered in front of the Gemini displays in the lobby, shoving each other and maniacally taking photos, making it nearly impossible to peak inside. The hubs and I looked at each other in terror but decided to continue on, anyway.

We decided to start with the "air" part of the museum and check out the flight exhibits. I was excited to see the Wright plane and the replica of Amelia Earhart's plane. They were pretty cool to see, though I have to admit that the exhibits were so crowded that it was difficult to read through all of the information without being shoved by a small child or overeager tourist.

Once we had our fill of the airplanes, we moved on to the space portion of our visit. This was the part I was most excited for, as I have always loved learning about planets and space exploration. There were some really awesome items on display, like the Mars Rover and Voyager replica. These exhibits were pretty crowded, as well, but I decided to take my time, anyway, and allow my inner (and outer) nerd to properly geek out.

The absolute best part, however, was the planetarium show in the Albert Einstein Planetarium. I have a teensy obsession with planetariums (okay, it's actually a huge obsession) and totally geek out during star shows. We saw "Journey to the Stars," narrated by Whoopi Goldberg. It was about the creation of the universe and more specifically, our galaxy. It was a very simplified version, but it was still interesting. There are lots of other shows at the planetarium, and I think I will definitely be back to see the others. 

Even though there were other space exhibits to see, the hubs and I decided to skip them and come back on a weekday morning when there are fewer tourists. I don't mean to sound cranky about this, but it's just that I find it hard to enjoy a museum when there are big, loud crowds. I much prefer to explore at my leisure without struggling to see the displays, so we'll have to keep that in mind when we pick our next museum visit (though the plus side is that with so many tourists, I could take as many photos as I wanted without sticking out). Overall, though, the hubs and I both really enjoyed the National Air and Space Museum, and we definitely recommend it to anyone who has an interest in aviation or space exploration.

Once we got back outside, the hubs and I were hit with a burst of motivation and decided to visit a few other landmarks along the Mall. That, however, is a post for another day! :)

***

Want to read more about having fun in DC? Follow along as I embark on Project DC:

1. Go to the Air and Space Museum.

2. Go for a leisurely hike in Rock Creek Park.

3. Go on a White House tour.

4. Buy DC artwork at Eastern Market.

5. Visit Old Town on a day trip.

6. Take a day trip to Annapolis.

7. Go to the Newseum.

8. Go back to Jazz in the Garden when it starts up again in the spring.

9. Go to the Holocaust Museum.

10. Eat at Ben's Chili Bowl.

11. See the FDR Memorial.

12. Take the hubs to the Lincoln Memorial.

13. Go to the National Portrait Gallery.

14. Go to the Corcoran.

15. Visit the Vietnam Memorial.

16. Go inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

17. Go to more embassy events.

18. See a show at Rock & Roll Hotel.

19. See the drum circle at Malcolm X Park.

20. Mini golf at H Street Country Club.

21. Evening drinks at POV.