Sunday, July 17, 2005
here!
After so much anticipation and endless hours at airports yesterday, I'm finally here -- "here" being on the east coast once again. Hooray!
Last year's trip to this conference in eastern Maryland started with me getting to the airport so late that my bag didn't make it to National Airport until much later than I did. So this year, not wanting to endure the same endless wait for my stuff, I had Daniel take me to the airport WAY EARLY -- so early that even my father, the king of allowing for "flat-tire time," would have probably complained at how long I had to wait for my flight.
I flew United for the first time yesterday, though the plane I was on was actually run by a smaller company that's an affilliate in the "United Express" network. The plane was GORGEOUS ... this was a plane that confirmed the notion that the next big MBA degree will be the MFA. By which I mean, it was a plane where every detail had obviously been designed. Not just put together, but thought about and created in an aesthetically pleasing and comfortable way. The flight wasn't totally full, and it was one of the more enjoyable flying experiences I've ever had.
Before I left yesterday, I popped into Target and bought the new Harry Potter book. I pulled it out about 30 minutes before my flight left DFW and continued reading through most of the flight. I had several people on the plane ask me about it or comment that they had bought it, too (or hadn't yet). Even after I got to Dulles, I could feel everyone was a-twitter with talk of Harry.
I'd never flown into Dulles before, but after my excruitiating experience there last night, I completely understand now why people I know have always found it almost impossible to mutter "Dulles" without prefacing it with the adjective "fucking." The airport's completely ginormous, requiring at least 15-20 minutes just to get from my gate, into a very bizarre-looking people mover shuttle to the main terminal, and down to baggage claim. There, I waited at least another 20 minutes or so to get one of my bags, and another 10 minutes for bag no. 2 to arrive. By the time I got my rental car and pulled out of the Hertz lot, the heavens opened up and it began pouring. In short, Dulles SUCKED. Can't WAIT to go back later in the week ... {sigh}
I finally got to AnnaLisa's house in Columbia Heights around 10:45 (after having landed at Dulles at 8:45, mind you) and we ordered pizza (I was famished) while we chatted a bit about boys and life and what's happened since we last saw one another in March. The house she's currently living in (but is moving out of next weekend) is located in what she refers to as "the hood," though once you make it in the front door, it's absolutely adorable. For a rowhouse in DC, I'd call it pretty spacious -- though the bathroom's absolutely TINY. I don't generally have the appropriate amount of grooming crap for a normal girly girl, but even I had a hard time navigating my morning in such a small space.
This morning we had a short chat before I headed out. I had intended to make for Salisbury straightaway, but I was anxious to stop at a Barnes & Noble or Target or something. So, I headed to my old stomping grounds in suburban Maryland and stopped by White Flint mall a bit before it opened ... still, I popped into Borders and picked up Laura Pausini's latest CD. (For some reason, I can NEVER find her stuff in Dallas, but always find it immediately when I look out here.) I wandered around the not-yet-open mall for a bit, then headed a little north thinking I'd go to lunch at one of my favorite DC diners, the Silver Diner. Before I stopped, though (remembering how busy they are around noon on Sundays), I headed just a little bit more north to go to Barnes & Noble ... not for any reason other than I felt like it. And this is germane because, as I was leaving B&N, lo and behold, I nearly ran smack into a Target. I asked at the checkout (yes, of course, I bought something), and it's been there for about five months. What luck!! The Silver Diner offered up fabulous lunch options, and while there I read another 100 pages of Harry Potter no. 6. (I'm now about halfway done, yay!). After lunch, I headed east.
The trip to Salisbury is WAY shorter than I remember or planned for. I say that so maybe next year (if I come next year), maybe I'll remember? (HA! Not likely!) I hopped on the Inner Loop of the Beltway around 2:30, and was at my hotel and checked in well before 5:00. Amazing!
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge was as stunning as ever ... I swear, I wish a camera were capable of capturing how gorgeous the view is from that bridge. I absolutely adore driving over it.
And that brings me to now ... in Salisbury, getting ready to head out for dinner and some more Harry Potter. I'd planned to have dinner with conference people tonight, but I'm feeling kinda antisocial, probably because I know the next two days will be absolutely stuffed with hanging out with total strangers. Not that that's a bad thing ... it's just tiring for me, and I'd prefer to be quiet tonight.
So, friends, I'll have photos for you soon!
Last year's trip to this conference in eastern Maryland started with me getting to the airport so late that my bag didn't make it to National Airport until much later than I did. So this year, not wanting to endure the same endless wait for my stuff, I had Daniel take me to the airport WAY EARLY -- so early that even my father, the king of allowing for "flat-tire time," would have probably complained at how long I had to wait for my flight.
I flew United for the first time yesterday, though the plane I was on was actually run by a smaller company that's an affilliate in the "United Express" network. The plane was GORGEOUS ... this was a plane that confirmed the notion that the next big MBA degree will be the MFA. By which I mean, it was a plane where every detail had obviously been designed. Not just put together, but thought about and created in an aesthetically pleasing and comfortable way. The flight wasn't totally full, and it was one of the more enjoyable flying experiences I've ever had.
Before I left yesterday, I popped into Target and bought the new Harry Potter book. I pulled it out about 30 minutes before my flight left DFW and continued reading through most of the flight. I had several people on the plane ask me about it or comment that they had bought it, too (or hadn't yet). Even after I got to Dulles, I could feel everyone was a-twitter with talk of Harry.
I'd never flown into Dulles before, but after my excruitiating experience there last night, I completely understand now why people I know have always found it almost impossible to mutter "Dulles" without prefacing it with the adjective "fucking." The airport's completely ginormous, requiring at least 15-20 minutes just to get from my gate, into a very bizarre-looking people mover shuttle to the main terminal, and down to baggage claim. There, I waited at least another 20 minutes or so to get one of my bags, and another 10 minutes for bag no. 2 to arrive. By the time I got my rental car and pulled out of the Hertz lot, the heavens opened up and it began pouring. In short, Dulles SUCKED. Can't WAIT to go back later in the week ... {sigh}
I finally got to AnnaLisa's house in Columbia Heights around 10:45 (after having landed at Dulles at 8:45, mind you) and we ordered pizza (I was famished) while we chatted a bit about boys and life and what's happened since we last saw one another in March. The house she's currently living in (but is moving out of next weekend) is located in what she refers to as "the hood," though once you make it in the front door, it's absolutely adorable. For a rowhouse in DC, I'd call it pretty spacious -- though the bathroom's absolutely TINY. I don't generally have the appropriate amount of grooming crap for a normal girly girl, but even I had a hard time navigating my morning in such a small space.
This morning we had a short chat before I headed out. I had intended to make for Salisbury straightaway, but I was anxious to stop at a Barnes & Noble or Target or something. So, I headed to my old stomping grounds in suburban Maryland and stopped by White Flint mall a bit before it opened ... still, I popped into Borders and picked up Laura Pausini's latest CD. (For some reason, I can NEVER find her stuff in Dallas, but always find it immediately when I look out here.) I wandered around the not-yet-open mall for a bit, then headed a little north thinking I'd go to lunch at one of my favorite DC diners, the Silver Diner. Before I stopped, though (remembering how busy they are around noon on Sundays), I headed just a little bit more north to go to Barnes & Noble ... not for any reason other than I felt like it. And this is germane because, as I was leaving B&N, lo and behold, I nearly ran smack into a Target. I asked at the checkout (yes, of course, I bought something), and it's been there for about five months. What luck!! The Silver Diner offered up fabulous lunch options, and while there I read another 100 pages of Harry Potter no. 6. (I'm now about halfway done, yay!). After lunch, I headed east.
The trip to Salisbury is WAY shorter than I remember or planned for. I say that so maybe next year (if I come next year), maybe I'll remember? (HA! Not likely!) I hopped on the Inner Loop of the Beltway around 2:30, and was at my hotel and checked in well before 5:00. Amazing!
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge was as stunning as ever ... I swear, I wish a camera were capable of capturing how gorgeous the view is from that bridge. I absolutely adore driving over it.
And that brings me to now ... in Salisbury, getting ready to head out for dinner and some more Harry Potter. I'd planned to have dinner with conference people tonight, but I'm feeling kinda antisocial, probably because I know the next two days will be absolutely stuffed with hanging out with total strangers. Not that that's a bad thing ... it's just tiring for me, and I'd prefer to be quiet tonight.
So, friends, I'll have photos for you soon!
// posted by Liz @ 3:32 PM 
