Things i miss.

I've been in Pittsburgh for two lovely months. Our "two month" anniversary in our new house is the Saturday, and it's really, really hard to believe that it's been so long. I'm a little ashamed of the paint-less dining room, the bare walls in the living room and the horrendously messy office. But all in due time. There are a lot of wonderful places in our house, like the kitchen that we've stocked with food and spices and cooking supplies. The couch in the living room is just what I've wanted for years, and I finally found a painting for above our bed that's the perfect pop of color in our otherwise beige bedroom.

So it's been just long enough to feel like this is our new home and that DC is a chapter of the past. It feels like that's where I "used" to live, where my job "used" to be. And believe me, I'm so happy with this season of my life. M and I are getting to know each other better. I'm becoming a much better cook. I'm in a job that challenges me and excites me. I'm close to my parents, my brother and some of my closest friends. This is a beautiful place to me. (And that's a lot to admit during a Pittsburgh January with freezing winds, frequent snow, temperatures in the single digits and ice on the roads.)

But there are just a few things about D.C. that I'm missing, so I thought I would make a list so when I go back to visit, I'll be sure to remember the most fabulous things about the city.

1. The restaurants. The lollipop chicken at Cava Mezze, the hummas at Zaytinya, the cocktails at Poste, the peanut butter frozen yogurt at Pinkberry, the pizza at Graffiato.... The list goes on and on.
2. Gold's gym. Now, there are certainly Gold's Gym's in Pittsburgh, but not in a location convenient to my new house. I mostly miss the Les Mills classes they had here. I'm loving my new fitness routine with M, but I miss BodyPump!
3. Proximity. I was so close to Philly, New York, the beach. Those places are a serious drive away now, and I really miss being able to get in the car for a spontaneous weekend getaway. Especially to visit family.
4. 10 degrees. It always seemed like DC was just 10 degrees warmer in DC...especially in the winter. I never though 10 degrees made a big difference, but I can tell you with serious experience over the past few weeks that 25 is substantially colder than 35.
5. The history. So many museums and monuments and parks representing the people, the events, the stories that shaped our country. The feeling of walking in Arlington Cemetary, staring up at the ceiling in the Library of Congress, sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial all remind me of how far we've come as a nation. It was so humbling to be among those relics of the past.
6. Obama. My office was catty-corner to the White House, and I just loved knowing that I was just a few blocks away from the First Family so many days.
7. Protesters. Not that I loved walking past picket lines on my way into work (I do work at a bank.), but I love the idea of a good, old fashioned protest. I love that people want their voices to be heard and to stand up for something they believe in.

So those are the things I'm missing. But not missing too much! :-)

Also, if my calculations are correct, this is my 100th blog post! Who would have thought I'd stick with it this far???

To 100 posts and nostalgia,

Lia