March Random

March was a slow month for me, which was good because April brings so much! My cousin and her family are visiting for a week, Tuf is coming to visit, Cherry Blossoms, Easter!

For randomness of March - here we go. 

Our Executive made fun of my adorable little St. Patrick's Day decoration. But I do have to admit it was pretty good. 

Stephanie, Gina and I went to a free presentation by the American for the Arts at the Kennedy Center where the Honorable Sonia Sotomayor who is an Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States introduced Rita Moreno. I didn't know who Rita Moreno was but now I have been watching her Netflix show, One Day at a Time and it is so good! Rita is a fantastic storyteller and I could listen to her all day long, every day.

This is for you GG. We always got these awesome lime green milkshakes from McDonald's around St. Patrick's day.

 

I made a new crock pot meal thanks to Stephanie's suggestion - a coconut curry and lentil thing.  It is so good, even if it doesn't photograph well :) 

  

#thisisexactlyhowIfeel

  

I finally did it and went and got allergy testing! But fun fact, I have a skin condition called Dermatographia where my skin is super sensitive (who knew???) and I reacted to salt water - yeah, nobody should react to that. So they had to do a blood test and a week later I got the test results back and I don't have an allergy to shrimp, coconut or pineapple. Though, the allergist did say I should avoid eating raw pineapple and coconut....but I can eat shrimp again! Best news! 

 

In March I got Bumblebee from Bowie. I knew that Bumblebee's check engine light had been on since November and I was pretty sure it was the oxygen sensor since I was told it was going out in 2017 and it was the oxygen sensor and it only cost $1100 :( But I need Bumblebee to take Princess to the vet and to pick up my cousins, so it had to finally be done. When I went to get my car in Bowie this steal rod was perfectly under my car and I flipped out. But thankfully Stephanie was with me and I made it safely to the dealership in Rockville. I asked the mechanic if this steal part was part of my car and it wasn't :) haha! Then I told Gina about it and she said that Mike had used it to keep the car cover on...I felt like a blond bringing this random piece of metal to the dealership but at least it wasn't part of my car!

This was a busy month for Princess. I love Princess, but I hate how she tracked kitty litter everywhere! So kitty got a new box with pellets. She didn't like it, but she learned to use it and thankfully no more litter! I really like the pellet system. It is more expensive, but I love not having to deal with kitty litter!

Princess also had to go the vet because she needed dental work done and we finally got her blood sugars under control so she could be put to sleep for the procedure. Princess ended up having 5 teeth pulled, including a canine :( The drugs they gave her, really messed with her and we had a super stressful night after the surgery but they did wear off and she is recovering slowly. Poor baby only has 12 teeth now. Cats should have 30.

Kitty is addicted to YouTube...

and her water fountain...

President Lincoln's Cottage

On Saturday March 2, Stephanie and I did another bucket list item. We went a place that not many people know about - President Lincoln's Cottage. It is in the 'burbs of DC - if that is even a thing? But also only 3 miles from the White House. After a period of restoration President Lincoln's Cottage opened to the public in 2008. President Lincoln and his family spent about a fourth of his Presidency here. Our tour guide explained that while the cottage was only 3 miles north of the White House it is the 3rd highest point in DC, so in the hot and humid summer being a little higher in elevation allowed for a breeze. Also, the Lincoln's son Willie died at the age of 11 in the White House probably from a water borne disease close to the White House because at that time the Potomac River was right next to  the White House, whereas today most of the National Mall is landfill. The Cottage was a place where President Lincoln could escape, even though visitors would still show up. President Lincoln would ride his horse to the White House each day and sometimes he would leave early enough to escape the two men who were his Secret Service (though not officially Secret Service). They say it would take President Lincoln about 30 minutes to get to the White House and today it would still be about the same amount of time - even though it is in a car and not horse - oh traffic in the district is terrible.

No photos are allowed inside the cottage, but the grounds are beautiful on this clear winter day.  

 

The cottage is not what you probably thought a cottage would be... it is rather large. 

Original front door.

After President Lincoln's Cottage, we ventured over to The Kennedy Center for a free concert at Millennium Stage. I didn't know the artist, Gaby Moreno, but she is one of Stephanie's favorites and she was amazing! Even if I didn't under the words she was singing, it was still amazing. 

Super fun day exploring new things! 

Raelynn Nicole is One

My precious niece Raeylnn Nicole is one! Auntie loves her and her brother and sister so much! These photos are just to adorable to not share. Enjoy this cuteness! 

This has to be the best photo, ever! Even better than the photo of Zachary Levi and I. 

February Randomness

February was a pretty quiet month in Mere land. I worked a lot and chilled a lot.

Jackson and Sutter made me the most adorable Valentine's Day cards - aren't they adorable!  

As I mentioned, I worked a lot and one of the reasons was because of the start of the 2019 Intern program and this year we have 44 intern opportunities! 44! That is a lot! My boss, wanted a visual representation, so everyone could see our count down. I made this serial killer tracking poster :) It has surprisingly been very popular and many people have asked about it. We are counting down from 44 and the sticky note color means the recruiter that filled that position.  

Unlike my last job that didn't want their name anywhere, ACS puts their name on everything! And I mean everything - even this cake mix box. I love it! Notice the wording under the Chocolate cupcakes mix... very clever ACS, very clever! 

I got Princess a laser pointer - she liked it for the first time or two, now I think I just irritate her - but every night we try to play, just a little for this old lady. Her face cracks me up - it's like, seriously lady... 

For a few days, I watched my friend in the building cats - Mia and Jackie. 

 My coworker/friend at work Cindi - and I walk home at least a few times a week, it is about a 2 mile walk. It's fun to walk home with someone and it goes by so quickly. On our walk in late February, we noticed cherry blossoms on a tree already - so early and actually a little surprising because we have had a winter this summer. Cherry Blossom time in DC is so beautiful! 

My friend Lisa celebrated her 14th year of marriage and on Facebook she posted this wonderful picture of all us, childhood friends during the wedding activities. 

Left to Right (Lisa's friend - Erica, Marie (my BFF), Li the bride (pink), one of Lisa's friends, Rachel (brown shirt - this was the last time I saw Rachel - she lives in Florida with her family), me in the green shirt, Karen next to me and as we know she lives in Wisconsin and Kimberley who now lives in Fiji. 

#WeAllNeedToBelieveThis