DC, Baltimore & Philadelphia

Hi guys!!

It's been a while...sorry. Here's what you missed!

Flew to DC (Dulles....ick) for 2 days. Keli unfortunately wasn't there, but she nicely let me stay in her apartment - thanks! I met up with some high school friends for dinner one day, and i met up with Benet (our frequent-commenting travel guru) for lunch one day!!! it was so nice to finally meet you...and i'm already getting lots of use out of the cute travel mouse you gave me. thanks!!!

Then i took the train up to Baltimore for a family weekend...which was a ton of fun also.

Then i took the train to Wilmington for work...

THen i flew home from Philly a few days later.

So here is the travel part of the post.....

First of all - Dulles is Ghetto. i dont enjoy that airport. it's incredibly far away....and it's just nasty. that people mover (jackie called it a 'moon vehicle') is very inconvenient, hot, unstable, and just not a pleasant way to move people around. Basically, you have to ride this shuttle bus thing to the main terminal. they pack like 300 people into it (and there's no air flow) and then drive you around the tarmac and you're swaying everywhere...bumping into people....sweating....it's gross.

Then i rode the metro for a few days, and i have to say....i really miss living in a city with good, reliable public transportation. the metro isn't expensive, it's pretty reliable, and it's pretty clean. in San Francisco, i rode the bus everywhere....and absolutely loved it. now, buses dont run all night (nor does the metro), but i think living in a city with 24/7 transport (ie - nyc) would be really exciting and fun. sorry for the side bar.

Train - THEN...i got to take 2 trains (DC to Baltimore, and Baltimore to Wilmington). i had forgotten how much i love train travel. it's SO convenient, much more pleasant than airplane travel. i realize it's not practical to support train travel for the whole USA, but i wish it was. So i took the metro from keli's apartment to Union Station (in DC), arrived there and went to the kiosk and saw there was a train leaving in 15 mins...bought my ticket, bought a bagel, and boarded! No security, no sitting aruond for an hour waiting for my flight, no crowded seats (although i'm sure it's not always so empty), and just a very pleasant experience overall!!!

On my 2nd train ride (Baltimore - Wilmington) I was sitting in front of a woman who was on the phone the whole time (ugh) but it was only an hour so not so terrible. ALTHOUGH her conversation was incredibly interesting so i just eavesdropped the whole time. (what??? she was the one yelling...not me) anyway - she was apparnetly going to wilmington to meet her INTERNET BOYFRIEND who she had never met before. she was talking to her friends on the phone about how nervous she was...it was their first in-person meeting. then she was talking to HIM on the phone and saying how she was going to give him a big ol' smooch when she sees him and she can't wait to meet the love of her life, and blah blah blah. so.....i did what any curious eavesdropper would do.....i strategically followed her off the train to see what this dude looked like.....he was decent looking. and she was really cute, actually..... so that was a surprising little adventure for me.

Then...the PHL airport takes me home. it's still gross. the security line wasn't as horrendous as usual, but otherwise....eh? kind of unimpressive to be honest.

i dont have to travel this week or next, so that's exciting. then i go to Chicago for training for a week (and to visit Karee!!!). then i go to San Antonio for a wedding, then i go to switzerland to visit Jac & Allison!!!!! a very very very exciting month for me :)

ok that's it. more later. have to work.