tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13501750509623085732024-02-07T02:29:17.142-08:00Better TogetherMarkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-51055206919732714712012-05-13T14:30:00.000-07:002012-05-13T14:30:15.176-07:00Spring Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Houston is starting to feel like home. Between road trips and house hunting, we have been trying new local restaurants, catching up with new and old friends, visiting more with family, waking up before sunrise to run before the heat sets in, and enjoying our patio on mild evenings. We do experience those moments when we miss DC, but the transition into a non-military life has been much welcomed. While my intent was to document our lives in more detail {and I hope to get to the point one day!}, all I have to offer now is a glimpse into some of the last few months. </div>
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We went to the Houston Rodeo three times in one week. We saw Miranda Lambert with Cody and Sarah Beth on Tuesday, then Brad Paisley {and the rodeo championship} with Sander and Marielle on Saturday, and finished up the week on Sunday at Alan Jackson with my family. </div>
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We celebrated Easter in Bedford with Chris' family. On Saturday we hung out in Fort Worth, reminiscing our early dating days, before joining his family for dinner. Chris' sister then hosted us for Easter lunch after the service on Sunday. </div>
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I turned THIRTY! My sneaky {but very thoughtful} husband planned a surprise party for me to celebrate. Although I do not consider myself as someone easily surprised, I was beyond surprised when I walked onto the patio of the restaurant and sixteen of my friends were there! My birthday fell on Wednesday, so we went for a causal dinner of pizza with Cody and Sarah Beth that evening. Chris assured me that he had dinner plans for Saturday night to continue the celebration and would give me a gift then. These "plans" and "gift" turned out to be hosting a surprise party at The Tasting Room in City Centre with my friends, good food {and wine}, and delicious cupcakes! <br />
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<br />Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-16712972933868263372012-01-22T19:07:00.000-08:002012-01-22T20:04:14.604-08:00Lately {November and December}<span style="font-weight: bold;">{November}</span><br />The first weekend of November we flew to Austin for Chris to attend an interview conference (think speeding dating but with potential employers). From that, he received several follow-up interviews that keep him busy throughout November and December. The Sages came up for Thanksgiving weekend, and Garrett hosted lunch (and provided the turkey!) at his casa. On Friday we headed back down to Alexandria - with a detour to the outlet malls - and spent the remainder of the long weekend exploring more of DC. Our outings included the Christmas Tree lighting at the National Harbour, a tour at the Newseum, German food on Capitol Hill and a stop at the Manassas battlefields.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXtnoSYPXUdDF1DOqVI9A5xyJH1nq4ik56ATRc7jkU_o8D7IUtGDcjQIWjmbtDIa6yHomZj3WZLfs4d4b7BtWLavoaWqDFwKCg2lU5n1vlo7Sncr6xb7eVJYhDz6qNJOix1V-xEcLcK8y/s1600/IMG_2055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXtnoSYPXUdDF1DOqVI9A5xyJH1nq4ik56ATRc7jkU_o8D7IUtGDcjQIWjmbtDIa6yHomZj3WZLfs4d4b7BtWLavoaWqDFwKCg2lU5n1vlo7Sncr6xb7eVJYhDz6qNJOix1V-xEcLcK8y/s320/IMG_2055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700662484599799122" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{dad, mom, Lauren and Garrett ready to eat Thanksgiving lunch}<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwu5l6VUzMbvvYCd27xH9ksRFFn3pkRedV3-G6ZR7vjD5ijr-QdFACKw9JEZMcOfj-cdaMFS32pPrHvxpe8bK7D5fOnFE0g3raK3ILC-78T07oYi-dALl7GqCjq2epHPI-nrYxzmmahQn/s1600/IMG_5346.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwu5l6VUzMbvvYCd27xH9ksRFFn3pkRedV3-G6ZR7vjD5ijr-QdFACKw9JEZMcOfj-cdaMFS32pPrHvxpe8bK7D5fOnFE0g3raK3ILC-78T07oYi-dALl7GqCjq2epHPI-nrYxzmmahQn/s320/IMG_5346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700662484733320674" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{after Thanksgiving feast walk}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoI5cCGkyQMEEo0sjLgmZGh4UHMfnTB_SE8Ex5KnO0KC16awdTQYjr-hj8OwT0U31tnFVN1isSEaRQ4NQzZ9MBce7v5mcNsrdQtk4nw_mebP7ZRyW3Awc1R5DBYThzD5WaA6G3t7W8PE5/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoI5cCGkyQMEEo0sjLgmZGh4UHMfnTB_SE8Ex5KnO0KC16awdTQYjr-hj8OwT0U31tnFVN1isSEaRQ4NQzZ9MBce7v5mcNsrdQtk4nw_mebP7ZRyW3Awc1R5DBYThzD5WaA6G3t7W8PE5/s320/IMG_2059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700662502467969810" border="0" /></a>{National Gaylord lobby decorated for Christmas}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioEFcM2hs_wyoBm41Uc0kYbTAWHCrU2Kw1I4yuuxjfp7dls20KCC38E9lVMxHozrUXETtXIsq3tTuRMnrob86o0_eXIhEQBLXvkJjqRrgnC1a9tneqLrkt8DUKd4RH12RLovUWi066_2W/s1600/IMG_2063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioEFcM2hs_wyoBm41Uc0kYbTAWHCrU2Kw1I4yuuxjfp7dls20KCC38E9lVMxHozrUXETtXIsq3tTuRMnrob86o0_eXIhEQBLXvkJjqRrgnC1a9tneqLrkt8DUKd4RH12RLovUWi066_2W/s320/IMG_2063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700662514571220802" border="0" /></a>{view of the Capitol from the Newseum}<br /><br style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">{December}</span><br />Chris accepted a job offer in Houston! In the span of three weeks, we flew down to lease an apartment, our household items were moved, my car was shipped cross-country, Christmas came and went, and good-byes were said. Since we were living an empty apartment over Christmas, we splurged for a hotel in DC on Christmas Eve and spent most of our Christmas walking around the National Mall. Chris literally picked me up from work on the 28th, and we started our roadtrip (via Roanoke, Nashville, Longview and Bedford) to Houston. While we are excited for the adventures to come, we will always be fond of DC. It was the first home that we made as a married couple, we formed many strong friendships, and it was a beautiful city (minus the never-ending road construction and congested highways) that had so much to offer. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ek28O8DyIV6QeJS2ihKvb1bphfkObymXmOD0lW2d_8rYhspx1qzX-sbByLX43c2mxr7LhGUgYsgnIGENr_CDQbcmrfdmwu9HmC2HPdZ8SL28L7_z3EI2iPMci5dNwZHrqBZQfaBv1ZQ5/s1600/IMG_2071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ek28O8DyIV6QeJS2ihKvb1bphfkObymXmOD0lW2d_8rYhspx1qzX-sbByLX43c2mxr7LhGUgYsgnIGENr_CDQbcmrfdmwu9HmC2HPdZ8SL28L7_z3EI2iPMci5dNwZHrqBZQfaBv1ZQ5/s320/IMG_2071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700667497184677314" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{Christmas Eve dinner at Cuba Libre}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YHm8U2N2-2e0l1nRW_xkJCMhWqHfgHiNu0ennDqW5o6Lt2iXz9oGLkm-M526lUWbA31fFpbIQ5rRqFvihoW2HSwKwJUroYd8lHxrH5TvDfaVBx-1TZQFNeII9NTw8wOFGOlv_vYiZdmE/s1600/IMG_2078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YHm8U2N2-2e0l1nRW_xkJCMhWqHfgHiNu0ennDqW5o6Lt2iXz9oGLkm-M526lUWbA31fFpbIQ5rRqFvihoW2HSwKwJUroYd8lHxrH5TvDfaVBx-1TZQFNeII9NTw8wOFGOlv_vYiZdmE/s320/IMG_2078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700667513237782002" border="0" /></a>{National Mall on Christmas Day}<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoL6wsYt2s8f-qIAkgiarsGCBi0BFYviuMBv_5-UyBTxHwpRp4MZvmA8dNEUIOE__shHNEtylTm24JuaPEss0IuJx2nLbiSy0XOKnXB_57sN9OX1FsebcJtYskVFRftSNYzLh435HV5WX/s1600/IMG_5488.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoL6wsYt2s8f-qIAkgiarsGCBi0BFYviuMBv_5-UyBTxHwpRp4MZvmA8dNEUIOE__shHNEtylTm24JuaPEss0IuJx2nLbiSy0XOKnXB_57sN9OX1FsebcJtYskVFRftSNYzLh435HV5WX/s320/IMG_5488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700667522119978962" border="0" /></a>{The Capitol Christmas Tree}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkN7IuknwK6sqKTkrrGtwwFagVLAluJh8CIP9L6IGUO_LHA3v9SN7hQdr1g_BwsMv7DUVBfW-jPVx-tVniB5IcFsqNM9hlRhOFHd-U_OOKrO7lYLCrgdgKhbQ_OKS8LqINlfIBxX-u3UZm/s1600/IMG_5506.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkN7IuknwK6sqKTkrrGtwwFagVLAluJh8CIP9L6IGUO_LHA3v9SN7hQdr1g_BwsMv7DUVBfW-jPVx-tVniB5IcFsqNM9hlRhOFHd-U_OOKrO7lYLCrgdgKhbQ_OKS8LqINlfIBxX-u3UZm/s320/IMG_5506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700668768274452626" border="0" /></a>{Capitol on Christmas Day}<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPaeLBspFefTE7h1FQqD3E4fzBxQ7rNj7Nb_IrW_b7sFUpmSKgrriDl-Svkqa8aMjmdjkJGdQzJ3xax82h3PMF1RTMho4N5YaSAsDTciqVGQ7209-v8kR-b1IYzmN8S1PhDeSqiq6A-vM/s1600/IMG_5491.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPaeLBspFefTE7h1FQqD3E4fzBxQ7rNj7Nb_IrW_b7sFUpmSKgrriDl-Svkqa8aMjmdjkJGdQzJ3xax82h3PMF1RTMho4N5YaSAsDTciqVGQ7209-v8kR-b1IYzmN8S1PhDeSqiq6A-vM/s320/IMG_5491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700668763912360866" border="0" /></a>{us - Christmas 2011}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF25mpbYqPXchyIdTedcsp572pNaS96tMTrVeoovNBkCeffvOqCnXYMl5mCZ8_8mSQVAE-NLlRi36Pif8QGdoyN1O9FH0n5IQfUMezvarvolKjgcMesaqIUKwndyVdbCVKjjgKjJbMOamJ/s1600/IMG_2081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF25mpbYqPXchyIdTedcsp572pNaS96tMTrVeoovNBkCeffvOqCnXYMl5mCZ8_8mSQVAE-NLlRi36Pif8QGdoyN1O9FH0n5IQfUMezvarvolKjgcMesaqIUKwndyVdbCVKjjgKjJbMOamJ/s320/IMG_2081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700668770893549586" border="0" /></a>{roadtrip}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVB-6FXbCSFemcNc04v3OMvw62LbU9f_mNz3r-Xy-ShyGwiWDxZKgE9idornehsEhnTTGJKv6TH2iVT8qXtJFP9iOLQg0Tgpc-IEpFEIEAdgPir8NR2fDSMpQQcAfPOJ0Iun_hDOVO-GC/s1600/IMG_2084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVB-6FXbCSFemcNc04v3OMvw62LbU9f_mNz3r-Xy-ShyGwiWDxZKgE9idornehsEhnTTGJKv6TH2iVT8qXtJFP9iOLQg0Tgpc-IEpFEIEAdgPir8NR2fDSMpQQcAfPOJ0Iun_hDOVO-GC/s320/IMG_2084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700668774741065666" border="0" /></a>{out in Nashville}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nq1ZTnyMCY_hUOWTCOFe6vQ4K77CPpSRtR8-Kt3KFnRDWamsPZnGrRZUSHxnJZQHS2d2mfTP1FlLYUwwiEhjOI7DqA3Tc4h0xHoHPc9nywTQftQkZvYOMODO6VgZ8rTHe0B5k8o01S-D/s1600/IMG_2088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nq1ZTnyMCY_hUOWTCOFe6vQ4K77CPpSRtR8-Kt3KFnRDWamsPZnGrRZUSHxnJZQHS2d2mfTP1FlLYUwwiEhjOI7DqA3Tc4h0xHoHPc9nywTQftQkZvYOMODO6VgZ8rTHe0B5k8o01S-D/s320/IMG_2088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700668778998001826" border="0" /></a>{Country Music Hall of Fame}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48yn5i_oQVIo8dNJacGNKyup645hQRoBmJre3aHL-8HqcZRE8ZlS4-u9LIjF1YolNu0oTs20LYydKQa-ArbDroJsF6U0qlTHYqPKPVQyMBiWLuL6P0pGuR_MUfisqlOdIeWsKEoM15G34/s1600/IMG_2090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48yn5i_oQVIo8dNJacGNKyup645hQRoBmJre3aHL-8HqcZRE8ZlS4-u9LIjF1YolNu0oTs20LYydKQa-ArbDroJsF6U0qlTHYqPKPVQyMBiWLuL6P0pGuR_MUfisqlOdIeWsKEoM15G34/s320/IMG_2090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700670462282597826" border="0" /></a>{traditional stop at the Loveless Cafe}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvLXlyqcwtegrhoYmUDd0DLmmftHLtyjXtUDWXTTHIHXtn65GVjFSLgWnI8lCnL9HHymgGMOIf387UyyoV55MV2Z3cM7z36PgCbap1bTO9PSWNmEBj1xRfUTQRvQa07MKW33zR4TriBq7/s1600/IMG_2093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvLXlyqcwtegrhoYmUDd0DLmmftHLtyjXtUDWXTTHIHXtn65GVjFSLgWnI8lCnL9HHymgGMOIf387UyyoV55MV2Z3cM7z36PgCbap1bTO9PSWNmEBj1xRfUTQRvQa07MKW33zR4TriBq7/s320/IMG_2093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700670466466927186" border="0" /></a>{late Christmas celebration in Longview}<br /><br /></div></div></div>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-64961319474116885142012-01-22T18:56:00.000-08:002012-01-22T19:07:14.537-08:00National Mall {December 2011}<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Q8fNE6XQUeXvhBz_bzmz1eVpM335ZCeRXxx9lJDbhmMfQtaF-_6mb8OwXEW86BWipdjiTvXqphyhBGRN1syR-LDhfP-T2zIJYCM-eHpK_OWdGCFY2fAkA97pfL5taC3AhBZmoF3RSJSX/s1600/IMG_5492.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Q8fNE6XQUeXvhBz_bzmz1eVpM335ZCeRXxx9lJDbhmMfQtaF-_6mb8OwXEW86BWipdjiTvXqphyhBGRN1syR-LDhfP-T2zIJYCM-eHpK_OWdGCFY2fAkA97pfL5taC3AhBZmoF3RSJSX/s320/IMG_5492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700658544781597746" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf3Ig1wiWG7l_lt_gxU_QHEy2QGJ18WJuW-afQgn-9NyaVhk3p80cV-VL0lzTXb54jugbUcBwQUmcldpP1QY8OxKB8psloTiNC878QWwLCwEi1a5_0X54GPmvakgQZSScWR37I37LgxBB/s1600/IMG_5504.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf3Ig1wiWG7l_lt_gxU_QHEy2QGJ18WJuW-afQgn-9NyaVhk3p80cV-VL0lzTXb54jugbUcBwQUmcldpP1QY8OxKB8psloTiNC878QWwLCwEi1a5_0X54GPmvakgQZSScWR37I37LgxBB/s320/IMG_5504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700658548185361522" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PySC9YnffDu3zJJNsmtyezI9GIrGjvqyB-RLiLWglMHzrGD9BfhkeSgRGCSF2Of9TzYDKedRrTYUaRhO118CHEmCHksmUisWIIoodcaCoyjzEJ5OEMP4qAxzDNmORLDnUE4ufFwK6C_-/s1600/IMG_5494.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PySC9YnffDu3zJJNsmtyezI9GIrGjvqyB-RLiLWglMHzrGD9BfhkeSgRGCSF2Of9TzYDKedRrTYUaRhO118CHEmCHksmUisWIIoodcaCoyjzEJ5OEMP4qAxzDNmORLDnUE4ufFwK6C_-/s320/IMG_5494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700658194275991426" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7VhaimizikQTqXXuG5ISn_-AUraIMjACkhBL2Iip-fvQN0GzmP1I3OuCTFsbk1nMukVhQnq5pLcrZ1h0s3O4-BHocOj7GTJK6HTwn6yi57CIi7A9WJ-E6W2cPIsLvXv8swNOA2ukqDmz/s1600/IMG_5459.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7VhaimizikQTqXXuG5ISn_-AUraIMjACkhBL2Iip-fvQN0GzmP1I3OuCTFsbk1nMukVhQnq5pLcrZ1h0s3O4-BHocOj7GTJK6HTwn6yi57CIi7A9WJ-E6W2cPIsLvXv8swNOA2ukqDmz/s320/IMG_5459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700658187822469170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyb11WOGtVE431Vh7YOrI-uAhvWsSZ-VbdbQ2Eu0fKlZiA1i4FJjlYKThSXPmZpzV4H9RD0l3v69vApPkDVT72oC7HUwhKhATlGj2JRujleu3jV_TxNsRMjvnwKR4Y3Fl9TSBLDd9K2g5/s1600/IMG_5445.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BfuvIox3n62ZPVxzCqFOUGMFQwzD3gBFkQ_N-KCPe_vEs5wJbtmIZU70IB60vQmEI8gFeISpjvlUvilxAgzpo-xHc95ytU_S-U_a_TUQ6-av-EyqQ9CkkNvR2YfL-RcnhpaImeTs_2el/s320/IMG_5409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700656770308999298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASrGNyYB8i4gzMRrMN_WvSFMcI0UANPpOlgAeH0PQPzxs3FXZu0nuujX5PgiZ_wUrj5xOuLXC62gN0TX60YMIEDPBAfby70M133BsRc579vmHzTONkPWCsuXi8e0n3ZlxNIYynnIDW0RG/s1600/IMG_5380.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASrGNyYB8i4gzMRrMN_WvSFMcI0UANPpOlgAeH0PQPzxs3FXZu0nuujX5PgiZ_wUrj5xOuLXC62gN0TX60YMIEDPBAfby70M133BsRc579vmHzTONkPWCsuXi8e0n3ZlxNIYynnIDW0RG/s320/IMG_5380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700656763699169474" border="0" /></a>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-18365634139708590782011-10-16T18:57:00.000-07:002011-10-16T19:37:15.611-07:00Shenandoah National ParkChris and I ventured south this past weekend for a quick roadtrip through Shenandoah National Park. We traveled south down I-95 on Friday afternoon to Waynesboro, VA. On our way into town, we took a side-trip through the country roads to Veritas Winery for a wine tasting. It was a beautiful family-owned vineyard located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountain. We were impressed with most of the wines we tasted and left with a rose, chardonnay, and red table blend.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX_fWe7uhaPDhf1gF6zLxBO-VW3gWdZKBlYx9y2pZtFJFtVQaK2hw-BtFfi-3LWYtimg3CGmT_IL0Z4tjK60WRDRVWsPQzErHOHlATbyC0lwG6q3hj9v4DbX-CklfNpvMoBPdbMwF7Lv0/s1600/IMG_1182.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX_fWe7uhaPDhf1gF6zLxBO-VW3gWdZKBlYx9y2pZtFJFtVQaK2hw-BtFfi-3LWYtimg3CGmT_IL0Z4tjK60WRDRVWsPQzErHOHlATbyC0lwG6q3hj9v4DbX-CklfNpvMoBPdbMwF7Lv0/s320/IMG_1182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664276226796393426" border="0" /></a><br />On our way to the winery, we past a brewery so we stopped in on the way from the winery to the hotel for a beer sampling and appetizer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWK6DdhQ5CnlDZu7_rdRH7ujlADnI1ZSnTk_gCHlPwppJwMJOlXn65Q7LKYTToqaFLD9JK2awq0b0mHIO9PvzN42RieUZ-CdM2m36eJ6AMNlGVgEzo1qJRt4YuqyHFmwC5AHwyrEhNlxIJ/s1600/IMG_1206.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWK6DdhQ5CnlDZu7_rdRH7ujlADnI1ZSnTk_gCHlPwppJwMJOlXn65Q7LKYTToqaFLD9JK2awq0b0mHIO9PvzN42RieUZ-CdM2m36eJ6AMNlGVgEzo1qJRt4YuqyHFmwC5AHwyrEhNlxIJ/s320/IMG_1206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664276838093349442" border="0" /></a><br />We woke up {somewhat bright and early} on Saturday and, after breakfast and Starbucks, entered the Shenandoah National Park through the southern entrance. Skyline Drive is the scenic road that runs 105 miles through the park, with several outlooks, campgrounds and lodges, and hiking trails along the route. We stopped several times throughout the drive {listening to the A&M/Baylor game inbetween} - for a 3 mile hike to two waterfalls, for a break at the central lodge, for a few photo opts at overlook points and again for a 2 mile hike to a summit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8WtZ-E_mbMF7iMjvuY1ig2ZPLn5iUaD1c7MzXBLdF729UiU-4qnIjoq0y241P61DaRpQfzJMnE2UYm6TFsF5axkGjjnCSBZ9GDn0Ptr2SNo8VrzWBiyfesoNdFs7zUA3FDzvWLs5OKkO/s1600/IMG_1212.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8WtZ-E_mbMF7iMjvuY1ig2ZPLn5iUaD1c7MzXBLdF729UiU-4qnIjoq0y241P61DaRpQfzJMnE2UYm6TFsF5axkGjjnCSBZ9GDn0Ptr2SNo8VrzWBiyfesoNdFs7zUA3FDzvWLs5OKkO/s320/IMG_1212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664279122958626466" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxvA5sf3qSS2sggUHXeud1V8jdYafVO0xRrkaN3I0AlmWSr0Z0BUdZtK7qVmJ7lSbyTPp87tkqzFt3j0Y4F4vE5H-J1UCpJbh1zIbul0eXpDOD2CAvB_9qt4PbOQ_lMG0Ha6vW4DVBn5O/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG"><img style="display: block; 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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PoTcLm98CN05oq4E840hd0a40AwYfnUvNlpkXs1c7HD-VmQx3TpizVzdd052cG2jggMXQA_Lg9hB173ftFO1R17cuwMuUZjFz4L3XhZH-MZf8FUNxGRu6ZA8Zt4Ld55Ws7xwvWswckRO/s320/IMG_1253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664279146609080050" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYK_s8UAM2aC9SH9XB5vihL4CaZU_xcjXP0yPUl0NXArBYAj2D7gBhY55oKgRP2CYZReRz0xe_vC6syXHuTZiy559BmzP8QgTP2Vcabli2LjMZCblkrm7QPur_w4kjjB8j5aiFbevb6PDZ/s1600/IMG_1287.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYK_s8UAM2aC9SH9XB5vihL4CaZU_xcjXP0yPUl0NXArBYAj2D7gBhY55oKgRP2CYZReRz0xe_vC6syXHuTZiy559BmzP8QgTP2Vcabli2LjMZCblkrm7QPur_w4kjjB8j5aiFbevb6PDZ/s320/IMG_1287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664279967792849362" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtx1o_iNg3SwTo0iA12g0fWspMO3IN7PDiEODChWiOGlE0FOGG-wU-tkPhBknYPzgAHO8IW67ySpSR0k5F7U2mMH7j_O-dvhxVOHKjxRwwcP7E4hO35IbmydfFaGJfezqRtyImwjk6Gx0w/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtx1o_iNg3SwTo0iA12g0fWspMO3IN7PDiEODChWiOGlE0FOGG-wU-tkPhBknYPzgAHO8IW67ySpSR0k5F7U2mMH7j_O-dvhxVOHKjxRwwcP7E4hO35IbmydfFaGJfezqRtyImwjk6Gx0w/s320/IMG_1257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664279945793421922" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6weiqgsV9Mgefv0k4dilWC2Gz2jYfft_QYR573izWRvAf_yp2q-Oqkx8aljNtTTNW7CtOkCPQsEVWO_FObeG8RfJaHtBGiVqz_i-m-SzoJ70NBa_WXesDJZTz2kNAZTNdi48s9Fj_AaN/s1600/IMG_1269.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6weiqgsV9Mgefv0k4dilWC2Gz2jYfft_QYR573izWRvAf_yp2q-Oqkx8aljNtTTNW7CtOkCPQsEVWO_FObeG8RfJaHtBGiVqz_i-m-SzoJ70NBa_WXesDJZTz2kNAZTNdi48s9Fj_AaN/s320/IMG_1269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664279948957391778" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDplBMU1X6d5b3-gyNkY9VCvPBiEmib9u2Y_jirSC-MtprLM6r8x0T4xIVNtVP3E5TjZGRUvl8suADehY03tuwrymCUbd5f3vUo3sjzCvPBhxucOfLsEpqeFqQcPpa_XKJTQ3f7UVOGKm5/s1600/IMG_1289.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDplBMU1X6d5b3-gyNkY9VCvPBiEmib9u2Y_jirSC-MtprLM6r8x0T4xIVNtVP3E5TjZGRUvl8suADehY03tuwrymCUbd5f3vUo3sjzCvPBhxucOfLsEpqeFqQcPpa_XKJTQ3f7UVOGKm5/s320/IMG_1289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664279964706159442" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDLSUdnK_9XG56RcaspY_l3N6_pZEnlGPbiYUNIXLbZHCv5BKGbLV0vWvFGbZnCziXPpRvpagi6r7s1pzfINqePkx5Qqrmwl1dKRayEc41FnRe3eeo8kuxAicTbhmGPgh8HXfjrHYCgRP/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDLSUdnK_9XG56RcaspY_l3N6_pZEnlGPbiYUNIXLbZHCv5BKGbLV0vWvFGbZnCziXPpRvpagi6r7s1pzfINqePkx5Qqrmwl1dKRayEc41FnRe3eeo8kuxAicTbhmGPgh8HXfjrHYCgRP/s320/IMG_1281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664279948568716434" border="0" /></a><br />We continued about three-quarters up Skyland Drive before exiting outside of Sperryville. Outside of the park, we came across an apple stand, so naturally stopped to fill up a bag consisting of a variety of apples. In Sperryville, which was the kind of town that if you blinked you would miss it, we stopped at the Copper Fox Distillery for a tour of the distillery. From the outside, it was had the appearance of a rundown warehouse; yet it was actually a very impressive mom-and-pop operation. From there we headed back home with one final stop for the evening - Pei Wei.Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-82137860641100925082011-09-25T09:34:00.000-07:002011-09-25T10:15:31.491-07:00Klooster Wedding {9.10.11}A few weekends ago, we made a much anticipated trip to Texas. I {Lyndsey} had been there for a quick weekend trip mid-summer, but Chris had not been back since December. We were going to celebrate Chris' sister, Jenni, and her fiance, Dave, tie the knot. Every aspect of the wedding weekend, from the festivities leading up to the big day to the ceremony and reception, were carefully crafted with personal touches, meaning, and thankfulness. It was a very thoughtful, intentional time that incorporated community worship and family blessings as well as a precious reminder of the beauty and sanctity of marriage.<br /><br />Our flight into Dallas/Fort Worth was delayed Thursday night due to thunderstorms, so we arrived late that night. On Friday, I joined Chris' mom and sister for manicures and pedicures and a bridesmaids' lunch at the Reata, while Chris picked up his tux and ate lunch with the groomsmen. We spent the afternoon running errands, followed by the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner at Ruth Chris. Saturday started early with a hair appointment, then picking up food to munch on pre-ceremony, then pictures at the church. The ceremony was at First Baptist Church Hurst, followed by a dinner and dancing {and a coffee bar!} at the Fort Worth Hilton. On Sunday, we ate breakfast with my parents in downtown Fort Worth, then joined Chris' family while Jenni and Dave opened gifts at the Markos' house. Afterwards, we drove into Fort Worth to meet up with some friends for dinner at Yucatan Taco Stand.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">{with the newlyweds at the reception}<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QEqtEX8IkStQFUrWyNQ0s_yM9JMEur0PjISaEERWDAmReCLgwQkUstThIDRvkm9jvrHfMtZ3dojOxLLljgR32-evRXfKcEXvYMiK4aJGBtPHK4QHPTzc-Q4b6N3D6DIUXMbddXbLcgK5/s1600/IMG_1153.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QEqtEX8IkStQFUrWyNQ0s_yM9JMEur0PjISaEERWDAmReCLgwQkUstThIDRvkm9jvrHfMtZ3dojOxLLljgR32-evRXfKcEXvYMiK4aJGBtPHK4QHPTzc-Q4b6N3D6DIUXMbddXbLcgK5/s320/IMG_1153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656341893925378706" border="0" /></a>{details}<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNUIIvWyuGfTNHO6eQ7QyGUfcBNcKECZWYx5aC60PZUIrI61pczb-6lrArkhQ4X6MDPhXqPVnt-RjREXMp8ZkTHgz2VihDBshUBOwEAV2Eg0HjQns4xFa73wIIO_Rf_ymbMPxzIkSGn5H/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyfklheASqe89_qAvEiirqkkCIlIvNybs98688Vo0zW38WGrwwGVwcJDx29zsbfE32jHmlbTi3e27pk71KeKNRLW1YL8QWauW_odEODIRvVJHESlhzSh9YMxtNNtQS1-kP1emPUf_017q/s1600/IMG_1129.JPG"><img style="display: block; 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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTFY2qKFhFjl0qgOc4fTrjR0Q9NrVQNmODwqMhexcTw5P44iwmTTHiWRZE3HDk3vmvQ9HlimhybwwzhPDkZnAaL01rCJ6wt-UHm-zrIt2tAzkLbenIFIfomSIHV05TQbcOhG8ILO7bJ3q/s320/IMG_1119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656345977936612498" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMq2C2_y2tK9nyZVGC6F1OttSiZogHNk-KOOrfJubnqwyBxRZ3zFXBRk-ma67T3fMKzo9JkcaCxp8YOgxow_sJFcpcr9I9wR9-NIe84eV3dhG8tzaaz4trkeWPBRmqA0IHI0E5twkrdV8p/s1600/IMG_1121.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMq2C2_y2tK9nyZVGC6F1OttSiZogHNk-KOOrfJubnqwyBxRZ3zFXBRk-ma67T3fMKzo9JkcaCxp8YOgxow_sJFcpcr9I9wR9-NIe84eV3dhG8tzaaz4trkeWPBRmqA0IHI0E5twkrdV8p/s320/IMG_1121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656340201566807362" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniNZqOc0hS3yhM8MmKRZE6nm2EsMXEOG_UAwsBXB0AcanKW7iLaFePFFyDQM4g0MpJz5rLdjMpbf7JGER1uM3rbUpPEeWDf_B5Tb4M-Q993U91PZsU7PW02zZmHkk6apv9psZPNzQhw7R/s1600/IMG_1130.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniNZqOc0hS3yhM8MmKRZE6nm2EsMXEOG_UAwsBXB0AcanKW7iLaFePFFyDQM4g0MpJz5rLdjMpbf7JGER1uM3rbUpPEeWDf_B5Tb4M-Q993U91PZsU7PW02zZmHkk6apv9psZPNzQhw7R/s320/IMG_1130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656341002464576322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWpqhfmwWLqx4jIfz0eAlBs9CmzHM6So54PQV2QPTrZePKnFQon1RsaeJt52k-BO-y-pKhFhoDRP8R13DDQ49eWrQ78JwpQ25Mfpev32FM3PspS8xov2ZguXQLHyRen2x8f6HOEibSvKA/s1600/IMG_1122.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWpqhfmwWLqx4jIfz0eAlBs9CmzHM6So54PQV2QPTrZePKnFQon1RsaeJt52k-BO-y-pKhFhoDRP8R13DDQ49eWrQ78JwpQ25Mfpev32FM3PspS8xov2ZguXQLHyRen2x8f6HOEibSvKA/s320/IMG_1122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656345977712955058" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyqvdgb9k3IiyansmNLcwcGAFnjYAWz8t0zM8Nobqfs8SoIFS57pF_tmMoNhbjTLeMmC5sHUC2TYM4Pxh_5ehQNCvD60CANlzJ2DVblQkWC0odz1DEcfpEvDOoXMgdyl7oaibGsYkH29q/s1600/IMG_1131.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyqvdgb9k3IiyansmNLcwcGAFnjYAWz8t0zM8Nobqfs8SoIFS57pF_tmMoNhbjTLeMmC5sHUC2TYM4Pxh_5ehQNCvD60CANlzJ2DVblQkWC0odz1DEcfpEvDOoXMgdyl7oaibGsYkH29q/s320/IMG_1131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656341005415489906" border="0" /></a><br />{toast}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlzAA7ztBHCqSq_wRyayN15o8ItjfKpWp4q5cuEJPYLhPh7xD3_Kbv9ss_trH82ayFX-Z1TTKG1orl8OP-Wn-z9aFI_iOxbNWbaBLZaJHJVduMcBtKZXu2WyXD2cUm_7w8SMdBDlDG9Vp/s1600/IMG_1136.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlzAA7ztBHCqSq_wRyayN15o8ItjfKpWp4q5cuEJPYLhPh7xD3_Kbv9ss_trH82ayFX-Z1TTKG1orl8OP-Wn-z9aFI_iOxbNWbaBLZaJHJVduMcBtKZXu2WyXD2cUm_7w8SMdBDlDG9Vp/s320/IMG_1136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656345983108766002" border="0" /></a><br />{dancing}<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uBlRoJw56LRA60n72goKXT7OOoYIIBOm8C4UCd0iYgHzEWXz2Ri3vu5lhzIbHRP1INpS6q8rRhj_KeQw7frB031VQ9zWfe0M5US2qA3XQ000wD01UWQzMJY4cWZ1m7LxBEpEGCqDD7Dz/s1600/IMG_1147.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uBlRoJw56LRA60n72goKXT7OOoYIIBOm8C4UCd0iYgHzEWXz2Ri3vu5lhzIbHRP1INpS6q8rRhj_KeQw7frB031VQ9zWfe0M5US2qA3XQ000wD01UWQzMJY4cWZ1m7LxBEpEGCqDD7Dz/s320/IMG_1147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656341886145362914" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOjG9qQcWLlIHq95pbsXlIHtW8PnkpJThAAqricszsggui_rPkdFrYwQsBlfivNa-Yh-QvRtQ2SI8VXCbuppY6Wt4QeI_8MsdYD0XNwlhlNwkXU-gbtwFra8ksio4Jh-UH5sMdJMFt73u/s1600/IMG_1143.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOjG9qQcWLlIHq95pbsXlIHtW8PnkpJThAAqricszsggui_rPkdFrYwQsBlfivNa-Yh-QvRtQ2SI8VXCbuppY6Wt4QeI_8MsdYD0XNwlhlNwkXU-gbtwFra8ksio4Jh-UH5sMdJMFt73u/s320/IMG_1143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656342831208566066" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />{us}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbM5a_VaAtu9u_Y40dTNqw1OjCKE-TL5ObBvlfGfhXwP04DMFMhpY5nUGlEO9LDDU0GUFV5E_rfeflwKDvyfMUfWKhOmXSMl2JXl7VwndWXoVOuxrsWgGRp_nW6nnfx_V1No3qao7DDxX/s1600/IMG_1144.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbM5a_VaAtu9u_Y40dTNqw1OjCKE-TL5ObBvlfGfhXwP04DMFMhpY5nUGlEO9LDDU0GUFV5E_rfeflwKDvyfMUfWKhOmXSMl2JXl7VwndWXoVOuxrsWgGRp_nW6nnfx_V1No3qao7DDxX/s320/IMG_1144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656341012477826642" border="0" /></a><br />{my parents and I}<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-2ykCJTuZQPLjHchCIoB2z-s8_QCx1sDTOH7BwKtsiRIS8CknZ4IcSOhN4M7a0H1CoHTLFg2rDjuqtcjgHCuV7s34zFU9UdPeItL_MmCK2yjDv1r5MmZp5oLs-mqF5NpK2pyTvizN7j5/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-2ykCJTuZQPLjHchCIoB2z-s8_QCx1sDTOH7BwKtsiRIS8CknZ4IcSOhN4M7a0H1CoHTLFg2rDjuqtcjgHCuV7s34zFU9UdPeItL_MmCK2yjDv1r5MmZp5oLs-mqF5NpK2pyTvizN7j5/s320/IMG_1142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656341017554812146" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks to my parents who picked up our "first anniversary" cake topper from the bakery on their way into town, we enjoyed tres leches cake to celebrate our first anniversary {a few weeks late}.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskSlBtbZ9Z_vBzh5bkckpO7GKXWzhoGVO5PCwEAqXM_2xM4xdxv7yQFNZlHg75bw_ulPhGDZZE-UO0SgfancCIYr2pk5vk-1zf9iPt5DOg8YbdKmiKzS7YfR-PdpaBWH6Dek0ddfnBMa-/s1600/IMG_1103.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskSlBtbZ9Z_vBzh5bkckpO7GKXWzhoGVO5PCwEAqXM_2xM4xdxv7yQFNZlHg75bw_ulPhGDZZE-UO0SgfancCIYr2pk5vk-1zf9iPt5DOg8YbdKmiKzS7YfR-PdpaBWH6Dek0ddfnBMa-/s320/IMG_1103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656346387483340914" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /></div>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-78410904744995550462011-08-28T12:36:00.000-07:002011-08-28T12:52:41.730-07:00One Year<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />{Eastern Shore of Virginia, Cape Charles}
<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVw17-vgp9UoqEDe9NwUckgV6RxzU1eNB7G32Af8KP7Hw-nmHVPtc4EJIm43PnLdf26z0l3yycqjuGMoG5u377Yhm-2i52Ny2ZoU1ScZo30xW3KaJQGYDyl0L4XaIQRxdjseC5jLbXWqYs/s1600/IMG_1090.JPG">
<br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09iJO9b2H66xkGSGC4xQnOGBfRHfWlCU2bZ9dLsVOYn-w308sE2uw4_JIFjEYlJjDN2BwfGMk8wnLbd9aa9-Sx7ljw4u4yBaxihIBLmF3VbIWEytvAZZ1phLss2EMBYgyuhXyfhriglSh/s1600/IMG_2031.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09iJO9b2H66xkGSGC4xQnOGBfRHfWlCU2bZ9dLsVOYn-w308sE2uw4_JIFjEYlJjDN2BwfGMk8wnLbd9aa9-Sx7ljw4u4yBaxihIBLmF3VbIWEytvAZZ1phLss2EMBYgyuhXyfhriglSh/s320/IMG_2031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645993660576906802" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihjVLJDcvPNrGql2mTn-EvGA6kXSiM-wPhbSSgeBIRRRXofStx2DrBj5tRWqhfFW7XG8HpOyVreWqyXjUD31f2CS4jV6TSFCD0eunXcry7SF9kNR-hTbN76yYf3gVYalIAIaCVS6v_lDn/s1600/IMG_0991.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihjVLJDcvPNrGql2mTn-EvGA6kXSiM-wPhbSSgeBIRRRXofStx2DrBj5tRWqhfFW7XG8HpOyVreWqyXjUD31f2CS4jV6TSFCD0eunXcry7SF9kNR-hTbN76yYf3gVYalIAIaCVS6v_lDn/s320/IMG_0991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645993678721256706" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNmW41PjveYylKZi6ttB795PgVU-hRg5O7LEeD1_JLu1Jscd6EwdREsss2-vg0MOGISd8xlJWxNRXPjfYVqVcCsCEsG-V6NhhRmRJ60RiZNbKojQ2TWs9AmSq9vzh0JNE1VcHXaOvA0cb/s1600/IMG_0996.JPG"><img style="display: block; 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<br />Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-69448490873827155732011-08-10T05:00:00.000-07:002011-08-11T07:09:02.526-07:00April, May, June, July
<br />Welcoming the warm, bright summer days after the chilly, gray days of winter, the summer days now seem to be numbered, as soon they will give way to the crisp, colorful days of fall. Despite the heat and humidity of a DC summer, we have been {and continue to be} enjoying the summer days. With moving into a new apartment, busy work schedules, and long weekend trips, life has kept us occupied these last few months. And since I have fallen behind with documenting that life, this post will a little glimpse into those last four months.
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<br />Chris' parents came to visit us for a long weekend in early April. It was whirlwind weekend of touring, eat, shopping and visiting. We spent half a day at Arlington Cemetery, where the new spring was in full blossom {despite the need for jacket!}.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcZtv_8aYrtgPbIJ3y77y7VsUcKSeRwikuNndImrgZ8j-AXxvfhFjTxHz5t1Lh9R3MdVa2Eu_D7O7Q3ZlEydXe6PsNsztaDgOMmjODcgmkb4QP6MfjEmZJJrLBHfhH5Do2renGStoCobA/s1600/STA_1955.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcZtv_8aYrtgPbIJ3y77y7VsUcKSeRwikuNndImrgZ8j-AXxvfhFjTxHz5t1Lh9R3MdVa2Eu_D7O7Q3ZlEydXe6PsNsztaDgOMmjODcgmkb4QP6MfjEmZJJrLBHfhH5Do2renGStoCobA/s320/STA_1955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639199003934784834" border="0" /></a>
<br />In late April, we took a two hour roadtrip north to visit by brother in Carlisle, PA. It's a quaint college town made up of historic buildings, locally-owned restaurants, and scenic spots. Right off of this spot by the river, which was dotted with fishermen, the Appalachian Trail zig-zags through an open {possibly corn} field leading up through large rolling hills.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKa1D2l31xl84aN9ZTOS-ZBxPLEfAazxStM43WW42yChIoYVxtEln2X62RC3ozWBuyeOl2ySN9HwWwZmCL8AOrSg4jsN8krEZLsw2QpdLuaw8Gzuth3Pie9ZXbjzBbHFhQHfNCAaWdYiv/s1600/IMG_1977.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKa1D2l31xl84aN9ZTOS-ZBxPLEfAazxStM43WW42yChIoYVxtEln2X62RC3ozWBuyeOl2ySN9HwWwZmCL8AOrSg4jsN8krEZLsw2QpdLuaw8Gzuth3Pie9ZXbjzBbHFhQHfNCAaWdYiv/s320/IMG_1977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639200020137399330" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAV76Hfv5qmX_4_AZ8xWWBgohDbviNS7SZQlyJx5dLZKwqxmUuFkVpz3sXsdA3py2Fazu5g30qnR8hwaFjsUjVM4FinZ75XA_wltGMuvtfjulctZNNDRpyZ9ajta93qbxeIIpXqMm0pBC5/s1600/IMG_1979.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAV76Hfv5qmX_4_AZ8xWWBgohDbviNS7SZQlyJx5dLZKwqxmUuFkVpz3sXsdA3py2Fazu5g30qnR8hwaFjsUjVM4FinZ75XA_wltGMuvtfjulctZNNDRpyZ9ajta93qbxeIIpXqMm0pBC5/s320/IMG_1979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639200393120768866" border="0" /></a>
<br />In April, we also took a quick trip to Philly for a night, where we met up with my brother. We stayed in downtown and spent most of Saturday exploring the area within walking distance, including a stop at the Reading Terminal Market for cheesesteaks, a quick viewing of the Liberty Bell, and long walk up many, many steps to the Art Museum.
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvSBXqSEXuKuGiCTkx3dQt7pjOAlLCo6IIx4b90kYjJEBZRLyqeWETH_XxZAdx_6nCK0xvhOjyKguoRwUTMuNkbvNSQkZIlpTfE5Xe9TCb2lDkkAbf1aFlYYJyQE1wpdNgFFfkRuijltg/s1600/IMG_2012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvSBXqSEXuKuGiCTkx3dQt7pjOAlLCo6IIx4b90kYjJEBZRLyqeWETH_XxZAdx_6nCK0xvhOjyKguoRwUTMuNkbvNSQkZIlpTfE5Xe9TCb2lDkkAbf1aFlYYJyQE1wpdNgFFfkRuijltg/s320/IMG_2012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639427919339423522" border="0" /></a>{above: view of downtown from the Art Museum}
<br />{below: Chris posing with the famed Rocky statute}
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<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISwI1D8_BQXfku7Zchvf9_FVxCppfX7YLAsSRw1mr5mOg-dexgpu9oPxpyotcZOIr-W13RsN5ekz7jA4QpciFoo3eOzTxcJU3-HJ7nv8QfNBNMIAt9NENyhULx8YaO-jsaQDhna7BB8rq/s1600/IMG_2006.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISwI1D8_BQXfku7Zchvf9_FVxCppfX7YLAsSRw1mr5mOg-dexgpu9oPxpyotcZOIr-W13RsN5ekz7jA4QpciFoo3eOzTxcJU3-HJ7nv8QfNBNMIAt9NENyhULx8YaO-jsaQDhna7BB8rq/s320/IMG_2006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639426619888963314" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AY4LTj5wq5YTBAPbF6SpfSeMo6fmV257zmGnkBJsJYVW_JK0jafzD-5IGsOLxytZr_zLbxqoNOMes6XTsEAO1mchzxG71Ns5wAiPCn0kmQDDLEVGm8TIAY3HBucET_zRRJgKyDdUSwvl/s1600/IMG_1997.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AY4LTj5wq5YTBAPbF6SpfSeMo6fmV257zmGnkBJsJYVW_JK0jafzD-5IGsOLxytZr_zLbxqoNOMes6XTsEAO1mchzxG71Ns5wAiPCn0kmQDDLEVGm8TIAY3HBucET_zRRJgKyDdUSwvl/s320/IMG_1997.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639426616196192194" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRLsllsH86VuLSN1DYqyRk6o_lg9iuaw_L_qnOwC13rkg2yiDlbNnzTiaTtGrM-YwfzqSVJttzdW89daRD8yXcwufeg573QZwymPkqwRszZmWl9nKxttmdrLpXAU0BOZQGEeuxOgbluoG/s1600/IMG_2000.JPG">
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<br />Of course, we also celebrated Easter. After church, we went out to lunch with friends {thankful for friends here when we cannot be with our families}.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaEWSqW5oeKGgv7CLKxEnut3qpq7kPfoyBf0YgNgCc4M-YacsoVPQ3pSKF0cuInI0szUopXxrJSEL8dtsh-42SH4oeU-M6kJCCOnNNRil5Xl-ejyJ8o4Q-PkVFylNFuqtSQnixgkpPgnR/s1600/IMG_1990.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaEWSqW5oeKGgv7CLKxEnut3qpq7kPfoyBf0YgNgCc4M-YacsoVPQ3pSKF0cuInI0szUopXxrJSEL8dtsh-42SH4oeU-M6kJCCOnNNRil5Xl-ejyJ8o4Q-PkVFylNFuqtSQnixgkpPgnR/s320/IMG_1990.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639600055891975618" border="0" /></a>
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<br />May went by in a blur, the highlight being Memorial Day Weekend where we went into DC to watch thousands of motorcycles ride through the Mall and the Memorial Day concert on the Capitol Lawn. We even went to Arlington Cemetery {second year in a row for us to try this, you would think that we would learn!}. This year we actually made it on the trolley to the amphitheater, but after waiting approximately half an hour to enter, we were told that it was at capacity and the crowd could gather at the back on the grassy area. Instantly, everyone herded over the grave stones in hopes of a view of the ceremony {Obama was actually there this year}. We found it very distasteful that the secret service was only allowing people to stand in contained area that was among the graves, so decided to head out of the cemetery.
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<br />In June, we moved into a new apartment. We joke that we left the Ritz Carlton for the Holiday Inn; in truth, though, we've settled in now and, although a significantly tighter fit, it isn't <span style="font-style: italic;">that </span>bad. We also went to a U2 concert at M&T Stadium in Baltimore. Despite the warm weather and 80,000 other U-2 followers, it was a great concert!
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLABwqVPuN2FQag5FxlGzQAL2EV82TYcCB8q-yG-kDQyp25RPlQC7bGKPPVfJCHuzuMuFWQivVaoTjKl1WGLYdN4B8JR0mYuKTpjMYsKVqN54tTfl7jn50tbXVk62e-wgRXNSiBqrT-rx/s1600/IMG_2023.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLABwqVPuN2FQag5FxlGzQAL2EV82TYcCB8q-yG-kDQyp25RPlQC7bGKPPVfJCHuzuMuFWQivVaoTjKl1WGLYdN4B8JR0mYuKTpjMYsKVqN54tTfl7jn50tbXVk62e-wgRXNSiBqrT-rx/s320/IMG_2023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639593126550775730" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUax5MhfS7JFTncCa0bxyN1rs90pp9zJYHSVgrE2Or4AHpW3v_PkXh5bPPzSQM-IFkJ8THeFtzb5XZbsR1PZy_AoX9o1GJkTp4ZlnTA6sS2-s_sUbNoInfd3MWeQcP6OVYt9DPe6hCoUOR/s1600/IMG_2025.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUax5MhfS7JFTncCa0bxyN1rs90pp9zJYHSVgrE2Or4AHpW3v_PkXh5bPPzSQM-IFkJ8THeFtzb5XZbsR1PZy_AoX9o1GJkTp4ZlnTA6sS2-s_sUbNoInfd3MWeQcP6OVYt9DPe6hCoUOR/s320/IMG_2025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639593117645674850" border="0" /></a>
<br />In July, Chris took a long weekend trip to visit family in Cleveland and then drove to Michigan with his family to attend a shower for his sister and her fiance. I left the next weekend for a quick visit in Longview with my family.
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<br />And that brings us to August...
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<br />Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-87056814352615547902011-04-12T19:33:00.000-07:002011-08-11T07:00:36.595-07:00Washington National Cathedral<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKx-VIIVqlgbcz0nwAqVYJfCzAB8GUBi1cD3v-JMYaQ0swhJTuhzw4T_ZGDklDp_pbotJKrx7t2byvoE4KXDyly6jhcOaWWbIGosww4pRqwqLIAq95v9x2fF1nTqlJ_WASgixAvO1JlE9/s1600/IMG_0912.JPG">
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OOzMKqaXba44UU4zYimkY0iLbeejVBGSTDuq0BR23ZXIWLuhnIBQBVVITm8iOrhyphenhyphenVxFmAmLcZdpyF3SUzBnvfkeS2nqHlFPdzHsqNWLUorNL0GYV6MfcDXjVo7b0gCUmwj9BFcAMZ6zy/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OOzMKqaXba44UU4zYimkY0iLbeejVBGSTDuq0BR23ZXIWLuhnIBQBVVITm8iOrhyphenhyphenVxFmAmLcZdpyF3SUzBnvfkeS2nqHlFPdzHsqNWLUorNL0GYV6MfcDXjVo7b0gCUmwj9BFcAMZ6zy/s400/IMG_0919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594893353935696866" border="0" /></a>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-85754056443106199972011-04-12T19:16:00.000-07:002011-04-12T19:32:57.080-07:00Sage Family VisitMy family came to visit in mid-March for spring break. We spend the first week touring Mount Vernon (George Washington's family estate and final resting place); driving around Fort Belvior, walking through Old Town (with a stop for drinks at Bilbo Baggins and ice cream down the street); running (or walking for some of us) around the Mall and White House; seeing a show at the Kennedy Center; and braving the crowded streets of Georgetown to find parking and enjoy an Italian dinner. The parents, brother, and sister-in-law left on Monday for a roadtrip to Annapolis, Atlantic City, Philley, Carlisle, and Gettysburg before returning the Escape to DC the following Friday.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Fq_WZ9EeMiraPJHr2Zdx47sKLlZKHcF1At_m2rciLdvYw8ZNGhjS15Vy4Wyj_5RG6VNtERFC75OK_J8bDEAk1RwXhIfJL2SDuPZABgtLVUdTAiIEUvfZIieVLuQyh0W0aPAFOakc1KwC/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Fq_WZ9EeMiraPJHr2Zdx47sKLlZKHcF1At_m2rciLdvYw8ZNGhjS15Vy4Wyj_5RG6VNtERFC75OK_J8bDEAk1RwXhIfJL2SDuPZABgtLVUdTAiIEUvfZIieVLuQyh0W0aPAFOakc1KwC/s320/IMG_0881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594889151387361170" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJogbCNlhQzxaU2y0_mEKKkaxw9XP8gmXhM5nBcze1rMN7rP1OLnMQapYdippAGTAA0rbdbFY9qm5fBJZyvUClbC8BTFbqs7De5DMvs7ZNkKPmAt4eerIAQ4pAx7JllMsa8cbpzGMZw5ZK/s1600/IMG_1954.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJogbCNlhQzxaU2y0_mEKKkaxw9XP8gmXhM5nBcze1rMN7rP1OLnMQapYdippAGTAA0rbdbFY9qm5fBJZyvUClbC8BTFbqs7De5DMvs7ZNkKPmAt4eerIAQ4pAx7JllMsa8cbpzGMZw5ZK/s320/IMG_1954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594889542768630898" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazhi4uxJ52ZKcL56_-CjRx5TSjsnBZ6_SWl0lIVOsSe7lRZRF3vel4ebVbElpgLXWY_WZRHMmd9hRtmU5XMgwa6LU7blbQFWoxOW7DFwSRRqmLzDoYSfUmK3lJ956A0tUAcZWY44sgPvt/s1600/IMG_0890.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazhi4uxJ52ZKcL56_-CjRx5TSjsnBZ6_SWl0lIVOsSe7lRZRF3vel4ebVbElpgLXWY_WZRHMmd9hRtmU5XMgwa6LU7blbQFWoxOW7DFwSRRqmLzDoYSfUmK3lJ956A0tUAcZWY44sgPvt/s320/IMG_0890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594889538340257826" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AnMNsLvuMnWpEp166ouT8XEQ5zHHLSCe9HJzV3ZCewfrBLlFhHsFySRud2evaFbd9i-1HBwm6aBSrm6bJj00ouUxV8BRnekWI2wyAINFcuX8uWHhBaiY5VdnI-7ENbE_yZUO5wWzPKyV/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AnMNsLvuMnWpEp166ouT8XEQ5zHHLSCe9HJzV3ZCewfrBLlFhHsFySRud2evaFbd9i-1HBwm6aBSrm6bJj00ouUxV8BRnekWI2wyAINFcuX8uWHhBaiY5VdnI-7ENbE_yZUO5wWzPKyV/s320/IMG_0882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594889534215507522" border="0" /></a><br />The following weekend we ate dinner in Old Town; walked around the East Market and Capitol Hill; and wondered around Union Station (with a stop at Crumbs). Cody and Sarah Beth flew out on Saturday night, so the parents and I treated ourselves to a movie and take-out.Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-48416303940193155012011-02-18T11:45:00.000-08:002011-02-18T11:58:03.727-08:00Happy {belated} Valentines<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEd9b04IaV_uceQvuQA_4J343eGI2e4bGoCXSmTZuteKVkRWMXdG549bcKbfsPTeUGbqxF30ThO-zuCrg7lL1ELsx_f18wUwY01D8J37MEtBoaMe9eTzXJ-ex6slGrHBZai0Bf_NeConv/s1600/IMG_9974_lux.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEd9b04IaV_uceQvuQA_4J343eGI2e4bGoCXSmTZuteKVkRWMXdG549bcKbfsPTeUGbqxF30ThO-zuCrg7lL1ELsx_f18wUwY01D8J37MEtBoaMe9eTzXJ-ex6slGrHBZai0Bf_NeConv/s320/IMG_9974_lux.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575120750534914930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmc-JJxrSDP0ZMZ2D8SoyGkWd5sl4jXmJ104gnXE_bxmGV7fOnFtQRpSD_5tTUBye2BPB3sARTlVrUXZrG2ABV0NxfTBzh_hZDCLYrk5e9lwj6sEUX1hD1JUdE568aj5FUf273H3rA9iD/s1600/IMG_9830.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmc-JJxrSDP0ZMZ2D8SoyGkWd5sl4jXmJ104gnXE_bxmGV7fOnFtQRpSD_5tTUBye2BPB3sARTlVrUXZrG2ABV0NxfTBzh_hZDCLYrk5e9lwj6sEUX1hD1JUdE568aj5FUf273H3rA9iD/s320/IMG_9830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575120490035614514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_9VZyIKr5WZunThHSJJBw5wtIyVj45XmsXHwvZj-460ZRjLlYU_NoY63vGvxFIto6saummcOkoK6TxCwGtev7-t9gvoBNO9vy70PLvd3dkjt8vq_njt82yK5QamVXg2vvX-TkSOfT3fe/s1600/IMG_9903_w.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_9VZyIKr5WZunThHSJJBw5wtIyVj45XmsXHwvZj-460ZRjLlYU_NoY63vGvxFIto6saummcOkoK6TxCwGtev7-t9gvoBNO9vy70PLvd3dkjt8vq_njt82yK5QamVXg2vvX-TkSOfT3fe/s320/IMG_9903_w.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575120485981768786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKxUkN_btLBnic7yC6lfIQD7flxxnLYlAvJr9euYt4aUZE85vr3q9FBMgYYfHOt_muwOQ726C1XfBqN1EIxX2GzOF4HHna6AdtMVg5NCG0IzS6MftR-kz7H0rngX_Qo48Ng8ljyEGhWZL/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKxUkN_btLBnic7yC6lfIQD7flxxnLYlAvJr9euYt4aUZE85vr3q9FBMgYYfHOt_muwOQ726C1XfBqN1EIxX2GzOF4HHna6AdtMVg5NCG0IzS6MftR-kz7H0rngX_Qo48Ng8ljyEGhWZL/s320/IMG_0193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575119978100735314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzROTIVthAOBk-G3c7HWdZSXuLxQ6gTpyvPiE1tFaa2ImU4J_4oUcFuYxatgrS5MVjI1G0-KLm9a6R3LsHdFNx3nl8FMIQ2y19UbGgXkGFghrOM62URJwT9HTGGPML0UVpWNmI0fSxN2M/s1600/IMG_0038.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfGCOOnmyaCSfIR2uL381boMvGsQ3iwy5irbBv7EgdKI75uejIOjl05bciz5ROjK37vSxxOIMhp771a6fsPHAWtBw_PAH2vWdZ7SGar1BD0w6GboUegRxwewp1u2OpbLjrxHpptxDueJW/s1600/IMG_0065_w.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfGCOOnmyaCSfIR2uL381boMvGsQ3iwy5irbBv7EgdKI75uejIOjl05bciz5ROjK37vSxxOIMhp771a6fsPHAWtBw_PAH2vWdZ7SGar1BD0w6GboUegRxwewp1u2OpbLjrxHpptxDueJW/s320/IMG_0065_w.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575118830925361346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUMHdn8-5VLx607eSUTaIjVGJ4bGjB1oWsG_Q0trSMUN_BiqSoaHNyiVJGhCKUrKDjFCMnuRwia1jH1Gvp4bhuTVJjyl8JiyaW4kQMFh3hgi7T5aySQEBK3mmBBMURZsjSi3n2tNS2yVR/s1600/IMG_9980_bw.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUMHdn8-5VLx607eSUTaIjVGJ4bGjB1oWsG_Q0trSMUN_BiqSoaHNyiVJGhCKUrKDjFCMnuRwia1jH1Gvp4bhuTVJjyl8JiyaW4kQMFh3hgi7T5aySQEBK3mmBBMURZsjSi3n2tNS2yVR/s320/IMG_9980_bw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575118823096360098" border="0" /></a><br />*Engagements pictures by Hailey EricksonMarkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-38442835320634457942011-02-18T07:59:00.000-08:002011-02-18T11:44:59.738-08:00Annapolis, MDThis past Sunday, we decided to take a quick trip down the road to Annapolis, MD. We spent most of our time walking around the waterfront near the Naval Academy and the historic downtown area. It was a small, quaint area with a serene, calming effect {despite too many tourist shops displaying Navy sweatshirts and shot glass with dancing crabs} . We enjoyed just sitting by the water as we did actually exploring the town. We will definitely be going back when the weather warms up a bit and the sun is shining more.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-0ZaIU6mElmWevprB_9MEZJwhzcQVLC5DkAxbC0wLQ2uxcuHLUagLEJyGdtVSQgkb1DCJwj4Wy41dARqyvzx5S0KJQbYIdQDN9XzBAEG23h1NIw7ZjGqbHe5K7dGII3Lwi2CHIrPe4iX/s1600/IMG_0865.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-0ZaIU6mElmWevprB_9MEZJwhzcQVLC5DkAxbC0wLQ2uxcuHLUagLEJyGdtVSQgkb1DCJwj4Wy41dARqyvzx5S0KJQbYIdQDN9XzBAEG23h1NIw7ZjGqbHe5K7dGII3Lwi2CHIrPe4iX/s320/IMG_0865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575115527333514818" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQjyX63RNyBAA5UpjJf7DTBLryU-L0ORC0bV7s7PuNugY0MeM0uojfg1FljGxbl-zsogLi7f87yftdB6vpsekHM-afB4SU3p2mOiUmRuL45mGPkbPOpDQGay-aCvM1DgKd9RbufKL_iNf/s1600/IMG_0863.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQjyX63RNyBAA5UpjJf7DTBLryU-L0ORC0bV7s7PuNugY0MeM0uojfg1FljGxbl-zsogLi7f87yftdB6vpsekHM-afB4SU3p2mOiUmRuL45mGPkbPOpDQGay-aCvM1DgKd9RbufKL_iNf/s320/IMG_0863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575115523326592626" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbJ0gitDjcTdh0cOg_-JpSqztR6TFRxgDb-XseSlqfq2lUc9IKek5aiDGjlBqqWDK6iWxsbN6S_6gdPZAPZ8lvZtNGBWEOL7q6IGxEm-J0yLRWeLmQmU5lLIULZuPhrKPFre2jycsrD_n/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbJ0gitDjcTdh0cOg_-JpSqztR6TFRxgDb-XseSlqfq2lUc9IKek5aiDGjlBqqWDK6iWxsbN6S_6gdPZAPZ8lvZtNGBWEOL7q6IGxEm-J0yLRWeLmQmU5lLIULZuPhrKPFre2jycsrD_n/s320/IMG_0868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575115830919069122" border="0" /></a>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-43195919824369828932011-02-18T07:20:00.000-08:002011-02-18T07:59:28.937-08:00Fredericksburg, VAOn a cold, overcast MLK holiday, Chris and I drove the 45 miles down I-95 to Fredericksburg, VA. Our expectations of the small, historic town were set a little too high {maybe part of it was that the dreary, blustery day did not lend quaintness and charm to the town} ; nevertheless, the afternoon road trip had its worthwhile moments.<br /><br />While walking around downtown, we came upon a church graveyard with headstones dating back to the 1700s. Many of the stones were so weathered that the names and dates were not even decipherable.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k0if8Nq8Q_4iPLYzRg_AVwrt9YXFVwYisqSdpUnXzW_pOeLoYPZokUHhdKSBh6Q9zlYVH22f9JW2EuvQO3Mmm15UW8W6BXjTI18KXXqWtGbQmJh9JdLrgH6d3QbKLznLJbbTuHbMOu5-/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k0if8Nq8Q_4iPLYzRg_AVwrt9YXFVwYisqSdpUnXzW_pOeLoYPZokUHhdKSBh6Q9zlYVH22f9JW2EuvQO3Mmm15UW8W6BXjTI18KXXqWtGbQmJh9JdLrgH6d3QbKLznLJbbTuHbMOu5-/s320/IMG_0816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575051681173769410" border="0" /></a><br />After half an hour of walking {and a quick stop into a local wine shop which resulted in us lugging out 4 bottles of wine}, we had seen most of downtown and were too frozen to continue exploring the rest by foot. We ate lunch at a local bar & grill, ducked in a local coffee shop for mochas, and proceeded to the battleground.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgXJ0A6GLTsKIz5bcg8udMMNtnpFves0QBTQXoq48KHctWOK3e0GAHMv9N66sRVDUO474SqUtTUA93aubwhClAo-0aCG1_l8I9sw-ontKIOsgKI5AgZDWWKu1zDnjPYWAPqYilK8q4luw/s1600/IMG_0820.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgXJ0A6GLTsKIz5bcg8udMMNtnpFves0QBTQXoq48KHctWOK3e0GAHMv9N66sRVDUO474SqUtTUA93aubwhClAo-0aCG1_l8I9sw-ontKIOsgKI5AgZDWWKu1zDnjPYWAPqYilK8q4luw/s320/IMG_0820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575053777910192274" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOxYC3CQTop5JLQpkGijoC-nJn803JFFZlxtnoPtRxnDTxQ0pruBp0JQbP6-hzTGE1O2MwaQNrFG-MSFwru00j8AMdV3FOGDOKBLxgIgWNxLTkqedpWbRplUH6N522dhFLSZRLaFCJBfZ/s1600/IMG_0818.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOxYC3CQTop5JLQpkGijoC-nJn803JFFZlxtnoPtRxnDTxQ0pruBp0JQbP6-hzTGE1O2MwaQNrFG-MSFwru00j8AMdV3FOGDOKBLxgIgWNxLTkqedpWbRplUH6N522dhFLSZRLaFCJBfZ/s320/IMG_0818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575053990133495330" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWFeFN9FBXI79yfMGljWCSJ6k-NaI2fVnanpybmLN3U7_v1hw36LEAeeVdLYnU073Cb-WLD0HfX-T_leNCPbOHheP1leIHEABUW3LExzqLkP0lbC2-JXIM1247Do1oZszoR1gHYLqLK1d/s1600/IMG_0819.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWFeFN9FBXI79yfMGljWCSJ6k-NaI2fVnanpybmLN3U7_v1hw36LEAeeVdLYnU073Cb-WLD0HfX-T_leNCPbOHheP1leIHEABUW3LExzqLkP0lbC2-JXIM1247Do1oZszoR1gHYLqLK1d/s320/IMG_0819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575053998465153122" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdv61r3KSnyPkKLPclnLwe-Y7AsUHT5EBJ11dpif6HIGbp7clEMuX4sjOPLbS_50I_7S87q_x-hP3mGXemuQ4Ll4F27FGk2dhjfAyXFHOySNKr6__YJswUi31Nl6JIbPF9DRL-NOyC6GGf/s1600/IMG_0832.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdv61r3KSnyPkKLPclnLwe-Y7AsUHT5EBJ11dpif6HIGbp7clEMuX4sjOPLbS_50I_7S87q_x-hP3mGXemuQ4Ll4F27FGk2dhjfAyXFHOySNKr6__YJswUi31Nl6JIbPF9DRL-NOyC6GGf/s320/IMG_0832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575054429414249106" border="0" /></a><br />The battleground was located about 1 mile outside of the historic downtown area. Over the course of several days in late 1862, Union forces {futile} assaults against a Confederate stronghold proved that the South was able to hold ground in the war. Sections of the stone wall that Confederate forces shielded themselves behind as Union soldiers attempted frontal attacks were still in place.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iGAxg99ShyHFV872I_zgR8lknM0HuEF5_mCZy4kp-JV_SosQo7F4NTiY591CYu1u0HPbuWGxN4_UsQHuYsFZERfL4ms3uLJ3lY8hfjEBzlzoDt3ll-bTKBtlee2FxQLYB3Sc_ietdzA8/s1600/IMG_0833.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iGAxg99ShyHFV872I_zgR8lknM0HuEF5_mCZy4kp-JV_SosQo7F4NTiY591CYu1u0HPbuWGxN4_UsQHuYsFZERfL4ms3uLJ3lY8hfjEBzlzoDt3ll-bTKBtlee2FxQLYB3Sc_ietdzA8/s320/IMG_0833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575057263400249810" border="0" /></a><br />It was somewhat eerie to think that at one time the land that was now spotted with gas stations and doctors offices was once littered with 15,000+ bodies of dead and wounded. In the cemetery, over 15,000 Union soldiers, mostly unknown, are buried, marked by a simple row/plot number. There are other various Civil War-era structures standing, such as house that was converted into a hospital during the war; it is now the house of the President of Mary Washington University.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrDSd5SSfWbE9dpTRJT84XRN1Wl8esvL1rw-Tp-TC6d2j6DHqpRc0YOS-fgJkRuhmyE6Ckb63pq35WO1CgmidMIIPkfe8G6RuEwpOFfdwKFMdtULCR5sFJMBuxdzfOcfLARTvBts6jRtg/s1600/IMG_0842.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrDSd5SSfWbE9dpTRJT84XRN1Wl8esvL1rw-Tp-TC6d2j6DHqpRc0YOS-fgJkRuhmyE6Ckb63pq35WO1CgmidMIIPkfe8G6RuEwpOFfdwKFMdtULCR5sFJMBuxdzfOcfLARTvBts6jRtg/s320/IMG_0842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575057610864170834" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEagqK48egas2oKDkwa86CW8dRYohBLp5kakgbZBQ63JdxVIFWhQ_cgBq_vIM64jjysY4xHenyqexD_58WzVpkVxWyMkDOtcRAP0qDbHqDosN9M7y3A62jaFZrpLzFZi51enPSi7qVZGO/s1600/IMG_0841.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEagqK48egas2oKDkwa86CW8dRYohBLp5kakgbZBQ63JdxVIFWhQ_cgBq_vIM64jjysY4xHenyqexD_58WzVpkVxWyMkDOtcRAP0qDbHqDosN9M7y3A62jaFZrpLzFZi51enPSi7qVZGO/s320/IMG_0841.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575057601075128194" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7SV3T9Tg7rc6NdpDHtbjKwiZhqsF-DnJilQEV53CbfHyMDSQ-LxhwBVhxvD7gKxiJXoeQfXZGLU5j5NQPyiuPDf45uiX3VZQe2jPGOgLZliEFNIkm0R48oic2Qy7FU56gEXqyTCOrA8W/s1600/IMG_0844.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7SV3T9Tg7rc6NdpDHtbjKwiZhqsF-DnJilQEV53CbfHyMDSQ-LxhwBVhxvD7gKxiJXoeQfXZGLU5j5NQPyiuPDf45uiX3VZQe2jPGOgLZliEFNIkm0R48oic2Qy7FU56gEXqyTCOrA8W/s320/IMG_0844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575059385384945586" border="0" /></a>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-77721524155616027212011-01-11T18:01:00.000-08:002011-01-11T18:29:12.286-08:00Tumultuous Times IndeedRecently, Lyndsey and I survived the first true test of our relationship. I believe marriage is forever, and am now condfident that I have chosen wisely (I knew it the whole time!). My wife passed the test with flying colors.<br /><br />The test I speak of is football season. I might not have been the best football player growing up, but like most Texans, a deep love of football runs deep in my veins. Many women fail to understand the emotion, excitement, and outright suspense that no other sport seems to provide, complete with super star catches/throws and monster hits! With the Cowboys done (put a fork in them), and college football officially over after last night, I can safely say that the season is done for all intensive purposes (with the exception of playoffs and Super Bowl).<br /><br />At my rehearsal dinner for the wedding, I had a cake of an Aggie bonfire and explained to our closest friends and family that I had missed (then) three of the past four football seasons due to deployments. Because of this, this season in particular was destined to be particularly painful for Lyndsey, as describing me as an addict to both college and NFL would be an understatement (at least I wasn't in a fantasy league this year; then it would have been Lyndsey's gauntlet of pure hell!). This season had meaning because I have been waiting for years for renewed hope in the Aggies as I get scores 3 days late via email since there was no way to listen to or watch the game. Alas, this season is over.<br /><br />What does this mean for Lyndsey? It means I will no longer be sustaining myself with chicken strips, beer, burned sweet potato fries, and tostados every Saturday and Sunday. We might even have time to go on a date every now an then (we did before, only on Fridays :). It means she doesn't have to listen to me talking to guys at church about football, or suffer through embarrassing arguments that inevitably happen living in DC between Redskin's fans and a born and raised Dallas, Texan. And finally, it means the endless "simulations" using the most high tech equipment currently available to me will end (by that I mean X-Box NCAA 2011 and Madden). The equipment isn't perfect though, as it predicted a score of 77-13 in the A&M vs. LSU game on the top difficulty, with A&M coming out on top. At some point though, I have to start working on season 2011; for now though, I'll consider slowing down.<br /><br />It's time to update the Netflix cue. With all this free time, Lyndsey will want me to listen to her (not that I didn't before, but the commentary from the experts on ESPN and FoxSports is pretty important!). Texags.com will no longer see me hit their site multiple times each day (probably only once or twice a week to keep up with offseason recruiting), and bleacherreporter.com will probably not even automatically load when I start typing the web address into the browser. Our fridge's beer supply will start to dwindle or skunk, as my only real excuse to consume 2-3 in one sitting is no longer around. Life is about to change to something it was always intended to be.... in the offseason.<br /><br />Until late August, this is my life. I will be going to Michael's and Bed, Bath, and Beyond on the weekends, cutting coupons for the grocery, and going through the piles of crap that have accumulated on our bar since I brought Lyndsey back here in September. Basketball and hockey are just okay, but baseball and football are king. <br /><br />If anyone needs me, call the cell phone; I'll probably need a break from carrying bags in Macy's and Nordstrom's....Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-45889624296253972532010-12-31T11:39:00.000-08:002011-01-01T15:37:39.354-08:002010This year Lyndsey experienced a record snowstorm in Texas; Lyndsey received her 3rd year bar card and participated in court hearings; Chris came home from his second deployment; we celebrated with friends; Lyndsey graduated from law school; we made lots of wedding planning and had lots of showers; Lyndsey took and passed the Texas bar; Chris bought a new car and a few days later traveled cross country; Chris started a new position within the Army; we got married!!; we honeymooned in Costa Rica; Chris made a second cross country road trip in four months; we settled into our new home in Virginia as a married couple; Lyndsey got a new job; we had several visitors and took a few roadtrips; Chris ran the Army 10-Miler; we explored our new neighborhood; we participated in our best friends' wedding; we had our first Christmas together, just the two of us. Here's a few glimpses into all of that, in no particular order.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMiGzgYBbRY1m-LzEVzvlUHX_Iunw8xRVVZ3sD36VAoL91Z27PfELA381LeH0RNSZ-vyrqR0oUghRRUP2mGnIeRfFeMJvOIOtJjezBen8lNlMcYNC9frnQuUcZkuLiN75f75cqnRU6-4A/s1600/30597_1297678077295_1090667260_30671055_8014357_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMiGzgYBbRY1m-LzEVzvlUHX_Iunw8xRVVZ3sD36VAoL91Z27PfELA381LeH0RNSZ-vyrqR0oUghRRUP2mGnIeRfFeMJvOIOtJjezBen8lNlMcYNC9frnQuUcZkuLiN75f75cqnRU6-4A/s320/30597_1297678077295_1090667260_30671055_8014357_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556947073290821314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lXGdLIdR9lgblueTfbp9TUHsABIIKj1tNdizLzohUKQ74tDRocYqyMGZBg-uHpptF1Zwr5V5KRogr6m-h09EL6bENkflAXUMDpDB3a2Le_9GhgNOWTQVVaR2x5xwYp3Iy6vSQ9czTlKX/s1600/63304_786398104823_9202292_42235678_5477660_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lXGdLIdR9lgblueTfbp9TUHsABIIKj1tNdizLzohUKQ74tDRocYqyMGZBg-uHpptF1Zwr5V5KRogr6m-h09EL6bENkflAXUMDpDB3a2Le_9GhgNOWTQVVaR2x5xwYp3Iy6vSQ9czTlKX/s320/63304_786398104823_9202292_42235678_5477660_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556944772908291362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4J1cyLWo71jistqc5dvUm3TGhoxCOyFeal8fDaTOFqbwZBRma76M8sJKN24bdQ1SBSvRD0F7LGEBYkzT2AOYsWim6STj6vhNvsIWx-c_fCsVyIapjC4K5afY-3L8kDOT4PG5XTeGGk2v/s1600/IMG_0807.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4J1cyLWo71jistqc5dvUm3TGhoxCOyFeal8fDaTOFqbwZBRma76M8sJKN24bdQ1SBSvRD0F7LGEBYkzT2AOYsWim6STj6vhNvsIWx-c_fCsVyIapjC4K5afY-3L8kDOT4PG5XTeGGk2v/s320/IMG_0807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556944417073652898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B9NV7sXhvlgHg4sX4hgj_z0VCbt2IN-mpKHdTDruNhPxSrNw7JSdASSYR9mtQ57cv9brZYWngYX9gYQURky0onyCnNkR5QFlAMg6tA6H5dXNal0X1XC-KSlDCUx0SvfPYZdEoolyyPzb/s1600/IMG_1934.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B9NV7sXhvlgHg4sX4hgj_z0VCbt2IN-mpKHdTDruNhPxSrNw7JSdASSYR9mtQ57cv9brZYWngYX9gYQURky0onyCnNkR5QFlAMg6tA6H5dXNal0X1XC-KSlDCUx0SvfPYZdEoolyyPzb/s320/IMG_1934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556944405069838530" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7biY9Enmr348rJNTWRvV7NXm332HVpCXZlhSwZ2GKwjs34iKpV2wqze3kijbF2QUoXt3F0CCTXAyh8LMFNqydSIZE2f3vbmG5wVsfg_Mtr_kCNi5SeHHf1mN4m-etXyDIo3H8zhGfUwJO/s1600/A%2526M+flag.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7biY9Enmr348rJNTWRvV7NXm332HVpCXZlhSwZ2GKwjs34iKpV2wqze3kijbF2QUoXt3F0CCTXAyh8LMFNqydSIZE2f3vbmG5wVsfg_Mtr_kCNi5SeHHf1mN4m-etXyDIo3H8zhGfUwJO/s320/A%2526M+flag.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557364863010209634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIq2EJWm3XwjLTpz5JlMfWTp1YSR6pEy0e9G7r01Tin0aOZsmeJBsA8CpBi8p9QvlcfT4T_p2_jqmHHcAo7w27T2Ro-Dd02P_H016xLzMMaLcchTqmZ6CwDKc2JCsYWp4YFfnY6qxZu9_/s1600/IMG_1924.JPG"><img style="display: block; 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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibp1xxL1sUBbl5Tu3ISrsSEUwjN2NBX-PF3TEsMF-w4jr73eBFeFvSd5r6oy2yzBvfQdRYt7WHwkqcOEtP3Tu4PhOS4UXo12QnW8y-COWdasbGyuhG0RsDilN15dXWfQhgDYS-5QJHXshh/s320/IMG_0108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556940514734298018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzfD6WThu09GENQ4pVXhKPhyphenhyphenstcMomVdDBfjFSQbGWSpIGF_k4r5heDar_MiwSkcilIEdwu9_i-FA65iHrK25inH6t3F3adJJsJFcAyaNww2G_J7t5sFk8_pZ_GZ751vNtPUTGupbPfpw/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HRZlMw-KmwPK_xcT0NfjE1gszkh8g4lOAKbov2jb_z_ao_VAarSPpHbLATxNRsIaJhi7P_vJkr9cIHirvUVmbw8tnIGYJQlKZWflB3pFvfJWsWeH7S4Ve3zqUp8L5i0zYFeuMwo7myvt/s1600/Christmas+2010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HRZlMw-KmwPK_xcT0NfjE1gszkh8g4lOAKbov2jb_z_ao_VAarSPpHbLATxNRsIaJhi7P_vJkr9cIHirvUVmbw8tnIGYJQlKZWflB3pFvfJWsWeH7S4Ve3zqUp8L5i0zYFeuMwo7myvt/s320/Christmas+2010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557365022167697122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMLB3HtTLXwqYd11l0WsVzVIdOBgvmndL4LQ4CdAZVcSZcQ9Q6C-_4xi9BNSSHeFAt2ndgP2iVstqIBxoVpmcWiJTB7a9qZk6tTkm4JF34Lc4FJil-kGJBeBtfBplrsqSAv74_S4yGF5o/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG"><br /></a>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-42341350682074835802010-12-30T12:34:00.000-08:002011-01-01T16:15:40.992-08:00Reflections of a Year (from my workstation on a slow day)This year has flown by. I think everyone I have spoken to has said something similar. It seems the end of the year always creeps up on you, like you never have enough time to finish all you set out to accomplish that year. But reflecting back, I realize this year has been yet another year of great transition, opportunity, and hope, and see just how far I, and as of 21 August "we", have come.<br /><br />Last year at this time, I was sitting at Al <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Rasheed</span> two miles south of Sadr City on the outskirts of downtown Baghdad, with the putrid smell of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Diyala</span> River to keep me awake when the coffee wouldn't. My New Year's meal was nothing special (I'm alive at least), and no football games were shown because our satellite was down and the Iraqi stations don't show American football. I'm pretty sure I talked to my new fiancee, Lyndsey, that day on the phone (the wedding seemed light years away) before going off to inhale <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">room fulls</span> of toxic second hand smoke from cheap cigarettes and guzzle more cups of that loathsome Iraqi sugar <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">chai</span>. We were planning a large operation that at the time was still a big secret (both to the people in Iraq and my family and friends at home), since the elections were less than three months away, where we would be gone for about 2 weeks and search countless homes for bombs and weapons, arrest dozens of very bad people, and take those perilous roads yet again on high alert to and from various places as we "advised and assisted" our Iraqi, ahem, friends with securing their own country.<br /><br />Fast forward 365. I'm home now (or at work at the moment), completely safe, surrounded by luxury that living in this country brings. I am blessed to be a married man now, and have all the things that go along with it that I couldn't have pictured at this time last year, including a pile of "things" to go through, 2 weeks of leftovers in the fridge, "Dear John" in my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Netflix</span> queue, and the guarantee that at some point tonight my body will be used as a foot/hand warmer for someone with perpetually cold extremities. We're lucky enough to both have jobs and not have need for anything. We're surrounded by wonderful family and friends that support us in all that we do. We live in a great place with something interesting always going on. We're young and free to do what we want. My job is non-deploying, and I have a lax work schedule compared to this time last year. All in all, life is pretty good.<br /><br />Fast forward 365. I'm out of the Army, and have accepted a position with a company somewhere in Texas. Lyndsey and I have moved back to Texas where we live in a great place with a little one (we don't know if it will be a boy or a girl, just that it will change our lives completely, be four legged, covered in hair, and allowed by our apartment after the pet deposit; what did you think I was talking about?!). Lyndsey is practicing law at a small non-profit firm that mainly helps immigrants and those less fortunate. We have just returned from visiting friends and family for the Holidays, and are now preparing for our grown-up style New Year's party, complete with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hors</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">d'oeuvres</span> and champagne flutes (start finding babysitters now. It's going to be off the hook, with Rock Band, board games, the works!). We went on an awesome trip to celebrate our one year anniversary, and wonder how we got so lucky in this thing called life....<br /><br />As we start next year, we're filled with hope, both the hope that came in Christ during Christmas last week, and the hope of a new chapter and fresh start this week. Lyndsey and I have no doubt that this year will be better than last, and wish everyone the best in whatever endeavors you begin. Cheers!<br /><br />"It's difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow." - Robert Goddard<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcocpg469tuDhlnzRAtRH4gnI1ALiaHv-Ne16D0P89HoR6YG61uYwT73mx9bPBXD4ECDwzDlj0KV4d7s-AJu_Kl9YfOdZcI5GSauebrAhk3lHkiUwb4MOh75eVNhPs4O8QwYLvO3fpZ6-Y/s1600/New+Year%2527s+2010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcocpg469tuDhlnzRAtRH4gnI1ALiaHv-Ne16D0P89HoR6YG61uYwT73mx9bPBXD4ECDwzDlj0KV4d7s-AJu_Kl9YfOdZcI5GSauebrAhk3lHkiUwb4MOh75eVNhPs4O8QwYLvO3fpZ6-Y/s320/New+Year%2527s+2010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557366436860052018" border="0" /></a>New Year's dinnner 2010 at the Al Rasheed Dining Facility<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR-fww6lRj_1c4Z6lgbzDT2z-zD9caQ1pdWPtpY7dUnGw1eFAF7zCu9fDznFozIgAgkFDbuYtxWograzMaeCHlc7w96THPHh5epO9xr2CBR0wfZ-Ga3BIgHpsjfNLXXXA-ff7PbGH83VV/s1600/New+Year%2527s+2011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR-fww6lRj_1c4Z6lgbzDT2z-zD9caQ1pdWPtpY7dUnGw1eFAF7zCu9fDznFozIgAgkFDbuYtxWograzMaeCHlc7w96THPHh5epO9xr2CBR0wfZ-Ga3BIgHpsjfNLXXXA-ff7PbGH83VV/s320/New+Year%2527s+2011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557367150297603890" border="0" /></a>New Year's 2011 at Rustico in DC<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZzsVx0PD6shdg9blUzli8EqmwaWFH1Kij3Kq6QDKS9wYiUdVf8RvhY_0oRCjirlk-DJYjeVYr2RMaXUF1iNVL1jKOUxlaKciVLNq7rNvB3TZ5sYV90f7Ek7420mOVNyZrJUh7ZCREMWV/s1600/New+Year%2527s+2012.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZzsVx0PD6shdg9blUzli8EqmwaWFH1Kij3Kq6QDKS9wYiUdVf8RvhY_0oRCjirlk-DJYjeVYr2RMaXUF1iNVL1jKOUxlaKciVLNq7rNvB3TZ5sYV90f7Ek7420mOVNyZrJUh7ZCREMWV/s320/New+Year%2527s+2012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557375339151430162" border="0" /></a>New Year's 2012 at the Markos' Gala!<br /></div>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-19308011088800737702010-12-26T12:25:00.000-08:002010-12-26T12:29:32.837-08:00Swearing InOn December 17, at her retirement party, my aunt swore me in to the Texas Bar.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X2R0K5d86WckER9FgT1nlBR9AyW4MmNagspSAV7gx-al_hCPXrXIQ8xTq0ggrIqCw32-bRjXHCsyXGkiq4sWvC1Vx1LUt5hxrWr7UdIMIi3cx4A5GZP9-AFXu5EFruwUntKk_-shtBC3/s1600/IMG_0688.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X2R0K5d86WckER9FgT1nlBR9AyW4MmNagspSAV7gx-al_hCPXrXIQ8xTq0ggrIqCw32-bRjXHCsyXGkiq4sWvC1Vx1LUt5hxrWr7UdIMIi3cx4A5GZP9-AFXu5EFruwUntKk_-shtBC3/s320/IMG_0688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555090383510011314" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0pcumX_lL0iCnNzac53187t8Tg9TYYn_j83q9vf6hTY1mmfH2zOgQx-q5qKFEJNxe4uhGkMZtxdL6RVLl1J9C1iDF1ODwCDE3RsoSfl-VP3GjEfvdkzqQu4NAdRoXqYRpkU-NWaoPVAI/s1600/IMG_0700.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0pcumX_lL0iCnNzac53187t8Tg9TYYn_j83q9vf6hTY1mmfH2zOgQx-q5qKFEJNxe4uhGkMZtxdL6RVLl1J9C1iDF1ODwCDE3RsoSfl-VP3GjEfvdkzqQu4NAdRoXqYRpkU-NWaoPVAI/s320/IMG_0700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555090681520020658" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtgLex0w9hhRp4EC2eaUQImHy4vuwJ9shUO4H4pXR5I0aDtsd7B7Ns1q45VXijFuH2Dk-9zc5av2JxD527QP_SdZ_IRErE5e6wPbjPu9a84uJFENWySKIsFqOvx42sQ4Zn9gDNaDW0yGH/s1600/IMG_0693.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtgLex0w9hhRp4EC2eaUQImHy4vuwJ9shUO4H4pXR5I0aDtsd7B7Ns1q45VXijFuH2Dk-9zc5av2JxD527QP_SdZ_IRErE5e6wPbjPu9a84uJFENWySKIsFqOvx42sQ4Zn9gDNaDW0yGH/s320/IMG_0693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555090673779453426" border="0" /></a>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-38684028021653591332010-12-26T09:31:00.000-08:002010-12-26T12:25:09.127-08:00Mr. & Mrs. PhilleyThe weekend before Christmas, Chris and I flew to Texas to be part of our good friends' {Leah & Andrew} wedding. Chris and Andrew have been good friends since enduring their fish year in the Corp of Cadets together. Andrew served as best man in our wedding, and Chris did the honors of best man for Andrew. Leah and I have been good friends since we were in the same class in 2nd grade. Leah was a bridesmaid in my wedding, and I was the same in hers. We have experienced the so much of life together with these two, both individually and as couples. They are two of the most kind-hearted, fun-loving people we know, and we genuinely enjoy spending time with them {unfortunately, that is a lot more rare than we would like.} Best yet, Andrew and Leah are the best matchmakers! Three and a half years ago, I received a phone call from Leah saying that she had given my email address to a soldier {one of Andrew's best friends}. My reaction: You did what?!?!? Turns out, that random solider was not so random. Luckily Andrew and Leah knew Chris and I {respectively} well enough to know that we could be a potential match. And, as most know our story, that solider later became my husband.<br /><br />With three of my best friends since grade school {at rehearsal dinner; before walking down the aisle, and at the reception}.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfGM7B0nlDG_pxcXgwj-WEFiXwpTa2quQYyfFfjdLaQuApabms5nGot3kHjoH1NzNfIA25GH9LBO77wG0W_CxTKRHwOnPCRufZrj3hEMRDa3NmeMiREcAx2eKUtc5145x9G6-4u22WMsJ/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfGM7B0nlDG_pxcXgwj-WEFiXwpTa2quQYyfFfjdLaQuApabms5nGot3kHjoH1NzNfIA25GH9LBO77wG0W_CxTKRHwOnPCRufZrj3hEMRDa3NmeMiREcAx2eKUtc5145x9G6-4u22WMsJ/s320/IMG_0708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555049099653401634" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfSHOwKwsCfYR1lS6n5Vr3jL77G2xdJ6ncwYnsgNX0KTDzImHRtKC6qE1pK0jnatxMqI0rrb77moaVxMjIndvYWIj6qNBthKIs2PT_syNLQ8C4K825g6ovpnIs-D3Hf_m-GqZQzVfGq4t/s1600/IMG_0748.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfSHOwKwsCfYR1lS6n5Vr3jL77G2xdJ6ncwYnsgNX0KTDzImHRtKC6qE1pK0jnatxMqI0rrb77moaVxMjIndvYWIj6qNBthKIs2PT_syNLQ8C4K825g6ovpnIs-D3Hf_m-GqZQzVfGq4t/s320/IMG_0748.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555049500549734194" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0End0-08Yuyt9HF7ywclKrDBIgPsVQ9OL4LSWhL0W4MEkUg-2y5h3vmuJU1iVDzSn9G693M_m7vmZN7knayL_JaWcAwLJnJg8qzIvyCOxfNEye7MTZkAxaC90usk8YAe1pYc1kdl6Wv2v/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0End0-08Yuyt9HF7ywclKrDBIgPsVQ9OL4LSWhL0W4MEkUg-2y5h3vmuJU1iVDzSn9G693M_m7vmZN7knayL_JaWcAwLJnJg8qzIvyCOxfNEye7MTZkAxaC90usk8YAe1pYc1kdl6Wv2v/s320/IMG_0756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555082624781271378" border="0" /></a><br />Chris and I at the reception.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uBcmIUuhnXnRlKEY_L6NE6vYTO6wFYArwENUpKC27o47a0BTBInvK5YACmd3RvIYKboaf8U-JTP9mBbU8_MIXTOMOqvv2vtzQH4Pq_rdwkT-DS2JxhDgZEo5e5M5Kd9i5XB3D-xANsf4/s1600/IMG_0758.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uBcmIUuhnXnRlKEY_L6NE6vYTO6wFYArwENUpKC27o47a0BTBInvK5YACmd3RvIYKboaf8U-JTP9mBbU8_MIXTOMOqvv2vtzQH4Pq_rdwkT-DS2JxhDgZEo5e5M5Kd9i5XB3D-xANsf4/s320/IMG_0758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555085074663473314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Corps of Cadets B-Co Class of 2004.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMYSgLkg4MlZHHaN8RuhpVX-Fh34k0Hgs3h-uac_hIPmpg73oie5fiLNFUAa70Pk4Cwla8NiKczHYISHKxnXGZrt-rDNecqd6UPM2n0a2TiTsdVIFXZhJ2NPKqyo_lz5FaT8uib2GIjVb/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMYSgLkg4MlZHHaN8RuhpVX-Fh34k0Hgs3h-uac_hIPmpg73oie5fiLNFUAa70Pk4Cwla8NiKczHYISHKxnXGZrt-rDNecqd6UPM2n0a2TiTsdVIFXZhJ2NPKqyo_lz5FaT8uib2GIjVb/s320/IMG_0774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555088255346952114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bridesmaids and bride at the reception.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7r50x_qYEFhbdwFuG4LEmz-ccSLlquO1ulAbfwjt2tDuJ3-nRr7z7oVqr1Ek4DbPYCRj4zIUiyJQeez1pmBFZUhQln1E9op95FWpm7VZ0R4Hn8c6Xqa86Is1QViqM6tCOEXPnry6L4CYR/s1600/IMG_0796.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7r50x_qYEFhbdwFuG4LEmz-ccSLlquO1ulAbfwjt2tDuJ3-nRr7z7oVqr1Ek4DbPYCRj4zIUiyJQeez1pmBFZUhQln1E9op95FWpm7VZ0R4Hn8c6Xqa86Is1QViqM6tCOEXPnry6L4CYR/s320/IMG_0796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555088763537515554" border="0" /></a><br />When Leah and I traveled to Israel together in 2000, her mom bought each of us a bottle of wine at Cana {where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding}. I received my bottle at my reception, and this is Leah's bottle awaiting her toast.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tSS8FI-3XeVHwRaBpaiZaH62zuvdbnAaUJb5k9oj5WCWxLaghF3eOowwkoKGI3XBE8Rp_3n5Co3bj0OZYkylB8aMLCwfdmUH7Kzm4D4yjHN00wGUZzyxXYuYgn16xk8D9W_1nrF89BDW/s1600/IMG_0726.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tSS8FI-3XeVHwRaBpaiZaH62zuvdbnAaUJb5k9oj5WCWxLaghF3eOowwkoKGI3XBE8Rp_3n5Co3bj0OZYkylB8aMLCwfdmUH7Kzm4D4yjHN00wGUZzyxXYuYgn16xk8D9W_1nrF89BDW/s320/IMG_0726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555088276289079042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Chris and I with the bride and groom.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NrWY4EtJ06-PzkeNdR52Gh6ggHtr5YBXyPs62hCXPY4ZpXHuRxiMvm_2nCNTGq5SHKX6opqFzzoTJl_w06uEDBPjBR-a5sC911ugHc_SSN97KAItG_VCC3jXKgC1tDDmvC16L5jkwwLy/s1600/IMG_0769.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NrWY4EtJ06-PzkeNdR52Gh6ggHtr5YBXyPs62hCXPY4ZpXHuRxiMvm_2nCNTGq5SHKX6opqFzzoTJl_w06uEDBPjBR-a5sC911ugHc_SSN97KAItG_VCC3jXKgC1tDDmvC16L5jkwwLy/s320/IMG_0769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555085789794231538" border="0" /></a><br />As best man, Chris gave a toast to the couple at the reception. He gave Leah some things that might help her in her marriage to Andrew {ear plugs for his snoring; pumice stone to massage his feet and dental floss because flossing is non-negotiable living in the home of a dentist}. Andrew also received a few items to make the transition to a married man a little smoother {orange vest so Leah doesn't mistake him for a deer when hunting and book of coupons because his life is about to get much more expensive}.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHy_h6B3sHIIeYx0rgxUK7UtIDZZDZIccscxcllw4Qa2N20-eB4JNt0IL5qB2Iy4khzp9D4PVC-iXXVk3kDoVvRJWTNRP8n-Pu8U0hioxEgCBurCGvV7LoMWJc6pApbITWVMPO0sBHNR0L/s1600/IMG_0790.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHy_h6B3sHIIeYx0rgxUK7UtIDZZDZIccscxcllw4Qa2N20-eB4JNt0IL5qB2Iy4khzp9D4PVC-iXXVk3kDoVvRJWTNRP8n-Pu8U0hioxEgCBurCGvV7LoMWJc6pApbITWVMPO0sBHNR0L/s320/IMG_0790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555087619634437682" border="0" /></a><br />His last line of the toast summed up perfected what we wish on these two: <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"May the most you ever hope for or dream of be the least you ever get."</span>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-49591528916679809292010-12-24T19:24:00.000-08:002010-12-24T19:27:53.580-08:00Merry Christmas!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-zGqo3wOsgdWkk7YwJ4CHL7Qs9zS54iBwDczIwFBVN3rdi11hGzeHPzWZOK3M-gBMw8Hc8lWNgXtHfumG9AHKXXyrWSVcB5yckbcGsCkZT4IidBthmrP9GtV0tTU2pwL9UnOvmsuBB7m/s1600/Christmas+F.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-zGqo3wOsgdWkk7YwJ4CHL7Qs9zS54iBwDczIwFBVN3rdi11hGzeHPzWZOK3M-gBMw8Hc8lWNgXtHfumG9AHKXXyrWSVcB5yckbcGsCkZT4IidBthmrP9GtV0tTU2pwL9UnOvmsuBB7m/s400/Christmas+F.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554456149105002514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3Y6D10chO2NhK02oLvCAiHkftwNZFvgjsZRKY-UH9pGj5IJ_kMNdeNs3K_VchQGFQ6n9THyPsmD1ST2uqu2Tx6Ekes66fiN3t1ptt4Vk3YBwgqCY-3BTa6_vw4UXpY6CPk8wlF1KJtJ9/s1600/Christmas+F.jpg"><br /></a>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-50982984282100358622010-12-10T07:44:00.000-08:002010-12-10T08:12:19.636-08:00O Christmas Tree<span style="font-size:85%;">A few weeks ago, I was browsing the internet when I came across information on the National Christmas Tree lighting. When I lived in NYC, I was never able to attend the Rockefeller Tree lighting {welcome to the world of working at a law firm}. Not that I felt left out for this, as the mass of crowds smooshed for blocks in between the buildings never really appealed to me. But when I noticed that the National Tree lighting at the Eclipse in President's Park was based on a lottery system I thought it might be worth a try. So, I entered my name not expecting much to come from it. A few days later, I received an email that I had been selected for two tickets. It was for the standing room section only {envious of those people who had reserved seating}, but Chris and I decided to brave the cold anyway.<br /><br />Although the standing room section was actually not that crowded, it did have limited views. We could see a corner of the stage, no thanks to the millions of television cameras set up on the stand in front of us. We also had a view of the upper half of the tree. Nevertheless, it really was worth going {despite the continuing frigid temps}. We listened to holiday performances by Sarah Barielles, Ingrid Michaelson, BB King {suited up in a shiny jacket}, Maroon Five, and several other nationally acclaimed performers. President Obama spoke briefly on the meaning of the season. I could see his tiny outline when I stood on my tiptoes. Then the First Family "lit" the 40foot tree, and the First Lady read The Night Before Christmas {she actually skipped a few pages then had to go back to read those so it turned out to be a bit of a disaster for her, although she recovered nicely}. Mrs. America led a group sing-along {at this point, we began to make our exit}. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Waiting for the action to start. That's the National Menorah directly behind us. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUjz0FhBzZVTWp25mJzx_UJVhXzTBoqOz6c4gqrdKp19QHAoECmCsBCMa-dxGpGsURYEp_y7l3OxDM_CFpQhofVAzjH5n-wfvdIzCHtS27PE5-ZlrAp0nO_8FNLkjfuKl2BiK2I4_VTqc/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUjz0FhBzZVTWp25mJzx_UJVhXzTBoqOz6c4gqrdKp19QHAoECmCsBCMa-dxGpGsURYEp_y7l3OxDM_CFpQhofVAzjH5n-wfvdIzCHtS27PE5-ZlrAp0nO_8FNLkjfuKl2BiK2I4_VTqc/s320/IMG_1940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549085239970679714" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">The tip of the tree is to Chris's right. It looks small in this picture but actually is about 40 feet. Below the one of Chris waiting excitedly for Mr. President, is a quick pic I snapped of the lit tree as we were leaving {on my point and shot so not the best quality}. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2LKDTIPiXxBVZujXdUBmGVlUF-ZhrUG5AxF6U3-_ljAzT5FHaccfZjhzigdufYfyQRNXxYtF-LNddX459x1q2m1DVBzbZEiRJe5NdvmqX09-KIF0rSs6rIdExkkhfxYGZGkVOKqUjgoD/s1600/IMG_1939.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2LKDTIPiXxBVZujXdUBmGVlUF-ZhrUG5AxF6U3-_ljAzT5FHaccfZjhzigdufYfyQRNXxYtF-LNddX459x1q2m1DVBzbZEiRJe5NdvmqX09-KIF0rSs6rIdExkkhfxYGZGkVOKqUjgoD/s320/IMG_1939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549085237758696002" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gcRxtUD5uIgl098kRq80tlqXoAeBsBzVN_V6f4I5Gc5emtKHH7ojTpkqT79vduzIBrRNwcAjJ_rFfQgT-McqeFHzdMg_Rx4aj5nmG8mLwCdc4oF2kYaZxBPkX71KhaPZ85iO8F8-fCdp/s1600/IMG_1945.JPG"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></span><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-wDq1KK9sKR0uUAGmF5LkSuitKATIPKFXPhbDfQf43jE4lFfPzHTbTUZJPOYU8CYQJEr-GaNeeIqgnnkgYg9zvWEGdvQ5l9ajK8mTARItPh9Ju58rDoOjAWpNuiwLodYO9eCFzxd_vnt/s1600/IMG_1945.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-wDq1KK9sKR0uUAGmF5LkSuitKATIPKFXPhbDfQf43jE4lFfPzHTbTUZJPOYU8CYQJEr-GaNeeIqgnnkgYg9zvWEGdvQ5l9ajK8mTARItPh9Ju58rDoOjAWpNuiwLodYO9eCFzxd_vnt/s320/IMG_1945.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549087055757796194" border="0" /></a>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-3824867805575381482010-12-10T07:06:00.000-08:002010-12-10T07:44:06.870-08:00More VisitorsMy little {6'1" tall} brother was just hired on to a company located in a small Pennsylvania town {well, the company isn't exactly located there, just the branch that he will work out of}. So, Garrett and my mom decided to make a trip up this direction for a bit of apartment/house searching for him, since he'll be moving up come January. They flew into DC, spent a night with us {me really, since Chris was working that night}, then took my car for a few days northward. They came back {and returned the car in one piece!} Friday evening and stayed through the weekend.<br /><br />We explored Old Town in Alexandria, walked miles around DC {literally miles}, made a cupcake stop at Lavender Moon, saw a Da Vinci at the National Gallery, ate good food, toured the National Cathedral, made a quick trip from the National Archives {debate is still on regarding whether we saw the REAL Constitution or just a copy of it} stopped in the Air and Space Museum, ate more good food, waited for Georgetown Cupcakes, and shopped in Tyson's Corner. And we did all this in FREEZING temperatures. Literally freezing. Hence why we opted out of Arlington Cemetry on Sunday and went shopping with all of the other hundreds of holiday shoppers at an inside mall. With the wind gusts, the temperatures haven't risen above the high 30s for the past week. Thank goodness for down jackets.<br /><br />Umm, check out our hair. No lie it was windy! Mom, me and G in front of the Capitol, attempting to savor the last bits of our cozy, warm Starbucks drinks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimK6nvRXVMxWPpwpnHu181NpdXEha22-J_O6cqPOHaI06HUKJfaTTCY76SgmVO19UInaYSLDuemAhtO6KSAbc2ib7BDoDgwnBHS3L_JzItFcyXAMgz0omO_x9qKWwxGgkCMLLQ9FMcAAIf/s1600/IMG_1932.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimK6nvRXVMxWPpwpnHu181NpdXEha22-J_O6cqPOHaI06HUKJfaTTCY76SgmVO19UInaYSLDuemAhtO6KSAbc2ib7BDoDgwnBHS3L_JzItFcyXAMgz0omO_x9qKWwxGgkCMLLQ9FMcAAIf/s320/IMG_1932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549072310040361426" border="0" /></a><br />Chris and I in the rotunda of the National Gallery. The massive fountain welcoming incoming visitors just inside the main entrance was festively decorated with bright poinsettias and plants. Of course, the main draw is not the holiday decor but the impressive paintings, sculptures, and sketches that it houses. We strolled around for a bit, making a point to view the only Da Vinci painting in the United States, although one could easily spend an entire day in this building.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF47LO9HIbdH5RG9qtYk3xw-_jWXiYQGa45QS2W6ZDF_ndKWzZTySe3aWpvauST4fNSZ_kJTQ9UqUrAzYZJib3mDn3YhxFr9_Xgq5r1Aur4QntFV-WBDqVAqhVsoCNxWuSr8hodCdquw2/s1600/IMG_1928.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF47LO9HIbdH5RG9qtYk3xw-_jWXiYQGa45QS2W6ZDF_ndKWzZTySe3aWpvauST4fNSZ_kJTQ9UqUrAzYZJib3mDn3YhxFr9_Xgq5r1Aur4QntFV-WBDqVAqhVsoCNxWuSr8hodCdquw2/s320/IMG_1928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549072951407046258" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dayKK8Psg60sHuJ4idktphOWcCNEs7ABz_GPn03IVCst0BA6qh7csD1svFVJ-PAkPe1kt46tvh1IFYXhG9NACGmAcbPJQUs3XK2x6T8iWoi42d7KW-swR3JtPpy54o3_BH9_AV8T5QSs/s1600/IMG_1936.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dayKK8Psg60sHuJ4idktphOWcCNEs7ABz_GPn03IVCst0BA6qh7csD1svFVJ-PAkPe1kt46tvh1IFYXhG9NACGmAcbPJQUs3XK2x6T8iWoi42d7KW-swR3JtPpy54o3_BH9_AV8T5QSs/s320/IMG_1936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549075870066609074" border="0" /></a><br />Chris and I in the National Cathedral. By far, one of my favorites things to do yet in DC. We took a tour from a docent who looked like Harry Potter should at the age of 70. Seriously though, it was full of so many interesting facts about the cathedral. The cathedral is actually fairly new, with the foundation stone laid in 1907. With the completion of the west tower in 1990, it took 83 years to build. There is a former President buried in there, along with the first lady to serve as President {Woodrow Wilson's wife - interesting story to this}, Helen Keller, and many other past members of the Church.Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-16698156635166232752010-12-10T06:53:00.000-08:002010-12-10T07:06:04.757-08:00NovemberOops! We skipped a whole month with no updates. Part of that is because life has been busy. But mostly, life has just been. And when life just is, there isn't always much to share. <br /><br />For the most part, it has been a quiet month. Chris started a night schedule, so there has been a bit of adjusting to that for him {and me}. We celebrated our first Thanksgiving together. It was a bit unconventional with Chris' schedule {he went into work that night}, but we cooked a turkey with all the trimmings {well, mashed potatoes, green beans and corn, so maybe not ALL the trimmings}. We watched the Aggies beat the Longhorns {whoop!!}. To mess up his schedule a bit more, Chris flew to Texas for a weekend for a bachelor party {and I spent a weekend shopping!}. <br /><br />That about sums up our November. More to come for December...Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-15570678751714339092010-10-26T13:08:00.000-07:002010-10-26T13:45:48.061-07:00First ER TripI feel compelled to tell everyone a story about a Tim Taylor Home Improvement moment we had in our apartment not too long ago.<br /><br />Lyndsey and I had fallen asleep watching Public Enemy on the couch on a Thursday night at about 10, the way it seems most married couples spend early weekend nights off. We woke up and decided to go to bed. I stumble into the bedroom to turn on our tower fan on the floor, which sits just below a shelf that's mounted right at forehead level on the wall (of course, any higher so that I could walk under it would just be too high and would look strange and tacky, according to the Mrs.). I turn it on, and stand up quick. A little too quick apparently. I hit my head so hard right on the sweet spot that I knocked myself out temporarily. As a testament to my handyman skills, the shelf did not budge one centimeter.<br /><br />My next recollection is looking down at my hands as I wake up dazed laying on my stomach on our bed with blood all around me. Lyndsey said she had called me, and I didn't respond. Her first reaction to seeing her new husband face down on the bed bleeding, squirming, and completely unresponsive was to pull the new, expensive comforter down so I didn't ruin it (that's my girl!). Then, she threw a towel at me and told me to clean it up. Truly the perfect Army wife!<br /><br />I stand up with a feeling I haven't felt since IED number 6 in Iraq, the feeling of having my bell rung in a total daze. Lyndsey dresses me and we take our first trip to the Ft. Belvoir ER.<br /><br />We arrive at about 1 am. There are two other people in front of us; a screaming child and a lady who apparently ran out of a prescription medication and needed a refill. Despite this, we waited over an hour, which sadly is probably more efficient than most Army hospitals. We are finally seen by a nurse who asks me such questions as "where does it hurt", "why are you bleeding", and "do you have a headache now". The doctor comes in and diagnoses me with a concussion, and offers to give me a shot to help me sleep that night. The nurse brings out the needle, and it's massive (Lyndsey would probably disagree, but she's not writing this story). She says my only choices are my butt or my femoral artery on my thigh. Lyndsey still laughs that I had to think about it. In my defense, I wasn't thinking too clearly, and I think I saw two needles at the time.<br /><br />I get the shot, we drive home, and go to bed. One interesting fact we learned from all this that we probably would not have learned otherwise is that corner guards for shelves are only sold at baby stores (I stopped asking after the Bed Bath and Beyond and Home Depot both referred us to Baby's'R'Us) and are apparently not marketed for grown-ups. Of course, I never mentioned the fact that it was for me to the salespeople, and that I hit my head on a shelf that I had installed.<br /><br />In the end, the comforter was okay, we had an excuse to buy those new 500 thread count sheets we'd been eyeing, and I've regained some of my sanity. Between the two of us in our first 8 weeks of marriage, there has been 1 concussion, 3 cuts and burns in the kitchen, and approximately 6 broken glasses (approximately because I said one of them was still good!). It's true what they say: you really can do more with that special someone in your life than you ever could or would alone, as we have just proven. I just know our kids are going to be truly special one day!Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-78567447935330795452010-10-17T20:14:00.000-07:002010-12-10T06:52:49.459-08:00Fall ColorsThis past weekend, we took a quick roadtrip to visit some of my {Lyndsey} family in Pennsylvania. Because I am now working, we left late afternoon on Friday - right as everyone else was leaving the city {two hours later, we were out of city traffic!}. My uncle lives in State College and my grandparents had driven up from Texas to visit him. <br /><br />On Saturday morning, we went with my grandparents to an apple orchard/pumpkin patch. It was a beautiful {very windy} fall day, accented further by the bright reds, yellows, and oranges of the Pennsylvania trees. As Texans who had never really experienced "fall" in the countryside, we were in awe at the rich hues! After selecting pounds of apples {we opted to pick them from the pre-picked barrels, not the trees}, tasting numerous samples, and venturing through a real pumpkin patch {first time to actually see pumpkins growing on its vine}, we went back to my uncle's house. We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting, touring Penn State, and eating delicious home-cooked food.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UmyGZLmyEbT3AyiPYfKwQnnDFZYBaZwrwx4W5RTy5lNI8H5GQS17iur8KAGgr2U7TdAxjFyEFKRvVIpA279aSqRKsBbCtS_TdNDDm39f6UOkntfrUTDyMvmqlC1VG-yppgM9h2_OFWO5/s1600/IMG_1876.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UmyGZLmyEbT3AyiPYfKwQnnDFZYBaZwrwx4W5RTy5lNI8H5GQS17iur8KAGgr2U7TdAxjFyEFKRvVIpA279aSqRKsBbCtS_TdNDDm39f6UOkntfrUTDyMvmqlC1VG-yppgM9h2_OFWO5/s320/IMG_1876.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529222505158364434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBPl5LT5xs7xJbvKPaDmxGBz8oZxpgEkloHea98grXFIx1BVm0upFKBPM_glNHZyLz4HcqjLqLKIYCUealep9whjNlraHAdWmzc0v5bV0uYZtkivSb0LMGZ3Xuz3XIT8EuPldgO8ptSiO/s1600/IMG_1907.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBPl5LT5xs7xJbvKPaDmxGBz8oZxpgEkloHea98grXFIx1BVm0upFKBPM_glNHZyLz4HcqjLqLKIYCUealep9whjNlraHAdWmzc0v5bV0uYZtkivSb0LMGZ3Xuz3XIT8EuPldgO8ptSiO/s320/IMG_1907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529222544190730770" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cXn0UUQgZIomrgKgyaFcACm1sCgACpIokdmJjbwdXvgOMZk0CkVUu36gw5nq-_yXU1nlrQuWlMJ9UaJ75ih0qq3zHayDNuqCcfvtAAlBWB3F6YoybwTB4xHW6IpL287jz_AnaLfA_DGv/s1600/IMG_1894.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cXn0UUQgZIomrgKgyaFcACm1sCgACpIokdmJjbwdXvgOMZk0CkVUu36gw5nq-_yXU1nlrQuWlMJ9UaJ75ih0qq3zHayDNuqCcfvtAAlBWB3F6YoybwTB4xHW6IpL287jz_AnaLfA_DGv/s320/IMG_1894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529222530909033170" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RbMVCHzTV-63klnF9pPvwo6DfTrgdUx31u8JEfFHpjVEpZhb2dusorzXAXKR0Czlh9mC2n2akhKxMLhNI5GI3nOh1TdUGc7Gh9vKSW2ukyc77huIM3nZCwA4_RSzjxpleVm4nGrjFN_D/s1600/IMG_1886.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RbMVCHzTV-63klnF9pPvwo6DfTrgdUx31u8JEfFHpjVEpZhb2dusorzXAXKR0Czlh9mC2n2akhKxMLhNI5GI3nOh1TdUGc7Gh9vKSW2ukyc77huIM3nZCwA4_RSzjxpleVm4nGrjFN_D/s320/IMG_1886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529222522456034562" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQp-VeYSoLq1iWrq237z9PcLp9x5iCXubpA6EIrMkJliPswSm8l4MTlP9qvXeYlTMiLBPpDP0Qck6JxtHAFwzwxg5xPw5hnTV-0pKgWqG5_ED49847O6MCFm5MFBdGtuJIuP8cdon0prHl/s1600/IMG_1873.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQp-VeYSoLq1iWrq237z9PcLp9x5iCXubpA6EIrMkJliPswSm8l4MTlP9qvXeYlTMiLBPpDP0Qck6JxtHAFwzwxg5xPw5hnTV-0pKgWqG5_ED49847O6MCFm5MFBdGtuJIuP8cdon0prHl/s320/IMG_1873.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529222492627240514" border="0" /></a>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-87915147811728638582010-10-17T19:07:00.000-07:002010-10-17T19:46:13.436-07:00First GuestsChris' sister, Jenni, and her boyfriend, Dave, came up from Texas to visit us for the weekend {first visitors!}. We spent most of the weekend as tourists, starting with a Capitol tour on Saturday and ending with a walk down the Mall to the Lincoln Memorial. After church on Sunday, we went to Arlington Cemetery {touching and overwhelming experience}. Jenni and Dave were more ambitious than Chris and I, trekking up to the National Cathedral after the cemetery and then waking up with the sun on Monday to see the sunrise over the Mall.<br /><br />On Saturday, we had lunch in the Eastern Market {one of my favorite places!}.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgpHJjkpVX5C_b7_rvqvCe-z1be3NWlLXDOdkBwmqdBOliyIBZQFMnE8JKNrYkMHfAL6cw4BAYQ0UWbbOA-1cGYAIEh5M20tNvfwelynqZ0du9c6uxbmXzd9bGMYNH2O6xH9HC-3AwMci/s1600/IMG_0545.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgpHJjkpVX5C_b7_rvqvCe-z1be3NWlLXDOdkBwmqdBOliyIBZQFMnE8JKNrYkMHfAL6cw4BAYQ0UWbbOA-1cGYAIEh5M20tNvfwelynqZ0du9c6uxbmXzd9bGMYNH2O6xH9HC-3AwMci/s320/IMG_0545.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529207331704596338" border="0" /></a><br />View of the Mall from the Capitol. We spent the afternoon walking from this point to the far end where the Lincoln Memorial, Korean Memorial and Vietnam Memorial are located. <br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84Q0odXVoOcsfAwFaj49ZXvNZEhQoTpcHnNM6DjY-0IYtfWfiAD6Ff0LlI1Vj54-vw69ZqOSl9_rCQ67jcYL3McVg6r2Uc0YBKpwbHWfGQN4RbqN7WyO7SyLJNonQ3Rho_fqPc6msnjPq/s1600/IMG_0576.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84Q0odXVoOcsfAwFaj49ZXvNZEhQoTpcHnNM6DjY-0IYtfWfiAD6Ff0LlI1Vj54-vw69ZqOSl9_rCQ67jcYL3McVg6r2Uc0YBKpwbHWfGQN4RbqN7WyO7SyLJNonQ3Rho_fqPc6msnjPq/s320/IMG_0576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529204760262071442" border="0" /></a><br />Chris and I at Arlington Cemetery. We're standing of front of the Robert E. Lee house {aside -- did you know that Robert E. Lee was distantly related to George Washington?}, which sits on a hill overlooking Washington DC. In the far distance, you can actually see the Capitol and the Washington Monument.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aA8Vum98Px15aCLODU-9wqLqeOc99l1Z1fJ4vCdYDYZN2J-vTmOfTs5jFRPPvMaGTcCJaLGn_g4QJU8qRddSAXZtzfTCGxginuFqT2KMJHmGiWsRlzF4E50F3XRBwaZJH9uckJTjD0NC/s1600/IMG_0649.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aA8Vum98Px15aCLODU-9wqLqeOc99l1Z1fJ4vCdYDYZN2J-vTmOfTs5jFRPPvMaGTcCJaLGn_g4QJU8qRddSAXZtzfTCGxginuFqT2KMJHmGiWsRlzF4E50F3XRBwaZJH9uckJTjD0NC/s320/IMG_0649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529207351691434018" border="0" /></a><br />So many graves. One cannot go here and not be moved by how many have come before us, believing in a greater cause, served this country.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWwGsU_oSmJJ6NPJdQIczVM9zJ4NZu_sRn4Y72brHdnuzJetMxcRbsZaH_K9kLd_rnfu8xpQ_u0mqn9tbcilHRU1wSv6ZXaJC6TXj7M6V9kVpOdtUWyvum9TnedD2wap3BQrZAfALWjIG/s1600/IMG_0625.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWwGsU_oSmJJ6NPJdQIczVM9zJ4NZu_sRn4Y72brHdnuzJetMxcRbsZaH_K9kLd_rnfu8xpQ_u0mqn9tbcilHRU1wSv6ZXaJC6TXj7M6V9kVpOdtUWyvum9TnedD2wap3BQrZAfALWjIG/s320/IMG_0625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529207340216878882" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupM9jk0e6IKCYt_wUDr7w4FPBbu4u6lxTQ-Oy_tdhfDyraCf_kqll3HR-cNiQ0inM3-lWH4sugCOr_-CdpN8JZzc0vKqV6Cnv8FwH453g_7WFy9Sa_bHghfYYyw4MiUGsjnxvDo7CVQRE/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupM9jk0e6IKCYt_wUDr7w4FPBbu4u6lxTQ-Oy_tdhfDyraCf_kqll3HR-cNiQ0inM3-lWH4sugCOr_-CdpN8JZzc0vKqV6Cnv8FwH453g_7WFy9Sa_bHghfYYyw4MiUGsjnxvDo7CVQRE/s320/IMG_0642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529209458725813058" border="0" /></a>Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350175050962308573.post-26193681757456032732010-09-19T18:33:00.001-07:002010-09-19T20:19:05.013-07:00Tourists<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXSEvAvaf-uAijYclpLeVaOXZpmkfnlbcgYosmCAJvvv-TtM_V1YhyphenhyphenZ8WX_UrUs867CQJwe3qVN15HPOqMO27PojMSYKHSR1tPHrSI7ehpgYBBO5BOx-OL4lGewE-H9Tr6koTQn_BvEoP/s1600/IMG_0516.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXSEvAvaf-uAijYclpLeVaOXZpmkfnlbcgYosmCAJvvv-TtM_V1YhyphenhyphenZ8WX_UrUs867CQJwe3qVN15HPOqMO27PojMSYKHSR1tPHrSI7ehpgYBBO5BOx-OL4lGewE-H9Tr6koTQn_BvEoP/s320/IMG_0516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518829889043475154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpv5c-faNSOgea9gi7K1Gf8BxSId94odZpXvMIvU6AlZ6y4A282LtHHjJWuNpBlhyFaTAG_lsr9j-AkeFFR2QbDOo7iyGEx5wZ-gbgAfaIVGk-9r6tc7VBMiLicH33uLbDta4oJ8Swwq7/s1600/IMG_0509.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpv5c-faNSOgea9gi7K1Gf8BxSId94odZpXvMIvU6AlZ6y4A282LtHHjJWuNpBlhyFaTAG_lsr9j-AkeFFR2QbDOo7iyGEx5wZ-gbgAfaIVGk-9r6tc7VBMiLicH33uLbDta4oJ8Swwq7/s320/IMG_0509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518828187722853362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our plan was to spend an hour or so browsing through Eastern Market {for the Mrs.} and then usher in Oktoberfest at a beer garden in NE {for the Mr.}. Somehow, between here and there, we ended up on a tour of the Capitol.Markoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03382690648312326007noreply@blogger.com0