babes on bikes
happy to stumble on a fine group of ladies who ride on my schedule. have taken two rides so far, both to the bakery in herndon that gives out free slices, and felt welcome and fit each time. look forward to staying in shape this summer with regular riding buddies.

virginia in virginia
always wonderful getting together with ginny. had been a while since my trip to georgia. great how we can pick up like it has only been a week or so. met her at union station, rented a bike for her at bike the sites and then dropped her bags in arlington. had several delicious meals at the indian museum cafe - even tried a fiddlehead fern salad - and saw the end of the blossoms at the tidal basin. big storm blew them all away and then snow flurries hit. spent a fun evening with grace, filled with egg hunts and giggling. explored the national portrait gallery and museum of american art. very informative to amble around there with an artist. biked downtown one day for a total of 30 miles. way to go ginny! hit the arboretum - magnolias not as magnificent this time, but fern valley filled my card.

easter
colored eggs with leah, just like old times. had some super fresh-tasting jelly beans the next day.

post office
found out it's harder to get stamps for a package than I thought.

mom solo
had a fun visit with mom, who I'm proud to say found my new house all by herself (with the longest mommaquest directions ever). we went to the arboretum to see the stunning magnolia trees. I liked the floppy ones best. then we experienced traffic like locals because I don't factor rush hour into my plans. quesadillas and stuffed peppers were good fare. met up with matt and the boys at the smithsonian stopped and walked and walked and walked all over downtown. took in the view at the post office tower, too.

'yardening'
fun watching flowers pop up in the yard, not knowing what would show up next and what color it would be. so far, we've had red tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, a flowering tree and now red and white azalea bushes are starting to bloom out front.

julia campbell
I didn't know this journalist turned peace corps volunteer that was found in a shallow grave in the philippines this month. her blog is good window on her life though.

vonnegut
flew the coop. shame. I just finished listening to "a man without a country" (2005) and am about a quarter into reading "hocus pocus" (1991)