First week as a DC resident!

So many good and fun things going on. Just to name a few....

1. Moved from home into wonderful group house in NW DC
2. Reveled in the fact that my alertness and general demeanor has improved because of a shorter commute.
   
3. Made new friends
   
4. Spent an 1.5 hrs in the grocery store going through every aisle
   
5. Cooked/baked lasagna, breakfast for one of the housemates, banana bread, cream of broccoli soup
6. Ate lots of cake and had a magnificent birthday with friends and a date
   
7. Went to Attitude Exact art gallery's 20 yr anniversary black tie celebration
8. Stood for over 3 hours with millions of others at the Inauguration Concert Sunday to witness history and proudly welcome our president-elect to his new home . Take a look at the album below.
   

Inauguration Concert "We Are One"

Cruisin' on Lake Anna

IMG_3305.jpg
Originally uploaded by andyghatch

I haven't posted in a while because I've just been busy having way too much fun! Labor Day weekend as well as last weekend was spent at Lake Anna, the Hatch/Morris family compound, with family and a great group of friends.

Thankfully, I've got a brother not only with a high tech camera, but with the skills to go with it too!

Take a look at his flickr page!

Another fun event was the 1/2 marathon I did up in Plymouth, MA about two weekends ago. Pouring rain and good company - seriously couldn't have been any better!

I have a pretty cool brother

Summit
Originally uploaded by andyghatch

Just a few weeks ago my twin brother Andy took a 3 week solo trip in South Africa. I really admire the sense of spontaneity and adventure that impelled him to go. He also has a good eye for photographic composition. Take a look at the photos and video from his trip!

Morgan's bench

At the end of my stay in San Diego, I was fortunate to get to La Jolla for a visit to Morgan's bench. Morgan is my first cousin who passed on too early and last September my Aunt Laura and her kids used donated money to install a bench overlooking the La Jolla coast, Morgan's favorite location. My friend Charissa, her brother Nate and his wife Suzanne (in picture) were very kind and generous with their time and drove me up there. The bench is located just below the Torrey Pines Gliderport where many come to para-sail of the cliffs over the ocean. The location couldn't be more beautiful.

When I first approached the bench, there was an attractive young man (about my age) sitting there studying intently his Spanish textbook (a bit serendipitous, I'd say;). I told him that he was sitting on my cousin's bench - which, thinking of it now, could have sounded a little odd. I pointed out the plaque in front of the bench and introduced myself as Morgan's cousin. To my surprise, he didn't get up and leave. It was really great though because I showed him the Tupperware box with the journal and pictures that are under the bench and he was really curious. He'd thought someone had left it there by accident. He respectively sat there and listened as I talked about my memories of Morgan, the memorial service, and comments about our family in general. He also wanted to see the pictures. We both commented on how there are benches like these all over the place but there is rarely any story provided about the person's life. He and the others walked down to the cliff so I could sit and write in the journal.

Afterwards, Nate and Suzanne (who live in the San Diego area) expressed how grateful they were to not only know of the bench but also to discover the opportunity to para-sail, something they've always wanted to do, but never knew about this site. They said they're excited to go back and also to visit the bench again. So, I'm really grateful for my Aunt Laura (Morgan's mom) and others who got this idea put into reality. I believe it is in the perfect place and very much appreciated.

Ally and Ronnie's Wedding

Ally's Wedding Week

One of my bestest friends from college Ally (whom you may remember as the one who I also visited in China a year ago) married Ron Mona this past Saturday, June 28th. I was so grateful to be able to take a whole work week and a day off last week to be there with them in sunny San Diego, Cali.

As some may know, spending the week before the wedding with the bride is never without activity and excitement. And because Ally is marrying into a Samoan family, the week felt more like a cultural exchange experience than a vacation. Here are some highlights from the week:

1. Sleeping 3 out of 7 nights on a hard floors of small rooms

2. Learning to sew on a machine in 5 minutes, falling in love with a surger sewing machine then spending at least 12 hours doing my contribution to make 40 white table cloths.

3. Wishing I could dance the Taulunga (Samoan money dance traditionally done by the bride or birthday girl)

4. Basking in the San Diego sun and swimming off the private Coronado Naval base beach (hooray for Ally's family having a discount at the Navy Lodge!)

5. Getting pampered at the spa.

6. Okay, so I'm not a big fan of Hummers destroying our environment but I had a heck of a good time riding in a limo one with 17 other people to take wedding photos at Balboa Park.

7. Feeling 12 again and giggling with 6 girlfriends into the wee hours of the morning every night of the week.

Turtle wurtle