Birthday BBQ

Last weekend I turned 22. I've always felt that September was not a great time for having a birthday since its usually when the school year starts and people are moving around and settling in. This year I decided to keep it low-key and have a BBQ since there are two grills sitting around unused at my house. Despite throwing everything together last-minute the evening went really well.

The weather is finally cooling off and was perfect for sitting outside. I have spent the past few weeks gradually fixing up the deck and it looked really great. We did have a minor interruption when it started raining an hour in, but fortunately it stopped and we were able to go back outside. I don't really know much about grilling so I consider it a minor miracle we were able to get the coals lit and managed to avoid burning any of the  burgers.

Laney's Visit

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to be visited by my younger sister Helena. She flew all the way out from California to spend some time in DC before she goes back to Davis for the start of the school year. We got started right away with some museum going and a tour of the Capitol Building.

All the tour guides talk to you through these headphones so despite all the groups it is eerily quiet if you take them off

It rained all day Saturday but we did manage to make it to the local Farmer's Market and a neighborhood block party between the showers.

 

Mt Pleasant Farmer's Market

Helena bought me some of these beautiful flowers

Dinner at the Marx Cafe in Mt Pleasant

 I live very close the the National Zoo so we spent most of Sunday afternoon there

Which was good because Laney loves primates...

...she REALLY loves primates

Future primatologist

We also made it out to a tour of the monuments by night. We had a very enthusiastic and informed tour guide and got to see the monuments lit up at night. We also discovered that contrary to our belief, the Washington Monument was not built in the 20th century but was actually started in the 18th. I'm not sure why we both shared this misconception, maybe because it is so minimal and modern-looking but clearly we both left the tour a little better educated!

Thanks for coming to see me sister!