Arrival in DC!

Hi Awesome people!

I promised myself I wouldn't write until a week after I moved to DC, just in case I hadsome other catastrophic series of events to report and require an additional week to recover in order to reply without scaring everyone. But I couldn't wait it out! so here goes!

Oh my latest article is here: the cohabitation and Chesterton thing. Just so you know, the title isn't mine. I had other plans. They were unimplemented. By-gones.
http://www.catholicregister.org/content/view/2142/857/

Well the move was quick. Very quick. I arrived and got to the girls' house. It was lovely! I spent the next couple of days sight seeing and setting up apartment appointments.

I spent Tuesday walking about talking to different people about the work visa, and following up on it. Visted a place, but it is too sprawled out and far over there to justify living there. Time and money spent on commuting is just not worth it, despite a very nice place found, with some kindred spirits who reminded me of Ossington. Sigh.

After much looking around, and around and finally found a nice place along the bus line, about ten minutes away from the office, walking distance if buses go haywire, with a bus stop practically outside my door. The price was right, with utilities included and a kind landlord who wants to pay for cleaning supplies. I'm very excited about that. He and I share a vision of cleanliness and that is always exciting. It's close to a supermarket, a string of really cute stores and cafes...

By the way, the metro system in DC is awesome - I love it! Very easy to understand and convenient, pretty, kind of reminds me of Hong Kong (but Hong Kong has an even better streamlined and efficient system. I don't think it has been replicated anywhere else, to be honest. It leaves Toronto and New York in the dust...) That and oh, we have the Star Ferry :P At least...since the last time I've been home they have...apparently though google tells me they've already landfilled the Star Ferry! It's so tragic. 50 years of history destroyed because some people want to build another shopping mall. It's true! "the fourth generation pier reclaimed to make way for a six-lane road and a low-rise shopping centre". GOOD GRIEF. I suppose that's another type of memory for you. HK will forever be known as that city that made consumerism its history and culture, its art form. hohum.

Oh I wandered into St Matthew's Cathedral on Wednesday (apparently that's where the Red Mass is held. That was a cool factoid.), and then I was walking along Massachusetts Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue (and somewhere along the way bumped into the white house, which is much smaller than I imagined. Still bigger than any house I'll ever live in, but much smaller all the same. Aww) and the streets reminded me remarkably of Wianfujing, in Beijing, it was kinda cool (Except without the cabbies out to kill and the suicidal cyclists)

Okay sorry, I digressed...

Have I mentioned what I'd actually be doing yet Guys? I forget, amidst all the housekeeping. Anyway, I am assisting the political director of the Susan B Anthony List, and doing political research and writing on the communications material of the list, i.e. blog, website, newsletter, pamphlets, finalizing the philosophy, background of the List (I am hoping to make some changes, not terribly drastic ones or anything...just some fine-tuning!), etc. The political director will be on maternity leave soon so I may be left alone to deal with some of her current work, so my hours may increase during the next few months. It is some crazy coincidence they have this work for me, as I originally applied to be their book keeper, I think this fits me better =)

So I'll start Monday! I'm really excited. I also love the giving nature of the city - a stranger offered me their poster of "Emma", and I am so glad, it'll make my room more homely :)

Anyway, pardon the bulletpoints, they appear as they do in my head. Lucky you huh? tehee.

Peace, and I think of you all, and await YOUR updates with much eager anticipation :) (Come on, put 'em in the Comments box if it's easier...)
Nicole

ps. apologies for length. will work on brevity