The gift that keeps on giving

No, not a fruitcake.

So, back when we lived in DC the first time (6-ish years ago) I was a struggling grad student. I worked full-time, went to school full-time, and was dating this hottie Coastie long distance. I found the "Magic Bus" shortly after I moved into Virginia. The bus stopped at several stops, then outside my apartment building. (Score!) I rode it into DC, and exited at the first stop. I then walked three blocks to work. All for $1.25 each way. It was the bargain of the century. Plus, I met my friend "Jen-from-the-bus" there. We are still friends on facebook (though I'm not sure exactly what that says).

Anyway, one day, I realized they were having a contest for people riding the bus and using public transit. All I needed to do was to write my name and contact information on the entry paper and I'd get a free busride. Yadda, yadda, yadda and they had prizes too... yadda, yadda, yadda. All I was excited about was the free busride! A fare for one way. Not a free month, not a free year. One free ride. I was very excited.

A few weeks later, for my birthday or Christmas, or something, my boyfriend (or possibly fiance by that time), bought me an iPod. I was happy - it would make the rides on the Magic Bus better when Jen-from-the-bus wasn't there. 

A few days after that, I received a call from WMATA. I was one of 6 people who had one a free iPod! Apparently they couldn't get the old model, so I got one of the first models of the iPod nano. I promptly returned whatever boyfriend had bought. He loved this. He got credit for giving me an iPod, but still didn't have to actually buy one for me! I got a new iPod. It was definitely a win-win.

Fast forward six years - my iPod is kind of old. I don't really use it any more. We have a new, snazzy iPod and an iHome to listen to it. I don't get to use my iPod like I used to... but I got an email from Apple. Apparently the battery in the first nano is defective. AND SO THEY'RE SENDING ME A NEW iPOD if I send in my old one.

So, as it turns out, this potentially new iPod has given me great happiness in many forms over several years. I got a free ride on a bus, a gift from my (now) husband, and a now new iPod. And to think, what I really was excited about was the bus fare!

pictures from a busy day out

crawling in front of the Library of Congress

happy to be with daddy

Supreme Court

Supreme Court spiral staircase

More pretty stairs in the Supreme Court

beautiful fall day

the supreme court - our first time visiting

Around Town

We had guests in town and had fun showing them DC's highlights, so here are some pictures. It was cool too, the wife of the couple visiting us was 8 days farther along in her pregnancy than me. One of the pictures is us together - at about 20 and 21 weeks respectively.

ps- I had to include that last picture just to prove the Washington Monument doesn't always have to be coming out of my head...

DC

We went to DC to scope out housing. Thank goodness we found something that we like! There were all sorts of strange houses in our price range in the area we want to be in - everything from not having a stove to smelling like curry... it was crazy!

While in DC, we went to our favorite pizza place - 2 Amy's for some DOC-certified pizza! Delicious! I've been dreaming about it ever since CO got his orders :) 2 Amy's is kind of by the National Cathedral, so we drove by there and I snapped a quick picture from the car - the cathedral is so pretty!