Leigh Kramer

Library

Hi, my name is Leigh and I'm a Bookoholic*.  I would not be here today if it were not for my friend, the library.

We've always had a grand relationship.  I remember signing up for my first library card when I was 9 years old.  We'd lived in an unincorporated town previously so I'd never been able to check books out before.  This was a brand new world!

I loved the Wheaton Public Library.  The children's section, where I began, was huge.  I devoured Ramona Quimby, horse books galore, and Nancy Drew mysteries.  In no time, I graduated to the teen section, inhaling Canby Hall, Sweet Valley High, and anything by Caroline B. Cooney I could find.

Between the library and the stellar English teachers I encountered in high school, my reading tastes grew up. I still love a good fluff book but I now appreciate well-written prose and the occasional classic.

Aside from my goal of reading 100 books this year, I've averaged 65-80 books a year the last few years.  You see, I love me a good book or three.  There's no way I could ever afford to buy all the books I want to read, which is why the library is an ideal companion.

Incidentally, WPL has been one of the top 10 libraries in the country for many years.  An enormous collection. Something for everyone. It has perhaps ruined me for all other libraries.

The library here was another adjustment. Urban libraries are different, in general.  Instead of going to the big library downtown, where there is a larger collection, I head to the branch that's several blocks from my house. Now instead of browsing the stacks, I reserve books on-line and have them sent to my local branch. It makes me glad that I've had a To Read list for so long.  I miss wandering around, looking for titles or authors I recognize.  I can still do that at the local branch but it's on a much smaller scale.  I think that WPL's new titles take up as much space as the fiction area in this local branch.  It's a new way of doing things.

And as long as they continue to feed my addiction, I'm fine with that.

*This term is not meant to be disrespectful in any way to those who deal with very real addictions.  Obsession might be a better term than addiction when it comes to my love of books.  But Book Stalker just doesn't have the same ring to it.  My apologies if Bookoholic rubs anyone the wrong way.

#1: Visit Brudder in Virginia

My brother Matt has lived in Virginia for over 3 years.  Had I ever visited him?  Well, no.  He came home a few times a year since he moved so it's not like I haven't seen him during that time.  Still, I knew if I was going to keep favorite sister status, I needed to get out there stat.  This past weekend I was able to cross off the first item I listed on 31 Things.

I flew in Friday night, which gave us enough time to wander around Borders.  I gave him some reading recommendations, most of which he ignored, but he did promise to read a couple. Success!  Saturday we headed to DC for a day o' fun.

 Doesn't Matt look happy that we're hanging out?

 

 Outside the Holocaust Museum (Crossing off #7- more to come)

 Either DC residents are used to tourists or everyone is really friendly...so many people would offer to take our picture together out of the blue

 Washington Monument

 I was mesmerized by these flags

 We may both be Southerners now but we'll always be Yankees at heart

 Some new state pride

 

 Honest Abe.  Seeing him made this former Illinoisan proud.

 

 Another memorial on the way to the White House

Barack didn't realize I was in the neighborhood or I'm sure he would have invited me in.

It was cool to see the apiaries and other changes Michelle has brought to the grounds.

 The view from Lincoln Memorial

Outside the Vietnam War Memorial

Saturday night involved fried pickles, a fine ale, and lots of food.

Sunday we went to church, ate Indian food for lunch, then chilled for awhile as I made my infamous chili.  After dinner, we watched Invictus, which I highly recommend.  We all know that Nelson Mandela is a great man but to see his brilliance, his vision coming together, watch forgiveness in action...powerful beyond words.

I left early Monday morning, navigating the train to my gate at the Dulles airport in a bleary-eyed haze.  I'm not a morning person at all.  That it allowed me to spend more time with my brudder?  Absolutely worth it.

I'm not sure Matt and I have ever spent that much one-on-one time together before.  We were not the closest of siblings growing up but the older we get, the closer we've become.  That makes me happy.  (And I'm sure our mom is elated by it!)  This weekend I shared my heart.  He shared his.  I left Virginia feeling I knew him better than before and that means #1 on my list turned out better than anything I could have planned.

DC Food

I visited my brother in DC/Virginia  over the weekend, knocking off a couple of 31 Things in the process.  I'll be writing about my trip over the next week or so but today I wanted to start with the food.  Ah, yes.  The lovely, lovely food.

A pear, spinach, and brie on raisin walnut bread sandwich, paired with a chocolate chocolate chip cookie.  I'm not typically a raisin-fan but that sandwich was inspired.

Incredibly delicious lunch at the Holocaust Museum cafe.  The museum is well-worth experiencing, as is its cafe.  (My brother thought it was strange that it would have its own cafe.  He was appeased by the fact that it's located next to the museum, not technically a part of it.)

A friend visited Mad Fox Brewing Company a month or so ago and promptly told me about the fried pickles on the menu.  I promptly told Matt that we absolutely, positively had to go there so I could experience them for myself.  Listed as "frickles" on the menu, Mad Fox makes their own pickles and cuts them into thick chips.  There appears to be a cornflake-type breading.  Then the piece de resistance- a spicy chipotle dipping sauce.  We tore through the basket in no time!

I then enjoyed a lovely grilled chicken panini (marinated chicken, oven roasted tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and a basil pesto aioli on toasted house-baked bread) and freshly cut fries.  Huge serving!  I'm impressed by how many things Mad Fox makes themselves, from ketchup to sausage. You can't go to a brewery and not sample the brew.  I settled on a pale English summer ale, which was a perfect way to cap off the day.

After church we had lunch at an Indian buffet in Ashburn.  A lovely selection and the right amount of spice.

Finally for dinner, I made Matt (and his roommates) my Illinois-famous chili.  No Krispy Kremes nearby, unfortunately, so we settled on an olive oil ciabbata as the accompaniment.

A Pumpkin Patching We Will Go!

Every auntie should experience a pumpkin patch with her niece-in-love.  And so, with Anna's parents in tow, that is just what we did!

 I love taking pictures of them walking together.  So cute!

 A friendly reminder during the wagon ride

We highly recommend Gentry's Farm in Franklin as a family-friendly pumpkin patch.  There are tons of activities for kids, a munchkin maze and a corn maze and an activity maze, goats, a wagon ride and more.  $6 admission is all it takes.  Buying pumpkins or snacks is, of course, an additional cost.  And a word to the wise...be sure to have cash or a checkbook with you; they don't accept credit cards.

Happiness

The other day I was asked about the last time I was happy.  A true moment of happiness.

I thought for a moment. We're not talking about joy, something we experience in spite of circumstances.  We're not talking about contentment, which is how I can describe most of my days. We're talking smile on our face, laugh out loud happy.

And then it came to me.

This little girl makes me happy.  When she sees me, she squeals her gibberish and stomps her feet with excitement.  With a reaction like that, I can't help but feel amazing about life!  She lets me snuggle her while watching Veggie Tales or when I read her a story.  She brings me her Pink Animal to hold for awhile- sharing at its best.  We play silly games and just have fun together.

It's hard to remember that before May, I'd only seen her a few times a year since she was born.  Now I see her a few times a week!  I'm so thankful that Tracy and Joel share their daughter with me.  They thank me when I babysit but I feel like I'm the one that gets the gift.  She's not just my best friend's daughter.  She's my niece-in-love and she loves me back.