Fare thee well, Blackberry

Friday night I did a stupid thing. I got pickpocketed in the most classic and preventable situation ever.

It was the day of the long awaited Dave Matthews Band concert at Nationals Park. One of my best friends in TFA lives in a high rise right next to the stadium. He invited all of us over for a pre-concert bbq on his roof. Beer and burgers flowed freely, and my friends and I spent most of the afternoon in the pool tossing a nerf football and working on our tans. Multiple points in the afternoon I announced that this was the best day of my life. Perhaps melodramatic (is anyone surprised?) but it was a truly carefree, wonderful day, and I felt lucky to be in the sun in a beautiful city surrounded by people I love. Before we knew it, it was 7 pm and time to cross the street to the concert. I changed and grabbed my phone, shoving it into the outside pocket of my purse. I had to meet a random person who bought an extra pair of tickets, and we were texting as I left the house to coordinate where to meet to make the trade.

Getting to the stadium was a cow herd. We've all been in that human sea, every time we enter a concert or sporting event. I didn't think much of it and was more concerned about finding this kid so I could get into the show. I got my tickets from will call and reached into my purse to text him and let him know I had tickets in hand, but alas! No phone.

You've got to be f------ kidding me!" I yelled. I'm not proud of my language, but I knew in that instant the phone was gone. Could it be back at the apartment? Did someone else take it by accident? Eh... maybe. But the sinking feeling I had in my stomach told me that I was sure it was in that side pocket. The scene was too easy for a crook- a huge crowd of people, hot and sweaty, pushing their way into the concert, everyone a few beers deep. Easy prey, child's play even! In any event, I knew I had to find a way to meet the person whose tickets I had, lest I be called a crook. I raced back to the apartment of my friend and borrowed a computer. Thankfully, emails go to phones these days and I was able to email him a meeting location and hand off the tickets.

I watched the concert rather glumly. Dave is a never-fail, but our seats were in no man's land, it was 100 degrees out even after the sun set, and all I could think about was my phone. I called mom to turn it off right away. Even though I knew it would make calling it to search for it impossible, better that than have all kinds of charges come up. You can do a lot of damage in 24 hours.

Life worked out well for me in the end- I was due for an upgrade and went the next morning. I got an iPhone, and so far I'm not sure how I feel about it. There's no doubt it's awesome. It's literally a computer, in your hands. But it's a tricky adjustment- the touch screen is hard for me to type on and I feel like I'm dropping calls left and right. Plus, I do miss my bbm. But I'm optimistic that I'll love it. It just feels like I did wrong by a nerdy, reliable boyfriend of two years. I ditched him at a concert and started dating DJ Pauly D the next day.

Peace and Love!

Ticker Tape Update

WHEW! What a way to kick off the month. The ticker tape update:

- We moved and are loving our "New Life." Living by Lincoln park in DC is so pleasant, quiet and pretty. Our home, a 1918 row house, is a gem and we're most of the way set up. I have a lovely room, backyard fit for a secret garden, and even a garage!

- Party on! 4th of July weekend was quite the show. Even though we moved on Thursday, the following Sunday we threw a birthday/housewarming/4th of July bbq that saw 25+ people in our new home and backyard. The capitol building is walking distance from our new place, so we meandered down to the steps to watch a glorious fireworks display. Best moment: Waving sparklers while singing loud rounds of the national anthem with dozens of total strangers en route to the capitol.

- Cousin Danny brought me to a Nats game. Not just any nats game. Since Dan is an Ivy grad, we got to meet Nats president Stan Kasten along with journalist Adam Rubin at a pregame meet and greet. I love baseball. I love Strasburg. I love baseball. Wait, did I say that already?

- Stacey Foster was here! I got to play hostess and tour guide with my darling college roommate and her friend from work. We did a night tour of the monuments, a day time trek around the city, and hit up 3 Smithsonians. We were dogged by day's end but very happy.

- And now, the beach. Yes, that's right- I'm in Rehoboth nannying for one of the Capitol Hill families I've been working for this summer and I'm not sure how I landed such a sweet gig. I'm in an enormous house with my own master suite, enjoying building sand castles with well-disciplined creative kids. So far I've already invented a high-five using feet and taught my little charges about rolly-polly bugs. It's going to be a great week!

peace and love.