Thursday, May 16, 2013

Day in the Life

I missed the boat yesterday with all the “day in the life” posts from Jenni’s #BlogEveryDayInMay challenge, but I really wanted to take the day, one month after the Boston Marathon, to talk about running. Also, since I have a few new readers hopping over from Cornflake Dreams, where I’m guest posting about a possible honeymoon destination, today seemed like a perfect opportunity to take you through the routines of a Washingtonian!

Of course, I’m not every Washingtonian. We’ve all got our own things going on, which is what makes this city so awesome. My daily schedule is directed by Charlie, my fully-grown black lab puppy; my day job as an arts fundraiser downtown; and navigating a five-hour time difference between DC and London, where my English fiancé lives. Unless I’ve got a doppelgänger wandering around town, I imagine it all makes for a unique day – so want to come along?


5:30am – Charlie wakes me up by stretching and yawning really loudly next to my bed. If I don’t respond, he puts his face next to mine on the bed and whines softly. If I still don’t respond, he thinks it’s because my ears are dirty, so he licks them invasively until I sit up.

5:30-8:30am – After I pull myself out of bed, we go outside for a quick pee and a nose around the bushes in front of our building. I’m not quite decently dressed when this happens so I make sure we’re out and back in as fast as possible and then I make coffee, give Charlie his breakfast, and catch up on personal emails, Twitter, and Facebook until Charlie decides it’s time to go out for real. We walk to the local dog park, and, ideally, Charlie plays with his friends for about 20 minutes, which is just enough time to wear him out so that he’ll nap until the walker comes around noon. (He’s been playing a bit too aggressively recently; when that happens we leave the dog park earlier and extend our walk instead.) Once we get back home, I eat breakfast over my laptop, Charlie at my feet under the table, and visit blogland briefly. And, at some point during this time, I get my first "morning, baby!" text of the day from Jon.

When I lived in suburbia, it would take me nearly an hour (and $3.55 each way) to commute when you included walking to/from the Metro. Now that I’m in my new apartment, it takes 30 minutes (and $1.60 each way) by walking and hopping on the bus. It’s so much more pleasant!

9:00-5:00 – My day isn't generally a strict 9-5 but, assuming I don’t have an evening event for work, I pack up when I've crosssed everything off my to-do list and head home to Charlie.

5:30-9:00 – Like twelve hours earlier, Charlie and I fight for control of this window of time. He usually wins; we head out immediately for a short walk and then I try to keep him entertained while Skyping with Jon. This means that I end up having my one real conversation of the day with my fiancé on the floor, and it’s punctuated by squeaks from Charlie’s toy when I play with him and growls from Charlie himself when I don’t. (Poor Jon!) When Jon has to go to bed or Charlie gets to be too demanding – whichever comes first – I sign off, change into my running clothes, and clip on Charlie’s leash. We either do a few loops around the neighborhood or make our way into Rock Creek Park and are out for about an hour. When we get back home, Charlie gets his dinner and then passes out on his bed, finally giving me time to make my own dinner, which, again, I eat over my laptop. I usually keep the TV off unless there’s something specific I want to watch, but I am glued to the internet. I catch up on any old shows I may have missed, read and comment on my favorite blogs, and work on my post for the next day. By 9pm, I’m exhausted.

9:00-10:30 – Since I’ve gone for a run earlier in the evening, I jump into the shower before going to sleep. Charlie and I go out for a final pee, and then he jumps onto the bed as I putter around, cleaning up from dinner and turning off all the lights. I hop into bed if Charlie’s left me enough room and deal with any wedding details that have come up throughout the day – entering RSVPs into our spreadsheet, writing thank-you notes, and researching readings for the ceremony – but try to turn off my computer at least 30 minutes before I go to sleep. Hopefully I have time to flip through a magazine before fading away and finally turning off the light! I’m one of those 8-hours-a-night kinds of girls, so the earlier the better, really…

all photos from Instagram

30 comments:

  1. Your day is busy! Charlie is lucky to have you :) I just saw a picture of a plane landing in Gibraltar and apparently it lands in a street, which looked so cool!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love this so much! These posts are so fun. I have been wanting to do one of my own, so I think I'm going to add that to the blogging idea list for next week. Learning more about your day makes me feel like we live in the same city + I love it. xo!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this! I'm kinda (like mostly dreaming but semi-actually) thinking about getting a pup when I get to NOLA. Since I'm going to live on my own, and I'll have zero friends when I arrive I need someone to keep me company right? But after reading this I'm seriously questioning the amount of time it takes!


    A cat may be easier at this point. But pups are just more fun :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. haha yes it does sound busy - now I don't feel like I need to apologize for wanting to go to bed early :P and Jon told me that Gibraltar is so small that its one big road IS the runway for the airport!

    ReplyDelete
  5. cats are definitely easier, but I think there's nothing like a dog for companionship! that being said, they are a LOT of work and demand tons of time. maybe you could look into getting an older dog (7-10 years old)? they have less energy and so are easier to care for but have just as much love to give :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. oh yes do! it's such a fun way to get a glimpse into someone else's life :) can't wait to read yours!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I find these posts fascinating. Thanks for sharing! Maybe I'll try to do one of my own one day :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. If you are going for finest contents like me, simply pay a visit this website
    daily since it provides feature contents, thanks

    my web site - weight loss tips for fighters

    ReplyDelete
  9. So I supposed to sprint across lawn in direction of residence to have
    to the damn toilet? Or immerse myself in mother
    nature each and every time?

    My web page arrow vinyl sheds reviews

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love seeing how everyone spends their days! So interesting, right? By the way...do us readers know what museum you work for or just that it's a museum? Happy to respect in either direction, just wasn't sure if I started reading later than the announcement...

    ReplyDelete
  11. haha yes it's like we're giving each other excuses to be voyeurs :P and no, I haven't said specifically - I'm a woman of mystery!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Do you have any video of that? I'd want to find out some additional information.

    Take a look at my web blog: http://atlaslm.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've been thinking about doing this blog post too, especially to give a glimpse into the "work from home" life I am leading. Wow, 5:30am sounds sooo early. I'm a 7:30am - midnight kind of gal. Anyway, I'll link back to this post once I get around to writing my own!

    ReplyDelete
  14. IT IS SO EARLY! there's no reason to wake up at 5:30 - Charlie didn't used to, before we moved, so I'm trying to figure out how to snap him out of it. I'm actually doing a whole post next week (I think? don't have my calendar with me!) on how he's adjusting to the new apartment, so more soon :) looking forward to seeing yours!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I missed "day in the life" too and I'm absolutely obsessed with these posts!

    Whenever I walk the dogs in the morning, I look terrifying. Sweatpants, braless, white zit cream covering my face - I'm sure people think I'm insane.

    ReplyDelete
  16. haha you should do one! I actually totally stressed about the format to use but ended up having fun :)


    luckily, no one else in my area is awake at 5:30am to see me... haha

    ReplyDelete
  17. Charlie is sooo lucky to have you! Sounds (reads) like a busy day but one that you enjoy and that works for you. Also, your dinner looks delicious (which sounds weirdly creepy to type).

    ReplyDelete
  18. Gibraltar's runway is perpendicular to the main/only road onto the rock, so you actually walk or drive across it after you go through passport control! They have to shut down the road for planes to land, though. It's interesting... and very little else is on Gibraltar. :/

    ReplyDelete
  19. I read this right before I realized I had to 10 minutes before we had to get to swimming... so apparently I never commented!

    But I so wish we had a dogpark. And I wish I was a morning person, since whenever I make myself function early I feel like a freakin' superstar. When the pets and I stayed with a friend of mine in Hoboken for 5 days on our way to England I got to experience the whole "first pee" walk... that was interesting. I rocked pajamas and a coat (it was November) and that seemed to be a popular uniform with the other early walkers, so I didn't feel embarrassed after the first day!

    Your day sounds perfect, though... except for the whole Skyping thing. Fast forward a year! Have Jon here!

    ReplyDelete
  20. If we act on it as well as the advices of authorities than we
    can be wholesome.

    Here is my weblog ... how can i build muscle fast without weights

    ReplyDelete
  21. I bought an Arrow shed in September and it
    just collaped under a really small amount of snow. Do you sell replacement parts, like
    an entire roof.

    Also visit my homepage arrow sheds ga1017

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love these kinds of posts! I was meaning to do it, but forgot to get pictures... doh! I only lived by myself (but not really, I had a roommate) for the few months while Nick lived in Houston, so I wonder what it would be like. I wish Anabelle was more into running!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Brooke @ WhoMovedMyCheesecake?May 19, 2013 at 2:22 PM

    I had to some check things out after our talk last night. :) It was so nice to meet you! LOVE your dress and boots in that picture near the top. Also, I really would love to come "rent a homeless pooch" and take that run with you and Charlie. I'm sure we can talk Tina into it as well! Hope you got the car back on time last night!



    ~Brooke

    ReplyDelete
  24. I like your day! It's really fun to see how different DC life is for different people. I always felt a bit out of the loop having moved here for a reason other than politics, and it's good to be reminded of how many various things go on in this city. If I worked downtown I would totally be tempted by all of the food trucks...

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm lucky to have him! he's the BEST :) and girl. quinoa burgers. DE FREAKING LICIOUS!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm still trying to be more productive with my mornings... like, it would be a better use of my time to do my run at 6, since I'm up anyway. I'll work on it!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have a lot of conversations with Charlie - that's what it's like :P

    ReplyDelete
  28. HELLO NICE TO MEET YOU TOO! car success, but I was sad to leave. maybe we can catch up again before August and not wearing spandex?

    ReplyDelete
  29. so true! there's SO much going on - I'm deep in corporate DC, so even though I'm right near the White House I feel like I see more of that going on than politics. love this town :)

    ReplyDelete

I love reading your thoughts and suggestions! Please do leave a comment so we can get to know each other better.