Arlington

As I type this, I'm lying on a sectional that smells like dog. However, everything else about my life right now is pretty fantastic. For starters, for the first time in our married lives, we have enough room in our apartment for a big comfy sectional. Also, this sectional cost only 150 bucks, and after I reprogram my brain to associate the light dog smell with images of my beloved first pet Shannon, a sweet dog that I had before I became sort of anti-dog, I'm sure I'll love it.

Another thing I love: the new place is only a one bedroom, but our closet is almost big enough for Summer's pack and play, so we decorated it with glow in the dark star stickers and that's her new little bedroom, and she feels at home in there.

I love that we see the Washington Monument and the Pentagon every day. I love that when we make a wrong turn we run into Arlington Cemetery, or the Jefferson Memorial, or some other amazing landmark. And Nathaniel's firm's office building is down the street from the Capitol.

I'm sure many seasoned DC residents would roll their eyes at my enthusiasm, but I can't help it. I've never lived in a place with so many interesting things to see and do and if we wind up living here I hope I never lose my appreciation for that. Tomorrow, Summer and I could see the Jefferson memorial, or the WWII memorial, or visit the National Museum of Art or the Museum of Natural History (a likely winner, as dinosaur bones make a memorable cameo in Curious George).

On Friday, we made a little family trip to the zoo and saw a cheetah (walking, not running, unfortunately), a pride of lions sunning themselves, a tiger looking solitary and stately, orangutans walking on wires high over our heads, a gorilla that scooted up right beside us and stared through the glass right at Summer, and plenty of other animals, including prairie dogs, which I was surprised to see being from a place where people shoot prairie dogs for fun and because they're bad for crops or something.

And the food! I have to restrain myself, but I have a long list of food places I want to try while we're here. Let me know if you know of more! (We're on Columbia Pike, in Arlington.) There are some great (and pricey) farmer's markets too, but when I want to splurge on sorrel or pasture-raised eggs, I know where to go. And, full disclosure, there's a Costco close by, and we're happy about that.

I am a little nervous, being in a new place. I hope I make friends and can find something useful for myself to do, because I have no hope of getting an 11-week job. I decided that I can't make money, but I can help people, so I'm looking for more of those opportunities. Luckily, we are in a great ward and I'm already being put to work.

Oh, and our ward! Never have I seen such efficiency at church! I had no idea there were wards where you check your kid into nursery, like daycare at the gym, except with a much better adult-kid ratio and Gospel lessons. They have three different rooms that the kids can just go between as they choose for much of the time, and Summer had a blast. And Bob Bennett is supposedly our Gospel Doctrine teacher? I guess he was out of town today. Or something. I was sort of lost during that part of the conversation because I was marveling over the fantastic nursery. Also, I was told that if I want to have fun and meet people, I have to go to Zumba, which is held at the church on Wednesday nights. And the Relief Society gave me chocolates as a little welcome treat.

So, I think we're going to have a good summer.