Adventuras - Continued

DC was absolutely amazing.

Not only did I really enjoy all the touristy bits of the trip (US Botanic Garden, tours of the Capitol, the Zoo, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian, Senate/Congressional office visits, etc.), I also had some of the most productive flirting of my life. I don't mean that in the "I hooked up with so many people" way, but I left almost every cute stranger conversation grinning like an idiot. And then in conversations with friends, I found out that while "official" apartments in DC are incredibly expensive, it is totally easy to find something in the 600-800 dollar range using Craigslist etc. (and that's what all my friends were paying). So I think I can afford to move out there and enjoy life a bit more than I have been in Baltimore. Score!

Thanks again to Emily for making that leg of the trip possible. Without her futon I wouldn't have tried.

Then the trip continued with a Lindy Hop Exchange in Atlanta, Georgia. I was a little wary of entering the Deep South but on the other hand I really, really wanted to dance. Fortunately, I wasn't the victim of a hate crime, nor did I starve. I found a cute vegetarian restaurant called Cafe Sunflower, and while it was a little pricey, the food was delicious. The waiter recognized me on the second+ visits and kept flirting with me, but I think he missed the memo that I'm not coming back. I had a wonderful time but my leg was still killing me from the run earlier in the week, so I had to curtail my swing dancing. Too bad, because some of the events (like lindy hop on skates at an ice rink) sounded ridiculously awesome. Looking back, I'm glad that I didn't wind up at Emory for grad school. It seems very hard still to be gay in the South. I had trouble finding guys comfortable with even being asked to dance with me, and swing is a pretty tame activity; and also, the waiter was surprisingly persistent. I imagine the dating pool would be even worse there than in Baltimore.

Then on the way home I passed through Chapel Hill and Carborro, North Carolina. Totally awesome place. I didn't realize how much of an exception to the rest of the region Carborro is; I might have been really happy at UNC. But I think that it would have gotten old after many years, and while I appreciate the hippy vibe, I don't have a sense of how many gay people there are. I had a very flirty conversation with the bartender at lunch and I think he might have been less enthusiastic if the regional pickings hadn't been so slim. But it was fun to flirt, and at the end I gave him the bead bracelet I'd gotten at the swing dance registration. Maybe he'll remember me from that.

And...yeah. Finally back in Baltimore with a pile of laundry to do and mail to sort through, but I couldn't have asked for a more distinctive break between quarters. I feel reinvigorated and ready to start school again.

(sorry no pictures, I forgot to take my camera with me.)

Adventuras

Spring Break is here, and off to a terrific start!

I went out last night to celebrate the end of the quarter, and also my birthday, with a bunch of the Epi masters students. We went dinner/dessert/bar hopping in Mount Vernon (the city's gay/"cultural" district) and it was a ton of fun. I didn't pay for any of it and everything was delicious!

Then today I went running for the first time in forever, with Poorav and his friend Su. I ended up going 12 miles (walking most of it) and am now super sore. BUT I feel so much better now! It's a good sore.

Tomorrow through Wednesday I'm staying with my friend Emily in DC. The plan is sight-seeing during the day and then green film festival at night. Possibly some swing dancing, too.

Then Thursday-Sunday I'll be in Georgia for the Atlanta Lindy Exchange. I signed up at the last minute for a several-day swing marathon. Woot! I signed up as a lead but hopefully they'll let me flip-flop to being a follow sometimes.

Okay, it's late now, but I'm STOKED for this break! Maybe next time I'll post pictures from the trips...