Tomorrow is Monday and school starts! The best part of this semesters is that it is my LAST ONE! Soon I will be applying to graduate and loving life. I also start my new job at the IRS on 9/2, so that is also an exciting new beginning. I am a bit nervous about the move, but I'm working in the same building and am getting a job directly related to having an MPA, which will be great.

The last semester of school lets me think critically about where I want to live and what work I want to go. Luckily for me, I think there are jobs open in most places, and I have some good connections both in DC and Minneapolis, which is great. Whether I ultimately end up in the public or private sector, I'm hopeful that I end up with a job that I love.

Props to my DC ladies Stephanie, Megan, and Tricia for making it a great last weekend before class. We had drinks at Bourbon in Adams Morgan, which I highly recommend. It had good music, but you could actually talk to your friends without shouting over them. Afterwards, we went to Grand Central for a bit of fun before heading home.

And now it's Sunday, Janai is supposed to come home tomorrow, and then school starts this week. Lucky for me, I have a four day weekend over Labor Day, so there is something exceptional to look forward to.

Enjoy the pictorial summary of my trip to MN:

1) Michelle and I with Grandma and Grandpa Laine (married 67 years)

2) Rose Gardens in Duluth, MN

3) Trip to Sebastian Joe's with Cathy, Abby, Carey, and Vincent

4) Jill and I at Amanda's Wedding (aka the Amstravaganza)

5) Amanda singing to Adam at their wedding

Thought you'd all enjoy a pictorial reference of Trolley Boyfriend. You can pretty much ignore everything I said in my last post; we are still semi-dating (for now). He clearly wasn't ready for the picture, but alas, I TOOK ONE. Notice he is 8 inches taller than me. HOT.

I am heading to Minnesota on Thursday for 10 days. The only problem is that I am sick and have zero speaking/singing capability, and Am-Lo's wedding is in T minus 6 days. Seriously, I sound like a 80-year-old who has consistently smoked 4 packs a day for their entire life. Yikes. I'm hoping to get better, STAT, although my diet consisting entire of ice cream and things that numb my throat is probably going to hurt more than it will help. Hm...

This weekend, I had tapas at Jaleo with Erin and Megan. It was good, and because it was restaurant week (sweet discounts!), we each got two tapas and pretty much shared. I had quail (interesting, did NOT taste like chicken) and some chicken. We also had bread and olive oil which is basically my downfall. OM NOM NOM give me some delicious carbohydrates!