Katie in front of the Washington Monument

Why I haven’t written a blog.

So, in theory, I’m the “writer” of the family, but so far “our blog” has become Ryan’s blog, which I suppose is fitting since the url is www.ryanlyford.com. I’m not offended. That way when my students google my name, it won’t come up (or not on the first page). It’s been relatively smooth first 6 months of married life in D.C. Sometimes I miss sleeping until noon and then spending the next 6 hours preparing something elaborate for dinner…now I am up at 6 am, eat granola bars for breakfast, and grade papers through lunch as I try not to spill any of my Lean Cuisine on it. But, it is good to be earning real money and using my brain. I managed to land a long term substitute position after a teacher retired in January. I have a load of juniors—including one AP Language and Composition class. I really love the school and hope to be gainfully employed there or at some other high school in the next year. It seems I’ve got a big foot in the door. Even though I arrived at this job under what everyone considered “difficult circumstances,” it’s actually been the most enjoyable, relaxed, intensely rewarding teaching experience I’ve ever had. It’s been really really good for me and my laundry basket of self-doubts about my current career path. It turns out that at least Wakefield High Students seem to think I know what I’m doing and even like me. Even if they don’t do their homework, they are relatively curious about the world and get excited about, you know, learning things. I have a fabulously fun, intelligent, and caring department that provides breakfast goodies every Friday morning. It more than makes up for my closet sized classroom with scurrying mice running through the walls and across the floor. I would hangout with the mice and be respected, trusted, and appreciated for the rest of my life before returning to the shiny new buildings from whence I came.Besides my new cool job, here are some things I really love about life around here:

–Even though I have to take an elevator 16 stories down and yet another flight of stairs to get my car, it’s nice that it’s always nice and warm/cool/dry on cold/hot/wet days.

–I am now intimately familiar with the wonders of Trader Joe’s grocery store. There’s one 10 minutes away in Old Towne.

–I can get to Old Towne Alexandria on my bike. Or even Mt. Vernon, if you’re really ambitious. I can walk/run/ride my bike to the heart of the district.

–Our church meets in a building right next to the FDIC. I didn’t even know what that was until I moved here. We see it every Sunday, and make sure they’re insuring all our savings.

–Our neighborhood is peppered with fun ethnic restaurants. Whether you crave Greek, Sushi, Peruvian, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Thai, or Afghan Kabob…and more…you’re covered.

–I can run on the treadmill and watch The Food Network in the workout room.

–I can walk to the Pentagon City Mall (has every store you could ever want, including Sephora), Costco, Ann Taylor Loft, Bed Bath and Beyond, World Market, banks, post offices—WALK—I’m telling you.

–There are at least 3 or 4 different versions of NPR and PBS. This means that one radio station is devoted EXCLUSIVELY to classical music 24/7 (except for the Jim Leher news hour at 7pm). It’s pretty wonderful. Imagine getting the local weather and traffic report and THEN hearing a Brandenburg Concerto. Similarly, there’s a PBS station that is largely devoted to the “creative” stuff such as cooking, fine arts, and travel. Other stations/channels are devoted to boring stuff that Ryan likes like Marketplace and Morning Edition.

I’m sure I could go on, but that’s enough for now. Besides, it’s almost time for The Office. Priorities, man, priorities. Maybe I’ll write a sappy poem about the Cherry blossoms and post it soon. What I really want to know is—do these trees actually grow cherries? If so, can I pick them to eat? Or bake in a pie?

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