NJS, Part 2

The first five weeks at NJS are considered to be the difficult weeks, and so now we are through those. All in all, they were not really that difficult. Yes, I stayed up late a few nights to finish an investigation manual or to prepare for a guilty plea or to write a will, and I always had SOMETHING to work on, but it's not like I would be able to do much else up here anyway what with being buried under snow and never wanting to go outside.

We have not had a Pain Before Breakfast run since the first week due to ice and snow on the sidewalks. Instead we just do individual workouts on Wednesday mornings (though we are going to attempt a run on-base on Thursday). We get a pretty good workout in trying to get to or from the school, though, as the quickest path goes over a bridge that we call "The Bridge of Death" because it has been nothing but ice since the first snowfall. Minus five points for military bearing every time you cross it.

The classes have been very interesting. Military criminal justice is MUCH more scripted than civilian criminal justice. There is an actual script that we use- it's like a choose-your-own-adventure book for everything that can possibly happen at a court-martial. Pleading guilty? Turn to page 18. Pleading guilty to some charges but not to others? Page 31. Judge-only trial? Page 43. Etc.... Then you literally just read off of the script, inserting the appropriate words in blank spaces. Yes, you still get to do all of the normal trial things, but the script adds a good chunk of time to what I remember from mock trial.

I have learned that my first rotation once I get back to DC will likely be in the trial counsel department. I won't be allowed to do a whole lot, from what I have heard, but it will be fun to jump into something that I am at least sort of familiar with from my mock trial days.

The people continue to be one of the best parts of being a part of the JAG Corps. While my normal plan is always to go back to my hotel room after class and crank up the heat and never leave, they have consistently coaxed me out of my warm cocoon in order to go out to do one thing or another, and it is always worth it.

Oh, and one of my fellow Marine JAGs is a Woodberry grad. We were assigned to be opposing counsel for a guilty plea and got along very well.  After we had hammered out a pre-trial agreement we started talking about where we were from. When I told him I was from Burlington, he said he knew someone from there and asked where I went to high school. I told him not in Burlington. He again asked where. I told him in Virginia. He again asked where. I told him a small boarding school. He again asked where. I said Woodberry. He said "me too!" And then we discovered that he had been in the class of 2006 and I actually knew who he was but just didn't recognize him or his name since we call each other by last names up here. His father was visiting this weekend and took us out to dinner where we talked all about Woodberry and the good times we had there.

A Weekend of Firsts

This past weekend was the first of many things for me:

• My first Amtrak ride.
• I rode overnight so I had to try to get some sleep. Luckily, I got a window seat. Unfortunately, we were also a full train that night so people random get sleeping in my seat and getting off. I was kind of asleep, but also kind of not asleep for most of the night. Things that helped: eye mask, neck pillow, blanket, spotify's sleepytime playlists.

• My first time in Rhode Island.
• As soon as I got there, we went out for breakfast as a cute little spot in downtown Newport. Mike got something marvelous with eggs and chorizo and I got french toast made with Puerto Rican sweet bread and spiced apples.
• We also exchanged cards (I was blown away by Mike's (really)...see below) before heading back to base.

A picture of the sunrise in Providence on Valentine's Day. MJ was driving.

Only the best Valentine's Day card ever.

• My first time on a Navy base.
• The base felt a little bit like a university to me. It's a little mini-town that is completely self-sufficient. We went to the gym where I geeked out over the group fitness class offerings (it would have only cost me $3.00 for a barre class) and the fact that they have a bar attached to the wall in their abs room that holds your feet (to practice sit-ups). 
• Mike lives in a hotel on the base with the other JAGs and we got to hang out with some of them one night while there. Ben (also Georgetown grad and JAG..who Mike just commissioned) came out and showed us a wonderful drink spot.

Still not used to the New England temps, I went with two cinnamon vanilla hot toddy's. I think I need to have cinnamon-infused simple syrup on hand just for everyday life, right?

• While I couldn't fathom drinking anything that wasn't hot, our group was apparently completely fine with the idea of getting ice cream after drinks. It was about 11pm in Rhode Island on a Sunday, so I guess we didn't think through the idea of what kind of place would be open with ice cream that late. Some women at the bar overheard our dilemma and really tried to help us problem solve. One of them finally exclaimed: "I got it. I got it! I know what you have to do. Here's what you need to do: go outside, walk across the street, you will see a building with a mermaid on it, you need to go into that building and up the stairs until you see a fire place. You sit by that fireplace, and then you ask them for the Snowball. It has ice cream and fudge and brownie al mixed together. You should get the snowball and you tell them I sent you." She basically repeated these directions 5 times before we left, adding that you can also get a sparkler in your snowball if you say it's your birthday.

• When we went outside, Ben said he had no clue where she was talking about and that maybe she meant across a street that was kinda far away. Right as he said that, we saw "the mermaid" outside a place that did not appear open, but whatever. It was a sign. We went in and all had desserts and tea together. We even told them it was Mike's birthday to get a sparkler in our snowball. Apparently, at one point when I was in the bathroom, the lady we met at the other bar had walked in to talk to the wait staff and ensure that they took good care of us...because apparently she knows everyone on a first-name basis there.

MJ and Collins tickled over the sparkler.

The whole group! LtoR: Maggie, Justine, Ben, Lauren, me, Mike.

• DC's first legit snowstorm of the winter + My first solo flight + My first Uber ride.
• My flight left Monday around 5pm out of Boston. I was worried it would be cancelled, but glad when it was on time. It seemed to be about the last flight they were letting go to DC, so I guessed they thought it could beat out the worst of the storm that was scheduled to hit DC. Things did not go as planned because although my flight left at 5:30pm, I didn't get home in my bed until 2am. Here's what happened.
• Left Boston at 5:30pm. 
• Arrived in DC area around 7ish, but destination airport (Reagan) is "closed" for snow removal. Basically we aren't allowed to land there. We hang out in the air for a while doing circles until it becomes apparent Reagan is not reopening anytime soon. Our pilot tells us we're going to land at Dulles (way out in VA) instead. I am frustrated because my car is at King Street metro (a few stops from Reagan) and Dulles is not metro accessible.
• Land at Dulles around 8pm. We sit for a while because we were not expected at Dulles and no one knows what to do with us. When we finally get up to the airport, some people get off and the pilot tells us the plan is to eventually go to Reagan once they reopen. We're going to refuel in the meantime. I decide to stay on the plane because I don't want to have to figure out the bus system to the Silver line and because I am trusting and because my baggage still would have been sent to Reagan.
• Around 10pm: Reagan reopened a while ago so we headed back out to the tarmac. The airports are crazy with planes, so we had to wait a really long time to take off. We wait so long to take off that our pilot tells us Reagan has actually closed again and we are going to just turn around and 'drive' back to Dulles so people can leave if they want.
• Around 10:30pm: We are back near airport. We are told that actually people are not allowed to get off because there is no room at Dulles for us to "park" so we're just going to wait until Reagan reopens. Pilot has no idea when that will be.
• Around 11pm/11:30pm: Spot opens at Dulles to park so pilot says we are actually going to park and let people off. I call Mike and Kelly for advice and tell them I'm getting off the plane because NO MORE. The plan is for the plane to refuel and still go to Reagan, but as soon as I get off the plane and am trying to bargain for taxi fare or something home (because the metro was closing at midnight), our flight is officially "cancelled". This is good because it means JetBlue will take some responsibility for helping us get home. 
• 12pm: We get our baggage at the terminal. I charge my cell.
• 12:30pm: JetBlue has arranged for a charter bus to take us to Reagan. The roads are horrible, but we make it in about an hour.
• 1:30pm: I go inside at Reagan and there is a taxi line the length of the airport. The roads are so bad that there are no taxis picking people up. I wonder if I'm going to have to make a bed for myself at the airport and realize I left my pillow and blanket at Mike's place. It was a sad moment.



The taxi line at Reagan. 



This was a time when we had landed, but weren't allowed to get off of the plane yet.

• 1:35pm: I start playing with my phone and find the Uber app Mike downloaded for me. I've never used the app and I figured there weren't any cars out if there weren't taxis either, but magically I manage to get a car after refreshing the app like 10 times. My angel uber comes to take me home.

Even though the trip back was a nightmare, I had such an amazing time hanging out with Mike and his friends for the weekend. Even though our Valentine's Day dinner consisted of pizza because a snowstorm in Rhode Island messed with our plans, it was the exact weekend I needed. We bought and watched The Last Five Years on iTunes which was INCREDIBLE. If you are into musicals or know anything about the show, you should definitely see it.

Because of our schedules, I'm not sure if we're going to have the opportunity to see each other again before Mike gets back last weekend in March, but I'm counting down the days. Coincidentally, tomorrow's sermon is on Patience (we're going through the fruit of the spirit) so I'll try to take some good notes.

TL;DR: Great weekend. Made it home safely. Of course you want a sparkler in your snowball.

It Might As Well Be Spring

Last weekend, I was able to celebrate Kelly's birthday with Kelly and Alex and Kelly's sister Gillian and her boyfriend. We went to church followed by brunch at Medium Rare followed by homemade poptarts from Ted's Bulletin. It's been so long since I had a lazy Sunday brunching in the city, so I was thankful for that, for the company I was with (felt like we were going to church as a family), and for whoever came up with the idea of a peanut butter bacon poptart (heaven). 

This weekend: I'm going to visit Mike in Rhode Island! We messed up because he really should be visiting me since he has a half day of work, but then I wouldn't get to have my first time riding on a train (amtrak, not metro). It's an overnight train, so I'm crossing my fingers I'll be able to sleep!

I don't know what we're doing this weekend yet, except for it's DEFINITELY going to involve seeing The Last Five Years and I'm definitely going to cry throughout the entire movie. We're also eating burgers and he's going to take me to the gym on base which I am excited about. And we might see a mansion. Besides that, I'll probably stay indoors for warmth. 

I came across this youtube video the other day (it's a song from a musical) and I thought it was really pretty/sums up kinda how I feel right now. Anyway, it's the title of this post and is below.

This is basically Rupert every day when I get home.

I sent this list to Mike the other day. It made me really appreciate where we live in a new way because some people actually go out of their way to visit where I live all the tiem!

This was on a list of things to get your guy for Valentine's Day. Mike, this is what I almost got you, but I didn't want to encourage your shark things obsession.

My virgin Bloody Mary from Medium Rare brunch this weekend. I just wanted a tomato drink! I may do this all the time now.

The Kels Cooks Alone

I've mentioned before that I have a very hard time adjusting to cooking/shopping alone when Mike is not around. For one thing, I'm not great at cooking meat or using the grill. Also: shopping at Costco has to be VERY intentional and can be overwhelming alone. I still have to go, though, because obviously I'm not going to buy anything less than a 6 month supply of paper towels...

Anyway, you guys don't need to worry about me because I've figured out some things that work for me. Although, thank you Auntie Deb for telling me in advance not to mix my brownies with the standing mixer because it may overmix them. 

*****If anyone has any awesome standing mixer or cast iron pan recipes, those are the things I want to start to utilize more!

Here is what I've been making/utilizing lately!

• Crockpot Soup: There is no rhyme or reason to this. I put a bunch of stuff in our slow cooker, press slow cook, and keep checking until it's done. My favorites lately are:
• chicken tortilla soup (I buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it to add in after)
• lentil soup (it takes about 4 hours in the slow cooker).
• Crockpot Steel cut oats: I made these in the slow cooker and made a gigantic mess...apparently because I pressurized them with the vent open? Anyway....after cleaning up the mess, they were still delicious. I think I always forget how delicious they are because they take so much work. If they didn't, I'd only eat steel cut oats. 
• Smoothies in our old new Vitamix!: We bought a refurbished vitamix and I like to make a smoothie in the morning and drink it on the way to work. Here are my favorites as of late:
• green smoothie: vanilla protein powder + frozen spinach + frozen (ripe!) bananas + flax + almond milk
• chocolate banana: chocolate protein powder (I use shakeology) + frozen bananas + cinnamon + flax + almond milk
• Crockpot Meatz: I put some kind of frozen meat in the crockpot, add a sauce (coconut curry sauce lately) and 1-2 cans of diced tomatoes, then I press a button and keep checking until it's done. This has worked once, but I may have overcooked the meat. Oh well.
• Spiralized Veggies! We got a veggie spiralizer not too long ago and my two favorite thigns ot use it for are:
• zoodles! spiralize a zucchini, cook in pan with olive oil till soft, top with sauce!
• sweet potato hash browns! I do the same thing with a sweet potato (watch because they like to burn) and top with ketchup!

And here's what I've been up to lately!

A scholarship award dinner for two of my students who got a scholarship recently!!

Sweet potato hash browns + veggie burger topped with egg!

Auntie time over the weekend!

Every time.