It's been a long and busy week, and I finally have time to sit, drink a cup of coffee and reflect.

Last Wednesday was my last day of work! It was an interesting day, and an end to this phase of my post-college life. I will always look back fondly on my ABA days. It's the best post college job I could have hoped for. I met great people, learned a lot and had a great time. I was reading some of my old blog posts, and one from the summer after I graduated said something to the effect of my goal is to be employed by September 1, or else I'll move back home. Lucky for me, I started work at the ABA on Sept. 1. I really think it was God's will to have me work there, and then lead me towards law school. So thank God for the past two years.

On Thursday I left for Evanston for Sarah's gradumacation. Yup, baby Sarah is all growns up. It was fun hanging out with the family, eating, laughing, laughing and eating. It was also fun to be back in Evanston, seeing what's changed and what hasn't. It's funny how the little things that change stick out so much. No more McDonalds! No more Osco! No more Sherman Restuarant (not like I ever ate there anyway.) And man, I love NU campus. It is still so gorgeous. Another good thing: Sarah graduated from SESP, which meant a waaaay shorter convocation ceremony, much shorter than my marathon CAS one. Mom and dad were proud, big brother and big sister were proud-- congratulations Sarah, you did it!

Highlights of the trip: Seeing Sarah graduate, hanging out with the fam, meeting SJMerc sports columnist MarkPurdy, food (Evanston Chipotle, Giordano's, Garden Buffet, Thai Sook Dee, Buff Joe's, Merle's, drinks at 1800!).

Lowlights: Cold freaky Chicago weather, John McCain's speech sucked, Sarah's door creaked a lot.

Headed back to DC on Sunday, then picked up MelMcG on Monday. Been hanging out with her for the past couple days. Tuesday we went to museums, and then ate pizza and got beer at brickske11ers in Dupont. Yesterday we lounged, and then lounged by the pool, and then had tapas with Michelle, kerri, Jarva and Pam- a mini DZ reunion. Man, I love Mel McG. Everyone needs a friend like her--someone who's passionate and intelligent, who makes you want to be a better person and do more to effect change, and who challenges your beliefs and ideals.

Today is a relax day. Might head to old town to buy a dress. If it's still there, then it's meant to be. If not, then it wasn't. And then tomorrow I'm headed to NYC, Saturday to Vermont, Monday back to NYC, Tuesday back to DC. I'm all over the eastern seaboard this week!

20 days till I leave dc!