Weekend in Alexandria - Day 1

You guys. It's been a MINUTE. I've been so busy. In a good way.

I've been filling my cup by doing things I want to do. Anything I want. Without needing to consult anyone or care about anyone's feelings. 

There are a few of us at work who oddly have been dealing with similar life changes. One girl was with her partner for 8 years, has a just turned 2 year old and was going through a divorce. Her divorce is dragggggggginnnnngggg on and I feel terribly for her. But, we share that trauma and luckily we're both funny so we can laugh about it (a little). And then have a drink and cry together about it. 

And another girl and her partner who have also been together for almost a decade broke up. HUGE life changes for us. We were each others' support while at work. I've known one of the girls for probably 12+ years at this point and reconnected at this job. 

Anyway. After months of commiserating, we decided we needed a weekend away. One of the girls moved to Alexandria and invited a few of us to visit for a weekend and enjoy the DC area.

AND BOY DID WE HAVE FUN JESUS CHRIST. 

Let me say - if you're lucky enough to find friends at work...who you can share a room with overnight, hell share A BED WITH, you've made it. 

My travel down there was....interesting to say the least. While drunk in the hotel bar, we realized we had a dilemma. Well, two people had a small dilemma and we needed to figure out the best way to get everyone where they needed to be.

It was decided that I'd fly down one way and then drive my friend's car back to Rochester. The one who lives there, is actually originally from my hometown and we went to the same highschool, just 6 years apart, so we didn't know each other. She would be traveling from VA to another state for a work event, then fly home. She would, however, need her car while at home. So of course, it made sense for me to just drive her car home and connect with her here in Rochester so she could get her car. I love when things work out like that!

Only, they didn't. LOL. Of course. My life does not work out that smoothly. Ever.

The work trip was canceled. 

So my friend would be driving herself up to Rochester. And I would be left stranded in VA because I had only purchased a one way ticket.

Found this out on Tuesday. Flying out Friday.

Decided to canel my flight, take the $60 cancellation fee loss, keep the credit of $35 and drive down.

I stopped in Binghamton to see my BFF and to break up the 6+ hour drive. I spent the night down there and literally hit the road by 7am to make it down to Alexandria. 

Road trips when it's nice out is my favorite! I was JAMMING. 

Kings Street - a very busy, touristy area, but superrrr cute. Restaurants, shops, everything! And the waterfront is straight ahead. Such a gorgeous walk. 

Me and Sil on the way to the water taxi. He's the first friend Ashley and I met when we joined the bank 2 years ago. He's a young lad with a ton of experience. 

Water Taxi to the wharf

Me and my previous boss. I also worked with her 15 years ago! She's an absolute gem. 

Washington Monument from the water taxi

Beautiful ladies at dinner - we had Balkan food and it was SO GOOD. Ashley the brunette is the girl we're visiting. Gorgeous, smart and a beautiful soul. 

A Brandy-like liquor meant to be sipped. The second it touched my lips it burned like hell. No thank you.

That brought us to the end of day one. We ended dinner around maybe 9:30/10pm? We went back to Ashley's gorgeous condo and stayed up chatting well into the night. I think we headed to bed around 1:30am? Something around that. 

So many things planned for tomorrow - but what I love is that everything is completely flexible and if we feel like vegging in PJs, that's what we'll do. I love these people. 

So far, day 1 has been a blast. We all work remotely so we don't get to see each other often - only usually during work offsites and those are obviously work-focused. 

I can't wait to check out some history tomorrow.