Author: Nikki J.

Annie’s progressive response when I lectured her on laying all over my curtains rather then helping me pack – no…no…and talk to the paw! #cats #lazy #cattitude

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Just found out that the owners of the house I’m moving into for a few months are taking their washer/dryer with them to California. That’s going to get really interesting, especially once Chuck gets back and suddenly the laundry has tripled!

Hopefully the laundromats around here aren’t too sketchy…or I’ll need to learn to do laundry old school – fast!!

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I finished The Great Gatsby last night, and my first reaction was “WTF, that was stupid! What a pointless mess!” But, after thinking about it and absorbing the message some more, I think that’s how I was supposed to feel… and I think I got it!

It was interesting how closely it paralleled some of my own experiences, and the lifestyles I was exposed to in my DC world. I frequented some lavish parties hosted by millionaires and their athlete/supermodel/celebrity friends, in decadent Georgetown and Embassy Row mansions and sparkling yachts.

Someone I know personally matches every character in the book, for better or for worse. I like to think I’m Nick Carraway – a relatively aloof and somewhat bored participant who recognized the emptiness of what we were doing, but participated anyway (albeit from a guarded distance without taking it too seriously, if that makes sense…)

Though I must say, our millionaire hosts weren’t quite as elegantly, mysteriously interesting as Jay Gatsby. There were plenty of rumors of course – but more along the lines of snorting cocaine off 14-carat gold bars just for the heck of it, and bizarre sexual practices with high-end hookers in Cannes or St. Tropez (or DC), and yes, maybe some investment fraud here and there…

But fortunately, no one’s lives were ruined by their extravagance… that I know of. Just reputations maybe… but even those stains disappeared with the relatively anonymous cycle of revelers that go in and out of those kinds of shin digs…

…Can’t wait to see the movie!

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Now I’m Depressed

I just gave notice at my job, that I will be moving away in August. They are having some pretty serious financial difficulties, so I decided to let them know sooner rather than later, so that they can more appropriately make plans (and hopefully save someone else’s position, if it gets to that point.)

But UGH… so sad. I’ve really enjoyed it here, and the people have been so good to me.

Chuck sent me pictures of kittens in Afghanistan the other day! So cute 🙂 I love seeing soldiers with kittens. And what’s up with the Afghan doing the supermodel pose in the Louis Vuitton tee shirt? Too funny! Even I don’t own LV.

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What would YOU do with $600 Million?

I’m reading about the mystery Powerball winner from Florida, and the amount of money this person won is just mind boggling. I really don’t know what I would do with that much money!!

I think I would:

– Travel the world (duh)

– Buy a beach house on the Coast, a mountain cabin in the West, and a villa in the South of France

– Earn/buy my way into some esoteric but practically useless advanced degree from Oxford (in Classics or Philosophy or something)

– Donate to anything having to do with animals, mental health, and medical research. I’d open and fund my own animal sanctuary for any unwanted or abused or homeless critters!

– Pay off my sister’s school loans; help my dad/in-laws retire some place awesome.

– Get the most fun job I can think of (since I would go crazy if I didn’t work). I think I’d open my cupcake shop and do photography and writing on the side!

– Get my eyes lasered.

Sigh. A girl can dream 🙂

My favorite color palette captured in one photo! Peaches… pinks… yellows. Wish I had found this before I planned my wedding. I think I got close enough though 🙂