Surprise! I'm now an East Coaster

So, yeah...there's been a change.

I'm not going to go in to all the details. Basically, as a result of lots of things including my dads work, my family decided to move to the D.C. area. After doing my own research I decided to come along, and now we're here, I've got my own place and a job at The Writer's Center in Bethesda, Maryland, which is actually the coolest thing ever. I'm working as a receptionist and will have lots of fun stories and things to tell you guys in the future, I am sure. Like, on Friday night we had a poetry slam with Taylor Mali. Just stuff like that.

We've been here for a couple weeks, but I wanted to give things time to settle in before I blogged about it because I have this weird thing about jinxing myself. And there are still a few ruffles to smooth over, but things are decently settled and going well.

As the last few things get settled, I am hoping to hit the ground running. I want to use new-found stability to really get going on a system for keeping up on all my social media parties. That especially means blogging, and I know I have been a terrible blog buddy for the past few months and I hate it and I am stoked to feel stable enough to get going hard and strong on all that. I am also excited to be able to take advantage of the east coast experience. There is such a mind-blowing amount of awesomeness in the DC area itself, let alone the short trip to places like, you know, New York. We are about to have some amazing adventures, you guys.

The culmination of this move, the physical, familial, emotional stability and the psychological and mental stimulation and inspiration, means lots of good things for the writing. I think you know what I mean.

We're going to get in to more specifics later (Slam poets! The National Book Festival on Saturday! The Lincoln Memorial! Did I mention we're going to have adventures?) but here are the main things I've noticed so far:

The trees. They are gorgeous. As a mountain desert girl, I've definitely been places where the trees intimidate me, but not here. The bird and insect noises are spectacular, although I've also already been bitten more here in the past couple weeks then I think I have in my life. More intimidating are the people in my ward, who are all ambitious and driven and incredibly smart and are all in grad school or lawyers or in politics (surprised?) and I think its fabulous and healthy to be surrounded by people much smarter than me, so a little intimidation is okay.

The driving is crazy and definitely a new adventure. I am used to a nice laid out grid, and trying to get used to tiny road signs usually hidden by trees and about a bajillion freeways and oh yeah the worst commute in the country. It's not so bad, actually, and I'm getting used to it way faster than I thought, and I've totally already mastered the metro. Also the tap water isn't as good. Also there are quite a few more black people and quite a few less blonds. Also I'm excited to be a writer here, because that's going to be great. Also the National Book Festival on Saturday. Also the Lincoln Memorial.

Mostly, guys?

Here we go.

Sarah Allen