thank.... you....?

My sister, Jane, is in town for a few days for work, so since she was here, we met up with a few of her friends for dinner.  We met up in Old Town, Alexandria, and, as you know if you've ever been told Old Town, it can be hard to find a parking spot.

We drove around the block a few times and spotted one just a block from our destination.  The trouble was that it was on a one way street and the spot was on the left.  I'm already not the world's best parallel parker (though I did *almost* park in a spot that was exactly the size of my car in Chicago once).  Add to that, that the spot is on the opposite side that I'm used to.  And on a hill.  And the road was paved with cobblestones, and not brick sized ones - fist sized ones sticking out at all angles.  And it was raining and dark.  So, I had a lot of strikes against me.  Then add the last factor that I drive a stick shift.  So it was precarious to say the least.  I had to line up and gun it and then stop suddenly; those cobblestones did not make it easy.  But at last - success! I was parked nearly parallel to the street at an angle that would probably not get my car hit by another car driving down the road.

As Jane and I got out of the car, a man said, "Ah ha! I knew it was a teenage driver!"  It took me a second, but then I realized he was talking about me!  I would like to say that he was an old man with terrible eyesight, but he was probably only a few years older than we were.

So, on the one hand, it's nice to know that in the dark, I can still be mistaken for a teenager.  (I still get college student a lot, but it's been a while for teenager.)  But on the other hand, apparently I drive like a sixteen year old.  I guess you win some and you lose some.

private eyes are watching you

A few days ago, I got a mysterious package in the mail.  It was from Amazon, so I didn't feel nervous opening it.  (I guess that would be a good way to get me to open pretty much any package, provided it looked somewhat official.)  It was the book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot.  Naturally, I was excited because I love books and I had wanted to read this book.  But it didn't come with any kind of note or indication who it was from.  I searched through it and even checked the package a couple of times to makes sure it was actually for me and I hadn't accidentally stolen something for one of my roommates.

First, I checked my Amazon account to make sure I didn't actually order it for myself.  I do that sometimes (as Scarlet can attest) - order something and then forget I did.  It makes for wonderful surprises later.  But, I hadn't ordered anything of the kind in the last six months at least.

I then asked my sister, Lydia, if she had sent it to me.  We had talked about the book in the past and how we'd both wanted to read it.  I didn't think she had my address, but at least two other siblings did, so it wouldn't be too hard for her to get it.  But she said it wasn't from her.

Next, I compiled a list of people who knew my new address.  (Maybe you think I'm a bit crazy, but I wanted to give thanks where thanks was due.) (And I wanted to make sure it wasn't sent by some creeper who now had my address.)  I searched in my gmail account and through my text messages (thanks, iPhone, for making that easy) and made a list of everyone who had my address.

I eliminated the ones who were obviously not responsible.  Leona, the sweet old lady from the assisted living center.  The HR lady from my last job, who needed to send me my last paycheck.  The werewolf, who hasn't talked to me much since he got engaged (and probably wouldn't do something like that anyway).  Uncle Keith, who just wouldn't.  Dulcinea, who still owes me a piece of art from the last service auction (I haven't forgotten!).

Of those left, the most likely culprit was Scout.  She and Mr. Scout had sent me a wonderful Valentine's day package (very thoughtful!) and it seemed like something she would do.  (She's science-y and well read.)  But she denied it.

I went through the rest of the list, starting with who I thought was the most likely working down.  But the Librarian, Scarlet, Big Brother, Jane, Jo March and Legolas all said they hadn't done it.  Well, now I was completely stumped.  I didn't think anyone else had my address, so maybe it really was the creeper!

But then I realized the classic detective mistake.  I'd overlooked someone.  I'd forgotten that I'd left my address for Scarlet on the refrigerator and during my moving out party, Lady MacBeth had copied it down.  I texed her and - score! - she and MacBeth had sent it.  She said they actually had ordered it to be sent with a gift note, but Amazon must have messed that one up.  Once she told me, I remembered that she'd said that she was going to send me something before I left, but I'd forgotten.  (Like I said - I always do.  It does make for some nice surprises later.)  (So, thanks very much, MacBeths!)

So, pretty much I'm going to start my own detective show.  I mean, with these skills of deduction, how could I not?  But it will probably be a British one because they always solve the case.  Just as soon as I finish my new book.

it's a small (mormon) world after all

Since I've started my job, a few people have asked me if there were any other Mormons who work there.  I said I'm sure there were, but I hadn't met any specifically, because it's not like you can always tell.  Well, I went to work today, just like every other week day.  A new (middle aged) gentleman was being shown around and introduced to people.

When he got to my cube, he said, "You know, you're the second Kristin Neeley I've met in my life."

I said something non-committal like, "Huh, that's interesting."  I mean, it doesn't seem like a stretch that someone else in this wide world could have my same name.  It's not that unusual.

He went on. "Only she spells her name without an "i" in the beginning - Krsten."

Now he had my attention!  I'm fairly sure in this wide world there really is only one Krsten (pronounced "Kristin") Neeley and she is my aunt.  I said as much.

Now I had his attention.  "Oh yes?" he went on. "Are you... Steve's daughter?"

I said I was Steve's niece, but that I was Bruce's daughter.

He said that he used to work with my uncle - Keith (Krsten's husband) - and that they had figured out that he was second cousins to Bruce, June, Steve and Keith, their grandparents being siblings.  (Note to my mother, Eleanor and Justin, being the siblings.)  This would make me his second cousin, once removed.  And of course, we got to chatting a bit more after that.  He gave me his phone number, in case I need anything, in true Mormon relative fashion (me being new to the area and all) and told me about his kids at BYU.

So there you have it - the first Mormon I meet at work and it turns out we're related.  Of course.  Welcome to Mormonville.

it's been one week (or so) since you looked at me

Ever since I've moved to the DC area, the question I get the most is "How's DC?"  So, here's a pretty boring update. (I think that everyone knows I moved here, but if not - hey, I moved to Washington DC!)

First - living arrangements.  I live with three other girls in a pretty spacious townhouse.  I have my own room and bathroom, which is lovely.  (Not that I minded sharing with previous roommates Scarlet and Scout before her, but it's nice to pick up a pair of glasses and know that they are mine.)  Two of the new roommates are delightful and kind girls and I've enjoyed talking to them.  The other one is probably delightful and kind, but I've only seen her once and I'm not totally convinced she even sleeps (or comes) here.

I started work two days after I moved here, and between work and school (still in school) It has been slow going trying to get my house in order.  I spent most of the time I had in the first week and a half getting the front room organized, so my delightful and kind roommates wouldn't hate me.  As those of you know who helped me move, I have a lot of stuff.  At last I've got all the books on the shelves (luckily my roommates didn't have anything in the front room, so I could take over, as is my wont in the places I live).  (Also luckily, there wasn't a tv in the front room, and I provided mine, so they have more reason to not hate me for taking over.)  So for the last few days I've at last been able to focus on trying to get my room organized.  One of my roommates commented on the progress I was able to make in just one day yesterday as she walked by my bedroom.  What she doesn't know is that since I have a bathtub separate from the shower, I've just been putting stuff in the bathtub until I know what to do with it, so it looks like I'm much further along than I really am.

Next - church.  Three singles wards meet in the building that I meet in, and there is even less parking (and no double parking options available) than the building in Columbus, so this year my ward meets at 3.  Yes, I will tell you, it's a little bit awful.  But I do have loads of time for reading in the morning, not to mention blog updating and box unloading.  So, while I don't love it, I can live with it.  Next year we move to 8, which I will like much better.  The ward is much bigger than I'm used to as well; about 250 people.  So it's a bit overwhelming, but I've already ran into three people that I knew at BYU, plus a friend of Mrs. Weasely, so I feel like at least there are some friendly faces about.

And finally - work.  Work is going well.  Really there's not much to report on there, except I work right on the Army base, which is a bit exciting.  It takes about a half an hour to get there, so I've been enjoying some good old BYU devotionals on the drive in and some good books on the drive home.  As my older sister pointed out, this is the first time in my life since college that I haven't work for a three letter acronym.  (In college I worked for BYU at the MTC, then I worked for MWH, then ACS, the CGI and finally the Ohio Department of Legislative Information Systems, or LIS, as it was called.  So I'm like a fish out of water here.)

And that's about it.  I'm enjoying the adventure so far.  I miss my friends, of course.  It just takes a while to meet new people, and I miss talking to people beyond the cursory getting to know your story questions.  (I especially miss Lauren, Tawna, the Carpers and Joseph for those more meaningful conversations, though I know it's dangerous to name names, and I miss everyone else too, trust me.)  But I know those things have to be waded through, and really I don't mind too much.  It's been fun and exciting.  But, you know, if you wanted to drop me a line or something to let me know that you still have fond thoughts of me, that's okay too.