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Could this day get better, Pretzel?  Yes.  If my accumulating assignments were magically completely for me.  But short of that, and the hours of reading I have ahead of me tonight, this has been a fantastic day.  The kind of fun filled day I used to have in B'ton (with the Bo' and B'more, it was only natural that I shorten Boston), back when I had more friends and less homework. 

The morning started rough when I ripped my jeans at the knee when I bent down to tie my shoelaces (note to self: exercise trims fat) and got a little rougher when I got to DC and rode the metro the wrong way for 10 minutes.  But my jeans-putting-on efforts were richly rewarded with a fantastic brunch at Nick & Ellen's.  Followed by a round of Dixit, which I won.  Brunch and winning are quite possibly my favorite weekend activities, especially with huge sides of Grade B maple syrup and laughter.  What could follow such a great morning?  Chocolate espresso shortbread cookies and conversations about public health and the Bo' at a trendy tea house (with my brother's friend, who I'm claiming as a new friend-- the amazingly talented Wolf Larsen)  Again, it's as if someone drew random words out of a My Favorite Things bowl and came up with the afternoon.  If your mind isn't blown yet, you need to talk to Jenny F Wong.  She'll tell you how much I love shortbread. 

Did the good times end when I got home to B'more?  No.  Not when my New Yorker finally came in the mail (maybe receiving a magazine you subscribe to isn't a highlight for most people, but most people lead more exciting lives than I do).  Not when I discovered one of the first nuanced and likable pieces on Jeremy Lin was written by a reporter I already respected.  I wrote to him.  And he responded within the hour.  (then I possibly alienated him by my follow up email, but let's not mention that). 

After a rough start, not just to the day, but to the week, I'm content and grateful for today.  So let me end now by lazily cribbing an ending by a much better writer:

In the midst of his stellar run last week, I couldn’t help but reflect on Lin’s journey. A Bible verse that he has cited as a favorite came to mind, encouraging believers that “suffering produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us.”