If I could spell out how a gasp sounds, that would be my title

Whenever I hear news that is shocking or I am physically startled, I let out an uncontrollable dramatic gasp. This week I gasped a lot.  I'm pretty sure people in my office think I'm crazy by now. But it was a crazy week: the horrible DC metro crash, big news stories relayed to me via CNN text update as soon as they happened, and my sister's emergency surgery.  May this next week be less eventful.

I made my debut on AEI's softball team on Tuesday night and had a great time, even though I made no real contribution other than my gender. Each team in the league is supposed to have a certain number of girls on the field at all times, which translated into constant playing time for me. Note that I haven't played any version of the game since my 7-year-old teeball days, and I went into the game thinking that you get people out by throwing the ball at them (turns out that's kickball). I did manage to hit the ball on my first try all three times at bat, though - I just didn't make it to any bases. But fortunately many of the other players are damn good, and the Brooks Brothers (where the sisters at?) walked away with an impressive 20-6 victory. Our next game is this week and my new goal in life is to make it to first base.

In regards to exploring more of the District, on Friday night I went with some friends to the sculpture garden for their weekly free jazz concert. It was a lovely evening, and we sat in the grass drinking sangria and listening to jazz sort of since we were far away due to the massive crowd. Just as we left it started torrentially pouring and hailing, and after chilling under a deserted tent we somehow managed to get a ride in a cop car to the metro. We felt pretty BA.  May any future rides in cop cars I take be under such amicable circumstances.

On Saturday I continued my one museum per weekend trend and went to the Natural History museum. Highlights included the giant squid, dinosaurs, and the Harry Winston gallery, home of the Hope Diamond. I also went to a great IMAX show - Deep Sea. I didn't stay very long because it was outrageously crowded, and I'm thinking hot Saturdays just aren't the best time to go museuming. I'll stay away next weekend for sure since I'm guessing DC is popular among the tourist crowd for July 4.

Today I took my second field trip with the kids. What was supposed to be a pool day turned into a movie day since rain was in the forecast. We saw Up, although I didn't really get to see too much due to the exploits of rambunctious 5-13ers. But it was fun and I'm enjoying spending my Sundays this way. As for Up, I'm planning to go back sans small children - what I saw I really liked.

I'm continuing to enjoy being at AEI and learning about a diverse array of topics. This week it was geoengineering, organ donation and Zahra Rahnavard. Next week I'm scheduled to attend a conference on presidential succession...oh me, oh my!

I can't believe four weeks are already gone and it's about to be July.  I suppose I'm at an age now where everything feels like it goes by fast, and the summer especially so. Now only six weeks to go of DC rumination and exploration and two weeks left as a 20-year-old. When asked which age they would like to return to many women say 20, so I'll cherish the next two weeks even though I believe the best is yet to come.