tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56901339849820303022014-10-02T01:40:10.603-04:00A slice of life in the 'burbs -- the not-so-secret dispatch.Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-49451645178795965312010-04-05T11:36:00.006-04:002010-04-06T13:32:41.376-04:00

Hello Dear Readers,As many of you know, I started the Living in LoCo blog for the Washingtonpost.com and LoudounExtra.com back in 2006 and began this blog soon after. After many months of redirecting my domain www.livinginloco.com to this site, I've revived Living in LoCo on a WordPress template and am currently writing there, as well as publishing to a Facebook and Twitter page.Here are all the

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-82889277697760572282009-12-24T08:46:00.005-05:002009-12-24T09:01:08.624-05:00

On this eve of Christmas, as I reflect on why I struggle so much with the holiday season, I came across a passage in a book that seems to sum it up:"The world we have created, in our culture, is essentially an addicted world. Addicted to control, to power, to materialism. The addiction dictates the lie that the more 'matter' we accumulate, the happier we'll be. But then the human being inside

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-39241069895118073672009-12-20T08:31:00.010-05:002009-12-20T17:14:08.283-05:00

I love that there are so many people who have uploaded videos of yesterday's snow storm on YouTube!Check out a fantastic 6-minute piece by The Daily Greg where his bounding dogs and children make this look at the snowstorm in Leesburg totally giggle-worthy.The rest are short, but fun-filled views from neighborhoods around the county:"Navjeetc" Video: Ashburn VA Snowfall Dec. 2009"GrantHeppes"

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-34789055434331708402009-12-19T11:23:00.008-05:002009-12-20T07:35:23.901-05:00

What a great day for snow in Ashburn! Friends and neighbors from all over Ashburn Farm and Ashburn Village have shared their photos of today's snowstorm.Update!As of 7 p.m. Saturday, the snow measured a solid 14.5-inches and this morning, Sunday, Dec. 20, we've got 20-inches of the fluffy stuff. According to the National Weather Service snow totals, some nearby areas hit 19-inches Saturday, with

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-56546203063976421822009-12-16T12:20:00.005-05:002009-12-16T15:49:36.385-05:00

In the "news that sucks" category, I just found out that the Sorrento Grill in Ashburn is serving its last meals today at lunch.According to Dave, the manager of this location, the restaurant row landlord foreclosed on the property and the bank that now owns the loan asked all the restaurants in the small suite of spaces on Waxpool Road (next to the Embassy Suites) to leave about two months

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-25340482826152026822009-12-05T15:42:00.004-05:002009-12-05T15:49:32.415-05:00

Wow, it has been way, way too long since I've updated this blog!Not that there isn't anything to say -- I'm just doing it mostly on Facebook and Twitter where it is easier to share information quickly with a lot of people.But I miss writing more than 140 characters and have a plan in mind for this space. Maybe a name change, maybe a different focus, maybe a new look...We shall see in the new year

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-35248853880804230332009-10-15T12:37:00.005-04:002009-10-15T13:06:16.126-04:00

Hey concert promoters, want people to buy tickets?How about putting a link to hear a music clip in your email or other promo!Seriously, I'm interested, but I just don't feel like doing the extra work to search and wade through all the results to figure out which one will give me the free listen.I get emails every week from the 9:30 Club, Ticketmaster and a number of other D.C. area event

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-31421592838899989372009-09-17T22:10:00.012-04:002009-09-17T22:59:05.730-04:00

The photo gallery "Exactitudes" is brilliant! I stumbled across it when I was looking up "social memes" on Google and couldn't help but flip through the hundred+ pages of style images.The photographers show that while people work so hard to develop their own original styles, we are really a part of these memes that reflect culture, personality, likes, ages, and activities -- ultimately, a group

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-34167807201236450912009-09-10T23:24:00.008-04:002009-09-11T00:47:14.872-04:00

These days all the trash talk is about going "green" with more enhanced recycling options. In fact, even when I was a kid (a couple dozen years ago) we were raised to believe that if we just recycled, we could save the Earth. (Imagine that said in a booming James Earl Jones voice.)So, what if you learned that the trash company you used wasn't actually recycling the paper, plastics, and cardboard

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-65763502377005679592009-09-07T08:35:00.009-04:002009-09-07T10:09:43.726-04:00

This holiday weekend one of our friends saved a boy from drowning. Oh, and another child who was trying to help the boy, too. I'm still perplexed about this whole situation and the aftermath.The kids were playing on a water trampoline and one of the boys (I'm guessing around age 7 or 8) who said he could not swim, was in the water with no life jacket. When he slid off the trampoline and found

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-45944630118460611042009-08-19T09:41:00.009-04:002009-08-20T10:53:14.505-04:00

Earlier this year, I took part in a "Spirituality of Food" class through UU Sterling's adult education program. It was a fun and intellectually stimulating discussion group with topics ranging from culture and community to dissecting the ingredients of a cookie recipe. At the conclusion, participants were asked to turn the experience into a Sunday service, "Are You What You Eat?"My contribution

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-36898796042334967742009-08-18T10:15:00.008-04:002009-08-19T09:01:38.268-04:00

Updated 8/19/09 @8:24 a.m.Word on the street is that LoudounExtra.com (owned by The Washington Post), a site that I helped launch back in 2007, is going dark by August 24. (previously noted as September 1, 2009.)I was asked by other local media to comment on this event, as I was back when the technical creator of the site departed in 2008. But instead of politely declining, as I had previously, I

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-56310952466949057792009-07-20T13:32:00.007-04:002009-07-20T14:22:35.108-04:00

There is so much going on with today's 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing that I'd like to share a few of my favorite things with you.See a "live" videocast and Twitter feed of the mission through WeChoosetheMoon.org. Great countdown widget and more.There is a well produced Washington Post slide show of the Apollo 11 mission, which includes an original song by Last Train Home's Eric

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-34230071696822376072009-06-04T14:24:00.011-04:002009-06-04T16:02:50.471-04:00

Sometimes bliss is found with friends and chocolate.Today Katie I. and I were introduced to The Wine Kitchen's "Dark chocolate mint Torta Palla with mint sea salt." It is one of the best desserts I have ever eaten -- in fact, I can't think of anything I like more. But I'm also still in a food coma. When I come out of it and am on full brain power, I'll update this :)And after a fun, productive,

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-46879709851825027002009-05-28T17:57:00.006-04:002009-05-28T18:24:59.376-04:00

There have been two topics today that have been swirling frenetically around Loudoun (and even beyond this 'burb), AOL's imminent departure from Time Warner and the swarms of pesky gnats that outnumber stimulus package dollars.Ted Leonsis greeted his Facebook friends with a link to his blog this morning: Ted's Take "Great News Indeed" and wrote:I endorse this move wholeheartedly. Spinning out AOL

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-25074223875659413122009-05-23T10:48:00.007-04:002009-05-24T09:55:44.373-04:00

Update 5/24/09The investigation has revealed the victim, Sofia Taj, 35, of Ashburn, VA, was apassenger in a moving vehicle when for unknown reasons she fell out of the carand onto the roadway. She was possibly struck by several other vehicles. Thedriver of the vehicle that Ms. Taj was a passenger in returned to the scene andhas been cooperative with law enforcement.Officials are still looking

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-27155979465301253752009-05-20T09:22:00.008-04:002009-05-20T11:11:41.859-04:00

It took a minute for this information to sink in: Joe Coleman, president of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, told a group of more than 100 people gathered at Sunday’s 14th annual meeting that he wants everyone to take the toll road Thursday, May 21 and to spread the word.Promoting carbon emissions was not what I expected from a group of outdoors aficionados and defenders of natural habitats, but

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-11414901151384380222009-05-19T21:20:00.004-04:002009-05-19T21:38:06.680-04:00

A friend in South Riding recently passed along a link to a coupon and savings site "Hip 2 Save" and it has been fun running through the offers and promotions to see where I'd actually choose to spend my money with any of these deals.No need for pull-ups or diapers here, but one obvious attraction is Restaurant.com's offer for discounted gift certificates. As of this writing, if you use the code "

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-8474985412214690232009-05-13T21:34:00.008-04:002009-05-19T12:33:12.009-04:00

Update 5/19/09LCHS fell to Broad Run in the District finals 5/14.Monday, 5/18 LCHS played the first round of Regionals against Western Albermarle, in Crozet, Virginia.From the official update:The Raiders Women's Lacrosse team took to the road this afternoon in the final game of their successful season when they travelled to Western Albermarle in Crozet, Virginia for the first round of

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-76318485973033612922009-05-13T09:25:00.006-04:002009-05-13T14:55:07.045-04:00

The Presidential at Dulles 28 Centre is now the 1757 Golf Club. It was supposed to be an exclusive executive course, with membership fees upwards of $60,000 a year and the best amenities that local wealthy duffers could buy.Well, now it is a public course and from outward appearances, developer Lerner Enterprises (owner of Washington Nationals) is a big winner in this tangled development

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-22846916317264238022009-05-12T14:30:00.005-04:002009-06-04T21:59:42.218-04:00

Having a food allergy sucks. It isn't about "not liking" something, or kids who are picky eaters (adults too). It is, unfortunately, about life and death for many people.This is allergy awareness week and it seems like a good time to tell our little story.Our daughter, version 2.0, was healthy and beautiful when she was born, but within a couple weeks quickly turned into a blotchy mess of hives,

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-14599625089976504162009-04-23T08:39:00.005-04:002009-04-23T09:15:37.093-04:00

Have you noticed lately that one of your children has a cluster of red dots on them that look like agitated mosquito bites?Well, that is what some of our friends thought -- that the few days of warm weather had brought out a swarm of mosquitoes that munched and lunched on the kids. Then some flu-like symptoms reared and off to the medical professionals they went.Turns out the bumps are actually

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-77629412638541878482009-04-22T09:10:00.013-04:002009-04-22T09:57:35.255-04:00

Today is Earth Day and this does mean something to me. I worry about our water, our air, the amount of processed food we eat (that is so bad for our bodies), plastics everywhere! ... and am hopeful that with enough people making small changes that it will make a difference.We should all want to see fewer children (and adults) with asthma, allergies and diabetes.Many in our neighborhood hate it

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-42140084450851539532009-04-15T10:15:00.008-04:002009-04-15T10:59:23.457-04:00

A friend recently polled Facebook buddies to ask, "What was your worst job?"And it took me mere seconds to come up with mine:Working as a clerk and technical manager for a legal firm in Old Town Alexandria. Meanest people I've ever worked with, ever. That internship is the one that drove me to change my major and get into media. hahaha, yeah, really... :)And here are odd jobs I did that I

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5690133984982030302.post-76000635713629477742009-03-20T09:52:00.006-04:002009-03-20T10:00:53.554-04:00

Who doesn't love a great advice column!?Fellow blogger Bethanne Patrick is giving away the new book by advice columnist Amy Dickinson (she pens "Ask Amy"), but to *win* one, you've got to make a comment.It got me thinking... what is the best or worst advice you've ever been given?An excerpt from my comment:Husband: “Fill up the gas tank before the light goes on”Friends: “Just show up, being there

Tammi Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16889587041563883444noreply@blogger.com8