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2018 in Review: A Roller Coaster of a Year

Fireworks in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington D.C.

What an insane year.

I started 2018 feeling ridiculous — I just finished the first semester of my Georgetown tax LL.M. program but did not have any grades yet. I was unsure if I would fail my classes or ever get a decent job. Maybe this Washington D.C. adventure was a mistake.

Things quickly got better. Instead of failing, my grades were actually strong. Job offers came in, spring semester’s grades were even better than the fall, and I started working immediately after graduation.

I moved from Pentagon City to Chinatown, and got rid of my car. Everything fell into place and I became a proper Washingtonian.

Gunter the Chiweenie upset about life in front of the Washington Monument.

Gunter the Chiweenie upset about life in front of the Washington Monument.

Ingrid the Labradoodle posing in front of the U.S. Capitol.

Ingrid the Labradoodle posing in front of the U.S. Capitol.

The Columbus monument and the liberty bell in front of Union Station.

The Columbus monument and the liberty bell in front of Union Station.

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial from across the Tidal Basin.

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial from across the Tidal Basin.

The Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The summer balloon decorations at CityCenter D.C.

The summer balloon decorations at CityCenter D.C.

The U.S. Capitol's reflecting pool, and plenty of ducks.

The U.S. Capitol’s reflecting pool, and plenty of ducks.

Ingrid posing in front of a Christmas tree near CityCenter D.C.

Ingrid posing in front of a Christmas tree near CityCenter D.C.

A drag performer at Dupont City Tap brunch.

A drag performer at Dupont City Tap brunch.

A pug dressed up for Halloween.

A pug dressed up for Halloween.

People sitting among the fall leaves in front of the National Building Museum in Washington D.C.

People sitting among the fall leaves in front of the National Building Museum in Washington D.C.

The labradoodle and chiweenie waiting at Starbucks in Liberty Place, D.C.

The labradoodle and chiweenie waiting at Starbucks in Liberty Place, D.C.

A nighmarish Meghan Markle mask at Dirty Goose in Washington D.C.

A nighmarish Meghan Markle mask at Dirty Goose in Washington D.C.

Drag queens and participants at the 2018 High Heel Race.

Drag queens and participants at the 2018 High Heel Race.

DC Brewfest at the Bullpen near Nationals Park in Washington, DC.

DC Brewfest at the Bullpen near Nationals Park in Washington, DC.

Performers for Fiesta DC Hispanic Cultural Festival near the National Mall.

Performers for Fiesta DC Hispanic Cultural Festival near the National Mall.

La Bella Mafia performing at the Shaw's Tavern drag dinner.

La Bella Mafia performing at the Shaw’s Tavern drag dinner.

A Lambda Legal event at the Newseum.

A Lambda Legal event at the Newseum.

The lines in front of the Supreme Court right before the Wayfair v. South Dakota oral arguments.

The lines in front of the Supreme Court right before the Wayfair v. South Dakota oral arguments.

Gunter with giant chess pieces in Crystal City.

Gunter with giant chess pieces in Crystal City.

Spring cherry blossoms at Georgetown University Law Center.

Spring cherry blossoms at Georgetown University Law Center.

Ingrid the labradoodle at Bardo Brewing in Washington D.C.

Ingrid the labradoodle at Bardo Brewing in Washington D.C.

Healy Hall at Georgetown University's main campus.

Healy Hall at Georgetown University’s main campus.

Leftover signs from

Leftover signs from “March for Our Lives” at Logan Circle in D.C.

Capital Gay Pride Washington DC

The nails at D.C. gay pride were amazing.

Capital Gay Pride Washington DC

A woman who sprained her ankle at Washington DC gay pride.

Ingrid and the gallery wall in our Riverhouse studio in Pentagon City.

Ingrid and the gallery wall in our Riverhouse studio in Pentagon City.

A cab on fire in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington D.C.

A cab on fire in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington D.C.

A couple dancing on Freedom Plaza in Washington D.C.

A couple dancing on Freedom Plaza in Washington D.C.

Thomas Circle in Washington D.C.

Thomas Circle in Washington D.C.

Ingrid the Labradoodle posing on the Georgetown Law Center Campus.

Ingrid the Labradoodle posing on the Georgetown Law Center Campus.

The view of Chinatown from the Pod Hotel's Crimson View rooftop.

The view of Chinatown from the Pod Hotel’s Crimson View rooftop.

Stick fighters during a festival in Chinatown, Washington D.C.

Stick fighters during a festival in Chinatown, Washington D.C.

Indiana Plaza in Washington D.C.

Indiana Plaza in Washington D.C.

A random man playing bag pipes in Washington D.C.

A random man playing bag pipes in Washington D.C.

Women working on an art installation in Logan Circle.

Women working on an art installation in Logan Circle.

The dogs at the U.S. Navy Memorial.

The dogs at the U.S. Navy Memorial.

Capital Gay Pride Washington DC

The parade at Capital Gay Pride.

Capital Gay Pride Washington DC

Dancing at Number Nine Bar.

The Ruth Bader Ginsburg portrait at Georgetown Law.

The Ruth Bader Ginsburg portrait at Georgetown Law.

The Friendship Archway in Washington D.C.'s Chinatown.

The Friendship Archway in Washington D.C.’s Chinatown.

I traveled a lot this year.

There were client visits in Philadelphia, new associate training in Atlanta, my mother’s birthday in Miami, the Texas Minority Counsel conference in Houston, the Tax Executives Institute conference in Dallas, and several weekend jaunts to Baltimore. I also got CLEAR and a mileage credit card like an adult. It’s a good feeling.

Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial in the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.

Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial in the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.

Beads being thrown at the Baltimore Eagle during Pride Week.

Beads being thrown at the Baltimore Eagle during Pride Week.

Downtown Houston

A standing ovation at the Texas Minority Counsel Program in Houston, Texas.

A standing ovation at the Texas Minority Counsel Program in Houston, Texas.

The new Rathskeller bar at the University of Miami.

The new Rathskeller bar at the University of Miami.

The Memorial District of Houston Texas.

The Memorial District of Houston Texas.

A drag queen at Baltimore pride.

A drag queen at Baltimore pride.

The

The “Clack that Fan” booth at Baltimore Pride.

People posing at Grand Central nightclub in Baltimore.

People posing at Grand Central nightclub in Baltimore.

There were several step-teams at the Baltimore gay pride parade. I have no idea how they weren't sweating.

There were several step-teams at the Baltimore gay pride parade. I have no idea how they weren’t sweating.

Line dancing at the Roundup Saloon in Oak Lawn.

Line dancing at the Roundup Saloon in Oak Lawn.

Statutes in Pioneer Plaza, in downtown Dallas.

Statutes in Pioneer Plaza, in downtown Dallas.

Bank of America Plaza in downtown Dallas. My conference was in the City Club, on the top floor.

Bank of America Plaza in downtown Dallas. My conference was in the City Club, on the top floor.

The lobby of the Ritz Carlton in Uptown, Dallas.

The lobby of the Ritz Carlton in Uptown, Dallas.

The year ended on a strange note

Although I hit several milestones this year, not everything went as planned. However, I’m gliding into 2019 with my health, a fulfilling career, the dogs and great friends.

I can’t wait to see how this turns out. 💃🏻

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