Baby, it's hot outside

79 degrees at 7AM when I left my home in Carroll County this morning. It's been hot for the better part of two weeks here, even more so than usual. At least we are not alone, most of the US is suffering under this horrific weather. It's times like this that I realize I never could live anywhere but here--I can't imagine the idea of going through this without access to a body of water.

I realized I had not taken the time to properly introduce myself. My name is Rachel, and I am a life-long Maryland resident. I was raised in Montgomery County, in a very small town, then, after college in Kentucky (my other home), I moved to Southern Montgomery County, quite different from the country I grew up in. I moved to Carroll County in 2008 to live with my then-boyfriend, now-husband, who I refer to in the blogosphere as Left-brain, because he is very practical and thoughtful, and I'm an artsy, messy, free spirit of a girl. We don't always see eye to eye, but, as I explained to our pre-marital counselor, he's my lobster. We live with my step-dog, a pit bull named CaesarBeazer. I have two other dogs and three cats from my single girl days, but my little guy, Robbie, does not like male dogs, and, since his mouth writes checks his body can't cash, they live with my parents. It's not ideal, but it was a choice I made so that we wouldn't have any problems with two bickering male dogs. Left-brain is allergic to the cats, but at one point, we'd discussed having one of them. But they're so bonded together that, at 12 years old, it's too late to split them up, so they stay with my parents as well.

I love Maryland. I love being from here. I want to fully embrace my home state and learn more about her. I also want to share what it's like living in the shadow of the nation's capital, but trying to maintain an unhomogenized life. I'm always willing to take suggestions of places I should see, things I should do, food I should try, festivals I can not miss. So, if you have an idea, let me know!