Save The Ta Tas

Johnnie, Angie, Jen

Walking the Mall during the summer can make me feel like one of those tourists that have slowly become as much a nuisance as those afternoon flash floods.

But thanks to Team Neighborworks - we've made it a tradition every June to lace up our tennis and strut for the Ta Tas at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Susan G. Coleman Race For The Cure

Top that Saturday morning sleeper-inners. (And yes Johnnie I did cheat a little bit - but I don't see the point in sitting in traffic - even if it's for a good cause.)

It doesn't hurt that we follow up our morning of exercise with a Bloody Mary and eggs Chesapeake at Clyde's. (also part of the tradition)

Saving Second Base

My darling friend Angela has finally figured it out - If you want me to show up..put it on my g-calander. It can be something as insignificant as a grocery shopping trip - or as important as saving the Ta-tas. That's what we did - she signed us up to walk and save the ta-tas. You're welcome.

And yes it was rumoured the new First Lady was down on the mall, getting her pink ribbon on...but we must have missed her. We did however, meet Gordon the Gekko and Angela's mystery man. This is also the day I met Angie's coworker Johnney. More stories to come, but he is quite a character. oooh we call that forshadowing kids...

Temporary Insanity

Twice a year, the folks at the Nordstrom’s open their door two hours early for overly enthusiastic make-up junkies to preview their season’s cosmetic collection a la runway style. Knowing my addiction very well – my enabling and equally addicted friend Angela picked up the tickets for the Saturday am show.

So there we were – 6:45 am, Starbucks in hand – waiting like stressed husbands on Christmas Eve for Nordies to open the doors to us as we watched richly colorful faces wiz by to set up. Then bam – 7 am on the dot and we charge – no exaggeration –charge – vying for great samples and front row seats. Mission accomplished.

For the next two hours we were dazzled and delighted by our host Julianne De’Chaump, Regional Manager for Nordstrom’s cosmetic department and her bag of goodies. In between coaching us on skin care, and luring us into overpriced merchandise indulgences, she would draw names for glorious prizes from La Mer, on down to Clinique. It was delicious.

So here I am scribbling madly – all the products I HAVE TO HAVE. Now in a regained sense of cogency, I reread these and giggle. For example – Laura Mercier foundation primer for mineral foundation – um I don’t wear mineral foundation and a $200 clerisonic face scrubber – yep need me one of them. Oh and don’t forget – Shu Uemura face cleansing oil – yes you read that correctly cleansing – oil. Madonna uses it – so throw that in my bag! At least the samples were free.

Brown Baggin It

Last February, in honor of Singles Awareness Day, Tommy hosted a little soiree while he did his show live at the Hard Rock Cafe. Of course, with Chez Copa in tote.

What's not to love - a bunch of awkward singles, discounted booze, swag bags and -oh pinch me- a Photo booth! And yes, I did intentionally try to walk off with the Elvis glasses. I was caught. But we did walk off with some pretty awesome swag including a free facial gift certificate from Shiseido. So today at lunch I cashed that bad boy in.

The lovely Shiseido consultant escorted me to a back room at Bloomingdale's, Chevy Chase, equipped for such a challenge. Then for 40 minutes she gave my face a full rub down with all the fancy shmancy products that will never make it into the Jen-Richer budget. Despite the company's claims, I'm not sure how much long term good was actually done. But I did leave refreshed and look nice and shiny. And as a former Labrador in another life: I'm telling you the best part of the whole thing was when she rubbed my ears for 10 minutes. I took all my strength not to wag my imaginary tail.

On The Move

Well we did it! Angela finally caved and signed the lease on her new palacial apartment in Crystal City. And one weekend and 6 trips later, the new Virginian resident is almost completely moved in! Sidebar – you really learn a lot about your friends as you pack up their belongings! The move of course was then toasted by Chez Copa at our very own McClarins (Crystal City Sports Pub)

Take Me Out To The Opera

As a huge Opera buff, (fan yes, but don't quiz me, I'm terrible) I was so thrilled to hear the Washington National Opera was once again doing a simulcast of their opening night performance. This year they would be playing Verdi's La Traviata on the HUGE high-def jumbotron at National's Stadium.

What a great way to spend the evening, under the stars, listing to far and away one of the greatest (and most popular) operas with a beer in one hand and Ben's Chili Bowl chili fries in the other. The performance was excellent and all 9,000 attendees at the ball park , including linds, angela and myself were blown away (some even cried!) while the kids played tag in the outfield. How very Italian!

It was the crowd control issue we had after the show. Unlike Nats fans - we stayed through the whole game - unable to tear our eyes and ears away from the show. So the metro happened to be just a hair crowded.

Zip-A-De-Do-Da

The girls and I hit up the Adventure Travel Expo and boy did it have a few surprises.

In addition to the booths highlighting just about every travel destination in the world, they had quite a few demos. A group of scuba schools set up a scuba pool where you can strap on a scuba tank and go swimming right in the middle of the convention center! Next door, the Caribbean vendors were jamming out to their  mini-dance fest complete with costumes. Not going to lie, we were pretty interested in the West Virginian white water rafting booth.

But the pièce de résistance was the West Virginian zip line. Although not as long as the ones we did in Costa Rica, this was a pretty great set-up.

After hitting  up just about every booth, including the Africa photo shoots, Angela, Katie and I hit the crazy line. Weeeeee!

Take me out to the OPERA

Ugh I love it! Remember I am a 60 year-old in a mid-twenties body! My grandmother used to have season tickets and would take me as her guest. (Usually because I was the only grandchild that got excited about the outings! So opera will always hold a special little spot in my heart, not to mention it's awesome!!



And here in the nations capital we are really fortunate to have a fabulous opera company. Angela and I went to see Cavalleria Rusticana preceded by four orchestral works.

It's a one act tragic love triangle of rustic chivalry (the title translated). Although this performance omitted stage scenery and costumes, replacing the staging with the orchestra instead, the masterful headliners carried the powerful tale with ease.


We were blown away by the performance by Dolora Zajick and Salvatore Licitra, the latter having just performed for the Pope while he was in New York.

I also sang for the Pope while he was here in Washington DC. Ok no singing, but I did get to attend the mass.

A Lady Can be Overdressed.....

In the great words of Coco Chanel, "a woman can be overdressed, never over-elegant." Well leave to Jen Richer to prove her wrong! Having been invited to Zoofari, an annual fundraiseing "dinner" for the National Zoo, I ran home from work to slap on some heels, slip on a dress and although I would probably miss cocktail hour, I was hoping to slip in before the speeches. In typical Wonkette lingo, Fundraising dinner = formal to semiformal sit down complete with toasts, roasts, and place cards.

Ha! Not the case in slightest. For Zoofari, the dress is casual as the guests walk down the mile stretch through the zoo stopping every 10 feet to taste food from local restaurants (most of them 3 and 4 stars) and drink wine from local vinards. Realizing that one of this kids was not like the others, it was back to the trunk to whip up a wardrobe change. Thank god for the flip flops and cardigan in the trunk. 3 minutes and a pony tail later it was back to the trail of gastronomical heaven. By the time we hit the bottom of the red brick road, I told Angela I may need a crane to pull me back up. This of course after dancing with a frog or two. I can't wait for next year!