Some more St T pictures!

A double rainbow over the island. The locals call the rain showers "liquid sunshine."


Day two, grocery shopping at the local Pueblo. I think Mal and I spent about five minutes picking out chips. You can tell Mike was excited about waiting on us. He picked out pretzels in .2 seconds and waited while we debated sour cream vs BBQ. He gets the "patience" award.


Hunky men. I think the one on the right is taken. What a lucky girl.


Dinner at Hook, Line, and Sinker. We all had yummy entrees. Dave and I both had the filet and shrimp combo. Mal had yellow fin fish with some delicious homemade mashed potatoes. Michael had shrimp alfredo. We followed the meal with Auntie's Rum Cake. WOW. One of the best desserts I've ever had!! It's a local favorite and can be bought there or online and shipped anywhere in 24 hours. Hint hint.


Dave, looking suave by the pool at sunset.


Mal, Rachel (our favorite cab driver at Bluebeard's!), Mike, and me. We rode with Rachel about 60% of our time on the island. She played this cd the whole time we rode with her. It got old, but became one of our inside jokes as we found ourselves singing "How Will Santa Get Here" several times throughout our trip. Ho, ho, ho.


Pool fun.


Beauty queen by the pool. I love this picture of Mal.

Some St Thomas Pics

I promise to write about our activities in a bit. Here is some eye candy for your viewing pleasure...


Mal and I when we first arrived. This is the view from our condo. Breathtaking... every night.













I think this is the littlest lizard I have ever held. My friend was hiding out at Cinnamon Beach, on St John's, a forty minute ferry ride from St Thomas.














Aww, sisters in suits.














Dave, Mal, and Mike in Secret Harbor, St Thomas.


Dave and Mal... look at that crystal clear water!














In the "taxi" aka converted truck... on our way to Trunk Bay, St John's.


Mike and I went into town and explored the market area and shops off the main road. Local store owners kept commenting on his shirt, which featured a random duck on it. They also commented on my butt. But, that's a whole other story.















Coki Beach, Dave picking up... dogs?? That dog was lovin' the lovin'.


Group shot before we headed to dinner at Hook, Line, and Sinker. Looking spiffy, eh? I think it's the only time that one of us wasn't in a bathing suit at any given time.

One of my favorite pictures taken from the weekend. Coki Beach, Mike, and me.

It's St T time!!!

OK, can I just share how excited I am about NOT being here and being in St Thomas in one more day?!

It's definitely time to get out of town. I saw snow flurries last night. Ahh!

We had our work Christmas party and it was a good time. It was hosted by a co-worker's sister in law. The house was beautiful, like something out of Better Homes and Garden. It was definitely built for someone who entertains frequently. There were a couple of "great rooms" with cathedral ceilings and lots of windows. There was a sink almost everywhere you turned. They even had a "vegetable sink"... purposely made just for rinsing off vegetables. It was about three inches deep. Say what?! They had an island in the kitchen that featured a sink (there were FOUR in the entire kitchen!) and a stove top (with a professional hood). The downstairs alone had to be at least 2500-3000 square feet. Out back, they had one of those professional stone grills and a huge patio to entertain. There were Christmas lights, trees, and other decor everywhere. It was a beautiful home.

For dinner, we had Maggiano's take out (brought in?) and it was delicious. Since we had a cookie competition, there were many desserts (think: cookies, fudge, buckeyes, etc.). After dinner and a mild cookie-induced sugar coma, we sang a few carols and played a game called bonko. It's a dice game that is a good "party game" because it shakes the room up and involves changing tables/ seats every three minutes or so.

I got home shortly after 11. I thought about packing for about three minutes before I opted instead to veg a bit and then hit the pillow.

I have so much to do today, it's crazy! Mal and I are going to attempt to get DC licenses today on my lunch break. Cross your fingers, you know how fun the DMV can be. We got our first ticket on Wednesday for not having switched to DC tags yet. A whopping $100. Not cool. The process to get new tags in DC is (seemingly) long and it begins with getting a new license.

Before jet-setting outta here, I gotta hit the bank, we have to go to Target or Walmart and get some last minute supplies, and I have to pack.

As you can guess, there won't be any posts while I'm in St Thomas, but I will be sure to update when I get back in town...

December Already?

So, it's begun. Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas has arrived. We've put lights up in our apartment. We strung colored lights around the front windows and put those fake candles in the center of the windows on the bottom and top floors. The colored lights in the windows stayed up a solid 24 hours before the duct tape that was holding them gave up and let them fall. Since when does duct tape not hold?? The white lights that Drew and I wove around the banister are festive and we've lit them every night since stringing them.

Mal and I attended our first Christmas party last night. It was with our Alpha group and was hosted in one of the member's home. The group was small, with only nine of us there. However, I enjoyed the intimate size. It makes for easier conversation. We had some food and then played Cranium, which is one of my favorite party games. It didn't hurt that I was on the winning team.

Dave is in town for the weekend, so Mal has been a bit preoccupied. He was able to go with us to the party last night. I could tell that Mal was excited to share him with some of our friends.

The week ahead looks busy already. On Thursday night I have my work Christmas party. It's quite a ways outside DC (almost an hour) at someone's house. I'm looking forward to it and the opportunity go get to know some of my coworkers better outside of the office. Besides that party, I think I'll be squeezing in some dinners with other folks before the week ends. Between dinner dates and holiday festivities, I'll be packing!

I can hardly wait until Saturday. I haven't decided if I'm more excited about going to the islands or seeing Mike again. It's a toss up. Just six more days...

Thanksgiving

I'll give you the skinny on the holiday (which is ironic cuz I didn't exactly stay skinny over it!).

We had no traffic problems leaving DC or coming back home. Amazing, right?

My family is doing great. It was wonderful catching up with them. Some of them I hadn't seen for months.

I didn't gain back all the weight that I lost on my fast. Yay! The entire holiday break I enjoyed loads of yummy food and didn't feel guilty. Upon my return to DC, I am still three pounds lighter than my original weight before my fast. So, not bad. Mal and I have begun fasting again in preparation for St. Thomas (eleven days, holla!!).

I loved every minute I spent with Michael. He is amazing. I feel so blessed and lucky to be dating him. Our time together went by too quickly. We enjoyed some QT by ourselves in Gboro, but also spent time with others. I saw his new house and met his parents last weekend. They're a great couple and remind me a lot of my own parents. Seeing as how his parents already know mine and like them (yeah, small world, right?), there won't be any awkward "meeting of the parents". I don't have to worry about them getting along!

I'm counting down the days until Mike, Mal, and our friend Dave (from DC) go to St. Thomas. I'm so excited!

The weekend

In looking over my month, I realize that I have posted very few updates.

It's been a great weekend. The majority of it was spent in "down time" and was very enjoyable. Friday afternoon wasn't the best, as I left early from work with eye problems. Blaming it on Mal's pink eye from earlier in the week, Mal drove me to the doctor and I was prescribed some drops. It feels much better- normal. I've decided that I'd like to get LASIK surgery (ASAP) and have decided on a personal goal of having it done in one to two years.

Mal and I started a juice fast/diet on Tuesday of this past week. We were inspired by a friend of Drew's who visited and stayed with us for four nights this week. She'd been on the fast for 23 days and had lost over 15 pounds. The fast is designed to last for thirty days and is intended to "flush the system" of toxins. It's done by using an extractor to juice fruits and/or veggies. Only the juice is used- no pulp, etc. The juice provides minerals and vitamins that the body needs without added calories. The result is a healthier inside and slimmer outside. To date, I've lost nine pounds in six days. Not shabby, folks. It's approximately 400-500 calories per day. I've drank juice, teas, water, and some coffee. No food. I'm going into day seven.

It's been really hard, but I'm not as hungry as I was in the first few days. My body has adjusted and the results on the scale (and in my clothes) have been encouraging. Mal is losing weight too. I've only four more pounds before I reach the weight I was when I graduated high school. St. Thomas, here we come!

On Saturday, Mal, Drew, and I all slept in and it was great! The afternoon was spent relaxing (mostly since we're all broke and can't afford to do much else). In the evening, Mal and I ventured out to buy some things on our "to get" list. We tackled the Dollar Store (told you, we're broke), GNC (had to get some supplements for the juice fast- we're keeping it healthy, don't worry), and Walmart (where we picked up a juicer, since Drew's friend left DC with her's). The guy in GNC told Mal that he'd heard of many people having success on the juice fast. He added that the weight tends to stay off, which will be nice. I think that as long as we're smart in transitioning back into a "normal diet" that we'll be okay with keeping off the extra pounds. I've certainly learned that my hunger pains can be worked through and that I don't really "need" that cookie like I thought I did. :) I'm feeling awesome and have more energy than I thought I would.

Today, Mal and I went to church. It was a great message about how God can turn our adversities into opportunities. The pastor is in the third week of his seven part series that is themed around the book that he wrote.

After church, the two of us caught the new Bond movie, Casino Royale. I don't know why so many people were knocking Daniel Craig. He was just as entertaining as the previous actors who've played the character. It was a great flick and quite "Bondish" in all the classic ways. Well, minus Craig's blonde hair and piercing baby blues.

I'm so excited about the short week ahead and the holiday on the horizon. I'll only be working two and a half days this week, as I am leaving work early on Wednesday so that we can leave DC by noonish. Mal has a breakfast meeting that morning, but will be done before 10 o'clock. Apparently, traffic is deadlocked on the highway after three, so we're getting an early start.

Things I'm looking forward to: Catching up with the fam, seeing Michael (and his new house that he's closing on tomorrow), meeting Mike's parents (Friday), and seeing some friends. I can hardly wait and am in count-down mode. I'm worse than Dick Clark on New Year's eve.

It's official. I'm falling harder and harder for that man. I'm so blessed to be dating him. Thank you, Lord. You are faithful in your promises. Your timing is questionable, but I give my doubts to you. You know what I can't. For that, I am also thankful.

NC, here I come!

This just in... looks like it will be a fast trip to NC this weekend. I love spontaneity.

I heard back from one of the pastors at NCC after I sent an email inquiring about becoming a leader in Alpha. The leadership meeting this Saturday is for people more interested in leading their own small group. Alpha has its own training program. So, I won't be missing anything if I head to NC this weekend.

Mal and I will be heading south as soon as I'm done with work tonight.

With this change of plan, I may get to attend a wedding in Winston that I otherwise would have missed. Also, Mike and I have already made plans for Saturday night. One of his coworkers is having a party, so I'll get to meet some people with whom he works. Plus... I get to go to Calvary on Sunday. YAY!!!

Something stirring again...

Mal and I went on a church retreat this weekend. Friday night began roughly. Mal's last day at The Senate was hellish and she'd been unable to shake the emotions and stress that it had caused. Our plan was to leave shortly after six. The retreat center was supposedly an hour and a half away in West Virginia. She came through the door at 6:40 (we were to be there by 8:00). Although our bags were packed, there were a few last minute things to get together. She was tired. Hungry. I was a bit sleepy. Nonetheless, we gathered our belongings and Mal led the way.

I stood on the landing, locking the front door, and heard her yell from the street. She was standing before the car. "Are you kidding me?!"

It was dark and I was balancing my bags while locking the door. Is she talking to me?

"What?" I called out, but received no response. I finished locking up and fumbled down the stairs to the sidewalk. It seems that she was yelling to the cop who'd left the ticket on the car. He was gone, or so it seemed. I think she yelled for good measure, in case he was still within ear shot. The car had been illegally parked for less than ten minutes. It was long enough, however.

That's how our weekend began. We were tired. Mal was starving. We were running late and had just received a parking ticket. It seemed that the weekend would be long.

Isn't it great how the tides can change though? They come crashing in, sometimes furious and angry, and then flow out gracefully. That's how the rest of the night went.

Our drive was smooth. We had McD's for the first time in a while. Living in the city, and far from convenient fast food, makes McD's a treat. Mal had her sweet tea, which I thought was a miracle since we were in Maryland. We arrived to the retreat center by 8:20. We were late, but had shaken the negativity that had taken hold earlier in the night. As we walked through the main hall, it was empty except for about five people. Hmm.

We signed in and learned that many people were running late. No worries. We'd get started at nine instead. It gave us time to settle in our room and claim a bed. We shared a room that had 21 beds in it, one sink, and one toilet. There was a chill in the room and the toilet was finicky. Luckily, there were only five of us assigned to the room. Later in the night, we were able to snag extra blankets from other beds.

The evening began with a "get to know everyone" game. Then, we watched an introductory video to the weekend. It basically gave us a preview to the topic of discussion- the Holy Spirit. Then, we broke for free time. From about ten o'clock on, we formed smaller groups and played games that had been provided to us. Mal and I joined a group playing Cranium. I love that game. The night wrapped up shortly after midnight. By the end of our time, I'd already met some more people and been on a team that had won the game. Nice.

Everyone returned to their rooms for sleep. Mal and I stayed up until after one as we talked with one of the women in our room.

The next morning began bright and early. We shared a communal breakfast and then met in the larger room from the night before. We watched a video, listened to someone speak for a bit, and then broke for lunch and free time. Mal and I ate lunch with our "small group" that we meet with every Monday night. There are eight of us and we are evenly divided between men and women. Our ages range from mid-forties to Mal's 23. It makes for some lively discussion and the size of our group is perfect.

When we returned to the large room, we took time out to perform some skits. After that time, we watched one more video and wrapped up with prayer time. It was an amazing weekend and I felt the Holy Spirit moving. I'm excited, and hope, that there will be a "summary" of the weekend that is shared tomorrow night. I know that there were a lot of people who are really seeking answers about God and I hope that the weekend brought them some clarity. Please be in prayer for those who are seeking Him. I can tell that seeds are being planted.

Mal and I left there feeling hope and closeness. After we arrived in DC, the rest of the evening was spent relaxing. Drew is sick and sneezing every few minutes. Mal thinks she has contracted pink eye. I'm popping vitamins and washing my hands like a maniac. So, last night was spent lounging in pj's and surrounded by kleenexes. We played a game of cards, but went to bed fairly early for a Saturday night.

Church was awesome today. The music seemed heavenly and the message was encouraging. Our pastor published a new book about a month ago and today started a seven-part series that relates to the book. At the end of the sermon, he gave everyone a copy of his book. I'm excited about reading it and also hearing more applications on Sundays.

I'm thinking about getting involved with leading Alpha (our Monday night study) next semester. I'm feeling a tug that's prompted some praying. Next Saturday there is a "leadership seminar" that I may attend. It's for people in the church who want to get more involved with small groups and take on leadership roles (go figure that a class entitled "leadership seminar" would be that). So, we'll see. I think I'll go and hear what I can do.

Mal starts her new job tomorrow in Alexandria. Her commute will be a little bit longer, but I know it'll be worth it. I'm looking forward to seeing how she grows with this job and hearing about the difference that she is making there.

Just my CD and me

It's quiet here tonight. The roomies are gone and the apartment is mine. I've got the television off and my CD player is sharing the newest tunes of my collection, Fertile Ground. With the rain going nowhere and the slight waft of autumn in the air, the music floats magically as I am tucked under my favorite blanket. I have four other similar albums in the player's queue. Waiting.

Sigh.

Lazy Fridays are rare. Lonely ones are even farther between. I'm liking this quite a bit. Solitude is a foreign concept around here. There's always someone nearby. Living with three other people makes it inevitable. I treasure my few minutes at the end of the day when I arrive home before everyone else. I can collect myself, reflect, and gather my thoughts. I wouldn't say I completely unwind, but I do detox from my day.

I met Rich's wife today. She was telling me about a friend of hers who has a Sidekick, that makes email and messaging a hip away. She looked like she was about to burst as she described what it could do. When she was done, I was candid and shared that I had no desire to be that accessible. Not skipping a beat, she turned to Rich and said she'd like to be that accessible. There are times that I don't even want to hear my cell phone ring once more. I can't imagine wanting more accessibility and paying for it.

I'm not naive. I know it will happen one day. It's where technology is going and it's on the horizon. I'm just not committing any sooner than I must.

The irony is that the technology "connects" us while pushing us farther apart. People walk around with their noses in the Blackberries (aka Crackberries here in DC) and are detached from everything around them. Please. Quit reading your up-to-the-minute weather report and lift your eyes.

We're at the point where everything can be done from home. You can order your Friday night without any form of human contact. Pizza. Movies. Games. I guess human interaction is optional (unless you live in apartment with three others... there aren't too many options there!).

Maybe the creators of this technology had roommates and rare alone time. That's the only thing I can figure. It was an escape. Now it's just becoming a reality for all.

The Dining Car

My crazy companion was three cars behind me on the train that we shared. Most likely it was then, while I was seated in the dining car, that he began sipping on his Hennessey. He was no worry to me. At that point, I had escaped our grueling conversation and was enjoying the scene in front of me.

There were only seven tables in the car. They reminded me of the cheap booths that lined the walls of the cafeteria at West. As I slid into my booth, I noticed the lip that was on the edge of the table. It guarded any unprotected lap from spills. Other than that, it was like any other booth.

I sat with my back to the last booth in the car. A man had his back to mine and had covered his table-top with papers. He was distracted by no one and seemed intensely focused on the work before him.

I unwrapped my sub. It was ham and cheese and the cheese oozed out the sides. Yum. I looked around at the other Amtrak patrons with whom I dined. I felt, for my time there, like an Edward Hopper painting.

In front of me was an odd trio. A man with gray hair sat across from a couple. His bow tie was blue and his shirt pin striped. His jacket, though meant to look expensive, looked much less costly paired with the cheap tie. The couple facing him were not together. She had slipped in last. Her British accent hung in the air and I could tell the gray haired man facing her was trying his best to impress. So was the man beside her. She was, in fact, the only woman their age in the car. The man beside her had his own distinct accent. It was rich with Southern tones and his Budweiser, faded hat, and flannel shirt played on the stereotype in my head. He had his elbow on the back of their shared perch. His torso faced her and his Budweiser never left his hand.

Behind them (and in the last booth on my side of the car) sat another trio. It was three giggling teens. Two of whom were girls. All three looked like an American Eagle ad. Their clothes were layered, with appropriate tucks and outages. The girls focused their attention on their shared male companion. There was the occasional hair flippage (by all three). His hair was shaggy and both of the girls had headbands holding their longer manes back. I was much less interested in their ad than the bow tie trio.

Across from the teens sat an older black couple. I was envious. They were playing cards. He was facing me and she was facing her scotch and him. It wasn't poker. They were playing with too many cards. I learned later what it was, but I've since forgotten. They seemed oblivious to the car around them... even to one another, as there was little conversation exchanged. Their individual trances were broken only by the flip of a new card.

At this point, I opened up my laptop and started a game of solitaire. Disappointed with the less than entertaining results, I peered over my computer at the other patrons.

A man sat by himself behind the card players. He was older than the other gray haired, bow tie man and was balding. The remnants of what he ate earlier sat in front of him. A sandwich container similar to my own. His gut barely fit in the booth. He was lost in his book. He was in the center of it- no doubt caught up in characters far from the fluorescent lit car.

I should have brought a book. I stared at my solitaire game and looked at the couple playing. Next time, I'm riding with someone who can play cards with me.

In the booth to my immediate left sat the conductor. One of them. I learned later, from my crazy seat buddy, that an average of three conductors ride on the train. They trade off and relieve each other. I guess the one beside me was on a break. He was joined by two other workers who apparently were of lower rank than he. They were discussing the stops. What was next, what was after that, and how Greensboro was "going to be a pain" because there were so many bags to unload.

Good, I thought. We won't be rushed too quickly off the train.

The conductor barely looked up from his paperwork. He was adding figures. They were the number of people getting off at each stop. Twenty three were getting off in Greensboro. I was one of his figures. Just a number and a woman staring at a solitaire game.

My attention fell outside the window. It was dark and I could see nothing but an occasional orange light race by. Well, I guess we were the ones racing. The lights stood still against the darkness as our dining car passed.

One Day at a Time

I'm looking forward to a looong weekend. I've taken off Friday and am going home tomorrow after work. It will be my first train ride in years and I'm excited about sitting and the opportunity to zone out for a few hours. My boss has agreed to let me leave early. I plan on working a little while on the train, so when I asked about heading out before 5:30, he graciously let me.

I'm looking forward to catching up with my family and also meeting some new people. Mike and I are going to a wedding in Asheville. So, part of the weekend will be spent in Asheville and the other in Winston. I can't wait!! I wish I was already there. Tomorrow is going to be long due to my anticipation. I haven't been home in a while.

The week has been great. The past few days have kind of been slow after last weekend.

My grandma, aunt, and cousin were in town. Also, Dave graced us with his presence over the weekend as well. Our time together flew by. Mal and I welcomed the chance to show the family "our city" and favorite places to go. The weekend was a mixture of planned events and places to go, but we also had time to relax and just enjoy one other.

After they arrived on Friday, we went to Bistro. Kaylor waited on us and I was impressed. He's getting better. All except the part about forgetting to ask Mallory what she wanted. Yeah. Poor Mal.

On Saturday we semi slept in before heading to the Air Force Memorial dedication. The ceremony was on the grounds of the Pentagon, where the memorial stands tall against the sky a few hundred yards away. President Bush and Donald Rumsfeld spoke. I was more impressed with the airshow than any of the speeches.

After catching the ceremony, we headed to Thaiphoon, one of the best Thai restaurants that we've found. From there, we came back to the house and enjoyed a relaxing evening as we played Apples to Apples. I love that game. It prompted great stories and some contagious laughter.

Sunday came too quickly. We headed to Eastern Market after first grabbing brunch at Bread and Chocolate. While the food was okay, the company is what made the meal. After dining and shopping away the afternoon, we headed back to the house for some great conversation, some political chatter, and (later) some homemade dinner. Grandma made us her yummy noodles and Drew made a delicious salad, complete with toasted goat cheese and homemade dressing. The entire meal was fabulous and the perfect way to end the weekend.

Last Weekend

It was different in many ways than the norm. First off, I had to work the majority of it. There was a Commission meeting at the CCCU. Normally, I would have played a smaller role, but my boss was in Russia. Since he is on the Commission, I stepped in and was his "ears" for their weekend-long meeting. The Commission is of comprised of campus chaplains and ministry directors from around the country. Most of them were from out west (CA and WA) and stayed the whole weekend.

Friday night, they me at CCCU and we did our meetings there. I was in charge of lunch preparations and for organizing dinner plans. Not a big deal at all. I took them to Bistro for dinner. We had a new server who rocked. It was her second day- she'd obviously waited tables before. So, I was a bit relieved when our pace, etc. went smoothly. Everyone enjoyed their food too.

That night, we stayed at the National Cathedral. It's breathtaking. We arrived there shortly after nine and I made my way to my room. I roomed with one of the Commission members. To get to our room, I had to walk through the kitchen and up this random stairwell. The room was small and quaint. It housed a dresser, nightstand, and two twin beds. The furniture left much to be desired and the window AC unit looked like it hadn't been used in twenty years. I was relieved it would not be needed. No telling how many crispy bugs would have reappeared from its insides if it had been activated. The hallway was dark and the floor had carpet like one would find in a home, not a hotel. Slightly plushed, but also old. We shared a bathroom with the three other rooms in our "wing". It was no dormitory style room either. It had one toilet, one shower, and one sink. The Cathedral was cold and the windows were poorly insulated. I could feel the air blowing through the cracks.

It was quite an experience. Before I went, Drew told me the "ghost" story of the Nun that haunts the Cathedral. Somehow, the irony of a nun haunting a church is beyond me. As I sat in an empty parlor, with my blanket wrapped around me, I couldn't help but wonder the history of the room I was in and of the Cathedral in general. It was cool to stay there. It's one thing to look at it and even tour, but quite another to spend the night.

On Saturday, we met at the Cathedral all day. We ate breakfast and lunch there. They had family style tables and a small buffet for us and about twenty other guests. We ate beneath high ceilings adorned with stain glass. Amazing. I couldn't help but wonder if it used to be a place where services were conducted as I looked over to the right and saw a pulpit pit (for lack of a much better term) that jutted out and over the corner of the room.

We finally wrapped up our meetings in the early evening. They graciously drove me back to my apartment. When I got home, I was exhausted. Mal was in NC over the weekend, so Drew and I just hung out for a bit. Then, inspired by it being Saturday night, we decided to go to Under, a dance club close to Chinatown. It had four levels with different music on each one. It was a fun time.

Sunday was spent catching up on some sleep. Later in the afternoon, Drew and I made our way back to the Chinatown area and went to the National Portrait Gallery. After spending a little over an hour there, we caught the film The Science of Sleep. It was a mixture of English and French, with the artistic inspiration of French director, Michel Gondry. The film was well made, although it left me feeling a bit melancholy. I was impressed by the acting and the audience's immediate ability to emotionally connect with the actors. Definitely "artsy" and not for everyone, but it made for perfect Sunday evening entertainment.

A City of Acronyms

They are everywhere here. Over the past few weeks I can't help but think about this recurring theme throughout DC. I mean, the shortened version of the city is itself an acronym.

When I worked at the Library of Congress (which I loving refer to as the LOC, oh the irony), there were departments that reported to CRS (Congressional Research Service, there again). They had at least a dozen of them and I had just started mastering their meanings before I left.

Now, I'm at the Council (CCCU), where my shortened title is the Admin Asst for the EVP (AA for the EVP). It's this signature title that is in all my emails. When I go out and tell people my title and where I work, I'm old by the time I'm done. So, I shorten it.

And so does everyone else around here. Are people too high strung and fast paced in DC that spouting their titles is too much? Is there that much work to do (or pretend to do if they're in gov't) that wasting time with the extended version is too time consuming?

I went to a party this weekend, where I asked a guy what he does, and he rambled off all these letters. Can someone actually BE a stream of letters? Here in DC one can. After trying to decode them, I eventually folded and asked for the translated version. The answer: A cancer research assistant at the department of health (or something along those lines). CRA at the HD. Eh, you get the idea.

In looking back at NC, there wasn't this push to condense. What is it about DC? Can the name of a city be a prelude to the people inside it?

Work, work, work

I received this in an email today from one of my friends in DC. Although I'd read it before, it's funny enough to post. What was more ironic was that (one) I read it at work and (two) she works in government.

Subject: Work

For a couple years I've been blaming it on lack of sleep, not enough sunshine, too much pressure from my job, earwax buildup, poor blood or anything else I could think of. But now I found out the real reason: I'm tired because I'm overworked.

Here's why: the population of this country is 273 million. 140 million are retired. That leaves 133 million to do the work.

There are 85 million in school, which leaves 48 million to do the work.

Of this there are 29 million employed by the federal government, leaving 19 million to do the work.

2.8 million are in the armed forces preoccupied with killing Osama Bin-Laden, which leaves 16.2 million to do the work. Take from that total the 14.8 million people who work for state and city governments. And, that leaves 1.4 million to do the work.

At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals, leaving 1,212,000 to do the work.

Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons. That leaves just two people to do the work.

You and me. And there you are, sitting on your ass, at your computer, reading jokes.

Nice. Real nice.

Some New Stuff

Work was slow today. Not LOC slow, but certainly a little more than the norm. My boss is out and will be until Thursday morning. This month he has been traveling an "unusual amount". To me, it's normal (it's all I've known), but he has said that it will slow down tremendously.

The weekend was fun. Friday was relaxing. We stayed in and watched a movie that a former coworker of mine from the LOC suggested, The Long Engagement. It's French and has the actress that I really enjoyed in Amelie. The movie was good, despite it's length. It was long. Heh. Go figure. The character development was somewhat shallow and there were some characters that were unnecessary. However, despite my criticism, it is a good film.

Saturday was spent tidying up and also lounging around the house. Mom and a couple of her friends from NC were passing through (from a visit to CT). They stopped and spent the night. We had a great time! Mal and I were excited to share the apartment with them, especially since Mom hadn't seen it since she helped us move. They got in early enough to eat dinner with us and catch up a bit before we went to bed.

Sunday morning, Mal, Drew, and I took them to our church. The music was awesome and the sermon was encouraging. After church, we ate lunch and I quickly showed Mom the CCCU before she left town. It was a fast trip. Too fast. But, I'll take family when I can get them. Especially my mom!

Sunday night, Drew and I caught a free concert event at the Kennedy Center. They have a free show every night at six. We saw Cibelle (you can actually watch what we saw- they post every show on the website!), a Brazilian singer who "takes audiences on a sonic journey through bossa nova, electronic music, soul, and jazz." It was a beautiful show. At the end, I bought her cd and Drew and I (mostly Drew) talked to her and got her autograph. A very "DC" evening. :)

Tonight Mal and I went to Alpha, a group in the church that aims at tackling questions that are thrown at Christians (and asked by them) all the time. It also educates attendees about other religions and beliefs. So, Mal and I checked it out in the hope of getting plugged into the church more and meeting some new people. Every Monday they have Alpha. It works like this: there's some "meet-N-greet" time, then they provide dinner, there's more gab-time, and then they show a video on whatever topic is to be discussed. After the video, we break into smaller groups and talk about the video. Tonight, I guess we were running late. There was no "breaking up" into small groups. We just broke completely.

While it was certainly an interesting time (Mal and I met some quality people), the group was a bit large for my taste. It was crowded and loud. My idea of a genuine "get to know you" is on a much smaller scale. We probably will go back. We also will probably look for a group that's smaller and more intimate.

Random note: I booked my travel for my next trip back to NC. Mike and I are going to a wedding in Asheville over the weekend of October 20th. Instead of driving down and spending my entire Sunday in the car (from Asheville to Winston and then to DC), I've opted to fly home. I'm taking the train down on Thursday after work. Should be a relaxing ride. I get in after midnight. Mike has offered to pick me up and I'll crash at his place. Then, Friday I'm hoping to have someone pick me up from Greensboro to take me home. Any takers? haha.

Seriously. ::nudge, nudge:: ?

"You've got mail"

So, this was sent to me by Steve, my neighbor, in response to the post I wrote on Lou Dobb's article on May 24, 2006. It's pretty humorous and since he can't post it (being limited by his Crackberry, er Blackberry), I've cut and pasted it from the email that he sent me.

"...I just got this e-mail forwarded to me yesterday. It is a form letter people can send to their senators (unfortunately, I don't have any senators). Check it out..."

The Honorable Whoever
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510

Dear Senator Whoever,

As a native Wherever and excellent customer of the Internal Revenue Service, I am writing to ask for your assistance. I have contacted the Immigration and Naturalization Service in an effort to determine the process for becoming an illegal alien and they referred me to you.

My reasons for wishing to change my status from U.S. Citizen to illegal alien stem from the bill which was recently passed by the Senate and for which you voted. If my understanding of this bill's provisions is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the United States for five years, what I need to do to become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five years.

I know a good deal when I see one and I am anxious to get the process started before everyone figures it out. Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have had to pay taxes every year so I'm excited about the prospect of avoiding two years of the last five years taxes in return for paying a $2,000 fine. Is there any way that I can apply to be illegal retroactively? This would yield an excellent return for me and my family because we paid heavy taxes in 2004 and 2005 and I estimated a gross savings approximating $72,000. After the fine this would yield me a net savings of $70,000.

In addition, I would reap the other benefits of being an illegal alien such as free healthcare, avoidance of paying Social Security taxes, buying automobile insurance, serving on jury panels, etc.

If you would provide me with an outline of the process to become illegal (retroactively if possible) and copies of the necessary forms, I would be most appreciative. Thank you for your assistance.

Your Loyal Constituent,

Any thoughts?

Updates all 'round

My week flew by. Today is my only day off this weekend, so I'm taking full advantage of my couch.

Last Sunday night I slept about four hours. The word "slept" is really misleading, as most of my night was spent tossing and turning. My mind wouldn't shut off due to my anticipation for Monday morning.

My biggest project is behind me (it was Friday and Saturday), but Monday I was already nervous about it. This weekend, the CCCU hosted a conference about South Africa. It was basically a brainstorming session about study abroad programs that the schools (in the U.S.)want to develop with the campus in S. Africa. Also, there was talk of what is already being done there with students and faculty. About 25 people flew in from all over the U.S. and one guy even flew in from South Africa.

My first major project was to prepare for this conference. This involved: answering emails from those attending about a variety of topics (ranging from directions to hotel info to conference info), securing meal plans (reservations for dinners, catering for lunches, and setting up a breakfast spread), preparing packets of information, and other details to ensure a smooth conference. As I was preparing for this event, I was also running between my own orientation meetings with the CCCU. I barely knew how to do my job and had been thrust into preparing for (and being the "go to girl") one of their biggest conferences in the past few months! So, as one can imagine, I was a bit stressed throughout the week.

I will summurize some of the moments that flash to mind as my week ran its course:

• (Day One) I have about three orientation meetings with different staff members. Between personal meetings, I go to a business meeting that's focus was Sept 11. For lunch (that I was anticipating running home and sleeping for about 45 minutes), my boss approaches me and suggests a "working lunch" at the German restaurant I wrote of earlier. So, we go. Three bites into my lasagna, I manage to spill it down the front of my sweater. My boss says later (after I sheepishly return from the bathroom with sauce remnants on my chest), "People are going to think that I took you to lunch and butchered you." This is of course in reference to the five, quarter sized, bright red sauce spots that are screaming from my shirt. Great first impression. Go Meredith. After lunch, he drops me by my house to allow me to change. I joke that upon his lonely return, he should say that I burst into tears at lunch, overwhelmed by my work, and quit on the spot. He finds humor in this and does so. It gets a good laugh when I walk in the door (clothed in a new outfit) about ten minutes later.
• After a crazy first day, my boss calls me into his office first thing on Tuesday morning. He leaves the door open. A good sign. He asks how I'm feeling. Do I have my classic "deer in the headlights" look? Is it that obvious? "I'm feeling okay," I lie- a little. Where is this going? He nods. Tells me some more information about the CCCU. This of course, isn't sticking like it should. Then, he offers to pray for me. And we do. Awesome. I work at a job where my boss will call me into his office and pray for me.
• Tues through Thursday morning are blurs. I nervously prepare conference details. Meanwhile, in all the spare time I have (ha!), I've been combing through my email inbox. Day One I opened it and had 76. By Thursday, I'm down to 12. Yay for progress.
• Thursday (Day Four) I'm in charge of picking up our South African guest at the airport. The night before, Mal and I rode to it so that I would know how to get there. Wednesday night it took us about thirty minutes to get there. I leave the office on Thursday with 50 minutes before his flight touched down. That should be close enough. An hour later (and ten minutes past his arrival time), I've just pulled into the airport. I'm late. Panicky, I park. It's gonna be close. What if he's already gone through the welcoming area where I should be standing, sign in hand, and smile on face? I pull out the bright orange sign I've made with his name on it. Ashley. An unusual name for a male. Since I'm late, I carry the sign in a way that anyone passing me as I walk through the parking lot and terminal will see it. I pass the area where people are standing, with luggage, and waiting on a cab. "There you are! I've been looking for you!" A man walks up to me, ball cap on head, smile on face, and luggage in hand. Wow. Thank goodness I had my sign out already, I would have walked past him. I return the smile. It comes easily since I am relieved that I "caught him" before he grabbed a cab. I mumble something about the pleasure of seeing him. He interjects. "I'm just kidding you. I've always wanted to do that!" His southern accent is thick. I mean, really. What would you do? I smiled back, slightly miffed that I have wasted time "entertaining" this man while the man I am supposed to be picking up may be walking around aimlessly inside. I laugh it off and proceed to walk past him. "Entertained man" starts following me into the airport!!! And rambling... about a movie he saw where two girls took this guy on a whirlwind city ride because he thought they were other people- basically "movie character" fell for them like I did for him. I picked up my pace, mumbled something about "maybe I'll pick you up next time" (what the?), and continued inside and through the terminal to the International Arrival area. I'd lost him. He finally got the point as my back was all he was communicating to. I arrive to the International area. I don't see Ashley's flight on the screen. I wait twenty minutes, nervously. I've missed him. Finally, it flashes on the screen with "Landed" next to it. I realize how ambiguous that is. Is it on the runway, taxiing in? Are they already off the plane? Is he halfway to the CCCU by now? Do I still have a job? Thoughts were running through my head. Long story short... he finally exits from customs about 45 minutes later. It's 5:15 when we leave the airport. I pulled up at 4:05. I still have a massive amount of work on my desk before Friday morning. I still have to take him to his hotel before I return to the office. I still have to set up for breakfast in the morning.
• Thursday evening (Still Day Four)- Mal and Dave (he drove up for the weekend) help me set up the communal area for Friday's breakfast. The three of us leave the CCCU at 8:50. It looks fabulous.
• Friday and Saturday went off without a hitch. Everything ran smoothly. The conference about South Africa was in the morning (Fri.) and after lunch, most people left. Some stayed and we had other meetings. After a day of meetings, eight of us went to dinner at the German restaurant (again). Dinner was good. None of it landed in my lap, either. Quaint and informal, I got to know some of the guests who I'll be in frequent contact with from here on out. They are actually on a board that meets twice a year. This year's meeting was after the South African conference and continued through Saturday.
• Saturday went well, too. Our group of eight covered about ten topics of discussion. Well, they did. I took notes furiously to type up later. It was this afternoon that I learned of my trip to CA in March! I'll be going with my boss, Rich, to Los Angeles in March to take notes, see the campus (Biola) out there, and enjoy some CA sunshine. Yay for traveling with my new job!

So, that summarizes a lot of my week. I don't think I'll be this absent (from posting updates) in the future. I barely had time to think this week (unless it was about South Africa and 25 other people).

Mallory and Drew left earlier today for NC. Drew will return tomorrow afternoon. Mal gets back Wednesday (I think). She has business in Charlotte for a few days. So, tonight will be quiet. Just what I need.

It's done...

I did it! I survived my first week at CCCU. Coming VERY soon... an update. On all. Can't wait to share.

Thursday, Thursday

It's been kind of slow the past couple of days. Not that I'm complaining. I went to lunch today with my favorite coworkers in the office. She's my supervisor (well, one of them). We went to a new Thai place. You'd think I'd be sick of it since I've had it so much lately, but I'm not. Lunch was delicious and I was thankful to have the opportunity to "dine" with her before I left. She has a quick wit and is very funny. We get along well and I'll miss our daily interactions and jokes.

Tonight, Mal and I are going to one of the House buildings where they're having a Beer Institute kick-off. A lot of big names (in brewing) are hosting a party and giving away free booze from 6-8. Should be fun. There will be a couple people there that we know and have begun to hang out with lately. One of whom is actually going to St Thomas with Mal and me- whom we've nicknamed "DC Dave." The function is "Congressional" and will probably be the last government perk I'll have before leaving tomorrow.

Other than that, it should be a pretty low key night. If I make it home in time, I want to catch the new show called "Til Death" with Brad Garrett (from "Everybody Loves Raymond") in it. It looks pretty cute and funny.

Labor Day Weekend Adventures

I can't decide if I'm tired from the weekend or from the depressing weather outside. I'm looking forward to the day (Monday, to be exact) when I will have a window to look out of while I am at work. Days like today are no loss, however, as I can only imagine the dreariness that a window would show.

The walk in today was a long one (despite Mal driving and dropping me off halfway). The rain was slamming down and my umbrella was fighting as best it could. My pants were drenched from my ankle to my calf and remained in a damp state until after lunch. Fabulous. Only four more business days of walking over a block. Might as well get a subtle reminder before it happens, eh?

The weekend was too short and I'm thankful that I had an extra day tacked onto its end. Friday night, as Ernesto howled and made his presence known, Mike braved the storm and arrived shortly before midnight. After introducing him to Drew (Mal and Mark were both in NC this weekend), the three of us talked a little bit before calling it a night.

Saturday morning was spent in the apartment and from there our busy weekend began. Since he's into gardening and we both share a love for plants, I took Mike to the Botanical Gardens. I'd been there briefly a few months ago on my lunch break, but was unable to cover the extensive grounds during that visit. So, I was happy to return and share the gardens with him. After our garden visit, we met Drew back at the apartment and I dragged Mike grocery shopping (which he later confessed to enjoying due to his love of cooking). That evening, Mike cooked the three of us a delicious meal of ginger & lemon baked salmon, scallop potatoes with a garlic roux sauce, and fresh green beans seasoned with soy sauce and a hint of cayenne papper. Mmm. Oh, and I made a salad. How's that for helping in the kitchen? ;)

The evening wrapped as we watched Rushmore. It's one of Mike's favorite movies. While Drew loved it (and later rented another movie written and directed by Wes Anderson), I failed to appreciate the dry humor as much as the guys. After hearing Mike say that he didn't like it the first time he saw it, I'm willing to watch it again in the future. Maybe the far future.

On Sunday, Mike, Drew, and I went to church and then Mike and I went to lunch at one of my favorite Thai places. It's nestled in Eastern Market, so after we ate we went for a walk through the market that hosts booths, with all kinds of treasures, on Saturdays and Sundays. Shortly after we began walking home, I received a phone call from my second cousin who was visiting (with his wife) for the evening. We met them at the apartment. The two of them, Mike, Drew, and I sat for a little while and talked before we went to dinner (minus Drew) at our Ethiopian restaurant in Adams Morgan.

My cousins had never tried Ethiopian cuisine. I think it was the first time they'd ever eaten food of that consistency without silverware either. As always, the experience was fun, even though I'm not sure that they'll jump at the chance to eat it again.

We walked, metro'd, and then drove the rest of the way home. That evening, the five of us (Drew was back in the picture) watched Hoodwinked. It is an animated movie that plays off the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Very cute and funny. Then, my family went to bed and the three of us night owls watched The Royal Tenenbaums. This is another Wes Anderson movie and one that Drew was inspired to rent for us after watching Rushmore. As for my brief comment on it- it was better than Rushmore.

Monday was unplanned (much like the rest of the weekend). Since it was only Mike's second trip to DC (in his life), we went to see the Lincoln Memorial. This is one of my favorite ones to visit. Arguably, it may be my favorite. It's simple, but majestic. Lincoln's second inaugural speech is chiseled on the north wall and the Gettysburg Address is on the south's. Lincoln sits tall as a 19 foot marble statue of him is centered just past the 36 columns (that represent the states of the Union at the time of Lincoln's death). It's a breathtaking memorial.

From there, we walked beside the Reflecting Pool and made our way to the WW II Memorial. After snapping some pictures there, we walked to the Washington Monument. Finally, we strolled to the Old Post Office and rode the elevator up to the bell tower. The view, from the bell tower, is of the entire DC area. It was one that our DC Ducks guide (from Mike's last DC trip) suggested that everyone see. The guide was right. We took turns pointing out familiar sites in the city and did quite a bit of glancing at my map to learn about places that we were uncertain of.

After walking all day, we gladly metro'd back. He stayed until almost seven before driving back south. In the evening, Drew and I dabbled in some art work before Mal came home shortly before midnight. The evening closed as we shared our weekends with one another.

CCCU

Well, I have one and a half days of experience at my new job. I'm slightly overwhelmed, but confident that it's going to be great (once I'm comfortable in my new role). I know that I'm supposed to be there and with that feeling comes peace.

Everyone that I've met has been kind and welcoming. I was able to train the past two days with my predecessor. She's the current assistant and is leaving for CA tomorrow. She's explained my responsibilities, introduced me to the database and people in the office, and given me an idea of a week's workload. I'll definitely be busy. I'm excited for the challenges that are around the corner.

Today I went to lunch with some of my new coworkers. My new boss treated us at his favorite restaurant, that's been lovingly nicknamed his "second office." Apparently, he goes there several times a week and finds any excuse to hold a business meeting there. It's a German restaurant that's about six blocks from the office. Due to the nasty weather today (thanks to Ernesto), we drove there. I had a yummy dish, although I cannot recall the name of it. It was veal, onions, peppers, and potatoes. It was one of their daily specials and was quite tasty.

It encouraged my spirit as we bowed and blessed our food before eating. My boss led the prayer and as we prayed I couldn't help but thank Him again for this opportunity. I know I won't feel confident in my daily tasks for a few weeks and I'm looking forward to that time!

My coworker (that shares my immediate office space) attends the church that I go to. We talked briefly today about small groups within the church. She's going to get involved with a local bike riding group. Seeing as how I have no bike and have never been into that, I think I'll try another group. When I mentioned the one that I'm interested in, she informed me that one of her good friends actually leads it. Small world, eh? DC isn't that big after all...

The weekend is looking sunny regardless of the weather. Mike is coming to visit through Monday. Also, I have some extended family coming in on Sunday night. Should be fun, despite Mal's absence (she's gone to NC for the weekend).

A Little Catching Up to Do

I've been MIA. On hiatus. Trying to get y'all "detoxed" from my blog. With the new job around the corner, there will be no sitting at my desk and writing posts. No more CNN on demand or Myspace. The phone will act as more than a paperweight. I will "untrain" myself from eagerly awaiting the mail carrier and something to do.

It's true- I have high expectations of where I'm going. I'd bet all the money that I have (thanks to living here and being paid less than what I made back home, that's not too much right now) that I'll be busier at CCCU than here. Thank heavens. "The Jefferson's" theme song is running through my head right now.

The weekend was fun. Mal wasn't around (stinker), because she went to Richmond. However, Drew and I managed (barely, Sister!) without her. On Friday, I stopped and bought a bottle of champagne before going home. I couldn't help but find the irony in almost getting hit by this moron in a Honda two blocks from the apartment. Carrying my bottle of bubbly, talking on my phone, and walking (with the right of way)- I had to literally jump back as he plowed ahead, with his face turned away from me, into the intersection. What an idiot. I was slightly miffed that I didn't have a free hand to pound on his car as he missed rolling over my feet by centimeters. Alas, I digress...

I arrived home (after seeing my life, and that of my champagne bottle, flash before my eyes) and Drew and I hung out for a bit. Then, we toasted the bottle away and went dancing in Georgetown. Drew is a great dancer and, despite my few moves, always manages to make me feel pretty decent as his partner. We got back to the apartment shortly after one and watched TV before calling it a night.

Saturday was spent sleeping in before Drew and I set out for the National Portrait Gallery. Our plan was to take in the art and from there go make some. We walked the thirty minutes to Chinatown and arrived with several hours to spare. Thirty minutes into our art adventure, Drew said he was hungry. So, we left the museum in search of food.

As we munched on sandwiches, our eyes beheld what would distract us for the next four hours. Stores... right across the street and as far down as we could see. Of course, one of my favorites (Ann Taylor) was flashing and calling my name. What started out as, "we'll duck in there real fast," eventually became, "I can't believe we spent all that money and never made it back to the museum." Yeah, we were weak.

After blowing our money (aka. breaking out our charge cards a couple of times), we rented two movies and went home. We watched "Amelie" (a wonderful French film) and "Run, Lola, Run" (a butterfly-effect German film). Both were well made films, but I absolutely loved the first.

On Sunday, we went to church and then to a "Meet and Greet" luncheon that the church hosted. It was there that I met a few people and devoured a slice of pizza. The rest of the afternoon was spent napping and relaxing. Then, in the early evening, Drew and I set out for Joy of Motion to tackle their Hip-Hop class again. I can't say that I was any better the second time around, but the routine sure seemed easier to grasp. Judging by the soreness that I felt for a couple days afterwards, I also got a good workout. The night ended with yummy Thai food and quality conversation.

Monday night was a break from the norm (as if there really is a norm here). I went with "DC Dave" (a friend of ours that lives nearby and is eventually going to St Thomas with us) to Banana Cafe. Steve was playing the piano and we (and about six of his other "groupies") stopped in to hear him tickle the ivories. It was a fun time had by all as Steve entertained us with his "out of the box" piano bar tunes.

There was no Billy Joel or Elton John. The air was filled with Radiohead, Weezer, and Journey (my request), among others. The bartender kept requesting Elton John, but Steve would not have it. Maybe that's why he didn't get any free drinks? Anyways, it was fun and led to some karaoke performances by most of us.

Good news!

This just in a couple hours from this moment: I got the job at the CCCU!!!!

I feel like I am floating and am so excited. God is great and I could see His hand throughout this whole process. I will start by the 11th of September (maybe sooner, if my current employer will let me go before then). My hours are from 9-5 and (as mentioned earlier), my commute is a block away!

Wow.

I am still amazed. Not that I got it, but because it seems perfect. A perfect Friday gift from Him. Thanks for all the prayers... you can now praise Him just as much for how they've been answered!!

I love you all!!

Waiting...

OK, both of my second interviews are behind me. My last one (at CCCU) was this morning and it lasted three hours! It was supposed to be only two, but it lasted well over the time estimate. I'm not complaining, however, I'd rather it go long than be too short.

I will hear back from CCCU by "close of business day tomorrow" and am expecting to hear something from the National Trust by next week. If I land the CCCU job, I will let National Trust know that I am withdrawing my application with them. So, at this point, I'm just patiently (read: internally wringing my hands and wondering if I'll revert back to nail-biting) waiting.

Last night's activity was fun and somewhat last minute. Steve invited Mal and me to see The Steve Miller Band in concert. It was at Wolf Trap Filene Center. It was an awesome venue because of its intimate size and structural make-up.

When we arrived, the place was packed. Attendees are allowed to bring in food and beverages, so there was quite a spread! People sat on blankets and there was a variety of food and drinks. I even spotted a small table, some shrimp cocktail, and some gourmet-looking dips in the crowd!

We (finally) found a spot with some visibility of the stage. It was on a hill (that felt like a mountain) and the view was mostly obstructed by wooden beams. However, we made the most of our location, enjoyed a fabulous picnic (of sandwiches, chips, grapes, Oreos, and sodas), and enjoyed a partially-obstructed view all evening.

The music was great, dancing was debatable, and company divine. Another fun evening in my new city!

Second Interview Squared

UPDATE: This just in...

I was called back about the job interview that I completed yesterday. We have scheduled my second interview for Wednesday afternoon.

That's one second interview Wednesday afternoon and one Thursday morning!! Y'all are awesome prayer warriors. Keep it up (especially about the one on Thursday)!

PS- Have you supported a soldier today?

Much to Cover

First of all, thanks for the continued prayer for my job process. My interview on Friday was awesome. I really enjoyed meeting the guy who I'd be assisting. Also, besides him, his current assistant (she's moving to CA at the beginning of Sept) introduced me to about 6-8 more people in the office. All of them were very friendly and seemed to enjoy working there. Big plus. I received a call today and have a second interview(!) on Thursday morning.

I had another job interview this morning (at different place) and it went very well too. I interviewed with two men and it lasted about an hour and a half. I was told that I was a "strong candidate" and that I had many of the qualifications that they are looking for in someone. So, I left feeling confident about it. My first choice is the job from Friday, however. It's the one that's a block from my house!

The weekend was jam packed with excitement. Although nothing was mentioned before now, my best friend (Priya) from high school was in town for the weekend. She arrived on her train Thursday evening and left this morning.

The weekend was so much fun! Thursday was our usual "take the out-of-towner to Bistro" night. Mal, Drew, Priya, and I grabbed some dinner and were served by another new server. We didn't catch her name, but she was much better than Kaylor! So, finally, the service was as impressive as the food since Cliff's departure.

Friday morning was my interview at CCCU. After the interview, Priya and I met Mal and Drew for lunch at La Luma, a Mexican restaurant near Mal's office. From there, Mal went to work and Drew left for Asheville. Priya and I went home and took naps. haha! We were exhausted by all of our fun already. After catching some shut-eye, Priya and I packed a picnic and went to Jazz in the Sculpture Garden. Once there, we met her friend Elizabeth (who lives here in DC) and Mallory. The atmosphere was relaxing and I enjoyed catching up as jazz drifted through the air. Priya made a comment about how everyone is "all business" during the day, but really knows how to kick back after work. It's true and is probably one of the reasons I enjoy it so much here.

After we ate dinner and shared some wine, we picked up our picnic (pick-nic?) and went to see Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail at Strathmore. It's the same deal as Screen on the Green, but in a different location and it features newer movies. So, we enjoyed more outdoor (and free) entertainment.

Saturday morning was spent sleeping in. What a great luxury! Mal, Priya, and I went shopping in Pentagon City, where there is a huge mall! Ahh!! Although shopping is not my favorite activity, we didn't stay too long, so it was tolerable. Plus, I found some cute shoes to go with the dress that I wore later that night!

After shopping, we quickly stopped by a party that we'd been invited to at our friend Jan's. We didn't stay long, however, because we set out to take advantage of restaurant week in DC. Last week, expensive restaurants all over the district featured a set price for gourmet lunches ($20.06) and dinners ($30.06) and allowed patrons to enjoy three courses of heavenly food. Mal was kind enough to book our reservations at Cafe Promenade.

It was there that we three ladies met our friends Dave and Chris for dinner. The food was excellent and savory! I enjoyed Maryland crabcake for my appetizer, petite filet mignon as my main course, and tiramisu for dessert. Yummy! Everything was cooked perfectly and everyone enjoyed what they ordered.

After dinner, we went back to Jan's party and made some more friends before (eventually) going to Adam's Morgan (a neighborhood in DC) to wrap up the evening with cocktails and conversation. We planned on going salsa dancing, but were unaware of a strict "no shorts" policy that deterred a member of our party from entering. So, instead we went somewhere else and sat for the evening. The way my feet were hurting from my new shoes the next day, it was probably a good thing that dancing wasn't in the cards!

On Sunday morning, I caught church on the internet via Calvary's live stream. Mal, Priya, and I finally made it out of the house after two. We saw Step Up, a new dance movie that is in theatres now. Great movie. I couldn't help but have flashbacks of my hip-hop Sunday with Drew last week. Although completely predictable, it featured many talented dancers and a catchy soundtrack.

After grabbing some groceries, we headed back to the house and fired up the grill. Shortly after, we had an impromptu party as Steve and his parents (who were in town for the day) joined us for dinner. My grilling skills left much to be desired compared to Drew's (or anyone, for that matter!), but the burgers and hotdogs cooked (slowly!) despite the low (invisible) flame that burned beneath them. haha! There was certainly no "overcooking" them!

The weekend went fast, despite the fact that I had Friday off from work. I'll keep you all posted about my job news. Keep the prayers up and fingers crossed! :)

Pictures!!!!

OK, throughout the day, I'll be adding pictures to past posts (finally!). Check them out.

• July 19, 2006 "DC Stuff"- Screen on the Green pictures added
• July 25, 2006 "Whoa, Lots to Write About"- a couple pictures of Brooke, Heather, and me

Mal and I had "home run" evening at the Nationals vs. Braves game last night. We headed to the game after grabbing dinner at the house. It didn't stop us, however, from feasting on cotton candy and ice cream at the game. Mmm. The Nationals won, 5-0, thanks to Mal's and my presence. haha. Go Nats!

Snack one: Cotton Candy.

After we finished it off in record time, Mal said, "Think he'd recognize me if we bought more when he walks by again?"

"Nah..."

We're still working on the same (and only!) cotton candy stick here. It is noticeably smaller though! :)

Cuz ice cream makes her feel better...

Being goofy. You can't take us anywhere. maybe that's why nobody did! haha. ;)

Sitting high in the stands.

Mal too.

A view from our seats.

Another one.

***************************************

Tonight's agenda: Tape the finale of our beloved So You Think You Can Dance (Go Benji!) and catch a French film with Mal, Drew, and Paola (one of Drew's coworkers). Ciao, baby.

"You gotta be a moron..."

"... you gotta be a *moron* to wanna be a fighter," said Rocky to Adrian, after she asked why he wants to fight.

Well, the moron (Stallone) in the movie Rocky held Steve, Mal, and me captivated last night. Last night, the three of us (and hundreds more) gathered for the final movie shown in the Screen on the Green series. There were many great lines and moments in the movie. having seen it before, it was completely different as I sat, picnic style, among many other "Washingtonians". There's nothing quite like an erruption of applause during a scene that pricks the human spirit (ex. the moment where Rocky finally wins Adrian's heart or when he celebrates his training achievement at the top of Phillie's Museum of Art's steps). Good times!

Tonight's agenda: Mal and I are taking in the Atlanta Braves vs. the Washington Nationals game. Mal scored two free tickets at work today. Plans are to grab dinner at home and then make our way to the stadium (a mere ten blocks away). Look for us on TV. :)

For the Troops

Thanks, Kristina, for information about this. This link will take you to an e-greeting site that has been created for our troops. Basically, it take two minutes to send some love their way. Once you are there, choose a card that you like, a message from a list of pre-scripted greetings, and hit the "send" button.

It takes no time to do and is a great way to show your support for them. Wouldn't it be awesome to make a daily commitment to send some love their way? Or whenever they cross your mind? People are always asking, "what can I do?" Well... this is certainly something!

Coming at you: The next big Hip-Hop diva

I cannot stress enough the pleasure that I derived from NOT rushing home on Friday, packing a bag, and jumping in the car. My unstructured, relaxing, and carefree weekend was long overdue and embraced whole-heartedly.

We unexpectedly found ourselves hosting an impromptu party on Friday evening. Some fellow ex-interns with Drew and Mallory (in the UNC in DC program) stopped by the apartment. Josh, who recently moved to DC after accepting a job with one of Florida's Congressional representatives, and Chris, who was passing through town, stayed for a couple hours. Also, Drew's brother, Kent, who was visiting for the evening, and Marie, an intern in his office, both arrived as Drew was getting off work. Finally, "the" Dave came to visit Mal for the weekend.

Drew made us all chili for dinner and we caught up on everyone's news before going to the movies. Mal and Dave went to the new 9/11 movie entitled World Trade Center. Drew, Kent, Marie, and I went to Pulse. Pulse was the typical "scary" movie, with its occasional jump and freaky creature appearances. The acting was terrible (big surprise there) and the plot weak, but it was still fun to get out and attend a new flick. The movie is definitely a "renter", however.

On Saturday, Mal and I met one of my co-workers (Gretchen) and her friend (new to the city), Emily, for lunch. We took the bus to lunch (a first for Mal) and ate at Mackey's, a pub on the north side of town. The conversation flowed easy enough and Mal and I (gasp) made a new friend.

After lunch, Mal and I parted from them and went back home. On the way, we ran over some ideas for the afternoon (go to the Mall and bask in the sun was high on the list), but in the end we opted to take naps in the air-conditioned apartment. When we awakened, Mal and Dave went to the Nationals game with Steve and some of his friends.

Drew and I hung around the apartment and then caught up with Marie. Later in the evening, the three of us went to Hawk and Dove and danced until the morning hours. It was fun, although most of my night was spent dancing with this guy from France who had about as many moves as I do (which translates as "not many"). In the end, Drew saved me and the three of us walked home. I hadn't been dancing in a while, so it was a welcomed break from the norm.

Sunday morning came and went. Well, that's what I assume, because of the way time works. I didn't see it.

No one stirred in our house until afternoon. A little after one, Mal came into my room and greeted me. Most of the early afternoon was spent lounging. Drew had mentioned the desire to attend a hip-hop class and asked me (before the weekend approached) if I'd be interested in attending it with him. Always up for new things, and having nothing better to do on Sunday, I agreed to go when he asked if I was still interested.

Mal bowed out, mentioned something about cleaning her room, and Drew and I left for the class. It was definitely intense and challenging. The warm-up exercises alone kicked my butt (and abs) into high gear. The instructor (Angel) warmed us up and then proceeded to teach us a routine to the first part of a song. The moves were quick and she wasn't one to linger in the delivery. There was no hand-holding or slow approach to her teaching method. She basically showed us the moves for four to eight of the counts, went over them a couple of times, and set us loose to mimic them back to her. Then, we built on what we'd already "learned".

You talk about someone out of her element... I couldn't help but give Drew a "I can't believe she expects us to get this" look. Apparently some people were getting it, however. There were some very skilled dancers and they caught on fast. Drew certainly grasped the moves quicker than I, however, in the end, we were both struggling through the routine.

The experience was a blast. I told Drew that if (and when) I get a new job, with a higher salary, I'd definitely like to join a dance class. Not sure if hip hop is in the cards, but I'd try it again. It was a challenge, for sure. I'm sore today and that's a good sign!

After our class, Drew and I walked home. I made dinner for the three of us and then Drew and I performed our dance routine for Mallory. Not tiring of it, and trying to get it down, we spent about an hour dancing. At one point, Mal said she was sick of hearing the song (or was she really just jealous of our suave moves?), and left to get groceries. The rest of the evening passed at a much slower pace (maybe because we weren't jumping around and bobbing rather off beat to music?).

Overall, the weekend was a blast. Tonight I think we are going to catch the last Screen on the Green movie. Rocky is playing shortly after sunset. It should be a fabulous wrap-up to the series.

Lookout.... a Cookout!

Hmm, it's been three days since our cookout, so I figured that it was time to post something about it!

On Monday night our first guest arrived at 6:40, right as Mallory and I were walking in the door from work. Ahh! Luckily, Drew made it home before us and had started the grill. Mal and I got to work preparing the food in our huge (note sarcasm and refer to "apartment pics" posting) kitchen. ;) While Mal cooked the beans (we had green and baked), I made the salad. Drew manned the grill and made hotdogs and hamburgers. Beforehand, we feasted on shrimp cocktail, chips and dip, and goldfish crackers (hey, we're poor, remember).

There were about ten of us crowded in the living room of our apartment. A few more spilled outside onto the steps and patio area, where the grill was.

It was a fun evening. Lisa, a friend of mine from NC who is in town for the week, came to visit. Mal had over a few interns from work and Drew invited some co-workers too. Also, Steve and Duncan (from downstairs) graced us with their presence.

Some people left earlier to catch the Screen on the Green movie that was playing and the other half stuck around until the later evening hours. Some pictures were taken, but none by my camera. I will do my best to scrounge some up for your viewing pleasure.

For it being our first cookout (and first time Drew had ever cooked on a grill), it was a success!

In other news: I have my interview at CCCU scheduled for next Friday at 10:00 AM. Please say a little prayer if it crosses your mind!

"And this has been your weekend update"

The weekend's skinny:

• My ride to NC on Friday was pretty much how I imagined it. Long, longer, and super long. Got stuck in traffic twice (regular DC traffic then again for an accident) and managed to turn a five hour trip into almost 6.5. Nice. The end of the journey was well worth it. I spent the evening with Mike and enjoyed dinner followed by a night of shooting pool. He taught me nine-ball and I've decided that it's much better than eight-ball. I can actually win sometimes! I met his boss, too. Nice guy. It was a fun evening and I'm glad that I got to spend time with Mike this weekend.
• Saturday- wedding day. The wedding was beautiful. I met Brooke and Heather and we drove to Raleigh. The ceremony was short and sweet (like I like them) and I actually saw a few things that I hadn't seen in a wedding before that would be cool to do in my own. Well, if that day ever comes...
• Had dinner with Dad on Saturday. I always treasure my "dad time" when just the two of us can go out together. They are rare. Usually, our time is shared with Mal and/or mom.
• Saturday evening was spent with some people from church. We headed downtown for some live music. After a little while, the larger group dissipated and I got to hang with some of my closer friends. Four of us went to 6th and Vine, one of my favorite places downtown for live music and casual conversation.
• Sunday was low-key. Went to church (yay!) and was reminded again of how much I miss it and my friends. After church, I caught up on sleep before hitting the road for DC. I actually made it in before midnight last night. I arrived shortly after ten and assembled the grill for our cookout tonight before I went to bed.

Oh, Mal called me on Saturday as I was prepping for the wedding.

"I called you because I know you'll laugh and I need to laugh," I could here the smile in her voice. "I just got stung by a jellyfish on the same leg that I got bitten. It stung me on my kneecap (her bite is behind her knee)," she shared her story and I did laugh (after I gave my sympathies, of course). Seems she wasn't in the water too long before she made a new friend. She was just "going in to cool off". Poor Mal. I did my sisterly duty and reminded her that things happen in threes. I don't think she wanted to hear that.

As I promised, I have some updates to my Christmas list. One, I've lost two pounds. Yay. I'm eating better and generally just staying hungry before I go to bed (instead of snacking and sharing an evening glass of wine with Drew). Also, while I didn't work out today (I was assembling the grill until 1 AM), I have been doing good about exercising in the morning.

Two, I have a job interview next week! It's with the CCCU. I applied two weeks ago and, after I applied, I noticed that the address is two blocks from our apartment. It would be perfect to only have a five minute walk to work (especially since winter is approaching!). After reading my email about an interview, I visited their website and came across this page today. Their president shares the same last name as my pastor at Calvary (church back home) and of my Sunday School teacher, Jon.

Hmm, I thought, I wonder if Jon is related to this guy. Knowing it would be really random, but thinking that the resemblence was uncanny, I shot him an email. Within twenty minutes of my inquiring, I already had a response from Jon.

"Yep. That's my Uncle," he wrote. "Maybe the attached recommendation letter will help." He sent me a letter to share during my interview. Crazy, eh?!

At this point, it looks promising. The "coincidences" are amazing. It would be God's hand if I get this job. Every detail is just too perfect for it not to be. I'll definitely keep you all in the loop and let you know what day my interview is.

My City

Guess I unknowingly made a pretty good decision about where to live!

American Cities That Best Fit You::

65% San Francisco

65% Washington, DC

60% San Diego

55% Honolulu

50% Austin

Which American Cities Best Fit You?

What about you guys?

On the Road Again...

Once again, it's another Friday that I find myself perched at the edge of my office chair, anticipating a road-rage filled drive down I-95. Thoughts of brake lights, middle fingers, and over-heated cars in the emergency lane consume my mind as I stand to face its reality in less than two hours. This highway has a special place in my heart- even if it's the dark, shadowy, never voiced place. It's a blessing and a curse rolled into a barrel-lined stretch of asphalt.

The blessing being what's at its end. Familiar faces, places, and new memories to be made. The curse... well, if you've ever ridden on I-95 on a Friday afternoon, you understand that no words can describe it. Actually, it envokes images similar to those in Lord of the Rings, Aladdin, and Joe Versus the Volcano. You know, having to jump from one floating rock to another (or ride a magic carpet aka Pontiac Bonneville) in bubbling magma, keeping your eye on the goal (going around the slow truck in the left hand lane before you reach the other in the right), and conquering it without getting burned by the hell pit (or speeding ticket) surrounding you.

Yes, it is this that I will be facing shortly.

I'm going to NC for the weekend. It's a trip that I'm looking forward to. I'll be spending this evening with Mike. I'm actually meeting him at his office, so I'll get to see where he works before we begin our evening plans. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll attend a friend's wedding. Surprisingly, it's the first one this year to which I've been invited. Last year, there was an influx of invitations and people buzzing with matrimonial conversations. I can't say that I miss it, but the energy is contagious once the festivities are underway.

Mike is flying to the Bahamas on Saturday while I'm riding to Raleigh for the wedding (hmm, I think he got the better deal). Saturday evening I'll get to catch up with friends and family after the wedding. Not sure what we'll get into, but it will be fun. Sunday, I'll get to go to my church (yay!) before leaving in the late afternoon.

Mal and Drew are going to Wilmington for the weekend. Drew's friend from work and Dave will be going with them. They are staying in Drew's mom's beach house.

New month. Morning thoughts.

Quick update to yesterday's post: Mallory is doing fine. The doctors analyzed the bite on her leg and concluded that it was left by a brown recluse. They've prescribed some antibiotics that she's to take over the next ten days. It's pretty regimented, but the prognosis (that she gets to keep her leg!) is great. :) Apparently, the clinic that she went to has seen few patients with this problem. In fact, Mal was their "first" brown recluse bitten patient.

"The doctor had never seen a bite like mine. She left the room for a bit and returned saying that she had to consult a book and look at the pictures to compare," Mal explained. "By the time I left, three other doctors came in and looked at my bite. None of them had ever seen one before. I felt like I was on display." Whoa.

"The real funny thing is," Mal continued, "I didn't get bit while I was camping, but while sleeping in a hotel," she smiled. Ah, the irony...

Other than a nasty, "stinging" (Mal's words), ugly bite, complicated by a terrible sunburn, Mal is doing fine!

Now for my morning thoughts. The following is my new list. I've been thinking about a lot of things lately (scary, I know) and have decided to make some big changes. Most of the items on my list, I'd like to see completed by December. That's my goal. So, I have entitled it: What I Want for Christmas. I think that by writing this (and posting it), it will push me to actually get everything done.

Without further adieu, I present my list...

What I Want for Christmas:

1. To have studied for, taken, and passed (with a personal goal score) the GRE.
2. To take my GRE score and proudly place it on my grad school application. This, of course, entails finding a school/ program that I am interested in pursuing. While I have an idea (that began generating while Brooke and Heather were visiting) of one at Wake, I would like a couple options. In short, this #2 can read: Apply to grad school. Since I don't want to add to my debt owed to College Foundation of NC, my third goal comes in to play...
3. To apply and receive a scholarship(s) for my grad school of choice.
4. To lose 10 pounds. I would like to actually do this by St. Thomas and not by Christmas. Because of this number on my list, the following (immediate) two are related...
5. Start working out every weekday. I was faithful to my work out routine before I moved from NC. Because of it, I lost quite a bit of weight after Keegan and I split. Since the move, I have not been active and haven't lost any more weight. Go figure, right? I'm grateful that I haven't gained, but would like to continue to lose some more.
6. Start going to bed earlier. Since my work out routines will probably be in the morning, my goal is to hit the pillow sooner. This will involve going to bed before my usual 1-2 AM hour. I'm shooting for 11:30-12:30 now.
7. Get a new job!! One that challenges me and pays more would be really nice.

It's a long list, but a lot of them are related, so it's okay. I'll update you all (of course) as each item progresses. When I was constructing my Christmas list, I couldn't help but think of what my personal goals were at this time last year. I completed them all (for the most part) and for giggles have listed it below:

1. Lose weight. I knew I was getting flabby and had no specific target weight. I just knew I had to shave some pounds. Last year I lost 12 "solid" pounds. It fluctuated between 10-15, but taking water weight into consideration, I count it as 12.
2. Get a new job outside of the banking industry. Well, I sure did that. Didn't know it would be in a new city/ state! And look, it's on the list again. Ha ha.
3. Stop biting my nails. Those of you who know me best know that this was on a "lifelong" list. Finally conquered this (with the exceptions of a few slip ups now and again while watching scary movies)! Yay!

Ok, it wasn't nearly as long as my current list, but I also was busier then. You know... I had more than one friend and a social life to maintain. Now, I live with most of my friends here. If I don't live in the same apartment with them, they live downstairs. So... I don't really have that busy schedule to uphold. Maybe I should put that on my list also:

1. Make some more friends.

OK, a friend?? Ha ha. Just kidding.