Countdown to 30!

So, I turn 30 on Aug. 31st. A milestone birthday, for in particular. My mother died one month after her 30th birthday (22 years ago today actually). I look at that and think, wow, I barely know who I am and what I want, I can't imagine having it all cut so short. To me, 30 means no more 20s; I'll no longer be part of the age group that includes 21 year olds, which is nice. There's no age barriers anymore - at least not until I want to start enjoying senior discounts when I get to be 55. My 30s should be a time where I get out of early-adulthood debt (i.e. college/student loan debt). It should be a time where I develop my adult identity; who I will be and what I will believe in. I should be starting to plant the seeds of an actual career, rather than just stringing together a series of jobs. I'll travel more, see more exotic places, and start building a financial foundation to get me there!

I'm totally looking forward to my 30s. But I also recognize that there are only 30 days left before I cross that threshhold, so I am going to take the time to think about what the good things about one's twenties are.

The beginning is always the best place to start; so where was I when I turned 20? Hmmm. I almost forgot! I was in Luxemburg, I'm pretty sure, just about to travel to Mannheim, Germany, for a 1 month intensive German school before beginning my year-long study in Bremen, Germanty. Gosh. What a long way I've come. I remember being both naive and unfettered. We thought nothing of dragging our stuff all over the place from the airport to the train station to some little 1* hotel we found in our Let's Go guide. Wow. I had no idea what that year in Germany was going to do to me when I turned 20.

I hope my 30s are just as exciting!

LOST!

After finally getting home from work at 930 Friday night, I was ready to begin the weekend. A friend and I had planned a trip to the beach for Saturday - so Saturday morning I found myself running around like a crazy person trying to get all the chores I had planned to take care of Friday night finished. My friend and I had planned to leave between 10-12, but both he and I got caught up in weekend needs, so we instead decided to head up to Harper Ferry and Martinsburg, thinking that we would escape the heat of the city in the mountains. No such luck,

Harper's Ferry was nice enough, a bit Disneyfied with "perfectly preserved" examples of 19th century life performing for the throbbing hoardes of sweaty, whiny tourists. We hung around for about an hour before moving on. Our next stop was Martinsburg!

We had been told by a former colleague of ours at the GHI that Martinsburg was a cute little town. Well, it certainly was cute - but it was dead! We got there around 5pm, and all the stores had closed up and there was no one on the street. We breezed through town and headed for Shepherdstown.

I had been to Shepherdstown for a gov't training class and remembered that there had been a cute little town there... so off er went. And boy was I happy we decided to stop! The town of Shepherdstown is similar to a lot of other old, small towns, but since it is also the home of Shepherd College, it was lively, with lots of open shops and things going on. We stopped at the Lucky Dog Cafe, the perfect independent college-town coffee shop, where I had- no joke - the best vanilla latte of my life. It was perfection. It was an awesome place.

There was a little art gallery with a show of art by the local college students. Most of it was pretty trite, but there was one piece that was quite nice. Anyway, we walked around the town, looking at the old buildings and churches, just enjoying the energy in this town that was absent in so many others. It is a trip I am looking forward to making again.

The real highlight (lowlight) of the trip was us getting hideously lost on our way home. We missed the turn out of Shepherdtown that would have taken us over the bridge over the Potomac and into Sharpsburg, MD - where the battle of Antietam was fought - and back towards Frederick. We ended up on these small little country roads along the river, which wasn't so bad until they turned inland, and we had no idea how to get back to civilization. We were about as lost as we could be - luckily we had just filled the gas tank. We drove for nearly 45 minutes before truly starting to get worried. The sun was fading fast, and the very last thing we wanted was to be on these back roads after dark.


Where we got lost

Finally, after trying several turns and not being able to find a proper highway, I called DH to see if he could help us out with Google Maps or something. In the end (of course, since I am writing this from home) we did find our way - but somehow we had traveled south fom Shepherdstown all the way back south of Charlestown on these convoluted back roads.

Anyway, it was an adventure!

I can't believe that I am still here!

Well, it is almost 730, the last train home leaves at 728, and I am still at work! Can you believe it? No, of course not. The amount of resources devoted to this mess of a project is unbelievable, and I can't believe that we are wasting our (my) time trying to get it right.

I am really ready to go home now.. maybe I can get out of here by 830.

Feelin' lucky, punk?

Yeah! I brought two wardrobe boxes to a girlfriend to night to help her move this weekend, and I thought that I was going to be too late to see the new episode of Project Runway. Lucky me - it doesn't start until 10pm, so no worries.

This week I also set up the first of my two rotations; this will be just a month-long detail with NESDIS, who coincedently rejected me the first time I interviewed as a PMF. Well, maybe rejected is a little harsh - they were forced to offer the position to a veteran with Veteran's Preference, who ended up screwing them over, so whatever. It's in their International and Interagency affairs office, which will finally give me the opportunity to use the g.d. $50k degree I just got.

So, things seem like their slowly getting better. This weekend I am going to the beach with a friend on Saturday; Sunday I am going to celebrate Jeffro's moving in with CC with a lil' cookout!

Just 1.5 weeks left before I see DH again! Yeah!

Such a party girl

Well, here is it, 11:30am, and I've just woken up. Unbelievable. I didn't get home until about 2:00 last night. But it was a very good night. A girlfriend and I successfully managed to get tickets to "Lunch," which was a lot more drama than I anticipated. I really thought that the Capital Fringe Festival was going to be a big thing downtown with lots of advertisements, flyers, etc around the area (in the general vicinity of Gallery Place). It took us forever to find the "festival" box office, and when we did they told us they stopped selling tickets 2 hours before the show. Well frick.. the venue box office didn't open until one hour before the show, so we had to haul our butts over there and wait (cause there were only 5 tickets left). There went our plans to get something to drink and eat before the show.

To make a long story short, we got tickets (we were the only ones in line who did), the show was fantastic and perfectly (scarily so) captured eighth grade cafeteria politics (except these kids were a lot more cognescent of sex than I was in eighth grade). It was a piece of musical theatre - which surprised me - but it was really good. Very entertaining.

We met a couple of guys at the show that Andrea had met at a party some months earlier and after the show we all headed out to Jaleo for a few drinks and tapas. It was a really good time, just some really fun conversation and stuff. They guys left around midnight, so my girlfriend and I chatted a while longer, before we jumped onto the Metro and traveled home.

If you have the chance to catch "Lunch," be sure to do so. It is very, very entertaining.

The healing power of ... curry?

I'm having a rough week. It's another two weeks before I see DH again, there's tons of drama at work, I'm hitting roadblocks trying to set up my rotations, and I've worked more hours at work this week than I cared to.

That being said, I came home tonight feeling pretty bleak. Emotionally paralyzed really. Just down and not feeling very inspired to do anything but crawl into bed and go to sleep (another issue I've been having problems with lately).

I had considered, earlier in the afternoon, getting myself some take-out Indian food. By the time I got home (the train was late, I forgot to get the telephone # for my favorite Indian take-out joint, etc) I was nearly too tired to bother. But, in the face of great laziness; I made the call and ordered myself Chicken Tikka Masala and Garlic Naan.

I have discovered the great restorative powers of yummy Indian food. Suddenly, after a scrumptious bowl of Tikka Masala and rice, with some very garlicky naan, my spirits lifted. I feel happier, my seratonin levels are rising, and the world doesn't seem to grim.

So my prescription for those days where feeling down in the dumps? A yummy order of Chicken Tikka Masala from my favorite joint, India Palace in Germantown. It won't cure what ails ya, but it tastes so good you'll forget about your troubles for while.

Intriguing...

This week is the beginning of the Capital Fringe Festival - which showcases art that is decidedly out of the mainstream. I'm really intrigued by the concept; and there is one show that I would really like to see.

"Lunch" is supposedly an imitation of what 8th grade lunch was like for the average American kid. It sounds totally like something that a bunch of middle school rejects might produce as therapy for their experience. It's decidedly healthier and less destructive than a Columbine-style outburst, that's for sure. I'm going to try and get to a performance, for my own therapy as a middle school reject.

There's so much going on though, it's hard to narrow down what looks most interesting. It's going to be a rainy weekend supposedly, so thats kinda bummer. Eh. Gotta keep busy.

P.S. Oooh - found another show I'd like to see: "One-man Star Wars Trilogy"; the first three Star Wars movies (the originals) in 75 mins by one man. A definite must see. It doesn't start until Wednesday, though.

New Office Webisode!

OOOh! Almost didn't realize that today meant a new Office webisode! It's not as funny as the Phyllis one, but it's amusing.

Still no resolution on the Pam / Jim drama. What were you thinking?

Here's a cute kitty picture to entertain you.

Wild "Erika

To say that this has been a long week would be a massive understatement. I just want the week to end, but I have so much work on my plate that it feels like either Friday will come too soon or come too late. I've taken the late train home almost every day this week, sat in endless meetings with no conclusion to problems... just more ideas to consider. It has to be the least effective and efficient work environment I have ever been in. Nothing ever gets done... things just get swished around endlessly like clothes in a wash cycle. I am also desperately trying to set up my rotation with my dream office... but I just found out today that there is likely going to be a real conflict with my obligations to my home office. I need to spend most of August figuring out a way that I can get the work in my office done long before it is due so that I am free to pursue my rotation, but it isn't looking good.

The garden is growing out of control, and suprisingly today I found a cucumber growing on one of the four vines I planted. It was a nice suprise, because those vines had really struggled when I first planted them. The tomatoes, when they start to ripen, are going to be out of control. I probably shouldn't have planted 5 tomato plants... but in my defense they support three different types of tomatoes: beefsteaks, romas, and cherries. Ugh. It's going to be a lot of tomatoes.

The kitties are crazy and I am not sleeping well. I seem to wake up every two hours on cue. Maybe it's stress from work, maybe it's just the craziness of life, maybe it's missing DH. Anyway, it's all good.

I need a vacation!

Gimme a break!

It's been unbelievably busy at work... what with trying to wrap up some projects that I (feel like) have been working on forever, and then every day is a new fire drill. I don't know whether we need more people, or less drama, or a little of both.

Anyway - it's Project Runway night! Don't forget to tune in to Bravo to watch the second episode at 10 (if you missed the first epi - it's on right before the new one). Great show people.. I'm tellin' ya!

It's three weeks before my next trip to FL to visit DH.

I'll keep this short... I'm too busy to write any more!

I need a man!!!

I'd like to think of myself as a liberated woman... not needing a man to get along in life and whatnot. Well, after tonight I say forget it!

Sunday is trash night, and laundry night, and the general time in which the house should be put in order for the upcoming week. I've done laundry - no real drama there. I scooped kitty poop- which I absolutely hate doing since its smelly and makes me feel a little ill - but I did it. I collected all the trash from the bathrooms, the kitchen, and the laundry area (so much lint).

Then I went out to the garage to put it in the can to drag to the curb. Now I admit, it's been a few weeks since we've put the trash out. We just don't produce that much trash. It's been in the garage for two weeks - because we got a little reminder from the HOA (a newsletter, really, but that reminder was on the front page) that the trash cans should be in the garage.

Well I lifted off the lid and a SWARM of flies flew up and scared the ever loving you-know-what out of me. And it was gross... I mean I know what flies do with trash. Ick ick ick. So I slammed the lid back down on the can, dragged it VERY quickly to the curb, and found giant black plastic bags in which to put the rest of the trash,

EEEEEEWWWWWW. I abhor taking the trash out. That is the man's job and I am not too proud to scream it from the mountains. Men are necessary to kill bugs, fix things, and take out the trash! So, since DH isn't around, I'll just have to find an ersatz husband who can perform these household duties.

My skin is still crawling. EEEEWWWW.

Lil' Miss Socialite

Oy! What a busy Saturday! I was up bright an early trying to work off these extra pounds I've accumulated by running - a very very bad idea when the temps are around 80 and the humidity is around 90! I cannot recomment this to anyone, particularly if you are as out of shape as I apparently am. Then, I got to go blueberry picking in the still steamy and hot sunshine with Jeffro and CC - I gathered about 4 pounds of berries for myself; which going by past history should last about 3.5 days. I'm going to anti-oxident myself to death!

After spending a nice day with them (with lunch at the Amish market - go ahead and try it!), I quickly showered (boy did I need it) and changed to meet with my dear friend Christoph and spend the evening in Bethesda. We had coffee at Cosi and saw Pirates of the Caribbean (awful sequel - why must Hollywood kill the golden goose?) and topped it off with a nightcap at RiRa.

On Pirates of the Caribbean... I enjoyed the first movie despite my it not being my normal movie fare - it was fun and lively and the story was pretty interesting. The second movie is a hot mess stuffing every plot twist and turn and character and cameo into a way too long movie with way too many special effects and unexplained myths and mysteries. I didn't know anything about the legend of the Flying Dutchman, other than the fact that it was the subject of an Wagnerian opera. And from what I've read, it doesn't much matter since they make everything up in the movie to suit their "story." That movie could really have benefitted from a vicious editor. At least 35% of the movie and a few characters could have been chopped with no impact. Also - the movie tried WAY too hard to end with a cliffhanger so that it would lead to yet another sequel. This was sort of the same problem with the Two Towers, but not really since only this movie and the final were imagined as sequels - the original was not. Hollywood successfully ruins another interesting possiblity by going over the top. Shocking, I know.

I got home around 1 am last night, which for me is quite remarkable. I think that that is the latest I've been up since college. Wow. I really am getting old!

Almost free!

Here it is, 4:30 on Friday. When I get home, it will be just me! No FIL, no DH. Kitties will be there though. And some dishes. And probably some ants, since they were all over the place this morning. And lots of laundry. And a messy bathroom. And a messy bedroom.

Hmm. Not quite as peaceful as I had hoped.

Oh well. Tomorrow I will get a boatload of blueberries, maybe see a movie with an old friend. It's all good. Sunday I'l resign myself to housekeeping, although with no one there I can blast music as loud as I can stand and entertain myself that way.

Tonight I'll have some coffee. And some dinner. And play with the kitties. And puruse the garden. Maybe watch a movie.

I'm just glad that the lawn doesn't need to be mowed.

Message from DH to Jeffro and CC

Here's a special message from DH to you!

Gotta love technology

It's amazing what technology can do for relationships these days. One of the major issues every freshman in college goes through (or at least used to) was the agony of not being able to talk or see their high school sweetheart. This inevitably leads to the Thanksgiving decision - do you stay together or do you split up. (Hmm, I might have a history there).

Anyway, with the prevalence and relative cheapness of cell phones (heck, I remember spending $60 a month just to talk to my high school sweetheart for 30 minutes every weekend) the whole phone chat is now moot. And of course text chats allow one to "talk" real time, but both of these are a bit impersonal. Where's the joy from seeing your loved one smile?

Enter in video chats! DH's new MacbookPro has a camera built ito the computer (and I think that the new, but less expensive iBooks or whatever they are called now have them too) and we (well, he anyway, I don't have a camera for my computer) can chat with video! We tried it for the first time tonight - and it was totally cool to see DH's facial expression as he listened to my 101 inane stories of the day (My ride on the flooring forklift; the hot-almost-having-a-heart-attack delivery guy; the kitties running in the backyard; Henry eating catnip right out of the little thing, etc).

So that was nice. I don't know whether this technology would have saved my relationship with my high school sweetheart, but it certainly makes DH's being in Florida a little easier to bear.

Office Webisodes!

You want resolution. Wait until September. No resolution for you!


I am a total Office addict (US only, I never seem to be able to catch the BBC Office episodes). Well starting today you can watch Office "webisodes" on NBC.com. There's two available now, and a new one will be released each Thursday.

Naturally, there's no Pam or Jim, because they can't give away what's going to happen there! Run, Jim, Run! She's too much drama for you!

P.S. I just saw the actress who plays Angela on the local news. Wow, she's cute when not in drab frumpy character!
P.P.S. It's gotta be Creed.

What's that kitty up to?

Hmmmm, what's Eliza looking at?


Oh - how cute!

Working from home

So today I have the luxury of working from home. I've called into a conference call, read some of the 200 pages of documents that I brought home with me (nothing confidential - no worries) and lugged 9 boxes of hardwood flooring (each weighing 55 pounds). It sounds like it isn't that heavy, but when its 12 feet long it's more awkward than dead weight. Whatever, it's in the living room now, ready to be installed in the new kitchen.

It's nice to be working from home. The commute is great, the amenities and catering are top notch, and there's entertainment in the form of kitties. Now if only I had access to all the stuff I saved on my desktop of my computer at work, I'd be set.

Yippee! Project Runway 3 starts tonight!

The divine Tim Gunn

I am NOT a big fan of reality TV shows, but make exceptions for the (three-time Emmy winning) Amazing Race and Project Runway. I just started watching PR last year and was totally sucked in. I still haven't seen all of Season 1, but that's okay. I'm quite anxious to see who the divine Tim Gunn is forced to say "we're going to have to ask you to leave" to.

The things I love most about Project Runway are that these people have to have a modicum of talent to succeed, and Tim Gunn. The hosts of these shows are typically so vapid and shallow; Tim Gunn is sharp, witty, and gives a "no holds barred" approach to his criticism, which is so refreshing. Plus the judges are usually critical rather than condescending.

Tonight, Bravo 10pm. Hopefully these thunderstorms will stay far enough afield to keep my cable up!

The more you know...

Can I finally get some relaxation over here? Since my fridge was empty, I stopped by Trader Joe's to get groceries last night ($107 worth - just to illustrate how desperately empty my fridge was). I really wanted to make a big fruit salad, so I bought a big watermelon and a cantaloupe. The chick at the register asked if I minded if she packed the bags heavy. Realizing that I no longer have someone to help carry this stuff to the car - I said heavy and fewer is better than lighter and more.

So all my groceries are stuffed into three bags, except for the watermelon and the cantaloupe. The girl at the register asks me if I need help getting this stuff into my car - and I'm all like, nah, I can handle it.

It took me no fewer than THREE trips back and forth from the cart (they keep them corralled in near the door) to get all this stuff in my trunk. Argh - it was so hot and humid. The main challenge was the damn watermelon and canteloupe. They were the reason for my last trip, since they wouldn't go in a bag and they were too awkward to balance with bags.

The lesson here is to always accept help if you have two large melons.