So in the last few weeks the one thing that has been really bugging me is my lack of structure. Freedom is fun and all, but it has it's place, like on vacation or if you ever get truly financially independent. For my personality, I do like some level of routine and responsibility and that is sorely lacking these days. Structure and routine are with us our whole lives. When you are young structure comes from parents and of course school with extracurriculars. As you get older work sets the structure because it takes up the majority of your weekly time, friends and family fill the gaps.
Well, my no work has led progressively to less and less structure. Today I realized that has been factor in any funks I've been having. Last week really messed things up with being sick, interview stress and of course Mr. Man's situation. The sick part made me tired, cranky and threw off my morning run routine. All the other stress and busyness just compounded my structureless mess!
Today I've made a resolution of sorts: Get control of the day! No more oversleeping and getting hypnotized by daytime TV. I was able to restart week 6 of running with no ill effects, which is the cornerstone of routine re-establishment plan. Since job search is still part of my day I will do that early, and then by God I'm going to start using my time better. There will be visits to museums and parks. DC summer is pretty wicked unpleasant, but my building has a pool, so I should utilize it. There are still movies to see and books to read. Really plenty of things are out there for me to enjoy and to help structure my day more.
Getting control of the day will be a challenge, but it has to happen. If I'm going to be out of work I might as well enjoy some of this time. Sometime in the next few weeks I will get a job offer and then work will be back to help enforce structure. In the mean time I need to be a wee bit more motivated to set my own structure. Better to enjoy my time than be be annoyed by it!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Midwestern Crisis Response Team Activate!
So the last week has been more than a bit nutty. Good and bad blurred together and it's been a lot for me to process. One of the funnier things to come out of this whole experience was the reaffirmation that being from the Midwest gives me a warm fuzzy feeling when I see how my fellow WI kids all pulled together to help our friend, and more importantly, the way in which we are driven to help.
Upon sharing the news of Mr. Man's attack and hospitalization with PolitiChica we realized we had a similar response mechanism. What should we do? The answer: Cook. PolitiChica was ready to break out the casserole and hotdish makings and I was ready to start baking a cake. Why? Because that is what you do to help those in pain. You feed them and care for them so they can focus on what is important. That can be grief around a funeral, healing after an accident, whatever the situation calls for. Mr. Man's broken jaw and the upheaval around where his family was staying made feeding the problem a bit tricky, but the sentiment was what counted. We wanted to help ease the pain and offer comfort, mind you in the form of food, but that is just what we were raised to do.
The practical aspects of our Midwestern minds came out too. I have this thing about flowers, I hate to give them. They are often expensive and, well, they die. The only time I will gladly give flowers or donate towards them is for a funeral. For some reason in that circumstance of death and remembrance flowers seem right, but otherwise I'm not a big fan. With this whole Mr. Man situation I didn't want to give flowers. He couldn't really have them in his room, and, well, they die! Mr. Man was upset because he thought his watch was stolen. Practical, happy, something useful...so PolitiChica and I got a watch. Mr. Man was thrilled and it was a nice feeling. Another WI friend was trying to think of a gift for Mr. Man and also wanted to avoid flowers. He is also focusing on the practical and kind categories for gifts. We want to give something, but usefulness is our guiding light.
The Midwestern Crisis Response Team (MCRT for short) has now moved onto what we can do for our friend once he is released from the hospital. His jaw is wired shut for the next 4-8 weeks, so that means all sustenance will come through a straw. Yum, yum, fun, fun, liquid diet! That means, our goal is to switch back to feeding the situation so he can focus on healing. Soup recipes that can be blended are being searched out, ideas for nutrient additives to help Mr. Man (who is very tiny already) keep on some weight and get healing nutrition are being researched. In short we are in full care giving mode. No MCRT member wants to smother Mr. Man, but we are ready and willing to do what has to be done and that makes my heart feel lighter than it has in a while.
It also gives me comfort to know that even though I am far away from my home base and family, the MCRT will be there for me too. This post is not a slam on any other region of the US. I know warm fuzzy folks on the East and West coasts and Southern Hospitality is legendary. However, to me, the Midwestern ethos is very special and unique and I wouldn't switch my upbringing or my Midwestern people for anything!
Upon sharing the news of Mr. Man's attack and hospitalization with PolitiChica we realized we had a similar response mechanism. What should we do? The answer: Cook. PolitiChica was ready to break out the casserole and hotdish makings and I was ready to start baking a cake. Why? Because that is what you do to help those in pain. You feed them and care for them so they can focus on what is important. That can be grief around a funeral, healing after an accident, whatever the situation calls for. Mr. Man's broken jaw and the upheaval around where his family was staying made feeding the problem a bit tricky, but the sentiment was what counted. We wanted to help ease the pain and offer comfort, mind you in the form of food, but that is just what we were raised to do.
The practical aspects of our Midwestern minds came out too. I have this thing about flowers, I hate to give them. They are often expensive and, well, they die. The only time I will gladly give flowers or donate towards them is for a funeral. For some reason in that circumstance of death and remembrance flowers seem right, but otherwise I'm not a big fan. With this whole Mr. Man situation I didn't want to give flowers. He couldn't really have them in his room, and, well, they die! Mr. Man was upset because he thought his watch was stolen. Practical, happy, something useful...so PolitiChica and I got a watch. Mr. Man was thrilled and it was a nice feeling. Another WI friend was trying to think of a gift for Mr. Man and also wanted to avoid flowers. He is also focusing on the practical and kind categories for gifts. We want to give something, but usefulness is our guiding light.
The Midwestern Crisis Response Team (MCRT for short) has now moved onto what we can do for our friend once he is released from the hospital. His jaw is wired shut for the next 4-8 weeks, so that means all sustenance will come through a straw. Yum, yum, fun, fun, liquid diet! That means, our goal is to switch back to feeding the situation so he can focus on healing. Soup recipes that can be blended are being searched out, ideas for nutrient additives to help Mr. Man (who is very tiny already) keep on some weight and get healing nutrition are being researched. In short we are in full care giving mode. No MCRT member wants to smother Mr. Man, but we are ready and willing to do what has to be done and that makes my heart feel lighter than it has in a while.
It also gives me comfort to know that even though I am far away from my home base and family, the MCRT will be there for me too. This post is not a slam on any other region of the US. I know warm fuzzy folks on the East and West coasts and Southern Hospitality is legendary. However, to me, the Midwestern ethos is very special and unique and I wouldn't switch my upbringing or my Midwestern people for anything!
Friday, July 18, 2008
The Bitter and The Sweet
It's fascinating how the Universe seems to work. For all things good there are things bad and the equilibrium of it all sometimes makes no sense. My day yesterday had both sweet and bitter and I still can't quite sort through it all.
Yesterday was my big day, the interview I have been waiting and hoping for since March was finally going to happen. I have been sick all week, so I was stressed that I would look and sound awful, completely blank on a question, and a million other pre-interview worries. By 10:30 a.m. that was all wiped from my mind and a big dose of perspective replaced all the worries and fears.
I received an email via Facebook that changes everything. A roommate of my dear friend Mr. Man could only think of one way to get a hold of me to tell me some terrible news and that was Facebook. So in a Friend Request was one of the worst things I could have imagined: Mr. Man has been attacked and robbed Wednesday night and he was in the hospital, his long term prognosis was good, but he was in a bad way. Not many details, just he was robbed, possibly targeted for being gay, but who knows? Could have been bored thugs bent of bullying and beating. There was shock and the immediate need to pass along the message to others who know and love Mr. Man. Then a weird sense of calm. What did I have to worry about? An interview is daunting, but at least I'm safe and healthy enough to live my life and have the interview. I decided then and there my interview would be fine, but Mr. Man may not be fine, so all prayers and calls for help needed to go to him, not me.
I went to my interview, and I know this will sound immodest, but I rocked it! At the end of my interview on of my panelists even told me, "You did good!" which made me feel great. After the fact my friend Defense Guru followed up with some of his contacts and gave me the best feedback of all: The interviewers had said I was a definite hire. Mind you, I still have to wait and see if this all comes together, but it felt so good to know I had done well, and that this long hoped for opportunity may actually happen. Mama Frogger was so proud of me when I called to update her that it almost made me cry. I could tell she was just happy for me and the opportunity I may well get after a few weeks of uncertainty and fear. Friends were nothing but supportive and I was really happy...until I wasn't. The sheer happiness was dampened because it was mixed with worry about Mr. Man.
I know I have every right to be thrilled and jump for joy, but at the same time one of my closest friends is in a bad way and it's hard to feel both the worry and the happy at the same time. This strange bittersweet will be with me for a while. Mr. Man would have been one of the first I told my my interview success, but I can't right now. I want to visit him, but I worry about my germs, his family needing the time with him and everything else. To see he is as OK as he can be will help, so a visit will happen very soon.
I understand and in a strange way can accept that bad things happen to good people. So much in our lives is out of our control. I take comfort in the fact that Mr. Man has loving family and friends to support him. I have to believe that even the worst of things can make us stronger in the long run if we let them. So I will learn from the bittersweet that the good and the bad often come together. Yet, in my heart of hearts, I wish I didn't have to learn this lesson at all, but I can't change the past or the lesson, so I learn.
Yesterday was my big day, the interview I have been waiting and hoping for since March was finally going to happen. I have been sick all week, so I was stressed that I would look and sound awful, completely blank on a question, and a million other pre-interview worries. By 10:30 a.m. that was all wiped from my mind and a big dose of perspective replaced all the worries and fears.
I received an email via Facebook that changes everything. A roommate of my dear friend Mr. Man could only think of one way to get a hold of me to tell me some terrible news and that was Facebook. So in a Friend Request was one of the worst things I could have imagined: Mr. Man has been attacked and robbed Wednesday night and he was in the hospital, his long term prognosis was good, but he was in a bad way. Not many details, just he was robbed, possibly targeted for being gay, but who knows? Could have been bored thugs bent of bullying and beating. There was shock and the immediate need to pass along the message to others who know and love Mr. Man. Then a weird sense of calm. What did I have to worry about? An interview is daunting, but at least I'm safe and healthy enough to live my life and have the interview. I decided then and there my interview would be fine, but Mr. Man may not be fine, so all prayers and calls for help needed to go to him, not me.
I went to my interview, and I know this will sound immodest, but I rocked it! At the end of my interview on of my panelists even told me, "You did good!" which made me feel great. After the fact my friend Defense Guru followed up with some of his contacts and gave me the best feedback of all: The interviewers had said I was a definite hire. Mind you, I still have to wait and see if this all comes together, but it felt so good to know I had done well, and that this long hoped for opportunity may actually happen. Mama Frogger was so proud of me when I called to update her that it almost made me cry. I could tell she was just happy for me and the opportunity I may well get after a few weeks of uncertainty and fear. Friends were nothing but supportive and I was really happy...until I wasn't. The sheer happiness was dampened because it was mixed with worry about Mr. Man.
I know I have every right to be thrilled and jump for joy, but at the same time one of my closest friends is in a bad way and it's hard to feel both the worry and the happy at the same time. This strange bittersweet will be with me for a while. Mr. Man would have been one of the first I told my my interview success, but I can't right now. I want to visit him, but I worry about my germs, his family needing the time with him and everything else. To see he is as OK as he can be will help, so a visit will happen very soon.
I understand and in a strange way can accept that bad things happen to good people. So much in our lives is out of our control. I take comfort in the fact that Mr. Man has loving family and friends to support him. I have to believe that even the worst of things can make us stronger in the long run if we let them. So I will learn from the bittersweet that the good and the bad often come together. Yet, in my heart of hearts, I wish I didn't have to learn this lesson at all, but I can't change the past or the lesson, so I learn.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Reading Rainbow
I discovered something very fun to me. Reading Rainbow, one of my favorite PBS programs when I was a kid, is still on the air. The PBS station I watch the most (I get 3 of them on my bunny ears) shows Reading Rainbow after Sesame Street. I loved this show when I was a kid. They still use some of the super cheesy 80's clips (like LaVar Burton getting a wax model of himself made) and some books they profiled when I was a kid are still shown, but newer books are profiled too. I actually remember how psyched I got when I was given a Reading Rainbow book (it even had the sticker on the corner) as a birthday gift. A show all about reading hosted by Geordi La Forge, what is better? I mean seriously, Reading Rainbow kind of defines a bit part of my life because it focuses on a love a books and the way they can open minds to new things.
Reading was/is one of those critical values my parents instilled in their Frogger Kids and we in turn are drilling into the next generation. My parents never really censored what we read because they could appreciate we had different tastes and we weren't reading anything too nasty. Mama Frogger let me read all the V.C. Andrews' books and no one got overly concerned when I went through a lit phase filled with Stephen King and Anne Rice. My Sister-in-Law once admitted that on her first visit to meet our family, we freaked her out. All the Froggers in one room and all of us happily reading, she had never seen such a thing in her own family and it threw her. No one was angry or avoiding talk, we just decided it was a good time to relax and read and we all had good books we were enjoying. Didn't seem wierd to us.
In this state unemployment I have turned into Cookie Monster's cousin, Reading Monster. I have finished more books in the last 3 weeks than I have in about 3 months. I just finished When You are Engulfed in Flames last night, and I only started it two days ago. Now I need to find another book to fill my time. I figure better to devour books than watch scary daytime TV like soaps, or worse, the hypnotizing traffic wreck that is Maury Povich and his daily Who's the Father episode of his talk show. Shudder. After my interview today I am totally getting a new book to read. I'll need something to keep my mind occupied while I stress about if I got the job. Maybe another classic, or a different genre...God, I love reading!
Reading was/is one of those critical values my parents instilled in their Frogger Kids and we in turn are drilling into the next generation. My parents never really censored what we read because they could appreciate we had different tastes and we weren't reading anything too nasty. Mama Frogger let me read all the V.C. Andrews' books and no one got overly concerned when I went through a lit phase filled with Stephen King and Anne Rice. My Sister-in-Law once admitted that on her first visit to meet our family, we freaked her out. All the Froggers in one room and all of us happily reading, she had never seen such a thing in her own family and it threw her. No one was angry or avoiding talk, we just decided it was a good time to relax and read and we all had good books we were enjoying. Didn't seem wierd to us.
In this state unemployment I have turned into Cookie Monster's cousin, Reading Monster. I have finished more books in the last 3 weeks than I have in about 3 months. I just finished When You are Engulfed in Flames last night, and I only started it two days ago. Now I need to find another book to fill my time. I figure better to devour books than watch scary daytime TV like soaps, or worse, the hypnotizing traffic wreck that is Maury Povich and his daily Who's the Father episode of his talk show. Shudder. After my interview today I am totally getting a new book to read. I'll need something to keep my mind occupied while I stress about if I got the job. Maybe another classic, or a different genre...God, I love reading!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Hello, My Name is Sniffleupagus
I have a case of the sniffles, and yes, sniffles is a medical term in my world. It;s the awful congestion, post-nasal drip sore throat ick. Nothing so wrong, no fever or anything, just a snuffy, sniffy head. I think I sound and feel a bit like Snuffleupagus. My voice is a bit off and congested and I feel all big and lumbering, however much like Snuffy, I'm still a sweetheart. 
I did somehow manage to run today. I used the Neti and that combined with some over the counter drug help made me feel almost ok for a few hours. So while I still felt ok, I did Day 1, Week 6 of my running plan. During and after my run I felt ok, but of course then the snuffy head came back with a vengeance. So my afternoon, while productive, was a bit more uncomfortable. I tried on my interview suits and applied for some jobs, so all in all my sniffles haven't held me back too much. Now it's time for tea, Dr. Who and some more reading...and hopefully a clearing of the head.
Weekend Round-up:Fun Fun
I had an unusually active and friend filled weekend, so I figured Id hit the high points in on post.
Friday
Pretty much chill. Stayed in, watched some TV (PBS was replaying Masterpiece Theatre, I know, I'm a dork!) and then came lots of reading before I went to sleep. Honestly over this weekend I got over half of Lady Chatterley's Lover read.
Saturday
Started early, got up before 8 to have time to relax a little, listen to NPR and start prepping for my day of Movie Madness. I met-up with my friends Jack and Jill, a great married couple who love movies as much as I do, and we made our own double feature. We went to the 11 am Wall-E (seriously nothing is better than a morning movie) had a break for a snack and a few drinks, then back for Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D. Oh, so much fun!
Morning movies are my new favorite because you can see a movie and have lunch and still have most of your day open for other fun, or for more movies. Wall-E was fantastic, seriously Pixar's best movie and just so well done. The only downfall was one group of Mom's who teamed up to bring their kids...and then did nothing to shut them up when they started talking. Journey 3-D was just good cheesy fun. I hadn't seen a 3-D movie since one of the Imax nature films at the Smithsonian. If this movie hasn't been in 3-D is would not have been worth watching, but the 3-D just added the cheap thrills and cheesy effects that made it engaging. A few moments where focusing was hard, but overall it was just silly fun.
As often happens when I hang out with Jack and Jill our outings turn into day long hang-out sessions. Inevitably we head out for more food, drinks, or occasionally an afternoon of games. Saturday was a stop at Trader Joe's to pick up snacks and then back to Jack and Jill home base to eat, chat and play XBox. I learned I suck at Halo, but am better at a few other games. I think I'm too used to the Wii controller...but I digress.
The only down side was I was so tired at the end of the day (combine drinks and early start with my ever increasing age) that I had to miss another outing with friends. I had to miss an outing organized by Princezz to see our friend VeganAvenger, and I had to be all old and lame...sigh. Oh well, it was still a good day.
Sunday
Sunday was BooKlub. A very small turnout, Jack and Jill were there and my friend PolitiChica, everyone else had last minute plans or were tired from VeganAvenger night. As per the usual, not a ton of book talk, but lots of chat and good food. Lasted a few hours and then it was back home to read and relax. By evening a case of the sniffles had settled in. I have had a remarkable streak of good health, so this apparently mild case of sniffles won't be that awful, but it is annoying.
Overall, I had a damn fine weekend filled with generous friends, good movies and lots of activity. Hopefully next weekend will be a just a nice!
Friday
Pretty much chill. Stayed in, watched some TV (PBS was replaying Masterpiece Theatre, I know, I'm a dork!) and then came lots of reading before I went to sleep. Honestly over this weekend I got over half of Lady Chatterley's Lover read.
Saturday
Started early, got up before 8 to have time to relax a little, listen to NPR and start prepping for my day of Movie Madness. I met-up with my friends Jack and Jill, a great married couple who love movies as much as I do, and we made our own double feature. We went to the 11 am Wall-E (seriously nothing is better than a morning movie) had a break for a snack and a few drinks, then back for Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D. Oh, so much fun!
Morning movies are my new favorite because you can see a movie and have lunch and still have most of your day open for other fun, or for more movies. Wall-E was fantastic, seriously Pixar's best movie and just so well done. The only downfall was one group of Mom's who teamed up to bring their kids...and then did nothing to shut them up when they started talking. Journey 3-D was just good cheesy fun. I hadn't seen a 3-D movie since one of the Imax nature films at the Smithsonian. If this movie hasn't been in 3-D is would not have been worth watching, but the 3-D just added the cheap thrills and cheesy effects that made it engaging. A few moments where focusing was hard, but overall it was just silly fun.
As often happens when I hang out with Jack and Jill our outings turn into day long hang-out sessions. Inevitably we head out for more food, drinks, or occasionally an afternoon of games. Saturday was a stop at Trader Joe's to pick up snacks and then back to Jack and Jill home base to eat, chat and play XBox. I learned I suck at Halo, but am better at a few other games. I think I'm too used to the Wii controller...but I digress.
The only down side was I was so tired at the end of the day (combine drinks and early start with my ever increasing age) that I had to miss another outing with friends. I had to miss an outing organized by Princezz to see our friend VeganAvenger, and I had to be all old and lame...sigh. Oh well, it was still a good day.
Sunday
Sunday was BooKlub. A very small turnout, Jack and Jill were there and my friend PolitiChica, everyone else had last minute plans or were tired from VeganAvenger night. As per the usual, not a ton of book talk, but lots of chat and good food. Lasted a few hours and then it was back home to read and relax. By evening a case of the sniffles had settled in. I have had a remarkable streak of good health, so this apparently mild case of sniffles won't be that awful, but it is annoying.
Overall, I had a damn fine weekend filled with generous friends, good movies and lots of activity. Hopefully next weekend will be a just a nice!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Am I the Walrus? No, I am the Tortoise…Coo Coo Ca Choo
And no, I am not the Eggman, just the Tortoise of Aesop’s fables. I am slow and steady and if I don’t win the race I sure as sugar finish it! Today was Day 3 of Week 5 in the 9 week Couch to 5K series. This was a tough one and even though a few times I wanted to stop I hung in there and made it through. The reason today was so hard is twofold.
1.) This was the longest run time to date, 20 minutes non-stop and I haven’t done that in over a year making it seem very daunting.
2.) My head and body were not in sync, meaning a few times a slight side ache or other diversion almost made me stop. My body just felt slower/heavier than it did on Wednesday like it wasn’t quite awake. I think my head got so caught-up in the longer time it started to bog me down in the first half of the run, but I got over it.
A few times my mind wandered and I realized a speed walker might lap me, so I had to speed up. The first 5 minutes were fine, but then a slight side ache crept in (Princezz, you are not alone) and I had to focus on breathing and ignoring the pain (which was mild and annoying) to keep going. I also had to face my own Heartbreak Hill of course my Heartbreak Hill is not very long or very steep, but it came at about the 12 minute point when my legs practically screamed at me “What the Hell are you doing? We don’t like you right now! Stop running uphill, we mean it!” Yet up the hill I went and the later little dips and rises were much easier to take after I got up the more challenging slope.
I kept telling myself to keep going, distracted myself a few times with nature (a few pretty cardinals and suddenly appearing squirrel), occasionally reminded my legs to pick up the pace, and before I knew it I was done. Whew! It was tough, but I feel like it was a good challenge and next weeks even longer runs will hopefully be better now that I have made it over this hurdle. So now it’s time for the Tortoise to get on with her day. There is work to be searched for, interviews to prep for, and of course plenty of horribly daytime TV to amuse me if I am so inclined…but hopefully I can resist that until the work part is done. So onward and upward I shall plod on!
1.) This was the longest run time to date, 20 minutes non-stop and I haven’t done that in over a year making it seem very daunting.
2.) My head and body were not in sync, meaning a few times a slight side ache or other diversion almost made me stop. My body just felt slower/heavier than it did on Wednesday like it wasn’t quite awake. I think my head got so caught-up in the longer time it started to bog me down in the first half of the run, but I got over it.
A few times my mind wandered and I realized a speed walker might lap me, so I had to speed up. The first 5 minutes were fine, but then a slight side ache crept in (Princezz, you are not alone) and I had to focus on breathing and ignoring the pain (which was mild and annoying) to keep going. I also had to face my own Heartbreak Hill of course my Heartbreak Hill is not very long or very steep, but it came at about the 12 minute point when my legs practically screamed at me “What the Hell are you doing? We don’t like you right now! Stop running uphill, we mean it!” Yet up the hill I went and the later little dips and rises were much easier to take after I got up the more challenging slope.
I kept telling myself to keep going, distracted myself a few times with nature (a few pretty cardinals and suddenly appearing squirrel), occasionally reminded my legs to pick up the pace, and before I knew it I was done. Whew! It was tough, but I feel like it was a good challenge and next weeks even longer runs will hopefully be better now that I have made it over this hurdle. So now it’s time for the Tortoise to get on with her day. There is work to be searched for, interviews to prep for, and of course plenty of horribly daytime TV to amuse me if I am so inclined…but hopefully I can resist that until the work part is done. So onward and upward I shall plod on!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Wheels on the Bus
OK, so in an attempt to save gas/mileage and in general be a good citizen I have been on the DC Metro/MetroBus system a lot more lately. I never have much issue with the Metro (by that I mean the actual train/subway) because it's usually on time, I can deal with crowds around rush hour and the stations are clearly mapped out.
The MetroBus system is a bit more of an adventure. It's really hard to get a clear map of a bus's route. You have to hope you have one of the buses that announces intersections or a sense of a neighborhood to know where you are sometimes. Now that it's summer one word describes all of my MetroBus experiences: Hot! I realize AC hurts the mileage, environment and gas prices are high, but when it's past 90 degrees and no one can open the windows, well that is just cruel! No air flow in a large metal can pressed against other humans is just not a helpful way to commute. The bus driver gets a nice big open window to help with the heat, but those of us in the back get the deafening noise of the bus rattling and no open windows. Oh well, public transport never promised to be perfect.
Case in point: my adventures on the bus to the garage where my car was getting a check-up. The garage is in Kensington (a town pretty close to home base) and there are a number of buses I can take to get back home after the drop off. I took RideOn Bus 5 back to home base. It's a very clear-cut route, I'd been on it before and I was riding it to the terminus of Silver Spring Station. It was a pretty smooth (hot) ride overall. My ride back to pick-up my car the next day was more of an adventure. I got RideOn Bus 4 and dear me was it a mystery. The route was even longer, more winding (the bus driver was awful lots of jerky stops and starts) and the ride actually involved me getting an ID check. The bus cuts through one of the Walter Reed outposts and apparently we had to prove we belonged on the bus to the security guard. The funniest part was that one stop before the stop I needed the bus driver just pulled over by a park and turned off the bus. She didn't even bother to tell me what was going on, just sat in silence. Not a huge deal, I was close enough to my final destination, but it was still weird. I then saw the driver just walking around in the park. I'm guessing it was her break, but that was still odd, I mean a passenger was still on the bus and nothing in the schedule said, "10 minute stop for bus driver to take a stroll".
I'll keep using the Metro System, bus lines included, for the rest of my time here in DC. Like with everything else in life there are good parts and bad parts to the system. I'm sure the more I use the buses the easier it will be to figure the out. In the meantime I shall think cool thoughts when I'm pressed in a bus or Metro car with no AC.
The MetroBus system is a bit more of an adventure. It's really hard to get a clear map of a bus's route. You have to hope you have one of the buses that announces intersections or a sense of a neighborhood to know where you are sometimes. Now that it's summer one word describes all of my MetroBus experiences: Hot! I realize AC hurts the mileage, environment and gas prices are high, but when it's past 90 degrees and no one can open the windows, well that is just cruel! No air flow in a large metal can pressed against other humans is just not a helpful way to commute. The bus driver gets a nice big open window to help with the heat, but those of us in the back get the deafening noise of the bus rattling and no open windows. Oh well, public transport never promised to be perfect.
Case in point: my adventures on the bus to the garage where my car was getting a check-up. The garage is in Kensington (a town pretty close to home base) and there are a number of buses I can take to get back home after the drop off. I took RideOn Bus 5 back to home base. It's a very clear-cut route, I'd been on it before and I was riding it to the terminus of Silver Spring Station. It was a pretty smooth (hot) ride overall. My ride back to pick-up my car the next day was more of an adventure. I got RideOn Bus 4 and dear me was it a mystery. The route was even longer, more winding (the bus driver was awful lots of jerky stops and starts) and the ride actually involved me getting an ID check. The bus cuts through one of the Walter Reed outposts and apparently we had to prove we belonged on the bus to the security guard. The funniest part was that one stop before the stop I needed the bus driver just pulled over by a park and turned off the bus. She didn't even bother to tell me what was going on, just sat in silence. Not a huge deal, I was close enough to my final destination, but it was still weird. I then saw the driver just walking around in the park. I'm guessing it was her break, but that was still odd, I mean a passenger was still on the bus and nothing in the schedule said, "10 minute stop for bus driver to take a stroll".
I'll keep using the Metro System, bus lines included, for the rest of my time here in DC. Like with everything else in life there are good parts and bad parts to the system. I'm sure the more I use the buses the easier it will be to figure the out. In the meantime I shall think cool thoughts when I'm pressed in a bus or Metro car with no AC.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Bright and Shiney Day!
Today did not really start out as a promising day. I was feeling kind of gross, tired, not motivated to pop-up and run like I planned. Overall a slower start to the day than was intended, but in some ways fate meant for me to start slower today. Fate/God/Universe...whatever it may be...meant for me to still be home at 8:05 prepping for my run.
Why do I think this way? Because at 8:05 I got a phone call that just transformed my day. A certain Government Office, that I applied to many moons ago, and who over the last few weeks of stress and fear have been teasing me with their presence and possible employment, finally called. I got THE call I have been waiting on for over a week. The call to schedule an interview. Whew! I had been in such a high state of fear/concern the past few days and this call just gave me perspective. The Govt caller was very nice and said the best thing ever. Govt Office is VERY interested in people who can start "right away", and what better defines my life right now than that?
Nothing is certain, but this feels very right indeed. I'll still keep up my searches for jobs as a back-up, and I try to tell myself to settle down a little, but it's hard to do. Last week I tried on my suits, and since I have dropped close to 15 lbs in the last month an a half they fit better than ever and look great. I'm getting my haircut tomorrow to keep the style looking polished for the interview, and interview prep will start ASAP. Need to make sure I'm fully prepared to Wow the interview panel.
I'll still be on high alert until after my interview next week and the time it takes them to decide if I get an offer. Nothing is a guarantee, but I keep on smiling and feeling that my Pollyanna thoughts were right, things really do happen for a reason.
Why do I think this way? Because at 8:05 I got a phone call that just transformed my day. A certain Government Office, that I applied to many moons ago, and who over the last few weeks of stress and fear have been teasing me with their presence and possible employment, finally called. I got THE call I have been waiting on for over a week. The call to schedule an interview. Whew! I had been in such a high state of fear/concern the past few days and this call just gave me perspective. The Govt caller was very nice and said the best thing ever. Govt Office is VERY interested in people who can start "right away", and what better defines my life right now than that?
Nothing is certain, but this feels very right indeed. I'll still keep up my searches for jobs as a back-up, and I try to tell myself to settle down a little, but it's hard to do. Last week I tried on my suits, and since I have dropped close to 15 lbs in the last month an a half they fit better than ever and look great. I'm getting my haircut tomorrow to keep the style looking polished for the interview, and interview prep will start ASAP. Need to make sure I'm fully prepared to Wow the interview panel.
I'll still be on high alert until after my interview next week and the time it takes them to decide if I get an offer. Nothing is a guarantee, but I keep on smiling and feeling that my Pollyanna thoughts were right, things really do happen for a reason.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
What is in a name? All sorts of stuff!
So I was giving into my love of entertainment gossip yesterday by clicking on CNN and People.Com and what was one of the headlines: Nicole Kidman had her baby. Awww cute. Then I saw what they named their sweet little bundle of baby: Sunday Rose. Sunday, but she was born on a Monday...so Sunday? Really? Mmmhmm and no one is going to pick on this kid for being named after a day of the week? Just like I'm sure Gwyneth's little Apple will never have variations of taunts with "sauce, cart, sour" or heck anything else my perverse little mind is thinking up right now. I mean if you looked through the names celebrities have dropped on their children, (Banjo, Pilot Inspektor, Kal-El) well Sunday is pretty mild by comparison.
Granted, parents have to pick a name that is special to them for their child. There are traditional names you couldn't pay me to name my child. No offense to any who have these names, but there are already tons of Sara, Jennifer, Emma babies, and it's never fun to have too many kids with the same name in the same class. I also realize all names run the risk of teasing. FroggerGirl's real name is also the name of a doll that performs a specific bodily function, which made for all sorts of fun in the childhood teasing/name calling department. It made me stronger in some ways, but it really made me hate that freaking doll. I can't fault my parents, they gave me a good name, not their fault the Toy Gods messed it up.
The other reason weird names are on my mind, beyond the strange need celebrities have to make the offspring media targets/butt of jokes, was because I was up too late on Sunday and gave into one of my guilty pleasure. Watching Jack Van Impe Presents for fun. I don't watch it because I believe a damn word he says or prophecies. Hell, I watch it because I don't believe a damn word he says. I watch it for his weird, blond, skeleton skinny, super face lifted, kind of dumb sounding wife, Rexella. Oh yes, her name is Rexella, Rexella Van Impe. Is there a better name than that for sheer giggles. It also helps that she sounds like a bubble head on Valium. I hear Rexella and I automatically think of Barbarella, or some other intergalactic space hooker.
OK, sometimes even I have to make fun of a name. I guess it's not her fault Rexella sounds like a Star Trek name. Just like it's not Sunday's fault her Mom and Dad have a twisted name plan. As Juliet said, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."
Granted, parents have to pick a name that is special to them for their child. There are traditional names you couldn't pay me to name my child. No offense to any who have these names, but there are already tons of Sara, Jennifer, Emma babies, and it's never fun to have too many kids with the same name in the same class. I also realize all names run the risk of teasing. FroggerGirl's real name is also the name of a doll that performs a specific bodily function, which made for all sorts of fun in the childhood teasing/name calling department. It made me stronger in some ways, but it really made me hate that freaking doll. I can't fault my parents, they gave me a good name, not their fault the Toy Gods messed it up.
The other reason weird names are on my mind, beyond the strange need celebrities have to make the offspring media targets/butt of jokes, was because I was up too late on Sunday and gave into one of my guilty pleasure. Watching Jack Van Impe Presents for fun. I don't watch it because I believe a damn word he says or prophecies. Hell, I watch it because I don't believe a damn word he says. I watch it for his weird, blond, skeleton skinny, super face lifted, kind of dumb sounding wife, Rexella. Oh yes, her name is Rexella, Rexella Van Impe. Is there a better name than that for sheer giggles. It also helps that she sounds like a bubble head on Valium. I hear Rexella and I automatically think of Barbarella, or some other intergalactic space hooker.
OK, sometimes even I have to make fun of a name. I guess it's not her fault Rexella sounds like a Star Trek name. Just like it's not Sunday's fault her Mom and Dad have a twisted name plan. As Juliet said, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Run FroggerGirl, Run....
Despite all the stress and everything else going on I absolutely refuse to loose the hard fought and won ground of physical and health improvement. So this morning, despite feeling a wee bit icky and unmotivated, I made myself get up and out for yet another round of Couch to 5K running fun. Week Four is of course a challenge. More running, less down time, and it leads up to the larger milestones ahead. I ran on Tuesday, inside, where AC and the treadmill make the whole running experience easier and a bit more comfortable. Today I went back outside to get back on track for all my goals.
Outside it was warmer, borderline hot, but thankfully it was still early enough in the day that true heat had not yet settled over DC and humidity was low...which will really not last at all! Instead of my usual bright and early, it was more like bright and mid-morning, but I was still proud to be up and out instead of feeling like I did yesterday.
I'm very pleased with the trail by my apartment. The route I've been taking lately is mostly shaded and cool. Despite a pretty steady stream of cars that pass though the area, the paths are peaceful. My Podcast provides music and verbal encouragement when I run, but I keep the volume low to allow some of the quiet to surround me despite the sounds.
The funniest thing about my run is that for the the final run, the Podcast is set to this kind of innocuous rock inspired song, but every time I hear it the words "More Cowbell" pop into my head. The main percussion of the song is an unfailing regular and surprisingly loud cowbell. I think it's supposed to help my pace and feel upbeat, but all I can hear is the cowbell and pictures of the SNL sketch flash in my head. At least that little giggle helps raise the spirits!
Outside it was warmer, borderline hot, but thankfully it was still early enough in the day that true heat had not yet settled over DC and humidity was low...which will really not last at all! Instead of my usual bright and early, it was more like bright and mid-morning, but I was still proud to be up and out instead of feeling like I did yesterday.
I'm very pleased with the trail by my apartment. The route I've been taking lately is mostly shaded and cool. Despite a pretty steady stream of cars that pass though the area, the paths are peaceful. My Podcast provides music and verbal encouragement when I run, but I keep the volume low to allow some of the quiet to surround me despite the sounds.
The funniest thing about my run is that for the the final run, the Podcast is set to this kind of innocuous rock inspired song, but every time I hear it the words "More Cowbell" pop into my head. The main percussion of the song is an unfailing regular and surprisingly loud cowbell. I think it's supposed to help my pace and feel upbeat, but all I can hear is the cowbell and pictures of the SNL sketch flash in my head. At least that little giggle helps raise the spirits!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Power of Positive Thinking
Well, it appears the day is not so dark as I had thought! Good things do happen. After the fear and everything else, comes better news. The ever hoped for Government job, applied to many, many months ago, has finally had some progress. After much waiting and vague confirmation emails, finally a message of hope...they want to schedule an interview. While there are no guarantees, the slow hire process will continue at least there is a major ray of hope in the process. I will continue to apply myself to all avenues I can, but the hopeful feeling was very nice indeed!
the ugly, The Bad and THE GOOD!!!
OK, reverse order, because I find that it's better to address the less pleasant things first to make the good shine brighter. So here it goes.
the ugly
- FroggerGirl for the first time in her life, not at her own choosing or because of school, is without gainful employ for a (hopefully) brief period of time.
The Bad
- I have discovered that loosing a job triggers a feeling a of grief and panic I hope to never feel again, or at least not have to feel for a long time.
- FroggerGirl had to back out of the Mexico Wedding she was supposed to be a Bridesmaid for. That truly hurts my heart because I had to disappoint a dear friend at a time that should be nothing but sunshine and lollipops for her as she sets up her new life.
- There are still some lingering feelings of doubt and fear clouding my mind, but since barely 24hrs have passed since the great ax fell, well it's to be expected.
THE GOOD
- I have the unshakable love and support of my family, the Frogger Ma and Pa quickly closed ranks to offer support and ideas to help ease their little Frog's mind, and like much of life, Ma and Pa can make things better with a word.
- An outpouring of support by friends, both far and near, offering ideas, leads for jobs and in general the go-get-em-tiger, you will kick-butt kind of pep talks and thinking that help to raise even the lowest of feelings.
- I am ( and I realize this is immodest/egotistical, but to hell with it) wicked smart and in my life have worked in enough random places and had enough education that even if it's stocking books at Border's I will find a job.
- An organization of Government affiliation has passed my job application (made many months ago) through to the interview phase...so maybe they will finally call (I totally feel like a High School girl waiting for her crush to call her on the phone) and grant me a face to face to show them how awesome I am.
- This morning, even though my spirits were still a bit damp I got up and started a productive day. I won't let this deter me from my running plan (which went very well this morning, possibly because I was working off some stress) or lead to too great a depression of mood, to use what some may call a cliche, "This too shall pass."
Overall the GOOD outweighs the Bad and the ugly. I am not so trite or calm as to think this process is going to be easy or without down moments, but I have to focus on positive things.
Frogger Pa said it best, "This is one of those character builders you don't really want, but that happen anyway and help you in the long haul." So, back to the grindstone I must go, to press my nose against it, and hopefully end up with more than a ground-down nose!
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