Getting back into this blogging thing...

I have been quite absent. There are many things to write about, and I need to assess the adventure tally and figure out how far behind I am.

But for the moment, I shall start with a simple check in.

Nags:

• I need to invest in clothes: warm weather office attire is becoming a must. Actually I just need clothes that fit. 
• Also need to invest in a phone that is consistently functioning.
• I missed mingling with Dukies yesterday. Muy triste...
  

Brags:

• Pumpkin spice lattes make my life. I think I like them more than most men I've dated.
• I have business cards! Yay!
• Dance class tonite! Love it!
• Did I mention pumpkin spice lattes rock?
  

Happy Lunch Hour!

Hello all!


Firstly, I just want to say thanks to everyone who reads this. I'm having a lot of fun writing it, which is basically what matters to the only child in me, but it's good to know that someone is reading and enjoying, versus me putting un-fun chatter into cyberspace. Actually, it seems like several folks are reading. Score! 

I want to go for a walk in the beautiful weather outside, so this shall be a quick lunchtime check-in.

Nags: I am missing several pieces of pop culture that must be you-tubed or Hulued. (I have no idea how I'd spell that last one. Yes, I realize it's my own fault for making up verbs.) Namely, Whitney Houston's interview with Oprah and Kanye West's interview on Jay Leno. I'm super duper curious about both, and the snippets I heard from Whitney's were pretty deep. I have got to get on it.
Brags: I just had the BEST.SANDWICH.EVER. Well, maybe not ever, but what's a blog without a touch of hyperbole? It was turkey and avocado and had swiss cheese, and I'm so FULL. But not that uncomfy full, where you feel like you should be wearing stretch pants and be near a pillow. That satisfied full where all is right with the world. The kind I'd grant to all those starving children in Africa my aunt used to talk about when she wanted me to finish my food. The good kind, lol. I hadn't made myself a sandwich in a good minute, and clearly my socks have been rocked.
 

Note: this is not my sandwich, but I think blogs with pictures are more fun, and this one has the right idea.







Okay folks, I know this wasn't the most riveting post ever, but I had fun anyway, hope you did too. After all, when is talking about food not awesome?!

OH! Adventure update-

1. I start modern dance class this week! On Thursday! Yay! It will either be so much fun, or so much humiliation. More likely some combo of the two, lol. 
2. I have every intention of making sushi on Saturday, now that funds are not too tight to buy ingredients.
3. I'm thinking something cultural for the 3rd one. The DC Short Film Fest is still around til Thursday. Perhaps I can convince a co-worker to come with, or go post dance if the dance buddy is down. We'll see. If not that... something, lol. I am NOT feeling being behind schedule.
   

The Old Man is Snoring

This morning it was raining cats, dogs and giraffes. Yes, giraffes. It is that serious.

And I couldn't help but think, that the last time I remember having somewhere to be during such a storm, I was still at Duke. And I think I made that an e-meeting (read: a gchat conversation rather than leaving my apartment and treking across campus.) Buuut today I sat in traffic, avoided hydroplaning purely through prayer, and got to work on time. What a difference a few months makes. Suppose I'm doing that dependable thing I vowed to try post-grad.


And now to the daily vent session. (These make me feel good. How do y'all feel about it?):

Nags: I realize that this is entirely on me, and I'll fix it as of next week, but I have totally fallen off the weekday workout wagon. Shame on me. And it's a vicious cycle, because not getting those endorphins makes me sluggish, which makes me not wanna work out, and on and on. Note to self- do better.
Brags: It's a friend filled week! Yay Dukies! And yay for Chipotle not kicking us out after an extended stay. And especially yay for one of my fav sopranos relocating to the District. Awesomeness all around. Oh! And a brag on my hair withstanding the rain. That hairdresser most definitely earned her tip.



Updates on adventure count stats laterrrrr. Off to vacuum the office, lol. Ohh the joys of small non-profits. ^Exciting^***


***Note: The above carrots are now going to be used to indicate sarcasm, per the suggestion of Jenny Rose. Sarcastic carrots. I like it. Learn it, use it, spread it, love it!

Today is a good day...

Gooood morning blogosphere!

I am in a good mood today. The sun is out, I got to work on time with little incident, and it's Thursday! I have always loved Thursdays even more than Fridays, because on Thursday I feel like there's so much to look forward to. Not like Fridays, where there's so much expectation and pressure that you're likely setting yourself up for a letdown.

Meanwhile, the poll is closed, and I'm on schedule to make sushi! Yay!

Not a clue about this other adventure, but hoping something will spring to mind by Monday. I like to make my deadlines. (In grown-up life anyway... let's not talk about anything prior.) Next week I'm thinking dance class and DC short film fest. I'd go see a film this week, but I'm attempting frugality. *Sigh* responsibility.

And for Nags and Brags.

Nags: I really wanted the poll results to be cheesecake. I love cheesecake.
Brags: As I write this, I've already checked 2 things off of my to-do list at work! Aaaaand I'm wearing some superfly polka-dot tights, thanks to the pleasant chill in the air.

Mine are actually gray and white, but you get the idea. Yay!

Have a great day guys; I'm getting back on the productivity train. :)

A new metaphor for life

In front of God, my "partner in climb" (not pictured below) and the tourists on the National Mall, I climbed a tree on Friday, September 6, 2009. I discovered several things while doing this:

1. I should remember when I'm going to take these adventures so that I won't be caught looking less than lovely on camera.
2. I am a teensy bit afraid of heights. 
3. Tree bark hurts a bit. 
4. Sometimes people who come along to "help" really just want to laugh. 
   
5. Tree climbing makes a good metaphor for life. Think about it- You see a tree and you think, sure, I'll climb it. Why not? Looks fun! But then it's hard, and you have no clue what you're doing, until you figure out how to put one foot in front of the other. Then of course there's the matter of getting to the top, reaching the goal, and having no clue what comes next (i.e. how to get down from the tree).
   

So enjoy. Get some laughs, or think deeply, either way- enjoy!

  

 This is me examining the tree.

 

Whoa! I'm the tree! Score! I'm exciiiited.

Attempt number one at getting higher, because hopping into the tree just didn't seem satisfactory. No guts no glory right?

 

 One word: struggle.

  

Still riding the struggle bus... 

 

But enjoying it! 

 

Clearly the "What am I doing with my life and what have I gotten myself into?" moment.

 

Victory!

And now we report the news! 

(And demonstrate the results of yoga apparently, with the oddly positioned foot.)

Not pictured here is the "What happens next?" moment, where I had to figure out how to get down from the tree. It wasn't pretty, but some folks were amused. Luckily for me, the camera's battery had died, so you all only see the triumph.  Good times no?

I did it!

Ladies and gentleman of the blogosphere and voting public, I have an announcement:

Today, I am officially a climber of trees!

 ...Well, one tree. Still, it counts. Whoooo!

I will post pictures of this most adventurous adventure very very soon, but per usual, I was too excited to share my joy to wait to find the camera cord!

"Wow, they're not slimy at all."

Adventure number 2: SNAILS!

Of course I mean escargot.  That's right, I ate it. And it was gooooood. Actually, French food generally is good, as I discovered on Friday evening. It was a pretty expensive discovery, but I'm gonna call it worth it.
How on earth did this come about, you ask? The wife (a future food writer extraodinaire) took me out of my funk... straight to Brasserie Beck. Absolute deliciousness, and I loved it as soon as we were greeted by the staff upon entering. They greeted us like there was no tomorrow, and it made me smile.

Apparently they have the best snails in the city. (I know this not, but Ms. Zagat says so, and I believe it.) And since I'd never eaten whatever sort of animal family snails belong to, and it definitely enriched my life (or at least my tummy), it totally counts as a spontaneous adventure!

Score! Pictures below :)

This is Duck Confit (pronounced cone-fee by the way). It was delicious, but not really the point.

This is the point: escargot! It looks nothing like I expected.

 

This is what I pictured. Not nearly as appetizing... But kinda friendly looking, no?

But, I got over it, my anxiety, and here's proof!

And here's Korsha, who had fewer hangups I believe, trying it out too.

(She's laughing at me taking a pic of everything. Isn't she adorable?)

So we ate them, and they were good- excellent even. They were tender, actually very savory, not the least bit slimy, and I'm glad I had them. I might even have them again.

Luckily though, after the snails and duckies, we went back to much more familiar territory, though still delicious.

This is mussels with apples and curry... 

 

...And this, is a whole bowl of FRENCH FRIES!  WHOOHOO!

And such concluded the first week's adventures. With good old freedom fries. 

Coming up this week, the top two votes in the poll- tree climbing (technical difficulties appear to be resolved) commences Friday. And, at some point I'll pop on some red lipstick...  Still psyching myself up for it a little, but it'll happen! And you'll read all about it! (I hope.)

Pretty Pretty Flowers: Evidence of Adventure 1

On Wednesday during my lunch break at work, I set out in search of my real favorite flower.  My previous method for having chosen this oh so important thing in a woman's life was... dubious.  Luckily, there's a flower shop at 11th and U (short walk from my office) that I'd walked past, so it was an easily remedied problem.

It's gorgeous on the outside...

...And, they have pets! Three dogs I believe, and a cat named Lily, who was the only one awake enough to greet me.  Actually, that's pretty false. Pam was wide awake, and incredibly helpful. When I told her that I'd never chosen a favorite flower, she was appropriately aghast. So we talked about all the possibilities, and she recommended a few things. Take note ladies if you ever need to choose a flower:

1. Pick something that's in season more than a few months. Apparently this is a real hardship for very earnest young men, who can't get phone numbers without flowers that are unavailable.
2. Choose something that's economical. Another hardship. 
3. Pick a statement flower, but keep it simple. Pam seems very Zen in her flower choices- she likes to put a single lily in a vase (I like lilies), or add a bit of eucalytus. I think one of these days I'll try that, or hyacinth, since she raved about the smell.
4. Try different things. This is just good advice for life. So, I am keeping an open mind, per her sage advice. 

But, at this particular moment, I have chosen!

In the front are Pam's favorite, lilies. Calla lilies on the left, and asiatic lilies on the right. And there, in the back, are my favorites. It seems that my gut was correct, even if she's a bit illogical.
Gladiolas are just as elegant and striking as they sound. (Isn't it nice when words fit their objects?)

And so concludes adventure 1. I bought some, and they are currently sitting on my kitchen counter. Good times.

I got it in...

(...the second adventure that is.)

No, I have not climbed a tree just yet. Technical difficulties continue, though they are being resolved forthwith.

In the meantime, I managed to stay on schedule with a bit of spontaneity and the help of my wife- by that I mean platonic, non-exclusive life partner. Our motto has always been "there's always food." So, despite the fact that the sky seemed to be falling (literally, the weather was kind of gross yesterday) we brightened up the day with... SNAILS.

That's right, I ate escargot yesterday. Most definitely counts as an adventure, and ya know what? They were darn good.

So I have officially completed the adventure tally for the week, and owe the blogosphere some pictures! Get excited!

Hope everyone is having an excellent weekend :)

Oh noooos! But then, YAY!

Due to what we're going to call "technical difficulties," no trees were climbed yesterday. At least not by this blogger. But don't worry! We will find a way! This likely just means that the schedule will be thrown off, and 3 adventures will take place next week, rather than 2.

In other news:

• Praying for the Kennedy family, and the nation without the Senator's leadership.
• Hope all the non-alum Dukies had an awesome FWOC (first week of classes).
• Congrats to various alums starting various things recently (internships, jobs, teaching careers, grad and professional schools and the like)! We are SO impressive!
• And on that note:

I am officially a Research and Training Fellow at the Young Women's Project! Score!

 K. That's all. There are indeed pictures from the first adventure. And I will post them this weekend. Promise.

First adventure complete!

Get excited guys! It really happened! What, you ask? Shame on you for not keeping up! I have completed my first adventure.

I bought myself flowers, and they are lovely. Pictures to come, and tree climbing in less than 24 hours!

:)

A plan takes shape

Over the weekend, I saw the movie Julie and Julia. I loved the food, and the romance of it all, and Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, but something in particular inspired me about it. The idea that writing and having a blog to hold her accountable basically changed Julie's life.

Not that my life needs a total overhaul, but, I admit I find myself a bit dull. So, I'm going to take the fledgling thoughts of my last post, and make it bigger. In the next year, starting next week, I am going to get a life, and I'm gonna tell you all (yep, all 3 of you, lol) about it.

Here's the plan:

1. I'm giving myself a year deadline. This is partly a rip-off of the movie, and partly just a logical timeline. It makes sense to have a life a little over a year after graduation, and it seems like enough time to become a genuinely interesting person.
2. Every week, I'm going to have 2 adventures of some sort. Now, some of these will be small adventures, like eating a new kind of food, and others will be much bigger, like the modern dance class I am signing up for. The criteria is just that it be something that could potentially enrich my existence, and that it be something that's out of the ordinary for me.
3. I will blog about it. This guarantees at least 2 posts a week, but seems like it would necessitate more to describe prep, any after effects, etc.
   

Well my faithful readers, let me know if you have any thoughts on this. Between now and Sunday the plan is to come up with at least a preliminary list of the things I'll want to do. I'm thinking it should be a lot of fun. I'm also contemplating ways to make it interactive if I discover that anyone anywhere is paying attention. And, worst case scenario, I'm okay with quiet improvements to my life.

In summary:

1. Love Meryl Streep.
2. I intend to accomplish 104 things in 52 days.
3. Hopefully this will super fun, and not super lame.
4. Please leave questions, comments, advice and ideas!

Oh, and here's a trailer for the movie that's inspired this journey. I thought it was adorable and definitely recommend it, especially for lovers of chick flicks and/or food (the general population, no?).

Shout outs!

There have been requests for shoutouts, and I am quite willing to make a shameless plug and bring in some traffic to the blog, because I'm a member of Generation Y and we like attention.

Dear ladies of Duke in DC: thanks for a wonderful Thursday. Forever.Duke.
Dear Abbigator: Told ya, this is just for you!
While I'm shouting out Dukies: Hi Topeka! (You better read this miss. And let me know when you do.)

Okay, that's about it for that.

In other news, it is Saturday and I'm being kinda lame and have no further plans than the cleaning I already completed. This whole work life balance thing is a bit difficult... It seems I have an on and off switch and need to purchase some dimmers. I've decided to flip the work switch on since I got this super great job, and doing all that work makes me very tired come weekends or week nights. Generally, I can make it out in the world for about 1 activity a week (sometimes admittedly less). If there are suggestions for balancing a 45 hour work week, and being a healthy, social 20 something, while still saving money to move out within a couple years and own, not rent, I'd love to hear them.

Til then, I think I'll take a nap.

Today was Monday at the Young Women's Project.
Well, it was Monday everywhere I suppose, but YWP was where I spent most of the start of the week. It was... uneventful actually. Mondays are quiet for us- no youth, and allegedly a day of planning and adult staff productivity. Like most people who work with youth I'm sure, it seems as though there's never really enough planning time, but we make do. Mondays are also staff meeting day. Despite our anti-bureaucracy stance, they're kinda necessary...

What, you may ask, is the Young Women's Project?
Rather than a marginally interesting post on exactly what we do (the disinterest inrecapping it may only be mine, because I seem to do it often), I'll build suspense for a bit and instead tell you how we feel about things. This may also force you to click on the above link out of curiosity, thereby driving traffic to the website and potentially donations? Yes? Pay my salary? I digress... Aaanywho, I give you

YWP,
in bullet points:

We are:

• pro youth adult partnership
• supportive of "partners" rather than husbands, boyfriends or live-in lovers
• pro interdependence
  
• pro frameworks, check-ins, write-ups the share-drive
  
• pro-sharing, and oblivious to over-sharing
  
• pro trainings, assuming their interactiveness
• also pro chart paper and colorful markers, as a corollary
  
• neutral on promptness, but this is situation-dependent
  
• pro transparency (though not in the teen staff clothing) and pro accountability
• anti agression but pro assertiveness
• anti oppression and pro forward progression
  
• in support of work-life balance, and the balance that comes from mastering the tree pose in yoga
• obviously, pro yoga
• also, pro tai chi, tae bo and Thai food
• supportive of ethiopian, vegan and carribean cuisines, as well as Ben's Chili Bowl
• pro gmail, gchat and google in general
• in support of peer support groups and support systems, but anti support hose
• pro sarcasm, but only when tempered by an angelic smile
• anti beauty culture, but generally in favor of beautiful things
• pro long lunches and longer walks, also pro long evenings
• Basically amazing
  

Well, that's enough of that for the evening. Time for bed, then Tuesday!

It's early morning, between my early workout and commute but I had to stop in to say:
I love a male feminist!

Basically, former president Jimmy Carter rocks my socks today! This article he wrote for the observer is so spot on, that if I ever meet him I will give him a hug! He looks like the sort of former leader of the free world that you could hug, doesn't he?

Granted, the pink heart frame totally makes my case, lol.

Basically, former President Carter lays out the case for why women's subordinate status in many religions, and in daily life around the world, is not a result of inferiority, but rather the power dynamics used by male religious leaders for centuries. I love him for speaking out on this so eloquently. I also love him for pointing out that disagreeing with a religious doctrine was entirely separate from his continued faith. I wish more Christians, and people of all faiths, read their scriptures and discerned for themselves the truth. Rituals and decrees are man's (and I don't necessarily mean that in a gender-inclusive way) interpretations, not necessarily God's will, and that distinction is not made clear often enough. Not that I'm calling for spiritual anarchy here, just noting that a reasoned, thoughtful deviation from your domination is a sign of taking your relationship with your Higher Power seriously. I like it.