Friday=work free day

Yippee...nothing like finding out that the 31st is a holiday at work and realizing that I have to work absolutely no jobs that day! Also, thanks to my groovy roommate who got me a dvd player (with converter) and the both Sex and the City season 6 dvds for Christmas!

****My posts have definitely been lacking the radical part lately, so after the holidays I really want to make sure I keep true to my goals and continue to publicize the injustices I hear about/see.

*Watch these rentals*

We rented a crapload of movies this weekend, but my two favorite (sorry Napoleon Dynamite) were (1) Saved! and (2) Dirty Pretty Things. If you haven't seen them already, make haste to the video store and pick them up. (1) funny, satirical, true...(2) honest and lovely. I'm terrible at reviews, but hell, I do think both of these are worth picking up.

Early morning flight tomorrow back home and just know that I am going to be awoken at 3:30 am to begin the 5 hour trek to the Dallas airport. Happy birthday, Charlie! Your gift will be in the mail when I get home (Eragon and my laptop...some surprise, huh?).

Sunshine and waves...here I come!

What did Santa bring this merry blogger? A trip to Puerto Rico! 5 days at the end of January spent learning to surf, kayaking the ocean, and roaming the streets of old San Juan. I am so psyched! I don't expect a tan, but some old fashioned R&R and fun in the sun is definitely in order. Some salsa at night with a cute Puerto Rican wouldn't hurt either : ) I just have to pick up my ticket at the airport when I fly back to DC tomorrow. Ahhhhh (the sound of stress leaving my body).

Bad but safe blogger..

I've been a bad blogger as of late...completely shirking in my posts. Things have just been so crazy busy leading up to the holidays, and I have to say that by ignoring said blog, I was able to finally get some amazing work done on this historic report for work. Draft final is complete, and the end is in sight.

Right now I'm at home in Tejas, so blogging probably won't pick up until I return next week. For all of you interested in how my drive went...it fell through at the last minute. I was feeling like complete and utter crap on the day I was to leave, and my roommate found me a somewhat reasonable airline ticket literally an hour before I was set to depart. So...I flew to Texas this morning and am now safely in San Angelo. My only dilemma now is that I'm on standby for the 27th, but it's not looking good. I've got a definite reservation on the 28th, but that will mean I'll have to call in at BN if I don't make that standby. Whoops!

Have a merry Christmas, blogland!

I've found a bit of nirvana...

...or at least something that made me really, really happy for about an hour...I finally went to Paper Source in Georgetown. I know some of you are like *whatever*, but it is one of the coolest stores (said the girl who loves paper and getting crafty). I seriously had to hold myself in check, so that I would go completely crazy. I know I must have looked a mess...pupils all dilated and cheeks flushed. I managed to walk away only buying a kit to make my own holiday cards (so cute) and some badass erasers for a few people on my holiday list. After the holidays, I'm definitely going to go back and stock up. All geeked out and happy about it.

Let the countdown begin...

...only 8 days until the big drive to Texas for the holidays. I'm still debating on getting the cat. I so don't want to do the wrong thing here. So, I was still exhausted yesterday and couldn't be bothered to blog, but I'm a little more rested and looking forward to going to bed early tonight (right...we'll see if that actually happens). Pretty sad when this excites me.

As the holidays approach, I'm getting more and more stressed about all of the deadlines I've set for myself. I feel like if I weren't working so much at BN I'd be able to accomplish them without any problems. But, instead, I can only take things one day at a time and keep plugging on.

If I can get my mojo back up, I promise more interesting posts in the days ahead : )

Exhausted

Can't believe it's been 10 years...

My 10-year high school reunion was this past October, and while I wasn't able to attend, I did get emailed around photos from people who did go. Is it horrible that it made me happy that most people looked worse than they did 10 years ago (bigger, trashier, etc.)? I'm sure it is, but I can't help but get a little glee from it : )

I'm pretty stoked with the way my life has turned out these last 10 years and know it's only going to get better. Now if I could only find that big strapping northwestern man...

Retreated, rested and back

I'm back, and I have the say the retreat turned out to be a smashing success from a staff bonding perspective. I work with some really great people who are freaking hilarious. There was much poker, dancing, and falling down (and whacking one's head against the stairs). My body is still sore from that last night.

I also came to the realization on the drive home with Steve yesterday that I need to do something about BN. I need to either (1) drastically cut back my hours or (2) start making the job work for me. If I'm going to working there so many hours, then I need to start spending my money on things that will make me happy (surfing lessons, a new canoe, some vacation time, spa visits, a trip to Africa, grad school). Once I start grad school, I'll have to cut back on my hours anyway, but in the meantime, I need to cut back on the books and focus on other things I want out of life. Life is too short, and while I'm working hard, I'm seriously slacking in the 'play hard' arena.

Out 'til Wednesday

I'm out 'til Wednesday at a staff retreat in West Virginia and won't be posting unless I can manage to sneak on this computer in the lobby more often. I'm so unenthusiastic about this trip...in fact, it's bordering on depressing me, and I don't know why. I've wanted to cry several times since I've gotten here (I've also laughed several times, too).

I feel the call of the open road...

Looks like a road trip may be in order. I'm searching for cheap fairs home for the holidays, and it looks like I'm going to have trouble finding any available flight at all...yikes! You know what that will means...road trip. Can I do TX in 24 hours? Probably, but I'll need lots of rest. The train and bus are definitely out because they take too long. Driving is definitely the next fastest way to TX short of flying. Hmmm...I can't believe nothing is available for when I need it! The thought of driving all that way makes me nervous, but it's exciting at the same time. Being on the open road gives me a sense of freedom and possibility.

Frolicking in the field...

I'll be frolicking in the field all day today down in New Kent, Virginia. Pamunkey River...here I come : )

Am I just too anal?

I'm so frustrated right now with this organization where I'm a board member. Monday morning I was supposed to go to this meeting with Rep. Moran and the Mayor of Alexandria to talk about getting program funding through approps for Victim to Victory. Unfortunately, in order for me to attend said meeting, it is helpful to TELL ME WHERE THE MEETING IS! It's not like I took a vacation at my 9-5 just so I could be there or spent time researching past funding trends! Perhaps if this was the first sign of disorganization I wouldn't be as angry, but this is simply another example of an emerging trend. For the past couple of years I've been writing grants for this organization and have been pushing them to (1) develop a strategy for funding this new program and (2) focus on actual implementation. Instead, I feel like I'm constantly questioning a budget with figures that appear to be picked by flinging a dart at a dart board and wrangling them to remain focused on kids whose parent(s) is incarcerated. This program is supposed to be about something more than just handing a needy kid a gift at Christmas time, and yet, the new accomplishment they keep mentioning as an example of their success is the addition of birthday parties. Where are the kids going to tutoring and the mentoring matches? I'm finding it ever more difficult to write grants for a program that isn't growing at the rate I think it should. Plus, now that I'm a board member, they've pretty much said that they expect me to whip the board and everything into shape. Have I mentioned that this is first board I've been on and that I have NO experience doing this? I'm studying like a mad woman because I don't want to see this endeavor fail.