They call me Berly

When Suburbs Move Downtown

2009-08-04T10:47:00.003-04:00

Columbia Heights is where I like to call home. It's active and bright, close to downtown, metro-accessible, and relatively still affordable (which is saying something in the world of DC rental property). Apparently these features are not enough, though. The Post decided that the new Target has inherently changed the face of the neighborhood, The Target of Their Ambivalence.

While the article is interesting in its play on the local kitch, it addresses only one crowd. Columbia Heights is historically a community of strong diversity. Monica Hesse only writes to the young (white) singles in the neighborhood, clearly missing the strongly rooted black resident and immigrant families that give the area its life. On any given summer afternoon walking down the street, young kids are running past playing with friends, hip teenagers stand outside the 7-Eleven socializing, and older folks sit on their stoops watching the world go by. The mix of these ages and experiences interacting with one another on the street represents the quintessential city life. Target has not changed that.

Sure, the apartments and condos are getting a face lift, increasing rents. There are lots of young, upwardly mobile college kids now moving in too. But the families and long-term inhabitants are still around. The group houses are springing up more frequently where subdivided rentals used to sit. So maybe Target has changed the neighborhood, but less among the group house types who could have done the same shopping by jumping on the metro and heading 4 stops down to the Bed, Bath, and Beyond in Gallery Place. The real change has not been among the young singles, but for the families who've been here all along.

Idiocy

2009-06-11T10:35:00.003-04:00

I'm trying very hard not to un-friend someone on Facebook. I know this person casually and of course he requested that we be Facebook friends. Sure, fine. Only he posts the most infuriating information. It's ignorant and illogical and I'm fed up with it.

Only, it's sort of my source of what stupid people out there really think. Because there's no way you'd get to these conclusions using any kind of logic or reason. It's pure sophistry.
This unnamed person posted a link to an article: Obama Extols Koran.

I saw this and his comments and just couldn't even make coherent thoughts this morning I was so outraged. Not necessarily at the article, because I just don't expect much from "Christian" news. (Quotes denoting self-identification when they hardly represent any of Jesus's teachings.)

No, what really drives me up the wall is how people really believe this shit. As if praising a religion other than one's own is somehow heresy. Moreover, the implication that our president doing such things is somehow un-American, when in fact it represents probably one of the most American ideals of inclusion. Pure bigotry.

What also burns me is how this is so tightly related to some notion that America is a "Christian" nation. If you wanted to argue that America is a nation founded on representing Christian ideals, then I would agree. But the Founders were very clear about providing a country where individuals were protected by the freedom of religion-- ANY religion.

If you know your basic 3rd grade American history, you would understand that the Puritans (Christians) were escaping Catholic and Anglican (yup, both Christian) abuse. The Holy Inquisition wasn't so far in the past that people weren't still scared of its reach. And if you think that Christians don't war with each other or create internal religious blood baths, I have only one word for you: Ireland.

I am proud to live in America, where I may freely practice whatever religion I chose. Perhaps that is Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, or snake-handling Pentecostalism. Whether my choice be Christianity or Atheism, no government or sovereign authority may impinge my rights. I heartily support a president who upholds these values domestically and around the world.

The Trouble with Torture

2009-05-14T10:01:00.007-04:00

As we approach Memorial Day this month, I started reflecting on the irony of our current security debate. The fact that we are even discussing torture as a possible means of information-gathering is appalling. People (Congress, military officials, and media) are getting into the nitty-gritty of whether waterboarding is actually torture, and even if it is that maybe it's ok when it's justified as a means to an end.

Are you kidding me?

We may think of ourselves as "civilized" or an "advanced society," but this conversation has all of the trappings of tribal war-lord tactics and can not be justified--no way, not ever. We hashed through all of this in the first two world wars and thus borne the Geneva Conventions. Because all agreed that torture was a bad thing for everyone involved. So have we really slunk so far in the last 60 years that we have to readdress this basic premise?

I realize that the last 8 years have followed the progressive path to fascism, but it's time for a turn-around. If you wanted a playbook of how to become a fascist dictator in a democratic society, George Bush sure stole from Mussolini and Hitler. What's worse is that now that he's out of office, we are still discussing this policy.

Getting All Worked Up

2009-05-12T12:38:00.003-04:00

Sometimes it's nice and relaxing reading the paper in the morning, and other times Dana Milbank likes to write about issues that just get me all riled up. Rush Limbaugh is inherently one of these issues. There used to be a joke about "think of a man, then take away logic and reason" and that would be Rush. What really gets me is not his crazy antics, but his scary followers. Most all of them live in my hometown. Trust me, they are very, very scary.

The irony of reading this article today was how much it contrasts so starkly with a conversation I had last weekend. A friend of mine's little sister just graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and we were all out celebrating. Not that celebrating would ever bring up these kinds of conversations, but something reminiscent about college and philosophy had us discussing Plato's The Republic. My friend was arguing how much fun it is to relive the conversation with his Libertarian friends. So you believe in NO government, "oh really?" It was such a delightful tête-à-tête that it made me go dig up my copy of The Republic.

It might be because I'm going to visit my hometown in a few weeks or just realizing how much I enjoy being in a city with complex, cognizant human beings. It might also be because my book club is discussing American Wife this weekend and I'm just highly attuned to the nuanced hypocracies that exist in our world. For whatever reason, I just couldn't let it go.

The only true Tea Party sign

2009-04-16T20:32:00.003-04:00

Finally Done

2009-03-29T20:02:00.004-04:00

My crazy month is finally over. It was fun and a little exhausting. But it sure was pretty.

Love Will Guide Us

2009-03-01T13:23:00.003-05:00

If you cannot
sing like angels,
if you cannot
speak before thousands,
you can give from
deep within you
You can change the world
with your love.

Love will guide us
Peace has tried us
Hope inside us
will lead the way.
On the road from
greed to giving
love will guide us
through the hard night.

Thank you Rob Hardies for a much needed reminder of love not fear in a time of uncertainty. There is a man outside the metro that I see every day who will receive my $5 grocery store gift card. I hope that it will help him this week. And what is another $5 on my weekly shopping trips? Where it's a bag of chips or block of fancy cheese for me, it could be a day's only meal for someone else.

While I'm hesitant to give cash to people asking for help, the grocery store cards can be a good aid. It's not the best solution, but in times like these, we cannot wait for the best. I'm reminded not to refuse from doing the something that I can do.

I need a metal spork

2009-01-27T08:43:00.002-05:00

Or maybe even a set of four. After all, who doesn't want to eat off a spork once in a while.

I was making ramen last night and was just entirely indecisive about whether to use a fork or spoon. A fork grabs the noodles, but misses the warm, filling broth, while a spoon gets the broth, but all the noodles fall off. Which is when I uttered my desire for fine spork-ware. I've yet to find it through Oneida or any other flatware retailer, but I think I've stumbled on to something brilliant. Imagine just one utensil at the table for that home, quick meal. Little clean up and all scrumptiousness. I also think it would work particularly well for mac-n-cheese.

So what led up to this late-night ramen meal was my first USDA grad school class of the semester: Microeconomics. It's such a wonderful thing to actually experience intellectual stimulation in a day. I was a little worried about how I'd last through a 3 hour class on Monday evening. Surprisingly, I found myself so much more awake and engaged for that three hours than most of my previous 8/9 hour day. It's a wonder what interest and engagement can do for my energy and stamina.

What's even more exciting is my professor. He's got this wizened, older gentleman feel about him and he talks in a very deliberate, slow cadence. It's great for taking notes, but it also gives this air about him that he's in no hurry and you can take a little time to understand what he's saying. Sometimes it's funny, others take a second to go through some disagreements and apply his reasoning to them. The one thing I've always been frustrated about in economics is how you tend to learn in this bubble of theory. The assumption that people are rational and will do what's in their best interest (buy at a lower cost) just doesn't play out in the real world. The fact that he not only addressed this, but made a joke of "no, no one has ever seen two gas stations across the street from each other with different gas prices," just made my heart warm. I really have no problem learning the theory and bubble rationality of economics, but sincerely admire the admittance that it's just not the case in the real world.

I raise my spork to learning in a bubble.

Proud Ticketholder

2009-01-10T10:42:00.003-05:00

I got tickets to one of the Obama Inaugural Balls!! Can I just say how ecstatic I am. I hope I get to go to the DC Neighborhood Ball-- so excited that it's being included. The tickets are available through the Presidential Inauguration Committee for a donation. Because I only made the minimum, I get placed in a ball based on my zip code. Well, that's fine with me. Maybe I'll even meet some neighbors.

I'm so excited I can hardly contain it. Now I have to go pick out which of my 18 gowns (no joke) I'll wear!

The Truth Revealed

2009-01-07T16:52:00.001-05:00

One Lucky Australian.

If you want to get technical,

2009-01-06T22:03:00.002-05:00

VODKA is practically a health drink if you just call it potato juice. . .
which it really is, anyway.

~New Year's card from my mom

Hubris

2009-01-05T12:54:00.003-05:00

There are lots of stories about how Obamas have moved into the Hay-Adams hotel so their kids could start school at the beginning of the winter term. What remains an understated point of fact is that they were rejected from staying in the Blair House, the traditional residence of president-elects before the inauguration. They will finally be let in on January 15, only 5 days before they will be moving in to the white house.

What astounds me is the blatant display of Bush hubris. He's already been deemed one of the worst US presidents of American history. But just to rub it in a bit more, the rudeness displayed in refusing a man to take up residence for the sake of his children astounds me. And this from a "good ol' values" man just proves how disconnected he is from true Southern hospitality.

So now that the elections are over and it seems Bush will "retire" on a few boards of directors, the true New Englander returns. I wonder if the accent will disappear as well.

Resolution

2009-01-04T15:29:00.003-05:00

I'm not normally one to make new year's resolutions. I'm very bad about keeping them. I therefore have a hard time coming up with a good resolution until around March or April and usually don't commit to it then because I've missed so much of the year already.

I've been toying around with a few things in my head lately. Of course the usualy food and fitness goals are there, but I've been bad about fully committing myself to either. But today I had a good focus on putting myself in the attitude for new year's resolutions.

I've already committed myself to slowing down and taking things easy, not let stress overwhelm me and not agreeing to do everything I'm asked and then regretting it later. I am doing pretty well on that front, picking and choosing how I want to spend my time and NOT scheduling something every night of the week and weekend.

So I picked my new year's resolution to go in line with that. I want to start journaling. Not an every day journal of daily activities, but a more occassional, personal, and emotional journal of my internal struggles and concerns. Blogging is a great way to vent on issues or share exciting ideas, but not really how I want to open myself up. I sometimes think of great things I'd love to blog, but don't really want to divulge that much or don't think anyone else would really care to read it. However, none of these things are great worries for me with a journal. Then I can take a look at what I've written over time and review how far I've come in the year, what I need to work on, or just let go.

So at last, I have a comitted, attainable new year's resolution! Now I'm looking forward to many other great things in 2009.

Jabberwocky

2008-12-24T03:35:00.003-05:00

Isn't language a funny thing? It helps us communicate a whole range of emotions to one another. Albeit, not our only means of communication, nonetheless a vital one. Scholars have remarked on how languages change and adapt. Recently, these scholars bemoan the shrinking of the average person's vocabulary. While I would argue that the average person in modern society is far more educated and therefore truly has a much greater vocabulary than the counterpart of a century or so ago, I must admit that this brings me to another query.

Does language define our thoughts or do our thoughts define our language? Sadly, this is not my own brilliant question, but one that was raised in a particularly amazing history class that I can no longer remember it's real title and refer to it merely as "the meaning of life class." Anyway, I would tend to side with the former version of the question, having spent many instances writing a paper and trying to pull the word out of thin air. And yet, I am drawn back to my favorite poem ever since I had to memorize it for my 8th grade English class. It may be mostly nonsense, but you sure do know what it means.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

--Lewis Carroll

Presidential Campaign Review

2008-11-12T22:34:00.002-05:00

According to the experts, it was the economy and the environment that led to Obama's victory. At least to the 5 panelists from both Republican and Democratic camps who were talking at the Smithsonian event this evening. It was a pretty exciting sold-out event.

I was probably the only person under 30; maybe one of 10 under 50.

It was funny sitting there and hearing about how my parent's generation described mine. According to them, I am multicultural, tired of political fighting, and more focused on issues that can be accomplished than arguing about the same old things time and again. Not a bad depiction, I'd say.

One thing I was surprised about was the vehemence about women's representation. I have to admit that I'm not much of a feminist when I look around me. Howard Dean felt more passion and exuberance for representing women than I felt. I am all for the issues: equal pay, birth control, owning my own property (did you know that women in the South couldn't open their own bank accounts even into the 1960s?).

But as far as being represented in intelligent spaces in government and business, I'm just less worried. Having been a graduate student and hearing PhD candidates planning out how to space having babies between dissertation and initial placement so that it doesn't impact achieving tenure was pretty harsh. I guess working in the more nonprofit side of things, though, I don't feel underrepresented. And I'm not all that torn up about fewer women ravagers on wall street and in board rooms. Perhaps I have my own built-in sexism, but I think there are brilliant women in some of the much more important jobs than what men consider: secretary of state, director of the Red Cross, hell even Carly Fiorina got into a tech company (a strongly male-dominated area, and maybe it didn't work out so well, but it was a significant move).

I think rather than asking why there aren't more women in high positions, we should look more to women excelling in math and technical fields, provide more support for working mothers, and teach college graduates to negotiate their starting salary (which is the number one reason for women making less than men in the long term of their career).

No matter how you look at it, I just don't see a woman in the White House as a particularly significant accomplishment. We have accepted women presidents across the world, women are often favored in gubernatorial races than men, and women executives are no longer characterized as man-eating bitches like they once were. Yes it's important to break the barriers and commit to promoting smart people who happen to be women, but then let's look at the causes for why the divergence exists instead of just asking why the results don't change.

I was a brownie.

2008-11-09T21:05:00.002-05:00

This weekend I went with friends to the Hershey Chocolate Spa. It was a fun indulgence and we had LOTS of chocolate. My favorite thing of the whole weekend was the chocolate fondue wrap. I was a brownie for an hour. I had mud and chocolate oil all over me and relaxed under a warm heat reflecting blanket.

Sadly what came to mind while I was under the blanket, was how great of an idea would it be to offer similar blankets to the homeless. They reflect your own body heat and keep you surprisingly warm and don't get saturated by rain and such. I sort of laughed at myself for thinking about such things while I was in a super luxurious environment feeling the height of self-indulgence. I guess I just can't help it sometimes.

So after floating home like a wet noodle, I'm dreading work this week which will be lots of work in a very tight deadline. It's not dreadful, and it's needed, but it's totally going to undo all my hard relaxation work. Somehow I'll have to manage.

Watching History

2008-11-05T21:35:00.008-05:00

Today made headlines all across the nation and around the world. High turnout at the polls, excitement across the nation--makes me so proud to be an American today.

I did go vote on election day. I know, I live in DC, so it's pretty predictable. But I was still excited to stand in line for an hour and a half.

Just for a point of reference, this is my block. My polling place is about 100 yards away. I stepped out and had to walk down to the opposite end of my street, go around the corner and then stand in line. This was at 7am when they opened. Everything was moving and organized well, there were just more people than any school could reasonably handle.

Of course on my way home there was no line, but it was also raining by that point and I was glad I voted early.

So the excitement in town last night was unavoidable. People were literally dancing in the streets. Horns were honking, people were shouting "Obama" and "Change We Can Believe In." Whole groups of people just started walking the two miles down to the white house. This was all in the drizzly rain at 1am.

So today I realized just why I love living in this city so much, especially at this time. Part of it was the spontaneous excitement and celebration that happened last night, but also just the knowledge that we are living history.

We are living history in such a special way here in Washington, DC. We get to enjoy it while it's happening. It suddenly dawned on my at about 2pm this afternoon that the Newseum on Pennsylvania Ave. displays the front page of newspapers across the country and some from different nations of the world. The sight was just incredible. Here are a few images.

It's pretty remarkable.

Democracy Wins!

2008-09-26T22:56:00.002-04:00

I just finished watching the presidential debates. My first impression-- how refreshing to hear two smart men talking about real issues. I haven't heard it in so long! I feel all elevated and challenged in the conversation.

Jim Lehrer did his darndest to create a more authentic Lincoln-Douglas, which was surprising since the media is the one who has worked so hard to get away from the candidates actually talking to each other. He's still an amazing moderator and kudos to him.

Oh the issues. There was so much to cover, and I honestly heard myself agreeing and disagreeing with both candidates. I can't wait to see the fact-checker reviews tomorrow.

So what everyone is really asking is: who won? I think the winner here was definitely democracy. Let's talk about issues and the distinctions of our candidates in depth and not just through snipes and sound-bites. Hooray for democracy, the freedom of speech, and the free press!

Locks of Love

2008-09-13T14:36:00.005-04:00

Alright. I went and did it. I decided to cut my hair for locks of love today. It's unreal how quickly all that hair disappeared.

Of course I went to Beth at Fiddlehead's. She was great. I was so excited and she had fun with my bob. It's definitely a lot shorter than I was expecting, but hair will grow out.

I was asked if I'd start growing it out again. I said no. Let's keep it at my shoulders from now on. That is, once it gets back there, which may be a while.

On another note, I got my Dyson DC 18 today! I had so much fun playing with it (also known as vacuuming). You wouldn't believe how much cat hair came up in the first run. My carpet feels all new again now, though. It's small and pretty light and totally makes the wretched chore fast and easy-- so it's totally worth it to me. Oh yeah, and I got it for less than half the price on woot.com! I'm just all about the deals today.

National Book Festival

2008-09-12T08:42:00.002-04:00

I didn't think I could get any more excited about the National Book Festival on the mall Saturday, September 27. Then I saw the list of authors and NEIL GAIMAN is going to be there!! Now it's just made my day. A totally frustrating week is vindicated by the mere fact that I will get to see and meet Neil Gaiman. I'm already excited to go back and read all his books, maybe even twice.

All the info is on the Library of Congress website http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/.

Why aren't they called Lies anymore?

2008-09-10T11:46:00.002-04:00

The front page article of the Washington Post leads :

As Campaign Heats Up, Untruths Can Become Facts Before They're Undone

So why can't we just call them lies anymore? Is it just because they're Republicans? How one-sided is that? I propose the headline: Liar, Liars and the Stinking Lies They Tell.
Let's make it more point-0f-fact and call a spade a spade and stop ruminating on silly turns of phrase like "putting lipstick on a pig."

Can't we just bring back the common sense?

This is why I love living in DC

2008-09-03T22:52:00.002-04:00

"Behind the Scenes of the 2008 Presidential Election"
It's a session with pollsters, campaign strategists, party chairmen, and chief liasons to the presidential candidates. I get a discounted ticket, even, for being part of the Smithsonian Young Benefactors group (which has monthly happy hours and the free drinks are totally worth joining by itself)! It's a week after the election, so what better time to go and hear all the stories, trials and tribulations than when it's over and everyone can kick back?

Yes, this and the "Evening with Presidential Chiefs of Staff" really does it for me. I realize I'm like a 65 year old woman stuck in a 25 year old body, but I think it's ok in this town. Just going and listening to these amazingly accomplished individuals is enough to knock your socks off, but for a political science junkie like me, it's like crack. I already know I won't be able to sleep after hearing these discussions and my mind will just be racing a thousand miles a minute.

Which is probably good, since I'm looking into the Johns Hopkins MA in Applied Economics. It's a part-time program here in DC and might actually get me that masters--finally. I know that 2 classes a semester while working will be a lot, but a program that's designed for working people, should be ok. Also, I have all that initial masters-level work behind me, so I'm kind of ahead of the game I'm thinking.

I'm pretty much stoked about the whole program-- Smithsonian and Johns Hopkins. So many smart people in such a small space is exciting. Did I mention I love DC?

Where did July go?

2008-08-17T13:52:00.002-04:00

Looking back, I realized I missed a whole month here. Well, I got a job, enjoyed SUUSI, and had a great 26th birthday. So that's a pretty good recap.

I'm also getting back into going to church. It's hard to make excuses when it's 2 blocks away. Next Sunday is the blessing of the animals, which will be interesting and hopefully lots of fun. I also met a new friend today. I love meeting new UUs. I may have to have a UU party at my apartment soon. Although it feels a little bit against the principles of inclusiveness, I'll have to justify it with myself in terms of size limit-- my apartment can only hold so many. And I'm already missing my SUUSI friends and want to catch up now that we are back home.

Everyday

2008-06-29T20:40:00.005-04:00

All you want is, all you need is love.

Thanks Dave. It was a GREAT night. It seemed like everything was made to be perfect. The storms drifted south so we didn't get drenched, the air cooled off about 15 degrees, and you played for 2.5 hours!

So the Dave Matthews Band concert was great. It was funny getting all of us together and down there. We had SO much food. Everyone really went all out with the good stuff. And those drinks were yummy!

I made quite the entertainment for everyone in the car on the way there. I got picked up from the metro and then we met at Safeway to get ice for the cooler and our friend. Then we were on our way and someone said "Ok, now to see Dave." I brilliantly responded "Oh, who's Dave?" Seriously. I'm quick. Yup, thought we were picking up some guy named Dave that I didn't know. Priceless, these moments I provide for my dear friends' entertainment. We did get to see Dave, and he was great.

Welcome to the World

2008-06-26T16:52:00.007-04:00

I'm a new aunt. I'm excited and thrilled, but also a little worried. I'm not what you would call a "baby person." Whenever people/friends have had their little babies, I'm content to admire from afar. It's around 5 when they start talking and reasoning that kids and I connect.

So at first I was feeling like it just wasn't real for me. My sister lives 1500 miles away and I am not exactly going to have day-to-day or even all that regular of contact with my niece. I went ahead and booked a plane trip to go visit. While I love my sister, I was pretty straightforward that this trip was all about me getting to know my new niece.

I don't know what it is about family that just totally sucks you in. Sascha had me hooked in 2 hours. It was the ride home from the airport while I sat in the back seat with her because it was really late and she was tired. She fell asleep as long as I had my arm around her in her car seat. Whenever I moved or pulled my arm away, she'd get upset again, but as long as I had my arm around her, she was ok.

For the rest of the week I'd hold her and feed her and just love her the whole time. Did I mention that my sister and I are not biologically related? Her dad (my step-dad) adopted me when I was 14. We have known each other since I was 5 and I don't really remember us not being sisters, but we have always known that we weren't biologically related. So what is it about family that makes a person want to take responsibility for a new baby?

I am hardly at the point in my life where I want kids. I even held out the great possibility that I might never want kids and that would be really fine with me. I still am not ready to have one for myself, but it's much more of a future thought. For now I'm hooked on Sascha. I want to see her grow and develop, learn new things, buy her gifts, and just watch how she lives her life. I'm not buying her baby clothes or anything (the girl already has a full closet until she's 18 months old!), but I'm already buying her books. Maybe it's because it's really books for my sister-- something to read while she's nursing or just a way to soothe Sascha to sleep. I'm into all the learning toys and growing, developing things too.

We put up a mobile on her crib while I was there. The transformation was unbelievable. Remember, she's only 6 weeks old, but she went from general stares at people and things to watching individual pieces rotating around. So now she seems to be noticing colors and actual objects a lot more. She also wants to be sitting UP in your arms, not laying down all the time, because she's looking at things not just the ceiling.

Basically, she's pretty perfect and precious. And I've never been so thrilled to have a niece that I get to spoil and love.

Young Souls Auction

2008-06-25T00:08:00.002-04:00

I caved in and signed myself up for a singles auction. I know it sounds dreadfully tacky and horrible, but I was so taken in with the purpose. A girl at my church (All Souls) is going to do volunteer work in the Congo with Survivors of Sexual Assault by Armed Groups. They are doing a date auction to help raise money.

Part of me feels it's a little tacky to auction off a date for work in sexual assault, but the other side of me thinks that it makes sense to encourage respectfully aware gender-specific interactions to raise money for their work. I think the latter is winning out.

I knew All Souls was very gung-ho on the social action work. Never in a million years did I think this would be what I might get involved in. Of course that's the same thing my dad said when he signed our whole family up to stand at the corner of a busy street for the American Heart Association. Sometimes the need just comes along at the right time and you're willing to say "whatever I can do to help."

Honestly, I'm a little nervous about the whole thing. Everyone has a guaranteed minimum bid, and while I'm glad that at least that much will be going to the organization, the other part of me is scared that I'll only get the minimum. I guess I'll just have to work a little extra hard on the gussying up that night. Oh yes, and it's a Sunday night! So not exactly the "come out and buy a date" kind of atmosphere, but at least it's at The Reef, which is always a big party scene.

So if you're interested or just curious and want to help support the work of Survivors of Sexual Assault by Armed Groups in the Congo, then swing by The Reef on July 27 at 7:30pm. An entrance donation of $10 is suggested.

Home Sweet Home

2008-06-22T10:07:00.006-04:00

I'm all settled and moved-in now. I LOVE my new apartment. It's been fun to get set up, arrange everything, and feel homey again. So here's a little tour for you. See my front door (notice the raptor-proof door handle-- the only one in the hall!) So I feel safe and completely raptor-free.

Welcome in my front door. I have a full bar! Very useful after a long day at work or coming in with friends. I will definitely have to have a couple wine parties. Maybe some girl's night poker is in store.

And my kitchen . . .
I LOVE the counter space! And all those cabinets. I know, the pink is a bit much. I'm not quite decided on what I'm going to do with it, though. I'm thinking I should paint it, but I'd have to get a sample so I can paint it back when I leave, which isn't an easy thing. But I'm also not sure what color I'd really want my kitchen. I've always had white or cream.
So do I want to go outrageous and do a burnt umber or terra cotta sort of shade? Something warm and inviting or just simple and basic? I'll have to spend some time at a paint store perusing the options I think.

Also, the bathroom is the same color. Do I want to use the same shade to cover both rooms? They have such different purposes and I don't want to get too crazy. We'll see. But right now I have lots of time to take on such a project, so I'm thinking I should go for it.

And my old familiar couch and batik wall hanging. It's nice that they go everywhere I do. Although now I have all kinds of plants. It's like they are taking over. I never realized how great they are to fill empty space, but when you have to use them in a small space it's totally different. I can't bring myself to just kill them, though. So they keep moving around the apartment. We'll see where they end up.

So that's my new home. Hope you enjoyed it. I still don't know how many square feet it is and I'm tempted to take a measuring tape and figuring it out. My guess is that it's somewhere around 650, but it's mine all mine!

My building is great. It's a new condo building, so everyone is really friendly and excited that I just moved in. There are a few families and some young couples as well. It might take me a while to meet people, but it's a pretty active place.

Did I mention I'm only 2 blocks to the metro? There's also a bus stop right at the end of my street. I love my neighborhood. All my fabulous Raleigh folk are welcome to come anytime!

Oh yes, and I joined the gym that has an indoor pool too. Doesn't that just feel like the height of luxury? So when it gets all hot this summer, I can go cool off AND exercise. Yup, I'm pretty stoked about the whole situation. I love DC.

Aaron Sorkin is a God

2008-06-05T10:02:00.002-04:00

I moved into my new apartment last weekend and am almost completely done with all the unpacking. In celebration I decided to relax with a glass of wine and watch my Netflix video (because I still have not gotten a solid answer about who my cable company is or even been able to speak with any of the companies to set something up-- grrrrrr.)

So I put in Charlie Wilson's War. Ok, I'm a historical fiction junkie and this was the most wonderful movie for me. It had all the things I love--witty banter, smart, historical relevance, and humorous situations. I might just keep this one for a while and watch it a few more times. Of course, as I'm seeing the credits, Aaron Sorkin is responsible for this masterpiece. Will someone please give the man a production company and just let him run wild?

Everything he touches turns to gold and provides the kind of entertainment that never gets old. I could watch it over and over again and still be amazed by the craft and skill with which he tells a story. I'd like to create the Homer awards, in honor of the great master story-teller and honor Mr. Sorkin with a lifetime achievement award.

Also, Woohoo for our new Democratic Nominee! It seems like he's got history all wrapped up around him with this being the 40th year since RFK was shot. The man is a movement.

The New Paradigm for Financial Markets

2008-05-15T10:41:00.002-04:00

The genius and modern philanthropist George Soros has published a new book about the 2008 US recession. Obviously this man is a genius when he can publish a book (which takes time to write, edit, process, etc.) in the middle of the event he's published about. He's also an amazing humanist showing the spirit of giving and doing more than attaining wealth through the great works of the Soros Foundation.

So his new book is all about balancing government oversight with the free market, because too much control from either will create problems and shrink the market. I'd also like to take this opportunity to say "told you so" to my college macroeconomics professor who relished in dismissing anything I ever said about totally free markets being the light and the way. Booya.

My socialist tendencies are coming through. It's also exciting to see the general perception of the American public turning towards increased government oversight. Even Congress rallied in passing a bill letting the 70,000 barrels of oil set aside for the strategic oil reserve out into the market, rather than stockpiling for some worse day. At $3.75 a gallon, I'm wondering how much worse are we actually preparing for Mr. Bush? Eeeks--when power is in the hands of corporate robber barons. Any history folk feel like this smacks strongly of the 1860s, 1880s, and 1900s anti-monopoly and anti-trust eras? Hmm. I wonder why.

Sascha

2008-05-12T22:43:00.002-04:00

I'm an Aunt!!

2008-05-10T21:57:00.002-04:00

I just want to announce CONGRATULATIONS to Amanda & Eric on the arrival of Sascha Erica Lewis! She arrived at 5pm today, just in time for mother's day at 7lbs and 20 inches. She has black hair and blue eyes-- the perfect little princess.

This is the first baby in our family and I can't wait to go out and see her. Yay for Sascha!!

Double Happiness

2008-05-09T09:13:00.004-04:00

So I started working on this one a week ago, and thought I should put it up now to send some extra care and concern for all the people in Chengdu and Szechuan province. You can always go to UNICEF and make a donation.

Weddings are always such wonderful things, especially when it's two friends who you've seen go through ups and downs together and come out happier and kinder to each other for it. I'm a bit late on my post, but enjoyed my college friends' wedding back in March. I did just now go order prints from the wedding, hence my return to the message.

There's something hopeful and reminiscent about weddings. It's partly a reflection of what love and relationships ought to be and partly a remembrance of how you have been a part of the relationship with two people. It's very transcending, I think and beautifully represented by the Chinese double happiness character. Because it really is two loves joined to each other, not some two becoming one. Each person is always that individual, but it's the joining of their love together that makes it so special.

I had a very interesting time with the groom (although he wasn't engaged at the time) wandering around Chengdu, China trying in very limited and probably badly accented Chinese asking for a calligraphy of the double happiness character. We got tons of looks as if we were complete idiots, and never actually got the calligraphy. But in proper form, the Double Happiness was on their wedding guestbook-- the perfect place for it.

It's just a beautiful symbol for a great moment and brings together the essence of romance--Double Happiness.

Republicans Vote Against Mothers

2008-05-09T09:06:00.002-04:00

Well, it shouldn't be so surprising. It's not like many Republican bills haven't already done the same thing when fighting against family leave, equal pay for women, welfare support, and housing vouchers. But now they've gone and really done it this time. 178 House Republicans voted against HR 1113: "Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day."

The best part of it all is how there are still some journalists with a sense of humor. Hooray to Washington Post writer Dana Milbank for her article.

Sealed with a Kiss

2008-02-12T03:38:00.000-05:00

The science of kissing from The Washington Post.

Revolutionary Love

2008-02-10T17:05:00.000-05:00

I am not what you would call an active church-goer. I was raised in a faith and still believe in it, but do not feel that I must attend church regularly to practice it. That and I have started coveting my weekend free time since I have gotten so busy during the week.

For some reason today was different. I got up and did my usual leisure morning routine and checked out the websites for the two Unitarian Universalist fellowships I sometimes attend. They both had interesting sermons going on today, but one of them was in 15 minutes and I hadn't even taken a shower yet. So I opted for the "Revolutionary Love" choice. If you don't already know, Unitarian Universalism is a pretty liberal, activist kind of faith. The description of the sermon conjured Che Guevera in the best possible way. While I had some reservations, I decided it would be fun.

I was completely blown away. I don't even feel like I could come close to doing the talk justice by trying to repeat it. Luckily they are available on MP3. Unfortunately, the last sermon on the site was from January 20. So I'm not sure if this one will be listed, since it was a guest speaker. Charlotte is too lucky. When I was in college there, they were in their interim minister period and I only wish they had found Rev. Melissa Mummert sooner so I could have had the chance to hear her each week.

She spoke of the power of love not just in romance, but in the ability to change the world. She referenced her personal experience in ministry with incarcerated women that brought me to tears. She successfully produced a documentary about it. She made each person feel the "I am one, but still I am one. Although I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." She tugged on the heart strings and hopes of making the world a better place for everyone, and she empowered each person to hope and to act in love.

I don't think this could have come at a better time for me. My job and my personal life have been a little tumultuous lately, but I have been doing what I can to make it better. This last week held a good deal of transition, anguish, and of course hope for the future. Life just seems so much more full of possibility when it is based on love-- love for one another, for humankind, love for the earth, and love of life and opportunity.

This may all sound too lovey-dovey, but I'm ok with that right now.

"Never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

Om

2008-02-06T19:30:00.000-05:00

It's my new mantra. Yoga is really the only thing holding me together today. I'm so glad I started Yoga. It reminds me of my philosophy and religion classes in college and just thinking about bigger things than me and my little day-to-day worries.

I love my yoga class. I go to this studio that is pretty private and authentic. It is very meditation-focused and my yogi likes to teach us something new about the theory behind yoga each time. I am the only non-Indian person there, so he keeps looking over at me to see if I get it. I'll have to go early next class and tell him that I was brought up Unitarian Universalist and knew more about Buddhism than Christianity when I was 10. Not to mention all of the philosophy and religion classes that I took and oh yeah, the trip to Tibet and the Potala Palace. But he's very nice and considerate to me. I particularly like the focus on meditation and bringing awareness to control of your own reactions. It's a little post-Freudian psycology too (I know the guy's name- it starts with an S- but cannot for the life of me remember it right now).

So when I wake up at 5am starting to think of all the things I have to get done in the day and try to remind myself not to forget "X," I've started going into the exercise room and doing my yoga series. I start with a few sun salutations and then go into various poses. I started getting the Yoga Journal lately, and that's given me a wider variety to choose from. I usually only get to about 4 or 5 poses before either my alarm goes off and I go to get ready for the day or I give up and move into deep relaxation.

I'm so looking forward to next weekend, though. I go to Blue Lotus Yoga Studio for their partners yoga class. I have a friend who is about the same size I am and so we are well matched. We only did 1 "flying" pose last weekend, but are assured to do more in the next class. I had so much fun it doesn't even feel like exercise. So that's what's probably going to keep me sticking to it. That and I have to meet for a class. I just can't let myself skip out when people are expecting me.

So I guess, in the end it does just come down to me me me. :)

Return from Sabbatical

2008-02-04T23:19:00.000-05:00

Hello again. So 6 months later is a pretty good time to pick up writing my blog again. Let's see, in the last half year I got a new job, successfully pulled off my first golf tournament, my sister got pregnant, I went to Arizona for Christmas, started yoga, and now I'm renewing my blog posting. I think it's the yoga. mmmm Zen mmmm.

So the real reason I haven't written is that I've been pretty frustrated with life lately. It's cycled between work, family, friends, etc. Seems like they can't all be good at one time and usually one was keeping me going while the other two were seriously stressing me out. So no one wants to hear whining and orneryness, so I held off on the blog-posting.

But now I'm back! It's not perfect, but it's manageable and I want to share my excitement. Also, tomorrow is SUPER TUESDAY and you better believe I will be a the polls bright and early. GO VOTE!

Also, if you haven't seen it yet (or heard about it from me), please check out shelfari.com. It's the BEST semisocial networking site out because it's like an internet book club. I am always craving new books to read and my friends are usually pretty good judges of what's good, but the discussion doesn't just come up in everyday conversation. I've been going through a new book about every week or two and people get a little annoyed at me constantly asking for book recommendations. So I have found my answer.

That's all for my first night back. Will update soon. I'll go email you all now and let you know that I'm writing my blog again. Thanks for reading.

Sympathy for the People in Mexico

2007-08-20T22:02:00.001-04:00

It's that time of year again. And what a way to start it off right-- Category 5 Hurricane beats on 5 countries. It makes me glad that I don't live in Florida anymore and have to coordinate my vacation schedule with hurricane season. No kidding-- my parents just got back from San Francisco and are glad they didn't have to fly home sooner (or in the case of a Cat 5, stay longer). So they are sitting at home for all of September and early October just in case. They have it down to a science now. All of the major financial and identifying information is already packed up in rubbermaid boxes easy to just pick up and throw in the car, family jewelry and photos are likewise in pre-packed containers, and they have a new speed record on packing food and clothes in the car for an 18 hour drive.

Remember when you were in elementary school and you had to pretend that if a fire started in your house what 1 item would you take with you? I think the whole exercise was to try to get you to remember your siblings and pets, but my family is practiced in it. We do not just take one thing, but one pre-packed waterproof container that has everything we really value and can absolutely not be replaced.

So now my sympathy goes out for all those people living in the Caribbean, Jamaica, and Mexico (and possibly Belize, depending on where Dean lands). They are going to get demolished. I don't think people truly understand the power that wind and rain can cause, but when you've seen thick steel signs (the highway ones that are 20ft high and about 5 feet in diameter) twisted like a pretzel on the side of the road after a hurricane, all you can do is cower to the power of mother nature. I'm always amazed at people who say they're going to stay in their house and "protect it" from the elements. All I have to say is- dearie, the steel, cement, and wood frame of your house is a LOT stronger than your bones and don't believe for a second you're really that strong to push back the sea. Because, really, that's what you're fighting.

I read that Dean will be pushing 25-30 foot waves onto the beach. I've seen waves half that size pick up houses out of their foundation (and these were SECURE foundations) and lift them out into the sound. When the homeowners came back, they found their house 1,000 feet away sitting in the water. Yes, everyone wants to live "on" the water, but not quite literally.

Anyway, this time of year always brings out the melancholy helplessness in me. Best of luck to all those people who have to face Dean. I hope you make it through.

Clothes Horse

2007-06-27T22:38:00.000-04:00

Alright, enough with the over-indulgent philosophizing and time to get down to what really matters--CLOTHES!

Ok, I admit, I'm a clothes horse. But this time I had to. As I was trying to think about what I would wear on my first day of work, I decided to go try on all those dress pants that I haven't worn for the last 8 months. Oh yeah, none and I mean NONE of them fit. It's a tad depressing, but I've sworn that I'm not going to freak out about going up from a 2 to a 4 (I have more issues about not buying any 6s, but that's another story). So, yay for me, I get to console myself buying clothes.

It really just isn't fair when all of the stores are having sales at the same time. You lose your focus, get distracted by all the beautiful things and all the crazy discounts. That and none of the Banana Republic pants fit me properly. What the hell kind of models are they using on these skinnier pants anyway? size 4 hips do not correspond to size 2 waist and thighs, and it doesn't work going up a size either. It's really bizarre. I mean tailoring is all about fitting the individual, not mass producing the Barbie fit.

Anyway, I gave up and was sucked into United Colors of Benetton. It's not usually a place I shop, since trying to figure out and remember my European size is a bit more confusing, but as I said they were having this fabulous sale. So I got sucked into 2 suits, 2 pairs of pants (beyond the suit pants), 2 skirts, 3 tops and 1 dress. Not too shabby. Yes, it feels like a totally new wardrobe, but then it's a totally new job. And I did need pants.

Fate

2007-06-25T03:30:00.001-04:00

Yes, it's that 3am time when you know you should really be in bed sleeping because tomorrow is going to be a really long day, but there's just too much on your mind to rest before you get it out. So here 'goes. . .

I'm not really one for believing in destiny or "plan" for my life. I generally see things as the result of hard work and dedication, but every once in a while you sit back and think that fate is a curious thing, particularly when you don't believe in it.

That doesn't mean that only good things happen, but sometimes it feels like even the bad things happened for a reason, or at least taught you something that you wouldn't have seen otherwise. Perhaps it's just conjecture or the need to feel like it all has a purpose, but it's enough to make me wonder.

I have been job hunting for about six months now and was right on the verge of getting very discouraged. I had been working a part-time spot which was going well and enjoyable, but not exactly on my "career path." It's one of those double-edged situations where I was happy with how things were going, succeeding, but also wondering "is this really as well as I can do right now" and "why did I go to college, again?" Just when those doldrums started to hit, I got a call from a job possibility I'd been waiting for (crossing my fingers and wishing for). Not only had I been waiting for this job, I'd been dreaming about it. It is my ideal job (or at least second to working for the state department and travelling the world as an American diplomat). When I first started looking I was wondering "how do I get into this field" and whoosh it happened. Now I am an event planner. I mean, could there really be anything more perfect for me?! I LOVE to plan, especially plan parties, and working for great nonprofits, and planning fundraisers for them!

Somehow it just feels like the stars aligned for me this time. I wasn't looking for it. No, I was looking to be an analyst of some kind and use all that great political science knowledge in data manipulation. But this one just couldn't be turned down. I'll still have to see how it goes, since I haven't actually started yet, but I have great hopes and worlds of possibility.

Wish me luck.

Maps Just Keep Getting Better

2007-06-14T12:32:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you were a kid like me, but I just loved to look at maps of cities over time. They even made a few books that started out with Greece, Rome, or Paris in ancient times and as you flipped the page the map of the city expanded showing the growth in centuries and then how rapidly it increased in the last 200 years.

Now archeologists, anthropologists, computer specialists, and engineers have all come together to rebuild Rome. First, I would love to be the person standing in the middle of that room looking head-on at the actual model, but I'd be happy to settle for seeing the video too.

These guys should really get together with the google earth folk and let lay people explore ancient rome. They could even have the little flags with information about the building and its history while you were zooming in and out or perusing down the ancient streets. Hey, we could even learn something while exploring the virtual city!

Yes, I understand that the gurus are trying to use the model to advance theoretical understanding of the ancient city, but wouldn't it be cool to pass this along to lay people? I can't imagine a cooler way to get kids involved with learning about the ancient culture than to let them tour it themselves. After all, we don't all have the opportunity to go visit it in person. (And for those of us who did, those 3 days in Rome was really just a whirlwind that could have easily been 3 months spent without ever seeing the same thing twice).

Happy Dance

2007-06-07T06:53:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited! I got a promotion at work the other day. I love me some Dream Dinners action and it's just so cool to feel appreciated. Oh yes, and I've only been working there for 1 month-- started May 1 and at our June 5 meeting I got asked to train for a management position. I feel like I've set a record (probably not, but it still feels great anyway).

Whereas in school when you get singled out to be the "leader" everyone hates you. Yes, that was me, little teacher's pet. But no, now it entails pay increase and oh yes-- MINIONS!! I'm definitely in favor of the minions, or perhaps just not being one to quite so many people now. Regardless, I love my job and who knew that after a master's degree in political science I'd be drawn to food. Perhaps it's just about the essentials in life.

Yay, \\Happy Dance//

A Good Book

2007-06-05T00:42:00.000-04:00

I'm having a very difficult time at present finding a good bedtime novel. I've recently read a string of great novels that I usually read before I go to sleep in that calm, wind-down time of night. Unfortunately, though, the books on my shelves are much to intellectual and not emotional enough for me. I'm sorry, but even Madeleine Albright's The Mighty and the Almighty just isn't doing it for me now.

I'm looking for something fun, somewhat light, but captivating. This is really the hardest part. How do you find a novel that you want to pick up and read night after night, but that you can also finish a chapter and put it down before you fall asleep in the middle of the page. Suspense is horrible for me-- I end up staying up all night reading it or fall asleep while reading and have crazy nightmares (recently of a cannibal coming to slit my throat in my sleep and eat me). Some of my favorite bedtime reads have been Memoirs of a Geisha, Prodigal Summer, Life of Pi, and The Red Tent.

I am looking for GOOD reads, but they can sometimes be so hard to find. Any s.uggestions?

Girls' Night Poker

2007-06-03T17:38:00.001-04:00

There are two very distinct types of poker players: 1) the truly competitive, out to win it all type and 2) the I'm just having fun and playing tough to make the game more interesting type. Most girls are of the second type, or even if they're competitive, they're not so competitive that they are willing to gamble a friendship or crush your ego to win. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of combining Girls' Night Poker by inviting some of the guys. It's such a different game. Most guys playing poker are able to socialize, but are really all about winning. The conversation and heavy drinking (more common among the girls' games) are lessened, and tempers run higher. Albeit, we still had a great game and congrats to my neighbor who took home the pot. Next time, though, I might have to have an alternative activity when we bring the guys in for Girls' Night Poker.

In other news, I bought a couch!! Yay and halleluiah I will have a couch in my living room in 8-10 weeks (well, at least not a hand-me-down slipcovered couch). I also hung up all the pictures that have been laying against the walls downstairs and it's starting to look more and more like we live here and less and less like an empty dance floor. Oh the joys of decorating the house.

Artsplosure

2007-05-20T21:34:00.000-04:00

Oh how I love a craft fair. Especially a craft fair with a wide variety of artists and media. I have now been introduced to some great Raleigh art. It was so much fun too with all of the kids' events they had going on as well. I couldn't help from buying a really pretty mirror and a few glass beads. Although I did hold back from the $200 metal wall sculptures, which was tough.

There really is something about craft/art fairs, though. It's something that makes you think of what some great artists have to go through to be noticed and then some people who just think so much of themselves that they apparently don't really have to sell anything (or be nice for that matter). But in general there are so many great pieces that I admire or would love to put on my walls/table/anywhere but unfortunately cannot afford it all. It's like walking through a museum sometimes where everything is marked "Buy Me." If you were walking through MOMA for instance and you saw "Buy Me" stickers on everything there, some things you would want to carry out with you that minute, but some you would say, "well it's really interesting and I do appreciate it, but it's just not my style." That's how I feel at an arts fair. Unfortunately, though, there are still far more things that I want to carry home with me that minute.

Weekend Plans

2007-05-18T00:10:00.000-04:00

First of all, I'm a planner. I have multiple calendars and they all integrate online, on my computer, and my PDA. I have separate calendars for work, church, KD events and so on. So it was funny to me that after I was checking on events this weekend, I have nothing planned. Not Friday night, Saturday, or Sunday. I mean, my Saturdays are already booked through July (or at least tentative activities I can go to). I am not afraid of being bored or anything, because I'm embrassing the gardener in me and went to Ace yesterday to buy soil, seeds, shovels, and things. So I do definitely have a garden ahead of me for the weekend. But this is not a time-scheduled thing and so I'm still just a little wierded out that I have no plans for the weekend. It's kinda cool once in a while and I think I'm definitely going to enjoy sleeping in for a day or so.

In other news, my VW Cabrio is getting its little top fixed, so I've been car-less for the last day+. I miss DC and it's so awkward trying to bum rides of people. I kind of feel like high school again when I was 14/15. But the good news is that the top won't actually cost me anything to get fixed (it's got such a major hydrolic problem with the automatic top that the mechanic just disengaged it and now it's a manual top, which is totally fine with me as long as it goes topless). Definitely looking forward to some wind in my hair this weekend and driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway on Tuesday (after hiking Chimney Rock, that is).

Continuing Education

2007-05-17T01:08:00.000-04:00

Alright, I admit it. I have a problem with school. I just can't leave it. I have been in school for 19 consecutive years now. Yes, the last 3 have been grad school (2 working on my thesis while also working full or part time jobs). Nonetheless, I found myself today registering for another class.

But it sounded SO interesting, and like something that could really help my job skills for all those applications I'm sending out. So now I will be taking a summer grant writing class at Durham Tech. It's just one class and will hopefully help me out in the short and long term, but as soon as I register for one class I start looking at the online website development classes.

Hey, I'm also interested in some clinical research positions, perhaps I could get an RN certification along the way? NO! This is where I must stop and hone. I don't like the sight of blood nor do I want anything to do with taking it. Ok, moving on my career path. At least I already have a BA or I'd probably be worse. I guess that's why they call it continuing.

I am an evangelist for the Dark Side

2007-05-16T13:17:00.000-04:00

This weekend my college roommate came to visit me. She's a nurse and loves to relax and do outdoorsy things like hiking and rock climbing (yes the sweaty things that I only do on the rare occassion and with friends). I had a great time planned out-- going to downtown Durham, downtown Raleigh, shopping, and even walking some trails around Umstead Park. However, the first night she got here we relaxed at home after she'd driven up and my boyfriend introduced her to Guitar Hero.

Now like myself, my ex-roomie did not really engage in the gaming rage that brought up our generation. I opted for playing cards as a kid (and no I did not grow up in the 1950's). I just severly lack much of the hand-eye coordination that is required in such things. I admit to my Ms. Pac Man hours spent in the arcade, but it really only lasted about a year for me, which was when my allowance was spent up and I reverted to other past times.

My boyfriend, on the other hand, (like most men in their 20's and 30's) is a true gamer. He has an Xbox, PS2, Wii, and the super gaming computer as well. We have it all: Zelda, Tiger Woods, Gran Turismo, NFL, Soul Caliber, Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero (many more as well, but the other games are still in boxes). And since he has already beaten all the games, he loves to show them to new people.

Thus, I have corrupted my dear friend. At least 4 hours every day were spent on one of either Guitar Hero or Dance Dance Revolution, and sometimes both. While I was prepared to go hiking, my roommate was practicing her fingering for Sweet Child Of Mine. And after dinner, I asked: do you want to go see a movie or do something else? To which she replied: Can we go play some more Guitar Hero? Definitely a job well done. Now she's thinking about which system she wants to buy so she can play at home. I have brought her over to the dark side.

Hooray for Stephen Hawking

2007-04-27T09:11:00.000-04:00

If you didn't already know, Stephen Hawking rode on a Zero Gravity Corps flight to experience weightlessness. Although he was excited about the idea of it the quote tells it all:

"After one zero-gravity ride, crew members asked if he wanted to go again. Hawking dramatically stretched his eyebrows upward in an apparently emphatic yes. 'He was grinning the entire time,' Diamandis said."

I can't really think of anything right now that makes me feel more giddy inside. It's that whole childish imagination of space flight, of Stephen Hawking reliving his own little boy fantasies, and the possibility of exploration all rolled into one. Also, Hawking's flight was a fundraiser for Lou Gehrig's disease and Easter Seals.

Now I'm only shocked that these flights are only $3,500 and will be available through Sharper Image!! I remember sitting in my apartment not 6 months ago watching TLC with one of my housemates and watching the competition between companies to "fly" in space. At the time the flights were $1 million a piece, which still kind of seemed a reasonable amount for someone who wanted to do such a thing. But only $3,500 is like the cost of two people going on a cruise-- I can't imagine that everyone wouldn't want to try it. Who knows, maybe they'll get a 12-month payment plan going.

The Politics of it All

2007-04-25T23:52:00.000-04:00

My friend LMNtal Attraction wrote about an interesting issue today breaking with his all-too-relationship-centered blog world. I however have absolutely no qualms with getting into the nitty gritty of politics. Found an interesting definition that I think is the most perfect one I've ever found for the word politics (Of course I had to get past all of the other definitions that use the word politics in the description. Did everyone else forget that you can't use a word to describe itself?) So here it is: Politics- "The often internally conflicting interrelationships among people in a society." How much truer could that be? It is after all the art of governing, and deciding between what we want as individuals and what is best for us as a nation.

While my friend LMNtal argues that people are slack in their knowledge of world events, I have to give people a bit more credit. Governance IS an art and it's never perfect the first time. As the first modern democracy in the world, the US has come a long way from appointed governors and senators, landed elite voting, and the 3/5ths clause. Just looking into that a bit more, voting rights have been only universally established for about three quarters of a century. You could really argue even less than that with southern Jim Crow laws and such. So for the last 50 years people in our own country have been granted (-for lack of a better word) voting rights who never had any engagement with government before.

Unfortunately what ails the US is not the lack of awareness of government and world affairs, but the disconnectedness of individuals with government. As we sit in our computer chairs browsing news headlines on our own separate continent, it's hard to relate to the sheer terror that occurs daily in the rest of the world. My college roommate had a huge picture of children starving in the Sudan hanging over her bed. It disturbed me every time I went over to talk to her, but it's a jarring image that can only hint at what some people around the world live with every day. Moreover it's difficult to know what I can do about it. I've worked in a senator's office and let me tell you how ineffective writing your congressman/woman is. So that leaves the voting booth as the last bastion of effective public engagement with our government. I do have to admit that after the response in 2006 I still have hope that people come together and act when they realize how government affects our everyday lives. Democracy is not the ideal government, it's just the best we've been able to come up with yet.

In a similar vein, HOORAY to Charlie Crist, governor of FL, for reinstating voting rights to ex-felons. It may be an unpopular idea, but the right thing is rarely ever popular.

"Never doubt that a small group of dedicated individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Men and Their Toys

2007-04-17T17:46:00.000-04:00

OK, so this time it really worked out in my favor. How did it ever start with men tinkering with things to make them work? Not just work, but work BETTER! Every man I have ever known has definitely been partial to this at one time or another. Whether it's building something from scratch or fixing some electrical gadget, there's just a guy-thing about tinkering and doing more with the appliances you buy that makes them just not quite good enough and in need of expansion.

So back to my initial discussion. This time it worked in my favor. My boyfriend is a game buff ('course I don't know many guys in their 20s who don't own at least 1 game console). Anyway, I don't really care much for the games. Even the Wii-- yes, it's great that it's wireless, but I only have so much patience for the games. Could be the poor hand-eye coordination I've got going too.

Anyway, if you've heard anything about Apple's iTV I have the boyfriend mocked-up version of one and I LOVE it. So all you need is a Netflix account, MactheRipper (for Mac users), a router, and an X-box. Netflix has now become so much more valuable to me. As soon as I get my movies I can run them through the ripper and they are on my hard drive. Then the amazing boyfriend set it up for the Xbox to recognize those movies and I can scroll through them and select the movie I want to watch. That means 1 day turnaround for my Netflix, which means more movies I can see (since I usually want to watch a whole lot at one time), and no fiddling with DVDs and cases and that whole putting it into the machine. I know it sounds crazy, but it's the best thing since Tivo. Props to the amazing tinkering boyfriend!

I love a Ball

2007-04-14T23:53:00.000-04:00

So tonight was the Prevent Child Abuse NC "Picture This" Gala. I got to dress up in my beautiful gown and go bid on silent auction items for charity. It was great fun and I always remember how much I love a ball. Everyone smiles a little more friendly, chat more openly and generally have a great time. I wish there were even more balls I could attend every year. Now that I'm in a new city I have at least 4 gowns (that still fit) that have never graced the eyes of people here. I'm trying to think of excuses to wear them, but think I'm going to have to search out more charity balls. They really are the most fun anyway.

However, one very good suggestion was made--to have a party wearing bridesmaid's dresses. It would be a bridesmaids' party, only without an actual bride involved and everyone would actually be able to wear those hideous (or um, unique) dresses that they had to buy. We could have a contest for worst dress and just lots of fun. Unfortunately I can no longer wear the bridesmaid's dress I wore to my sister's wedding, so I'll have to scrounge up my other one. I think it'll work.

The New Foreign Service Exam

2007-04-05T11:38:00.000-04:00

So every April the US State Department gives their once-a-year Foreign Service Exam, which is universally renowned for being one of the hardest tests in history. It comprises such varied questions that are nearly impossible to study for (their list of suggested readings and study materials is 3 pages long in 10point single spaced font). Also, only about 1% of the people who take the exam pass it, which is only the first step to a 3-part selection process.

So as I was going to their website to check out taking the test this year (because it is my ultimate dream career to work in an embassy, particularly the one in Prague) I found out that they are changing the test. BRAVO to the State Department! Again, they have reinforced my admiration for being probably one of the best government departments in the whole federal system. But sadly, no test this year; or in April at any rate. Yes, it seems this summer they will be releasing their new test, which will be computer-based (I'm thinking GRE) and given 4 times a year during an 8 day window. What a great idea! Instead of forcing everyone to sit down one day a year, they are giving you a window to schedule it. Unfortunately, you can only take the exam once in a 12 month period, but that's not so bad.

This message brought to you from an utterly devoted civilian.

The Chocolate Jesus

2007-04-04T15:33:00.000-04:00

So this is a little bit of yesterday's news, but it's still amazing to me. What really blows me away is not that religious groups are boycotting the show, but WHY they are boycotting. You'd think with Easter coming up they would take offense to the comparison of a chocolate Jesus to the Easter bunny-- as in a commercialized idol that can be dismissed by adults like Santa and the Tooth Fairy. But oh no. They are upset because Jesus is depicted as a true nude (no shroud).

It's so great to know that we have come so far in the past 500 years. Michaelangelo refused to cover the nudes behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel, so the pope ordered a lesser painter to go back and paint shrouds over all these nudes. Only in the 1990's during cleaning and refurbishing of the paintings were some of the nudes thought to be med discovered to be women. It changed the whole meaning to some of the characters. I'd just like to applaud the advancement of human understanding for the protesting religious groups thinking so deeply as to oppose the statue on such visible grounds rather than the underlying metaphor.

I just have one last question for them, though. Do they really think Jesus was a eunuch? If not, what's so objectionable?

I hope I've successfully delivered your daily dose of politics and religion for the day.

Hello and welcome to the world.

2007-04-03T10:48:00.000-04:00

Alright. I would like to take this opportunity to initiate myself into the world of blogging. I know that it was suggested to me only about 4 years ago, but I am now finally getting around to it. So although I am a late-comer to the game I hope you enjoy.

So this totally got me started.

Because it was super cool and I love all things in the personality test genre (it's like going to a palm reader, but FREE!). However, I wasn't able to post it to a friend and figured I'd start a blog to show it off.

So now that you can see my personal DNA I'm sure you can figure out exactly who I am and that might be just enough for one day.