Car Mechanic 101

Last week, my car battery died since my car was stuck in the ice for so many days. This week, my roommate Anne did some reconaissance for me and found a battery at a store nearby.

Today I went and bought the battery and then with some advice from my dad via cell phone (he lives in Florida), I took out the old battery and installed the new one. So fun and sort of fast. It was also really cold outside, so I had to keep taking breaks inside to thaw out.

First time I've changed a battery. My dad felt bad he couldn't be here to help me. I told him it was good Foreign Service Officer training.

What's the best do-it-yourself car repair story you have?

The Greeks Are First Once Again.....

Sent to me by my American godmother living in Greece :)


After digging to a depth of 100 meters last year, Japanese scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 1000 years, and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network one thousand years ago.

So, not to be outdone, in the weeks that followed, Chinese scientists dug 200 meters and headlines in the Chinese papers read: "Chinese scientists have found traces of 2000 year old optical fibers, and have concluded that their ancestors already had advanced high-tech digital telephone 1000 years earlier than the Japanese."

One week later, the Greek newspapers reported the following: "After digging as deep as 800 meters, Greek scientists have found absolutely nothing."

They have concluded that 3000 years ago, their ancestors were already using wireless technology.

Where Are You Going?

Where have you been?

I ended up with 33 countries = 14%. I have a loooong way to go on this one. Foreign Service...help me out!!

I would post the picture but it was too big and pushed my format around. I'm not sophisticated enough to figure out how to change the HTML.

Hop, Flap, Step, Step, Step, Hop & Repeat

Last night we had a major choreography session for Godspell. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work. The title of this post are the basic steps to a time step - a kind of tap/softshoe move that I'm trying to learn. We also learned the buffalo (a kind of step/hop and shuffle) and the choo choo (a kind of stomping move). It was a lot of fun and a lot of work. I was really frustrated trying to get the time step down that I almost cried. It has been a really long time since I've been that frustrated over anything. I finally got it though thanks to Jesus. Well at least thanks to Nathan who is playing Jesus. He kept at it and finally I got it too.

So now we have choreography to two songs. Only 13 more (or something like that) left to go!

They Arrived

So my flowers finally got here. It's a funny and sad Valentine's. Apparently the DHL plane couldn't land because of the weather yesterday - all the snow and ice. The flower arrived and had obviously been frozen and then thawed so all the buds on the miniature rose bush plant were waterlogged and dead. My father was not happy. Maybe I'll get something free out of it. Regardless they are sitting on my desk and I'm sending happy thoughts that direction looking forward to the day when they will bloom.

I'm Still Waiting For Valentine's Day

I know, it's the day after V-Day, but my dad sent me flowers to work and when I showed up today (since I stayed home yesterday due to the ice and snow), they weren't here. So I'm waiting for them to show up and cheer me up in my drab and almost colorless office space.

The walls are grey and I have put up a very colorful map of the U.S. and a calendar with pictures of animals made from fruit and vegetables (see above picture). I love the artist Saxton Freymann. Here's a link to some of his work. You can also order books online.

Anyway, that's it for color in my office. I also have a very colorful world map I want to put up, but I don't have anywhere for it to go. But I shall smile anyway!!!!!

Foreign Service Update

For the record (and for those in the know), I passed with a 5.3 in the Consular cone.

Music Is Hard Work

So to answer a question...

My suitcase was packed for a Godspell cast retreat this weekend. Since rehearsals began in January for the musical, we have not yet had a complete run through of the show. This weekend was a chance to get away in the foothills of the Shenandoah mountains for two days and spend the entire weekend working on the show.

We learned choreography, we rehearsed our songs, we had to be off script completely with our lines, we had to put it all together.

I can't say enough about the hard work of our director, Kacey, producer Heather, choreographer Tiffani, vocal coaches Sarah and Ellen, and artistic director, Genevieve. They have put so much of themselves and sacrificed so much for us that I am truly grateful.

The show is coming along slowly. For the record, I am part of a tourist couple. My "husband" is married to the producer in real life, so I have a good time teasing them about my role in their marriage! I also have two solos and am nervous but excited about these opportunities.

I'll post updates over the next weeks. The show is Easter weekend and the weekend before. If you're in the area, buy a ticket, invite a friend, come ready to laugh, cry, think, be challenged, be changed.

A Great Big Thank You!

I just want to say a big and hearty thank you to the readers of this blog. I know my postings have been sporadic over the past six months or so and yet you still keep coming back and checking. Some of you I know really well, some of you I have only met briefly in cyberspace, but I thank you for your visits, your comments, and your presence.

Blessings on each of you today! May you step ever closer to your dreams and destinies, may you realize your potential to an even greater degree, and may you come to know the overwhelming greatness of Christ and His love for you.

Friday Frustrations

This morning I was headed out of the house dragging a suitcase behind me with a sleeping bag attached. My roommate was in front of me and was going to drive me to the Metro. I made a comment about how annoying this was (I'm not even sure what I was referring to) and she said that I've been saying things like that a lot lately.

I said thank you for letting me know. And I didn't mean it in a cynical or mean way. I really did appreciate the fact that she was pointing out to me that I apparently have been complaining a lot lately. And I really have nothing to complain about.

It's been almost 96 hours since I found out I passed the Oral Exam and I guess it has changed my entire perspective on things. I'm not enjoying so many things nearly as much, I guess because I have this whole new and exciting potential future ahead of me.

But that's exactly what it is...a POTENTIAL future. It's completely in the Lord's hands now. I have done everything I can do (except qualify for language bonus points which I will attempt to work on this summer). Beyond that, it's up to Him.

So I'm frustrated about a lot of things. But I'm also grateful that God is there looking out for me.

Are You Down With Web 2.0?

Here's a little something interesting for all you techies out there...and all you non-techies. Apparently we are privileged to be witness to the second generation of the Internet. I remember being around for the first generation, but now there is Web 2.0. For a really cool video explanation of this, check out this awesome video:

The Machine is Us/ing Us

So You Think You're A Good Driver

Try driving along some of these roads...

The Most Dangerous Roads in the World

Let me know if you survived.

One In A Thousand (Or Something Like That)

Yesterday, I passed the Foreign Service Oral Assessment examination. It is step two of many many steps over a really long time (think years potentially) to becoming a Foreign Service Officer.

I still can't believe I passed the test. It was grueling - just the paperwork alone to prepare for the test was insane. But it actually happened. To learn more about the test itself and what a Foreign Service Officer is, go to the State Department website. Basically a Foreign Service Officer is a representative of the State Department overseas in the embassies. It's more complicated than that, but that's the super duper basic definition.

Some of my favorite moments of the day:

1. My suit is about 6 years old and juuuust fits. The pant legs however are a little too short. So I wore knee high black socks so that when I sat down and the pant legs came way up my legs, it wouldn't look too weird. Tee hee. I teased someone later by saying that I was just dressing like the stereotypical government worker.

2. The giant hug I got and gave to C.B. who also passed with me. He is a wonderful guy from New York. We hung out at the Botanical Gardens in DC for a little bit while waiting to find out our scores. We were the only two that passed and neither of us was hopeful. To share that experience with him was and always will be amazing for me.

3. Making the assessors laugh. They are supposed to be stone faced during the entire process, but I was just being myself and made them laugh. I think that's why I passed.

4. Riding the train home afterwards and listening to the song "How Bizarre" on my iPod. One of my favorites and so apropos to how I was feeling about the entire experience.

To put the magnitude of this event into perspective:

Last April I sat for the written portion of the exam. Approximately 35,000 people worldwide also took this test and roughly 20% or so passed it. Of those 20% who passed (let's say six thousand), we have guesstimated that about 20% pass the oral examination. So with lots of guessing and some real numbers from the State Department, I am one of about a thousand or so who have passed both the exams.

But it's not over yet, I still have to have a security clearance/background check which could take months, I have a medical clearance, and then I'm put on a list to sit and wait for a maximum of 18 months to get offered a position. So there's no hurry or worry.

I'm just glad I passed. For now, that's all I wanted!

It's Been 12 Years...

...since I last wore glasses (wore contacts instead). But this year I decided to get some new ones. This picture is exactly what I look like after waking up on a Saturday morning, staying in my pj's and wearing my new glasses. The picture was taken with my new webcam.

Merry Merry Christmas!

For the holidays I'm hanging out in Florida with my dad and stepmom and other assorted friends :). The weather so far has been glorious - rainy but temps in the 70's so I'm not complaining. I came down last thursday and will head back to the big city of DC on January 3rd. Two weeks of chilling out - now that's vacation.

The other night I was heading home from my friends house and driving along a back country Florida road late at night. I saw something in the middle of the road that looked like a big gray cat just sitting smack on the median. As an animal lover, I turned around and went back. Turns out it was a big gray owl that must have landed there and gotten scared. Cars were zooming by in the lanes and it's feathers were being ruffled but it just sat there. I honked my horn but it just moved it's head. I was afraid it was hurt or something so I pulled off to the side of the road to rescue it. An SUV behind me honked its horn at it and they drove up next to me and told me it had flown away. Phew! I was worried. Owls are one of my favorite animals. I think they are so cool but I hardly ever see them. I would love to hold one someday or have it as a friend.

Anyway, Paddington and I wish you a very Merry Christmas. He's enjoying the warm weather here with me as well and we hope that wherever you are, you celebrate the season with friends and family and other loved ones. May you glimpse the face of God this year!

On a side note - I will be in Atlanta for the New Year celebration with some dear old family friends the Mellars! I've known them since I was two (or thereabouts). Should be good times.

Two Weeks Plus One Day

So two weeks plus one day after I was laid off, I received a job offer for another company. I think that must be some kind of record. A huge thank you and shout out and props to my friend who submitted my resume at her place of employment. My job is about the same as the one I lost which is great seeing as how I really enjoyed what I was doing. It has more sales associated with it however, which means total salary has the potential to be much higher. Right now the projected increase (including commission) for next year is almost a 30% increase over what I was making. God is good. He always goes bigger and better :)

Plus my first day of work will end with me being flown out to California for a week of meetings with over 200 other employees. How cool is that! Nothing like sunny Los Angeles in the middle of January!

I have to admit however that I am feeling unsure about saying yes. I wonder though if this has anything to do with the fact of having been let go from a job and now not sure what the right direction is exactly. I felt so sure about the last job. When I look at other areas of my life, I'm seeing that same hesitation about moving forward - is this a nudge from the Holy Spirit or is this my own fears surfacing? I'm not sure exactly.

Any thoughts on deciphering this?

It's Been One Week...

Anyone remember that song that was about a break up? Well, it's been one week since my company broke up with me :)

I have to say that it has been a really busy week so far. I have filled out paperwork, updated my resume, gotten happy at several happy hours, taught Sunday School, made lunches for the homeless, hung out with friends, watched TV, waiting for a phone interview, cooked (but haven't cleaned yet), and have made dentist plans and lunch plans with friends.

So far life has been so busy, I don't know how I could have a job! I am really feeling good about life at the moment. I think that my short stint at the last company is a stepping stone for something bigger and better. One of my friends said to me just after the announcement, that I was ready to bounce now, but if I had stayed in my last job, I wouldn't have been ready to bounce. As I've been preparing for the next steps, I can see the tremendous amount of growth that occurred over the past four months and am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I had. Perhaps my time there was indeed done and now the next steps will be far greater than what I had envisioned.

I can only praise God for these things since He has been incredibly faithful to me and when one thing has ended has only brought me into bigger and better than what just was. I praise Him.

As I said at one of the happy hours with former co-workers - My boss is a Jewish carpenter and the CEO of the biggest company in the world. Why should I fear the loss of a human boss when my spiritual boss will always keep me employed!

Godspell

On Sunday night, I auditioned for my second musical. The first one was in high school and I had to sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I barely knew the song and was so off key it was sad. Since then I have always wanted to be in a musical but haven't really had the courage to go for it.

Until now.

My church is launching it's new arts ministry with a major production of Godspell in the spring. I prepared a song "Day by Day" from the musical and gave it everything I had. We also had to learn a short piece of choreography and then perform it and perform a cold reading of the script. Then there was a group improv segment. The entire audition process took about four hours (with lots of waiting) but ultimately, I felt great about my audition. Even if I don't get a part, I want to be involved with the production in some way. I really would like a part though :)

I'll let you know what happens when I hear the news. Then of course you will all be invited to a show in the spring (weekend before Easter and weekend of Easter).

A "Reduction In Force"

Basically that is fancy talk for getting laid off, employment terminated, canned, kicked to the curb, shown the door, dismissed, "fired". That is what happened to me and 100 other fellow employees yesterday. Some of them I have never met. Some are good friends that I have enjoyed spending the bulk of my time in cubicle world with.

Some of my good friends were not lucky enough to be part of this distinguished group of 103. I wish them all the best. I hope they finish strong this year proving that they are not going to let something so completely out of the blue and devastating affect the jobs that they still have. I want to be proud of what they do next.

As for me, my first reaction was He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is in absolute control of my life, always has been and always will. I know without a doubt that I was supposed to take this job. I have a complete peace. It is a bit surreal at the moment, but it is a peace nonetheless.

More to come I'm sure. One upside to all of this is that I now have more time for blogging!

What's Your Average?

Over the past 30 years, I have lived in 20 different locations. This averages out to a new mailing address every 18 months. What's your average?