China & Football

So I'm holding back on starting a paper on China and using the excuse of Monday Night Football to justify my laziness. No winner? I didn't think so either. But it's an exciting night in sports with the Broncos playing the Chargers (note: I cheer for the Broncs), Miss State & Ark are in 2OT (football) and Duke beating Marquette in basketball. I find all of these way more exciting than starting my paper.

This fascination is good for a few solid reasons. First of all, because of my fascination of all things sports I am never bored when I turn on the teevee. Secondly, current knowledge of sports does help me with talking to boys. So I'm banking on this ignoring my homework thing and catching up on some key games as an important move for my future.

GO BRONCS!!!

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And on a totally un-sports-related note ... this is HILARIOUS! (and so, so wrong)

Leavin' On A Metr...Jet...

Shortly many of us are gonna be gettin' some lovin' as we travel - who's excited for the new TSA pat-down or super-sexed scanning? I'm not sure how I feel about it yet but I'm sure I'll report back on that. Speaking of travel and reporting, the Daily Beast reported on the top airports. I'm happy to announce my main airport (DCA) ranked 10th, woot, woot!! My 2nd airport (MSP) came in at 16. I guess that isn't too bad?!

I did visit two other airports this past weekend - BWI and DTW. Totally my first time at BWI... it was okay. Nothing special. DTW (Metro) was nice, kinda reminded me of MSP but I was told that I was in the newer area. Though, neither of them had any cool/unique shops or lunch spots (ahem, Memphis) in the terminals that I was stuck in.

So now I'm thinking, there is a cool website called "Roadfood" that focuses on "regional meals along highways, in small towns and in city neighborhoods." Wouldn't it be great to have a website like that for airports?! I think so! I think I'd even travel to another city or make sure to do a layover for the mere fact to have lunch at a unique spot. And to think that airports could bank off of this!

And if there is such a website out there, sweet... just show me where cause I cannot find one.

36th State

I'm off to DET in less than two hours to see a good friend marry a new good friend. I am very excited for a few reasons. A. This will be my first time out of DC area in two months. B. This will be my first time in MI and C. Duhhhh... I get to witness two people are are excellent for each other make a public commitment to one-another.

So I must get back to packin' (I'm an excellent procrastinator). I get to haul my butt up from northern VA to BWI for my little flight into DET. But as I leave you, please take a moment and watch this video (and tell me how you're able to make it to the end without crying!) Thank you to all of those who have put their lives on the line for the better of others. God Bless our veterans.

Money Maker

I got the job. I will be employed by an organization and have a salary again. This is weird. OH! And not only a salary but also a 401(K), health insurance, life insurance and dental. Weird.

Now I just need to deal with the fact that I'll be employed full-time as a full-time student this semester.

Two months of hell? We'll see!

I Shook the Magic 8 Ball

I got a call for a job interview yesterday and I freaked. Not in a, "Yay! I got an interview!!" type of freak but rather, "OH CRAP!" Weird, I know. But I think I need this. Doing this school thing full-time and working part-time on campus is messin' with me. My days of work/studying don't usually start until 11 a.m. and that kinda drives me nuts even though it's me forcing myself into that mindset. I justify it with the fact that I am either working, in class or studying my M-Th nights away so the late a.m. is the time for relaxing. Lame.

So back to the interview. It's (yay!) for an agricultural group. They actually called and emailed me about the interview. The crappy thing is that I will be doing a phone interview. And I STINK at those. I have no problem talking on the phone to people but I do have a problem when I can't see their reactions. My record for phone interviews is 1 in 8 since college. My record for in-person interviews is about 50/50. Odds are not in my favor.

So now I'm going peruse their website, develop some talking points and continue to slurp down the very caffeinated coffee in my new NYC mug (from a NYC friend - tacky, a little - sweet, beyond).

Lists & Papers - Today's Procrastination

So I am on Facebook. Yes, that is nothing special seeing as everyone else in this world is and after "The Social Network" comes out I have a feeling the numbers are going to EXPLODE. With that I have a revelation and a bag-full of issues. No, not with the movie. Pfft. Movie-schmovie. You see, when I joined in Dec 2004, it was cool and unique. Of course I was in college at that time and it was used for uploading obnoxious photos from college parties, creating groups based on silly inside jokes and feeling superior to all others when you list yourself as "in a relationship."

Fast forward to 2010 - stupid photos are still being posted, but of boring moments because you know better when attempting to apply for jobs. Groups have turned into official things such as policy pieces you support. And now, you avoid the relationship status thing and just use Facebook to stalk that person you met on Saturday night but were too consumed with lame bar talk that you never figured out if he/she has anything in common with you.

It kills me yet I'm still stuck on it. I have tried to "quit" a few times but find myself lured back in because it's an easy, passive way of keeping in touch with friends 1,000 miles away. Now I get it, they are your friends and you should be able to use a few other tools out there (i.e. phone/email/hand-written notes) to keep in touch. I guess it comes down to me choosing the lazy route. I do care about these people but I'm too lazy to pick up the phone and give'm a shout more than the four times a year. I have convinced myself that I'll quit when I have a kid. This is easy to say seeing that I'm not married, or even in a relationship. Yep. Got it. I'm just making excuses.

But really...when (errr...if?!) I have kids I figured the last thing I need to do is post a million photos of the kid in the same outfit and two different expressions happening. Or um, have status updates about dirty diapers. (Hopefully my posts now are more entertaining!)I've heard that parents like having the Facebook because it's a way of feeling 'social' without having to leave the house. Now, if this is the case, I am nervous about what parenthood entails. I am pretty sure that if it comes down to that I will be the queen at booking play-dates. I do not want to rely on Facebook as my only source of socializing. This scares me to death, the notion that with age it will be one of my more common social tools than actually seeing people live or going to events. Not acceptable. No, no, no, no.

Now as I go and start mixing a drink cause I'm fretting about whole issue rather than working on a paper for school, I'll leave you with this most excellent video... Enjoy!

Get Off My Lawn

I think I would have been a good neighbor for Walt Kowalski. For those of you who don't know Walt, he was the character played by Clint in Grand Torino.

So back to the point... Walt and me. We'd be a team. Now I don't keep a shotgun under my bed, but certainly have no problem chasing hoodlums with a broom or other long objects. I say this because most days you'll find me either tending to the flowers (damn squirrels keep digging in the flower pots, argh!), sweeping the drive-way, pulling weeds or watching the 'going-ons' in the 'hood. Walt would be doin the same. After a hard days work of yelling at kids and picking-up the front lawn he had no problem settling down on the front porch and crackin' a cold one. Again, I'd be right there with him.

Actually, I'd love to have Walt as my neighbor. Not only would it be nice to have someone who keep their lawn nice and neat or someone who enjoys a brew like I do but rather for someone to take my place in keeping the neighborhood straight. I know I don't live in Detroit and Arlington, VA is hardly even close to the 'hood in the movie but we have our fair share of stuff go down. Clint, ahem, Walt would certainly take care of that before I would even need to pick-up the phone to dial the local police.

Perhaps we need to recruit a few Walts to my neighborhood. Curious if the ACPD would be down with that?

Yes, I'm aware of the dull life I'm leading... the excitement of squirrels, drunk neighbors, class and readings about economics pretty much sums up my life right now. I'm in search of finding other things to keep me entertained. Maybe we'll get a good soccer or flag-football story soon! Until then...

Modern: Partially Employed & Grad School

A few years ago, one of the front office ladies exclaimed, "OH! You need to write a book about your life!" I don't remember the story I was telling her but I just waved it off because, at that time, my life seemed like a complete bore. I guess traveling overseas by oneself and selling products to folks I'll never meet was boring. Then. Now it seems like a far off dream. Since that remark I have moved a few more times between the Midwest and East Coast in search of better jobs and more education.

Now my life is similar to a few thousand others where I'm partially employed, going to grad school full-time and completely broke. I am mildly obsessed with social media, watch CSPAN, Bloomberg & CNBC religiously while downloading alternative music from iTunes based on The Currents playlist. On the weekends I play local league sports, cheer on my alma mater in a losing sport (football) and swill beer like I'm still an undergrad. I am your average late twenty-something and it kills me to say that.

In my macroeconomics class we all look different but the only real outliers in the class are those who are over 40 and there aren't many of them this time around. This lack of originality is summed up by a comment I had from my interviewer a week ago, "You're overqualified and highly recommended." I didn't get the internship. This is happening over and over and over and it kills me. Perhaps it's the area I live in (DC) but I find that you are not allowed to be original. They prefer a status quo, BUT the one that they set. So I'm following that lead, getting a masters, starting to learn a new language and becoming even more socially networked.

With this, I am curious, will the next generation get shoved into a group of highly over-educated, lack of experience bracket or will they get the chance to move out of their little area and seek new opportunities and be encouraged to do so? I just wished I had to the guts to break free and go to the beat of my own drum - but when entrepreneurship is stymied by current markets/banking procedures and socially, it just seems best to stay the course that is recommended. Bummer.

Maybe it'll change when I'm forty.

President of Neighborhood Watch

Just when I think my neighborhood is normal it throws me a new one. It's midnight on a Sunday night and I'm settling in after a somewhat exhausting day. I have my window cracked open because of the gorgeous weather happening. I hear the crickets and smile a little but know that they will keep me awake so I put on my fan to muffle the noise a bit. Less than 10 seconds later I hear this loud accelerating noise. Thinking it was my fan I shut it off. Nope, still there. Then I thought, Hrm... it could be something up with the house. So I start to peek around and see where it's coming from. Again, nothing but the noise stops, so I go back to bed.



"VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOM!"

Seriously!?

At this point I'm completely ticked off. It's past midnight and we have people of all ages in our neighborhood, this is beyond appropriate. I run outside and look around. I see Bob and his wife are pattering around in their house (not sure why two retirees are still up?) but they don't peek their heads out and all other houses appear quiet. The sound sounds like it's coming from two houses down but there aren't any lights on and the ambulance is just sitting there quietly.(Yes, they have an ambulance but it gets better, they have TWO and use them for anything BUT saving lives). I'm confused and go back into the house.


"vvvvrrrrroooommmmm......VVVVVRRRRRrrroooommmmm.....VVVVVRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOM!!!"

At this point I grab my coat and throw on some shoes figuring I need to inspect the 'hood or else the cops are going to get call no. 3 from me this year. I walk down to the suspected house only to find out it's a pick-up truck that is in neutral with someone laying on the gas. That someone is passed out. You have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! I knock on the window (I'll admit, I was nervous seeing I didn't know how he'd react and I didn't want to be hit or driven over). No response. I knock harder and finally just started to pound. After what felt like eternity he opened the door and mumbled something and shaking his head.

Trying to not shake him I asked, "Sir, can you please keep it down? It's late and you're waking the neighborhood up."

"Hrm??? Oh *slurred grumbles" Yeesh, I'll go int there." And he points to the house.

"Thanks." Ugh.

I turn and walk back to my house. I see one of the new neighbor guys (who lives between me and the questionable figure) out on the porch and obviously annoyed. I wave and yell hi and he just shook his head and said thanks.

I swear. It's finally time I get a sign that says, Neighborhood Watch - PRESIDENT

1 BILLION DOLLARS!

For some reason Dr. Evil popped into my head as I was thinking, "Why can't we wrangle in the U.S. trade deficit?" And before you shake your head over the insane issues that I freak out/think of/dream about on a daily (re: hourly) basis - remember that this is what I do. I care about trade for YOU! Good, healthy trade is of benefit to most parties involved and for those that indirectly invovled. So I was a bit disheartened today when I read in the WSJ an article today showing that the sector I cared about the most (Food/Agriculture) is not doing well during these tough times in the trade world. Imports of food and feed are up by $33 million and exports [of food and feed] are down by $310 million. Uff da. Not good.

So yes, that is what I worry about on a constant basis. I know I'm not the only one. The USDA has tons of people in all different areas that devote a good portion of their time to analyzing/solving the trade issues... and the same goes for those over at Commerce and the USTR. So I know I'm not alone, though it just get's to me. *ARGH!*

But I won't fret too much. There are so many other important things out there that matter.

Like...

- Will the DC Gophers kick-butt at the CAN Softball Tournament?

- Will I be able to consume the appropriate ratio of milkshake:cheese curds at the Minnesota State Fair come August 25th?

- What will my "First Day of School" outfit be this fall?

All very important issues to be concerned with. I guess trade doesn't seem as important now that I think about it. *sigh*

The Smallest Things

Two days ago as I was heading out of the metro I stopped to add more value to my SmarTrip card. As I was approaching the kiosks I noticed this older gentleman lingering by the kiosks with a look of discernment. Not sure what he was in need of, I casually walked up to a kiosk near him and proceeded to add value to my card. As he witnessed my successful transaction he asked, “Could you help me? I can’t figure it out.” The man, if he could stand-up straight was barely my height and had an air of wisdom and kind-heartedness surrounding him. “No, problem,” I said as I took his Senior SmarTrip card and swiped it, then taking the crisp $10 bill he was holding and added that to the card, while trying to explain the process. He was beyond patient and his eyes spoke pure gratitude. He thanked me and shuffled away.

I hurriedly moved on to the escalators where (argh!!) I got stuck behind two people too busy talking that they didn’t bother to stay to the right side. Looking over at the other escalator, I whined a little, noting that it was free on the left-hand side. “pfft!” but then I looked down and saw the sweet man standing to the right, making sure he wasn’t in the way of any commuters trying to walk up the escalator.

I cannot imagine what it must be like to see a world whizzing by me, as I imagined that gentleman did. As I recounted the story to a friend I claimed that if I was in that situation as an older lady I would probably be whacking the kiosk with my big purse and grumbling about people who have no respect (which funny enough, doesn’t always take age for me to do that!). He was a nice reminder of the sweetness of civility and how it can make a world of difference.

Shark Week... READY!? (August 1st)

I am excited.

Are you ready?

No, No, No.

This weekend I am off to VA Beach area for some R&R. I needed to leave earlier than normal so I could get out of work earlier to attempt at beating traffic (note how I used the word ATTEMPT).

Well it wasn't that great of a morning because...

*Lack of alarm (or I turned it off without even realizing it, hrmmm.)

*No hot water (forgo morning shower)

*Missed/late train

*Kicked off of other train

... leading to me being 30 mins late. I figured, "Oh well, I can make up the time come Monday, at least I have the beach this weekend!!!"

I just checked the weather.



Bugger!

Anyway - I have faith that it will still be lots-o-fun and it will be awesome to get out of the Beltway. Fingers crossed that the B&B will have AC!

Joan Loves Space

Doesn't this chick look like she's Joan from Mad Men???

Great song and if you're into space of any sort - this is for you.

Vampires are SO 1990

I can't turn the teevee on, log into the interwebs or open the paper without seeing some darn piece on that vampire movie that all the tweens, 30-something yr old married ladies and one straight guy loves. It's, ummm, awesome? While I'm really not into that stuff too much (or at all) if I had to pick, I feel like zombies are a much more mature/classier way of going. I do have to say, after spending a good deal of time with people who were a bit zombified I took on a greater appreciation. They are a complex species - not an idiot one who has names like Bella (really, the last Bella I knew was a cow on my home farm).

So as I sit here wondering when the next zombie pub crawl or meeting is in my EC 'hood I will share a cool trick on making yourself a bit more zobmiesque.


Scars With Bubblegum - The most amazing bloopers are here

A 40's Style Day

It’s another hot, sultry day in the Beltway. I am slowly adapting to it. I think it’s better that I am forced to go outside BEFORE 12 noon because I have a real “job” (re: internship) this summer. Yes, it’s an exciting one. I get to do the lovely commute, smashed into a Metro car with men and women reading/listening to music/whacking you with their backpack because they lack social commuting skills. I have a better understanding of what sardines feel like…especially on those hot days when everyone is sweaty! The commute isn’t that bad, if anything it gives me cheap entertainment ($4.40/day RT!) twice a day.

My internship is in the USDA-FAS-OCBD-TSCB-RPSB. If you can figure that out you are automatically qualified for a GS-14/15 level position with the government! The office I’m in is pretty fantastic. People are friendly, understand agriculture AND understand global issues. Three things I value and love that can coexist. It’s a hectic office that fights with constant bureaucratic changes (systems/positions/etc.) and crazy, developing governments. You’re a champion if you can deal with that and at the end of the day go home rather than to a shrink. If anything, this internship makes me feel good about the portion of my tax dollars which go towards our initiatives.

Which leads me to MY initiative, Africa. I call it my “lost continent” because over the last five years it was the one place I rarely looked to when it came to business. Reason being, it’s primarily made-up of developing countries with poor government, regulation and banking systems. Three things you look for in a country before going in and trying to do business. I am now taking another look. Seeing as I am not in sales mode I can take my time to study the continent and it’s pieces. One consistently comes to mind when thinking about – fascinating. Sorry for you people who are obsessed over its culture. Yes, that’s pretty darn cool. But I’m obsessed over the politics and policy. Their business attitude it far different from Latin America and Asia…. it’s exciting. Now if there is achievement off of their attitudes that will be amazing. Not unthinkable but amazing nonetheless. I won’t go on any further because I’m sure this is boring. But I do say, take a second look at the continent. It just may surprise you. And seeing IT IS World Cup time and woah… S. Africa IS hosting, you may as well take a gander.

Speaking of soccer. I’m playing it. Yes, my 2010 sport is soccer. (I may have mentioned this but I’m somewhat lazy and not looking back at my old posts.) I have only received one head-on injury from it – a very bruised wrist. It hurts but it’s a good pain. GO USA!!!

Meet Me in St.... errr... DC

I absolutely loved Meet Me in St. Louis growing up. Loved, loved, LOVED it. Mostly because I was obsessed with Judy Garland but also I was fascinated with how they "handled" the heat during the turn of the century (circa 1904). To this day I don't know how women were able to wear dresses/petticoats/stockings/etc. when it was above 75 degrees. At that point I'm sure I'd have had the "vapors" about a million times over. Didn't they know about heat stroke?!

Well, I complain about this because today in DC it hit high 90s (re: 99 degrees). I about fainted on the Metro because the car I was in was lacking AC. Though, with all of this complaining I must bite my tongue seeing I go from a house with central air to an office with central air to a car (boyfriends) with a working AC. It's only for one mile am I sweating it out in my work clothes. So I realize, yes, I am very spoiled. Though, if I had the choice my version of a nice hot summer day would be 80 degrees, NO humidity and a lake with public access at every corner.

I think back with awe on how my ancestors crossed the prairie on AC-less trains I will wake up as an appreciative lady tomorrow and smile when the meteorologist announces another steamy day.



Perhaps in 1904 they were smart... they at least had a trolley above ground allowing natural air-flow unlike 2010 where we are stuck in a small box of a car underground withb a broken AC. Hrmmm...

Sloths

I really like the movie Ice Age. A lot. It makes me giggle and well, something about a talking animal always makes me giggle and a little bit homesick. (No, my cows, cat and dog don't talk but I'm crazy enough to believe that I know exactly what they are thinking). While I wasn't into one animal over the other in the movie I started think more about sloths. Probably because it's an animal that I've never seen before. Well I found a great video about sloths and their adorableness. Forget the bunny... I now want a baby sloth for a pet!

Meet the sloths from Amphibian Avenger on Vimeo.

'tis the Season

It's wedding season. I know this by way of two ways, well more like 25. Anyway the season is upon us and my bank account is starting to reflect that (but it's worth it) and a few many FB status updates now are fully devoted to word on the upcoming nuptials.

I say, "Oy!"

As a traditional, non-traditionalist (e.g. I want a mostly black wedding dress if the day ever happens for me), I often find myself gagging at some of the "stuff" I get to witness. But I must sit back and swallow it because I know with this type A personality there is great potential of me taking all of that stuff to an entirely different level. As I'm aware of the potential for that, I have start to make many and I mean dozens of mental notes of "What not to do" in order to keep my friends and family on the non-hatin' side of me!


Now because I'm only getting older and ~ 75% of the people I'm around are married or in fully committed relationships I get asked a lot of marriage questions (mostly by other folk who find it odd that I'm still singlesque). They are all so very excellent. My favorite are the non-questions, rather these people are making statements for me. Awww, how sweet. Just because I'm getting closer to 30 than 20 and have yet to commit to anything beyond the current month doesn't mean you can make such grand assumptions such as, "Your clock is tickin' for kids!"

Really? REALLY!? I like to remind them that it doesn't take a marriage to pop out a kid and if that damn clock was tickin' that hard I would have taken care of it by now. Funny how that shuts them up. Truth be told, from an early age I haven't wanted to settle down until after my 30th birthday. I'm a bit selfish in that way, I guess. But I figured if I were to settle down I'd prefer to do it only once and that means I should get a few things out of the way in order to be a better partner down the road. A crime, I think not. Until then, I'll enjoy celebrating these moments of flower filled, booze-induced dances, dry chicken dinners (ahem, weddings) in honor of my friends.


So here's a toast to my friend Mel and her sig other, Jonathan (J) - may you two have a rockin' marriage from here on out ... and yes, I will be enjoying the drinks and some darn good food this weekend down in 'bama with ya'll!

School's Out for SUMMER!

Yes! I took my last final on Monday night. After 2 hrs & 45 mins I felt that I had successfully explained economic trade principles on in the international marketplace. Now we just wait and see if my professor agrees with me. Until then, Alice (Cooper) and I will be rockin' it (and workin' it so I can afford a few plane tickets).

After a weekend of studying, including a Saturday night final, I felt exhausted. Add in a poor diet and a pinched nerve and it's hard to believe that I didn't have a mental breakdown. I took the morning of Tuesday off and sat in a zombie-like state on the couch. I watched bad movies and kept my phone off. It was AMAZING. I had also put a ban on reading and writing for the day. I only read and wrote what I absolutely had to.

I miss yesterday. Perhaps it will come back.

oh and I found a pretty fantastic website: WTF CNN - yes, the name says it all.