Sunday, February 27, 2011

It's here!

With those friendly reminders from some of you, I have realized that too much time has passed since my last post.  My apologies.  I have been busy looking for a place to call home.  Hopefully I will have some good news to post soon on that front.  Thank you for your prayers, they have helped.  But please don’t stop, it isn’t over yet.

Before I go any farther, I have to give a great BIG shout out to my Uncle Arlie in Nevada.  Thank you for the letter in the mail.  I absolutely loved it!!!  It made my day. 

Things are starting to become more routine and I feel like I am getting more familiar with my surroundings.  I have advance and am able to get it to certain places without Barbara, my GPS!  Ha ha ha    Although this past weekend I was in Alexandria and oh boy was she busy telling me how she was “calculating route” every time I made a wrong turn.  I think I would still be driving without her assistance.   But thank the Lord, I made it back safely.

Last time, I informed you I went to Capitol Hill to attend a Congressional hearing.  What an interesting experience that was.  I love how DC has scripture carved into many locations and buildings throughout the city.  In the room we were in, not only was it freezing cold so you wouldn’t fall asleep (yes I am serious), Prov. 29:18 was carved on the wall, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” 

After the hearing we talked with the Inspector General, who happens to be Red Sox fan.  When I met him a few weeks ago I told him I would let that one slip by, we both laughed.   I really do work in a great place. 

As you can tell, I am getting more and more settled into my job at work.  This week I will be attending audit training, which should be pretty interesting.  It will be a good help as we get ready to start traveling to various states, which have yet to be announced, to begin a new stage of the audit for the department.  I am sure I will have some great stories to share once we start traveling…should be a rather interesting experience.

This coming week marks another significant point of each year.  It’s March….and for many of us that means ONE thing…..no not the Spring Showcase, nor Spring Break..….it’s March Madness baby!   Now that’s what I’m talking about.  Go Duke (men)  Go Tennessee (women).

With that, I think there is no better way to end…..

Thank you again for all your words of encouragement and especially your prayers.  They are felt and really mean a lot to me.

Until the next post…..The best is yet to come!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Capitol Hill


On Wednesday we went to Capitol Hill to hear the Inspector General give testimony for a Congressional hearing.  It's interesting because they make those rooms SO cold.  As you can imagine why...yes they can get boring so they don't want people to fall asleep!  Anyways, this is on our way into the hearing.  The guy on the far left, Jimmy, he is a Mets fan from New York who moved to DC recently, like I did.  You can just imagine the interesting baseball conversations him and I had throughout the day.   Overall, a great day of fun!

A little bike ride


This is a pretty cool thing...it's called Capitol Bike Share.  You can rent these bikes and ride them around or ride them to another bike share station.  With the weather being so weird, 40 one day and 70 the next, it's a great way to spend a lunch break....on the warm days of course!  Although I haven't done it yet I think about it every time I walk by them!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Weird....Wild....Wonderful


Today is the day……Yes the day I have been looking forward to all week.   Going to the post office and sanitize the inside of my PO Box.  It's all dusty and dirty and I don't want to go there and have 'dirty' mail when I grab it.   Please, we must proactive on sanitization!  ha ha ha  :)


Oh the uniqueness of people….went to Starbucks and as the lady was waiting for the computer to process my order; she scratched her arm with my Starbucks card.  I almost hyperventilated.  It was all I could do to ask her to please not do that.  I took the card back cautiously and wrapped it in a napkin until I could get to my desk for a full and complete Purell experience. 


Oh how I love my city….the weirdness, the uniqueness….it's the best.  I live in the best city!


I wish I could wear one of those hidden cameras on my head as I chase trains and run around trying to figure out where to go and what to take.  It's been rather comical to me.  Sometimes I just stand there and laugh at myself wondering what I must have just looked like.   Getting off of one train and running past people as they get out of my way to jump on the next, only to find out I was running after the wrong train.  All those people I ran by ended up standing next to me waiting for the same train.    It's happened more than once…. ha ha ha 
My stuff finally arrived last Thursday.  Not bad, only two things were missing, but they will replace them if they can't find them soon.  Now to temporarily unpack until I find the location I want to actually live in.  If you feel led to, pray for open doors and the right direction I am to take for living arrangements.  I have ideas and thoughts......however I am looking forward to getting 'settled'.


I am just finishing out my second week on the job as a Management Analyst.  I do enjoy what I am doing and the team I am on.  We are just beginning an audit process of one of the programs within the DOT (Dept of Transportation).  It's been rather interesting so far.   Most likely I will be traveling some to a few states as part of the audit. 


I do the Mister Rogers thing every morning.   I wear sneakers with my work clothes to and from the office….then once I get there I change my shoes.  Maybe Monday I will toss them in the air like MR used to and sing "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood".  Ha ha ha    It's interesting because tons of people do it considering the amount of walking you do, plus you don't ruin your shoes!  So I don't look like an out of place dork.   With all the salt and stuff they treat the roads and sidewalks with, shoe protection is in effect.


Next Wednesday I am spending the day on Capitol Hill.  The Inspector General will be giving testimony before a Congressional Committee in the morning.  After lunch we will roam around the Capitol building checking things out.   This should be a fun day.  Oh which suit do I wear........


Well that should do it for now….I feel like I am getting used to my surroundings and have some type of grasp of the concept of living in the DC area.    It's so cool.  Everyone needs to experience this place!


Thank you for your prayers, love, and support.  I am SO grateful.  You're wonderful!!


The best is yet to come!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The first day.....the first week

With my right hand raised, standing in front of the American flag, I took an oath and officially became a federal government employee Monday morning!  Joined my team of all women at the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Transportation and started learning my way around the building.  My biggest accomplishment Monday morning…. learned where to find my desk and where the bathroom was!   Next, going to join the coffee club Wednesday morning.  Priorities!

After being away from my stuff for almost 3 weeks, it looks like it will arrive around Thursday.  Oh how it will be nice to wear a different color sweatshirt or even a different one for that matter.  Thank you Jesus!  Now if I can just remember what box everything is in.   Angie and Aimee did you label my boxes?  Ha ha ha   

Over the weekend I attended The City Church DC, not as a visitor, but for the first time as a resident of the area.   Wow, that was a long time coming.  I even made it without getting lost thanks to Barbara my gps.    I was welcomed with warmth and open arms.  Pastor Heather even announced my arrival from the pulpit and I stood as they welcomed me and I gave the “thanks folks” wave like that guy did in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, at the barn raising.   Ha ha ha   Literally, I was thinking of that guy as I was standing and waving.  Love the excitement, momentum, and atmosphere of my new church!  This is going to be fun.

Looking forward to what's ahead. 

Go Packers!!!

That seems to be it for now………

Miss you all.

The best is yet to come!