God looks out for me. Just when I was starting to feel hopeless about the year, I have been given the chance for a little escape. It's a preview of a job for which I've already applied, and it will probably look really good that I intervew for it while I'm actually doing it. So I am leaving for a while. And my trip to Vegas is tacked on the end of it so I'm gone for a little longer than I originally thought! Yippee!
O reader, you know how much I enjoy my work trips. But I think this one just might save my sanity. I've been working like a slave since October, and despite the holidays, which have their own form of stress, I haven't had a change of scenery. Well, this trip should do the trick. Again, I marvel at my ability to seek and find relaxation in places where I receive hazard pay.
I feel proud of myself because last week, I walked over to Stupider and congratulated her on the baby. I couldn't resist throwing in a little sarcasm, but it wasn't bad (I led off the conversation with "So! I guess the word is out, huh?" in a veiled attempt to chide her for their juvenile secrecy). She seemed annoyed. I was sincerely happy for her and she still couldn't get off her high horse. Oh well. I did what I wanted to do and it made me feel much better.
I've been flirting with someone who because of work arrangements, is totally off limits . . . grr, it's so frustrating. He is a really great person and we talk whenever we can without breaking any rules. Then we say our goodbyes and he gives me a wink and a smile. Argh! Both of us want to hang out outside of work, but if we got busted, he could lose his job, which he loves. So we have to stand down . . . but I wish he'd quit being flirty, it makes it really difficult. Maybe we're both getting a high off just being of interest to each other to make work more exciting.
In other news, I am so excited for the Super Bowl that when I arrive at my destination, I'm going to stay up all friggin' night to watch it. My Terrible Towel will be my traveling companion. I am so proud of my Steelers! I am pretty sure we are going to clean house, but if we don't, I'm glad it would be a loss to a team with a decent man for a quarterback and a story behind their season. A worthy adversary.
The Inaguration coverage is still on. Analysis of everything from Cheney in the wheelchair (" . . . it was almost Freudian, like 'I'm not going to stand for this!'"), the crowd on the mall chanting "na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye" when Bush came outside, Michelle's fitness ("this is the first First Lady to bring attention to the upper body . . . appearance"), and misuse of celebrity (Beanie Babies of the First Daughters). 'Best Week Ever' has me cracking up today. A couple things I noticed but upon which I haven't heard news commentary:
1. How fast Bush ran up the stairs of his helo ("seeya, suckers!!!")
2. Obama's speech focused on individual responsibility . . . yet his plans for government assistance are going to screw those of us who already understand and practice individual responsibility.
3. Caroline Kennedy's withdrawal from Senate consideration. Perhaps she took a good look at her charming uncle, collapsing at Inaugural lunches with a scandalous history, a drinking problem, and a brain tumor, and said, "um, hell no!"
What an interesting world. I am excited to leave the one I know and see some different places. We'll see what's up in the D-C when I get back.
Seeya in March. God bless!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inaugural Thoughts
It's happening right now. I'm watching on TV from home after an awesome weekend in one of the greatest cities on Earth, a city which is the seat of the democracy of this wonderful country. A city which has been celebrating for days, opening its arms to its citizens from near and far, a city that can (impossibly) simultaneously facilitate a mass gathering and put itself on lockdown.
I love it here. I love being able to step out of a metro and look around me, and see my nation's monuments to our founding fathers against the sky, always inspiring all of us to reach higher and stay true to what really matters.
Last night I went to my first Inaugural Ball. As my date and I walked to the venue, we had a spectacular view of the Capitol Dome, illuminated and covered with flags. It was quite an image with which to start the evening, and we discussed how, politics aside, democracy is the real cause for celebration today. Every four years, really every two when you think about it, America celebrates democracy's birthday by exercising our right to elect new leaders. A transition is exciting not only because of the individuals taking oaths, but the symbol they represent: an evolving, changing country that requires updating, upgrading, and acceptance of progress.
I love George W. Bush and always will. He will always be "my" president. I voted for him during college and was criticized for it by my liberal theatre friends: "Don't you want a job when you graduate????" Of course I did, but it wasn't on the stage. I knew I wanted to serve my country by working for the government. I wanted to be involved in making this country better, and I refused to be one of so many people I knew who would complain about the country for days straight but never DO anything to change it. I voted my dreams that election, and I was proud. And I am fortunate that my dreams came true. Bush 43 was my Commander in Chief when I entered civil service and he will always be my first real boss. I love and respect him for keeping my country safe for the past 8 years despite very, very bad men wanting to do us harm. Because of my work, I know things that most Americans don't know, think about, or even imagine . . . and I respect the man who has guided us the best he could through many trials and done what he felt was right (and stood up for it).
The president's job is not to provide us with everything we need to be happy. It is to preserve our freedoms so that WE can pursue what makes us happy. One of those freedoms is our safety, our life itself. Bush 43 had the cajones to stand up for that. I think Obama does too.
President Obama is not, as my parents seem to think, the anti-Christ. However, he is certainly not the Messiah, either. We simply must be realistic about what is really in this humble man's power to accomplish, and we must also accept that change will take time. January 21st is not going to be much different for us, and July 21st might not be either. But we cannot be fickle and turn our backs on our leader when we fail to receive instant gratification. Obama cited the scripture himself: "The time has come to cast off childish things."
America, if you want your change, now is the time. It is everyone's responsibility to make things better. Let's see what we're all made of.
I love it here. I love being able to step out of a metro and look around me, and see my nation's monuments to our founding fathers against the sky, always inspiring all of us to reach higher and stay true to what really matters.
Last night I went to my first Inaugural Ball. As my date and I walked to the venue, we had a spectacular view of the Capitol Dome, illuminated and covered with flags. It was quite an image with which to start the evening, and we discussed how, politics aside, democracy is the real cause for celebration today. Every four years, really every two when you think about it, America celebrates democracy's birthday by exercising our right to elect new leaders. A transition is exciting not only because of the individuals taking oaths, but the symbol they represent: an evolving, changing country that requires updating, upgrading, and acceptance of progress.
I love George W. Bush and always will. He will always be "my" president. I voted for him during college and was criticized for it by my liberal theatre friends: "Don't you want a job when you graduate????" Of course I did, but it wasn't on the stage. I knew I wanted to serve my country by working for the government. I wanted to be involved in making this country better, and I refused to be one of so many people I knew who would complain about the country for days straight but never DO anything to change it. I voted my dreams that election, and I was proud. And I am fortunate that my dreams came true. Bush 43 was my Commander in Chief when I entered civil service and he will always be my first real boss. I love and respect him for keeping my country safe for the past 8 years despite very, very bad men wanting to do us harm. Because of my work, I know things that most Americans don't know, think about, or even imagine . . . and I respect the man who has guided us the best he could through many trials and done what he felt was right (and stood up for it).
The president's job is not to provide us with everything we need to be happy. It is to preserve our freedoms so that WE can pursue what makes us happy. One of those freedoms is our safety, our life itself. Bush 43 had the cajones to stand up for that. I think Obama does too.
President Obama is not, as my parents seem to think, the anti-Christ. However, he is certainly not the Messiah, either. We simply must be realistic about what is really in this humble man's power to accomplish, and we must also accept that change will take time. January 21st is not going to be much different for us, and July 21st might not be either. But we cannot be fickle and turn our backs on our leader when we fail to receive instant gratification. Obama cited the scripture himself: "The time has come to cast off childish things."
America, if you want your change, now is the time. It is everyone's responsibility to make things better. Let's see what we're all made of.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
