Adjustment....

So, I've been out of school for nearly a week and a half, and I'm bored.  My road has been extremely long and arduous; 2 years to be exact and in those 2 years I've always had something to do.  I've held down 2 full time jobs and gone to school. In those 2 years there hasn't been a moment where I wasn't thinking about school.  Even if I said I wasn't going to do any work, there was still work to be done. There was always this thing in the back of my brain. Now that thing is no longer there and. I'm. BORED! 

As crazy as it is, I'm bored. Don't get me wrong, I'm so happy to be done. I got 3 degrees in 2 3/4 years. Just saying it is exhausting and I'm the one who lived through it! It's crazy, I know.  I'm just bored. I don't have weekly deadlines anymore or papers to write or the pressure of it all. I don't have anymore pressure! It's weird, yet I'm happy.  I have a plan though, get back into Zumba, resume weight watchers, and give J more attention. I was doing really well and then school got serious and I stopped going to Zumba and about 2 months ago I told myself that I would allow myself to eat whatever I wanted. That, my friends, was a bad move.  A really bad one!  I went class last night with Adelicia and I wanted to pass out. The warm up was 10 minutes long and I started praying half way through.  I didn't give up though; I never give up. It's mind over matter and a few prayers of "God, please don't let me pass out."  However, I just may fall out when I go to my WW meeting and see exactly how much I've gained.  WTF was I thinking?

Thailand in Pictures...Part 2

These are pictures of the summer palace. The royal family resides here in the summer.

Hello, my name is Victoria....

and I have my MBA.  Yep, folks that right!   OMGEEEEEEEE!!

I finally made it!

I did it!

I knew I would...

(well, there was a period there last week and the week before that and the week before that)

I was a little worried that I may not make it. It was really scary, stressful, overwhelming, and rest of the adjectives that I've described countless times in my blogs as a ranted and worried.  I mean I woke up this morning and I don't have a single assignment to do. My nights of going to class (the live chats) are over. I don't have to worry about group projects anymore.  It really hasn't sunk in yet; I have an advanced degree!! I'm super proud of myself.   Graduation is in Chicago in the Spring and I can't wait!

In all seriousness, next to getting married and having babies, this is the greatest single thing I've done in my whole life.  EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!   J has been wonderful throughout the whole process. We have a 5 hour time difference and he stayed up with me late into the night so many nights I've lost count. I'm the first to admit that I can be a hand full and that's magnified when I'm under lots of stress but he stuck it out and took the moodiness in stride. I couldn't have done it without his love and support and also from all of my family and friends.  Incidentally, I mailed him a sleeve of my thin mints and my trefoils last week in his box. You know that's love when a girl gives away her thin mints.  IJS...

I also wanted to thank all of the readers in blog world who sent well wishes and/or offered up prayers. They are much appreciated. It took a village to raise me, and a village to get me through school.

And now, getting back to the task at hand....getting into the foreign service. If I can make it through that program, I can make it through the application process!

7 Days....

and counting.  That's all that's left.  Do you remember the tears I foreshadowed in my last post? Lots of tears this weekend. Stress and I have become fine friends. I have gray hair to prove it.  Next Monday, it will all have been worth it.

And then I can sleep.  I'm so excited to sleep!

Overwhelmed

I've been complaining for months now about school. Yes, I know. I apologize, sincerely.  I shouldn't have complained because my class right now takes.the.cake. into infinity and beyond.  I'm in week 3 of 5. There are only 2 1/2 weeks left and OMGeee! I don't even know.  Just thinking about it make me want to burst into tears but I know it's just the stress.  2 1/2 weeks seems like 6 months right now. This is my Mt. Everest.  Throughout this program, I've felt like I've been climbing Mt. Everest but really they were just hills, like the Western Maryland Appalachians.  Is this the rite of passage every graduate student takes when they are at the end?

I will make it.

I have no choice.

I don't give up on anything.

That was my pep talk to myself.

Pray for me.

Who cares about Strategic Management?

 I don't. Do you?  That is the name of my last class ever in my educational career.  Let me tell you, it is the bane of my existence.  I'm in week 3 of 5 and my stress level is through the roof!  And it's all over Strategic Management.  I'm finding that a lot of my graduate courses are recycled terms and such things from when I was in my Bachelors.  My problem...I didn't retain anything. As I've been in an accelerated program (1 or 2 classes every 5 weeks) in order to prevent myself from information overload I've had to compartmentalize all of this information. In doing so, I promptly forget it all once the class is over.   Elasticity of Demand? WTF is that?  I've had 2 classes about it and I still can't tell you.  For this class we're dealing with SWOT. If I ever have to do another SWOT analysis it will be too soon.  J says that this last class is like mile 22 in a marathon. I just have to push through to the end and then I'll be done. That seems so simple. I suspect that the next couple of weeks will be filled with more stress and lots of tears.

I've put all of my friends on notice, we're going out for happy hour and we're going to get sloppy drunk. That's right, I said it! We're going to Nacho Mama's and we're going to drink this:

They're famous for the margaritas in a hubcap. Yes, that is actually a hubcap filled with alcoholic goodness.  I deserve it after 2 years of going to school full time and working 2 full time jobs.  #iwon'tbeabletowalk



The oral surgeon

We're working on 3 or 4 months now and after me yelling (well not yelling) strongly encouraging in a raised voice to the nurses at my general dentist that they needed to send my referral to my oral surgeon, I got an appt....at 7:30am today. 

Doc: Oooh, you've got massive problems in your mouth. Does it hurt?
Me: (looks at him like he has 3 heads) The whole right side of my hurts all of the time.
Doc: Okay, we're going to get you scheduled so we can get your wisdom teeth out. It's under bone and...nah, you don't want to hear the the gory details.
Me: Uhhh....
Doc: It's okay, we're going to patch you up and be good as new. I'll get you your prescription and I'll be right back
*brings back oxycodone*
Me: Oxycodone?!?  What happened to 1000mg of ibuprofen so I don't end up on Intervention?!?
*laughs hysterically*
Doc: I'm getting ready to hack up your mouth. ibuprofen isn't going to work.
Me: Well okay then.

My surgery is scheduled for Wednesday. I've never had any sort of surgery ever, and I'm at the pre-stages of freaking out.  I think I should get some sort of present for this. *hint hint* *cough, J, cough* I deserve it!

I am here....again!

Well not really. I know what I want to do with my life; the foreign service.  I think I need a super awesome plan B, should plan A take longer than expected. I have come to the realization that my current job is just not cutting the mustard.  The manager of the entire unit said to me today "Well, why wasn't this taken care of last week!"  While I was screaming at her in my head and say all sorts of not nice language, I calmly replied with "You were on vacation and no one else would approve it".  I've been talking my head trying to get this particular person's situation approved. Why? Because I believe her. In my gut, I believe her. I never believe anyone. Ask anyone. I don't.  I take the position of it's illegal to not pay your taxes. If you don't pay your taxes, you need to be in jail right next to Wesley Snipes.  Go to Jail! Do not pass go and let me take all of your money out of your bank accounts while I'm at it.  That's me! So, if I'm saying I believe her just cut her a little slack that should count for something. Right? Wrong!  I'm just done today!  Moreover, in 6 weeks I will have my MBA. Out of everyone in the office, I am the 4th person in the line of people with advanced degrees.  The first two are lawyers and the next is a CPA and they are all in management positions.  Yet, I have an MBA and is a lowly gopher.   After me about 3 people have their Bachelor's and the rest have HS diplomas. I work in an office of about 95 people. What does that tell you?

It has just been that kind of day. I'm tired of having these days.  So, officially I'm on the search for my super awesome plan B. I won't have a super expensive piece of paper for no reason at all.  It will get something.  I really want to move to London, and not because J lives there.  He's about 40% of the reason.  I've just really wanted to live in Europe ever since my first visit there. My MBA in International Business (see my thought process)will get me there. I just need to figure out how. 

Sharing the Day.....

It's so hard sharing the day that changed America and the world forever as my birthday. Yet, it is and I feel guilty.  10 years ago I was getting ready for school and answering the phone every few minutes from a family member or a friend wishing me happy birthday, when I just happened to turn on the tv and I saw a plane flying into a building. 10 years later.  I was at the part-time this weekend and while I'm there I watch a lot of tv.  I watched a special on TLC called "The Heroes of the 88th Floor". Two men died saving 70+ people. They went from floor to floor rescuing people.  In that moment, I realized something that never occurred to me; while we lost so many lives that day, so many more lives were saved because of the brave firefighters, policemen, first responders, and regular people such as those on the  88th floor.

There were hundreds possibly thousands of babies that were born today. Babies are the truest and purest gifts from God and they should be celebrated. They are a sign of hope and the possibility of what can be in.  Everyone born on 09/11/01 and later will never know a world without terrorism but it's up to me and you to always remember, never forget, but to also celebrate life.  With that said...

Happy Birthday to me and everyone born on this day!

Jan 23- Feb 7, 2013

Those are the dates of my next big trip....Africa! J and I will be spending 1 week in Capetown, 1 in the Serengeti on safari, and 1 on the beaches of Zanzibar.   It's totally perfect and J and I are super excited to go to Africa.  He had a bit of a sticker shock at first because it's $$$$$ but really it's 3 vacations in 1 and I simply refuse to sleep on a cot, I need running water, a toilet that flushes... the whole 9.  Officially it's called a luxury tent.  Who knew they existed. I thought we were just going to be in a lodge the whole time and would drive to the places where we would stalk the animals.  Nope. For about 3 out of the 5 days we'll be in tents.  I'm cool with that as long as I have a bed. Call me a travel snob but I don't do camping camping.  A few years ago, my best friends and I went camping with one of my BFFs family. I was all prepared to sleep in a tent but my friend's parents had a pop up camper and it had air. Yes, that's right....AIR CONDITIONING! I stayed in the air.  I also tried to go camping again and I ended up leaving at 2am because I couldn't take it.  I can't help it, I'm a city girl.   I will endure it in Africa because I'll be staying in a tent with a bed and because well...it's Africa! One other fabulous part of the trip is that I'll be able to spend some time in London with J.  I'll be there a few days before we leave for Capetown and about a week after we come back.  Yay! Maybe I'll rent a car. That would be wild!  When I tell people that I'm going to Africa on vacation they look at me with 3 heads.  I forgive them, they go to Jamaica regularly and they call that traveling. 

In other news, it's official. I am not applying to take the October FSWE.  I know I've said that over and over but I only made the decision today.  I need to get through graduate school and this new leadership program has the rest of my attention.  I want to put my best foot forward the next time I take it.  That will also give me time to pass my Microsoft cert for OMS.

My cat is currently climbing up the curtains...I am confused.

Let there be light....

Can I get a whootie whoo?!?  WHOOTIE WHOOO!!! 

I can't explain what it feels like to be without power for 3 days. 3 days!  It felt like much longer than that but 3 days is ridiculous especially when all of the food goes bad in the fridge. I'm quite proud of myself. I was patient and I tried not to make nasty comments about and to BGE on facebook. There were almost 1,000,000 people throughout the state who lost power due to Hurricane Irene.  They brought in people from out of state to get things done faster. I can be an understanding person when I want to be. 

I slept in my bed for the first time last night.  My bed is so big, comfy, with all of my pillows and just the way I like it.  Yay for my own bed!! 

Now, there is Katia off the distance, and another storm forming off the coast of Africa.  Sam from Good Morning America says it's churning in open water and will be a major hurricaine soon.  Something tells me Irene isn't the only monster storm that will visit me this season. Next time, I won't buy milk but I will charge my phone and my laptop.

WHOOTIE WHOO!!!

Babies, hurricaines, and tests

My best friend really wants to get pregnant again.  She has Mandolin Grace who is awesome, but she wants more babies. She's been having lots of trouble/infertility so she's turned to Shady Grove. Apparently, Shady Grove is the mother of all clinics where the celebrities go. Her aunt works there and she said the young ones swoop in and freeze their eggs. They are so focused on their careers and becoming A-listers that they freeze their eggs so when they are ready the can do a little something something and then BAM...baby!  I find information like that to be completely fascinating. I just want to pick their brains. I'm such a nerd! Anyhow, I digress. So she's going through fertility treatment  and she's not doing IVF she's doing something else where they give her this medicine that releases a 50 eggs, they have sex, and then hopefully she gets pregnant. It's all very technical and I'm telling this story for a purpose.....because she will most likely have multiples, if she has triplets I get to name the 3rd baby!  Yay! If she has more than triplets, every 3rd baby I get to name! Yes siree! We are just that close.  So, I've been thinking of baby names already and looking at baby shower invitations. I am in the zone. Jill is Irish so I'm thinking an Irish first name and a biblical last name. I love to plan me a party! Super excited!  But really though, I'm praying that she gets her wish and all I really want is a healthy baby. And boy does Mandolin need a sibling.  She's almost 4 with a severe case of OCS; only child syndrome. I mean she's worse than I am.  We need to help her. 

I don't think I'm going to apply for the FSOT this go round.  I'm just not prepared and I would rather wait until the Spring to do it so I can study, practice my writing, and be as confident as I can be. I don't want to take the test simply because I need to take the test.  After all, I plan on passing it the 2nd time.

Hurricane Irene. It wasn't as bad as Isobel from a few years ago and I'm so thankful for that.  I was working at the part-time for the weekend and I was soo bored stuck in the apt all weekend. Talk about stir crazy! I didn't lose power where I was, but power was lost at my house, so I moved in with my best friend. It's hard living without electricity. How did Little House on the Prairie ever do it?

The countdown begins on my completing my MBA...6 weeks and counting! This journey has been so long and I've had tunnel vision for longer.  I'm excited for what's coming around the corner. Hopefully the FS is a variable in this equation. 

Up next, Luray Caverns with the family for Labor Day weekend. This includes my mom, me, BFF Jill, BFF's husband, Mandolin, and former BFF Siusan who is currently BFFs with Jill.  I tried to get out of it, but my mom and Jill tag teamed me and guilted me into it. Hopefully they will all survive! Good times, I tell you, good times!

FSWE to take or not?

I don't know.  I am struggling with the decision. I'm actually struggling with a lot of decisions lately.  I have sooo much going on.  First, there is school.  I'm so incredibly tired of talking about school. Week 1 of my new class started to day; it's called International Management.  My professor, Dr. A, knows I want to go into the FS. He speaks 7 languages and lived in Israel for a long, long time.  We bonded! It was great! I will be finished my program officially in November, November 8 to be exact.  I now have the option of pursuing a dual concentration. I would pick management.  Do I want to do that though? It's 2 class or 10 weeks which would put me at a graduation date of February 2013.  I'm on the fence really. I'm so over school, like completely but I feel like another concentration will give me a leg up with the competition.

As far as the FSWE, the second stab, it's coming up soon in October. I'm completely unprepared for it. So I feel like I shouldn't squander my chances by taking and hoping for the best rather than waiting until the beginning of next year when I have time to study and practice my writing.  I want to take it and pass it on the 2nd go round at least to try to get to the QEP.  Decisions.  I wish my life would calm down a bit so I can focus on one thing.

In other news, I went to Jamaica with my good friend Kelly.  I won't say it was a disaster but it could've been better.  We had two very different vacations.  She found friends and partied. I, on the other hand, relaxed by the pool and the beach, had massages, and slept.  I was in heaven. She says she had a good time so I will take her at her word.  She met a boy there. They talk. She's going back for a week during Thanksgiving. Maybe they will get married.  Who knows.  When they say weed is readily available in Jamaica, they are correct. It's right there on the beach for the taking.  I did not partake but I could smell it when someone else was though.  It's a horrible smell, I don't know how people do it. Nasy, as my grandma would say!

Up next for me, Africa!!  Yay!  The boyfriend is taking me...well almost boyfriend. Everyone says he is but 1. he hasn't officially asked me yet (check yes if you like me) and 2. there are things that need to happen first. But I'm just saying he's taking me to Africa!  We are going for 3 weeks to Capetown, Tanzania, and Zanzibar ...in that order.  I am so excited!  I'm going on a safari! We're going to see animals in the wild and hopefully the great wildebeest migration. Best of all, the Masai people!  I wouldn't want to experience it with anyone but him.  It will also be interesting because he's never traveled outside of Europe before.  That's going to be an experience in itself.  Africa 2012 baby!

Oooh in other news...the earthquake on the East Coast.  Talk about major!  At the state complex in downtown Baltimore, I'm on the 4th floor. I was just complaining about the fact that I spilled my soda and then the shaking started. I thought it was the wind at first and then it stopped. And then the building started swaying.  Yes, that right. I said swaying and then the shaking started again. And then rumbling started.  There was rumbling.  I can only describe it as when a dog or cat is growling and you can feel the vibration.  We had an earthquake! Stupid tectonic plates!  So we're supposed to have aftershocks for a couple of weeks.  It's the weirdest thing to experience an earthquake. It takes a minute for your brain to realize what's going on. Thank God no one was injured.   Then, this weekend we have hurricane Irene.  We have all of the supplies we need. We can prepare for a hurricane. I'm comfy with it, an earthquake not so much.  Such is life though, and nature.

I'm going to bed now.  I was supposed to do a paper for my class but I don't want to, so I won't.  I'm going to be in so much trouble from the almost boyfriend. 

Wasting away in Margaritaville

Yes, that's right folks. The time has arrived!  Tomorrow, at 8:41am I will be on a plane to Montego Bay, Jamaica.. Tomorrow night, we're going to Margarittaville for theme night all you can drink something something.  This weekend will be filled with reading, swimming, relaxing, alcoholic drinks, and most importantly spending quality time with my good friend Kelly.

I have so much to do before then. I have to pack and I have to complete my portion of my group project for school.  Yes, school never ends.  It seems like I won't be sleeping but I can sleep on the plane.  Nonetheless,  I AM SO EXCITED!!!

I hope everyone has a great weekend.  I know I will

It's Not the Same...Don't get mad at me!

It's Hot! Yes, I know.  We've been in this crazy heat wave.  On Saturday, it was 103o in Baltimore, but it felt like something like 115o.  Everyone, that I know, plus their brother, their dog, and their sister's friend who live in Antarctica was complain about the heat.  Yes, it's hot! We know!  My perspective is slightly different on the heat though.  I spent a month in Thailand in April...the high season. It is their summer.  If you want to feel the heat go to Thailand the month before rainy season starts.  There you will feel the humidity and the sweltering heat, especially in Bangkok.  On our 3rd day there, the actual temp was roughly 50o Celsius. Yeah that's 120o F!   That does not include the heat index and what were we doing that day?  We took a tour of Ayutthaya where there is virtually no shade at all.   In my world, 103o isn't really that bad. Take a bottle of water, and you'll be okay.  It's not like we haven't had sporadic days of extreme heat. Acclimate yourself to it and then move on.  But again, this is my perspective and some people can't relate.  Rather, these same people are actually getting mad at me when I tell them I don't think it's really that hot.   I have quickly learned my lesson and I smile and nod.  Yes this is my life....

Ooh I have a fantastic story to share later. I got stopped by narcotics officers. Only I didn't know they were narcotics officers until I got to work and explained the story to my friend who is from Detroit.  Even at 31, I'm so sheltered and green.  I wouldn't want to be any other way, though.  I don't need to know how they roll. It's not my lifestyle.  The experience was fascinating though.  

I went to Joe's Crab Shack for my BFF's birthday.  That was an experience!  It's so much work picking crabs.  It's part of my Maryland culture, though.  Can I have crab cake, instead?

Patience, Victoria, Patience....

A few months ago, I interviewed for a leadership training program with my job.  My MBA is teaching me how to be an effective leader...sort of. I'll have the piece of paper but that piece of paper does not teach me how to handle different personalities. Within the state government, those personalities can sometimes be brutal, mean, and just down right un-happy.  I work in the Baltimore office. Specifically, there were 14 people (so the rumor goes) that applied from my office alone and only 4 people were selected.  Everyone is telling me that "of course you got in".  Really? I thought "of course I got invited the OMS OA" too. No dice.  Yes, it de ja vu all over again.   My name is Victoria, and I am impatient. It's a problem, I know.  I'm working on it. I'm promise.  Wait, there was a point to this....Oh yeah!  A woman who got into the program in Annapolis was told that she couldn't take her vacation to Florida. *crickets*  Uhhh, I'm going to Bermuda for a week next year and Africa next December for a month. How is that supposed to work? 

Me thinks meh may have a problem ...

In other news of the day.... in 2 weeks, I will officially be in Jamaica. Excited!!!  I've decided I'm getting a deep cleansing facial and a deep tissue massage while I'm there  I want to go to sleep just thinking about it. 

Everyone in my blog world have a wonderful weekend...wherever you are!

HP...it is really over

Hello friends in blog world. Yes, it has been a long time since I've blogged. My life has gotten the best of me, and frankly, I just don't have much to say really. I'm sure you don't want to hear about the ho hum drum drums of my everyday life.  This is, after all, a blog about my attempts to become a member of the diplomatic corps. 

The normal drum drum drums are there; graduate school, work at the state, part-time job dramas.  The norm. For the life of me, I can't figure out why women are so catty. A few months back, I lost a "friend". She was someone who I met at the part-time and I felt we were beginning to form a friendship outside of work. I mean we were going to Jamaica together for a girlfriend's weekend. Bear with me here...she heard from someone else who "overheard" me speaking badly or gossiping about her.  Yes, it's a classic case of she said/she said.  To make matters worse, she tells me this over text on the same day that I found out I did not make it to the OA stage for the OMS.  Of course, I called to see if we could discuss this like the adults that we were, but she was having none of it.  Okay, fine...it sucks to be you if you treat your friends like this.  I'm over it's okay. So, I find out today that the "someone" is the very same person who doing all of the shady shady down low stuff.  Grr! It makes me crazy. I don't understand it.  Perhaps,  I never will because that's not the type of person I am.  What's the moral of the story? If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. If you do, don't blame someone else.  All of my true friends know that my personality allows me to be direct and I can say whatever I want to your face. That's the beauty of being an American citizen; free speech!  *gets off of soapbox now* 

I took the FSWE last October and the test date for this October is now open.  I just need to find the time to apply before the deadline closes.  I think now I will be more prepared than I was last year.  I'm going to study and do everything I need to in order to ensure that I pass this freaking test. There is always the OMS next March.  I will gladly take either one.  Could I be happy as an OMS? Absolutely.  My dream career is being an FSO though.  I want to be a consular officer to help Americans abroad. I'm so excited!!   Just thinking about the possibility gives me butterflies in the tummy.  In the end, I just want to work for the foreign service in whatever capacity that is.

Did someone say Jamaica?  Yes, that's right. I'm going to Jamaica for the first weekend in August. It'll be a little mini-break for me. My BFF from work, Kelly, is going with me.  She talking about horseback riding and going 4 wheeling. Ummm, yeah. I don't think so. We're going to be there for 2 1/2 days. She wants me to do these things but she doesn't want to go swimming because she doesn't want to get her "lace front" wet.  I don't know what a lace front is but I'm assuming it's some sort of weave. We'll see. I'm not getting on a horse if she's not going snorkeling.  She says "if you can get on an elephant bareback, you can get on a horse." Sure I could get on a horse, I don't really want to.  This will be a fight we will have on the 3 hour direct flight there. I just know it. It's okay. I will win because I'm like that. Nonetheless, super excited to be going away and seeing sand, surf, sexy chocolate drops, and drinking fun fruity rum laced beverages with an umbrella in it.  Yep, that's me!

Saw Harry Potter last night.  I love it! I can't believe it's over.  I cried during the same parts as when I read the books.  See a lot of the battle come to life was great, although, it was much better in my head.  They can't please everyone though, right.  And yes, my favorite line was said, "Not my daughter, you BITCH," says Mrs. Weasley to Bellatrix Lestrange.  Yes!!!  Professor McGonagal also go in on the action! It was a wonderful end to a book and movie series that I have been reading/watching for all of my 20s.  I think I will see it again. It really was just that good....

Time to go to the doctor. My mushroom in my ear is back.  I pray that sexy ENT has a way to fix it.

Stress will turn you gray

If you look at President Obama now and past Presidents Bush (the 2nd one) and Clinton, they all turned gray pretty quickly.  Why? It's the stress from holding the greatest job in the world.  My little 2 jobs and my school has turned me gray. Yep, that's right at 31, I have gray hair.  Part of it is my mom turned prematurely gray and apparently it starts in the wrong with the big bold long stripe. Yes, I have that too! It's okay.  It is a sign that I have lived in my few short years on this Earth.  Yes, let's get to it; updates.....

A couple of months ago, I applied for a leadership program through my job with the State of MD.  I don't really know exactly what it does but if I can put together what I'm learning in my MBA program with on the job training of how to be a successful leader, I will take it.  This past Monday, I had my interview.  I thought I bombed it out. It was at 3:15pm and as the day went on, I worked myself up into a frenzy.  I felt like I wasn't making any sense at all, my thoughts weren't coherent, and I felt like I was rambling.  It was just bad. It was so bad, I thought I was going to cry afterwards.  However, when the dreaded question "why should we choose you for the job?" I did manage to say "well aside from the fact that I am absolutely amazing....." They laughed. Yay for small miracles.   I gave it up and convinced myself that I didn't get it.  From all of the people that I know applied, it was stiff competition.    Yesterday, my big boss (my supervisors, boss' boss) came over to my cubicle and was like "I heard you had a great interview!"  Wait! Stop! Hold the presses!! You mean I had a great interview? No I didn't! I bombed!  She says to me, you had one of the best out of everyone!  OMG!!!  So I learned that I'm so critical of myself and I strive for perfection so much that my idea of perfection isn't everyone else's perception.  And when I actually do a great job, I need to acknowledge that I tried my best and that is a great job no matter what.   I am work in progress....

I found a new friend. I met her on the OMS board. We are in the same boat. We got rejected. We will be rejection buddies.. It's hard not having someone who has gone through the process and subsequently gotten rejected to talk to.  There is a little group of us that went through the initial phase together (ie...constantly worried about not getting an invite) and 2 of us passed and 2 of didn't. While I am extremely supportive and truly excited for those that passed on the one hand, on the other I'm still pissed off and a little jealous.  What is it about them that they were chosen and I wasn't?   That's all I want to know. And totally not to toot my own horn but I have an advanced degree and I have admin experience and I've always worked for a governmental agency.  I don't get it.   I'm a very analytical person. I need to understand it in order for it to make sense to me, and this, my friends, doesn't make sense.  Like my new friend's husband said, it's darts.  I don't care how many ways you look at it, it's darts.  It makes me nuts and frankly it's not fair. "Life isn't fair" Yes, I know. But,  I thought an advanced degree was supposed to give a slight advantage.  What happened to that?   Eventually, I will accept it. And yes, I will try again.  It just sucks.......

This one was a little depressing and quite long so I will end on a positive happier note.  ZUMBA! It's amazing. If you haven't tried, it please do. It's a great cardio workout.. This song is called Zumba he! Zumba ha!  My instructor is the featured video girl. She's ah-mazing!  When I'm in class, I envision myself as a 4'9, Latina with curly hair that goes on for days.  Until next time.....

Finance class sucks!!

Of course you know that I'm in graduate school.  My current class is Global Financial Management.  It's a finance class.  I have had many finance classes in my BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) but this is just off the charts!  It reads like Swahili to me and because I am not yet in the FS I haven't been able to learn Swahili.  I have one of these professors everyone hates. He doesn't teach. He just reads and expects us to know. No, I don't know which is why you are there to teach me....and your have those fancy letters behind your name that begins with a p and ends with a d.  You get paid to teach me about finance (not that I care about it) but still.  I am officially struggling, and I don't struggle.  So, I'm hoping for a B.  The moral of the story is...1. my class sucks  2. my professor sucks   3. I don't care about finance  4. only 3 more classes to go.  I can do this!    That is all. I just needed to vent and considering it's 2am, I couldn't call anyone because everyone is sleeping.

In other news of the day, I broke my kindle.  I didn't even have it for 24 hours. It all happened in slow mo. I screamed/nearly cried.  They will send me a new one Yay!  Josh isn't mad at me! Yay^2! 

I'm going to bed now.

Thailand in pictures....The Patara Elephant Farm, Chiang Mai

My day with the elephants was the best day of my life! The only thing on my list that was a must see was riding the elephants.  I didn't want to watch elephants paint or do stupid tricks; it's not natural for an elephant to do that. I was afraid I would get there and be upset that the elephants were being abused or something.  Thank God for google!  I found this website. They are also on YouTube here What Pat is doing to conserve the Thai elephant is amazing! He teaches about conservation by being an elephant owner for a day.  We had our own elephant and we did everything from bathing them, feeding them, and walking them. We even filed their nails! Sticking my hand in an elephants mouth while feeding them is a surreal experience! I am forever attached to Patara as I left a piece of my heart with Pat and his elephants. If you are ever in the Chiang Mai area, please check them out!  

Fun fact #1, elephants purr when they are happy.  Fun fact #2, elephant poo doesn't stink if they are eating the proper things.

My first glimpse of the elephants

She just walked right up and said hello

Our awesome trainers who were so helpful

Drinking from the stream

BF Siusan and her elephant Mehwadee

Lunch was awesome! The fried chicken was AH-MAZ-ING! There were also different kinds of sticky rice. I miss sticky rice!

Had a nose itch

My elephant, Meghabaht

The twin! The only set in all of Thailand

The morning dew rising

Meghabaht and her trainer.

The mountains, the rice fields, and the elephants.  That is Thailand!

5 seconds before this, he put his trunk in my face and emptied it.

I love presents!

I have a kindle!! OMG!!  The "friend" bought it for me a present.  Remember the whole getting rejected from the foreign service?  That got me a kindle.  Well, not that situation singularly. I think that was the straw that broke the camels back and he wanted to get me something to bring my spirits up. He is being the supportive...dare I say boyfriend (gulp)?   It's all sorts of complicated. 

Anyway, he's been with me through a year and a half of school, and it seems that my MBA program has increased my stress level by 100 fold. He's with me through my 2 jobs and the 2nd part time one causes me great stress, and also of my pursuit to enter into the FS or a government job in general.  He's there on the sidelines supporting me and encouraging me the best way he knows how.  It is really sweet and I am very grateful that I have him. While I didn't call him when I got rejected, I was hysterically crying and I'm sure he could feel that so he bought me a present as a way to bring a smile to my face.  Thank God for good men...not because he gives me things..but because he's well...a good man. From listening to all my friends talk about their not so nice ones, I'm happy to have a great one.   As a bonus, he's willing to allow me to drag him all around the world as I live my dream in the FS.

So yes, my kindle. It's white and super pretty. I bought a leather cover for it and a skin to protect it already...of course it's pink.  I like pink. Pink is my favorite. OMG! I have a kindle! It's an exciting day for me! 

I heart him!

Mini Me

I can admit it, I'm going through withdrawals.  I miss her.  Mandolin is soooo dramatic. It's almost sickening.   She likes pink and purple; she's extremely girlie. She's venturing into the world of playing in dirt BUT she doesn't like to get dirty.   I'm confused! A few weeks ago her mom and godmother #2 were planting the veggie garden and Mandolin was helping.  She picked up some grass to through it in the trash and there was a worm. She looked at it quizzically, and then the worm touched her.  *Insert deathly scream* She starts running around in circles screaming at the the top of her lungs....

Mandolin: A worm! It's a worm! It tried to bite me! Somebody help me! It's a worm!

She is hysterically crying at this point (Mom and godmother #2 are laughing to the point of crying).....

Mandolin:  I'm going home!

*She stomps up the stairs and starts banging on the door for her daddy*

Mandolin:  Daddy let me in!  PAALLLEEEAASSEEE!!

*Daddy lets her in very concerned (He's such a pushover)*

Time lapse 20 minutes......

*Mandolin comes back outside completely composed*
*She pushes her hair out of her face, gives a deep sigh*

Mandolin:  The worm tried to bite me.  I no longer like dirt!  Hmmmphhh!

And that is my faboush goddaughter, Mandolin Grace.  Although I did not give birth to her, she is my mini me.  She's so completely dramatic, expressive, and super cute. I am the same way.  I don't know if it's because we are both Virgos (her birthday is 9/20 and I'm 9/11) or it's the only child syndrome that we have in common, I would've done the same thing if a worm touched me.   They are creepy crawlies...ewww!!    Not to worry, her other godmother is all about getting dirty, rolling around in the grass, and ruining her clothes.  She will be exposed to both sides. Below are pictures from the birthday party last week.  Don't let the cute fool you though.

This is the 2nd attempt. She was afraid at first and the mustered the courage to try again.  So proud!

She asked the baby goat where its mom was. Deep conversation this was.

After this, she kissed the rabbit.

Life through the eyes of a 3yr old.....

Africa, are you ready for me?

There is a really big bright spot to all of OMS rejection stuff.  I can move forward with my travel plans.  Yay!  J has offered, as a graduate school graduation present, to pay for our trip to Africa.  I was really really worried about it because our plan it to go December '12/January '13 for a month. Maybe like the 2nd week of December to the 2nd week of January or some variation of.  If I would've gotten or been in the process of getting the job with the FS, I wouldn't have been able to go.  But, now I can.  Yay ^2.   So, yep! I'm going to Africa.  Cool, huh?

There are a couple of reasons why I'm a little nervous.  A month long trip is very stressful to plan, I should know I did it for my Thailand.  It takes an endless amount of time to plan, interviewing travel agents who are experts in the region, researching things to do for the season and period that we're going to be there, and most of all, dealing with yours truly.  I am a certified travel snob, I can't help it.  I've traveled extensively and I've stayed in hostels, to low budget places, to 6 star hotels.  I know what I like and I'm at the age where I'm allowed to stay where I like.  J has also decided that he wants to plan the trip all by himself.  *clutches pearls*.  There are many reasons why this is a problem. 1. He's a man.  2. He's never really traveled before 3. He is currently dragging his you know what about it all.  *sidebar: he is also going at a snails pace about going to a zumba class, but I'm not saying anything about anything*.   I know he reads my blog, so....."dude, get the lead out and get with it".  4. He's a man and he will probably wait until the last minute.   

We've chosen South Africa because it's South Africa. There is also excellent SCUBA in Mozambique. The safari site is TBD, that is his job. Ahh! There's so much to do and see. How will I be able to fit it all in?  I've given him my list; he knows what I want to do, now it's just up to him.  Will I have to stay in a tent on a safari?  Will the tent have air conditioning?   I guess I'll have to be one with nature as it is a safari and most people can only dream about trips like this much less actually go on one. When I think about it like that I can do it...if I have to...I think.  If I can smell like elephant for days on end, I can stay in a tent for a couple of days.  When in Rome....

Most of all, I'm excited to experience the different countries I will be visiting.  I really want to experience the Maasai culture, but they only live in Kenya and Tanzania. My only reference I have is what I have seen on tv.  I can remember going to see Sarafina on Broadway when I was younger and watching the movie "Cry Freedom" with my mom.  I also remember driving to school on the morning Nelson Mandela was released from prison.  I am excited see everything.  I feel like there is always so much negative press about Africa, in general.  HIV and AIDS, hunger, the situation in Libya, Sudan, and Congo are all so important and the world needs to know about them, but there is an untapped beauty that many people don't now about it.  I can't wait to see it for myself!  

I'm over 3 yr olds....

Don't get me wrong.  I love my goddaughter Mandolin Grace more than anything.  I really really do! Her parents went on a mini-break to Atlanta on Wednesday and I volunteered to watch her while they were away.  1. It would give me a chance to spend some much needed time with her and 2. I've missed my munchkin'.    Well...that was on Wednesday! Today is Sunday, and I'm ready to go home!  Like really really ready.   Mom and Dad, where are you?!?   Her vocabulary is crazy vast and she has no problem telling me what she does or does not want to do...in public!  Not to mention the fact that she ran up and down the aisles screaming at the top of her lungs.   Then, when I tried to correct her, she screamed, "DON'T TOUCH ME! YOU'RE HURTING ME!" *breathe*  It's safe to say, we had a little conversation in the bathroom about the correct way to be.   I couldn't take it so I had to call for reinforcements; my mom or as Mandolin likes to say Gigi.  Oooh, she's going to get it! She straightened up quick fast and in a hurry.  My mom put the whammy down.  WHHOOOPAH!  I love my mom!  She's the best!  I can't deal with 2 things; screaming and whining.  It makes me nuts.  She's been doing it all week.  I love her, but I'm over her.  She's 3 and I'm sure for her, it's great to be 3, but for me, 3 yr old, Mandolin Grace is natural birth control.  (I'm never having sex again unless Alexsander Skarsgard or Paul Bettany or Jude Law comes knocking at my door, but that's beside the point). She enjoys torturing me. I can see it in her eyes.  We're going to a birthday part this afternoon with other 3/4 yr t olds.  I'm scared! Dear Jesus, please help me!  I'm so happy I don't have babies.

Post-Rejection Feelings, Introspection & Lessons Learned

It's been a while, blog world friends, I hope life finds you well...or at least maintaining.

So the moment I allowed myself to cry and do whatever I needed to do actually into hours and just about a day.  I called my mom on the way to ZUMBA and just started hysterically crying while driving.  She tried to help, I then pulled myself together, and I tried to work it out during ZUMBA. I nearly made it through until I started crying during the cool down. The song is called "I Believe" and is sung by Yolanda Adams from the Honey soundtrack. You can listen to it here, although I have never seen the movie.  In the car driving home, I cried.  I was just a big blubbering mess. It was awful.

I love my mom. She's amazing! She knows just what to say in my times of need; she's soothing, sympathetic, and knows me better than anyone. Most importantly she got me to stop crying so I could drive. She gave me some great advice...it just wasn't my time.  She then asked me what I wanted to do.  "Work for the Foreign Service", was my reply.   "In what capacity?"  "It doesn't matter, I just want to travel and serve."  She then reminded me of a movie I saw when I was 15, Not Without My Daughter with Sally Field. Sally Field married an Iranian man who lied and said they were going to visit family in Iran only to be held captive.  She, then, runs with her child across the country to the American Embassy.  The movie ends with her walking down a deserted street with her daughter in her arms, coming around the corner, and seeing the American Flag waving the in wind.  They were home.  That is the moment I wanted to serve, I wanted to be a part of that. To be the person, who helped them the moment they entered the Embassy.  This time just wasn't my time.  The whole point, my mom said, was to get me to see that eventually I will get there.   The road I've chosen just won't be easy as I thought it was going to be.  At the end of the day, nothing ever is.  *smacks myself upside the head* Why did I expect the opposite?

This was an incredible life lesson for me.  I understand. I will keep plugging away. I will apply next year.  I will take the FSWE exam later on this year. This time I will prepare for it.   Hopefully, I will pass and my journey will continue.  While the OMS, is a nice backup for me.  What I really truly deep down in my heart want to be is a consular officer.  It's not my time.  I have this fantasy that I will be the one helping that mother or father reunite with a child that was kidnapped, or visiting someone in a foreign jail who bought a certain white powdery substance and tried to do something illegal, or even simply approving someone to receive a visa to come to the United States.  So, I will continue on my path.  I know my road leads to the FS. I guess I have a few things standing in the way just yet. I have graduate school staring me in the face.  I'm so close I can taste it.   I, also, just received the call from my job that I was selected to interview for the management development program with the Comptroller's Office.  If I get it, that will be another notch on my resume and will give me excellent management experience.   I have a lot going on in my life.  Maybe it wasn't my time because I need t complete these projects first and then I will be better prepared.   Who knows....I will keep my chin up, swallow the pride, and keep plugging along.   Eventually, I will get there because I am still amazing, awesome, and pretty fabulous if I do say so myself. 

Rejected

Yep, that's right everyone in blog land. I got rejected! The OMS doesn't want me. Why? I don't know. I wish someone could tell me though. Being the crazy overachiever that I am, I would like to know so I can fix it for next year.  This is a double whammy for me though because last year I received the email that I was tentatively invited to the OA, I just needed to submit my MS cert. I completely bombed that at the last minute and didn't have time to retake it.  The turn of today's events makes me wonder if I had passed the test, where would I be now?

I really shouldn't have opened it work because I can't breakdown like I want to.  So, I'm going to wait until I get into my car on my drive to ZUMBA and have the really good cry. I just need a moment. That will be my moment.  

There is a mushroom in my ear

Seksi ENT: (Looks in my ear)
Seksi ENT: Your ear is a mess.
Me:  Wah?
Seksi ENT:  Well, the antibiotics that I gave you killed the bacteria but it seems as though the fungus ate said dead bacteria and now you have a fungal infection.
Me: You mean I have a mushroom in my ear?
Seksi ENT:  That is a correct (as he tries in vain to stifle his hysterical laughter)

He then goes onto say how my eardrum is inside itself but my hearing test was relatively normal but I am experiencing some hearing loss. The great thing is that it has not affected my ear drum or the inner ear. So it's most likely the middle ear.  Pause....

Me: So, I have athlete's foot in my ear, then? And I'm not going deaf? And all of this happened because I got a cold in April? (Insert freak out here)  Well what if you can't fix it and then I can't get into the foreign service because I can't pass my medical clearance because of my ear?  I'm going to be drunk and under a table, with a bad ear, and my life will be in ruins. 
Seksi ENT: Relax, it's curable. You're trying to get into the foreign service?
Me:  I'm trying, but I don't think they will let you in with a mushroom in your ear.
Seksi ENT: More hysterical laughter.

He thinks I'm funny (possibly a little crazy), I think he's super seksi. It's a fair trade off.

In other news, after my ear visit,  I went to the DMV for my mom to renew her car registration.  I couldn't just renew, I had to pay her speeding tickets before I could renew. Hundreds of dollars that cost.  In Maryland, we have speed cameras. They catch you, they mail you a ticket, and then you have to pay it. It is a non-negotiable. There is this 1 road that my mom drives to get home from work and they always catch her.   Funny though, when I'm in the car with her she drives at a snails pace. It drives me insane.  She does it on purpose. She's like that.

The DMV is great people watching. No really, it is. The hour and half I spent waiting was funfreakingtastic, and it was all because of the faboush people there! A word to the wise though (although I think this is pretty much common sense. However, you have to consider the source) if you're going to be in a government building, standing near a state trooper, and scream at the top of your lungs that they need to hurry up or else you "will go Bin Laden on some people", please be prepared to be detained/arrested by said state trooper who is in your vacinity due to the terrorist threat you just made.  I'm just saying....

OMS update:  Nada, zilch, zippo, none, niente.
FSWE:  Will take it again in October.
MBA update:  It's summer session at AIU so we get a week break after every class. I'm so happy not to have school this week. 4 classes left and counting...

Thailand in pictures....Bangkok! Part 1

These ladies were awesome! They taught us how to cook Thai food. I still make lemongrass tea.  Such a great photo!

This was our class! From all over the world. My best friend, Siusan is on the right! The Thai women beside her recently got engaged and her family sent her to the cooking school so she could learn how to cook for her man. Ha!

At some point in every Thai boy/man's life. They have to become a monk.

Siusan is crazy! Those stairs were steep. I only made it half way.

The Reclining Buddha

Tuk Tuks!!

The Emerald Buddha! It really was so small, like the Mona Lisa. There were no pictures allowed because the King worships there.

Ayutthaya. Buddhas with their heads chopped off

There is ALWAYS a silver lining.....

I'm happy to see that everyone made it through the end of the world on Saturday.  The Bible says that we won't know the day or the hour. Sooo, how can someone just say that world is going to end on xx day and then people go and spend their life savings and do crazy stuff.  When the world ends, we will all know instantly.  Can I just make a request though?  Can it end after I've been in a the FS for a few decades and I'm married with children first?  It's just a simple request. Not too much to ask.

I went to the ENT because I still can't hear out of my right ear. The pain is gone but there is a lot of pressure and it sounds like I have a seashell permanently attached to my head.  I'm waiting in the room for the doctor and I'm expecting an old guy. No not an old guy. He's 37 and super seksi! Like SUPER seksi! All in his white lab coat and stuff.  I am admiring! He could tell. I know he could tell! 

I can admit that I'm a tad bit crazy.  I look up my symptoms on webmd and then I snoop while I'm in the doctor's office looking at all of the instruments.  He looks in my ear with the flashlight thing, then up my nose, and down my throat. Yes, I know I have very large tonsils. Then he says he's going to look down the back of my nose.  Okay.... He then proceeds to pull out this long tube thing.  He sprayed some numbing stuff up there first, and then I could feel myself beginning to freak out because seksi man wanted to stick something up my nose.  So I did what any normal person would; I cried.  He thought it was sweet and endearing (warm and fuzzies right ova here!). I got my ear cleaned out from the gooky stuff and low and behold it's still a bit infected.  Round #2 of antibiotics has commenced. 

 I asked him if I was going deaf. He says to me "I don't think so".  What do you mean you don't think so?  He thinks I ruptured my ear drum.  I don't know what that means. I go back in a week for a follow up and hearing test.  As he's writing out my script, he pulls out this super fancy expensive pen that only doctors have.  I told him I liked it and that he should give it to me as a present.  He laughed and let me down gently that he had a wife and it was a present from her.  Damn!  But he smiled those pearly whites at me and gave me a little wink and all was right with the world.  I like my seksi ENT, I think I will keep him.

Man That was Depressing

Do you know how sometimes you just stress yourself out so much to the point where you can't verablize it and all you can do is cry?  That's what my last blog was about; releasing that emotion. Sometimes I think I'm way too emotional, who knows. I will be the one on Flag Day to cry; when I take the oath and then when I find out my post.  Is it okay to cry?  I wonder if anyone has ever cried? Would I be the first?

I did find chocolate covered pretzels to make myself feel better, though. I went to 4 stores; I was not going to be denied!  I found them for $2.00 at Big Lots and I left them all at the part-time. Oh the horror!  Never fear though, there is a Big Lots near my house and I will swing by tomorrow after Zumba.

On another note, can I just take a minute to profess my love for Paul Bettany, please?  I saw the Tourist today and OH EM GHEEE!  He is one seksi Brit!  He's kind of like Jude Law except he's not such a pretty boy. He can be but he can also be all sorts of scruffy scrumptious goodness. He was also in Legion so he can be a badass! He could tell me what to do and I would gladly oblige.  I could treat him like sausage gravy and sop him up with a biscuit! Yes sirree, I could do! That is all.

And now I am going to bed because I have work in the morning.  Maybe this week will be the week I get my OMS email!  No news is good news!

*Sigh*

I am currently sitting in the lobby of an aquatic center with one of the ladies at my part-time.  I'm supposed to be doing my school work. It's not happening.  I'm tired of school...so very tired!  Every part of my being is telling me to stop...take a break...get yourself back in the frame of mind to be awesome. But I can't stop, I have 4 more classes left.  I can make it!  November 8, 2011, it will all be over. It seems so far away.

And then I stumble up on Foreign Obsession. Okay, not quite stumble more like checking in. She is where I want to be.  Am I a stalker? I love her blogs. I admire her honesty through the whole process and she's amazingly funny. Not just regular funny but also intellectually funny. (No, I'm really not stalking her, I swear) Anyway, so I read it and I'm now I'm crying...in a lobby. Not just crying but balling hysterically. Tears freely flowing and parents are coming up to me asking me if I'm okay.  She's going to Peru. I am excited for her and for everyone in the FS who are preparing to leave for post.

Hopefully, next year, I will be where she is now. And then all of this useless additional stress I am putting myself under will be all for naught. Until then, I'm going to sit here, cry it out, and attempt to get my work done.  

I want chocolate covered pretzels.....

Sawasdee Ka.....

 Thinking about it now, it seems like a lifetime ago that I was there.  Thailand is the most amazing place I've ever been.  I will tell awesome stories about my adventure like my day with the elephants, Songkran, catfish (lots of catfish), Ayutthaya, and post awesomer pictures later.  Thailand had a profound effect on my life, so I thought I would mention that this is the year anniversary of the end to the protests.

OH NO SHE DIDN'T!!!

I'm at my ZUMBA class tonight with Adelicia.  She is the bomb and I feel like we need to be friends.  Her energy is AH-MA-ZING!  I think that's why she's such a fantastic instructor.  I've gone to different ZUMBA classes and when I say that Adelicia is my main teacher, everyone has nothing but praise for her.  That is why is she is the bomb; when other instructors are singing another instructors praises.At the Zumba conventions, she's a presenter teaching other Zumba instructors routines. Not to mention, she's super duper fly! It's an hour of me pretending that I've got long hair that I can whip around and shake my hips like Adelicia does.  And to think, 6 months ago, I was intimidated to go to one of her classes.  In the end, everyone was super friendly and we have so much fun in class whilst getting our sweat on!  Anyway, I've gotten off topic....I digress.

So, we're in class and we start late because she was stuck in traffic on 695. It's understandable. When there are massive thunderstorms, people forget how to drive. She was about 10 minutes late. Naturally, class started late and we ended late.  On Wednesdays, the Charm City Roller girls (Baltimore's Women Roller Derby team) has practice right after Zumba.  We're doing our cool down song and the roller chicks are showing signs of impatience. I'm thinking to myself :

"Chick, I know you think you're super cool and all but please don't do what I think you're about to do." 

Cool Down is literally 2-3 minutes long and it takes 5 minutes to put all of that gear on so I don't know what their problem was.  Do you know they wear butt pads?  Yes, I said it...butt pads!  Any sport that requires a woman to wear butt pads is not a sport I want to watch. Is roller derby a sport or just a hobby? Anyway, so this one chick with awful hair is looking at her phone and giving Adelicia the evil eye.  "Please no! Don't do it" This wench decides to march herself onto the floor to tell Adelicia that we are running into the roller derby time.  OH NO SHE DIDN'T!!!

There were at least 175 women there and about 25 of them stood up from the stretch, raised one eyebrow, and it was a round of:

"Did she just do that?"  

"OH NO SHE DIDN'T"

" She must not know!"

"We may have to have a little conversation about THAT!"  

And that was just in my corner of the room!  I don't know if she knew it or not, but she was about to get cut!  Those women were on the war path!  You see, we love us some Adelicia and it's clear that we are all very protective of her.  So what if you're wearing a helmet and butt pads...nobody likes or watches roller derby any...way!!!!    I'm just saying....

OMS is still silent.  I'm really not putting this time that I have to good use.  I'm too busy worrying about getting in invite and not focusing on what I need to do once I do get the invite...because I will. If I don't, I have my trusty bottle of grey goose on standby. No news is good news!