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.....