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