so, i'm going back to work a week from monday (it's the perfect time to go back because the 4th of july holiday is on wednesday and it'll be pretty peachy to have a day off right in the middle of the week). not that i'm the kinda girl you'd ever think would want to stay home full time, but it's kind of amazing just how forward to work i'm looking.
don't get me wrong. i am nuts about my kid. i think she's the coolest person on the entire planet and there's no one i'd rather hang out with (though hubby is in a close second). but i also love my job. i love my work, the people around me, and the people i'm helping. i need my work to feel like i'm me.
it's a good thing the chips all fell as they did. bella's baby school is a dream, hubby's schedule works really well with mine, and i have the kinda job where i can work from home sometimes and work half days others. it couldn't've worked out better if it had been the grand design.
i think the gods are smiling on me...
~k
Showing posts with label winner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winner. Show all posts
22 June 2012
31 October 2011
fall classic
dear st. louis - i am generally sorry for bringing blizzards, tornadoes, locusts, and an earthquake when i moved here. but you're totally welcome for the world series win!
xoxo
~k
xoxo
~k
18 August 2010
rainy days
when i lived in southern california, a rainy day meant a day indoors. i didn't go to work, didn't run errands, canceled plans, and pretty much canceled life till the storm passed. here, that would be impossible because it rains too much to hold up a 'hold' sign.
my morning started trying to convince miss scarlet to go potty while the rain drenched her fair coat. i failed. but i did make it into the office, to a lunch meeting down the street (with a couple of bad asses from georgetown, i might add), back home to give the rain pee another whirl, and then a hop into the car to maryland for dinner.
sidebar: the car thing is probably worthy of its own blog post, as tonight was only the third time i've seen the mini since moving to the district. i pay $200 per month for the privilege of parking in the city, a cost offset by the fact that my insurance has shrunk in half and i've still got 3/4 of the same tank of gas i drove into town with nearly two months ago. i just have to remind myself to drive her around the block at least once a week so she'll start on command (tonight took a few attempts to turn over the engine).
the point here being that the rain doesn't halt life as it did not all that long ago. it doesn't even really suck. no matter how i mighta felt about the rain back in so cal, here it's just part of my life. it's something that makes getting out of bed harder, causes me to miss my boyfriend even more than usual by per its particularly romantic nature, and makes me feel like a bad ass for not letting it stop me from kicking the day's ass.
~k
my morning started trying to convince miss scarlet to go potty while the rain drenched her fair coat. i failed. but i did make it into the office, to a lunch meeting down the street (with a couple of bad asses from georgetown, i might add), back home to give the rain pee another whirl, and then a hop into the car to maryland for dinner.
sidebar: the car thing is probably worthy of its own blog post, as tonight was only the third time i've seen the mini since moving to the district. i pay $200 per month for the privilege of parking in the city, a cost offset by the fact that my insurance has shrunk in half and i've still got 3/4 of the same tank of gas i drove into town with nearly two months ago. i just have to remind myself to drive her around the block at least once a week so she'll start on command (tonight took a few attempts to turn over the engine).
the point here being that the rain doesn't halt life as it did not all that long ago. it doesn't even really suck. no matter how i mighta felt about the rain back in so cal, here it's just part of my life. it's something that makes getting out of bed harder, causes me to miss my boyfriend even more than usual by per its particularly romantic nature, and makes me feel like a bad ass for not letting it stop me from kicking the day's ass.
~k
27 April 2010
multitasking tuesday
while my original plan was to work from home today because a funeral was going to wreak havoc on my commute, when i was still in bed for "morning becomes eclectic", the day seemed like it might be turning into a personal day. when i got the email that my adoption was going through and that scarlet would be arriving on friday (see three days from now), i knew a personal day was in order, as a million things were on the pre-arrival to-do list.
so i went to burbank. for gates, crates, food, treats, toys, and a leash. then i came home, put together said gates, before figuring out that they fit neither of my kitchen doors (one of the doors was too small, the other two big).
sidebar: i am no architect. and whilst i have a deep appreciation for puzzle-esque things, i was in no mood today (we'll blame it on the full moon this time), and it took every bit of self restraint i could muster to not destroy the gates. i'm practicing patience (and it is really f'ing hard!) for the arrival of my puppy. and yes, i said puppy.
i didn't really want a puppy. i wanted a dog a little bit older, a little more mellow, a little more house-trained. but alas, she chose me. she was in my flat, on the house visit last week, for less than 15 minutes when she shit on my just-washed bed. and i knew we were made for each other.
anyway... whilst battling gates today, i caught up with kbd-little. whilst driving back to burbank to switch out the gates for ones that will hopefully fit my door frames, i caught up with another dear friend (who is in the process of building utopia).
i then ran 4.5 miles.
after which, i met the judge and dr. dave for sushi (and sake).
and rushed home to find A REPEAT OF LOST!? (with only four episodes left, i consider this an abomination).
needless to say, i've had entirely too much going on today, so i think i'm going to turn off FAKE LOST and go to bed (at least i've got a kick ass book waiting for me), and dream about the mini-diplomat who will be joining my life on friday...
~k
so i went to burbank. for gates, crates, food, treats, toys, and a leash. then i came home, put together said gates, before figuring out that they fit neither of my kitchen doors (one of the doors was too small, the other two big).
sidebar: i am no architect. and whilst i have a deep appreciation for puzzle-esque things, i was in no mood today (we'll blame it on the full moon this time), and it took every bit of self restraint i could muster to not destroy the gates. i'm practicing patience (and it is really f'ing hard!) for the arrival of my puppy. and yes, i said puppy.
i didn't really want a puppy. i wanted a dog a little bit older, a little more mellow, a little more house-trained. but alas, she chose me. she was in my flat, on the house visit last week, for less than 15 minutes when she shit on my just-washed bed. and i knew we were made for each other.
anyway... whilst battling gates today, i caught up with kbd-little. whilst driving back to burbank to switch out the gates for ones that will hopefully fit my door frames, i caught up with another dear friend (who is in the process of building utopia).
i then ran 4.5 miles.
after which, i met the judge and dr. dave for sushi (and sake).
and rushed home to find A REPEAT OF LOST!? (with only four episodes left, i consider this an abomination).
needless to say, i've had entirely too much going on today, so i think i'm going to turn off FAKE LOST and go to bed (at least i've got a kick ass book waiting for me), and dream about the mini-diplomat who will be joining my life on friday...
~k
09 March 2010
backlog
i don't feel like watching tv, i can't read because my brain is too fried (on occasion the day job will do it to me), and i needed something to keep me pseudo-occupied, so i went back and read a few randomly selected posts. what did i learn?
1) that sometimes i'm so cheesy, i can't even stand it;
2) i am not scared to whine on here; and
3) i'm a witty mother fucker!
so, all in all, i've determined that the cheese and the whine are totally worth the wit!
~k
1) that sometimes i'm so cheesy, i can't even stand it;
2) i am not scared to whine on here; and
3) i'm a witty mother fucker!
so, all in all, i've determined that the cheese and the whine are totally worth the wit!
~k
26 February 2010
winning hearts
i'm in denver, spending the weekend on paris guy's turf. i've been a nervous wreck about this trip, and not because i'm on paris guy's turf (i mean, we've had three dates on either neutral ground or mine, and i've been super curious), but because i knew how big of a deal it is that schulz likes me.
it was pretty obvious from the get-go that we're going to get on just fine, schulz and me. and whilst he's clearly confused that i'm still here and appear to be going nowhere soon (i wish y'all could've seen the befuddled look on his sweet little face while i was relaxing in his dad's bathtub (the awesomest tub EVER)), it doesn't seem to suck for him. or me.
today, we went on a nice long walk (i even picked up poop!), played some fetch, cuddled a plenty, and even took a nice long nap together on the couch (i never knew how awesome it could be to have a sweet little schnauzer lying across my tummy with his head resting on my chest (the word "awwwwwwww" doesn't begin to cut it)).
i'm in heaven. dog heaven.
~k
it was pretty obvious from the get-go that we're going to get on just fine, schulz and me. and whilst he's clearly confused that i'm still here and appear to be going nowhere soon (i wish y'all could've seen the befuddled look on his sweet little face while i was relaxing in his dad's bathtub (the awesomest tub EVER)), it doesn't seem to suck for him. or me.
today, we went on a nice long walk (i even picked up poop!), played some fetch, cuddled a plenty, and even took a nice long nap together on the couch (i never knew how awesome it could be to have a sweet little schnauzer lying across my tummy with his head resting on my chest (the word "awwwwwwww" doesn't begin to cut it)).
i'm in heaven. dog heaven.
~k
23 January 2010
my inner afghan war
you know how reality feels so much different than anticipation of that reality? i was pretty sure the job offer was coming. a few weeks back, i got an email that i had been deemed "qualified" for a position on a team helping to design and implement the afghan justice system. they were simply waiting for confirmation of their defense department contract.
and then the offer came. two days ago, when it popped into in my inbox, i started shaking, sweating, and my head was spinning so furiously i didn't know what to feel or think, and i had to remind myself to. just. keep. breathing.
i mean, it is afghanistan. it's a scary and dangerous place. it's one thing to want to go there, and another to be invited (with a $200,000 offering to boot). it's one thing to want to build a nation. and another to walk amongst the ruins and gunfire of a country at war. it's one thing to want. another to have.
and ya know what? if i didn't have this great new wonder in my life - paris guy, and hopes about where it might could go, i don't know if i would have turned down the job (that they only gave me 48 hours to make a decision of this magnitude was also a big factor). but i did turn it down. and it didn't take anywhere near 48 hours.
all's it took was a couple of phone calls with a couple of really important people in my life, thinking about the direction my life would likely take to and through afghanistan, and realizing that i'm simply not ready. not now. and hearing paris guy tell me he didn't want to go was opium-laden icing on my happy cake.
but it doesn't mean i just stopped wanting to build a nation. it's just that now isn't the time for me. i have other things to do now, more things to learn. and though it'll take me a bit of time and effort to simmer down the over-indulgence of hotdoggery my ego is presently reveling in, the humility in me does recognize that having been granted this opportunity is a pretty telling indication that i will soon see bigger and better doors opening into even more auspicious meadows.
~k
and then the offer came. two days ago, when it popped into in my inbox, i started shaking, sweating, and my head was spinning so furiously i didn't know what to feel or think, and i had to remind myself to. just. keep. breathing.
i mean, it is afghanistan. it's a scary and dangerous place. it's one thing to want to go there, and another to be invited (with a $200,000 offering to boot). it's one thing to want to build a nation. and another to walk amongst the ruins and gunfire of a country at war. it's one thing to want. another to have.
and ya know what? if i didn't have this great new wonder in my life - paris guy, and hopes about where it might could go, i don't know if i would have turned down the job (that they only gave me 48 hours to make a decision of this magnitude was also a big factor). but i did turn it down. and it didn't take anywhere near 48 hours.
all's it took was a couple of phone calls with a couple of really important people in my life, thinking about the direction my life would likely take to and through afghanistan, and realizing that i'm simply not ready. not now. and hearing paris guy tell me he didn't want to go was opium-laden icing on my happy cake.
but it doesn't mean i just stopped wanting to build a nation. it's just that now isn't the time for me. i have other things to do now, more things to learn. and though it'll take me a bit of time and effort to simmer down the over-indulgence of hotdoggery my ego is presently reveling in, the humility in me does recognize that having been granted this opportunity is a pretty telling indication that i will soon see bigger and better doors opening into even more auspicious meadows.
~k
10 January 2010
my bucket list
i am processing. i'm collecting data of me, perusing the archives of the diaries i've written the past few years, and i found this list. printed copies are on my fridge and on my bulletin board in my office, but it was still neato to stumble across it in my "2007 in words" file. i made this list in october of 2007, a year and a half into my separation, thinking about my future without him. and it's still perfectly accurate...
20. sip turkish coffee in the shadow of the hagia sofia
19. climb the inca trail
18. sit on the inside of an igloo
17. live in paris for half a year
16. hold a really cute monkey
15. learn french and arabic
14. sail the indian ocean
13. swim with dolphins
12. be genuinely surprised by a surprise party
11. make a difference in someone’s life
10. win big in vegas
9. a dinner of bread, cheese and a perfect bottle of domaine de la romanée-conti
8. go on safari
7. take a vacation with my family
6. teach a history class
5. spend a year with no address
4. make love in the rain
3. publish a novel
2. share my life with a great love
1. have a child
20. sip turkish coffee in the shadow of the hagia sofia
19. climb the inca trail
18. sit on the inside of an igloo
17. live in paris for half a year
16. hold a really cute monkey
15. learn french and arabic
14. sail the indian ocean
13. swim with dolphins
12. be genuinely surprised by a surprise party
11. make a difference in someone’s life
10. win big in vegas
9. a dinner of bread, cheese and a perfect bottle of domaine de la romanée-conti
8. go on safari
7. take a vacation with my family
6. teach a history class
5. spend a year with no address
4. make love in the rain
3. publish a novel
2. share my life with a great love
1. have a child
18 December 2009
a brief homage to love
since my return from the latest and greatest of my travels, i have encountered an outpouring of love heretofore unknown to me. phooey you say. and yes, i'd agree that mine is a charmed life, and i've hardly suffered any dearth of love, affection, friendship, and the inspiration born only in these joys. and i might be feeling a little more emotional than usual, as holiday cheer abounds and i sit atop these clouds of bliss i've found in the affections of one i met in paris.
but nevertheless, the love these days floweth over.
from the christmas cards, catch-up lunches, notes of inquiry about my grand adventure, to those of you who've trusted me enough to console your woes and solve your personal crises, i love you guys so much. like, words are far too inadequate to convey the depth of my affection. i am so blessed to have you and the beauty you guys bring into my life.
thank you. you are the reasons my life is so wonderful. and whilst some of you fret about the state of your lives when i leave this city of angels for colder pastures, please never forget that wherever in the world i may hang my hat you will always have a home.
i love you.
~k
but nevertheless, the love these days floweth over.
from the christmas cards, catch-up lunches, notes of inquiry about my grand adventure, to those of you who've trusted me enough to console your woes and solve your personal crises, i love you guys so much. like, words are far too inadequate to convey the depth of my affection. i am so blessed to have you and the beauty you guys bring into my life.
thank you. you are the reasons my life is so wonderful. and whilst some of you fret about the state of your lives when i leave this city of angels for colder pastures, please never forget that wherever in the world i may hang my hat you will always have a home.
i love you.
~k
15 October 2009
my favorite recipe
for all of you who like to read blogs about recipes, here's one for you:
1 glass of ice
1 double pour of bourbon
the end.
~k
1 glass of ice
1 double pour of bourbon
the end.
~k
06 October 2009
fall 'en potus
summer has finally ended, and in its place is perfection. and to make up for the absence of autumn leaves, i got to meet president clinton last night. because i am a bad ass.
the end.
~k
the end.
~k
20 September 2009
my friends
that i have been chosen as a friend by the most interesting, thoughtful, funny, wonderful, and beautiful people in the entire world is the greatest miracle of my life.
the end.
~k
the end.
~k
01 August 2009
another fortunate sign
a few days back, i wrote a post about a fortune because i was so stoked with the message "you will step on the soil of many countries".
i got the same fortune in a cookie yesterday (at a chinese place downtown). i'm pretty sure i've never had the same fortune twice in all my life, much less twice in the same week.
wanna try to tell me that the universe and i aren't conspiring for and with one another?
~k
i got the same fortune in a cookie yesterday (at a chinese place downtown). i'm pretty sure i've never had the same fortune twice in all my life, much less twice in the same week.
wanna try to tell me that the universe and i aren't conspiring for and with one another?
~k
23 June 2009
my list
a coupla years ago, i made a list of 20 things i really wanted to do in this life. some of the things on the list are pretty random (e.g. (#18) sit on the inside of an igloo and (#16) hold a really cute monkey). some things are probably on other peoples' lists (e.g. (#19) climb the inca trail and (#14) sail the indian ocean). and some things are uniquely me (e.g. (#5) spend a year with no address and (#4) make love in the rain).
but number 11 is the one that matters most to me. 'make a difference in someone's life'. since making the list (i have one copy on my fridge and another on the bulletin board in my kbd office), i have been told by more than one person that i can scratch number 11 off the list. but when i put number 11 on paper, i meant more than _just_ making a difference. like, it's not enough that a great friendship, an intense series of conversations about life, love, politics and bullshit, or helping someone get a job or a lover, makes a difference in their life. i'm talking about having a major impact in the way someone chooses to live their life.
tomorrow that opportunity arrives. by design. my 16-year old niece is coming to spend the rest of the summer with me. she's having a tough time in her life, is not making productive choices, and needs an intervention of sorts. i'm it.
when i signed up to take her on, my nearest and dearest (all of whom have since signed up to partake in teen-friendly summer activities with my summer kid and myself) touted me a saint for sacrificing my lively single-girl summer plans to play mentor and hostess to a troubled teen. but i'm no saint.
i'm motivated by self-interest as much as anything else. i may be dedicating the next eight weeks to helping my summer kid recognize how wonderful life can be by making the right choices and believing in herself. i want to empower her to be the best she can be, while showing her that she must forgive herself when she makes her many mistakes. but i'm doing this as much for me as i am her. because if i can accomplish my goal, i can scratch number 11 from my list, satisfied that i achieved the best possible number 11 outcome.
see, i'm no saint. i am a selfish asshole like everyone else. there's just a slightly different method to my madness.
~k
but number 11 is the one that matters most to me. 'make a difference in someone's life'. since making the list (i have one copy on my fridge and another on the bulletin board in my kbd office), i have been told by more than one person that i can scratch number 11 off the list. but when i put number 11 on paper, i meant more than _just_ making a difference. like, it's not enough that a great friendship, an intense series of conversations about life, love, politics and bullshit, or helping someone get a job or a lover, makes a difference in their life. i'm talking about having a major impact in the way someone chooses to live their life.
tomorrow that opportunity arrives. by design. my 16-year old niece is coming to spend the rest of the summer with me. she's having a tough time in her life, is not making productive choices, and needs an intervention of sorts. i'm it.
when i signed up to take her on, my nearest and dearest (all of whom have since signed up to partake in teen-friendly summer activities with my summer kid and myself) touted me a saint for sacrificing my lively single-girl summer plans to play mentor and hostess to a troubled teen. but i'm no saint.
i'm motivated by self-interest as much as anything else. i may be dedicating the next eight weeks to helping my summer kid recognize how wonderful life can be by making the right choices and believing in herself. i want to empower her to be the best she can be, while showing her that she must forgive herself when she makes her many mistakes. but i'm doing this as much for me as i am her. because if i can accomplish my goal, i can scratch number 11 from my list, satisfied that i achieved the best possible number 11 outcome.
see, i'm no saint. i am a selfish asshole like everyone else. there's just a slightly different method to my madness.
~k
12 January 2009
i won my first election today!
i'm an elected official. the meaning of those words is sinking in slowly, as it works its way through the surreal haze of the day.
i ran for a california democratic party delegate seat in my assembly district, on a hope and a prayer, and won. i had the most incredible campaign team imaginable, who worked as tirelessly (if not more so) than me today, in talking to voters, garnering support, and soliciting votes. i would not have won without them, and am eternally grateful.
today was exhausting, emotionally and physically (and i'm sure the hangover wasn't much help), and at the same time exhilirating, as i'm always astounded by what can be accomplished when the ideals of one person find an audience willing, able, and ready to be led into battle. especially when that one person is me.
just as i believe that california is in a free-falling shit-storm of epic proportion, i believe that barack obama has proven without a shadow of a doubt that one voice can change the world. on that note, my goal as the delegate for my district is to collect the many voices of my constituents, and speak on their behalf in framing what will be the platform of the california democratic party in the coming years.
we've got a tough road ahead of us, and california needs leaders who will listen and act. i plan to be the leader worthy of the trust my supporters have put in me.
~k
i ran for a california democratic party delegate seat in my assembly district, on a hope and a prayer, and won. i had the most incredible campaign team imaginable, who worked as tirelessly (if not more so) than me today, in talking to voters, garnering support, and soliciting votes. i would not have won without them, and am eternally grateful.
today was exhausting, emotionally and physically (and i'm sure the hangover wasn't much help), and at the same time exhilirating, as i'm always astounded by what can be accomplished when the ideals of one person find an audience willing, able, and ready to be led into battle. especially when that one person is me.
just as i believe that california is in a free-falling shit-storm of epic proportion, i believe that barack obama has proven without a shadow of a doubt that one voice can change the world. on that note, my goal as the delegate for my district is to collect the many voices of my constituents, and speak on their behalf in framing what will be the platform of the california democratic party in the coming years.
we've got a tough road ahead of us, and california needs leaders who will listen and act. i plan to be the leader worthy of the trust my supporters have put in me.
~k
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