Adopting in Ashburn

So, way back in the fourth grade, I invented this "thing" for Invent America! . I wanted to help eliminate pollution from big rig trucks on the highway, so I made a prototype of a box that could be put on the end of exhaust pipes that would clean the air before expelling it into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, as I was 10, it was made primarily of cardstock, popsicle sticks, glue, and brads (those little metal things so that the doors could move). I knew that the little assembly line-filter system I had in my brain wasn't feasibly possible then (this was the beginning of the time I was thinking of becoming an engineer). And, as my project failed considerably in comparison to the tactile, and practical applications of my classmates' projects - an ice cream scoop with an internal heating coil (actually got sent in for a patent!), a plexiglass box with gloves inside so you could read a book in the shower without messing up the book (by my former roommate ), and homemade

For those of you who think universal health care or government-sponsored medical insurance are practical solutions to the messed up U.S. health system, may I present one of the models we hope to follow: the United Kingdom . Because we all want to wait until our condition is worse to get life saving drugs! (can you hear the sarcasm dripping?) Stepping down (for the moment) ... ~Heather

I will do my best to never submit you to the bizarre sequence that would come from me doing a post in stream of consciousness. However, I have been keeping some interesting and completely unrelated items in a draft document that may or may not interest you. One dollop of Heather's personality, coming right up! I can't remember when I wrote this, but: On my way into work this morning I passed a girl, who I kid you not, smelled exactly like a jelly doughnut. Because we all love Harry Potter (and if you don't, I think I may be able to persuade you!): And I quoth: " Despite all efforts to discourage me, I refuse to believe in anything less than attempting perfection." One particularly good (accurate??) description of me based on my astrological sign. TAURUS - The Enduring One (April 20 - May 20) Charming but aggressive. Can come off as boring, but they are not. Hard workers. Warm-hearted. Strong, has endurance. Solid beings that are stable and secure in their ways. N

I have: - Been told that I don't hide the disdain in my face when I disagree with things - Messed up the Javascript coding on a website for work that I just had fixed yesterday - Made myself available for ridiculous busy work + Had a good salad for lunch + Finished reading Damn Yankees , which I am stage managing next week - Blogged at work + Been told that my face looks smaller + Confiscated two more boxes for packing Looking for more + signs .... ~Heather

This weekend a friend came to town. We had a blast and I promise to go into the excellent DC adventures we had in detail in a later post. However, tonight I really want to tell a short (knowing me, probably not) story about how big change can happen in a brief visit. So P came down for a school/job fair in DC and we got to hang out Friday night through Sunday AM. On Saturday she had us meet up with an old friend from USC. This person and I have a history (which you may recall from any of the heartsick, very occasionally gleeful, or angry posts for about nine months between 2006-07). To summarize, we were never really together - though there was significant leading on (*Guilty admission: perhaps on both sides). It "ended" when he decided to take time off from being my friend and I finally stood up for myself, and let him know that if he wanted to be friends he would need to initiate it. I haven't heard from him since. I thought that I forgave him a long time ago.

Thanks to St. Elizabeth for the tag on this one! Here are the rules: Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. (No cheating!) Find Page 123. Find the first 5 sentences. Post the next 3 sentences. Tag 5 people. Before I give you the three sentences, I want to say that I moderately cheated on this, because I originally read that I was tagged at work on my Reader and waited until I got home to respond. That being said, the closest book at hand is Stephen Colbert's I Am America (and so can you!) . I intentionally left it out in my family room this past week because I wanted to have something left to read once my "library" was packed up for the move. The appropriate passage for the tag: The easiest way for college professor "bees" to administer their "idea poison" is through their "thought-stingers," commonly called "books." [Sidebar] WakeUp Call: Think books aren't scary? Well, think about this: You can't spell "Bo

I woke up this morning fully aware that my cold was here to stay. I have probably used an entire box of tissues today. But, cold or not, today was going to be a busy day. I went to Ash Wednesday services at St. Mary's. I have to say that I am a little confused about the timing of today's gospel. It's the letter to the Corinthians (I think) that talks about not being a hypocrite, praying for ourselves, giving charitably in quiet, etc. And we read it on a day when they put ashes on our foreheads as an outward expression of our faith. It just seems a bit ill-timed. I understand it is the beginning of Lent, and we don't want our days of abstinence and fasting to appear to be so. Our spiritual journey is internal. I get that. But how is wearing ashes all day not "showing off" your prayer? Doesn't everyone in my office now know I went to church this morning before work? I know I'm not prostrating myself on the street, but it is pretty obvious when

So tonight I ran 2.9 miles in 30 minutes, a personal record. There is something about having almost run three consecutive 10 minute miles that I absolutely love. It's true, you never look back and say, "Boy, I wish I hadn't gone to the gym." After today, I needed a good run. Reason #1 for a run: too much sugar yesterday. I woke up with a "sugar hangover" from having too many peanut butter cookies last night during the Superbowl party (thanks Katie!). It seems that if you avoid sugary food and then let yourself splurge, your body can literally forget how to handle sugar. Good to remember, yet so easy to forget. Reason #2 for a run: delectable fried food today. I wound up driving to work, but this turned out to be a really good twist of fate, as I needed my car for an early out. I started feeling odd a bit before lunch. Then we took out the new policy intern for lunch. I ordered a delicious sandwich that unexpectedly came with this huge pile of perfectl