Adopting in Ashburn

I am apparently the party person this week. My boyfriend Richard's birthday is today (festivities throughout the weekend with a party on Saturday), my counterpart at work has her last day on Friday so there's a send-off for her, and one of my favorite volleyball folks is having a baby shower on Sunday. My kitchen has become a bakery of deliciousness - pictures to be posted soon - and there are various bags of presents and surprises scattered throughout my house. With all of the craziness going on in my life (to be elaborated on AFTER this week of parties is over), it's nice to be celebrating the fabulousness of change. Another year for Richard. School and a new career for SC (Super Colleague). Life, literally for Jen. In other barely tangentially related news, all of the long term setters in my life (that's a volleyball position for you non-sports folks) have been named Jen(n). An odd coincidence for someone who's been playing ball for 14 years. Also, let it be know...

There's no power in the 'verse that can stop me. Not you, thee faithless in my skills. Not you, thee weak of heart and lacking in courage. Not you, forces of awful interpersonal communication. Not you, thee unwilling to do something for another - even a friend. Not you, onions I cut way too thin and burned while trying to make onion rings (without a recipe). I am strong and have faith in my abilities. I am brave and pure of heart. I am a master communicator (literally). I am a friend. I am going to have to start reading recipes before I cook. No power in the 'verse can stop me.

I signed up for these online LivingSocial deal emails everyday, wherein I get an email about a local place that has a coupon for sale. Yes, for sale. Basically, you pay $10 or $25 or some amount for a coupon worth usually twice to three times that value. If you forward it around and three of your friends purchase it using the link originally sent to you, you get the coupon for free. So today I was looking at one for miniature golf (which I love despite my occasional lack of aim) and talking to a friend about it since he'd already been to this place, and he said he'd go with me if I wasn't otherwise able to use the coupon with a date or other friend. Which is incredibly nice. Except my first thought was: "Will I still be friends with this person by the time I'm ready to use this coupon?" Between friends who have fallen off the map (if I ever stop socializing because I magically conjure up a boyfriend, please beat me with a stick or something) or re-located , I...

Awhile back, I wrote about having to be silent - about cutting off communication with people who were hurting me more than being a positive force in my life. One of the people I recently had to stop speaking to (let's call them Friend1) had a serious work crisis recently. With everything I knew they had going on, I couldn't not offer a listening ear. What was odd, was that this person didn't even seem to notice that we hadn't been in contact in months. That we, who were so close we were hanging out multiple times a week, had not had a single dinner, phone call, or chat conversation hadn't really registered as something being wrong. One of the others (Friend2) sort of disappeared from my radar. You'd think this would be a good thing, since having to sever ties with someone is so incredibly painful. But it wasn't easier. It was harder. I was freaking out. What if they died? What if they were being hospitalized for something? What if they lost a family ...

So I was just watching Grey's Anatomy , the end of last season where Izzy is talking about the biggest days of your life, and how they usually just start out as normal days. How you don't even realize it's going to be an important day until after it becomes big. Until you realize you don't want the day to end because there just isn't enough time. She suggested some types of days that fit into this category, including the day you meet your soul mate. Now, I am convinced that soul mates are like people, mostly we're born in ones. You know, just you in there with all that fabulous amniotic fluid. But others are born in twos, or threes, or more. I tend to think I am one of the lucky ones born with more than one soul mate (though I was definitely born all by my lonesome). I met my first soul mate the summer before I started college. I didn't know it that day. In fact, I thought he was a bit scandalous and crude (actually, I sometimes still think that). H...

There's a sign above my bedroom door that says Happily Ever After. I bought it on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey a couple of years ago. It's perfectly viewable from the whole room and the last thing to read on my way out my door every morning. Just a little reminder that my Happily Ever After is out there. In the sixth grade, I did a book report on Happily After All by Laura Stevenson. In the book, the characters explain that the phrase "happily after all" is more appropriate to the way things go in life. You never see what happens after the prince and princess ride off into the sunset (except in straight-to-DVD sequels). Since the plot is so fraught with difficulty, the real reason we celebrate at the end is not because they will live happily together forever, but because they are now living happily after all that they've been through. I try to remember that whenever things are pushing down on me; that this isn't the end. In fact, I'm goi...

Today I had a chance to go through a bunch of old boxes of my stuff, culling out the things I cannot even remember why I bothered to save in the first place. I found journals, poems, stories, school papers, newspaper clippings, stickers, paintings, and a horrifying amount of tediously penned notes. From 15 gallons worth of plastic tubs and a shoebox, I now have about 3 gallons worth of papers and another 2 of empty binders and folders I'm hoping to donate to a school somewhere. Most of my life, I've thought it might be cool to go back one day and create a book of all of my old work. Incorporate my journals and short stories and random school assignments into something I could keep forever (and if I got famous, edit and sell). Realistically (after about 5 hours of this treasure hunting), I'm not sure it would be worth anything to anyone - perhaps not even to me. One thing about looking back is that it gives you a chance to see how far you've come; and how far you have le...

Waking up with a great friend after a totally girly slumber party, talking about boys and eating chocolate chip cookie dough. Singing some fun songs at church. Having lunch with a totally kindred spirit. Hanging out while Lorien packed for her trip to open a new theater in Lynchburg, VA. Talking to my Aunt Babs about the readings from today and all the other stuff they made me think of. First attempt at relinquishing control of a situation I really only pretend to have control over. [Success to be determined in self-appointed two-day time frame.] Gajillionth attempt at not-internalizing successfully accomplished with the help of #5. Talking to every member of my immediate family on the phone. Getting a text message at a crazily (in?)opportune time. Buying 8 tickets to an upcoming USC football game for my family and friends (!!!^3). And I still have 4 hours left. Love always, ~Heather P.S. Quote of the Day: "I've never seen a monument erected to a pessimist." Paul Harvey...

This is being posted belatedly as the internet connection at home was completely useless when I was typing this on Monday. Also, it's in parts because I am an unapologetic rambler. Sunday morning was bright again, and somehow in setting my alarm I’d messed up the actual time on my bedroom clock, so I wound up getting up a full hour earlier than necessary. I spent the time reading the newspaper and getting myself ready for church. ASIDE: It has been an exceptionally long time since I bothered to read the newspaper. I got horribly discouraged during the campaign season last fall, and haven’t been able to pay attention to any non-work-related news since then. I know I’ll be kicking myself later – because it’s not good to live in a world where you’re ignorant of current events – but I honestly feel like living inside the Beltway makes me incredibly cynical that anything is actually being done in the world for the good of other human beings. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to work mysel...

... and as I sat there on the roof, looking at the stars, I felt alot of things. Most importantly though, I felt happy. Love always, ~Heather

1. I'm going to be blogging even more intermittently than I am now for the next couple of weeks (hopefully less) because I so rarely have Internet access at home. Comcast is just about the suckiest service I've ever had in my home, and with any luck I'll either be rid of them or they'll have fixed everything VERY soon. 2. Cleaning my room less than once a month results in an unseemly mess. I obviously need to have more house guests so I feel more inclined to pick up after myself. Motivation, baby. Won't you be mine? 3. I feel like I've been trying really hard to do a number of things lately. I think I need a little more Yoda in my life: "Do or do not do. There is no try." I have the power to make a choice about which way I want to go on certain things. I need to be choosing better. Heck, I need to be choosing at all. 4. I am a horrible penpal. I say this not because I don't like writing to other people, but because I am horribly impatient...

I was sitting here thinking just now that the reason it must feel so eerily quiet and creepy when the power goes out is because there is no hum from all the devices we're so used to hearing as "white noise" all the time. My fish tank, the fan on the computer, the tangible static buzz from the TV system. Yesterday I spent my day hearing all sorts of things. My alarm clock - early. MK, a girl from my volleyball team, as we chatted in the car on the way out to Harper's Ferry (though I got to just hear for awhile too, because for some reason silences don't feel to awkward with her). The river and the rapids as I floated along the Potomac and then the Shenandoah on a tube. Laughter from my fellow river riders, animals, the wind, insects buzzing, nature. The waterfall as I reached the sandy shore. Then later from the roof of my townhouse, the fireworks as they rattled the sky over near National Harbor. My roommates and their friends enjoying each others company....

If you couldn't guess, I saw Man of La Mancha today. It was out at the Middleton Wayside Theater. It was "just" a regional theater, but the show rivaled performances I've seen at WolfTrap and other off-Broadway style places. The most incredible parts were the lead actor and the set design. Without both, the play was bound to fail - but they managed it so seamlessly ... I was in awe. There was also a brilliantly staged scene with Quixote and his squire riding horses ... the people dressed as horses moving in perfect rhythm ... all these ellipses mean I don't have the words to describe the awesomeness. I went out - WAY out, past Front Royal - to see the show with Derek and his family. Afterwards, we went out to dinner at the Wayside Inn, which was built in 1742. They say Washington himself drank out of the well in the tavern (I'm guessing it used to be outside). The history there was better than the food, but the company was really fun. Derek and I have ...

My posting here is so long overdue I should be charged a library fine. I mean, what is the point of you - my absolutely faithful readers - checking in or subscribing if all I ever do is apologize for not writing? So here is a brief synopsis, which should be followed over the next couple of days with photoblog and regular posts. Life is, in general, proceeding at a rate of one day at a time. I spend most of my time working and the rest of it either curled up with a book or doing something with friends. I re-read the entire Harry Potter series over the past month or so in preparation for the movie coming out. So excited about that. I had a chance to go home this past weekend to spend Father's Day with my dad and help out with my mom, who recently had minor back surgery. All in all, a great visit. We went to the pool one afternoon, had fabulous dinner both nights (broccoli rabe and Italian sausage night one followed by pork loin with red russets the way only Mom can make them t...

While you patiently wait for me to do photo blogs for all the exciting stuff I've been up to lately, here are some interesting reads I've been keeping tabs open for so I'd remember to share them with you. As a mid-twenty-something, this post on being over 25 had some interesting points. I feel like I've made it past lots of these milestones, except maybe the asking for a place to stay when I visit cities where I know people. :) I'm pretty careful about what I write here; under the excellent advice of my super tech-savvy best friend. But this post made me want to use my First Amendment rights a bit more than I do. I'm a bit sad I didn't get my license updated sooner considering I'll now have to look even gloomier than before in my photo. An exchange student friend of mine, Seiko, once made me a long chain of origami swans (based on a book I loved). If those were cool, these are feats of paper artistry . Hope you enjoy and as I've already got th...

Things I now know about doing my taxes: All those property taxes on my car count as deductions! I will be taking at least one course at a community college a year (Intro to Spanish, Intro to Sign Language, Science and the Cinema, etc.) so I never have this exclusion issue again. The schedules aren't too painful to fill out if you know what you're doing. Having all the papers and receipts in one box doesn't actually decrease the amount of time it takes to locate one, as many receipts look the same and take time to dig through. My dad is awesome and I am glad I learned how to fill out the forms myself from him. It goes well with sympathetic friends, swing dancing in the dining room, and Manichevitz. That is all. Onto the first volleyball game of the Alexandria league season, filling out HOBY paperwork, deciding between Sportsplex volleyball and USC softball, acquiring a new roommate, planning excursions for the upcoming family cruise, planting vegetable seeds for the summer g...

Just found this through a friend from USC (who writes a fashion blog for those of us who are a little less inclined to be fashionable on a regular basis)... Once upon a time... from Capucha on Vimeo . Totally adorable. Un jour j'espere que j'ai l'opportunite d'ecoute mon petit Martin (et Paul!) recit un histoire comme ca. En plus, j'adore les singes. Love always, ~Heather

As part of my self-reflection, I'm taking a moment today to mark the fantastic qualities of my roommate, without whom I would not be as happy. She's an incredible listener. She knows my quirks and is happy to let me vent basically whenever I need to. She's an absolute perfectionist. Although this is a characteristic that can be overwhelming, in Rachel it just helps her be more predictable. If she's doing something, you can count on her to do it until it is done right. She's thoughtful. Not much of a milk drinker, she always checks with me to make sure there is enough if she's at the grocery store. She's communicative. As a communications person, I appreciate someone who is so willing to make an effort to communicate about everything. Even when we disagree, she's more than willing to explain her whole side of the situation in a rationale way, which helps us from hurting each others' feelings as often as possible. She gets me. So to my dearest ro...

Above: The birds' nest in the front yard seemed a likely place for snow to stick. It snowed a bunch last night (well, a bunch for here). Therefore, luckily, the 2 hour delay for the federal government made my half sick/half work-from-home day less of an issue. My head cold from Friday hasn't really gone away, but I am feeling quite a bit better after resting today. This weekend was a bit of a whirlwind. I played volleyball on Saturday, which was good because it helped push my cold away and bad because my muscles were tired (though miraculously not sore). We played a really cool rotation that allowed me to play right side in the front row and middle and left in the back row. Quite fun. Afterwards, we had dinner (homemade lasagna) at Erin's boyfriend's Matty's house (where we had met to carpool). After a round or so of Apples to Apples (love that game), I went home. My date arrived just when I did (I haven't asked name permission yet, so forgive the genera...

Lately I've been busy with a gajillion things and haven't blogged a single one of them. I understand that this makes me kind of a goober. I apologize for my goober-dom. I have been writing though, including on a daily blog for work. After spending a decent portion of the day on blogger or reading blogs and online journalism, my brain does not want to blog at night. In fact, every part of me wants to be doing something that does not involve my poor little typing fingers. This, however, does not help my loyal readers. It doesn't tell you what I'm doing, how I'm doing, or give you the pleasure of the ridiculous tangential storytelling technique I so often apply here. So, as a short favor (since it is late and I'm exhausted), I'll give you some bullets on me and where I am. Five minutes of them in fact. OKay, go. Everyday my Gchat message is a new movie quote that is somehow relevant to the day. I am keeping track of them (and why I chose them) in a spr...