Adopting in Ashburn

I think one reason that Lent works for me is that it makes me accountable to someone - God. Arguably, I'm accountable to God everyday, but the truth is, I just don't think about it as much as I should. So for the next 40 days or so, I'm using this focus to my advantage and I'm going to give more (instead of giving up). I will give others: The gift of snail mail. One letter/card/package sent every day to someone in my address book. If you'd like to be part of this project, please send me your address. More reflective prayer. Each night before bed and especially on longer drives in the car in lieu of listening to the radio. I will give myself: 30 minutes of dedicated, independent exercise a day - everyday, with the exception of tournament days (since those can sometimes mean 8 hours of team exercise). I will also give myself the opportunity to re-watch Sex and the City an episode a morning while on the elliptical to make this easier to get used to doing. A chance to ...

Tomorrow begins the season of sacrifice. I'm actually excited. For reasons passing understanding, I have about ten times more self-control during Lent than any other time of year. That means I clean more, eat better, work out more, and generally pull my life together in a positive way. I have a lot of messes to work through before Easter, so I'm getting started with one of the least important but easiest to post on a blog. There are nearly 30 tabs open in my Firefox field right now and I absolutely need to get some of these tabs gone. So here's what I thought was so important that I couldn't close the tab when I was done reading about it. In regards to the current trouble with the federal budget and opposition to the health care bill that was passed last year, I thought this was a fascinating story of a citizen torn . With it being Mardi Gras, here are two religious places to check out: Kayla's nun-blog and Pius Media . Who knew you had to pay to commit to poverty ...

I cannot focus today. My brain is going in a million different directions and none of them are the path to productivity. The to-do list is post-it-noted to the bottom of my monitor. I have had breakfast (and soon will have lunch) and require basically nothing more than what I already have at my desk to really get going. And yet, I'm writing this note here instead of the 10 some-odd letters and multiple work blog posts. Because the truth is, none of it is challenging or intellectually stimulating. All of it is work. I know that every job has paperwork and inane tasks that need doing. I know I should just knock it all out and be done with the stupid list on the little, square paper with extremely easily removable glue backing. But I can't freaking focus. Oh please just let me get this stupid stuff done so I can get out of here at a reasonable time today. I miss my passionate self. I hope she comes into the office soon.

I really like that word, petrified. I know it means to be scared out of your wits, but I can't help thinking of a petrified forest when I use it. What does it take to turn living matter into stone? Do you think it hurt? I guess that maybe it's a good thing that my brain automatically turns fear into a science question in my head.

I've reached the tipping point. I know I need to be my own motive power now. I know it. I know it . That's why I have the power. But boy is this tough.

The revolving door known as my roommate situation has swung again. All of the other people who moved into my current place with me originally have moved out now. Sure, there are still some bills to figure out and items of mail to forward, but today life here changed again. My latest new roommate will be moving in this weekend, and then all the rooms will be full again. I hope for another batch of folks I can call my friend. If you've got to have a revolving door, it's nice to make sure there's always laughter on my side. Plus, it was about time for a new adventure. :) Love always, ~Heather

I know it feels like that long since I've posted here. Here's what's been going on: I work on a team that has two responsibilities - I focus on the more communications side and my counterpart (a level above me, but not my direct supervisor) did more of the government relations. She left in August, and I am super excited for the new adventures her life is taking her on. However, this left me doing two jobs. My team has a few other people on it too. Two full-time interns/fellows. Now they're not fetching coffee or making copies - they're doing substantial work; and one position was taken away in September. That left 80 hours of work a week (let's say that it's 80, instead of the reality which was 9+ hour days more than once a week) to be split among myself, a new fellow, my direct supervisor, and our administrative assistant. My direct supervisor is leaving in two weeks to start a company. That's an additional 60+ hours for the fellow, our assistant and me...