If I weren’t so tired, I’d think of a title for this post…

It’s the classic “be careful what you wish for” scenario. I am a little more than two weeks into my new position at work and my head is still spinning. I spent most of my holiday weekend at work moving offices and preparing for my replacement's first day tomorrow. I don’t feel like I am ever going to catch up. I am already so behind and I feel like my brain has reached capacity. I seriously have lost the ability to retain information. I keep trying to get a handle on things, but I feel so crazed. Hopefully this week I will gain some ground and start feeling a little bit more in control.

I don’t feel like I had much of a weekend. Yesterday, I did take a little time off, but it just made me think more about all the lovely chaos and transition in my life. Last night was one of those nights like I used to have in college when I would get in my car with a stack of Dave Matthews CDs and a pack of cigarettes and drive up and down Highway 6 with the windows down and the radio blaring. But in a city where street parking is such a hot commodity and facing another day at the office, I just stayed home.

Not sure why I have been so restless lately, but things may be looking up. Yesterday—no, wait that was just this morning, although it feels like days ago—as I was opening my security door to exit my house, a bird pooped on my arm. According to my roommate and the omniscience that is Google, this is supposed to be good luck. Let’s hope so!

My Tour O'Texas

So the last three weeks have been an amazing journey emotionally, professionally, and physically. I spent five days in Minneapolis for my biggest work event of the year and I have to say I kicked a little ass. This year I wrote four speeches for the president of our organization and was basically running around like a wild woman dealing with other communications issues that came up during the meeting, but it was completely satisfying and enjoyable.

Then I traveled to Texas, and for once a canceled flight enhanced my trip. Since I couldn’t make it to Austin due to my grounded MD-80, I was able to have an unscheduled night in Dallas with my adorable sister Haley. I stayed in her dorm and everything. To top it off, she made me a fabulous tour o’Texas CD (playlist included below), which was the PERFECT soundtrack for all the driving I did across the Lone Star State.

My Texas tour was pretty great. I don’t know if it was the fact that I had my own rental car or that I was triple booked most of the time or just that I got to see so many amazing people, but the trip rocked! Unlike other visits home, I would do every bit of it again. Within five days I visited Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. I barely drive in DC so it was really nice to get behind the wheel with the windows down and nothing in front of me but beautiful music and Texas highways.

The whole purpose of the trip was to be in my friend’s wedding and it was such a lovely night. I made it through my toast without crying and stuttering (maybe that shot of Jack did help?) and danced into the night with two of my closest girlfriends. I met some really cool people and had a really fun after party.

I spent a little time with the fam in Houston and then cruised back to Austin and finally back home to DC.

My first day back in the office, I found out my supervisor had given her notice and I am being promoted to Director of Communications!!! I have to say, this was unexpected. I thought I had at least another year before she would leave and this would be an option. While I am completely excited, I am honestly a bit freaked out! It’s all official May 8th. In the meantime, I have to hire my replacement, learn all I can before she leaves, and pack to move into my new office. I am sure I will have more to say on this in the future, but for now it is all just a little surreal.

Thanks to all of you who made my trip so wonderful!

Tour O’Texas 2008
1. Capitol City – Matt Wertz
2. I Will Not Take My Love Away – Matt Wertz
3. Counting to 100 – Matt Wertz
4. Nothing Fancy – Dave Barnes
5. Until You – Dave Barnes
6. The Sweetest Goodbye – Brian Douglas Phillips
7. Gravity – Sara Bareilles
8. Where I Stood – Missy Higgins
9. Bottom of the Barrel – Amos Lee
10. Colors – Amos Lee
11. Better Together – Jack Johnson
12. 5:19 – Matt Wertz
13. Sweetness in Starlight – Matt Wertz
14. World Spins Madly On – The Weepies
15. Stand Still, Look Pretty – The Wreckers
16. The Good Kind – The Wreckers
17. Love Song – Sara Bareilles

Preparing for my Travels

I should be writing four speeches for work, but I am so not motivated...

There is just too much to do and not enough time. The next two weeks have the potential to be amazing but also the potential to run me ragged. I went to Boston last weekend for work, and now I leave Friday for Minneapolis for five days, before I head to Austin and begin my tour o'Texas.

The fun begins in Austin, then moves to San Antonio where I will be the Maid of Honor in a wedding for my dear friend Shawna Lenee'. Still working on my toast for that one...it is not one of the four speeches I should be writing this second, but I'm waiting to be inspired just the same. I'm a true procrastinator so I imagine it will come to me at the last second. Then I'm off to Houston to see the fam and as many friends as I can.

Hopefully it will all be fabulous. If I weren't so freakin' stressed about all that has to be done before I leave, I would be really excited. Ahhh...back to checking things off my to do list...

Senate Candidate Legally Changes Name to "Pro-Life"

This is ridiculous.

Via Daily Women’s Health Policy Report:

Idaho U.S. Senate Candidate Changes Name to Pro-Life

An Idaho candidate for the U.S. Senate has legally changed his name to Pro-Life, the AP/CBS News reports. The man attempted to appear on a 2006 ballot as Marvin Pro-Life Richardson when he unsuccessfully ran for governor, but the state’s policy prohibits slogans from appearing on the ballot. However, officials in the Idaho Office of the Secretary of State have said they have no choice but to allow Pro-Life to be on the 2008 ballot because it is now the candidate’s full legal name (AP/CBS News, 3/18).

Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa (R) at a state Senate committee hearing Monday advocated for legislation (S 1514) that would require candidates who change their name to a political slogan to have a parenthetical note after the name on the ballot that states "A person formerly known as ..." Ysursa noted that other states have sought to remove slogan-names from the ballot, adding that the Idaho Supreme Court has ruled that the "ballot is not to be used to try to express a particularized political message." Ysursa said including Pro-Life on the ballot could cause some voters to be confused and vote for both Pro-Life and the candidate of their choice. The measure passed the Senate by a 33-0 vote Tuesday and is headed to the House.

Pro-Life, who is running for the seat of retiring Sen. Larry Craig (R), said the qualifier measure is being pushed by Lt. Gov. Jim Risch (R), who also opposes abortion rights and is running for the seat. "It’s pretty stupid, really, to say that a voter doesn’t know what he’s doing," Pro-Life said. Risch said that he does not have "input on this matter" and is referring questions to the Legislature.

Thirteen candidates are running for the U.S. Senate seat -- eight Republicans, two Democrats, one Libertarian and two independents (Russell, Spokane Spokesman-Review, 3/25). Pro-Life has said he will run for the highest state office as an independent every two years and will advocate murder charges for physicians who perform abortion, as well as for women who undergo the procedure (AP/CBS News, 3/18).

Lovely Day

Sometimes you can just tell it’s going to be a good day. Sometimes the little things like walking up to the platform as the metro is arriving just set your day on the right track and you know it’s gonna be a lovely day. Today is one of those days. I have lots to smile about:

--one of my closest friends came to visit me over the weekend from San Francisco;
--the weather was absolutely gorgeous all weekend and there was no rain at Shamrock Fest;
--I got to enjoy Bloody Marys and Sunday brunch with good friends;
--my Aggies made it to the Big Dance;
--the Rockets continued their 22 game winning streak and advanced to first place in the Western Conference;
--it’s St. Patrick’s Day and I have an excuse to booze on a Monday (like I need one?); and
--I am having a pretty rockin’ hair day.

All in all life is good.

This weekend I had my first out of town guest: my friend Kinsey who recently moved to SF. She arrived Thursday night and I took her to the airport (and Dulles at that!) today at 5:30am. For those of you who know me well, it is amazing that I am in such a good mood after getting up so early, but I am!

It can really be nice when different spheres of your life collide. I am truly lucky to have such wonderful people in my life and even luckier that they all seem to get along. It was an amazing weekend and I think I can safely say a good time was had by all that joined us on our tour o’DC. To those of you that joined us for any or all of this weekend, thank you for showing my friend such a great time.

Now it’s time to get geared up for March Madness! Gig’em Aggies!

Stuff White People Like

Thanks to my friend Angie for passing along this hilarious blog: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/

So what do white people like? According to this blog, so far 70 things including: difficult breakups, Mos Def, sushi, the movie Juno, recycling, living by the water, irony, Apple products, breakfast places, David Sedaris, wine, yoga, tea, Barack Obama, and film festivals. No argument from this white person on any of the above.

As someone commented: "this site is only funny to white people. White people love to think they are cute and funny in some way." Well, I think the blog is freakin' funny, and yes I love to think I am cute and funny in some way too.

Barack the Vote

So last night, I decided to not be lame and brave the ice to meet a friend for a networking happy hour. The event was nice, at a fairly new bar that I had been to before and liked, and I met some cool people. In the true spirit of networking, I ended up leaving and going with a friend of a friend to the Obama for America party to celebrate his sweeping victory in the Potomac Primary.

Even though Obama himself was not there (he was already in Wisconsin), Mayor Fenty spoke and it was a great and different event. In addition to basically being at a huge political pep rally and getting all caught up in the momentum and unity of this historic campaign (who could get tired of watching the "Yes we Can" video...not me!), my friend and I were on the news! It was just the local NBC newscast, but you could tell it was me. Not my typical Tuesday night, nor what I had planned when I set out for “just 1 drink”…I love this city!