Me Time - Commuting in Northern VA

Everyday it happens. I get in my car, plug in my ipod, start my car and begin my morning commute. And I've gotten quite use to my 40-60 minute commute. Here's why. If you would've told me 4 years ago that I was going to be commuting at least an hour and a half daily to and from work, I would've told you to kick rocks. 90 minutes in a car EVERY DAY....ludacris. But alas, I have come to not just tolerate this time of the day but really enjoy it.... well, other than the fact that on the way to work it's morning time, and I hate mornings. Coffee anyone?? mmmm.

Now I know MOST of you are thinking I'm nuts or just a pathological liar. But I'm niether of the two. Here's why. This obligatory tires-to-road time that I have been doing for the past four years, some how morphed into what I like to call me time. I'm not sure how or when this happened, but it did. Now there are days, like last Wednesday that I imagine my car is an MRAP so I can just drive over cars in order to get home, but that was more because I needed to be somewhere and everyone in VA must have drank something that made them forget how to merge with out coming to a complete stop, making sure the wind was blowing at the right speed and that they color coordinated with the cars that were already on the interstate. You get the picture. But most days, I enjoy sitting in my car, sippin' on some really sweet coffee, letting the music playing from my ipod move me or take me back through time or be the background to my solo debut...in my car. This happens frequently so I'm not sure I can call it my debut anymore. Sometimes I wonder if the people driving around me feel the need to call the police but I just don't care... it's MY me time and I'll do whatever I like! I'm not making them pay to watch me, so get over it people!

It's funny because I hardly blink anymore when someone cuts across four lanes right in front of me, slams on their brakes, making me slam on mine, spill my coffee AND my purse, only to decide they don't want to turn right anymore so they get back over in the other lane and they don't even throw up a shameful "my bad" wave after all the havoc they just created. At least they used their blinker....after the fact. *sigh* As soon as my heart crawls out of my stomach and I regain feeling in my legs, I fall back into the immersion of my music and all is forgiven. It's almost theraputic, as strange as that sounds.

---

edited 2/25/2010

Okay, so I wrote this blog at the end of January... before the insane snow storms of 2010. I, and the other commuters in NOVA must've been having a few good weeks when I wrote this because I now must add to this blog by saying, the initial post CAN be true SOME of the time....But not ALL of the time. Not 1. on the days that something is bothering me. And not 2. on the days that my heart is aching for a good reason or no reason at all (see #3)... or 3. on the days that I'm PMS'ing. On these days, it seems that just the littlest indiscretion of even a minor traffic law can make me want to run my little car up into the trunk of the culprits unsuspecting car. Is that wrong??

So there is the adendum to my commuting bliss (some days) as I travel all over the Northern VA/DC area!

Fantastic Fridays - On the other side

This week has been crazy for a myriad of reasons but mainly because the Army Ten Miler is taking place. I have been in charge of selecting the All Army team that will be competing in the Elite/International group. There are so many little things that go on behind the scenes when entering a team in an event like this. As an athlete I think I took so much of it for granted. Coordinating the travel, equipment, money disbursement, hotel reservations, and event obligations are all things that use to "just happen" when I was the athlete. But now, I get to be on the other side of it. God is funny like that. I think he just wants to make sure that I think back and appreciate the people in my life that made my life as an athlete seem to just smoothly sail along.

It is quite eye opening when I think about it because God has placed me in two positions that I am in charge of things I never had to worry about. Stuff like planning, organizing, logistics, funding and more planning are things I never even thought about, nor did I want to. Sometimes it's much more enjoyable when you're ignorant to the things that go on behind the scenes. Although knowing these things helps you appreciate the opportunities that others have helped happen.

I can't begin to tell you how many seasons Mom and Dad had to coordinate their schedules with getting us kids to our extra cirricular activities throughout the years. And as much as I'm sure it brings unspeakable joy to watch your little rugrats chase a ball around some field or court, I can't imagine that it was ALWAYS the first thing on their "Things I'd Like to Do" list. So thanks Mom and Dad, for all of your support and sacrifice!

If you haven't realized yet, it is Fantastic Friday. I'll be in DC all weekend working with and for my team. It won't be all bad though... I have a hotel room in DC and will be able to get away to spice things up a bit! So even though I've been crazy busy doing behind the scenes work for this weekend, it was worth it because I love love love the city and am going to take advantage of being there for a few days (I say that like it's far away and I live in the country).... and that is pretty fantastic!

Enjoy your weekend!!

Office coversation - Whoever smelt it.....

The person's name with whom this conversation transpired has been removed but I just had to blog this moment. I could not stop laughing.

XXX: how late are you working today?
Me: i'm trying to leave at 630 but we'll see
XXX: omg i just farted and i didnt think anyone would come by my desk
Me: lol lol lol hahahahaha
XXX: but of course right after i did it two people came over and were standing here for like 3 minutes!!!!
Me: i just laughed out loud.. did they smell it?
XXX: and it stunk bad!!!!!!!!
Me: AHHHHHH AHAHAHAHA
XXX: so embarrasing
Me: LOL so funny
XXX: yeah, and embarassing... its one of those things where i SHOULD have said something like hey sorry i just farted but i felt dumb!!!
Me: lol lol omg i'm rolling over here


What a riot. I could totally imagine the scene as XXX was telling me. Anyone ever had a similar situation??? Just a fun post to get you through humpday!

Fantastic Fridays - 59 minute rule

If you are a government worker you don't need an explination as to why that is fantastic. But for those of you non-government types, I'll elaborate. This won't take long. When a commanding general puts a 59 mintue rule into effect it means that the employees can leave 59 minutes early! wooot wooot! Normally we get a 59 minute rule after our Town Hall meetings (once a quarter) but yesterday the meeting lasted way longer than normal so our General extended the 59 minute rule to today! And it is already my early Friday today, so I get to leave 2 hours, minus 1 minute early!! That's pretty friggin' fantastic!!!

When I get home I have to get a light swim and possibly bike for my taper work out before the race. Tapering from what, I'm not sure... I think you have be training at a pretty high level to be able to say you're actually tapering but I'm gonna run with it and just pretend. It makes me feel better.

So wish me luck! :)

A balanced life...for now. (and pics)

There are seasons in our lives when it seems like whatever it is we're involved in, whether it's a job, commitment, or the everyday chores of living life and getting by seem to swarm around us and suffocate any type of freedom we may have once had. I remember being in high school and even college for that matter and people saying "don't be in such a rush to grow up." I thought they were crazy. I couldn't wait to be on my own, doing my own thing. My question is, why didn't they hold up caution signs and wear bandages around all the scars that they've accumulated throughout this journey called "being on my own." Then maybe I would've heard what they said and slowed down to savor the "I have no real responsibility" journey. I would've seen that driving an hour to work and home after a 10 hour work day is really not what most people would call fun. Most sane people anyways. Or those silly things called bills that seem to never stop coming no matter what, aren't really that cool. Kind of annoying actually. It's like they never die. Persistent little creatures that seem to grow every year.

In saying all that, I have realized that although some of this "on my own" thing is more work and less play, some how I have found a sort of balance... for now. The Lord has blessed me with a fairly secure job (keeps the bills satisfied) that at times can actually be fun and allows for me to travel and visit, as well as meet a lot of people. It also allows for me to take vacations, for the most part, when I feel the urge. And just this week I was offered the Head Coaching position at a Episcopal High School. Needless to say, there will be less balance when I start that in November on top of my job with the Army. But it will be fun working with the girls and I think it will be fulfilling.

Speaking of living a balanced, grown up life, I figured I'd post some pictures from my different escapades over the past month. I was in FL (for work), NC (for fun) and Cali (for work). This being "on my own" thing isn't really that bad once you get the hang of it and figure out how to enjoy the ride. Sometimes you gotta roll with the punches but for now the blows have been minimal and I have to say the last month has been refreshing. I definately have tons to be thankful for. The Lord has kept me in His care and provided me with more than I deserve. He's an awesome God and I'm thankful for this season of my life, even if it's not quite what I expected. So here are a few pics from my trips.

Jamar and I on Country Western Night in the Outer Banks

Being silly

Majestic... Point Magu, CA

The sunset was amazing....

see what I mean?!

ps- I love my camera... look what
cool things you can do with it

Shoreline in Malibu

Off the Pacific Coast Hwy in Cali

Did I tell you I met the Bachelor?! :)
Just another day in the office!! lol.

Fantastic Fridays

So I've decided since I'm really horrible at blogging consistently I should start theme that I can blog about weekly. Since Fridays are normally FANTASTIC (b/c it's the last day of work for the week), I decided I would blog about Fridays....b/c most of the time they are fantastic.

Today I woke up to "go to work," remember I'm in California right now with the All Army Triathlon team so "work" is a relative term. My office has literally been the transition spot from the swim to the bike for the last couple days. After meeting up in the parking lot, I took the team and their stuff out to the beach so they could get a practice ride in and swim or run the day before the race. Today (and yesterday) the Point Mugu Beach was my office. And let me tell you, if I had a view like that to sit in front of every day, I wouldn't mind waking up so much! While the athletes were training I got to just kind of hang out on the beach with the sand in my toes, music in my ears and God all around. I got to just hang out for about an hour or so with just me, my thoughts, and God. Not a bad way to start off a work day if you ask me!

As my athletes were coming back from their ride and transition either to the swim or run (they kind of do their own thing to prepare for tomorrow's race) I couldn't help but notice how fit they all are. It's a bit ridiculous actually. BUT very motivating. I am now going to do my first triathlon in VA this coming August with Amy and crew. :) We'll see how the 60 year old knee holds up (fingers are crossed) so maybe I can start competing more often and have something to train for. Lord knows, I'm terrible at aimlessly stepping onto an eliptical and getting a good workout in.

After they were done working out I had to take two of our team members to sign autographs at the NEX (Naval Exchange) as publicity for the triathlon they're competing in tomorrow. On the way back we grabbed some taco bell, which they can afford to eat being that they burn thousands of calories during their multiple workout day, and came back to the base to have a little picnic outside in the beautiful weather. Sound fantastic enough to make the "Fantastic Friday" blog yet?? :)

I'm now about to go workout myself and then meet the team for dinner. We're eating early b/c they want to go to bed at a decent hour (have I mentioned how much easier the triathletes are than the team sport athletes to keep under control??). So after dinner, I'll probably have time to make it back down to Malibu and hopefully get some pics when the sun is setting. But if not, I already have a bunch of awesome pics that I can't wait to post! Well, I'm off to the gym.

What a FANTASTIC FRIDAY...... :)

Here and there and back again...

Just real quick... I know I don't update this thing nearly as much as my siblings (sorry) but I'll try to start being better (really). So here's the scoop real quick on where I've been in the past month.

I went to Cocoa Beach FL the first week of May for work. Was there for a little over a week. CAme back to NOVA for a couple days and was off to the Outer Banks for a fun Memorial Day weekend (and then some) trip with 38 of my closest friends.... well a couple of my close friends, the rest are now new friends! Came back for no longer than 9 hours and then hopped on a plane to the wonderful state of California and landed in L.A. for work (rough life, I know). So I will be back on the 1st and will try and update pics of my trips. It's been a whirlwind of a time but it's been good to get away and travel some!

Well, gotta get back to work (in L.A.)... love you all!

Katie

Armed Forces Championship

I'm at the Men's Basketball Armed Forces Championship in Cherry Point, NC this week. For the ice breaker they had a guy come and perform a writing that he had put together... As I sat there and listened to this man chills ran over my body... I was thinking to myself, "this guy is good, he should perform at a coffee house or something. Well, look what I found today. He's on youtube and has been on Good Morning America and everything for this poem. Do I know talent or what!? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BETZxl_itYg (by the way, if anyone knows how to put the video embeded in this blog let me know). I hope you all enjoy and realize that we should be thankful for the freedoms we have in this country! :)

Here are the words if you have a hard time understanding it all:
She called... Blacks, Whites...wait African Americans and Caucasians, Asians, excuse me. Vietnamese, Philipenes, Koreans and Jamaicans or Haitans, waitin' Hispanics y'all. Please be paitent Mexican, Puerto Ricans, Venezualean, Cuban, Dominican, Panamanian Democrats I beg your pardon, you partied with the late, great Reagan? Republican, Independent, Christian, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, 7th Day Adventist, 5 Percenters, Hindu, Sunii Muslim, Brothers and Sisters who never seen the New York city skyline when the twin towers still existed. But still She called. From the bowels of Ground Zero she sent this 911 distress signal. Because She was in desperate need of a hero, and didn't have time to decipher what to call 'em, so she called 'em all Her children. The children of the stars and bars who needed to know nothing more than the fact that she called. The fact that someone attempted to harm us this daughter who covered us all with her loving arms. And now these arms are sprawled across New York City streets. A smoke filled lung, a silt covered faced, and a solitary tear poured out of her cheek. Her singed garments carpets Pennsylvania Avenue and the Pentagon was under her feet. As she began to talk, she began to cough up small particles of debris and said, "I am America, and I'm calling on the land of the free." So they answered. All personal differences set to the side because right now there was no time to decide which state building the Confederate flag should fly over, and which trimester the embryo is considered alive, or on our monetary units, and which God we should confide. You see, someone attempted to choke the voice of the one who gave us the right for choice, and now she was callin. And somebody had to answer. Who was going to answer? So they did. Stern faces and chisled chins. Devoted women and disciplined men, who rose from the ashes like a pheonix and said "don't worry, we'll stand in your defense." They tightened up their bootlaces and said goodbye to loved ones, family and friends. They tried to bombard them with the "hold on", "wait-a-minute's", and "what-if's". And "Daddy, where you goin?". And, "Mommy, why you leavin?". And they merely kissed them on their foreheads and said "Don't worry, I have my reasons. You see, to this country I pledged my allegience to defend it against all enemies foreign and domestic. So as long as I'm breathin, I'll run though hell-fire, meet the enemy on the front lines, look him directly in his face, stare directly in his eyes and scream, "I AM AMERICA! WE WILL NOT BE TERRORIZED! WE WILL NOT BE TERRORIZED! I REFUSE TO BE AFRAID! I'LL FIGHT YOU ANY COUNTRY, ANY CONTINENT, ANY TERRAIN. I'LL FIGHT TO MY LAST BREATH!" And if by chance death is my fate, pin my medals upon my chest, and throw Old Glory on my grave. But, don't y'all cry for me. You see, my Father's prepared a place. I'll be a part of his Holy army standing a watch at the Pearly Gates. Because freedom was never free. POW's, and fallen soldiers all paid the ultimate sacrafice along side veterans who put themselves in harms way. Risking their lives and limbs just to hold up democracy's weight, but still standing on them broken appendages anytime the National Anthem was played. You see, these were the brave warriors that gave me the right to say that I'm Black. Or white. Or African American or Caucasian, I'm Asian, excuse me. I'm Vietnamese, Philipene, Korean, or Jamaican. I'm Haitan, Hispanic Y'all, Please be paitent. I'm Mexican, Puerto Rican, Venezualean, Cuban, Dominican, Panamanian, Democrat I beg your pardon, you see I partied with the late, great Reagan. I'm Republican, Independent, Christian, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, 7th Day Adventist, 5 Percenters, Hindu, Sunii Muslim, Brothers and Sisters We're just Americans. So with that I say "Thank You" to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, for preserving my rights to live and die for this life and paying the ultimate price for me to be...FREE!

Brown Baggin'.... or not.

I don't know if all of you had the luxuary of having a mom that packed you a lunch for school practically every day of your early childhood/young adult hood life, but I did. I was spoiled, I guess. But since those days I have found more than a couple ways to survive and get through my day without starving (haha, obviously). Most days it's one of the stellar, health conscious establishments across the street: Wendy's, Taco Bell, Five Guys or even the gourmet, TGIF. The other alternative is for ME to prepare my lunch and brown bag it... which I wouldn't mind doing if I could just remember to do it the night before. Those of you who know me (that should be all of you), know that mornings are not my best friend and I will do whatever it takes to get that last minute of sleep. Which normally means no time for brown baggin it, (b/c of course I didn't get around to making my lunch the night before) I'll just buy... again.
Well this week I actually brought my lunch twice. But then with a twist of my arm from a couple of my co-workers on Wednesday, decided I would leave my lunch (left overs) and eat it Thursday. So today, yes, I know it's Friday (they talked me into going out to lunch Thursday too. lol), I went to get my lunch out of the community fridge (I'm not even going to comment on that... it could be a whole blog in itself) and it wasn't there! I took everything out and searched frantically for my carefully planned, home made lunch and it was no where to be found. Someone stole my lunch!! Who does that?? So I carefully double checked to make sure I wasn't going crazy and didn't start using my fork as a weapon to stab anyone who had a rectangular tupperware thingy in their cubicle prematurely. But it still was not there. I guess whoever took my lunch really needed it and I should be glad that I could provide for them what God provides for me daily. But seriously, do people still steal lunches past elementary school? Just ask me for goodness sakes! I'll take you out to lunch if you're that hungry! So now, I'm missing a tupperware (sorry mom, it was hers) and I'm stuck eating Taco Bell.... again. I guess my health kick just wasn't meant to be. At least for this week. I'll try again next week and maybe try to set up a camera and catch the brown bag thief in action (he apparently knows how I get down and that any lunch I would bring in would be nothing less than off the chain!!! lol.) Until then, happy brown baggin...