And the answer to the burning question is...

Yaounde, Camaroon


We are thrilled. This is an excellent post with lots of activities that we love to do (golf and swimming) and it is an excellent post because it is a good move career wise. Of the options we had, this was definitely my first pick. More information coming soon. 


Al and Sofia are coming up to visit this weekend so I am really happy. The rest of the week will be torture waiting on them.


Until next time....

2nd week completed

Well, the second week of orientation is completed. We did some great team building exercises this week that included a visit to the Air & Space museum. The museum was pretty cool. We also visited the CIA, which I would love to tell you about, but then I would have to kill you. Haha...well, it works in the movies.


Since, I can't really talk about work, let me tell you about some of the very interesting restaurants we visited this week. My friends and I have decided to take a tour of the world by visiting ethnic food restaurants here in Washington DC.

• First up, we tried Ethiopian cuisine at Meskerem. This was my first time having Ethiopian cuisine and it was definitely an interesting experience. Basically, the way that the serving process works is that they bring a large platter of food out and everyone eats off it with their hands. You use a pancake type bread to help scoop up the meat, sauce, vegetables, and lentils that are spread on the tray. The predominant flavors include cinnamon and cardamon. While the food was good, I didn't find the flavors particularly appealing to my palate. I am glad that we tried it, but it will probably not go into the restaurant rotation.
• Up next, we went to Vietnam, well at least to a Vietnamese restaurant, Huong Viet. Once again, I had never had this style of food before, but was open to the possibilities that it presented. What's nice is that the restaurant is right next door to the apartment, so I had high hopes that I would like it. It would make it very easy to return. I tried something called Bun, which is vermicelli rice noodles, grilled pork, cucumbers, carrots, and other veggies. It was light and fresh. I really enjoyed it, along with the Vietnamese beer, "33", that I tried. Some people in the group had the Pho, which looked very good also. I will definitely be going back to this restaurant.

My allergies are acting up terribly, although, I had high hopes that the move to Washington would alleviate some of my problems, it seems that I have just moved from one allergy zone to another. Oh, well, I will get some medicine and soldier on.


Well, what's next for me? Today, Sofia will celebrate her 7th birthday with her friends and my family. I wish that I could be there to see her ride her pony and break her pony piñata. We are going to try and Skype me into the party. I will let everyone know how that works out.


We will be having Flag Day on Tuesday, which is the time that we will be told where we are to be posted. I am very excited to learn what's up next for my family. I will update everyone, once I know. Also, I am looking forward to a visit from Al and Sofia. They are coming up on March 30th to spend Spring break in Washington DC. It should be a great time.


See you next time...

First week down...

So, I have survived the first week. So far it has been long days, with lots of new information. I am meeting lots of great people and have gotten to be an old pro at riding the metro. I am looking forward to a weekend of rest. My UAB arrived today, so I have lots of unpacking to do, but it means that my kitchen knives have arrived. This thrills me more than any of the other stuff. I am meeting up with Uncle Cliff this afternoon so that I can make a trip to the market. Hopefully a nap will also be in my future. I can't wait to be able to share my onward post with everyone; I should know in another couple of weeks. 


Quite weekend, no homework and NO SUIT!

I'm Here!

Well, I'm here. Today was the first day and while there was some new information, all in all, it was a typical orientation type day. I should know, I have led an awful lot of orientations over the last 10 years. I can't give a lot of details about the job aspect, so let me tell you about the great meal that I had, after the first day.

After we left the building, we (a new friend that I have made, I will call her J) walked up 23rd Street and stopped at a restaurant called Circa at Foggy Bottom. It definitely seemed to be a cool place and they have patio dining which was fabulous, since the weather is gorgeous right now. They had happy hour which was nice and were even offering $5.00 wine and 1/2 off bottles of wine. This is an excellent way to try new and different types of wine. J and I both tried the cheese plate, which was extraordinary. The 6 varieties of cheese were served with bread, crackers, nuts, jam, and honey, which brings out lots of flavor in the different varieties. J next had the Mac and Cheese and I had the Lobster Ravioli. They were both small plates, so we each got enough without overdoing it. Which turned out to be excellent planning since we walked home from the metro stop, which is about 1 mile from the apartment. We walked off all that cheese and enjoyed the lovely spring evening.

Altogether, it was an excellent first day and I look forward to tomorrow's surprises. See you next time!

Final Week Prep....Continued

Okay, so I hit publish before I was ready so here is part two of the update.

Ever wonder what 250 lbs of stuff looks like? Well, I suppose that 250 lbs of potatoes looks very different than 250 lbs of feathers, but in real people stuff? Just because I know that you are curious, here you go.

That's it....six boxes. 250 lbs of stuff. Mostly clothes, lots of clothes, and the hangers that those clothes are on. And shoes, did I mention shoes and the shoe thing that the shoes go in. And bath products, girls have a lot of bath products and I am no exception. Just FYI...for those of you who know that I like to cook. I also snuck in my good knife set, my favorite hand grater, two spatulas and a couple of other neat kitchen tools that I didn't want to be without. 

So here's what happens next. They take the six boxes and turn them into two boxes...

Wow, that's it. That is just 2 boxes and they hold 250 lbs of my most precious possessions. Since it is my first UAB (Unaccompanied air baggage) pack-out, I probably included plenty of stuff that I don't need and didn't include lots of stuff that I will need, but you live and you learn. The next time I pack UAB, it will be in preparation for our first overseas posting. I can't wait. I will be a pro by then, right?

On a more somber note, I hate to think about Al having to get the entire rest of the house packed out. I hate it for him, but there is a small part of me that is really glad that I won't be here. Al and the packers will probably be very grateful that I am not constantly looking over their shoulders, too. 

Well, that's it for now. My flight leaves on Saturday so I am going to enjoy one last visit with my friend Felica tonight and will enjoy the day tomorrow with my sweet Al.

Until we meet again..............

Final Week Prep

So I wanted to give everyone an update on where I am in the process, but....


First things first- Sofia got a new haircut and it is just about the cutest thing I have ever seen. I wanted to share it with everyone.

This is the before hair...yes, it is very pretty and very wild and very difficult to manage. But yes, very pretty.

This is the after hair. It is gorgeous and very tame and very easy to manage. I am thinking of her daddy having to be alone with her for two months. This haircut is much better suited to single father life.

So cute and sweet!

The consummate entertainer

Final Week in Gulfport...

I have been debating about whether I wanted to post anything today because honestly I am pretty sad. I had to say goodbye to Garden Park on Friday, which has been my work home for the last 4 years and I really love the people that I worked with there. It was comfortable, it was good, it was safe.


Brandy Spencer Rea came down yesterday and we spent a really nice afternoon and evening saying goodbye (for now). A great meal and a little dancing, we had fun the way we have many times before, during college. It was comfortable, it was good, it was safe. 


This afternoon, I got together with some of the greatest women that I have ever known. Known with affection as, "The Crows", these women have taken me into their group and taught me that friendship can be forever. I see that theirs has been for each other and I am blessed that I am now a part of this group. It was comfortable, it was good, it was safe.


I am beginning this journey with the State Department that may not end up being any of those things; comfortable, good or safe. At least not all three at the same time. I am excited and terrified and going between feelings of elation and utter fear. 


But something happened today at Nugent United Methodist Church; the pastor, Lance Presley, talked about the fact that sometimes we have to give up good things, because we believe something better is coming. Or that the things that we are giving up are keeping us from reaching the better things in our future. I know that he was talking about the time of Lent and the preparation leading up to Easter and the Resurrection, but this really hit home for me. Although the things that I am giving up are comfortable and good and safe, the fact is that I believe that God has a different path for me right now and I have to give these things up or I will never follow this new path. 


So, I have cried and hugged and been sad, but I am also happy and excited about the future.


Well, enough of my ruminations, duty calls. Baths must be given, books must be read and lullabies sung. My family needs me and that is a great thing. 

I will leave you with a picture of a couple of crows....I am so glad that I am a part of the flock!