Mosquitoes? Mosquit-OWES

I am finally back at my lovely hotel in Key Biscayne tonight and what a rough day it has been. Even though it seemed like EVERYTHING was going wrong, I was enjoying the fact that it was super sunny, blue skies all around me and a day of possibilities. Earlier I was waiting on a cab to head to the airport for client arrivals and all of a sudden positivity turned into panic. I looked down after a few minutes resting my feet and my legs had spots on them! I blinked and looked again and realized I hadn't contracted a strange Southern Florida disease, I was in fact COVERED in mosquitoes. SO then I naturally did what any sane person would do - I started slapping myself and hopping around the outdoor furniture as bell men ran to my rescue. I was acting as if I was engulfed in flames!

This made me begin to really think about these pesky little bugs. They are so small, but they cause such pain and irritation. NO matter how much you do to prevent their attack, bug spray, candles, pants - somehow they find there way to your flesh. This also made me think about how all day long I had minor issues to troubleshoot, and they also were all small and irritating. These issues were like the mosquitoes of life. Small, insignificant things that just cause more pain than they are worth. Over the past few years I have developed somewhat of a tough skin. Almost to the point that I thought it was impossible to penetrate by intruders. Unfortunately I was wrong, and the bugs got me again. My mother always said bugs bite me because I am so sweet. Hopefully clients will believe that too.

Balancing Act

Today I am flustered by all of my responsibilities and struggling with the whole idea of a healthy balance of work and life. It seems like when one area excels the other suffers and vice versa. I have some friends going through rough times and separation with their partners while climbing the corporate ladder, and other friends going through life changes such as marriages and new relationships at the same time they are leaving the work force or switching jobs. Can happiness on both fronts coexist?

People say "put your heart into it" when you are trying to make something work. This saying is universal when referring to work and life. If you succeed at putting your heart into work, you are subsequently not putting your heart into your relationship? I don't know if this is true, but it raises a lot of questions to me.

I am heading out of town for work for five days. I am putting my heart into a successful program for a client. It isn't going to be easy, but I know that it will be meaningful for the client and myself. However, I am leaving behind the most wonderful man I have ever met. I can see it now...we will find it hard over those days to connect, through missed calls, opposite work schedules and the sheer exhaustion of having to talk on the phone for an extended period of time. Not fun. Who is winning in this scenario?

I have always been willing to bury myself in my career. Through all of my adult life, I have found confidence, stability and happiness in the work that I do. I was always willing to move jobs for myself, leaving friends, family and opening a new chapter. It was so easy, but not anymore.

Unfortunately I don't have answers this go-around, but I am searching for the balanced scale. I will let you know when I achieve it.

Rain can't dampen my mood

Rain rain go away...it seems that as soon as I moved back to DC, that we have been hit with all sorts of rain showers. At first I didn't care because I was back and happy as a lark. But as I commuted to work today I felt myself fall deeper and deeper into a gloomy state. But the main reason I think I was so down is because I have really wanted to ride my bike into work, but every time I find the motivation, I have to do a “rain” check and let the rain wash away my hopes of an uplifting ride. Bummer.

Austin has been trying to get me to ride my bike to work, not only to get me there in a more timely manner (it would shave about 15-20 minutes off my commute which is already an hour both ways) but it is such a great source of stress relief and exercise. Of course as soon as I begin to get comfortable with the idea, Nicole and I passed a cyclist last night (not biker as I was corrected by Austin) that had been run down by a car. It was terrifying to think that I could be in that same position, flat on my back wondering how many injuries I just obtained - not fun. I guess also what is holding me back is that I don’t want to walk into the office and smell like outside or look like I was just run through a wash cycle. I am lucky that I can know my schedule a day in advance, but my hair would just look awful! Hummm…something to think about.

On the flip side, the rain is also washing away all the traces of the last few days of pollen. Washington DC has quite a high pollen count and I have seen the worst of it this season. Now instead of going for a tissue, I just grab a dirty t-shirt or towel…gross I know, but I am sick of watching the paper fly off the roll. SO wasteful. Also, I think that Austin is going to develop a tick if I continue to sneeze incessantly in his ear as we watch TV and my account coordinator at work calls me the “sneezy girl.” Great, real professional. Hopefully this time the pollen will stay away for a while or I will be forced to insist on a discount at the counter when buying my next family size bottle of Benadryl.

So today and the rain has dampened my hair and mood, but can’t wash away my hope for a great afternoon.

Birthday Month is here!!!

Yes, yes. You heard correctly - it's BIRTHDAY MONTH!!! I can't believe it is already here, and it is so nice since I am coming off SUCH a fabulous weekend! Austin had the weekend off from work, so we met up Friday at a little Belgian place called Belga Cafe. It is SO super yummy and has the best beer list around. On Saturday, we ran, had breakfast at Ted's Bulletin and then biked around the monuments all afternoon. Such a great day in Washington!

Then I joined Lindley, my fabulous friend as her plus one to the Capitol File White House Correspondence Dinner After Party. We had dinner at SEI, a great new-ish Sushi place in Penn Quarter and then headed to the Reagan Building for the celeb sightings. We saw David Arquette, Alyssa Milano, Michelle Trachtenberg(Oh Georgina!) Jeremy Piven, Omar Epps, Tim Daly, Cheryl Hines and many others. It was so fun to see the step and repeat and watch the flashbulbs explode as they entered the room. The decor was green themed, and the editor of Capitol File, Kate Bennett, was the most stunning individual in the room!

And this was just the beginning. It will be a month to remember people! So if you dare, join in on the fun! My crowd always has room for one more!

Wings or Roots Part II

So I am heading back to Georgia this weekend for my wonderful friend Miranda's wedding. I am so excited and filled with joy as I decide what to pack, who to see, etc. It is so nice to be far away because there is nothing better than the feeling of being missed, and coming home to people that you love.

However, I have been feeling slightly disconnected lately - I haven't spoken to my friends as often as I used to, I didn't get home for a friends wedding, I have to opt out of my ten year high school reunion because I am busy, the list of things I am "missing" goes on and on. But the truth of the matter is that I love these people, but my life in DC is just perfect. Could it be that I am planting roots here? Am I finally finding a home somewhere far from it?

All my friends that I have talked to since I have been back recite the same line "you're finally home" and it is like music to my ears and makes me feel complete. But people who don't know me ask "where are you from?" and all I want to scream is DC! But alas, I can't deny my Georgia roots. Oh...wings or roots. This is still tripping me up on my road to enlightenment.