The Hot Seat

After relocating to DC for nearly three months, I can see what the seat of Washington DC is looking like. And how my mindset was molded to this ideal, growing up in the not so distant city of Germantown, Maryland. 

This is the hot seat. This is where all the laws are passed, where all the decision making is made. This, boy and girls, is the heart of the building of our Nation. 

This week I am attending a week-long training called Washington Tradecraft. Although I am the minority in the audience of Consular, Overseas bureau officers, Political, Economic, Department of Homeland and the like...I am learning about the pressing issues in Washington, see who the key players are, and how to get the attention of those power-making people. Yes, I say people because it is a group consensus. No one person can make it all happen for you.  I guess this is what is meant by “government of the people, for the people and by the people.”

Wow, gives us a different perspective to be in the hot seat in the middle of the workings of our government. Don’t we all wish we were important? 

Bottom line. Things move fast with Congress. If you are not making it a pressing issue, it won’t be. You want change, make it urgent. You wanna keep up? Better be responsive and respond to that email. Oh, yeah and FaceTime is important if you want to survive in a world that associates names and faces, not “handles” and text messages. 

You are in the hot seat. Make your statement now if you want the word to get out, by next year. 

Defining Success

My work trip to Oregon was a success. Although it was not a huge turnout of people who registered versus people who came to the event, I think God helped me reach the people I needed to reach.  I believe we had quality of people versus quantity. I took my time talking to each individual, engaging them. 

One thing I also learned, coming out of the career event, that you can’t change what people are. Those who are right for the job and are interested will come forward. Doesn’t matter what you say, it is not about selling anymore. Sure we bring the positive side and get them interested, but we make it real and tell them what to expect. I am not in the business to waste anyone’s time on earth. 

My husband told me this morning in a text. Why do I keep expecting a different answer? Easy, because I truly haven’t accepted. No matter what I do, I can’t  convince someone (some people) to love me. 

So success is what we make of it. Human develop standards and measures, to define success. In the end, it all works out and we all learn something. Hopefully we will enjoy the journey while we learn about it, in our own way.

Blessings Pour In

It's been a tremendous Mother's Day so far.  I can't ask for more. I didn't expect too much, other than a peaceful Sunday.

It started with church service at 9 AM. I sang with the choir and for the first time since I joined, I'm now catching on. It took some navigating to learn their systems here.  I am a chameleon by trade, I have to learn to adapt. That's what chameleons do. Granted I had tried to change a few "systems" only to make it backfire on me. People are creatures of habit.

Back to Mother's Day. Got my morning cup of Joe followed by a pampering spa session. Then, went to return some stuff from Bed, Bath and Beyond, after I learned a few of the items I bought will not work. Funny how God works things.  They do not recycle at the apartments I am moving into, so the trash can I bought will work out after all, thankfully.  Back in the 1950s they didn't recycle a lot. Therefore, my hubby's system of bringing it to the garage while keeping aesthetics working in the kitchen worked beautifully.  Not today.

Then, my brother and dad showed up and we had a nice takeout lunch at 1:00 pm. I was planning on going to an Asian bible study I have been meaning to go to. You know you lived too long and had a wide vast experience when you realize it's Mother's Day and they most likely they are not going to have one.  My dad called the Christian church and got that right... whew!

I ended the last 20 minutes booking my internet online with Xfinity. I got a chat pop up on my window and got everything done online, without having to step inside an Xfinity store. How nice.  Let's hope no more hiccups. Oh yeah...and the salesperson told me $13 a month.... I'm like yeah right. Can't trick me.  I'm 43 AND I'm an IT person. I'm worst than a parole officer (LOL.......from the words of a person I met on Friday).  At least I'll save $20.00 with a self-install package.  Dag...I knew I chose profession in the 1990s. Grandma did know best, afterall.

Well, I hope your mother's day was as great as mine.

Dear George Washington

As we head into the 4th week of Easter, we continue to see what Jesus's path takes us to -- that is to the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit).  I want to direct this blog as a letter to George Washington, the founding father of America.

Dear George:

When you and your allies got together at the round table, you established basic rules and authority to take into the account of the future, not knowing how we would evolve or how the dynamics would change. It occurred to me, you made sure there were no one absolute power. You also made sure there was a system in place to ensure these powers were not abused (aka bureaurcacy).  Bureau-CRAZY? Yes. Some days it drives me nuts. But there was a reason for everything.  And though we know not what they are, we believe all actions--past, present and future, stem from the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

George, today because of strong spirited people, fighters, warriors, and people of integrity; We are made up of more than just a type the world a accepted at your time.  We are made up of strong men and women (gender), people of various ethnicity (race), and people who don't fit gender as society defines it (LGBTQ), time on the physical body (age) and finally but not in the least, people who choose to believe in their higher power(s) that governs our universe (religion).

Life was so simple in your days. I bet everyone was less stressed! But there were more hardships than we can ever imagine that in your days were NOT available; clean water (but you adapted to it). Motor vehicles (did you say run for fun??) or computers to make us smarter  (PS -- that was facetious).

George, I thank you for what you put in place for us.  Now we as a society must adapt to our ever changing environment for purpose of the survival of the human race.  Heck if you could do it, so can we.

Which one will it be for now?  Survive?  Or Jesus rescues?