Thank Heaven for Multi-Cultural Ties

I flew in late last Sunday, arriving too late to Metro back to NW DC.  So armed with my Lotto winnings... I took a taxi home from DCA.

I had a very chipper South African gentleman for my post-midnight ride.  And he was teasing me for traveling light.  He asked me if I  was a musician and I told him I loved to sing & play guitar, but that wasn't my job.  He started talking about music being a way in South Africa to keep a positive attitude.  He then asked if I knew any Janis Joplin.

PLEASE.... having nothing to lose, I broke out with "Mercedes Benz".  He laughed and started up with the refrain from "Me & Bobbie McGee".  I joined him until neither of us could remember the words. 

He then ask me if I knew any Aretha Franklin.  Well, I wrapped my alto around "RESPECT" and he sang along with me...

We ended our late night serenade with a little "Its a Wonderful World".  And, strangely enough, my cab fare seemed to be about $10 less than my usual.

Its funny; this middle aged white chick and this very dark African man laughing and singing through the streets of DC at midnight on a Sunday.

In the words of John Prine, its a big ol' crazy world.

Inside or Outside

I have had wanderlust a lot lately. 

So I keep trying to find things I can do that are a little dangerous but aren't going to totally blow what I have.  I find myself wandering downtown looking at lofts, and wishing I could just move into one.  I look at corsets.  I probably spend too much money on toys.   I test drive hot cars I can't afford. I jump into frozen lakes.

I am the responsible one - the one who remembers birthdays, and sends the perfect present.  And bakes. And always goes the extra mile at work.  And is (almost) always the designated driver.

But sometimes, I just want to jump on a plane and go somewhere until my savings run out.  Sign up to be the computer geek at McMurdo Station.  Go to Bermuda and sail back to the Carolinas.  Get lost in Mumbai.  Walk the Santiago De Compostela.  Fly.  Dive. 

As chatty as I can be, its always a big surprise to many people that I am very "internally" driven.  I enjoy people, but I like being alone.  And I do things because I think its the right thing to so; not because it is what others think. I appreciate all my responsibilities.  But I am so much more than the labels people hang on me.

I want to make a change in the world.  Even a little ripple.  When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."

Adversity Can Bring out the Best in People

As you all know, us Feds - you know the bums you like to blame for being lazy and overpaid - dodged a bullet and are still working.  So we will still maintain your highways, and land planes and protect your country.

But last week, when we were still preparing for furlough, two truly cool things happened in my eyes.  People started Facebook groups to encourage and direct Feds who wanted to do some volunteer work if we were going to be unable to work. (Remember - if we were non-essential, we legally CANNOT do work for our agencies).  And lots of Feds were getting ready to volunteer starting Monday. 

The second cool things was, someone was organizing a volleyball tournament for the Lincoln Fields near the National Mall.  Even if we couldn't work, we were going to have a good time!

I am glad that I am not furloughed.  But I was ready to go do some mentoring.  And tree planting. So now, I will just have to find some weekend time to help out

And, if anyone needs an enthusiastic but lousy VB player...

Furlough or not to Furlough?

I know furloughs have a history of getting your back pay MOST of the time, but I have some issues knowing that those arguing the budget will still get their paychecks no matter what happens.

Barack Obama                                                           $400,000 plus $50,000 NON-TAXABLE
Senate Majotity Leader, John Boehner                        223,500
Senate Minorty Leader, Harry Reid                            193,400     
House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor                           193,400 
House Minoroty Leader, Harry Reid                           193,400  
Senate Budget Leader, Kent Conrad                            174,000  (Senate Default Salary)
House Budget Leader, Paul Ryan                                174,000   (House Default Salary)

800,000 Federal workers furloughed.... no tax returns processed.  No National Parks.  No Smithsonian. Military on duty, but not paid until the budget is resolved.  Same with air traffic controllers. And mail persons

I not only will not be paid - the government cannot accept volunteers.  So if I check mail, work on policies, or scan networks - I can be fired.

I am worried about the money.  But I will live.  But the average government employee is not me.  Most people are not at my pay grade.  There are janitors, and lawn care, and rangers, computer support people, clerks, instructors, docents.

I hope Congress stops grandstanding and realize that they amount of money they are arguing about is less than .5% of the Federal Budget.