Today is the second snow day for LCPS! Yesterday we had to be at work on time, but because of ice today, we got a two hour delay! So I'm using my time wisely and finally updating my blog :).
First things first: http://joannastravels1.shutterfly.com/ is where I'm currently posting photos from my life. We'll see how long that lasts, but I feel like someday I should just make myself a for realsies blog that easily lets me put up photos and stories.
I still really like my job, although it's a lot like high school because the special ed department is a bunch of women who tend to get cliquey, catty, and posessive. Which is rotten, but I've come to the conclusion that this type of thing happens in almost all office environments.
Speaking of THE OFFICE, I have two Office-like things in my building that brings me right back to Whipple and watching the show with Carly, Kay, and RM.
1. There is a woman there who is very much like Angela. Minus the affair with Dwight. But she looks a lot like her and her personality is very similar.
2. There is an ongoing Cold War in the bathroom. Someone (we'll call them USSR) keeps putting one of those plug in air fresheners in the ladies restroom. And they smell good, but they're very potent. It's okay with me, but evidently somebody (nickname: USA) is not okay with the airfresheners. So they STEAL the little bottle of fragrance and unplug the thingy from the wall and leave it next to the sink. And it happens multiple times per month and cracks me up. I don't know who's doing it but I hope they continue because it is an amazing way to entertain me.
Ok, that's all for today - gotta get dressed for work finally.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Life changes in a flash
Soooo, I'm a bad blogger. But I have come up with some relatively good excuses. I've ordered them from least credible to most credible:
Reason #10
I apartment shopped for about 2 weeks nonstop. I looked at a bajillion places before deciding on a one bedroom in Ashburn, VA. So that took up all of my free time when I was unemployed. Hence the lack of updating.
Reason #9:
I got a job. With Loudoun County Public Schools in the Office of Special Education. I'm a Program Asssistant, and there are a lot of people in our department (I'd say at least 50 personnel) who just work in Spec. Ed. for LCPS. We are based in this huge 5 story building in Ashburn VA right off of the toll road. If any of you have driven to the Leesburg Outlets, look for a large brick building full of windows right next to the Greenway. That's my building! We're really busy there and I'm sure they wouldn't approve of me using their internet to update my blog.
Reason #8:
I moved into the Ashburn place. Which is still happening. Had to pack up stuff from Ashburn and stuff from Winchester. And then move it to Ashburn. And then unpack it. And then get rid of all the trash. And then buy a trashcan and other crap to put in the new place to store all of the moved crap. And then sleep.
Reason #7:
We lost to Boston College. Which I wasn't really surprised about. We haven't been great this season and we weren't playing at home and we were a team that apparently has some bad voodoo out on us. I'm hoping Florida State's voodoo has run out on us. Because that could turn out pretty crappy for us too. I'm not sure why this stopped me from updating - I bet BC put some voodoo on all Hokie fans that stopped them from being able to do normal things, just like our football team.
Reason #6
Project Runway was on. And I couldn't stop watching it to update - I would miss something. Especially with Kenley the dumb biatch. WUT WUT!
Reason #5
The Office was also on. 'Nuf said.
Reason #4
I went to the Washington International Horse Show last night. Although this doesn't seem major, just WAIT! You know Carson Kressley, from Queer Eye and How to Look Good Naked on Bravo? Yeah, he was at the WIHS. Riding. An American Saddlebred, which are some of the sissiest looking horses ever. Of course. He was wearing a blue sparkle one-piece pants and western shirt combo, a giant cowboy hat, and his horse had it's hooves painted silver sparkle. It was hilarious and wonderful. He is very flamboant. I was too distracted after the show to update (obvi).
Reason #3
I'm a procrastinator and lazy. So if I see the computer across the room from where my butt is firmly planted on the couch, I'm not going to get up to get it.
Reason #2
My weekends have been filled with trips to various places (Blacksburg, Nashville, Arlington, Charlottesville wedding, etc.), so I really didn't have any down time to update.
Reason #1
The new apartment doesn't have internet and cable yet! Thankfully they're coming Monday to hook us up. Which is good, because Patty and I are getting tired of watching movies and talking to one another as our only thing to do once we get home from work. I think this is my best excuse. Hence it's status as #1.
Reason #10
I apartment shopped for about 2 weeks nonstop. I looked at a bajillion places before deciding on a one bedroom in Ashburn, VA. So that took up all of my free time when I was unemployed. Hence the lack of updating.
Reason #9:
I got a job. With Loudoun County Public Schools in the Office of Special Education. I'm a Program Asssistant, and there are a lot of people in our department (I'd say at least 50 personnel) who just work in Spec. Ed. for LCPS. We are based in this huge 5 story building in Ashburn VA right off of the toll road. If any of you have driven to the Leesburg Outlets, look for a large brick building full of windows right next to the Greenway. That's my building! We're really busy there and I'm sure they wouldn't approve of me using their internet to update my blog.
Reason #8:
I moved into the Ashburn place. Which is still happening. Had to pack up stuff from Ashburn and stuff from Winchester. And then move it to Ashburn. And then unpack it. And then get rid of all the trash. And then buy a trashcan and other crap to put in the new place to store all of the moved crap. And then sleep.
Reason #7:
We lost to Boston College. Which I wasn't really surprised about. We haven't been great this season and we weren't playing at home and we were a team that apparently has some bad voodoo out on us. I'm hoping Florida State's voodoo has run out on us. Because that could turn out pretty crappy for us too. I'm not sure why this stopped me from updating - I bet BC put some voodoo on all Hokie fans that stopped them from being able to do normal things, just like our football team.
Reason #6
Project Runway was on. And I couldn't stop watching it to update - I would miss something. Especially with Kenley the dumb biatch. WUT WUT!
Reason #5
The Office was also on. 'Nuf said.
Reason #4
I went to the Washington International Horse Show last night. Although this doesn't seem major, just WAIT! You know Carson Kressley, from Queer Eye and How to Look Good Naked on Bravo? Yeah, he was at the WIHS. Riding. An American Saddlebred, which are some of the sissiest looking horses ever. Of course. He was wearing a blue sparkle one-piece pants and western shirt combo, a giant cowboy hat, and his horse had it's hooves painted silver sparkle. It was hilarious and wonderful. He is very flamboant. I was too distracted after the show to update (obvi).
Reason #3
I'm a procrastinator and lazy. So if I see the computer across the room from where my butt is firmly planted on the couch, I'm not going to get up to get it.
Reason #2
My weekends have been filled with trips to various places (Blacksburg, Nashville, Arlington, Charlottesville wedding, etc.), so I really didn't have any down time to update.
Reason #1
The new apartment doesn't have internet and cable yet! Thankfully they're coming Monday to hook us up. Which is good, because Patty and I are getting tired of watching movies and talking to one another as our only thing to do once we get home from work. I think this is my best excuse. Hence it's status as #1.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
I'm a master of laziness
List of things I meant to do today:
1. Do 2 lessons on Microsoft.com about MS Access 2003
2. Take the dog on a walk
3. Work on my quilt
4. Apply to 2 jobs
5. Make phone ring telling me I got the Loudoun County job
6. Organize the crap in my room
7. Drop clothes off at GoodWill
List of things I actually did today:
1. Ate breakfast
2. Read part of my book
3. Stalked (of course!)
4. Made lemon bars
5. Took the dog on a walk
In case you weren't keeping track, I got one thing done. Yup, ONE. Bah humbug. Unemployment is boooooooooooooooooooooring.
On the bright side, I'm the dog's favorite person now because I stay home with her when everyone else leaves. But she's kinda a whore for attention, so I'm not super excited.
1. Do 2 lessons on Microsoft.com about MS Access 2003
2. Take the dog on a walk
3. Work on my quilt
4. Apply to 2 jobs
5. Make phone ring telling me I got the Loudoun County job
6. Organize the crap in my room
7. Drop clothes off at GoodWill
List of things I actually did today:
1. Ate breakfast
2. Read part of my book
3. Stalked (of course!)
4. Made lemon bars
5. Took the dog on a walk
In case you weren't keeping track, I got one thing done. Yup, ONE. Bah humbug. Unemployment is boooooooooooooooooooooring.
On the bright side, I'm the dog's favorite person now because I stay home with her when everyone else leaves. But she's kinda a whore for attention, so I'm not super excited.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
August
So far I've played tennis, kinda organized my room, job hunted like Elmer Fudd for Buggs Bunny, and visited Patty every weekend. I have an interview on Thursday with Loudoun County Public Schools to work as a Program Assistant and would really like to get that job. I want to move to and work in Leesburg - it's the right mix between Washington, DC and Blacksburg - just the right mix of bars and cows.
I miss my friends at Tech, band (for the socializing), and the carefreeness that comes with being a senior. But life moves on with or without me, so I guess Ima gonna have to jump on the train regardless of if I'm ready or not. Bah humbug.
I miss my friends at Tech, band (for the socializing), and the carefreeness that comes with being a senior. But life moves on with or without me, so I guess Ima gonna have to jump on the train regardless of if I'm ready or not. Bah humbug.
Hey look, an update!
So I've run out of other things to procrastinate with, but luckily I have this blog! So, here goes an update:
1. I went to Africa. It was awweeesssommmeeee. I was really sad (like close to tears) when we had to leave, and I hope I get the opportunity to go back again someday. Here's what we did for the two weeks:
Day 1: flew KLM to Amsterdam and then to Mt. Kilimanjaro airport in Tanzania. Over 8,000 miles one way. Two flights each about 8.5 hours long. Luckily they had tv screens in each passenger's headrest. I watched movies and played backgammon with my mom (through the tv system since we weren't sitting next to each other - how cool is that?).
Day 2: First day of safari - we saw a big male elephant walking through the shrub forest, zebra just chillin on the side of the road, wildebest, impala, and some sweet birds. We arrived at camp (already set up for us) in the late afternoon, ate dinner cooked by a chef (lots of yummy veggies and meat), and talked with our fellow safariers. During the night a herd of elephants walked through our camp and you could see their paths the morning after in the tall grass - too cool.
Day 3: pretty much the same, except we saw a female cheetah with 3 cubs (they were hiding in the grass, there could have been more), vultures, and bat eared foxes. we also saw an elephant taking a mud bath
Day 4: we went to Gibb's Farm, an organic farm that supplies a restaurant on the side of a mountain. saw an elephant slide, where elephants sit on their butts and slide down to get to a waterfall (our guide says they climb back up a different side of the mountain). didn't get to see it in action tho. also saw a bush baby.
Day 5: saw bajillions of flamingos on a lake eating smelly algae
Day 6: saw a Maasai village and touched cattle and watched the sun rise. bought some bracelets and necklaces
Day 7: Hiked to a waterfall (up the river it fed) and played in the water.
Day 8: when on a night safari, where we saw an aardvark and spring hare (my second favorite animal after a dik-dik).
The rest of the safari was just day after day after day of seeing amazing animals and landscapes. Here are a few professional pics that show what we saw:
http://www.amani-tours.com/images/ngorongoro1.jpg
http://eatmorecookies.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/800px-topi_rwanda.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Secretary_Bird.jpg
And this picture is a lot like the tents we stayed in: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/109149067_a40e49a08a.jpg?v=0
Here's a popular song that captures the spirit of Tanzania:
Jambo, Jambo Bwana
Habari guni? Mzuri sana
Wageni mwakaribishwa
Tanzania hakuna matata
Wageni Karibuni - hakuna matata
Nchi yenye amani - hakuna matata
Ukiwa Tarangire - hakuna matata
Ukuwa Serengeti - hakuna matata
Hello, Hello Mister
How are you? Very well.
Visitors are welcome
Tanzania no problems
You are welcome - no problems
Peaceful country 0 no problems
When you're in Tarangire - no problems
When you're in Serengeti - no problems
1. I went to Africa. It was awweeesssommmeeee. I was really sad (like close to tears) when we had to leave, and I hope I get the opportunity to go back again someday. Here's what we did for the two weeks:
Day 1: flew KLM to Amsterdam and then to Mt. Kilimanjaro airport in Tanzania. Over 8,000 miles one way. Two flights each about 8.5 hours long. Luckily they had tv screens in each passenger's headrest. I watched movies and played backgammon with my mom (through the tv system since we weren't sitting next to each other - how cool is that?).
Day 2: First day of safari - we saw a big male elephant walking through the shrub forest, zebra just chillin on the side of the road, wildebest, impala, and some sweet birds. We arrived at camp (already set up for us) in the late afternoon, ate dinner cooked by a chef (lots of yummy veggies and meat), and talked with our fellow safariers. During the night a herd of elephants walked through our camp and you could see their paths the morning after in the tall grass - too cool.
Day 3: pretty much the same, except we saw a female cheetah with 3 cubs (they were hiding in the grass, there could have been more), vultures, and bat eared foxes. we also saw an elephant taking a mud bath
Day 4: we went to Gibb's Farm, an organic farm that supplies a restaurant on the side of a mountain. saw an elephant slide, where elephants sit on their butts and slide down to get to a waterfall (our guide says they climb back up a different side of the mountain). didn't get to see it in action tho. also saw a bush baby.
Day 5: saw bajillions of flamingos on a lake eating smelly algae
Day 6: saw a Maasai village and touched cattle and watched the sun rise. bought some bracelets and necklaces
Day 7: Hiked to a waterfall (up the river it fed) and played in the water.
Day 8: when on a night safari, where we saw an aardvark and spring hare (my second favorite animal after a dik-dik).
The rest of the safari was just day after day after day of seeing amazing animals and landscapes. Here are a few professional pics that show what we saw:
http://www.amani-tours.com/images/ngorongoro1.jpg
http://eatmorecookies.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/800px-topi_rwanda.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Secretary_Bird.jpg
And this picture is a lot like the tents we stayed in: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/109149067_a40e49a08a.jpg?v=0
Here's a popular song that captures the spirit of Tanzania:
Jambo, Jambo Bwana
Habari guni? Mzuri sana
Wageni mwakaribishwa
Tanzania hakuna matata
Wageni Karibuni - hakuna matata
Nchi yenye amani - hakuna matata
Ukiwa Tarangire - hakuna matata
Ukuwa Serengeti - hakuna matata
Hello, Hello Mister
How are you? Very well.
Visitors are welcome
Tanzania no problems
You are welcome - no problems
Peaceful country 0 no problems
When you're in Tarangire - no problems
When you're in Serengeti - no problems
Friday, July 18, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
America, Africa, and other A words
America: properly pronounced "Ah-murr-ica", celebrates it's day of independence on July 4th. I went out to Winchester for the 4th of July weekend. Played tennis, shot off illegal fireworks, drank beer, went 4-wheeling at 1 am, ate at Checkers for the first time, saw "Get Smart" (funny, but not worth the $9 ticket), drank $4 bottle of wine (La Mancha Merlot - good shit), watched 12098234-hour long most amazingest tennis match ever
Africa: So my family is going on a safari in two weeks and I'm really excited. We're going to Tanzania and going to see lions and tigers and cheetahs and rhinos and elephants and the Ngorogoro crater. Patty's dad thinks we're crazy to go without guns, but I'm pretty sure we'll be safe - plus, all I have to be able to do is run faster than someone else, and there are some old-looking people going with us, so I think I'm good. I just hope I don't get too sunburnt and bug-bitten.
Apples: every time I eat an apple or pear I get a really funky taste in my mouth like 5 minutes after the first bite. It just started happening like 3 months ago, and it sucks because I really like those fruits, but the new aftertaste sucks, so I'm laying off them. Boo.
Well, that's all for my A post today.
Adios. (sorry, I couldn't resist!)
Africa: So my family is going on a safari in two weeks and I'm really excited. We're going to Tanzania and going to see lions and tigers and cheetahs and rhinos and elephants and the Ngorogoro crater. Patty's dad thinks we're crazy to go without guns, but I'm pretty sure we'll be safe - plus, all I have to be able to do is run faster than someone else, and there are some old-looking people going with us, so I think I'm good. I just hope I don't get too sunburnt and bug-bitten.
Apples: every time I eat an apple or pear I get a really funky taste in my mouth like 5 minutes after the first bite. It just started happening like 3 months ago, and it sucks because I really like those fruits, but the new aftertaste sucks, so I'm laying off them. Boo.
Well, that's all for my A post today.
Adios. (sorry, I couldn't resist!)
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