Snowmagedden to Snowverkill

I have not written in nearly two months.  I have been trapped in my house since Sunday night.  There are at least 2 feet of snow on the ground. Saturday I went out side to enjoy the snow! Now, if someone told me there were two feet snow I wouldn't know what that means. So let me up that in perspective for you:

1. It passed my knees when I stood in my backyard.
2. A child around the age of 3 would be buried alive if she sat outside without moving while the snow fell.
3. Your couch is probably about two feet off the ground. 
4. The seat of a bench..your average picnic bench...can you see it in your head? Well the snow is level with the seat of the bench. 

The snow was too light so I was unable to make a snowman so I reverted back to my San Diego roots and dug a whole as I would have done on the beach! Unfortunately, a hole in the snow is not as much fun as a hole in sand. =(

I believe that I work at the one restaurant that was open all weekend. Public transit has basically shut down over the course of the last 7 days.   I didn't go into the office Monday through Wednesday.  As predicted, the snow began again on Tuesday night. This resulted in blizzard conditions on Wednesday.  For my friends in California, who still think that winter consists of 40 degree mornings and a little bit of rain, let me tell you what a blizzard is. It means that the snow comes down quickly.  It means that you might not be able to see a foot in front of you.  It means you don't, under ANY circumstances, leave your house.  No matter how long you have been sitting inside.  You think you are out of food...nope, that can of soup you thought you would never eat and the random vegetables in the back of the fridge suddenly make the most delicious dinner you have ever eaten!

Many may be saying to themselves, "Michelle is so dramatic. People deal with blizzards all the the time. It can't be that bad."

You are half right. Yes, people live in cold climates all the time and I am being dramatic. On the other hand, there are millions who are being duped into thinking that winter lasts for four or five months. There are people who think that there should be snow on the ground from November to March.  What they haven't realized yet is that it doesn't have to be that way.  Some people, like myself, define winter as 45 degree mornings and a little bit of rain.  That is what winter should be!

Not to worry everyone! It takes about 2 feet of snow to shut down our nation's capital.  This is going to many more days to recover from. The public transportation that many depend on throughout Virgina and Maryland cannot get into the city.  The House has been closed for the week because Reagan National is still closed.  There are few sidewalks and where they are they usually consist of about 4-5 inches of tightly packed snow to walk on. Nonetheless, DC will recover (in a couple of weeks), the snow piles are taller than most cars, and will be here for many weeks to come.

So let me tell you the lessons I have learned since last week:

1. The grocery story before a storm is a place to avoid. It looks like the world is going to end and the milk and bread is gone quickly.  It will take about an hours to get through the line.
2. Patience is necessary. Everything takes longer. It takes longer to walk places. It takes longer to get food or get a train. 
3. People are friendlier.  Saturday was a ridiculous day, but people realized they just needed to go with it. There is nothing we can do and because of that people waiting in the hour long line at the grocery store or for a train can't help but laugh at the situation. (Note: This is definitely not true for everyone, but most).
4. Snow days exist. I have never had a snow day before, now I am on number 3. I am ready to go back to work but snow days can be enjoyable. 
5. Not all snow is created equal. There is snow that is good for snowman and some that is good for snowboarding.  Snow can also change into snow that is good to build a snowman. I am still determined to make myself a snowman. It is going to happen. 
6.  The recovery is the worst part. After trekking to work and back today with groceries, the lack of sidewalk was not pleasant. You have to take a risk if you want to walk on the sidewalk because at any point there may be an un-shoveled portion, but the street is also a risk of a mean driver splashing water all over you. Public transportation is still limited and SLOW!
7. The Names of the situation are phenomenal. Here are the ones that I have heard
1. Snowmageden
2. Snotorious B.I.G.
3. Sno-pocalypse 
4. Snoverkill (this was the name for the second storm and my personal favorite)

I signed up for a mild DC winter.  A little rain, some cold weather, and a few inches of snow throughout the winter. Instead, I have had record lows and about 55 inches of snow throughout the winter.  Fear not, I am resilient.  I am coping with it. I dislike the groundhog that told me 6 more weeks of winter but I know I will have many more winters over my lifetime to deal with and this one is preparing me for the worst.  Spring better be worth it! Although, DC has had to cut (pun intended) into its grass cutting budget to pay for the snow removal, so it may not be the perfect Spring I have in my head. 

Here are a few more pictures! Enjoy =) 

The piles of snow are indeed taller than that truck...

Employment, the Holidays, and Random DC Moments

December is over half way done and it truly has been a crazy month.  Going back to Thanksgiving, I had a great time in Boston. It was odd not to be home for Thanksgiving. Stephen and I miss our annual game of Battle of Sexes Trivia Pursuit, which is always dramatic and someone ends up mad for a short period of time, but the game is finished (unfortunately with the boys usually winning).  It is unfortunate to miss the game because I am finally at an age where I know the answers to questions and can do a little more than just roll the dice. But it was a great Thanksgiving weekend filled with family.  


On Tuesday after returning back to DC, I got offered a part-time job with HFA and by Thursday I got a full-time job.  I have since accepted the full-time position and will start full-time in the middle of January.  I have been working the last few weeks part-time though.  My official title is still being worked out, but since they are creating a position for me, I have gotten to shape it to what I want in a lot of ways. I will be working with the Federal Policy Director and then taking over some of the Office Management position.  It will be a really good learning experience.  They are really supportive and want to ensure that I am getting what I need out of the position. I have already sat in on conference calls and am giving my opinion on a discussion draft of a bill about educating people and physicians about bleeding disorders, specifically Von Willebrand Disease. I have also gotten to spend time just reading and watching the current healthcare debate. I am now getting paid to do what things I already did! Kisa, who is the Policy Director, is phenomenal.  I have a great deal of support and good people to work with in this position.  


I am going to have to find a balance between my personal opinions and the HFA stance on things. Also, it is also going to be interesting to find a place for my experience with bleeding disorders in this position.  I am looking forward to the challenge and hopefully continue to help the community for as long as I can.  I know that I bring a different perspective than many of the other employees so I look forward to discussions about different policy ideas. 


I am also able to walk to the HFA office, which is very nice.  I am not always a morning person, so the brisk walk helps me wake up and get ready for the day.  Unfortunately, there isn't really a better way to get to work, so for days in the future when it is raining or snowing, my walk to work may become more challenging! 


The Saturday after this, we had our first snow of the season.  It was lovely to watch it fall, but not very fun to walk outside.  DC has a mild winter in comparison to Massachusetts (where most of my family is) but this month it seems to be at the awful temperature of 30-34 degrees. This means that when it is raining, it is an icy rain and when there is no cloud cover, it is just COLD! Compared to what I am used to, this has been something to adapt to.  I am not sure what do after I put on a few layers and still walk outside and am cold! I know I will have a couple of months to figure the weather situation out.  


I have been working close 50 hours a week for the past few weeks, which has been interesting.  I work in the mornings at HFA and at night at the restaurant.  I have been going to museums or coffee shops in between the jobs but also just coming back and taking a nap occasionally.  I will continue to work at the restaurant after the New Year because I do enjoy it and it has been a major place for me to meet people. 


I am looking forward to the next few weeks. I am so excited to go home on Monday. I am going to see a combination of Chapman friends, high school friends, and family.  I am going to be so busy but with the people I love! I am so excited to see everyone because I have learned how many great friends I have on the other side of the country.  I am excited to bake cookies with my Mom and see the family! I am so lucky to have such an amazing place to call home and no matter how long I am away I know that San Diego will always be my home.  


Here are a couple pictures of a few friends and me at the White House Christmas Tree. It was beautiful and a great night in the city! 

Employment

So it has happened. I have found a job. The details are still up in the air and have changed twice this week. I have started working at the Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA).  The week started with a part-time position on the table, but today they offered me a full-time position.  I am going work with them and see what the details are early next week.  


I will update this soon but I thought I would let you all know the exciting news! 

Underemployment

So today marks exactly 6 months since graduation day. I just sent in my first payment for my loans. It is ironic that I have received this college education, that thus far, has me asking people if they want anything to drink. I do not say that because I think I am better than the job I currently have, because I do not. I do know that this position is not what I want to do and as I continue to spend my days reading articles and watching TED videos, I realize how much I enjoy becoming more informed.

I recently looked through my cover letters that I have sent out for about 6 months now. They have definitely improved. There are some that seem more generic and then there are some where I have exaggerated more than I probably should have. Some cover letters have resulted in phone interviews and some have responded in form emails telling that while I have an excellent background or a phenomenal amount of passion, they have found someone with more experience or something of that sort. The problem is that all I have to offer is my passion and willingness to learn.

Six months of apply for jobs and at a very slim estimate of 50 jobs with people I really want to work for, not to mention the random jobs that I find on Craiglist have led me to very little. It is a state of rejection that I have never known before. I have been able to read blogs and talk to friends about how I am not unique. I am competing with people who have graduated this year, last year, and people who are graduating in December at a time where the unemployment rate is higher than it has been in decades. Yet, this information is not always comforting.

Writing a cover letter for a job where the requirements are that I can use a computer, fax machine, and answer phones is challenging. I have to convince people that I am capable of using equipment that I have grown up using. I trying to get people to let me do basic office tasks while making it seem like I will be honored to make them copies and make their travel arrangements. Yet, nothing.

The degree I received in May was worth it. I have friends to commiserate with about being unemployed. I have pictures to fill my room with and I have memories that I will cherish for as long as I live. But as I mark the six month point, I remain underemployed. I am being denied the ability to use my degree and my passion.

I will continue to write the cover letters and send them out. I will contact random people who might be able to help me out. Until I get my chance, I will continue to smile at my customers and tell them how to get water from the Coke machine.

I read a blog recently that mentioned how TV has ruined us! It was quite funny but very true. Shows like Seinfeld and Friends have groups of people who never seem to work and yet live fabulous lives in fabulous apartments. I, too, want to live in New York and go out all the time, live in a beautifully furnished apartment, and never go to work! So if you know how this works, please let me know ASAP! Until then, I will continue to write cover letters.

A Life Update

So as pointed out by Chrissy, I have not written anything in a month! So here is a short update on my life working backwards.

This past weekend was a blast! Alyssa and Amy, two friends from Chapman, came to visit me. It was so nice to have two of my best friends in DC.

We got to go out a little, did some sight-seeing, took an amazing number of pictures, and laughed a lot! It was a good weekend for all of us! The weather was perfect! This is us at the WWII Memorial.

I learned that I have adapted to the cold weather! I didn't think it was cold out, while Alyssa (also from San Diego), told me that it was, in fact, cold. I am still not sure that I will survive the winter.

I am still working at the pizza restaurant. It has been very busy there since Obama mentioned the restaurant in a speech about small businesses. It makes it all the more fun at work. I really like the people I work with. I have been able to go out with one of the woman I work with. She took me to a place with live music in Adams Morgan. It is really nice to be making friends. I ran into an old friend on a bus a couple of weeks ago so that has been nice. I have also met a few customers at work and through some of these people. Unfortunately, I work mostly nights so it has made it difficult to make plans with people. I have also been invited to a few holiday parties, which is exciting!

I am heading to Boston next Wednesday for Thanksgiving. I am so excited to see my brother, Stephen, as well as the rest of the family. It is going to weird to not be with Anthony and my parents but I am happy to be able to see everyone else! I also bought my ticket home for Christmas. I will be home for a week so that will be really nice. When I get back I am going to Philly with another friend from Chapman and then we are going to go to New York City for New Year's Eve, where we will meet up with Craig and few others from Chapman. I am really excited for this!

While I continue the job search, I am taking advantage of being able to take time off from work. Financially, it may not make the most sense, but I am doing just fine there so 2 weeks off around Christmas will be just fine. I have a few leads for openings after the holiday season.

I have also started looking into teaching English abroad next year. I would love to go Africa, but Asian countries have more benefits so I will most likely go there. I am doing my research and looking at Thailand at the moment. =) Studying for the GRE has not been very successful lately, but I am going to set a schedule for myself.

I slipped twice last week calling DC "home" which I think is a good thing. I am feeling good about life!

Love you all!