A little of this and that

The song in my head for the moment is "Coming Out of the Dark" by Gloria Estefan. It is dedicated to my dear roommate Sara Muse, whom has sadly left our apartment to search out opportunities outside of DC. We sang this together as we were trying to figure out the next steps in her life and mine. So inspiring. I loved watching the youtube video where she is given a standing ovation just for being there--for making it as far as she did. She couldn't have done it without the love and support of her loved ones.

Why be afraid if I'm not alone
Though life is never easy the rest in unkown
Up to now for me its been hands against stone
Spent each and every moment
Searching for what to believe

Coming out of the dark,
I finally see the light now
Its shinning on me
Coming out of the dark,
I know the love that saved me
You're sharing with me

Starting again is part of the plan
And Ill be so much stronger holding your hand
Step by step Ill make it through I know I can
It may not make it easier but I have felt you
Near all the way

Coming out of the dark,
I finally see the light now
Its shinning on me
Coming out of the dark,
I know the love that saved me
You're sharing with me

Forever, forever I stand on the rock of your love
Forever Ill stand on the rock
Forever, forever I stand on the rock of your love
Love is all it takes, no matter what we face

Coming out of the dark,
I finally see the light now
Its shinning on me
Coming out of the dark,
I know the love that saved me
You're sharing with me


The story in my head at the moment happened last Thursday--or maybe Wednesday. I was going to meet one of my international visitors and his interpreter. I had planned to meet them outside of one of their meetings right before lunch time. The meeting was at Dupont Circle, so I planned in time to walk there from my office, drop off the material, grab some food and then head back. Well, plans changed and I ended up waiting for a half hour in the building when he had actually already left. At the time I was not aware that he was already heading for a different part of town. At the time I was trying to be patient and somehow managed to start a conversation with one of the security guards for the building. We talked about where we were from, how long we'd been in DC, where we had lived and where we would like to live. He is from El Salvador. He has lived in Bethesda close to where I live now. He doesn't like it when the first and second floor building tenants complain about the air, because it is always women complaining about it being too hot or too cold--everyday. It amused me to hear him talk about it, because to me it sounded typical of older women who are probably going through menopause with hot flashes, etc.--it was only women complaining. I didn't tell him this though. He told me how he'd like to go to California and he has some friends there, but is expensive and far. Sometime he will go out west. I hope he does. I hope that he does what he sets out to do. His name is Camilo.

The goal that I am interested in setting has to do with work and my career. I'd like to set a time frame for how long I'll be working where I am and goals on what I need to learn and accomplish before that time. I'm forced, according to my contract, to complete a three month self-evaluation within the next few weeks. The evaluation will help give me more direction on what I should accomplish while working at IIE. I'm also realizing as I'm struggling to do my taxes at the last minute and running out of time to give my friend help on his translation for publishing, that I need to make better use of my time. It's more and more precious--especially the moments when I'm not at work.

beck