Working on the weekend

Yesterday at work was quiet, no management around. I appreciated the less relaxed atmosphere but was almost bored. I called restaurants in Paris that have really expensive menus. Also called Italy with an interpreter (turns out waiter spoke great English) and was pleased to recognize some Italian.
I haven't been waking up early enough to eat breakfast. I should just bring some milk and cereal to work for the week (before they clean the fridge this Friday).
Shoot, I have to mail in a pre-payment and form for a doc's apt and totally wasn't counting on the post office not being open tomorrow; I may have to take it in person b/c it's required before noon the day before, Wed. Ugh. I don't have a job where I can take an hour break.
I enjoyed talking with a college friend last night. I had proposed we see a comedian but then I wasn't sure I'd enjoy it, and she didn't care to go. In the end, I could only think of getting sangria up the road at the Spanish restaurant. She appreciated that because in Madison, where she goes to grad school, it's beer everywhere, not so much wine. I wasn't paying attention (guess just as well) to a couple behind us who were having a fight. I noticed the woman had left, and that the guy was sitting by himself for a few. Then another couple was apparently arguing. Ha, in that sense, I could do without a boyfriend.

Called a friend the other night and self-imposed a sleepover, haha. I will be in Charlottesville for a concert, and whenever I drive an hour somewhere and would go home at night, I prefer to stay (except for a Saturday night when I want some nightlife). The pork and bourbon festival is next weekend; think some friends will go. There is another food fest on Sunday that I invited the Cville friend to.
Ok, gots to go, whoah!

DC trip with Catherine

I try to keep a journal when I'm travelling but find I don't often feel like writing about it in my blog after the fact; it's like, it's passed and time to do other things.
Because I didn't have WiFi yday at my cousin's, I wrote things in my travel journal, so will write from there. Now I know the wireless code is on the box!

Actually, I wrote in French while in DC, so will translate.

I slept very well at the hostel. While I am young, and even after, I think I prefer hostels because hotels are so solitary; here one can meet Swiss, Chinese, French..
At the Asian Festival, there were 3 stages for peformances. I took a lot of photos. I felt a bit lonely there, thinking, "Why didn't I ask a friend to join?" but then this feeling passed, partially because there was interesting bellydancing and nice costumes to see.
Catherine and I arranged to meet up at 6pm at the hostel. We decided to try a Mexican restaurant that specializes in Oaxacan cuisine. I love that word "Oaxaca." I want to go just for the name (and blue corn tortillas). I had printed a 10% discount coupon. We walked a lot to arrive there. There wasn't a free table when we got there so we had a drink at the bar downstairs. Mojito ;). The hostess came down shortly after to say we could sit upstairs. The menu consisted of mole for the most part. I had amarillito (yellow) and Catherine, negro, with chicken. Then we walked to go back. I saw "Matchbox," where I had brunch with a friend a few months ago. There I had beer from San Fran infused with watermelon juice!

On Sunday we had breakfast at the hostel, which I last did with my sister and dad 2 Septembers ago before I started this dismal job. I proposed we go to Pentagon City shopping mall, where I had been last time, but it didn't open til 11. In the meantime, we looked at magazines in Borders and sipped on mango tea (Catherine) and early grey caramel latte (me) from Caribou. I wish I had left my backpack at the hostel for a small fee since we were back in that area later. We went to the Chinese cultural center to take a free tour on Chinese and German immigrants. I wasn't as interested in the latter. The tour didn't keep my interest very well but Catherine liked it, which is good. I felt lucky we were there 1 of the 2 weekends in the year they give such tours :). After that, we split ways because she wanted to go to the Capitol again. I went to a food festival but took a long time to walk there and wasn't that impressed with it. Then I went to search a metro and walked more than necessary, going to Farragut North on red line when I really wanted blue line. Then not paying attention, listening to iPod, took orange instead of blue train, and had to back track! But I met a captain in the Navy working in the Pentagon who gave me his card for a letter of rec, if needed! (Parents' age). Then I drove back to Richmond and felt anxious, that I had to pack to stay at my cousin's that week (and also probably not looking forward to work).

Life is strange

I don't write that title in a depressed, brooding way. It's my way of articulating how it's funny people the same age have different time paths. Like I went to my best friend's house for dinner tonight. She was surprised I was early because I'm usually late; yeah, something I need to work on. I got this feeling, not a good self-esteem feeling, that, "What am I doing here? I usually don't have fun when I come over and end up feeling worse." She has a house and playful cute dog (same for husband, ha), garden with strawberries. I'm happy for her. Going back to the strange, is it because I chose a women's college that I didn't meet a guy sooner? I don't regret my experiences. I do regret the time since I've been back from China, that I didn't plan my career and still without direction. I hesitated to put the depressed status (in French) the other night:
"I no longer know what I want." I felt better that a fellow classmate wrote that she feels the same.
So seems everyone's getting prego, including a girl I briefly knew in college out West and my first year roommate! The latter, that's big news! I responded properly this time, unlike the text to my senior questioning if it were planned. Oops. Guess pregnant after 2 yrs of marriage is customary. More baby clothes for me to buy! I do enjoy baby clothes, just not so much the being inside. jk!

Career fair

Fair today hosted by VA Tech was alright. No bright prospects but then, I didn't expect much. Afterward, I went to a nice grocery store and bought eggplant empanadas which I ate in the car with a nice view of tanned, young construction workers with their shirts off. :) Yummy (from a distance).
Couldn't find a bra at the mall. I hate bra shopping. Got jeans, though, which is good since I went up a pant size, and some of my pants no longer fit. Bought some Clinique products, where I was persuaded to sign up for Macy's credit card so I could save $15.

After yoga class, ran into a neighbor who I used to babysit for. Got an update on the kids I used to babysit and gave an update on myself. I love running into and catching up with people.

Going to the midnight premiere of 3D Shrek.. it's at a theater 25 minutes away! I'm going because an acquaintance of mine is, and I don't think I've ever gone to a midnight premiere.

Wednesday

Last night after getting out of work an hour more than I'd like and going home to pick up stuff to spend the night's at a friends,' I went to a networking event across the river at a brewery with a nice patio with a view of the James. There I talked to a weird guy in his 50's or so with sepia-tinted aviator glasses. I recognized one guy who was there with his son, I presume, who seemed somewhat interested in me, maybe because I was close in age. Then my dad arrived, and I wondered if this would be beneficial or detrimental, my dad helping network for me. He started talking to a group of guys, at which point I went to grab some chicken wings to get my $5 worth. I was stopped by a somewhat strange-looking but friendly guy who was very helpful in trying to think of career paths I could pursue. We must have talked for 15 minutes. He gave me a company to contact, a client of his. I didn't give him my card. I remember his name, Cliff, and his company. By then the chicken wings were gone. My dad had passed out my resume (not even the latest version did I bring) b/c I had left the folder on the table. He decided to stick around and met some people whose cards he got for me. So, I guess I like and appreciate when my dad networks for me not in my presence!

Post- 1st apt viewing

I've yet to do an Excel sheet of expenses. Saw the vegan's apt yday. I definitely like the area (right near the newly renovated art museum) which is quiet yet not far off main drag. It was hard for me to visualize living there, however, because there were a lot of boxes. The little porch is nice with a view of an oak tree and parking behind. The pugs are cute. He's talkative, which is probably a better trait, since I haven't felt at ease completely with my quiet former roommates. I do think it would be better for me to live with a female, though. I was kinda annoyed at my friend who suggested I live with her husband's friend (who's currently living with them til they find a place). I wrote I'd consider it (keeping my options open) but then told her I don't want to spend a lot of time on this search, I'd almost rather find someone already in an apart needing a roommate, easier. She said she'd give my info to him in case so then I get a call from him on a day I was so pissed about my job. Then when I haven't called him back, she calls me saying he would like to know ASAP if I'm interested. I swear, sometimes she suggests things that would benefit her but she's not at all thinking of what it might be for the person. I left her a VM restating what I said before and that I probably want a female in the end.

I'm going to spend the night with a friend from HS to see what it's like to drive from downtown and get to work before 8am. Yesterday I got behind the damn school bus and just missed being late by a minute :(.

Room search

I just texted a former coworker of mine who has gone on to be a pastor, which is what her training is. I wanted some affirmation from her that I wasn't being unwise in looking for an apt downtown before finding a new job.

Let's weigh the pros and cons:
Pros:
1. Social life will be closer, not as much of a "trek," and perhaps I'll be more in the know about things happening
2. Sharing a place with someone will help me gain more perspective
3. I won't be around my parents and sis, who, as much as I love them, I feel it's time to "cut the chord" and grow a bit, fend on my own. I actually think it'd be better not to live with my sis because we are at a stage right now where I don't understand her, and her actions (or lack of) make me pessimistic. I told myself when I got back from China, I'd live in Richmond til she graduated. Well, she's about to graduate.
4. Optimistically, perhaps meeting more people will make way for networking to land a better job down the road

Cons:
1. It will be hard to see that money go. It may be 1/4 of my month's pay, and then I must assume since I'll be more social, I'll be spending more on such outings. (I would like a place where people can come over and relax, dinner and a beer/wine, movie)
2. LONGer drive, 5x a week. So if I compare that to 2 or 3x a week driving back to suburbs after going out, latter doesn't seem as bad. But no, it's summer, I've spent almost all my life in this house during summers, and it's time I "break free." I will aim to leave work before 4:45 everyday, which would get me downtown (apt) before 5:30 (don't know traffic situation yet). I have up to six hours then to have dinner, do social things.
So, more for gas money and more mileage on my car. Would be nice to carpool with someone but the fact that I am an employee "on the clock," I can't risk being late anymore. It's also not at all guaranteed I can leave work right at 4.
3. Can't rely on parents for support as they won't physically be there. Of course, I can drive there

Former coworker encouraged me I'm not being silly for wanting to move out, just to do research and plan budget.

I like sleuthing. I like to get an idea of a potential roomate. One guy stated he's vegan. Then I see his Fbook photo.. lots of tattoos and what I hope is not a nose ring. I can deal with tattoos but not so much gauged ears.
The other ad I replied to, they didn't say which gender. Now it seems they're both guys! oh well, I'll see.