Author Archives: MALA


by Leave a comment

Idle hands are the devil’s tools

apocalypse

The phone has been ringing off the hook all day. My poor mom is convinced that these are the end of times.

Today has been especially stressful.

The first phone call came in at 8:00 a.m. I just assumed it was some family emergency. She never, ever phones me that early unless there’s some sort of bad news.

“I don’t have to work today,” she says.

“Well, ummmmmmmm, that’s good ma,” I say, as I stuff reports and steno pads into my big black bag.

“Don’t you want to know why I don’t have to work today?”

Uh oh – did she get laid off? Was the car totalled? Did she win last night’s lottery?

“Ummmm… is everything okay?” I ask.

“A ten-foot wall of water is coming our way. So they figured it would be best if everyone stayed home,” she replied. My mom was refering to the wooden Whittenton Pond Dam . Because of all the extra rainfall in the northeast, the poor dam is about to burst.

“Well mom, I hope you enjoy your day off. I’ve got to run,” I said. “Love you.”

Not three hours later I get another hysterical phone call.

“Have you heard about Baltimore?” she asked in greeting.

“No mom, what’s going on in Baltimore?” I ask as I type “Baltimore” into the Google search.

“There’s a terrorist threat. They’re closing everything,” she replies as I pull up the first story about the tunnel closings. “You’re not safe.”

“Mom, I live in DC, not Baltimore.”

“You go there for baseball games.”

“It’s FORTY MINUTES AWAY.”

“Close enough. If it’s a nuclear weapon, ABC said forty minutes was close enough.”

I sigh. There is no arguing with a mother’s logic.

“Mom, I’ve got to go. I have an important lunch appointment.”

“Okay, call me tonight.”

I sigh repeatedly.

An hour later. It’s her again.

“Why don’t you come up to Massachusetts for a visit?” she asks. “You can leave right now.”

“Mom – you need to turn off CNN and step away from the television. Listen to yourself. Get a grip. You want me to leave my perfectly safe city, to travel towards a terrorist threat, in traffic backed up all the way to Maine, so I can finally pull into the driveway only to find the entire neighborhood drowned in ten feet of water.”

Silence.

“Goodbye mom.”

“Don’t forget to call me tonight………”


by Leave a comment

Brown is my new black

 Black Suit

My wardrobe is comprised of one basic color – Black.

Enter my closet and you’ll find black suits with pin stripes, black suits with tiny cream dots, black matte suits, sheer black skirts and wide leg pants, black jeans, black slacks, black v-neck sweaters, black button-downs, and an entire section devoted to black velvet.

You can never go wrong with black… it’s so sleek and appropriate for every occasion.

I usually temper my black-claddedness with a light blue shirt or a lime green top (this summer’s cour de jour) or strappy crimson sandals.

Now that the temperature has finally cooled down, I moved some of my “autumn/winter” clothes from the storage closet to my bedroom closet.

This morning I strolled into a meeting and became anxious as the room grew eerily silent. Was I late? Did I have something on my face? Did I forget something?

“That color looks great on you.”

“Why don’t you wear earth tones more often?”

“I love that jacket.”

I was dressed in brown slacks, a peachy-colored v-neck sweater and a chocolate suede jacket. Maybe I’ve taken this “black is my color” thing too far. I don’t think I’ve received so many compliments since….well… let’s just say in a long time.

I’ll be doing some shopping this weekend.

What’s your color?


by Leave a comment

Happy Birthday

 birthday

My birthdays have always been a time for reflection. Usually I think about all I didn’t get to the year before and move those items to “the list of things I want to accomplish this year.”

But last year was different. I started a company. I became an auntie. I traveled with my grandmother to our homeland and learned much of what it means to be a part of my family.

I learned about what it means to be ME.

So I’m starting from scratch with this year’s “Things to Accomplish List”:

1. Travel more

2. Write daily

3. Cherish family and friends

4. Save some cash

5. Love more

That’s it. That’s my big plan for year 33.


by Leave a comment

Reinvention

csis

Washington, DC neighborhoods are in a constant state of construction. Cranes and broken sidewalks are common. And although the noise and detours are annoying, Washingtonians understand that construction is a sign of prosperity and economic health.

Usually old buildings are demolished to make way for the shiny new glass buildings that rise from the rubble. Other times builders preserve the original facade and connect the brand new interior to the former exterior.

But this renovation is fascinating. At CSIS in downtown DC they’re using the BATH FITTER® philosophy. Brand new shiny windows are installed right over the original cement structure. So when it’s finished – if you hadn’t seen the remodel or never known what the CSIS building looked like originally – you’d think it was just another new glass building.

I’m not quite sure why this bothers me as much as it does. When they tear down some of the older buildings, I’m heartbroken by the architectural loss (like the Columbia Hospital for Women).

But hiding the original beneath a new facade… not improving the structure but covering it up… it’s symbolic for a lot of what goes on in this town.


by Leave a comment

Oh my aching head

headache

Some of you were curious and wanted an update. It’s been two weeks since my last cigarette and gulp of caffeine.

The first three days were awful because of the headaches… a dull throb that lasted all day. The first few nights I popped a Tylenol PM to fall asleep. By day four I was considering drinking a can of Diet Coke or grabbing a cup of coffee when the headache miraculously disappeared.

So then I started craving cigarettes… all psychological mind you. Just about everyone smokes in DC so I’ve had to change my habits quite a bit. I’ve been avoiding bars like the plague. Instead of meeting friends out for a cocktail, I’ve talked them into going to Teaism or catching a live performance at the Kennedy Center.

Last Friday, I did go out for a happy hour with work colleagues. I had one drink and left. I knew if I stayed I’d swivel in my seat and ask one of the three gentlemen smoking behind me if I could bum a cigarette off them.

And I don’t want to do that because I’ve been so good.

Quitting cold turkey isn’t for everyone, but it’s worked for me. The caffeine withdrawal was brutal… but the headaches only lasted three days. And I’m hoping by November, I’ll be able to stroll into my old haunts and not be bothered at all by the folks smoking around me.

Good luck and best wishes to those of you thinking of quitting a vice or in the process of quitting.


by Leave a comment

Quitter

smoking

I woke up today and decided to eliminate all caffeine and nicotine.

Cold turkey.

Not that I’m a huge smoker…. more like a few Marlboro Ultra Lights when I’m out with friends or grabbing a Pumpkin Spice latte from Starbucks. But I have been a social smoker since college. A long time – too long.

Now the caffeine is an issue. I usually drink two to three tall/large/venti cafe lattes or cappuccinos per day AND a few cans of Diet Coke for good measure. My body runs on caffeine.

So here goes nothing.


by Leave a comment

Where’s Your Allegiance?

 allegiance

What is going on with this country?

A federal judge declared it unconstitutional to recite the pledge of allegiance in public schools today. What greater purpose does that serve? Really?

Sometimes I’m overwhelmed by feelings of frustration at the direction this country is moving towards… a direction determined by special interests and lots of money. It’s a criticism of both political parties and the nation as a whole.

What are we becoming?

Perhaps I’m being naive. Maybe the U.S. (the land of the free, the home of the brave) has always catered to the whims of the loudest bully or the wealthiest citizen. It could be a case of magnifying a state of being because I just happen to be living through it instead of reading about it in books.

Or maybe I’m taking politics too seriously because it’s constantly in my face – from the whir of motorcade sirens, to casual conversations in grocery store lines, to headlines of local newspapers, to the weekend rallies and protests.

Does anyone else feel like our fearless leaders don’t have a clue? That everyone has sold their soul to a devil of choice and the rest of us be damned? Do I just need a vacation?