Across the Distance

After procrastinating for months, I’m finally online at home. So I’ll be updating our site more often.

So, what have you been up to? I haven’t heard from you since Avo’s funeral.

My Director’s brother committed suicide on Saturday morning. That night she flew to Georgia and will be out of the office for about a month. Guess who’s in charge?

Kind of puts a wrench in my Easter travel plans. I think I’ll only be able to stay in Massachusetts for a long weekend instead of the entire week the way I had originally planned.

I’ll keep you informed.

Love you always, M

Sometimes it’s easier to beg forgiveness than it is to ask permission
My grandfather taught me that.
From one week to the next… he was hospitalized, stabilized, and, early on a Tuesday morning, at the age of 85, he died.
I flew cross-country to be with my family for the services. It was astonishing to see so many people, from so many walks of life, come to pay their respect.
I spoke with a frail, elderly man who met my grandfather way back when at the lycee in Portugal; second and third cousins flew to the States from Canada; a group of neighborhood teens sat in a corner, sharing their condolences with my grandmother; the Mayor dropped by for a few minutes and said some words; Catholic priests milled about the funeral home, murmuring prayers in English and Portuguese. At the cemetery, a hundred people stood graveside… I’d only seen so many people at one other funeral – that of a sweet, 23-year-old friend who succumbed to Hodgkin’s.
For the first time, I got it – I finally understood the point of a wake. I’d always found the practice disturbing – dressing the dead body in finery, announcing the time and place of the services for anyone to read, and then putting the person on display. It was comforting. And oddly enough, the only time I cried was when my friends appeared, showing their support for my family. I never expected that to happen.
In three weeks I flew to Seattle, flew to Providence, back to Seattle, then returned to DC, only to pack up for Massachusetts to spend time with my grandmother. They were married for 58 years. It’s amazing.

Prioritizing priorities
You have five workdays. There are four items that absolutely must be complete by 5:00 p.m. Friday. A month ago, you bought tickets to three events scheduled after work this very week…. one of those is a date.
The phones ring continuously – you let all of your calls go to voicemail as you sit at your desk, typing away, while speaking with a co-worker.
Three of those messages are from your mother – she sounds worried because you haven’t called in two weeks. But you don’t have time to call her back right this second. Maybe later… this afternoon… or after you get home… when you should have more time… if you don’t cancel your plans and work late instead.
This last month has been crazy. I haven’t felt organized at all. And somehow I’ve let 1,000 important deadlines pile up and EVERYTHING is due this week (and I mean e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g!).
How do you keep your life in order? I swear I don’t know how working moms do it. I’m just taking care of me – flying solo – and I’m buried.
How do you prioritize?

As an aside – here’s a big SHOUT OUT to the Patriots for providing suspense and heartstopping anxiety throughout that magnificent Superbowl game! I was hyperventilating and freaking out in those last 10 seconds. Adam Viniatieri ROCKS!

Happy New Year!
I’ve got a great feeling about 2004. There is little doubt in my mind that this is going to be one memorable year. Just call it female intuition.
How did you bring in the new year?
Tired of the quiet and low-key house parties of years past, I motivated my friends to get dressed up and party at a gala event. Such a fantastic time…. good food, lots of bars, manageable lines, fun music… there was something for everyone.
People behave differently when they’re dressed up. Less debaucherous, more sophisticated. Well… up until 2:00 a.m., when the dance floor shook with men in tuxes and women in gowns boogying it up to Britney’s “I’m a Slave 4 U.”
Then, on January 1st, a woman from work offered me tickets to Saturday evening’s performance of Swan Lake at the Kennedy Center. Free! I’d been trying to buy tickets to that ballet for months!
The costumes were exquisite, the sets were whimsical, and Tchaikovsky was brilliant – as always.
Like I said, I have a feeling this is going to be one hell of a year. At least it’s off to a great start.
Did you watch the big apple drop on Dick Clark’s Time Square special? Or did you host a soiree for close friends? Or perhaps you decided to go all-out and attend a mega party like me?

Home Sweet Home

Since you’ve never seen my place in DC, I took some photos. This is what my apartment looks like.

I need to start taking more photos with my camera phone so you can have a better idea of what my life looks like down here.

It’s snow-snow-snoing down here.

Have a great weekend Jess!