Day two was great! I am still waiting on a computer, but have plenty to do in the interim (getting ready for its arrival).
I can't blog about any specifics, but I am working on some very interesting projects and proposals. It's strange having a "job" where you have to be careful about what you post on your blog!
DId a little cubicle decorating - went in early so I wouldn't be doing it on "company time" - y'all know how I love to feel at home (and organized) everywhere I am! Looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Blastoff!
At long last, my fellowship at NASA has finally started!
It was a great first day! Despite not having a computer (which I REALLY need to do my tasks) - turns out I haven't been officially "cleared" yet - I really enjoyed the experience. I attended two meetings - one with my sponsor and one "solo" - and got my bearings a bit; there are a LOT of acronyms I still don't know. During one of the meetings, I couldn't for the life of me figure out why they kept talking about "KFC"... and then I figured out they were referring to KSC, which is Kennedy Space Center! I was a little surprised that I actually knew some of what they were talking about, though; I just need to do a little more studying!
My cubicle is pretty sweet, too. A lot of my fellow Fellows have to share an office or have a very small cubicle, but mine's a decent size - and you know me, I can't WAIT to decorate and have things to organize! Every time I left "the cube" for a meeting (or just to try to find something) there would be something - or a lot of somethings - left on my desk when I returned. I have a couple of great posters - Mary (my sponsor) found me one of the ones I've been COVETING since I saw it on someone's door last week - and one's an autographed astronaut poster. I also got a BUNCH of 40th anniversary Apollo stuff - enough to share with friends and Fellows! One of my fellow "cubies" brought me some cute temporary tattoos (shuttles and NASA logos) and some squishy astronauts (think stress balls, only shaped like space explorers), among other things. I even got several packages of gummy space shuttles - bet Tyler and Sophie will like them better than the "astronaut ice cream"!
All in all, a great first day. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
It was a great first day! Despite not having a computer (which I REALLY need to do my tasks) - turns out I haven't been officially "cleared" yet - I really enjoyed the experience. I attended two meetings - one with my sponsor and one "solo" - and got my bearings a bit; there are a LOT of acronyms I still don't know. During one of the meetings, I couldn't for the life of me figure out why they kept talking about "KFC"... and then I figured out they were referring to KSC, which is Kennedy Space Center! I was a little surprised that I actually knew some of what they were talking about, though; I just need to do a little more studying!
My cubicle is pretty sweet, too. A lot of my fellow Fellows have to share an office or have a very small cubicle, but mine's a decent size - and you know me, I can't WAIT to decorate and have things to organize! Every time I left "the cube" for a meeting (or just to try to find something) there would be something - or a lot of somethings - left on my desk when I returned. I have a couple of great posters - Mary (my sponsor) found me one of the ones I've been COVETING since I saw it on someone's door last week - and one's an autographed astronaut poster. I also got a BUNCH of 40th anniversary Apollo stuff - enough to share with friends and Fellows! One of my fellow "cubies" brought me some cute temporary tattoos (shuttles and NASA logos) and some squishy astronauts (think stress balls, only shaped like space explorers), among other things. I even got several packages of gummy space shuttles - bet Tyler and Sophie will like them better than the "astronaut ice cream"!
All in all, a great first day. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Monday, August 31, 2009
T-1: My First Official Day as an Einstein Fellow!
Today was AMAZING! We (the entire group of Einstein Fellows) were at Orientation from 8:30(ish) to 4:30, then went to the Einstein statue (off the very end of the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial) for our official Einstein Fellowship photo shoot. We took a TON of pictures; serious group shots, funny group shots, agency shots (DOE, NSF, etc.), and individual shots. My group of 4 Fellows arrived before anyone else (we drove instead of taking the Metro), so we had time to take a bunch of "fun" shots (hence my 2 photos on the blog).
After the photo shoot, we went to Buca di Beppo (a funky Italian restaurant) for dinner and drinks. It was a BLAST - one of the few days all 24 of us (including the 2nd-years) will be together.
I start at NASA tomorrow! OH. MY. GOSH!!!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
T-2: First Fellows Pot-Luck
Tonight we had our first "official" Fellows pot-luck; it was the first time a majority of the Fellows had been together since our interview weekend. It was nice to put names to faces - thankfully, the Program Manager at Triangle Coalition sent us a spreadsheet with everyones' contact info, fellowship assignment, etc AND a picture - and look at who of us (from the interviews) actually made it to DC!
Tomorrow we have Fellowship Orientation (ALL day - we have training from 9-4, then our formal Fellowship photos, THEN dinner)... I'm sure it will be interesting, but I can't WAIT to start at NASA on Tuesday!
Tomorrow we have Fellowship Orientation (ALL day - we have training from 9-4, then our formal Fellowship photos, THEN dinner)... I'm sure it will be interesting, but I can't WAIT to start at NASA on Tuesday!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
T-3: Simply Saturday
Fairly blase day. Slept in late (went to bed very late - emotions were running HIGH yesterday), did a top-to-bottom cleaning job on the apartment, sorted bills/mail, did some reading. As it says in the blog title, it was simply Saturday.
Well, it was almost simply Saturday. Anthonette and I decided to go grocery shopping for tomorrow night's Fellows pot-luck; as I drove to pick her up, I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on on Independence Avenue (near the capitol along the National Mall). There were people everywhere on the sidewalk, and a much stronger police presence than usual (which is saying a LOT, since there are always a ton of police on the Mall at night) - not only were there cruisers on every corner, but there was an officer standing about every 25 feet along the sidewalk. It took me a minute to realize that today is the day that they were laying Ted Kennedy to rest at Arlington and he had been in repose at the Capitol earlier in the day - I was pretty much driving along the path that the motorcade was going to take to the cemetery. I finally got to Anthonette's, and we ended up having to drive a rather circuitous route to Safeway (since there were a number of streets we needed to take that were blocked by squad cars). It was a much simpler drive home, as the funeral was taking place as I was coming back to the apartment.
Ah, the things you will encounter in DC!
Well, it was almost simply Saturday. Anthonette and I decided to go grocery shopping for tomorrow night's Fellows pot-luck; as I drove to pick her up, I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on on Independence Avenue (near the capitol along the National Mall). There were people everywhere on the sidewalk, and a much stronger police presence than usual (which is saying a LOT, since there are always a ton of police on the Mall at night) - not only were there cruisers on every corner, but there was an officer standing about every 25 feet along the sidewalk. It took me a minute to realize that today is the day that they were laying Ted Kennedy to rest at Arlington and he had been in repose at the Capitol earlier in the day - I was pretty much driving along the path that the motorcade was going to take to the cemetery. I finally got to Anthonette's, and we ended up having to drive a rather circuitous route to Safeway (since there were a number of streets we needed to take that were blocked by squad cars). It was a much simpler drive home, as the funeral was taking place as I was coming back to the apartment.
Ah, the things you will encounter in DC!
Friday, August 28, 2009
T-4: High Highs, Low Lows...
High Highs: Got to see my cubicle at NASA! Big, barren, empty space for me to fill with office supplies and organizational materials, NASA poster, etc. I SO look forward to putting "me" into the space! Funny story: when they redid the cubicles, they ended up putting a big post smack dab in front of one of my smaller cabinet spaces - you can't open the thing! My NASA sponsor and I got a good laugh out of it; you'd think they'd at least have taken the door off so it could be used as storage!
Was treated to lunch at a VERY nice Indian restaurant (The Bombay Club) by Mary (my sponsor). Many of the restaurants in DC participate in something called "Restaurant Week" biannually wherein they have a fixed-price menu (which is less expensive than their usual prices) you can select from; The Bombay Club's deal was a three-course (appetizer, entree, dessert) from which I had a wonderful fish appetizer, Tandoori salmon, and "Mango Mango" (mango sorbet atop diced mango). I was (and still am as I write this nearly 8 hours later) STUFFED! Mary also bought me a jar of the sauce they put on the chicken dish she and our other guest (whose name escapes me right now and with whom I will also be "working") ordered. She also gave me a hand-made (by yet another soon-to-be-co-worker) lanyard for my ID badge; it has little star, shuttle, and astronaut beads on it. SO cute, and SO me!
I am VERY ready to start my fellowship! Mary sent me a bunch of e-mails this afternoon about what to bring Tuesday to get my permanent badge, as well as some "pre-reading" for meetings we have next week. Did I mention yet how ready I am to start my fellowship?!?
Low Lows: Today would have been Anne's 27th birthday. So many lovely e-mails from her former co-workers, but also so many reminders of what she and I both went through and the fact that she's no longer with us. Then I heard that the case is likely to last longer than anticipated (we thought a week - looks like it will probably take longer), which means I will be unable to attend 2 conferences I was really looking forward to. This is the first day since the move that I have been really "down" about anything, a reminder that even though I left Marianna, there is still unfinished business to take care of back in Arkansas. I did a lot of crying and a lot of napping, but I CANNOT and WILL NOT allow "him" to take more from me than he already has...
The photo is of the beautiful hibiscus I am growing on my patio. It finally bloomed today, a single (although there are 2 more ready to go any day now) beautiful pink flower. Pink was Anne's favorite color; I saw pictures online today of the birthday party her friends and former co-workers threw for her, and everything was pink... they even released pink balloons in her honor. SO symbolic that the hibiscus would bloom today...
Thursday, August 27, 2009
T-5: Water, Water, Everywhere...
Well, not necessarily EVERYWHERE, but big-time flooding in the boiler/air conditioner/hot water tank room that leaked into two other rooms (hall closet and bathroom closet). One plumber, a couple of hours, and a little over $300 later everything's back to normal; clogged drainpipe for the condensation pipes needed to be snaked. I'm just glad I'm renting; my landlord is going to reimburse me. Still, it's tough letting go of another decent chunk of money (coming off the heels of buying my new health insurance) before even receiving my first stipend check. Sigh.
On the bright side, Anthonette and I went shopping (well, she went shopping, then we got groceries) and then to dinner at a great Greek/Mediterranean place near where she lives (my neighborhood is entirely residential; hers is just off one of the neatest neighborhoods on DC). It's called Cava; they specialize in mezze, which is kind of like tapas but with bigger portions. The idea is that the table buys several mezze and shares them; we got this wonderful chicken pasta (it had just a hint of cinnamon in it - it was divine), grilled asparagus and feta, and watermelon salad (watermelon, mint, feta, and a drizzle of olive oil). It was all delicious, and one of the least expensive non-fast food restaurants I've been to in DC.
Tomorrow: my NASA sponsor is taking me out to lunch, then I get to see where I will be "living" (at NASA HQ) for the next 11 months - my cubicle is ready!
On the bright side, Anthonette and I went shopping (well, she went shopping, then we got groceries) and then to dinner at a great Greek/Mediterranean place near where she lives (my neighborhood is entirely residential; hers is just off one of the neatest neighborhoods on DC). It's called Cava; they specialize in mezze, which is kind of like tapas but with bigger portions. The idea is that the table buys several mezze and shares them; we got this wonderful chicken pasta (it had just a hint of cinnamon in it - it was divine), grilled asparagus and feta, and watermelon salad (watermelon, mint, feta, and a drizzle of olive oil). It was all delicious, and one of the least expensive non-fast food restaurants I've been to in DC.
Tomorrow: my NASA sponsor is taking me out to lunch, then I get to see where I will be "living" (at NASA HQ) for the next 11 months - my cubicle is ready!
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