being business casual

" Chrissie, its DC-everyone here is business casual"-emily

Hey everybody!

Thanks for all the texts, facebook comments, emails, etc.. I really appreciate them! I am doing well here. I am freezing my face off, but overall good! I really like my roommate (Emily) and we have fun talking and doing random things together. She is from Wisconsin and she thinks it is so warm here.

Job Status:

I have had 3 interviews at Copper Grill (like a Yardhouse) , 2 interviews at Macaroni Grill, I got asked to observe classes at Maryland Youth Ballet, and I have my 2nd interview at Red Lobster on Monday. I am kinda sad about Starbucks and Ann Taylor bc those are the two I wanted. BUT MYB would be awesome bc JULIE KENT trained there and my boss founded it.

The City:

I like exploring the city! One could come to DC, live here for years , and never eat at the same place. But everything is also super expensive. I mean SUPER expensive. I have learned to like the bus and I take that as much as I can. I still have a lot to see!

The House:

I love how convenient the house is to the bus. Emily is a neat freak so she cleans as much as she can. I provide the cleaning supplies and together we are "enhancing" the place. I bought a new shower curtains and I am buying a new toaster today (ours started screaming and shaking and toasters aren't supposed to do that).

My first week in an office and here are my accomplishments:

1. I spent 3 hours trying to copy 7 dvds only to find out that my boss had it wrong- the software was never installed.

2 I spent 2 hours trying to fix someones internet in the office only to realize that I was looking at the wrong cord. It wasn't plugged in.

3. I spent one hour discussing making a facebook page, only to find out that we already have one and no one knew about it. So now we have a page but our marketing director doesn't like to use facebook.

4. 3 hours a day shredding paper-at least. I can only shred for about 30 minutes straight before the shredder overheats and then I have to let it cool for an hour. I go back and forth between updating the database and shredding all day. All the files from 1997-2005 must be shredded.

5. Made 4 important phone calls to make our committees do something with their groups. My boss just told me an hour ago that all these groups already had action plans so I don't need to do as much work. Dang.

I just laugh at all the things posted above. Working at a small non profit with retired dancers, what was I expecting? My roommate works at the hill and we just laugh about my day because it is so different than hers. She works at a fast pace, mind blowing, challenging environment and I am currently blogging at work.

I miss a lot of things from CA but I really miss having daily conversation. At work we don't talk much, the time difference makes it hard to call CA, and just don't know as many people here yet. I also really miss 24 hour fitness.

God is good and has provided me here with 2 great small groups, a dance studio close by, and just today I got to talk with Kitty Lunn (a ballerina who is now disabled and dances in a wheelchair) and possibly do work with her. I am staying warm and constantly thinking of everyone in Cali

Much Love,

Chrissie

shout outs

Hello all!

I think I need to pay some respects to the people back at home. So before I blog about my life here in DC, I will write a little shout out to somebody in my life first. Also, you can see how ridiculous prices are in DC.

1 90 minute ballet class-18 dollars

1 week of riding the bus to work-21 dollars

1 6 inch sandwich from pot bellys- 5 dollars

Having amazing parents who are financially supporting me-PRICELESS

Thanks mom and dad for your continuously support! I could not be here without you!

-Chrissie

my first blog post

Hello!!

Greetings from DC! I figured this was the best way for me to keep in touch with people. Please don't expect inspiring or my deepest darkest secrets (DDS) but this is purely to let everyone know what is going on in my life.

Where to start? The first four days were a whirlwind of activity. I looked at about 5 places to live, hung out with the Engs ( cutest kids ever) and met up with various people. On Monday night, it was crunch time and I moved in to a little house in Takoma Park- one stop off the metro from my work.

The house is owned by a very old lady. She rents out the three rooms upstairs,the basement, and the house she owns behind it. I have my own room but I share a bath with two other people. I really like my roomies. Kevin is a hilarious guy from texas who is doing PHd stuff at John Hopkins. He is moving out today though to go back to Dallas. Emily is a girl from Wisconsin and she talks with an accent. She is working for Feingold at the Hill.

The room itself is big. Full bed, closet, desk, tv unit, and a vanity thing. Everything in the house is about 1000 years old. Most of the stuff looks like it is one second from breaking and the shower is a bit depressing. (mold, mildew, and a mysterious sheet covering something) Some might call it "quaint" but I think its old. Yesterday I bought my own comforter and pillows bc the stuff she gave me looked like it had been around since the house was built in 1930. ( 29.99 for a feather comforter and pillows!) I am still debating about moving to a new place next month.

My work- I work for the National Dance Education Org. Yes, I am at work right now. My current project is updating the database. I have to look up every college we know of that has a dance program ( about 670) and make sure all the information is correct. I think I have done 100 or so? Business casual? Not really. More like sweaters and khakis. Two of the women are part-time and the two founders are full time. They are all really nice though.

Last night I went to small group at a church called Frontline Silver Spring. It is right next to my work. The girls were really nice and they seemed to laugh at goofiness. Most of the women are older than me (as usual) and 3 are in the army. I like them though and one even gave me a ride home.

Taking the bus/metro system is fun but a bit taxing. Yesterday I got on the wrong bus 3 different times. But I am learning and everyday I learn more!

I am still adjusting to the cold ( it is supposed to snow tomorrow) but I think I can handle it. I sleep with three blankets so I never want to get out of bed!

Thanks for all your prayer and support! I really appreciate all the love and it makes me miss the OC. Everyone here tells me I moved to the wrong place! Please pray for me as I look for a job here in Silver Spring.

All the best,

Chrissie