FSOT Registration

The race has begun. It is registration time for the first FSOT (Foreign Service Officer's Test). As seating is limited, you may want to act now. Good luck!

Seven Random Facts about Me

Very interesting that Jason has tagged me for this as I had just been discussing with mera bhai that seven seems to follow me.

1. I was born on July 16, 1969 at 8:31 am (511 minutes) just 61 minutes before the Apollo 11 blasted off at 9:32 am.

2. On the wall by my computer I am looking at a hand panted scroll I have had framed that was my great, great Aunt Lucille's. She was a secretary in the FS after World War II. While living in Tokyo, she was taking Chinese cooking classes from Nancy Chi Ma. I have two of her cookbooks from the class. I asked some Japanese visitors one day whether it was Japanese writing or Chinese writing on the scroll. It turns out that the writing is Chinese. They looked it over laughed and shook their heads and decided that they must have misread it because it said something about happy cooking. :)

3. My favorite book is The Adventures of a Simpleton by Grimmelshausen. I think I will read it again once I finish the Dune books. I am on the Machine Crusades and my husband keeps asking me..."Is THIS the last one?"

4. My first job was as a hostess at Applebee's in 1987. I was 17 and helped with the opening of the first one in Charleston. It is still there in North Charleston across from the Mall. (Other firsts include being in the first test group for the Teacher Cadet Program during my senior year in high school & grade when I was in the first test group for Charleston's SAIL program.

5. My favorite class at CofC was Anthropology. After that class I tried to sign up for Archeology, but my advisor scolded me because Macro Economics was more appropriate AND required for a business degree....I'm still regretting having listened to him.

6. In the second grade my teacher was telling us about the moon and the moon landing on July 20, 1969. I raised my hand to volunteer that I knew when the Apollo 11 blasted off. I was told that that was impossible as there was no way we could reach them moon in four days. I learned that day, at so young an age, that my teachers did not know all the answers and that nothing is impossible.

7. This Summer is my 20th HS reunion......aaaaaaaaaaaccccckkkkkkkkk!



OK, I tag:

Sara
Geoff
Dave
Windviel
Eugene
Janetlee
Pam

Just Another Night at the Joe

Here is the view from the backside of the Charleston Riverdogs Stadium on taken on this very day. The kids are all geared up to see Stephen Colbert throw out the first Pitch. It is all that Baby Bear could do to stop for a photo over the Marsh...and then he was off to the Suite of our host Container Maintenance Corp. (Thank you, Vinnie!)

I did get a video of the pitch, but it is not very video as my camera prefers a closer range, but what can I do? ....and here we are with Colbert greeting, Charlie the Riverdog while Chelsea hangs out with the Pig.

Just a little way into the first inning, the heavens began raining on our parade. It is not so obvious here except the field was covered in case the rain stopped....you know, to keep the field dry et al.

The game was postponed for 2 hours. Lucky for me, I was nice and dry in a suite. Luckier for me Stephen Colbert was hanging out at Buzzy Newton's Suite a few doors down. There were numerous Colbert sitings reported that had many non-suite ticket holders being sent away. Stephen Colbert did come out on the balcony to sing "Take me out to the Ball Game". Me and a few friends hung outside of Piggly Wiggly's Suite to try to get a glimpse. My coworker, Nicole, even slipped in briefly with the Phillips party to invite him down to our suite.

A little later all the suites received a sweet treat. It was Americone Dream Ice Cream. Colbert's very own flavor that was put out by Ben & Jerry's. I did stash 1 for myself, but after the game there were actually 4 left over, so I wound up with two to save for all posterity. Since it was transformers night at the Joe I also took home a Riverdog's Transformer beach towel just for Baby Bear.

Well the game did get rained out. When hope was lost, I told Papa Bear to get the tab while I visited the facilities. I had to hang outside the facilities while two ladies dilly dallied. It was just me hanging out there. Oh...while I waited, Stephen Colbert exited the suite and passed by me to leave the scene. So here is my chance to get his attention...What do I say? I say...."Blake Hallman is funnier than you are!" (Sorry, Blake...please forgive me!) He did not even glance at me. It was rather silly of me to use a friend like that, really. At least last year I managed a photo op.

I returned to the suite and unloaded my story to all who would listen. We were one of the last ones to depart as we were having a grand time with good company. The rain had finally let up, too. The kids and I were at the elevators waiting for Papa Bear to catch up when once again, Stephen Colbert makes an appearance. He returns by way of the stairwell with his bodyguard. As he passed by us, Mary called out "HI STEPHEN!" He responded by turning to her, and seeing that she was a child...his face lit up, he smiled broadly and he yelled "Hello!" back to her. Obviously, she handled herself better than I did.

All in all, I'd say it was a grand evening.

Four Little Monkeys.....

Look who's hanging around Mammaw's & Pappaw's place!

As Time Goes By....

Something pretty cool happened just a little over seven years ago.....

Wait....Did Someone Say FSWE?

News Flash.....It's FSOT not FSWE

A Rainy Day Drive

I was able to take off early from work to run an errand. It seems I picked quite a day to do so as it rained all afternoon.



The traffic on 17 was unusually heavy at 2pm. The cause was obvious once I saw the Sofa Super Store. The devastation from the fire was all I have heard from the new...including the National news. As NPR noted this morning...it was the greatest loss of firefighters in the US since 9/11. It was difficult not to pass by very slowly and gawk and feel the loss.

A memorial site has been created on the side of the road with flowers, wreaths and crosses in memory of the 9 firefighters who died this past Monday.

I finally made it to the site of my erand. After negotiations that were greatly prolonged by Papa Bear I was on my way home. What? I didn't tell you what the errand was??? How very rude of me!!! So.......read on.

Here is your first clue......a very clean and pristine interior.

OK, OK....I will tell you! Remember that vehicle I had that refused to start after all the love I put into her? no? Well, it happenned three weeks ago ....and today I finally settled on the perfect replacement........Isn't she beautiful? :)