Say It Ain’t So! Response Post #6

After reading Kelly’s final post on her “Dead Stuff Lives” blog (which is amazing by the way – go check it out) I am sad to learn that she will no longer be blogging regularly.  Granted, the purpose of the blog was part class and part fascination with social media at its core.  However, if there is one thing that it always contained in a Dead Stuff Lives blog post, it is entertainment and funny quotes. 

The author is a true storyteller who has an eye for talent and what makes her world go round.  Not many people have that balance.  So it is with a heavy heart that I toast my final response post to a friend and a blog that will go down in history as one that truly influences and educates at the same time (and provides quotables for years to come). 

Ciao DSL – we hardly knew yee. 

Whatever You Are, Be A Good One: Response Post #5

I recently finished Malcolm Gladwell’s book Blink:The Power of Thinking Without Thinking and it opened my eyes.  And opened them wide!  It really gives you a lot to think about and I am not just talking about a laundry list.  It is almost like a “honey-do” list for your mind when making decisions.  With that said, I agree with a lot of the suggestions and tips that Dyanne offers in her blog post “Blessing in Disguise”  and her ideas take me a step further. 

I am a person who is happiest when I am the busiest.  And I don’t mean by accident.  I have this sense of stubborness (not always a blessing) sometimes that leads me to always plan as much into a day as possible.  Yes, I know people have used the phrase “Sleep when your dead” or “Carpe Diem” (the latter saying being a more tasteful translation of the first one) but I almost feel that if you don’t follow that mantra, you might miss an opportunity to experience something special.  Now sleep is important and it is also important to take a break from life from time-to-time, but I am a Ferris Bueller fan – so that doesn’t happen as often as it should.  But I have had a hell of a ride so far, so why stop a good thing?

My Curiosity As A Child Finally Pays Off: Response Post #4

After reading Liz’s “The Snarky Beagle” post on crafts and Amy Sedaris I am forced to reveal a random factoid about myself: I loved to play with arts and crafts as a kid and I relived it this past weekend while in West Virginia with my family.  While there, I took in more Easter activities and pastel colors than most see in a lifetime.  On the surface, the idea of entering into a lions den playroom with nieces on each arm to dye easter eggs and have fun with crafts is a parents’ nightmare.  I welcomed the challenge.  Why you ask?  Well I used to be that kid who spend days making/building stuff.  Treehouse? Did it. Fort? Did it. Balloon animals? Did it.  But I digress…

Anyway, 35 eggs, two lego bunnies, 7 necklesses, and 2 baskets later (can’t enjoy Easter without a basket to keep the eggs/candy safe from wandering hands) my nieces emerged exhausted and ready to return to their less exciting lives in DC.  I, on the other hand, didn’t want to leave.  What can I say? I was that kid! 

Who Really Uses Sick Days Anymore? Response Post #3

After reading Danielle’s “MySocialBuzz” blog post on sick days, I was reminded that at a recent staff meeting, the topic of sick days came up.  Work colleagues of mine complained that vacation days and sick days should be combined into “personal days” as many times people watch as their sick days sit idle while their vacation days vanish before they even get entered into the system. 

Another quip concerned the question, who takes sick days anymore anyway?  With technological advances, the ability to work remotely or from home is becoming more commonplace and accepted.  Gone are the days of last minute emails or calls into the office with a subtle cough into the phone to indicate that you won’t be able to make it in that day. 

I agree that Sick days are a terrible thing to waste (especially when you are sick and there is a lot going on) but I would rather not have sick days at all.  Just roll them all into personal days.  You work colleagues will thank you later when they plan their next big vacation. 

A Boat Called Paradise: Response Post #2

As the semester is winding down and the weather is becoming more of what I envisioned spring to be like (it is almost May right? Enough of the rain) I am preoccupied and toiling over the idea of finding a change of scenery for a week away.  And thankfully, right as I sit here writing, I am reminded of a classmate who is writing about vacation ideas! HOW CONVENIENT! In her blog post, appropriately titled “Vacation: how and where?” JustCruizin101 explores the idea of a cruise vacation being the “bang for your buck” choice for summer vacationers – and I couldn’t agree with her more. I mean, yes, the beach is nice. So is the golf course.  So is just being a tourist. 

Well, why not combine all of those activities into one trip!

And no I am not talking about settling for a cougar cruise or something gimmicky like that.  Plus, it isn’t about going to a destination where everyone knows your name – in fact quite the contrary.  And did I mention you can take in a beach, play 18 holes and tour multiple cities all at the same time on a cruise ship. 

Below is a picture of the ship I was on 4 years ago when I was taking a cruise through the caribbean and it was the most fun vacation I have taken in years (or at least on my own dime – hard to compete with family vacations).   

A Shared Appreciation: Response Post #1

 

My Current "Old Lady"

After reading Classic Cribs’ post on the “Old Lady” I had to respond with affection for the Kennedy-Warren as well.  Growing up in DC has allowed me to take in all of the diverse architecture that our nation’s capital has to offer.  And I don’t mean just tall buildings.  However, there is one tall building that I always wanted to call home (and still hope to someday if I don’t buy a house) and that is the Kennedy-Warren.  I remember passing it on my way to school every morning while driving down Connecticut Avenue and marveling at its simple elegance and welcoming decor (so maybe I am a little old fashioned when it comes to architecture). 

I can’t 100 percent put my finger on what it is about it but I have always been drawn to it.  Maybe that and it is one of the nicest apartment buildings in the city – or at least a lot nicer than my building, The Saratoga (pictured above).  But that’s just a small side note.  Regardless, I am glad that someone else notices the beautiful scenery in and around DC and I am not talking about the cherry blossoms or stops on the evening monument tour.

Future of the Watercooler #13

For the past couple months I have had a unique opportunity to talk about the world around me through the lens of a watercooler.  There is not much discussion that is out of bounds and I think that is part of the allure.  I love sharing my thoughts on sports, food and culture around the nations capital and I must admit expressing some of these thoughts helps me sleep better at night.  However, as rewarding as blogging is, I now understand the greatest challenge: staying current.  In a 24-hour news cycle, everyone is jumping for the latest scoop on the street leaving little wiggle room for those bloggers who aren’t in the loop to keep up.  Blogging, I have found is a full-time job.  Granted, I know a lot of people who juggle a blog with their other duties and hobbies, but I now understand why people troll the web day and night looking for content. 

This is not to say I am giving up on blogging — because to be honest — I am having too much fun ranting and raving about the world around me.  So stay tuned for more musings from the watercooler.  But I am going to have to figure out a more defined direction for the watercooler going forward.  After all, there is something therapeutic about having the ability to talk through issues in a more casual environment.  A famous person once said, “The mind a terrible thing to waste.”  Well given how far I have come since January, I would hate to waste the opportunity to share my experiences with people and maybe learn a little about myself and the world around me along the way.

Summer On My Mind! #12

Summer weather is upon us (or messing with our heads during April showers) and the countdown has begun until shorts and flip-flops foray into a more regular role.  Of course, everyone has their own fantasy of a perfect funday about town – some like the Georgetown waterfront (although not in its current state), others prefer the other waterfront out in southwest DC by Nationals Stadium, and still others enjoy rooftop bars that are sprinkled around downtown like P.O.V and out in Nothern Virginia like Clarendon Ballroom. 

My favorite summer funday location is Cantina Marina, located at 600 Water Street on the Southwest waterfront.  Decorated in a Parrothead theme that would make Jimmy Buffet proud, the watering hole has an atmosphere that is second to none.  As one frequenter mentioned to me once, “There is something fun about drinking near boats and listening to tunes that take you away from the fast-paced lifestyle like that of a DC Captiol Hill staffer with no money.”  And he has a point.  After spending hours on end going through the motions during the week, the last thing you want to do is think about how you can destress without in turn stressing out.  During my 4 years on Capitol Hill I found this quandary dominating the psyche of many who just wanted to escape the mile and a half campus that is the Capitol building and surrounding House and Senate office buildings to a “happy place” where you are too far to return to the office to help send out one more constituent letter. 

To me, Cantina Marina was the the peace and tranquility that I was looking for, and it is to this day. 

So with that said? Where is your DC happy place?  It could be a restaurant, a museum, an activity, or even something as simple as a park bench or nearby landmark.  Where is your inner Margaritaville?

What’s in the Water Washington?? #11

So I realize that this blog is meant to focus on sports, food and culture but I couldn’t help but wonder: What is going on in Washington these days??? I mean, when it rains, it pours! First, the two teams who played their first two NCAA basketball games at the Verizon Center venue of the NCAA Tournament end up in the NCAA finals – how does that happen?? I will save my breath on the upsets and how my Hoyas will have to wait another year to repeat the glorious 1984 National Championship.

But enough about sports.  How about our Federal Government on the verge of a shutdown??? How did this happen? Clearly, this is oversimplified, but both sides seem to have a “Failure to Communicate.”  Thank you Cool Hand Luke for taking the words out of my mouth.  I mean we eleven years ago we had a balanced budget and voters outside Washington assume that a budget should be passed every year.  After all, most families survive on a budget from year-to-year —  albeit not a trillion dollar one but still.  Well, that’s a little easier said then done.  I am sure a budget (hopefully a common sense one) will get passed eventually but the stopgaps have to stop, and the partisan politics need to stop. 

Of course, we could blame the shutdown on el nino or global warming but neither of those have to do with shutting down the Smithsonian Museums.  That’s right, the most visited museums in Washington D.C., if not the country (I have no idea but so many people come during the spring to check out the new exhibits while the cherry blossoms are in full bloom).  THIS IS A TRAVESTY! According to Kelly Carnes in the Smithsonian press office, “Our crowds are heaviest during the highly trafficked spring break and cherry blossom season, so shutting us down, even for the weekend, would mean disappointing approximately 500,000 visitors who may have planned to visit the Smithsonian months, or even years in advance.” 

So given that my sports world and work world feel like they on crazy pills, and one my favorite museums might suffer as a result, I felt this was a good outlet to urge people to “Wake up and smell the coffee! ” It is never too late….until it is too late.

My “Electronic Water Cooler” #10

I would be kidding you if I limited my outreach to friends and community through one social platform or tool but Facebook has been my strongest lifeline to the influencers, water cooler participants and fellow bloggers.  While Foursquare tells me where the who’s who are located and Twitter tells me what they are thinking about moment by moment, Facebook does it all for me.  From status updates to interests to likes and dislikes, even timelines and storylines that go on for miles.  Of course that listing is a broad generalization of every social networking site, but it is this same gerneralized structure that keeps me on topic and allows me the agility to foray deeper into communities that shape my thinking and blog writing.  For instance, Bill Simmons, viewed by many as a “Godfather of Sports Blogs”, lives on Facebook and provides endless content to pick at and draw from at will – as does his 79,000 plus following.  If only more of my friends were so open with their feelings and rants. But of course, that’s what makes my community so special — if it is a critique that has some legs to it, it might crawl at first but will soon fly if given the wings and momentum.

When reading about  how sports social media platforms have taken off, they all list Facebook as their “mothership” for engaging users and users.  Most of the popular writers of sports blogs have individual Facebook pages: Drew Magary, A.J. Daulerio, Jamie Mottram.  But of course, they link their websites and give the reader a taste of how they reached the pinnacle of their sports-watching careers — blogging about what people care about in the world of sports while adding a comment thread to allow the “content tail” to waggle and evolve at the “electronic water cooler.”  After all, what makes for a good blog without a myriad of comments to build upon and use for future subjects. While Facebook may be one of the many ways I engage my fellow sports nut friends and community colleagues, it has given me the wherewithal to keep pushing the boundaries that might one day lead to a following and a permanent spot at the water cooler.