Applying for federal jobs

I recently applied for a job with another agency. I spent days--many days, on the application. I scrupulously looked at all 5 pages of the criteria for the resume format that they wanted, answered their essays, attached all of the SF-52s, etc., etc. I applied as a GS-12 as a regular person and through merit promotion. Funny thing is that today I got an email that said that my application did not make it through the screening process. Argh!!! Did I do something wrong? I mean did I make a silly mistake and not include my reference's telephone number? Or did they disqualify me because of my knowledge, skills, and abilities? I really wish I could find out.

Ironically, I am having coffee tomorrow with the manager for this job. She didn't cancel the meeting so I guess I should perservere. Maybe I didn't make it through the screening for one of my applications and not the other. That would be funny---sort of. Will keep you posted.

To CFC or Not to CFC

My friend told me that if we contribute to the CFC that we get some sort of matching or we reduce our tax base, but from what I can tell the only perk of the CFC is that you are giving money to many deserving charities and nonprofits. If anyone can explain this to me better, please do.

Back in Black!!!

I actually was in black today and a lot lately since I have been back in DC after my four-month sojourn in Oregon--not because I am in mourning, but because I have to wear a suit again. Oh what a joy it was to be able to get a little crazy with my professional wear. Now it's back to the grindstone with a new job in our nation's capital. Once again, a lot of exciting interagency meetings, which all require the suit. I need to find a suit in a different color. There must be some other cool ones.

Oh and on my way to work today on the bus, with new handbag in tote, I had an epiphany: use something old to protect the new. Why? To solve an age old problem-- preventing my thermal coffee mug from tipping over and spilling all over my new bag. Yes, I could carry my mug in my hand the whole ride to work, but sometimes I just have to hang on for dear life and need both hands to prevent myself from hitting the windshield. They may say that those coffee mugs are leakproof, but don't believe them. There are one or two models out there that are, but most of those, after you drop them once or wash them twenty times just don't seal quite the same again. If you find a good one, let me know.

So here is the solution and I will try it tomorrow and let you know how it goes: put a clean, empty, quart-sized yogurt container in your bag, (if it doens't fit then your bag is too small and you probably couldn't put your coffee in your bag, even if you wanted to). In the morning after you make your delicous soy latte of plain silk and Stumptown Coffee, seal your lid and insert in empty quart container, put all other necessary things in bag (wallet, sunglasses case, keys, etc) that will take up the rest of the bottom of the bag so as to stabilize the yogurt container and thus your cup, then proceed to your WMATA bus stop/Metro station at ease, knowing your new bag is protected and your black suit will not have latte stains before you get to your important meeting with OMB. Now you are back in black.

The Endless Opportunities in DC

I am about to leave the capital to head out West for a detail to one of our small regional offices. It's bitter sweet. As soon as you commit to something, all sorts of exciting sounding opportunities knock. Opportunities that you want to take advantage of. The old adage, when it rains it pours, holds true. I am trying not to get caught up in the would have/could have thinking. The opportunities will always be here at headquarters, I think. Not sure if that's the case in the region.

Anyhow, the same thing seems to be true of my social life. We had a nice little going away thing last night and all of my favorite people were there. All of the people it took a year and a half to meet and make friends with and now here I go. I wonder if it usually takes a year and a half to feel established when you move to a new place.

What does "halt" really mean?

I didn't look in the dictionary but I am pretty sure it means that something is stopped temporarily. And that is what the memo said, that our program was going to be "halted". No date for restart was listed, but everyone is wondering if this is really a program shutdown. You would assume that if we are planning activities for closeout than we are not going to be restarting.

Off to a yoga retreat to unhalt my groove.

Backhanded Bureacracy

The other day my boss told us that he had spoken with the senior policy advisor to our new political appointee and they had told him that our program would cease to exist. He told a few of this on A Friday and then left on his honeymoon the next day. We were left sitting there thinking, "How do we deal with this?" By Monday we had organized ourselves. We had drafted a memo for the agency to issue to tell the whole world and all of the program's members that the program was going into shut down mode immediately. And then we waited all week for the official announcement, the memo, to be signed and distributed. And we waited. And unofficial messages started flying everywhere, we even issued an unofficial message to tell all of our staff in the field, what was going on. And then we waited.

Now more than a week later, no signed memo, and a lot of disheartened employees.

I have been wondering how long it would be until there was a either a big change and relaunch of our program, (it has problems), or the program was shut down. I even asked about this in my interview for the job. But I was really surprised, and continue to be, that the program is going to be shut down and that it was communicated in such as backassward way. Can an appointee get away with that? Yes, is definitely the answer, but at what cost? And this Administration? I am so surprised. I thought January 20 marked the beginning of a new era of transparent government and thoughtful decisions.

We shall see. The media has started reporting on this. Whether they will pick up on the inconsiderate manner the program is being shut down or just on the inadequacies of the program will be interesting. Stay tuned.

What to do in case of taxi emergency?

We accidentally left my laptop in the trunk of a taxi the other day. STUPID. I know and no, we did not know which company it was. We could barely remember the color of the cab. FH freaked and I tried to stay calm and not freak at him for freaking. Anyhow, not knowing what else to do and not even close to being ready to give up, I made him drive back to the street where we got picked up and we waited and rubbernecked at every cab driver. Then..... we saw him. The cab driver. We recovered the lap top. It was awesome. A Christmas miracle in February.

Lesson: always get a receipt so that you have your cab company or always note what company and car number you get out of. I know, how can we always remember that? Well, because it's a lot cheaper than a new phone, new laptop, new purse, etc, etc.


But FYI. The Taxi Association does have a lost and found.

It's just raining

Not a lot to report. It's just raining and raining. While it dumps snow on the rest of the country leaving beautiful flocked landscapes, DC just gets wetter and full of deeper puddles. Meanwhile, everyone is back in town after the holiday recess including a bunch of new people. The new senators are here. FH went to a reception for them on Monday night and Mr. Obama decided to stop by. Sorry I missed that event. I really would like to meet, at the very least, the new Oregon delegation members.

We had a few days back in town before the Hill staffers and the rest of the bureaucrats returned. It was so nice. The city was practically empty. Besides being able walk into Le Pain and get a table no problem, I was able to shop at Whole Foods without banging my cart in to anyone. Oh Joy!

Now the buses are full again and all traffic has to be rerouted around the White House and one extra block because the Obama's are staying at the Hay Adams Hotel. A really nice place to have a $15 cocktail. Doubt they will be letting any non VIPs in there until after the big day.

January 20 is right around the corner. We still have no tickets to inaugural balls. I am hoping we get some great invitation last minute. We also have a friend coming to visit from Oregon which should spice stuff up. Oh and we did just move into the smallest apartment I have every lived in. We haven't measured it yet but it's 10 paces from front door through main room to the kitchen. In other words, 10 paces from one end to the other. But it's a great deal and we are still in 20007, which is equivalent to 90210 of DC. I think we will manage.