Chillin in the District

Well, things have been fun! I like DC more and more each day, and I started out liking it. So now I really like it. When I applied for a job in Seattle today, my heart was in the position but not the location. I've checked in here.

Here are a few fun discoveries I've made:

• Playing frisbee anywhere you can meet cool people, and it holds true in DC. I picked up with a co-ed team this weekend and it was a blast. Although you also meet some weirdos - and that was the case as well.
• Everyone in DC is political. And by political I mean democratic. I haven't heard a conversation anywhere here that hasn't included the words "election" "Obama rocks" or "McCain's an idiot." It's cool though - everyone's up on the latest and there's always a good discussion to be had, even if they're usually pretty one-sided. You better have a good head on your shoulders to be a Republican in the District (well, I guess that's sort of an oxymoron).
• Kids are fun, Hana and Alek included. It's fun coming home to practicing recorders, games of pictionary, color-changing fingernail polish and "telephone." The tantrums, bickering and yelling - eh, I could do without. But on balance, positive.
• Julia's Empanadas. Look it up. Connecticut Ave off of DuPont Circle. Eat them. They rock.
• Getting back into the public transportation thing is great. I love walking to the end of the street, swiping my sweet little card, chilling out on the bus and reading a book for 15 minutes, and being in the center of DuPont Circle ready to go. Although I missed my appointment today cuz the bus never came. I guess you gotta take the good with the bad.
• I have a suit. It's gray with pants and a jacket. I love my suit. It makes me feel awesome. I can take over the world in my suit. It makes me look tall and in charge. I wear it every day. But I got some yogurt on it so I need to take it to the dry cleaners tomorrow.
• Linda and Ilir love it when I cook. I love to cook. We have a great partnership.

Well, that's some of the fun stuff. As for jobs, it's been interesting to explore the field I'm interested and talk with other people who are just as passionate as I am about what they do. That's one of the cool things about DC. A lot of the people aren't caught up in the 9-to-5 grind, they're living out their dreams and making change in the world. They're into what they're doing, and are willing to help you find something that will make you just as happy. So far I've spoke with so many interesting people and uncovered a few good looking opportunities.

What I'd like to do is find something that combines public health and the environment. I'm most interested in organizations looking to solve the paradoxical dual issues of obesity and hunger by making use of sustainable/locally grown/organic foods. This could be anything from working with urban community gardening projects, advocating for fresh fruits and vegetables in school lunch programs, working in corner stores to improve the quality of their products, etc. Fortunately a lot of this sort of thing is going on in DC. And the District seems to be quasi-protected from this whole financial crisis thing, at least more than some. We'll see. I'm optimistic. Peace.