I've lived in the DC area for 8 years now. I've been in the city proper for 6, but something has kept me from truly being a Washingtonian; my dentist.
For the past 8 years I have made visits to my dentist in Utah. I've been going to him since I was 12. It just made sense to go to the dentist twice a year on my trips back to Utah.
Well, the cycle has been broken.
The past few trips back to Utah have been crazy or cut short due to snowmageddon Part 1. Put it all together and it has been more than a year since I've had my teeth cleaned - ewe.
I finally decided that it was time.
So yesterday, I headed downtown and had myself a good cleaning. It was great. All the nice ladies were very helpful. The technician was uber fab and the dentist was even pretty cool.
I have to go back in May to have a filling redone, but other than that, it was a very lovely experience. And now, I can truly say I am a Washingtonian. (Well that, and maybe getting in an accident in a cabbie would REALLY seal the deal, but honestly, I can skip that one.)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Oh I see how it is, want me to work do you?
That's it. I want to know who's been complaining to OPM that the fed govt keeps shutting down. It's a BLIZZARD here PEOPLE.
Well take this!!
Statement of OPM Director John Berry on the Continuing Snow Emergency
"First and foremost, I want to assure every American that their government is working for them, as it has been throughout the snow emergency. Over 87% of government workers live and work outside the National Capital Region, and the vast majority of them are functioning normally. Within the National Capital Region, emergency and mission-critical staffers are at their posts or teleworking. We are receiving daily reports from across government that many thousands more are also teleworking.
The decision to close government buildings in the National Capital Region has two components: first, the safety of our employees and the public. Second, maintaining government operations to the greatest extent possible. As Director of OPM, this decision rests with me, and I will always accept responsibility for it.
The Federal government has plans and systems to maintain operations during emergencies like this one. We are still digging out from a blizzard of historic proportions, and some work has doubtless been delayed, but all the work will get done. Some buildings have been closed, but the people who do the work have been open for business. We've equipped many of them with tools like notebook computers, Blackberries, and secure Internet connections that allow them to work from almost anywhere.
Traditionally, OPM has calculated the cost of closure as the cost of giving all Federal workers in the National Capital Region a paid day off. But with so many emergency and mission-critical personnel reporting to work as scheduled, and so many others teleworking, that calculation is outdated. With the new data that agencies have been reporting to us throughout the week, we will be able to update this calculation.
The new cost calculation will be one component of a larger assessment of lessons learned that we are already working on. The data and experience gained from this emergency are helping the government to be even better prepared for future storms and other events that might cause widespread disruptions in the National Capital Region.
- end -
Our Mission is to Recruit, Retain and Honor a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People.
Well take this!!
Statement of OPM Director John Berry on the Continuing Snow Emergency
"First and foremost, I want to assure every American that their government is working for them, as it has been throughout the snow emergency. Over 87% of government workers live and work outside the National Capital Region, and the vast majority of them are functioning normally. Within the National Capital Region, emergency and mission-critical staffers are at their posts or teleworking. We are receiving daily reports from across government that many thousands more are also teleworking.
The decision to close government buildings in the National Capital Region has two components: first, the safety of our employees and the public. Second, maintaining government operations to the greatest extent possible. As Director of OPM, this decision rests with me, and I will always accept responsibility for it.
The Federal government has plans and systems to maintain operations during emergencies like this one. We are still digging out from a blizzard of historic proportions, and some work has doubtless been delayed, but all the work will get done. Some buildings have been closed, but the people who do the work have been open for business. We've equipped many of them with tools like notebook computers, Blackberries, and secure Internet connections that allow them to work from almost anywhere.
Traditionally, OPM has calculated the cost of closure as the cost of giving all Federal workers in the National Capital Region a paid day off. But with so many emergency and mission-critical personnel reporting to work as scheduled, and so many others teleworking, that calculation is outdated. With the new data that agencies have been reporting to us throughout the week, we will be able to update this calculation.
The new cost calculation will be one component of a larger assessment of lessons learned that we are already working on. The data and experience gained from this emergency are helping the government to be even better prepared for future storms and other events that might cause widespread disruptions in the National Capital Region.
- end -
Our Mission is to Recruit, Retain and Honor a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Snow, bad tv and doing something useful.
Fed Govt is shut down yet another day. I would put my odds on it being open tomorrow somewhere between 'no' and 'hell no'.
I make fun of people on the East Coast (sans Bostonians) who freak out about snow. I love everything about snow. I love driving in it, I love looking at it, I love walking in it, I love being stuck in it, I really love sliding down mountains on it etc etc.
Admittedly, what DC and Baltimore have received in the last 7 days is certainly worthy of a trip to the store for toilet paper and milk.
I've been hold up (give or take a trip to the store for TP and milk) since Friday afternoon. I figure I should do something more productive than stay in my house and watch reruns and bad tv (and my homework - blah, homework).
I can actually dive in the snow - yes it is a skill, and no, not everyone can (or SHOULD) do it. So, I think tomorrow I'm going to take some doctors to work or help deliver food to shut ins.
Food & Friends - in need of volunteers
I make fun of people on the East Coast (sans Bostonians) who freak out about snow. I love everything about snow. I love driving in it, I love looking at it, I love walking in it, I love being stuck in it, I really love sliding down mountains on it etc etc.
Admittedly, what DC and Baltimore have received in the last 7 days is certainly worthy of a trip to the store for toilet paper and milk.
I've been hold up (give or take a trip to the store for TP and milk) since Friday afternoon. I figure I should do something more productive than stay in my house and watch reruns and bad tv (and my homework - blah, homework).
I can actually dive in the snow - yes it is a skill, and no, not everyone can (or SHOULD) do it. So, I think tomorrow I'm going to take some doctors to work or help deliver food to shut ins.
Food & Friends - in need of volunteers
And now our feature presentation
A friend of a friend (The Seed) made a movie of the snow.
Thusly,
Thusly,
Blizzard 2010 from One Little Seedling on Vimeo.
Monday, February 08, 2010
I may never work again
Federal Government Operating Status in the Washington, DC, Area the following message applies only to Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Federal agencies in the Washington, DC, area are CLOSED.
Federal agencies in the Washington, DC, area are CLOSED.
Well...it's been snowing here
The Washington Post has a poll asking if the Federal Government should be shut down another day (as we are slated to receive more snow Tuesday night).
Should the federal government close on Tuesday?
No -- closings are a big taxpayer waste
Yes -- it's too dangerous to go to work
No -- just give early dismissal on Tuesday
Yes -- and keep offices closed until the schools reopen
No -- mandate unscheduled leave instead
I think the follow up question should be, 'Do you work for the Federal Govt?' Because if you do, you don't get a vote! (Or, your vote should count twice.)
Should the federal government close on Tuesday?
No -- closings are a big taxpayer waste
Yes -- it's too dangerous to go to work
No -- just give early dismissal on Tuesday
Yes -- and keep offices closed until the schools reopen
No -- mandate unscheduled leave instead
I think the follow up question should be, 'Do you work for the Federal Govt?' Because if you do, you don't get a vote! (Or, your vote should count twice.)
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
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