Surviving!!

I survived my move and am 98% unpacked.
I survived my cold which made my move a living hell.
I survived my trip to Portland.
Heck, I even survived coming home.
I survived finding out the condo closing has been delayed.

Now I am working on...

surviving the holidays
surviving adopting a new dog
surviving two of my employees applying to be agent
surviving unpacking that last 2%

For everything that you do, Phillip, we salute you

Service to self, service to country

Growing up in a military and strong civic minded family, it was always stressed to us how important service to ourselves and service to our country was. As a result, I have always strongly believed in volunteering my time, my words, and my money to important causes, even if I am the only one who finds that cause to be important. I give money to a couple charities through the Combined Federal Campaign, I give my time (and Millie's time) to Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services and the Wildlife Conservation Network, and I give my voice to a variety of causes who send me emails asking me to speak for them. I vote.

This country is this country for everyone. Black, white, brown, gay, straight, man or woman. You have a voice. You have the ability to make a difference in people's lives. How can you not use that voice. How can you not use that ability. How can you not want to make a difference. You can and you should.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead.

Make that difference. For yourself, for everyone.

Survival of the fittest

I survived the office inspection. Office construction is winding down, my office is finished, everything else is just gravy. I am getting packed up at the condo, this week I am packing up my bedroom and bits and bobs in the living room. This weekend will be the mad crush of panic. Stand by for hysteria.

This weekend was the Wildlife Conservation Network's Wildlife Expo. I LOVE the Expo. Not only is it an excellent opportunity to talk to people about the Wonderful World of Wildlife Law Enforcement, it's also a great opportunity to talk to the other side of the bridge, the biologists. There is this weird divide between biologists and LE people, I don't get it, but I freely admit to contributing to it. We had the great opportunity to have one of the snow leopard biologists from Mongolia translate some Mongolian paperwork we had. How handy is that! We also spoke to researchers from the Saiga Conservation Alliance, we get tons of Saiga products in, so they are going to provide us with some of the photos, both live Saiga and poached Saiga, to add to our outreach materials.

We also had, in addition to the multitudes of public attendees, representatives from the Oakland Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Animals Asia, Coyote Point Museum, Small Cat Alliance and a host of others stop by and talk to us. It was a great opportunity to see old friends and make new connections.

Working Saturday and Sunday makes for a long weekend, but it was so worth it. Long live the snow leopards!!

When it rains it pours

This has been a very quiet year for me. Nothing huge going on, been taking Millie to the beach and just biding my time with the condo situation... until now.

NOW, the Universe has decided, it's time to get busy.

We started construction on the office a couple weeks ago. My office has to be packed up by tomorrow morning. They are putting down the glue in the hallway and I am about to be trapped in my office for 2 hours.
I finally got the condo sold and have to move in 2 weeks, so I found an apartment and just need to schedule some movers.
I went to Seattle for work, now I have to go to Portland the week after I move, then again sometime before the end of the year. I have to go to San Diego for my brother in law's Change of Command ceremony where he is being awarded the Bronze Star.
Thursday is our big office inspection, which should go well when you refer back to my first point on construction.
Then it's Christmas and time to make my annual cross country trek to the homeland. The only question on this trek will be one dog or two. I guess we'll see.

Gotta love a good time!! Wish me luck!!!

Brags, stats, and YIPPEES!!!

First, the brag. My brother in law Phillip will be receiving a Bronze Star medal for meritirious acheivement in combat. He kicks ass and I couldn't be any prouder of him if he were my own brother. We love you, we thank you for your service, and we are SO very proud of you!!!

Second, the stats. In Laurie's blog this morning, she talked about checking her stats. I had no idea you could do this!! So apparently, Laurie and I are quite the international phenoms!!

United States 73
India 9
Australia 8
Ukraine 3
Canada 1
France 1
Netherlands 1
Slovakia 1

Viva Slovakia!!! I had a lovely lunch on the Slovakian border, it was delightful.

So now, on to my yippees!! At the risk of jinxing myself, I am posting this for 3 Ukrainians to see, I sold the condo. *HUGE sigh of relief*. Closing is set for October 15, I have rented an apartment, and I am due to move on the 12th. Finally. Once I get past the stress of getting moved, I foresee much better sleep in my future.

Oh, and I have food poisoning. Yay me!!

The one with "stuff"

Laurie and I watch Hoarders together. If you haven't seen Hoarders, it's a sad, scary, eye opening look at how disgusting people can be. And what's sad, is that this hoarding can be seen in the young children in these families. They cry when asked to throw away school projects, that throwing away the project is tantamount to throwing away the effort.

When I was a kid, I was a big ol' slob. My sister and I shared rooms at some of the houses we lived in and my mom would hang Department of Health notices on the doors and threaten us with bodily harm if we didn't clean up. We grew out of this, her more than me. My place is still clean, but it can get cluttered. I live with the clutter for a little while, then I snap and go on a throwing away and cleaning frenzy. She keeps her house (4 kids, 2 dogs, 1 husband) spotless. It's awe inspiring.

Which leads us to today. We're doing construction at the office, building a new evidence room and property room. Since I have one of the only 2 doors that currently lock, my office is filled with evidence. 1 elephant skin, 1 giraffe skull and skin, 1 hippo skin, 5 capiz shell lanterns, 33 cartons of snake wine and other Asian meds, flattened fish boxes, ehrus and pool cues, PLUS all of MY office stuff - shelves, locker, desk, chair, aquarium, etc. For SIX MORE WEEKS.


I am not going to make it. I already had a mini meltdown this morning and shredded a bunch of paperwork. I don't know what else I can throw out, but I am going to have to find something. Maybe I can just take the next six weeks off. Please????