You Go Girl

This month marks the 97th anniversary of  the ratification of the 19th amendment, giving wonderful ladies like me the right to vote. Last week also marked the Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board's annual luncheon honoring  women and their achievements. I was honored to be nominated by the Corps of Engineers for the FEB's Woman of the Year in a Professional Non-Supervisory Series. While I didn't win the Gold or Silver awards, my competition was pretty good - there were about 20 other federal women in our category - and it was an honor to be selected by my office and to win a bronze level award. 

Plus, it's really cool to think of how my great grandmother was a suffragette and four generations later I'm able to win an award for women in a professional aerie job. My how the world has changed. 

The Commander with myself and the two other nominees from the District. 

East Brownie Dam

Mock up of my project at our Engineering Cookie Table. Go figure ours wasn't the most festive table In the competition... Maybe because we were too busy working to make cookies?

A kick in the pants...

That is what someone deserves for posting this on their cube..

DC Peeps!

 A quick stop while in DC for work this week.  I actually find peeps gross, but was amazed that this actually exists!

Jack Stack Barbeque

When in Kansas City there are a few things one must do.  Pretty much all I can come up with is eat barbeque and drink Boulevard.  I checked both off the list tonight.

Big Springs

Last week i went to Piedmont, MO to visit Clearwater Lake for work.  While in the area we took a trip to see the 'Big Springs' one night after dinner.  These springs were absolutely awesome.  They are the biggest ones in the Ozark Plateau.  The engineers and geologists i was with all enjoyed these -- go figure.  here are a few of my spectacular photos from the field trip.

Kennywood!!!

We went to Kennywood for my office's Corps Day a few weeks ago.  Here are a few of the fun pics!  For those who aren't from here, Kennywood is the local amusement park.  Its little, cute, historical, and I love it!  Plus, I always love getting a day off!!

Lining up for the Corps Boat race...

Somehow we pulled in 3rd..  not to shabby considering the odds we were up against

We lost track of how many times we went on the Thunderbolt!

Roller Coasters are fun!

 Braddock L& D is just around the corner :)

 Going home is so sad :(....  We'll be back next year though!

The Lake

I headed out to East Branch Lake for work this week.  It makes for a long day since it is a 3 hour trip each way.  However, on a pretty spring day, it is totally worth it!

The Lake really is pretty!  

Walking up the dam is not exactly a walk in the park.  

You might call it a hike.  The other abutment is even steeper!  

Here are a few pictures from when I went up three weeks ago --- spring really sprang up there in that time!

It has been a crazy day today at work. Should the budget not be passed, I will be furloughed, as many of you are aware. In dealing with the stress of not knowing our future, it was suggested that I checkout the twitter tag #govtshutdownpickuplines. wow. that made me laugh.


Some of my favorites included

• Baby, the only thing nonessential about you is those pants!
• Are those policy pants? Because your butt looks like it could use a rider.
• Is that a Continuing Resolution in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?
• Sure, the federal government will shut down, but like the post office, It'll still deliver
• There's a Tea Party in my pants and everybody's coming
• No, that's absolutely NOT a vibrating blackberry in my pocket

Completely inappropriate and completely hilarious.

Mt. Washington Mist

It was a gorgeous morning with gorgeous foggy mist on Mt. Washington in the distance as I walked to work today.

Walking Home

This was the view while walking home to home sweet hotel after my first day of work.

Walking in Memphis

Last week we went to Memphis for a conference for work. I got to wo-man a poster related to my primary project for the last year or so. Outside of duty hours we made the most of our time in Memphis. There were trips to the Flying Saucer for beers, cheeseburgers at Hueys, barbeque on Beale St., and a Grizzlies game with awesome seats like 4 rows off of the floor!

Work meets Christmas

We had our Christmas luncheon at work. Gotta love APB. We know how to do it up right. All of the food was great, and the fried turkeys were devine. I love the fact that we fry turkeys. I had never had one like that until moving down south. I definitely reccomend it. My contribution to lunch was a simple fall salad - spring mix with pecans, dried cranberries, apples, and apricots. Yum.

The gag gift exchange is one of the best parts of the holiday festivities. We pull names and do a little gift. I pulled my friend Mariely. She is the newest of the engineers, and quite fun. She also works on the 1st floor while the rest of us girls are on the 3rd floor. I gave her a 'girls guide to surviving the 1st floor' - including a rhinestone cup hotline to the 3rd floor, chocolate and tissues, a hunting vest and 'doe in rut' so she can fit in with the boys, and a stick to beat some sense into their heads.

There were lots of other gifts! Griffin pulled my name. He gave me a DVD for me to learn from to help me acclimate to the south a little more - "Girls Gone Grabbing" - it isn't dirty like it sounds. It is girls going hand grabbing for catfish. Some people would be upset - I found it hilarous!!!

It was great to see the latest crop of APB babies as well as our friend Webb. A fun time was had by all - and not a single gift was mean spirited!

September Turns to October

So there hasn't been too much on the blog front - but I don't have too much to report. It has been work city around my house. When I'm not working it is sleeping and mowing the lawn. How exciting is the life, eh? It seems like work is taking up the most time! blech!

Last weekend we had a nice quiet weekend around the house. The dogs have entered a new phase in their lives. They now enjoy sleeping all over one another and lounging. It took them a while, but they have fully assimilated! I just wish that this was me during the work day, not just on the weekend.

Unforunately we are still fighting the mosquitos. If you have any advice - I'm all ears!