Dad insists that it’s still winter, but Spring is definitely on its way. There were Canadian geese wandering around in front of my office today and the sun hadn’t totally set when I headed home from work! I’m still spending a lot of time in the office, but this will be my fifth month (can you believe it?!) and it seems like the time to be stepping up and demonstrating my abilities. I even got out early today, having finished every task I could have possibly done, and went out for Wednesday pizza and free wine with Brendan. I love that deal.

I’ve been working on my trip home for Beach Week this summer. I haven’t asked for the time off yet, but hopefully it won’t be a problem. We get 10 vacation days a year, and I’m putting Christmas on last year’s tab. Plans are made a little more complicated by the fact that two of my Vassar friends are getting married that first Sunday of Beach Week down in San Francisco. I’m trying to find an affordable multi-stop plane ticket that will allow me to head to California for that and then spend the rest of the week up in Oregon. Mark your calendars for the last week in July!

I haven’t figured out how to feel about the current state of national and world affairs. On one hand I’m mildly panicked by all the bad news and doomsday predictions that are flying around, but on the other hand I have a decently enjoyable job in a growing company, a half paid-off car, and few personal debts. I may not have much saved up, but I’m working on a rainy day fund. I feel like I want to go to grad school at some point, but I don’t really know where or for what. I’m intrigued by a new idea just about every 45 seconds, so it’s kind of hard to focus on one. Still, part of me is buckling down and expecting the worst, whatever that is. I keep a flat of water bottles around just in case the water doesn’t come back on after the next main break (apparently East Coast pipes don’t handle freezing and unfreezing well).

I’d like to develop a hobby, although I don’t have a ton of free time. Brendan suggested getting in touch with the Vassar alumni association in DC, which is probably a pretty good idea. I’ve also considered taking a pottery class or working on little art projects. There just isn’t enough time in the week. By the time I collapse into the weekend there’s laundry and errands to be done, and on Sundays I like to make a bigger meal (this week it was lasagna) to furnish myself with workday lunch leftovers.

This blog is the boringest thing ever now that I work. I feel like I don’t do anything else! But maybe that’s good motivation for me to get out of the apartment a little more, so that I’ll have more and better news to relay to you guys. I’m keeping my eye out for a cheap bike on Craigslist. A nice springtime ride through Rock Creek Park sounds much more pleasant than my pre-dawn slog to the gym.

I’m usually busy, but lately it’s been insane. I ended up bringing my work home with me last night, testing various cell phone offers on two different phones that went “bloop, bloop” all throughout the evening movie. Brendan and I are watching a lot of movies and are trying to keep up with a number of TV shows (downloads and DVDs, we don’t actually watch them when they air): Battlestar Galactica (which actually got good again), The Wire, The Office, How I Met Your Mother. The weather can’t make up it’s mind — some days are snowy and others are 65. I can’t complain too much — I’m planning an office going-out night this Friday, which is part of the reason why I’m so terribly busy. I’m trying to cram all of my work into the beginning of the week so that we can all get out in time to catch happy hour in DC next Friday. We have so many new people, I think it will be a nice chance to get to know everybody a little better.

I’m also testing out this “bonus” system that my bosses have set up. I wonder how quickly I can work my way up if I get all of these phone tests done in addition to posting high audit numbers. If I can make any extra money for my time I’ll make any effort to do it. It is a recession, after all, and what better do I have to do? If I’m not using this time to earn a degree I might as well accumulate something of value.

I do things outside of work, too. A few weekends ago I drove up to Philadelphia to visit Alex and Seth and Claire. I’d never been to Philly before, and it was really nice to see them. The city wasn’t exactly what I expected, but it was a fun weekend full of friends and great food, and I’m sure I’ll make it back at some point. I went to the American History museum last week. There sure were a lot of Vassar ladies who made accomplishment in the early sciences. It makes sense considering there weren’t that many institutions for female academics to choose from back then.

Valentines Day was uneventful. Brendan and I made dinner together and opened a bottle of wine, and that was about all of the celebration. Holidays like that can be so silly and expensive if you take them too seriously. And that’s about all the news in these parts. My life consists of work, movies, the gym, and the occassional weekend outing. I think my parents made reservations to come visit me next month, though, so I’m looking forward to that!