110to220.com

6 more weeks of winter predicted

Phil saw his shadow in Punxsutawney so that means six more weeks of winter.  D.C.'s weather has been extremely mild to date, much like most of the country.  So I think Phil is just messing with us for making him get up at sunrise year after year.

 

Domestic assignments in DC

Most of my work involves editing and updating the writing of others.  As a result, my writing skills are slowly improving.  That's one of the accomplishments I hoped would happen after taking this domestic assignment in DC.

Domestic assignments also provide a Foreign Service Officer several opportunities to volunteer in other projects and programs that are not necessarily their chosen field.  For example, I'm helping HR with mentoring and other new-hire programs. 

No matter what domestic assignment you select, the odds of working with Civil Service (General Schedule) employees will be high.  I'm one of two FS Officers working with six GS employees.  Even though we all work for the U.S. Department of State, there's often a disconnect on how work is done locally and abroad.  Although I'm a quick study, when I leave in 2 years I'll still lack the experience of every aspect in my current job.  And the GS staff, with whom I work with, don't have much overseas experience in which to compare working stateside.  This can create some unusual situations especially when communicating. 

So over the next month, I'll attempt to breakdown what a typical month is like working for the Department in DC.  I'll also explore some of the differences between GS and FS staff, because even in the U.S. you can still feel like you're in a non-English speaking country.

Interested in a career with the U.S. Department of State?

An announcement went out Monday, from the Department, regarding accepting applications for the Information Management Specialist position.  (That's the track I'm on)  The Department will accept applications for a month so start now if you're interested.

More info on FS Specialists and applying

31 days

 One month smoke free

I forgot about this movie.  It was set in Iowa around 1971.  I remember seeing this as a kid and thought it pretty strange watching adults go to any lengths to sneak a smoke.  I can imagine a theater full of people watching this and 1/2 of them leaving mid-movie for a nicotine fix. 

If you're a smoker, you know when you most likely need a cigarette.  For me, I often smoked after I accomplished something.  Over the last weekend, as I finished up several little projects I couldn't help but remember how often I used to light up to celebrate little victories.  But after a month of not smoking, I can honestly say I don't have a craving tied to that anymore.  It wasn't that long ago when I would get nervous if I couldn't have a cigarette after a meal, or while I was driving around, or anytime I was outside.  I spent more time thinking about how I was going to work that next cigarette in than the actual conversation I happened to be in.  But this weekend was a true test of how far I've come.  I was out and about most of the weekend with friends.  As I shopped, ate meals, drove around and visited other people's homes, I felt very relaxed.  It's clear now, I'm beyond the dependancy and now feel the same as when I was a non-smoker.

So good luck to you if you're thinking about quitting smoking or any other addiction.  I can truly say it's tough to start a quit but thank yourself later if you're successful.

 

30 days

 

As my one month quit comes to a close I want to share some positive news about smoking relapses. According to a Canadian statistics report-

Relapsing was strongly associated with the length of time an individual had quit. Approximately 1 in 5 men and women who had quit smoking for two years or less had started again. By contrast, approximately 5% of former daily smokers who had quit for three to five years had started smoking, and among those who had quit for more than five years, the figure was 1%”. Conclusion, the longer you stay quit the less chance you have of starting again.