leaving L.A.

Aric wrote a beautiful entry about what we will miss the most about L.A. Click here.

on to become government asset

It's final. Aric and I are moving to Washington D.C. The move date has been set. The plane tickets have been reserved.

Finally quit work on Friday. That night, Aric and I set out to San Diego for a relaxing get-away. We pampered ourselves with a night at plush hotel in Del Mar, ate scrumptious chicken soup at a Mexican hole-in-the-wall, and enjoyed late night talks with good friends. I'll be spending the next three weeks tying up loose ends, selling our cars and saying goodbye to folks. Aric will be working and taking classes clear to our move date: Aug. 29. We fly out to D.C. two days later.

I'll be giving an update from time to time as we move and begin exploring this brand new chapter in our lives. We'll be in Washington D.C. for six months while I undergo training at the Foreign Service Institute and Aric takes courses at Wesley Theological Seminary.

Here's one thing I've learned so far. Government folks love acronyms. It's been pretty jarring. Reporters are never allowed to use acronyms we don't define, and even if we do, we shy away from them. Now, I can't write a single e-mail without them when I communicate with the Department of State, or the DOS. I'm not a foreign service officer, but an FSO. Our furniture that will go into storage is HHE and shipment that will travel with us to Washington D.C. is UAB. Insurance options? Forget about it. I gave up last night trying to tell the difference between FEHBP, FEDVIP, FSAFEDS.

Aric is writing a series of blog entries about our move. Check it out: www.aricallen.blogspot.com. It'll make you chuckle.