Yesterday was pretty representative of a day in the life of a this nomad.<\/p>\n
5:50<\/b> – Wake up to new kitty, Jasmine, jumping up onto the headboard, then onto the shelf of our bedside mirror, knocking down one of my chakra stones collected in Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
6:00<\/b> – Alarm goes off.\u00a0 Put on workout clothes. Listen to coffee start and glad that I prepped last night. Hunt for keys to get housesitter.\u00a0 We are headed to Hawaii tomorrow and I’ve just secured the cat sitter before going to bed last night.\u00a0 Can’t find keys.\u00a0 Continue to throw stuff in a pile to prep for packing.<\/p>\n
6:50<\/b> – Opt to walk hubbie to the metro since I don’t have the keys to bring to the house sitter.\u00a0 Halfway to the metro I realize that I can take James’ keys and copy them before the end of the day.\u00a0 We part ways and I run up to Mt. Pleasant.\u00a0 It is one of the steepest hills in Washington.\u00a0 It was on our regular route when James and I ran years ago together with more regularity than today.\u00a0 I pass our stopping point with speed and charge along into the heart of Mt. Pleasant.\u00a0 I drop keys on in a candle holder of a beautiful Victoria group house of a former colleague and friend.\u00a0 The run is one of my best.\u00a0 Weather is finally beautiful and I’m rocking it.<\/p>\n
7:30<\/b> – Back at home, continue to pack, get dressed, etc.<\/p>\n
8:37<\/b> – Head to the office.\u00a0 Late.\u00a0 As usual.\u00a0 Power walk to the office.
<\/b>9:03 <\/b>– Meeting about contingency planning for Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
9:37<\/b> – Catch up on emails from overnight.\u00a0 See that Ethiopia bid needs some help.\u00a0 Due today. <\/p>\n
10:01<\/b> – Easter egg hunt.\u00a0 Happen to find one of the eggs with a note for a prize in it.\u00a0 Wonder what I’ll do with a peanut butter filled rabbit that I would have eyed as a kid.<\/p>\n
10:02<\/b> – Planning meeting for a proposal in Kenya.\u00a0 Discussion of opportunity in South Africa.<\/p>\n
10:30<\/b> – Start to focus again on Ethiopia proposal due.\u00a0 In short, I worked for 4 hours on it the day before and then had debate with team developing it about changes made to improve likelihood of winning.\u00a0 Work on further clarification and honing with several folks.
<\/b>1:00<\/b> – Skip regional meeting in lieu of deadline.<\/p>\n
1:16<\/b> – Meeting called by partner about bid for Zimbabwe. <\/p>\n
1:30<\/b> – Skip call with potential partner about South Africa bid, due to time crunch.<\/p>\n
1:32<\/b> – Do a final rework of concept note to ensure technical integrity.\u00a0 This adds a quarter of a page that I then have to edit down at lightening speed.
<\/b>1:45<\/b> – Normal hiccups with online submission that typically happen when you least want them to.<\/p>\n
1:57<\/b> – Submit proposal with three minutes to spare.<\/p>\n
2:01<\/b> – Meeting to discuss proposal workshop from last week, discuss how to improve systems.<\/p>\n
3:00<\/b> – Out of meeting, thankfully on time.\u00a0 Realize that lunch has happened.\u00a0 Run downstairs and grab a Pepe “Unwich” with peppers, essentially a lettuce wrap with ham.\u00a0 Run into old boss as he exits the parking garage.\u00a0 He’ll call me.<\/p>\n
3:11<\/b> – Half of lunch finished.\u00a0 Call from previous boss to work on evaluation of previous country director.
<\/b>3:26<\/b> – Call with LA office about how to set up a survey to improve systems.\u00a0 Walk through basics, mostly realizing it will take more time\/effort than I have.<\/p>\n
3:40<\/b> – Out on time to head to partners meeting about Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
3:56 <\/b>– There early.\u00a0 Discuss changes to proposal.\u00a0 Our bid won against the incumbent and great odds. Discuss details and deadlines to turn a response back to the donor in the next two weeks.<\/p>\n
5:02<\/b> – Leave and call potential partner for South Africa opportunity.\u00a0 Walk through Dupont Circle considering if this is something we should go after.\u00a0 Doing so would mean not going to Hawaii. Huge opportunity in trade for a great deal of work and giving up Hawaii.<\/p>\n
5:26<\/b> – Safeway stop for cat litter, cereal, creamer and frozen lunches for hubbie.\u00a0 We’ve been eating everything out of our fridge in anticipation of going to Hawaii.<\/p>\n
5:46<\/b> – Home.\u00a0 Sweep. Change laundry. Clean out fridge. Clean counters.\u00a0 Continue to pile\/pack. Make smoothie and slurp while running around.\u00a0 Grab aloha dress and consider whether I’ll be headed to Hawaii or South Africa.<\/p>\n
6:46<\/b> – Talk with James, he is on his way home.\u00a0 I’ll leave new keys under the flower pot before I go to yoga.\u00a0 We discuss South Africa.\u00a0 He encourages me to talk with my boss and consider it.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
6:51<\/b> – Head to advance inversion yoga class.\u00a0 Call boss and leave a message.\u00a0 Stand on my head with ease and marvel.\u00a0 Can’t help but consider travel options when in shavasana.<\/p>\n
8:32 <\/b>– Text boss back while walking home.\u00a0 Continue to pack\/clean\/discuss options with James.
<\/b>9:17<\/b> – Have nearly an hour call with my boss about Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa.\u00a0 It seems like South Africa is a go if I’m wiling to go after it.<\/p>\n
10:26 <\/b>– Sit down to draft up action emails on Zimbabwe, South Africa, and a few others.\u00a0 Talk with sis for 4 minutes; let her know I may not be in Portland tomorrow night (en route to Hawaii).<\/p>\n
12:22<\/b> – Hit send.\u00a0 Brush teeth.\u00a0 Go to bed. can’t sleep.<\/p>\n
6:00<\/b> – Alarm tolls.\u00a0 Start again.\u00a0 Consider list of to-dos, depending on if I go to South Africa or Hawaii tonight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Miel<\/p>\n