Random observations

There's not enough time in the day to do all I want, even with an extra 10 hours that used to be work.

It's easy to spend the whole day putting out brushfires. And not getting to the longer-term projects that you swear you'll do after you don't have to go to work.

My mom still comes up with great insights and pithy observations. Today she said in the midst of a long call, this is a special time that we have now and we need to make the best use of it. I was impressed by that insight and agree completely. That was one reason I decided to pull the plug a little earlier than expected.

Getting to Steinmart 2x in the first week was pure joy. I got cream towels with embroidered birds for my and moms bathroom - they look so good! Haven't gotten hers up yet but I know it'll make a big difference. 

Trying different permutations of bread, but conflicted about eating more bread, gluten, calories. But it tastes so good, like in France. 

1/9/14 - met Art's sisters in Florida. Another example of how folks can surprise our preconceptions or stereotypes.  They had little wealth or health. Both made bad early marriages. Neither had much education. But Marti had wanted to be an attorney and clearly had the intelligence and drive to do so if she'd had more encouragement and money. She had great photo displays all over her walls. Mica had a wall display case of oriental style vases and plates, and giant fans on her wall - just something she'd always liked, without any personal or academic background in China. Her 3 daughters, only hs diplomas and the 2 mothers unmarried, were friendly, smart, and good cooks interested in wide range of topics. Their kids were friendly and polite. The husband was friendly and had interesting insights from fishing. All seemed to get along and be close. Maybe tighter than any of our families. Could just be the situation but they live close together, shared housing for awhile, and seem to visit and help each other. So wealth/class doesn't buy everything. 

Another celebratory photo

I'm hoping this will come in without complaint, unlike the last post.

Cards and flowers from family and friends. The only blank, uncluttered staging spot is a corner of the floor in the dining room. 

Some photos from my farewell party, 10/30/13

The office gave me a wonderful send-off.  Laura took these photos for me, and I'll add more later.  I'll also scan in a copy of my farewell remarks (other people asked for copies!), my farewell email (a tradition here), and the citation on my Secretary's Achievement award, which retirees with over 25 years get.  The unique element is the citation which I wrote; of course they have very strict style and word count parameters!

Room before everything started.




 Food, including tons of shrimp!  They asked what my favorite color was, and I said "Caribbean blue", hence the aqua theme.

A signed whiteboard - great memento

Loaded up with gifts.  The room got super-hot so everyone peeled off layers.

My gifts: Secretary's Achievement Award, a flag that has been flown over the Department, and a glass laser sculpture of a famous bronze sculpture in our courtyard behind the wall of flags.  Those are official gifts received by every retiree with 25+ years.  The gyroscope clock, with plaque, was from my office.  It's really fun to spin it!

Current and former EC colleagues

Style matters for a big event

I'll add a picture at some point, but because you know I take style seriously I'll tell you the meaning behind my party attire today (10/30). Not so different from medieval Europe where the different hat styles all conveyed a message!

I won't wear a hat, thank goodness, but I have on a jacket I bought years ago, maybe with VWS, at our local boutique Lemon Twist. It's a black/red/gold reversible jacket woven with Chinese motifs.  Since China has played a large role in our family and provided my living for many years, I wanted to honor the connection.  I'm wearing the gold chain I bought in Hong Kong in 1976 (!), the pendant from VWS and DMS with the girls' birthstones, and the emerald one from Art. On my right hand is my "family ring" of garnets and 4 tiny diamonds that I bought from a Foreign Service friend when I worked in the Refugee Bureau in the 1980's.  She bought stones in her different postings and had her father in Florida work them into beautiful jewelry.

As a final touch I'm wearing the little silver/ruby ring that Dad bought for Grandma Anne Ware in India back in the 1970's.  She passed it to Mom, who lent it to me for my college graduation!  You can see it on my hand reaching for the diploma in my official Wellesley photo.  This is another "graduation" where it can shine.

Facebook friends' thanks

Yesterday I spontaneously posted on Facebook "last full day of a 35 year career at State.  It's been a prvilege to work here".  Those unplanned words truly express how lucky I feel to have a good run with great people at an important institution that can move the world.  I wasn't prepared for the flood of good wishes that poured in from new and long-time friends.  And the "thanks for your service" messages brought tears to my eyes.  I've never been thanked before - it's quite gratifying!  

Hot-(pot) spot for Sinophiles

Today my fellow China watchers and I demolished a pile of lotus root, mushrooms, tofu, and other treats at the area's best hotpot restaurant, Uncle Liu's.  Roxane, the woman to my left, has been my fabulous friend, worklife coach, politics guru, and morning coffee/tea mate since 2002.  Our daily breaks have shown more staying power than a lot of marriages!  Mornings definitely will not be the same without her.

The person on my right wearing a hoodie to protect against hot chili oil stains is my legacy Oliver.  I give him and Matt (another colleague in my office) the eye-candy award for my bureau, but I won't embarrass them by telling until I'm out the door.

I just added the Followers button on the blog

Use a different computer, get a different answer: on my work computer, the Follower button came up as an option.  So I hope you see it and click on it.  Now my Followers list can really take off!

How to follow the blog without Google+

Which I don't have, and don't want at the moment.  So there's no one-click follow button anymore.  You can follow without a button or Google+ if you have a Google account.  Go to Blogger and add http://apletransition.blogspot.com/ to your Reading List.  Sorry about that - it's hard to work around the evil Google empire.

Plans for my dream office updated

And the real office looks nothing like the original plan, because I subsequently discovered chalk paint and Swedish style. I have a repurposed desk, side table, futon etc. done up in Swedish colors. And a Mora style clock on a golden carved shelf salvaged from the neighbor's trash. My frugal immigrant ancestors would be proud. 

 playing with iPads and fantasizing about Macbooks, I suddenly realized that I do not actually live a nomadic life.  Most of the time I'm in Arlington!  A new dream took shape: a repainted and re-purposed bedroom (I won't say which one, but the former Arlington denizens can guess) with a flat sisal rug.  I'll decorate it with my old government awards until I decide I don't need their validation anymore, and other artwork that deserves a new home. I see a glossy glass-top computer desk, a small file cabinet, a bookcase or 2, and on the desk a honkin' huge Mac desktop! 27 inch screen, tons of memory and storage - with that technology in a comfortable setting, I could really sink my teeth into the world of digital photos and communication.

Fortunately I've seen relatively inexpensive glass desks on the Target website, and have found a website for refurbished Macs at half the price of new models.  So I could realize this dream if we ever get the room cleaned out!

Any thoughts on the Mac idea, please let me know.

T minus 4 to Transition - Monday

Art asks if I'm counting the hours - no need, they're flying by!

Today John Kerry held a "town meeting" where the working stiffs can come to big auditorium and the Secretary gives a pep talk and takes questions.  I usually don't go, but since this was my last chance I did attend and it was fun.  He looks better and younger in person than under the TV lights, and spoke fluently without notes on what's going on in the building and around the world.  He has a more laid-back manner than Hillary.  He spoke rousingly about defending our budget from the crazy sequesterers on the Hill, and how well our people deal with multiple crises every day around the world.  Many of them aren't that important to us, but without US involvement nothing gets settled. He said he doesn't listen to the pundits, like the columnist in today's Post, who says he's just indulging in fantasy about Middle East peace - you could tell it needled him a little.  But my biggest takeaway from the talk that fits perfectly in my almost-out situation, is that every step we take helps move us toward the goal.  As he said, "we may not see it in our time here" but it all counts.  So that's a nice feeling to get from your big boss!

I've told some of you that I took as my "mission" in this job that we would not have a war in the Taiwan Straits - and you can tell I was successful!  Seriously, that informed a lot of how I operated here.  Now I'll pass that goal onto some worthy young successors.

One of those worthy successors, my "legacy" Oliver, whose fluent Chinese skills have earned him superstar status since I hired him 3 years ago, insisted on hosting a retirement celebration at his house this weekend.  I'm touched that he wants to, especially since I'm having an office party, but I guess I made a good impression on him too.  Here's the link to the evite he sent around.  If you click on it you can go to the URL. 

http://www.evite.com/event/0134TNU7ONHFREIEIEPDHWQR5VCAUM?gid=01346HEIXQEDLU7IGEPDHWRVXOHDWA

This afternoon I had my "exit call" with one of our senior people, who is 15 years younger than me at least but I've gotten used to that.  We had a good talk about what State and INR could do better--more diversity, flexibility, and IT would help--but I told him honestly that most people there loved it.  That's why they stay 3-4 decades sometimes.  Getting secure pay and a pension to think and write with dedicated colleagues - there can't be a much better deal.  I wish I'd traveled more; maybe I'll make up for it now!

Tomorrow, a Chinese lunch out with China colleagues, and then my party Wednesday afternoon.  Whew - how do celebrities stand all the attention? :-)