I know 24 days seems like an arbitrary number to countdown from. It isn’t nice and round like 25 would have been, and it isn’t quite as logical as 21 (three weeks). However, it’s the first time in a while that the foreign service career really feels like it’s happening.

Getting the offer was surreal, and sending in all of my paperwork just felt like homework. Yesterday I received confirmation of my last day at Halfaker, but I’ve known that date for weeks, so it didn’t feel like a big deal.
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One of our friends works for the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). On the 4th of July they open up their 6th floor terrace to employees and their guests for fireworks viewing.

Did I mention that their headquarters is on the National Mall? I brought my tripod and took a lot of pictures of fireworks.
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There will be no Sunday Food Interlude this evening, because I’ve spent up my blogging time making updates to the website.

Recent Updates:

• New WordPressUpdated from WordPress 2.9.something to WordPress 3.0, or, as some like to call him, Thelonious. This is a great, feature rich update that I actually did early in the month.
• New Theme – I’ve made the switch over to Magazine Basic by Bavotasan.com and I’m very happy with it. I’m not done playing around with the format and features, but I really like grid layout and automatic excerpts

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I spent most of yesterday evening filling out forms from my appointment packet and from the website the State Department set up for entry on duty paperwork. I think I filled out over 15 forms – there were a lot of them. I wrote my name and address many many times and worried about writing my social security number incorrectly. Then I read some of the posts on the 155th A-100 class’ google group and found out more information on what people have to go through just to get to DC (or Virginia…). Despite the perceived loss in ‘per diem’ income, I’m very happy to be a local hire.

I’ve known a couple future and current FSO’s who have debated moving outside of the 50 mile mark to be able to take advantage of the per diem benefit as well as the convenience of living in corporate housing. While one current FSO regrets their decision to stay a local hire, most agree with me that the move isn’t worth it.
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Sunday is a big day for food in the VonHinken household. It’s the day I make a big thing of whatever it is we’re going to eat for lunch during the weekend, so naturally, it’s a big day for grocery shopping. But while I may say is a big day for grocery shopping, it’s probably nothing compared to households with several children (especially boys) – Chad and I just don’t eat that much. However, I have my favorite places to buy food in Northern Virginia, so I thought that today would be a good day to share them. Here’s the quick list, in order of the ones that probably need the most explanation:

• Super H Mart
• Let’s Meat on the Avenue
• Cheesetique
• Mediterranean Bakery
• Costco
• Trader Joe’s
• Wegmans
• Whole Foods

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First things first: electrics are not essential. If pressed, I could do everything that these tools do, by hand, the old fashioned way. I could also spend the entire day in the kitchen and never leave the house. Since that would not be very fun for me (or very practical), I have small electric appliances that help me feel like I’m living in the future. I think I have too many small electrics, and one of these days, before we pack out to wherever we’re going, I’m going to give some of them away (I’m looking at you chocolate tempering machine that I’ve never used. At least you were a free floor sample…) My first two essentials never leave the counter.

1. Toaster Oven
2. Rice Cooker
3. Electric Kettle
4. Crock Pot
5. Food Processor
6. Hand Mixer

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This is going to be a long post – are you ready?

Yes, you read that correctly: The Foreign Service is plan B. This post is directed to all of the Foreign Service Hopefuls who find my blog by googling ‘fsot score breakdown’ or ‘foreign service security clearance’ or any of the numerous foreign service related search terms that people use to find this website on a daily basis. In order to maintain your sanity, you should delegate a career in the Foreign Service to ‘Plan B.’
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I promise I’ll keep this brief and picture heavy – not a lot of reading. For the second week in a row I’m not going to post about food, because I think too posts in one day is a bit much for me. The Sunday food interlude will be back next week.
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I’m on vacation, and we’ve been staying at my parents place. The guest bedroom is comfortable, but the morning sun ALWAYS wakes me up. This morning I didn’t mind so much, because when I checked my email from my phone I had an offer for the August 2nd A-100.

Chad says he was awake when I told him the news, but at 6:00 AM, he wasn’t as awake as I was once I saw the subject line: “Invite to August Class”

I am sooooo excited. This is something I’ve wanted for a very long time, and the process to get here was very long. I can’t wait to start this next chapter of our lives. Hooray!