Hello from cousin Erica in our nation's capital

Hi Everyone -

I'm posting to let you all know that I now live in Washington, D.C. I can see the Capitol building from my Metro stop and work within spitting distance of the White House (not that I would ever spit in that direction, mind you). I started working for the US Environmental Protection Agency a few months ago. Right now I mainly work on communications materials (press releases, speeches) about Energy Star and other voluntary climate change-related programs. Not sure what Harry and Gert would think of it all. As a skeptical Bollerud, I'm not really sure myself, quite yet.

Above is a picture of me (I'm the one in glasses on the right) being skeptical about things I am always skeptical about: team-building events and the GOP. The EPA's "Office of Public Affairs" -- aka the Republican political appointees who approve all of my communications materials -- asked us all (the "careers" as opposed to the "politicals") to go bowling with them. The politicals were all having a great time -- this was before Tuesday's election -- and I think their incredible happiness was making me very uneasy, as evidenced by this photo. Did they knew something I didn't about upcoming election results? Turns out they didn't! Viva the separation of powers!

I hope to see many of you at Ray & Kathy's for Chris and Vero's engagement party, or at the wedding itself. And if you're ever flying through DC, let me know. I am getting pretty good at tearing around DC in my honda civic (as Dan and Jan can tell you).

Love,
Erica