Busy Thursday!

June 25, 2009

Thursday morning was busy. I went to a meeting on Capital Hill where I was able to meet some CEOs of various that are converting old decrepit mobile homes into Energy Star homes. They shared their stories of going to people’s mobile homes and rating them in various categories. If the home met various benchmarks, this indicated the amount of aid and reconditioning they received.

I went to work around 1:00 after I went to lunch in Dupont Circle.

I left again at 4:00 to attend the opening of the new Sweden Embassy. It was awesome, and is built with a golf putting green in the conference room and waterfalls around the building. You can also have a breakfast in the embassy for 75.00 a person, and the conference room can be used for two hours after breakfast is enjoyed.

Bang, good day

Monday Metro

June 22, 2009

It seemed like a regular Monday. I was only at work for three hours, and I again registered more energy companies with our sites, indicating whether or not they have online billing.

I attended two workshops today, and listened to a speaker discuss the best way to get hired. She stated statistics, which indicated that 20% of all 2009 college graduates had a job upon graduation. Were those 20% hired in their field? I wish I could have asked her, but she literally tore up her notes and threw them around the stage.

The first workshop dealt with jobs in the science and policy fields. She works for a large company located in Washington and was very helpful with her suggestions. Finally, the second session discussed how to negotiate one’s first salary.

So, on the way home, I was on the metro for over an hour and 40 minutes. We were told that there were some trains with mechanical problems. After I exited the train I had seven missed calls and 14 text messages from people wondering if I was okay. I was informed in a voice mail that a train had derailed on my train line (the red line) two stops in the other direction.

It was a sad and humbling moment when I found out that there was a terrible accident and that 9 people died and others taken to the hospital. The crash is still under investigation.

Hold on, Let me connect you...

June 18, 2009

I worked on more research for our meeting tomorrow and became bored and tired around 3:00. I almost fell asleep at one point…

I have been working on utilities for the past three weeks and every energy company’s website looks the same after a while, and it gets very mind numbing. But, it will do some good for a citizen in El Paso or in the city of Tucker.

I have come to a realization regarding government agencies. No one really knows what is going on. I think I was connected to ten people, and one person twice. I guess they are really hush hush now a days, or……..?

One the way to the metro I saw, what I believe was the president’s motorcade, which was cool, yay sweet Obama… I wonder if he has a photographer following him taking more pictures… (kidding) . During this “siting” three African American women were in front of me and jumping up and down in excitement yelling

“Oh my God it’s him, our man!”

Didn’t John McCain produce a campaign commercial comparing Obama to Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears and the whole attention Hollywood star mentality?

Coincidence… Hum…

Tomorrow is Friday!

Cookie Cookie Cookie!

June 16, 2009

Today, I was in various meetings and prepping for other events scheduled for later this week. I was obtaining information regarding various companies and learning how to tweet on twitter. I am not a big twitter fan to be honest. I believe facebook is enough to help people develop ADHD problems.

Now you can post your sporadic thoughts, which have actually got people into trouble. Phil Jackson, coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, was fined by the NBA recently for criticizing the referees through twitter!

I do have a confession. I am addicted to the mini-monster cookies sold at Corner Bakery, across the street from where I work. They are the most amazing cookies I have ever consumed. I like to put them behind my computer for 15-20 minutes so the heat softens them up, then I indulge.

Meteorology At Work... Literally

June 9, 2009

Today was a very busy day. I got into work early, after working last night until almost midnight. I was given a detailed assignment with a short window of completion and it needed to get done…

Our bosses took us out to lunch, which was real cool. We went to a Thai restaurant, and I ordered an entree with chicken. It was indicated to be spicy, and I like to turn up the heat at times so, why not? When I was served my food, it was tangy with a brown sugar coating on the chicken. The broccoli was pretty good (don’t tell my mom) I have to admit.

The weather this afternoon was the topic of discussion. One of the employees told me that The Weather Channel has our area receiving rain around 7:00 this evening. Well, I looked at some models and a few radars, and noticed that the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a severe storm warning for our area. I said it would start to rain/storm (and possibly hail) between 5:00 – 5:30. It started at 5:17 as I was leaving the office.

While conjuring up a forecast, I was also working on another outreach program for local businesses.

A Case of the...

June 8, 2009

Wow, the weekend went by quickly…

Monday wasn’t too bad; I worked on some more outreach for the State of Confusion (Maryland).  I was instructed to find various newspapers and blogs across the state that Earth Aid (EA) could contact.  I worked on this until 1:30, then went to the Koshland Museum and attended the infectious disease workshop. 

 I have to admit, I learned a lot more about HIV/AIDS and the positive progress doctors have been making during the past decade.  I remember writing a report in 10^th grade for my biology class about HIV/AIDS, and since then, research has found that some people are carrying the virus, but it isn’t having an effect on their body.  However, there are some instances where the virus is acting faster and making it near impossible to treat. 

There was also a section in the museum for global warming, which I thought was weird but considering that migration, and the possible complete worlds end due to global warming, it could happen…

After I got home from the museum I went to the gym, made dinner and did work until 11:30.   

Next week we have the opportunity to attend an Embassy.  I would like to visit North Korea’s, if they have one here.  Difficult situation there….  

Kung Pao Protesters

June 5, 2009

Friday! Woo!

I finished up my Texas outreach information in the morning and finished up on some more incentives before lunch.  At 1:00, Jon and I walked about 13 blocks (in one direction) in the rain for Chinese food.  Oh yes, what I will do for good Chinese food…

It was pretty good, except for the Chinese lady tourist next to me in line hip checking me in line.  I was getting ready to bust a move. Then I satisfied my craving and I was at peace…

In the afternoon I worked on more of local outreach in the Washington DC area.  There are many corporations that advertise as “green” organizations.  Below are a few of them:

Flow Yoga Center

Ideal Design

Java Green

Tranquil Space Yoga

Zip Car

You’d be surprised… You can make anything “green” these days…

On Monday, Ben (the founder) and I are going to do some meteorology stuff, and David (the attorney) for the organization and I are going to set up a few meetings so we can make a sales pitch late next week.  It will be a full week …..

I believe this is an intricate time for the organization; we have a lot on our plate as far as expanding, and winning the $30,000 for the iPhone application earlier this week.  Things are happening quickly, and it is going to be very exciting.

It also needs to stop raining…

Have a great weekend

…Oh, forgot.  On the way to the metro this evening, I saw a woman standing in the street a block from the white house, attired in a woman’s business suit, screaming how she hates our current President.    DC is interesting… entertaining….amusing…

Workin' Man

June 2, 2009

Today was, I guess, my first official day of work. Monday was more of an orientation; get to know everyone and not acting too awkward.  Today I worked on incentives for each energy company.  There are thousands of energy companies across the United States, many of which offer rebates or incentives for purchasing energy star or energy efficient home products. Some offers range from 50 to 400 dollars depending on the purchase.  Many people are unaware of these opportunities.

I did this pretty much all day, and sat in the park for lunch and enjoyed the relaxation.  We got out of work early today which was nice.   

I drank about 80-oz.  of water today, I feel like a camel - mainly because there are seven people in a tiny office and it gets  warm.  I am also writing a weekly scientific report for our website (www.earthaid.net).  This week is a prelude into the hot summers here in DC.  I will be discussing smog and the urban heat island effect.  I will make sure to post it on here for my active readers to enjoy. 

It is nice bringing my Mac to work with me; I do work while listening to music with my headphones on.   The other interns sit and work in the quiet.  I kind of feel sorry for them…

I am a SAL of the American Legion. When I got off work, I walked to the American Legion which is located a block from my office and enjoyed the senior company.  I was informed upon entering that specific building that it is only offices, and not a bar/restaurant , but I did get the address to the closest one near my apartment complex!

Being thrifty is in style! 

Dr. Pirring, I think we got one.

June 1, 2009

Today was the first day at work and I didn’t start until 10:00AM.  Totally awesome!

Last evening I went downtown on the Metro around 8:30 to see where the employer’s building was located so that I wouldn’t look too dumb walking around when I got off the metro in the morning.  My organization shares a suite in another organization’s office.  The other company is a gay and lesbian journalism corporation. 

There are a total of five interns, two from TWC,  one from Georgetown and two from American University.  The two individuals from American are part time.  The office is small, there were six of us in one room with two desks and a folding table which served as a desk.

I had a few tasks today, it was my first day so it wasn’t too strenuous.  It was fun to get to know everyone.  I had to recruit people on Facebook, yea I said it, Facebook.  There was a competition, which ended today to get an iPhone application made for your representing green organization.  I invited people to a group and asked them to vote for us, and when I left work early this afternoon we were in first place, so I hope we won!

I left the office early today as I was instructed to listen to a group of doctors speak about personalized medicine, which was difficult to follow because I tried relating biomarkers to dopplar radars… and it didn’t work out too well…

All the doctors agreed that personalized medicine is needed. I gave this some consideration….and thought, well don’t we have varying medications for different illnesses?  I wasn’t too sure what was going on, all I know is people can now call me Dr. Andrew Pirring.