It seems like whenever I find the time to post on my blog, I am mentally out of breath from all the things going on in my work and personal life. I have been very tired this past month. I set reminders in the form of calendar alarms to update my blog because I really want to be able to take time and reflect and record my thoughts, but when those reminders go off, I am simply too drained to devote time to writing. I'll be the first to admit that I have been working way too much. That doesn't mean I'm not finding joy and meaning in the things I'm doing, because I am, all the way! There's just so much to do with moving logistics and things not going as planned on the schedule I'd like.

Today I worked for 11 hours. I haven't worked an 8 hour day since August or September. I am really, really homesick and anxious to get back to the mountains. I feel like right now my life is consumed with my work (and I'm ok with that for the time being) and then recuperating so I can work more. Might as well take advantage of my youth and energy in this capacity...

I only have 1.5 days more of work this week before I can set my sights on going home to Asheville. I have an image in my mind of

just collapsing on the couch in my godfather's house and just not thinking about anything except the people I'm there to see. I will hopefully be able to take off a full week or perhaps more at Christmas. It's an interesting and dynamic challenge to come to terms with the fact that I don't know when I'll be back in NC for good.

I attended my first ever black tie affair, the Capital City Ball, on Saturday Night (www.capitalcityball.com). I wore a dress for the first time in at least 5 years, and heels (not high ones!) for the first time in my life. A lot of firsts. I had a great time. It was fascinating to be among some of DC's socialites. The whole evening benefited P Project as well as two other human rights/victim services organizations. I was extremely tempted to go up to one of the hundreds of plastic women and tuxedoed men and ask them what they actually know about human trafficking. I'm pretty certain at least 90% of them were there because this ball is just another party they can go to and be in "society." There were amazing hors d'ouvres and des

serts, and 4 different open bars! There was also a silent auction with some pretty amazing things in it. I had a good bit to drink and did a lot of dancing, some of which was with men old enough to be my grandfather! Oh well. What a night. Here's a picture from it:

I got the dress from J. Crew with a friend's employee discount. The necklace is black pearls and diamonds - fake ones - borrowed from a friend. I bought those earrings for this event from Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade store that I really love. The two people to my left are fellows with P Project and are a lot of fun!

I wish my mom were here with me and could have helped me prepare for a night like that. I am going to be doing a mini fundraiser for P Project in my mom's memory. I'm going to be asking friends/family to donate what they wish to P Project in memory of Kyong Sook Min in lieu of any holiday gifts they were thinking of giving to me. Since P Project has become so very important to me and its mission is absolutely necessary, a gift to P Project is a gift to me. It's funny, I am not the least bit uncomfortable asking for donations to P Project. Since I work very closely with the development team, I can see firsthand how different revenue streams are and can be used. Individual donations are especially valuable to P Project because they are largely unrestricted - that is, they can be put to use where the need is greatest. The bulk of our funding comes from government and foundation grants, and this money can only be spent on very specific things. Anyway, if anyone who reads this is looking to contribute to a new cause or would like to give me this kind of indirect gift, please let me know.

I hope to be able to update my blog more often - but can't guarantee it!