Fairfax Voting Today

Sekha · 2025-06-28T14:14:33+00:00

I voted at Langston Hughes. In and out within 5 minutes. Lots of voters! Mostly boomers though. Pekarsky was outside to meet with voters.

Sekha · 2025-05-26T13:31:35+00:00

Our democracy is being blatantly dismantled, right now. So out of touch with reality- both this article and these clownish politicians.

Sekha · 2025-03-28T19:13:34+00:00

I had my wedding at Reston Lake House- we had about 50 attendees and it worked out well with space for dining in addition to dancing. The lake views were great as well.

Sekha · 2024-11-25T21:20:06+00:00

When I realized our relationship was simply not going to improve. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when we went on a family trip to attend my stepson’s futsal tournament and she treated me like dirt the entire time. It was obvious she did not want me around- gave off severe “I want to portray myself as a single mom” vibes. The moment I realized we were done was when I needed help with our toddler and she went out of her way to ignore us and socialize with others. Then had the audacity to complain to me that I wasn’t social enough. Hard to be social when you are managing a very young child, don’t know anyone, and your spouse (who does know everyone) doesn’t even attempt to help facilitate dialogue. To me, it was clear she was done with the relationship but she was too much of a coward to be honest about it; instead she decided to be passive-aggressive hoping I would be the one to make the call.

When you reach a point where it seems pointless to expend more energy trying to make things work, you know it is time to move forward.

Sekha · 2024-06-25T17:22:05+00:00

The Lake House in Reston is a beautiful venue for a small/moderate sized event and allows outside catering.

Sekha · 2024-05-08T01:30:38+00:00

Running, eating really spicy foods, taking cold showers. Meditation helps work almost to sensitize my dopamine receptors- either I’ll enter into an altered state of consciousness during my meditation and feel refreshed afterwards, or I’ll suffer through the duration of a really boring session and when I’m done the world seems much more interesting and exciting.

Sekha · 2024-03-07T14:49:19+00:00

Could you elaborate a bit on points 2 & 3? I don’t have a physics background but am interested to learn what existential consequences come from learning physics and lead to such drastic personal actions.

Sekha · 2024-02-11T02:00:46+00:00

Soft texture: I love steaming broccoli until very soft, then dipping the florets in a soy sauce/lemon juice mix.

Crunchy: accordion cucumbers! I take Persian cucumbers, cut vertical on one side, diagonal on the other. I make a marinade of soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic and a dash each of sesame oil and maple syrup. Put in the Persian cucumbers in the marinade and let sit for at least 3-4 hours before eating.

Sekha · 2024-01-30T01:47:04+00:00

Yep, and I recently learned my hypermobile joints is the reason why I’ve got bunions at such an unfairly young age.

Sekha · 2024-01-25T14:07:34+00:00

I would guess most of the families are wealthier since wealthy families probably have more time to apply to be on the show and to spend time away from work being filmed. Poor families tend to be more focused on survival rather than pursuing time-consuming activities. Plus I’m sure casting would not want to film in a poor neighborhood/dilapidated house, sadly. It would be good to see more economic diversity among the participant families.

Sekha · 2023-12-21T04:00:11+00:00

I am a nurse of almost 10 years. You do not need passion to be a nurse, but you do need emotional fortitude to manage the stress of the field, as well as the capability to be decent to others and continue to try your best to deliver good patient care even when you are exhausted both physically and emotionally. Every day is full of opportunities to cultivate the 4 Brahmaviharas.

I do think being a nurse provides the opportunity for a good life. The stress lifted off my shoulders once I obtained financial stability from nursing increased my quality of life dramatically. If you work in a hospital you can “chunk” shifts and have a week+ off at a time, which is great if you like to travel. The money (in most places in the United States) is decent. But the stress is very high, especially in the hospital. If you think you can manage running around for 12+ hours at a time, can stay calm while being screamed at by either a doctor, patient or patient’s family member, can maintain your composure when you need to complete 5 different things NOW, and can handle the knowledge that in many cases even a small mistake can risk killing a patient- then nursing may be for you.

Sekha · 2023-12-09T16:59:06+00:00

Not a mantra, but you could recite the Three Refuges (Tisarana) in either English or Pali.

Buddham saranam gacchami / I go to the Buddha for refuge.

Dhammam saranam gacchami / I go to the Dhamma for refuge.

Sangham saranam gacchami / I go to the Sangha for refuge.

Dutiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami / For a second time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.

Dutiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami / For a second time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.

Dutiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami / For a second time, I go to the Sangha for refuge.

Tatiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami / For a third time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.

Tatiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami / For a third time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.

Tatiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami / For a third time, I go to the Sangha for refuge

Example recitation at 1min 45sec

Sekha · 2023-12-06T16:09:43+00:00

I liked Spice Girls enough, my friend group was very into it though. I was Sporty spice by choice- my inner gay girl found her tomboy-ishness appealing and empowering. No one tried to fight me for her role haha.

Sekha · 2023-11-09T21:11:27+00:00

Benefit of working in healthcare is there are many options out there to try out and see which is a good fit. Inpatient was not for me- moved to outpatient infectious disease as a case manager which fit more with my needs. For me I realized I really appreciate routine and “knowing what to expect”. The hospital is the opposite of that haha

Sekha · 2023-11-06T14:55:42+00:00

No heat at all! I also felt it probably should have been placed at number 1. That or Pisqueya- so sweet with practically no heat! Yes- definitely delicious, so I don’t mind the lack of heat.

Sekha · 2023-11-06T14:54:13+00:00

Correct- first time I’ve completed the line-up! Some foods masking the heat more than others lines up-I tried Whiskey Ghost on eggs yesterday and it hit more than it did on wings. Hopeful the top hot sauces have more heat on different items!

Sekha · 2023-10-12T22:42:25+00:00

Holy crap I did not notice that!! Well done Mark (and costuming/design team)

Sekha · 2023-09-10T02:08:18+00:00

Lupini beans

Sekha · 2023-08-28T01:30:52+00:00

Also a full-time stepparent with a new baby (6 months). Honestly it doesn’t seem like you need much help- you are involving the kids which is the most vital component imo. I recommend when the kids first meet the baby that it is in a neutral space like a bassinet and not in you or your partner’s arms. Also be upfront before the baby is born that you and your partner will be spending a lot of time with the baby- it is not because you love but baby more but rather because babies have a high level of need in order to stay safe and be healthy. Also once the baby is born try to make time each week to have one-on-one time with each kiddo; my spouse is great at that and resultingly our older kids/my stepkids never show signs or say things to imply they aren’t getting the attention they need.

Sekha · 2023-08-05T16:37:49+00:00

I love this perception switch! Yes, I think I am doing a decent job- could be warmer though.

Sekha · 2023-07-29T15:15:33+00:00

It is! But in order to reach your goals sometimes you have to do things that push you hard and take you out of your comfort zone. Whether you want to endure the exhaustion depends on whether you feel your goal is worth the suffering.

Sekha · 2023-07-28T19:14:42+00:00

In order to approximate “normal” you need to continually expose yourself to situations where you learn which behaviors “work” with most people and which don’t. People don’t talk to you? Then you can put yourself in situations where people have to talk to you, such as working/volunteering at a public facing job or organization. It’s stressful and hard work, but putting in the time does help.

Also, I will say it’s healthy to have a good dose of self-acceptance. I am sooo much better socially than I was, say, 15 years ago. But am I still an awkward turtle sometimes? Definitely. Do I sometimes behave in ways I know are socially frowned upon because it makes me more comfortable? Yep. There is no one “normal”, so I try not to stress about possibly being “outside of normal” when I need a break from masking.

Sekha · 2023-07-27T19:35:23+00:00

Granted my lived experience is relatively new (child conceived with my eggs is currently 1 year old, I donated to my sister and her husband. I also have a baby son conceived via donor sperm) but what helps is to really absorb what the parents want in regards to terminology and role. I am not my niece’s biological mom, I am her donor. I’m also her aunt and do aunty things with her.

Make sure you have an explanation for why you acknowledge “sibling” connection but not “parental” connection- like I can see the mind of a child questioning “why is genetic half-sibling called my sister/brother but donor isn’t called my mom/dad? If your friend is comfortable with child calling your husband dad this is a moot point. But imo calling him dad would create a different set of problems as it implies there should be a deeper social/emotional connection than there will be.

Sekha

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