In just a few hours, I’m flying to Washington DC. I’ve never been there before, so I’m very excited to finally see our nation’s capital. Capitol? Capital? Principal? Well, you know what I mean. I hope to have many “Scandal”-esque clandestine meetings on park benches overlooking our national monuments while I’m there. I was even going to take a briefcase for these meetings, but then I discovered that I don’t have a briefcase. Can you pull off park bench intrigue with a beach tote full of doggy poop bags? We’ll find out!
I’m going to DC because I was invited to attend the ONE Organization’s AYA Summit on Girls and Women in Africa. The summit will focus on “issues facing women and girls in the developing world, like Health, Childbirth, Trade, Water, Schools, etc.” Pretty important stuff and definitely an eye-opener/game-changer for me. I mean, I don’t think there will be any focus on who looked like a dumptruck in her yoga pants at school drop-off this morning. (We all know it was Shelley. It’s always Shelley.)
At any rate, I am thrilled beyond belief to be included in this summit, and I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears open the entire time so I can learn as much as possible from brilliant people like Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas Kristof. I’ll be tweeting and posting Facebook updates with the #AYASummit hashtag, so please follow along if you’re interested in what I’m learning and how you can get involved.
Meanwhile, if you miss regular old Jackass Wendi, here are a few pieces I’ve written lately that are in Other Places:
14 Awkward Moments Parents Experience at a Kid’s Birthday Party:
What a Mom Thinks When She Holds Her Best Friend’s Newborn:
Horrorscopes for Moms (sadly, they edited out my BONR KILR line):
I know, I’m like a one-legged paper hanger, I have so many jobs. (Does that make sense? I half-listened to Redneck Radio the other day and I sort of picked up a lot of new sayings that I now keep throwing into the Mason Dixon line like fish in the fire kettle, Bubba.)
Thanks for reading and if you’d like to talk about anything important, please find me on my park bench. I’ll be the one in the trench coat from Ross Dress for Less holding a pile of empty poop bags.

This trip sounds incredible, and I’m so happy you got this opportunity. Skeeter (your red neck name, I just decided), you are prolific.
Dang, you’re in my neck of the woods! Funny, nobody thought to invite me to the AYA thing. I guess the Kids! Vomit! Mice! tagline turned them off, eh? There is one organization that is convinced I am a health blogger, since I keep talking about my latest hypochondriacal fixation, but they don’t seem to sponsor anything except teleconferences.
Can’t wait to hear about the trip! And about the non-flipflops you got to purchase for the actual fall weather up there.
I didn’t receive a call for bail money, so I’m guessing the trip was a success. Or would it only be a success if you needed bail money? Either way — hope the Nation’s Principal treated you well.
Your trip sounds incredible. Moving and inspirational, and I’d love to hear more about it.
In the meantime, this phrase here satisfies me very much: “, I’m like a one-legged paper hanger, I have so many jobs. (Does that make sense? I half-listened to Redneck Radio the other day and I sort of picked up a lot of new sayings that I now keep throwing into the Mason Dixon line like fish in the fire kettle, Bubba.)”