This is why I blog…

So I have someone to tell all about my odd little days filled with good and bad, especially the good.

The day started off well enough. I got to work and ate my oatmeal with berries. I logged on to see if my test of the Preventive Maintenance (PMs) auto generation worked properly. It did… sort of. This meant tinkering with it all morning and it still wasn't working right. Finally, I set it to run while I was out to lunch and figured I would work on it when I got back.

Trish was picking me up and we were meeting Justin for lunch at Chevy’s at one of the Pentagon malls. First I ran to my car to grab the gift I had for her and the baby. She had offered to pick me up since I was just over the bridge and I was more than happy to let her. So I stood out there on 14th Street waiting for her holding a bag that said “TaDa”. I quickly turned the bag around and gave myself a quick once over to make sure I couldn’t be mistaken for a… You know. Then again they don’t hang around there anymore… Do they? I couldn’t help but laugh and hope she would show up soon, which she did.

I could have stayed at lunch all day. We had a seat outside and Justin and I decided to get the Frozen Watermelon Margarita. YumFookingYum!! We covered a wide range of topics including Boobs. Trish keeps asking me how I deal with them because it’s taking some getting used to. She’s hoping she gets to keep them after the baby arrives. Time flew by too fast and I knew I had to get back and get the test PMs running for the client. We all agreed that our lunch reminded us of a “Sex In The City” episode. None of us could claim to be Samantha but in the end we decided that today Trish was a “Pregnant, Put Together, Charlotte”, I was a “Too Busy Miranda with no Man”, and Justin was “Carrie” because he has the boyfriend, the social life, and just got back from Aruba and is lookin so fine. Beotch! I tried to arrange something where we all go out before Trish has the baby because she could be the DD. Plus she doesn’t need a drop to drink to have a good time or instigate something. I can’t wait to have lunch with you guys again soon. I miss the whole gang not being together anymore.

Back at work I found that all my hard work paid off and the PMs ran perfectly. I documented it and successfully finished some other tasks before heading out. Tonight is class you know and I need to see Mini Red on my way there. I was in a great mood til I came up against Metro Area drivers. They are all over the place and my point was proven as I drove up Cathedral Avenue. Some nut bag not only hit a parked car but his right front wheel was in the parked car’s front windshield. WTF!?!? I know I need to be faster with the camera but I need to see Mini Red before getting to class.

Can I tell you how much I hate Connecticut Avenue on the Maryland side of Chevy Chase Circle? The lanes are so narrow it’s scary and on top of that one of those “Potomac, Suburban Driving, on the phone without a earpiece Mom’s” pulls out from a side road and comes into my lane nearly hitting me. WTF?!?! I even mentioned this to Mom, when I got to her house, who gave an “Oh, one of those” looks because aren’t we all familiar with those women?

So I grabbed a quick bite to eat and a little bit of time with Mini Red before I was off to class. I suggested to Mini Red that instead of watching TV she could read, practice her violin or even write up a review for the blog. I said all of this loud enough so Mom could hear and I think the writing came as a great idea to both of them.

Class was uneventful but a lot of information I'm hoping to retain. When I picked up Mini Red I was glad to hear she spent her time constructively and wrote a post (see previous post).

It was a long day and full of everything imaginable. I think the frozen margarita was key for such a successful day. You should try it sometime, but only one or your right front tire could end up in someone’s windshield.

How do YOU spell Happyness?

If you’re familiar with this blog then you are aware that I commute through DC everyday and I have found Connecticut Avenue can be very interesting. I don’t think anything will ever beat the afro mullet I saw in Cleveland Park years ago but it encouraged me to finally purchase a camera-phone.

I know I’ve mentioned some characters I’ve seen in my travels such as Walking Man, who I saw this week on Cathedral Avenue. Another one is Grandma Dressing Man who I saw just yesterday. He was wearing a floral matching skirt and top and it got me thinking… How does someone get to that point? He walks to and from Cleveland Park to work, in Van Ness, everyday wearing women’s clothing. What do his co-workers say? What does he do for a living that his job can look past what he wears and take him seriously?

I have so many questions and would love to be a fly on his wall. Well maybe just his wall at work. I can’t help but think he would have to be so incredibly confident and secure in himself to just do what makes him happy, which is wearing women’s clothing. This is the epitome of not caring what other people think and to a point that it may exclude people out of his life. I’m impressed that he is secure enough to do what it takes have happiness in his life, but I guess that depends on what makes a person happy. Isn’t one of the goals in life to just be happy?

Happiness is something I’ve contemplated for sometime now. What makes each of us happy is so incredibly different. When you’re feeling low what do you do to make yourself happy? My Mom knits and she’s spoken of my Sister’s “Happy Place” as the Starboard in Dewey. For me, often times its music and usually Bob Marley’s Could You Be Loved does wonders for me. Then again a hug from Mini Red will cure anything.

The other thing that does wonders for my state of mind is running. One day I hope to complete a marathon but for right now my schedule allows for once a week if I’m lucky. I’m not a great runner but if something is bothering me running is the best way to clear my head. When I first started running I hated it and it took a while to be more comfortable and figure out the form, pace and breathing. People always say you don’t need much to run and you don’t need any special equipment but you do. For women you need a really good sports bra. Then there are the clothes that wick away moisture to make you more comfortable but most importantly are the shoes. Personally, I have gotten over what I look like when I’m running and I’m not out to impress anyone because my goal is how I feel at the end of my run. Each person has their own way of doing all of this but can be interesting is to see what people wear when they run.

This morning I saw two women running on Connecticut Avenue that were stopped at a intersection. One was in spandex leggings and the other was in running shorts but both had short tops on bearing their middles. Now don’t get me wrong because I, definitely, don’t have a runner’s body but I could have pulled of those tops better than them.

I commend anyone for getting out there and exercising but their midriffs should NOT have been showing. There was a decent amount and it was jiggling all over the place. I couldn’t help but wonder if they had both recently given birth. Seems to be another case of being secure with yourself and I’m all for self confidence. So if you want to let it all hang out that’s cool too but I would think on the busy streets of DC some form of modesty should be maintained.

Maybe it’s all in the eye of the beholder? I find Grandma Dressing Man fascinating and I felt a little embarrassed for the Big Midriff Running Chicks. Others might feel completely different and be bothered by the likes of one or the other.

It boils down to everyone is trying to find their own happiness, people are fascinating creatures and the city seems to bring it all out. I guess I’ll sit back and watch it all because it seems to be something that makes me happy.

The Sign helped when I had to deal with the Crazy

Even though I was up early (all night) I let Mini Red sleep a little. When I got her up I forewarned her that I had no sleep and why. She put on her robe and looked out on the balcony over at the loud boys who were still out on their balcony.

We did our usual morning rush around and got out the door at a decent time. I dropped her off and she was walking over to the bus stop when I saw it. It was a sign… a good sign. It was Walking Man and he walked right past Mini Red. She hadn’t even seen him but I promptly pointed him out. Even Mini Red knew it was a sign that it was gonna be a good day.

I was now off to work and a lot less grumpy but lately, the traffic into work has been a bit on the heavy side, at least in Maryland. DC hasn’t been so bad except for one person this morning and that was the Horn Happy Ho. I was about to turn off Connecticut Ave when I hear this obnoxious horn. She didn’t want to let a car in but the car need to get in our lane so he could turn. This isn’t the kind of driving you would expect from a driver of a VW Green Beetle plus this Beetle had a really obnoxious sounding horn.

We continue down to Rock Creek Parkway and I left room in front of me because I knew this one car would need to get over since his lane was ending. But the Horn Happy Ho wasn’t having it and blew her horn at me. I gave her the “Are You Nuts!” look via my rearview mirror but I don’t think she got it because I had my sunglasses on. As soon as she could she got around me and was trying her damndest to move along as fast as possible but she got stuck at the light. HAHAHA. I could hear her honking that horn again at someone else because she didn’t think anyone was moving fast enough when the light turned green. I switched lanes to see if I could get any closer and maybe this would be my first time to ever flip someone off. I realized that if I did get close enough I wouldn’t flip her off because she just wouldn’t get how special it was.

She was flitting back and forth between lanes and looked ridiculous and I swear all the cars around her slowed just to piss her off. I have to admit I did the same and enjoyed watching her frustration. Finally, on Memorial Bridge she was able to get around everyone and shoot ahead. I was still hoping to catch up to her because I thought it would be really cool if I snapped a picture of her while driving next to her. No such luck I was off onto GW Parkway and she headed to Arlington Cemetery.

I love seeing people like this. It really puts any of my own road rage in check because I don’t want to look as idiotic as they do.

I think The Undertaker is in town

Today, Mini Red and I (along with the rest of DC) decided it was a good day for the Zoo. It was the type of weather where you keep taking your sweatshirt on and off. The shade was real cool but the sun felt good and the indoors were real warm.

We went into the small Mammal house and when we came out I got Mini Red an icee thingy. We moved to the side so I could put my sweatshirt back on and this big entourage of scary looking people goes walking by. They were lead by this HUGE dude who was being very loud.

This evening I’m doing a little searching to find out who this guy might be. He kinda looked like some wrestler. I found that the WWE Smackdown is coming to Baltimore and looks like it was just in Virginia. I found a pic of The Undertaker guy and Mini Red and I think this was the dude we saw at the Zoo today. This is when she tells me he was carrying a stuffed prairie dog under his arm. Evidently, he looked right at her and said "I CARRY MY PRAIRIE DOG WITH PRIDE!" I don’t know how I missed that since I was standing right next to her. Maybe I was pulling the sweatshirt over my head at that moment.

Did anyone else see this guy?

A sign on the way to Chinatown for Fadó Thursday but in the end the birds are dead

I was so happy when it was time to leave work, on Friday, and just happy to have made it through the day cause I had the hangover stomach thing going on. I didn’t drink that much last night but what I did drink I guess I took it in pretty fast.

Getting through town after work on Friday was fairly easy but I guess a lot of people were already out of town for Easter. There was a fair amount of tourists on their best behavior and we were all getting along as I drove by the Tidal Basin.

I was on Rock Creek Parkway and thinking about the post I want to write about Thursday night with Scythian at Fadó’s.

The evening started out with a sign: Mrs. M had arrived and was waiting as I ran out of the apartment and hit the button to call the elevator. This elevator is a bit temperamental and will often pass me. The light on the button will go off and the doors never open. Sometimes I catch it and hit the button again and it will open but I missed it this time. Screw it I’ll take the stairs. I get down one flight and realize I left the oven on. I’m not just worried it’s on I KNOW it’s on so I run back up. On my way I notice the button is still lit waiting for the elevator. I run down the hall into my apartment and turn off the oven thanking God the whole time. But it gets better. I run back down the hall to the stairway and notice the button on the elevator is not lit and figured the damn elevator had already passed. Just as I was passing the elevator the doors opened. WTF!? I took this as a sign from the big guy upstairs is telling me to stop worrying about crap cause he’s got my back and I’m not talking about my upstairs neighbor.

We drive to the Metro and got an awesome parking spot and just as were approaching the platform the train arrived. These are all small things but me thinks I should have bought a lottery ticket.

I’ve wanted to check out Scythian’s, “Fadó Thursday” but weeknights aren’t easy. With Mini Red on Spring Break at her Dad’s I figured I should take advantage and a few friends were more than obliged to join me. Mrs. M and I were walking out of the Metro when we bumped into Rachel. The three of us arrived at Fadó’s to find Shortie, PSUAcoustician and WW and shortly thereafter we finally got to meet the ever famous Texpundit. This was my first time at Fadó’s, which is pretty cool and kinda cave like. Shortie and PSUAcoustician tell us the food is good too.

By the time Scythian started we had left the table and moved closer. In no time Scythian got the crowd energized. Many pictures were taken and WW and Tex seemed to really enjoy their first Scythian experience.

So as I’m thinking about this post and driving through Rock Creek these two birds come flying across the street. I have no idea what they were doing be it fighting, playing, having sex, whatever. I didn’t think much of it until I heard a thud!

OMG!

I immediately looked in my rearview mirror and didn’t see the birds. I couldn’t help but think I have two dead birds on my grille. I took my normal route up Cathedral and onto Connecticut. While at the light at the Zoo I was looking around to see if anyone notices the dead birds on my grille. Ok this is a good sign because no one is looking so I’m really hoping there aren’t two dead birds on the front of my car.

Read all about the Guiness Fairy.

The Cherry Blossoms are killing the Tourists Brain Cells!

I just don’t get it. Do they go brain dead when they are on vacation? Does D.C cause them to loose their manners?

DC is hard enough to get around then the Cherry Blossoms bloom and the tourists arrive in droves. Lawd help us! They cross the street even though the sign is blinking DO NOT WALK. Some are at times RUNNING down the street. HURRY HURRY you might miss the Cherry Blossoms!

Then there are the drivers. They have the cab drivers stop in the middle of the road so they can gawk without having to deal with all the people. Then I almost got hit when a tourist didn’t like the price for the parking lot and she immediately went in reverse without looking. I laid on my horn and I’m not a honker but finally got out of my way and was leaving. I paid for my parking and I was instructed to pull around and park in this one spot. On my way to the spot and the same woman took it because she changed her mind and NOW wanted to park there.

It wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t working on site and begged my Project Manager to let us all work elsewhere for the next two weeks.

On top of all this I had an eye appointment this morning. Come to find out someone cancelled me in their system which delayed everything. I only got glasses a few years ago and it’s primarily for reading and the computer. I don’t wear them all the time but I don’t leave home without them anymore. Years ago I quit smoking and was excited about using smaller purses since I wouldn’t be carrying cigarettes. Now I have glasses to carry around, ugh.

They dilated my eyes, which is just the most fun thing ever (note the sarcasm). Then I drove through DC’s awful traffic. I couldn’t take any unfamiliar alternate routes since I couldn’t read the street signs so I had to stay on course. Then I hit the Tidal Basin and the brain dead tourists. Oye!

When the woman almost hit me my red headed top was ready to blow a gasket. Now I’m afraid of driving through the psycho tourists as I leave. I can’t even enjoy a beer tonight because I have class, which I have high hopes for. Last week was a bit difficult.

Tomorrow definitely has a beer in my future and even better is Thursday. If I can just make it to Thursday it will all be fine.

Mini Red is at her Dad’s all week and I miss her but this is my chance to finally get to Fadó’s on a Thursday night to see Scythian. I will definitely have a beer that night!

Oh and if you are looking for the schedule for the Cherry Blossom Festival... You won't find it here so look elsewhere.

Oye! It has been a very disappointing week... So far

Thank goodness I had the Shamrock Festival in the middle of it all, but...

I just don’t get you boys.

Taxes... Enuf said!

Driving in DC.

My Spring Break day was disappointing and Mini Red is now in big doo doo trouble. She's kissing my butt right now trying to get out of her punishment.

With all my frustrations, lately, today was unusual at work. I was the happy-go-lucky positive one. I guess someone had to be. Tomorrow I'm dragging my co-workers on a field trip. We are gettin' a free coffee at Starbucks. I hope they know where one is.

Ok here is another positive... Brother-Man and SIL announced the name they have chosen for the baby at our weekly Family Dinner. They are naming him after my Dad. The look on Dad's face was priceless!

I’m sure it will be better tomorrow after a run with Mrs. M. A good run always helps. Oh crap! I hope it doesn't rain.

If all else fails then I will hang with the Fam and we will get our drink on celebrating St. Patrick's Day at the beach... In the cold... And the rain.

OK, OK, OK I know! I can get some sleep this weekend.

Much better now.

Signs of Spring in DC

As I was driving into work this morning I saw it… A sign that Spring is not far.

Crews were out on the Potomac rowing. I couldn’t help but let out a big sigh and relax just a bit. Forget the groundhog’s predictions us here Washingtonians look for the crew teams out in the water.

This means the Potomac has thawed and Spring is not far behind. I love driving into work and seeing them out there. It’s beautiful!

Winter doesn’t bother me primarily because I have the butt warmers in my car but I’m done with it. After that beautiful day last Saturday I’m jonesing for warmer weather.

Ok so that photo wasn’t taken in DC… I took it on the North Shore of Oahu. You get my drift though, right?

Where is the snow we were promised?

I want SNOW!
I wore my BIG ASS boots today. I've had these things sitting in my closet for a few years. I was afraid to break them in but they have some serious traction, which is useful in foul weather. So why not break them in now... Right? They aren't real comfortable... yet I wore them in anticipation of snow and ice and trying to thwart any chances of me looking the fool falling on my ass. Now I'm just real disappointed that they’ve been worn for no reason. I hate when promises are broken. Damn you (*shaking fists*) promise breaking weather people!


If tomorrow is a snow day for Mini Red I'm not sure what I will do with her since I can't take her to the client site with me and I can't miss work right now. I'm sure Mom would be able to help me out but then again it's not looking like I have to be worrying about that at this point.

I'm still holding out hope for some of that white stuff and maybe it will start as soon as I get home. I have a feeling the drive home will be awful especially if the drive in this morning was any indication. It seems people were getting all crazy this morning and causing chaos everywhere. Telling the DC area it's going to snow is like jumping in someone's face yelling BOO! Everyone gets freaked out over nothing.

D.C. Fog

This morning's fog was something else. I drove Rock Creek Parkway and when driving by the water you couldn't see a thing. I guess it wasn't a good morning for rowing, huh?

I found the trees in the fog absolutely beautiful and captured this photo with my cell phone as I was nearing the Memorial Bridge.