Moving right along as it were, when I used to visit DC, I thought the Metro was a novelty. Look! This wondrous invention takes you places quickly and cheaply! You get tickets just like in the movies! Oh my, how cosmopolitan it all is. Granted it wasn't the famed NYC Subway of those same movies, but hey. Same idea, less stinky.
Where I grew up and spent most of my time, such an invention was reserved for Big Cities on the East Coast. Everyone drives in the Midwest (and apparently, LA or so I hear). Hell, I drove myself to elementary school on a lawn tractor. Kidding, but you learned to drive young in Indiana and such places. I practiced steering the family car when I was like 8 while my dad drove. Golf carts, lawn tractors, bikes, crazy-ass "cars" we built out of wood and modeled after the Little Rascals (you know the one episode where the "firetruck" was powered by a dog on a conveyor belt chasing after ducks in a cage? Man, don't get me started on the Little Rascals or we'll be here all night). If it had wheels, we drove that fucker.
Trains were things in my dad's world. He was a yardmaster and he put trains together and told them where to go. Or at least that was his explanation to me of what he did. Trains were for hauling grain and boxcars and cabooses (when they used to exist). Trains ran on the outskirts of towns with railroad crossings and whistles in the middle of the night and the only people who rode them were 'hobos' or Ruth and Idgie. Point being, trains and subways existed outside of my own personal sphere of experience.
Well, after living here for all of what, 2.5 months, I can now say that the novelty of riding the Metro has officially worn off. Boy, it went quick too after I had to ride it almost from one end of a line to the other twice on Friday. When I stepped off the train around midnight and waited at the Greenbelt station for a ride home, I literally thought "Damn, this is going to get old real quick".
I am currently working on the necessary Metro-face of indifference and boredom wherein you exist in a bubble. You know the look, right? Complete lack of affect, no acknowledgment of other humans, glazed eyes, blank stare. Most people complement this look with iPods or a book/newspaper. This helps you deal with the drunks and leering men and screaming children.
To be honest, I never wanted to become one of those commuters with Metro-face. I sort of like being engaged in life and people and you know, saying hi and have a good one. Unfortunately, my Midwestern ways are in for a challenge. Starting next week, I will become a bonafide DC "commuter" and take the Metro clear down to "NOVA" and go to work in a high-rise and put on my Metro-face when I shuffle with the crowd at L'Enfant Plaza to get on the green line home.
Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about seeing how this new life pans out, but I'm also a little apprehensive about being around this many people all the time. I have a feeling that, like the Metro, the novelty of living here will wear off sooner than I expected. Until then, the doors are closing, step back. Next station, Metro Center.
ps. In true girl form, I have changed my mind about making this blog private and creating a whole new blog. Decided to say 'fuck it' and take my lumps if they should come. Chalk it up to a minor freak out, we all get a free pass to have one once in a while yes?
Showing posts with label girl-osity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label girl-osity. Show all posts
4/09/2007
Top Ten Things That Currently Occupy a Positive Place in My Thoughts
So, in honor of Win's 1 year anniversary and because I am trying to focus on good things right now, here is my top ten list of things I currently am inclined to think of positively:
10. Macadamia nuts
They are tasty and rich and the texture is divine. I'm a fan of nuts and I like turning other people on to them. So I say: Go bust a nut with Macadamias!
9. Wine in a box!
Advantages: Cost efficient/cheap, seemingly endless, doesn't spoil (at least I think), easy-pour spout made just for one's mouth if things come down to that. Disadvantages: None. Winner: Wine in a box!
8. Little People, Big World
For some reason, TLC is playing a constant stream of this charming documentary/series and can I admit something to you? I really, really totally would love to live on their pumpkin farm. That is all.
7. Bandanas
Back in the day and, you know, if I were a gay man, I'd probably wear, like, a grey bandana in my left pocket or something. Now I wear bandanas on my head because my hair is longer and gets in the way of important things. Like seeing. Or eating. So yeah, bandanas come in handy. Do you like my red one?
6. The View
So, one of the rooms in this house is small and faces the back. I set up my office there and have a desk right in front of the window. The view from that window is really nice, big tall trees and eventually, I won't be able to see the houses behind that area. It's jungle-like and the other day, I counted no less than 15 large hawk-type birds roosting way up, hanging out. The view makes me forget where I am.
5. Text messages
How did we ever survive without them? How did I ever survie without them? All I can say is thank fucking god for texts.
4. GPS units
We have one on loan from the Gov and let me tell you, I would have never made it into/out of Adams Morgan without it. However, we (and by we, I mean me) find the voice to be too naggy and bossy. I will turn left if I damn well want. I also appreciate that every Starbucks in a 100 mile radius is mapped for my mocha pleasure (I've been trying to cut down, but I am only human). I am not entirely sure that the Gov isn't tracking our every movement, but fine, yes, that was me on my way to buy crack and ho's. Sue me, Uncle Sam. Point being: GPS units are scary/great.
3. Accents
I have always been a fan of accents when someone speaks. I am a bigger fan now. There are lots of them out this way, different, new, all kinds. It makes talking to people that much better. Accents are tout a fait delicieux!
2. Baltimore Basilica
I'm not religious, but can I tell you something? This is actually quite beautiful. I imagine it was busy on Easter Sunday, the first since it was restored. I wonder if those people enjoyed how lovely it must have been.
1. Words
Again, always been a big fan, but you know, words = good. Occasionally, I am at a loss for them. Yes, it's true. I am going to try to find the right ones, the positive ones, for awhile. I've been too negative and closed for a while, so it's time to change the frame. So here are some words I like right now either because of how they sound or what they mean: ersatz, croissant, please, crocus, lascivious, pasta, thistle, hydrate, yes, spring.
10. Macadamia nuts
They are tasty and rich and the texture is divine. I'm a fan of nuts and I like turning other people on to them. So I say: Go bust a nut with Macadamias!
9. Wine in a box!
Advantages: Cost efficient/cheap, seemingly endless, doesn't spoil (at least I think), easy-pour spout made just for one's mouth if things come down to that. Disadvantages: None. Winner: Wine in a box!
8. Little People, Big World
For some reason, TLC is playing a constant stream of this charming documentary/series and can I admit something to you? I really, really totally would love to live on their pumpkin farm. That is all.
7. Bandanas
Back in the day and, you know, if I were a gay man, I'd probably wear, like, a grey bandana in my left pocket or something. Now I wear bandanas on my head because my hair is longer and gets in the way of important things. Like seeing. Or eating. So yeah, bandanas come in handy. Do you like my red one?
6. The View
So, one of the rooms in this house is small and faces the back. I set up my office there and have a desk right in front of the window. The view from that window is really nice, big tall trees and eventually, I won't be able to see the houses behind that area. It's jungle-like and the other day, I counted no less than 15 large hawk-type birds roosting way up, hanging out. The view makes me forget where I am.
5. Text messages
How did we ever survive without them? How did I ever survie without them? All I can say is thank fucking god for texts.
4. GPS units
We have one on loan from the Gov and let me tell you, I would have never made it into/out of Adams Morgan without it. However, we (and by we, I mean me) find the voice to be too naggy and bossy. I will turn left if I damn well want. I also appreciate that every Starbucks in a 100 mile radius is mapped for my mocha pleasure (I've been trying to cut down, but I am only human). I am not entirely sure that the Gov isn't tracking our every movement, but fine, yes, that was me on my way to buy crack and ho's. Sue me, Uncle Sam. Point being: GPS units are scary/great.
3. Accents
I have always been a fan of accents when someone speaks. I am a bigger fan now. There are lots of them out this way, different, new, all kinds. It makes talking to people that much better. Accents are tout a fait delicieux!
2. Baltimore Basilica
I'm not religious, but can I tell you something? This is actually quite beautiful. I imagine it was busy on Easter Sunday, the first since it was restored. I wonder if those people enjoyed how lovely it must have been.
1. Words
Again, always been a big fan, but you know, words = good. Occasionally, I am at a loss for them. Yes, it's true. I am going to try to find the right ones, the positive ones, for awhile. I've been too negative and closed for a while, so it's time to change the frame. So here are some words I like right now either because of how they sound or what they mean: ersatz, croissant, please, crocus, lascivious, pasta, thistle, hydrate, yes, spring.
2/12/2007
The curse of sweeping fame/popularity
*sigh*
Yes, so not to beat a dead horse, but we are leaving in 2.5 weeks which is fine, whatever. But as a result, there are no less than 3 large parties scheduled and two lunch dates and that is not even counting the people waiting for me(us) to commit to something between now/then. These are my friends and work colleagues and The Agent's friends and work colleagues. You know I love a party and hey, who doesn't love lunch, but I am less comfortable with the focus and point of the party being on me leaving. Because here's what will happen at two of the large parties (one more so than the other): I will know and (mostly) like everyone there, we will have good food, there will be music, there will be liquid libation X 10, and it will be late and then people will start saying things like "I'm going to miss you" and I will say things like "I'll miss you too, we'll keep in touch" and with most people we will both mean it and then at some point, probably around the 10:38pm mark in the evening, it will hit me (libation and goodbying) and you want to talk about extreme girl-osity? Who cries at parties in one's honor? Ok, who doesn't get a little teary-eyed when peeps you like are all huggy and "goodbye" and you're all huggy and "see you later"? And I can say this without a shadow of a doubt: I hate hate hate getting weepy, number 1 and in front of people? I'd rather be subjected to waterboarding. So my goal is to enjoy the parties and the lunching and attempt to supress extreme emotional responses. Were you not aware that most Midwesterners are stoic to a fault? Actually, I'm pretty sure you knew that.
And for fuck's sake, I haven't even begun to make my rounds of "This will be the last beer I will drink here", "This will be the last Papa Keno's slice I will eat", "This will be the last taz mocha in the history of last mochas because there will never be another mocha like a taz mocha and there is no coffee in Dumb City, goddammit!". You get the pix.
I'm off to do some recycling and goodwilling and never-ending sorting, stuff I was probably supposed to do this weekend, but was otherwise pleasantly preoccupied.
Yes, so not to beat a dead horse, but we are leaving in 2.5 weeks which is fine, whatever. But as a result, there are no less than 3 large parties scheduled and two lunch dates and that is not even counting the people waiting for me(us) to commit to something between now/then. These are my friends and work colleagues and The Agent's friends and work colleagues. You know I love a party and hey, who doesn't love lunch, but I am less comfortable with the focus and point of the party being on me leaving. Because here's what will happen at two of the large parties (one more so than the other): I will know and (mostly) like everyone there, we will have good food, there will be music, there will be liquid libation X 10, and it will be late and then people will start saying things like "I'm going to miss you" and I will say things like "I'll miss you too, we'll keep in touch" and with most people we will both mean it and then at some point, probably around the 10:38pm mark in the evening, it will hit me (libation and goodbying) and you want to talk about extreme girl-osity? Who cries at parties in one's honor? Ok, who doesn't get a little teary-eyed when peeps you like are all huggy and "goodbye" and you're all huggy and "see you later"? And I can say this without a shadow of a doubt: I hate hate hate getting weepy, number 1 and in front of people? I'd rather be subjected to waterboarding. So my goal is to enjoy the parties and the lunching and attempt to supress extreme emotional responses. Were you not aware that most Midwesterners are stoic to a fault? Actually, I'm pretty sure you knew that.
And for fuck's sake, I haven't even begun to make my rounds of "This will be the last beer I will drink here", "This will be the last Papa Keno's slice I will eat", "This will be the last taz mocha in the history of last mochas because there will never be another mocha like a taz mocha and there is no coffee in Dumb City, goddammit!". You get the pix.
I'm off to do some recycling and goodwilling and never-ending sorting, stuff I was probably supposed to do this weekend, but was otherwise pleasantly preoccupied.
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