drag racing, etc.

Greetings from Tynan, my new favorite tea shop in Columbia Heights. Tynan is like a tea-version of Starbucks (although yes, you can get coffee), and I'm sure once it becomes more popular, I'll start hating it. Until then, I am surprisingly content with the establishment, especially with my portabella mushroom sandwich, pumpkin chai latte, and free wifi.

In other news, life has been busy as always. Thursday was, once again, my one chance to sleep in, but was unfortunately ruined by a team of tree cutters deciding 7am would be a perfect time to cut down a few trees on my street. The noise was incredibly, painstakingly, and annoyingly loud, and woke me up from a wonderful slumber. I quickly closed my window (only to reduce the sound to annoyingly loud) and within seconds my bedroom became a human sweat box. I tried cracking the window (bringing us up to painstakingly and annoyingly) but the slight murky breeze wasn't enough to lull me back to sleep. So I got up.

This past Tuesday after work at the Smithsonian, I went to, yep- Tynan, and my friend Laura sent me this text message: Care to attend the high heel drag race tonight? near dupont circle, 9pm!" My response was an obvious: "umm...YES!"

Apparently, every year on the Tuesday before Halloween, thousands of spectators flock to Dupont Circle to watch costumed drag queens show off their elaborate outfits and race down 17th street. I tried to ask people how long this has been going on for; I talked to a handsome (but graying) man from Stockholm, and I THOUGHT he said the last race he attended was 50 years ago. Thinking this man was now about 70 and may or may not be hitting on me, I sort of ran away. Turns out it hasn't been happening for that long, so he must've said 15. Still.

Well, uh, here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

This last guy wasn't a participant; rather, he explained to us his undying love for "short shorts," and how he takes every waking possibility to expose his "good-lookin'" legs to the public. Hey man-more power to you.

Besides drag-queens and tree-cutters, I've also been thinking about, discussing, and engaging in race-relations in DC, classism, phone interviews, and life goals--both short and long-term. All very, very, VERY deep stuff. That being said, I think it'll be easier (and more exciting) for me to tell you about my potential halloween costume. I am thinking about buying a white sheet, cutting two holes, and draping it over my body. (Hopefully) most people will say "hey, are you a ghost?" (rather than "hey, are you a KKK member?") and then I can so cleverly respond, "no, I'm a sheet with two holes."

....Badum-ching!

OK, time to research grant-writing, finish my pumpkin chai, and jump on the metro to Bethesda for work. Bye bye odd blog world.

rhythms underground

After writing my senior thesis on Ghanaian rhythm in daily life, I have definitely found myself more in-tune to the unique rhythms I'm sensing in the places I've lived. New York has a defined rhythm on its streets; there is a constant sense of urgency as people walk. This urgency is especially abundant when hoards of businessmen, tourists, and starving artists alike collect at red lights and are eventually set free by that little white walking guy, letting them move uniformly across to the next block, only to be caged up all-together again at the next junction.

DC is different. It's smaller, less crowded, and these hoards don't really exist on street corners. They're underground.

The first thing I realized when traveling during rush-hour in the morning is that most people know the exact time the metro is arriving. I obviously don't put in enough effort to figure this out myself (they come every four minutes...), but I don't even need to. When I see people literally running down the escalator, I follow. The train's a-comin! This tactic usually works 80% of the time.

There are instances when some punk starts running for the hell of it, (or just to play it safe incase he doesn't have four minutes to spare) and then people see said runner and start to question their knowledge of the metro times. Result? They start running too. Before you know it, everyone is running down the escalator, only to finally see they still have three minutes before the train is actually arriving.

Another interesting robotic rhythm I've learned here is the correct way to use the escalators: walkers on the left, standers on the right. I'm not sure who started this rule, but somehow word traveled fast. Some escalators are REALLY long (ehem Dupont, Tenleytown and Bethesda) so I'm able to do "escalator intervals"-my creative invention. I start walking up the left side until I'm "feeling the burn," and then I simply move to the right for a break. I rest for a few seconds, then get back on the left and walk again. It really is quite the workout.

Last note about the escalators. Oftentimes one of the two escalators that lead people in and out of the metro needs to be repaired. To solve this problem, while one is being repaired, the other turns off and becomes a two lane set of stairs (insert famous Mitch Hedberg joke here if you know it). This makes sense, but oftentimes there is only a heavy flow of traffic in one direction. Still (stillllll), a huge line will form on the platform as people slowly make their way up the shut off escalator, leaving a whole half wide open for a sporadic three or four people to conveniently make their way down their respective side. Not once have I seen a guy skip traffic and run up the escalator on the left. Not once.

here are some things...

i've been doing:

-taking pictures of pumpkins

(my housemate John made this sucker)

-going to the gym

(i got a gym membership, and the frugal girl in me is internally freaking out about another monthly bill. still, there are televisions on all the machines, free yoga and african dance classes, and really, really, really good looking personal trainers)

-writing on this blog

(duh)

-frequenting coffee shops, le pain quotidien, and the smithsonian more than my REM cycle

(who needs sleep?)

-going out on U street during the week, since social weekends no longer exist in my life

(my friends Martha and Ibrahim)

-eating out

(ethiopian food.is.amazing.)

-eating in

(apparently my breakfasts and lunch sort of resemble one another)

-being forever witty, imaginative, and charming.

(and modest)

feels like finals week- yet it is only october

I have been meaning to write another blog posts for days now, but everything time I open up this new post page, I freeze. Laura has been managing to find the beauty in the simple things she comes across in her everyday life, and well, i've only been coming across mountains of homework, quizzes, tests, papers, and group presentations projects. The subjects are definitely interesting (ahemmm methane clathrates- a frozen form of methane that has the power to greatly enhance global warming but could also provide the world's energy needs for the next several centuries), but it becomes hard to appreciate them sometimes when living the life of a 24/7 student. aka little sleep, little eating, no social life.

I don't want to complain, I am trying to embrace this program wholeheartedly- but I wish I had some beautiful simple moments outside of the academic realm. But for now, I will appreciate the cram sessions with my fellow classmates, the sunny afternoons walking to and from class, the fact that coffee is available free in the lounge, and that knowledge of a matlab code or dynamics process is considered a bonding point. I will say that the people in my program are beautiful- beautiful for the fact that they speak many different languages, come from all over the world, and have an undying commitment to helping each other out - no questions asked.

i apologize if this post is a ramble- i think studying for my quantitative analysis (lovingly referred to as quant) test has fried my brain a bit.

tono tuesdays

Every Tuesday, my friend Martha and I go to Sushi Tono in Adams Morgan for sushi-happy hour. Rolls are an incredible $3-5 dollars, and sashimi is a mere buck. Even so, the bill somehow manages to come out to $50 each time, which goes to show we order a lot of sushi (and get sake).

I love sushi. I love Martha. I love Tuesdays!

pictured: eel, mackerel, tamago, salmon, yellowtail, and tuna sashimi; spicy scallion, spicy crunchy tuna, and shrimp avocado roll. heaven.

not pictured: me. martha. the alcohol.

Also, on the way to terrific tono tuesday, I passed these lil' boogers:

Two posts in two days? Crazy town usa!

the little things

I'm finding that amongst my crazy schedule, there are nuances in my day-to-day routine that I find particularly pleasant. Moreover, I think these are what keep me sane. So, if you care (you should care), keep reading. I'm about to tell you what they are. I might even make a list.

1) Redwood.

This the a bar/restaurant right across the street from LPQ; I almost always go here for a drink after I get off with my friends. I'm quickly becoming friendly with their waitstaff, who always over-generously calculate our bar tab to be a whopping $4. In any case, I love to just sit at the bar after a crazy nine hour shift and unwind with a glass of white wine, an old-fashioned, orrr a shot of tequila. Woops.

2) Pleasant Customers

People in Bethesda suck. A lot. So when you wait on them, it can be a borderline awful experience. "Can I get water without ice and an extra lemon?" No. "You can make my nonfat skim latte with extra foam and half-caf?" Hell no! (Soy milk is not even nonfat, genius). But, there comes a time when I have great conversations with my tables, and it makes me have faith in the human race once again. For instance, I finally have my first "regular." He's an older man who comes on Sunday's and always asks to sit in my section. He gets an avocado/tomato omelette with an extra side of baguette and a pot of coffee. This last Sunday he learned about my story and I found out he's an international business/economics professor at Georgetown. We talked for awhile about economics, culture, and other random stuff, and he gave me his card at the end of his meal, telling me to call him if I'm ever in any trouble. I also had a lady today who I ended up talking to for an hour after my last table was closed. I left with a paper filled of contacts in the DC area who she said would love to talk to me about my interests.

3) The Living Room

I really enjoy when all my housemates are home at once and we gather in our living room with the TV on (football). We usually just talk about random stuff, but it's great to feel comradery with them. Beyond the living room, the other week we all went to my fourth housemates trivia night at a local bar. We didn't win, and Adam probably answered 90% of the questions asked (I think my contribution was recognizing a song by the Pussy Cat Dolls...). It was still fun though.

4) Crisp Mornings

I'm usually up early. Really early. But it also takes a good hour or two before my body is all pissed at me for not getting enough sleep. I love to step outside with my cup of coffee and greet the still, peaceful mornings that are becoming chillier by the day. I hug my mug, sit on my front stoop, and see if my breath is visible in the morning air. It's simple. It's nice.

5)Red Derby

There is a bar right by my house that reminds me of DA's in Saratoga. It's pretty small and laid back, but exudes a really awesome energy. There's a pool table, darts, andddd a juke box. You can also get $2 PBR's, play jenga, and sit outside next to space heaters. I definitely frequent this bar, and enjoy going to the back where the chalk board is. Here is my friend Ibrahim creating some art.

.

In other news, I'm about 65% sure I got stung by a bee today for the first time in my life. To be honest, it was more exciting than it was painful; I've been waiting for the day! Seriously. But then again, I'm only 65% sure.

rain

Thursdays are my one full day off, so of course it rained. All day. Not to say I'm a hater of rain, but a pesky cold, steady rainfall really makes things difficult when you live in a city and want to get around. Especially when you don't have an umbrella.

For whatever reason, I've never owned an umbrella. I don't really know why; I think sometimes I imagine I am superior to weather.... I can conquer the rain! I don't need a shield! It's just water! I think my dad hassled me for ten years to buy a raincoat, and I finally did a year or two ago. It's salmon colored.

In any case, I wanted to walk to a nearby coffee shop to do some reading and tea drinking-fitting for a gloomy day. Problem was, it was pouring, and I also wanting to bring my laptop. Rain+computer+lack of umbrella= a potential disaster, so I sucked up my pride and asked my housemate for his umbrella. I guess it came in handy.

To take extra precaution, I made a poncho for my backpack out of a garbage bag. I made sure the umbrella covered the bag more than me, so while my computer and books were salvaged, I got pretty wet. ( I probably shouldn't have worn skinny jeans with Birkenstocks, but I also don't own rain boots. Obviously).

Moral of the story? I should invest in an umbrella. And maybe even rain boots, if I'm feeling extra adventurous.

The reality of it? I probably wont. Maybe I'll put them on my Christmas list.

ps) Totally unrelated but we all know pictures are exciting: I've learned that Zoe likes to sleep in my bed. Maybe she's sensed that I'm the only other female in the house and she wants to bond. I dig.