New Beginnings

Well I fell of the wagon on the smoking recovery with the holiday weekend. With the visitors and the going out and such, I didn't even make an effort. I'm up early this a.m. and about to head to the gym for a class. Perhaps I can make it through today without a smoky treat and will get back on that very shaky wagon.

Have a great Tuesday world -

Dottie's at Eastern Market

Look...It is Michael and his gays! We had brunch at the Banana Cafe where 18.95 will get you a buffet of delicious food and as many mimosas as you can drink. We were here a few weeks ago and the shaved head guy (don't know his name) was a much better server. This time, we had another guy and the champers didn't flow as freely. We took the visitors to Eastern Market and had to pose in front of "Dottie's" store.

We had a fantastic time last night...too much to write about, but it did include convincing a cabbie to put 10 people (yes TEN) into his car and making a pit stop at the host hotel for MAL weekend. Jack was having a good time, but Anthony and I were a bit out of place. Anyhoo, many others will join us throughout the day as we chill in Capital Hill. Tonight a giant group of us will invade the Phase for Sarah's last hurrah. Very sad to see her go...very sad.

Visitors from Ohio!

Yeah! It is a long weekend and my friends Jack and Dottie are here from Columbus. We went out last night and I am on my way to work this AM (unfortunately.) They will be here until Monday when I don't have to work for MLK day. It is fantastic to see them and I am very glad they came.

Last night we did the U St. / 14th St. Bars and zipped over to Halo on P. Jack loved that place and I do too. I only wished it was early enough for half price happy hour. $37 for a martini, two beers, and a mixed drink is a bit excessive, even for DC. Tonight we will do Be Bar and 17th Street. Timmy hates Be Bar, but it is becoming one of my favorites!

Lord knows what we'll get involved in tonight. Fun Times!

Sunday Funday

What's this? Could Laura and Iris be displaying nurturing motherly instincts? Lissa, Milian, Baby Flora, Tim, and I met them for brunch at the Beacon Bar and Grill. Was great to get everyone together, and as you can see, the girls were fascinated.

The brunch - AMAZING. Including tip it was around $30 per person and this includes obnoxious unlimited amounts of Bloody Mary's and Mimosas. The waitress just set the bottle of Champers on our table at one point. Fantastic! The food was superb in selection and quality.

...there's always a story with the DMV

I waited in line barely long enough to snap the photo and mobile blog it. The cruise director motioned me on to lane 5. Not surprisingly this was the handicapped / senior citizen line, but I didn't care because I was motioned around the 1 car in front of me. The inspector came up and asked me to 'beep the horn,' which I did. Then he told me I passed and that I should drive around to the front and park in the exit to lane 5. No break light check, no turn signal check, no tire check, nothing. Just beep the horn and pass. Welcome to DC.

Normally I'd park off to the side, but lane 5 is by the door and there was a car parked between 4/5 so I did as I was told and parked in the exit. Another man came up and started screaming at me. I told him I'd already been inspected and that I was to park at the exit. He says not in the lane, "..if somebody hits you I have to fill out a report, and it's near the end of my shift and I have no time for paperwork." I asked where I should park and he directed me to the sidewalk. Now I thought perhaps I should park legally at the DMV, and I thought I was following instructions, but no. I was wrong.

After receiving my horn check sticker, I mean inspection sticker, I went inside to renew my tags. Now they did expire in July, and I thought perhaps they'd question me, but they did not. He asked if I wanted one year or two. Last time I checked you could only renew motorcycles for one year at a time and I believe my inspection sticker is for one year. I figured if he offered, I'd take it, so I said, "two." I paid him the $129 and he hands me a receipt. He then fiddled around in the drawers and said he was out of stickers so he'd just give me a windshield sticker. Now I realize that some motorcycles have windshields, but WTF? I advised that I had no windshield and he said they didn't have 2009 stickers for motorcycle plates yet (of course they don't because they only renew for one year at a time) and that I'd have to go to the C St. location and request one. I told him I didn't have time and asked if he had a 2008 sticker I could use until then. He did.

So I left the DMV with a 1 year inspection, a 2 year registration expiring in '09, a windshield sticker (which I can't display) and a license plate sticker showing '08. LBJ - and that's all I'm gonna say about that.

Oh ... one more thing ... Fenty has his pic up on the website already - he should be so proud of this city. Did I mention he's really hot? I don't know why, but it feels dirty to say that; as if he's related to me or something. Just because he's the mayor shouldn't make it dirty to lust after him...should it?

I went to Eastern Market to get Lisa the other half of her typewriter earrings and some hot sauce for Todd. That place has some sauce with serious kick and flavor. The sample dude in the store remembered me from a few weeks ago when I bought some for Steve. I'll have Timmy mail that off to Chicago next week. Time to work. Yes...I'm working today. Uggh.

DC vehicle inspection

Yes. Even the Vespa has to be inspected. Here I am waiting in line. This must be a great time to go because there is only 1 car in front of me.

failure

it was to be expected....

cheating

We both tried to have a smoke and Jake stopped us by crashing our lit cigs to the floor. After a great deal of arguing, Jake gave us each a hit of his Marlboro Red and we demanded a picture. Here it is.

trump

My friend Scotty manages at a fantastic restaurant (Grillfish) and he brought a brownie with a sparkler. It trumps the sheetcake and 25 friends singing happy birthday (out of tune)

Happy Birthday Tisha

Celebrating Tisha's birthday (belated because she was out of town for the holiday) at Polly's Cafe. Surprisingly, it doesn't smell like dead rat, despite the smoking ban. I haven't smoked yet. Yet.

Going home

...just waiting for it to blink! I need my tubular chariot to arrive and inject me back into to the city where I belong. It was a more reasonable day (perhaps 10 hours) but I'm ready to be home.

Duffys Irish Pub

Yummy delicious dinner; very strange. I ate a vegetarian Irish Burrito. Never heard of that before. Essentially potatoes, onions, cheese, and mustard sauce in a tortilla. Also comes non-vegetarian with corned beef. I'm still craving a smoke, but it is measurably easier with the DC Smoking Ban keeping the bars and restaurants smoke free. It may not be popular with my social circle, but I am embracing the ban!

Dinner, two beers, and now off to bed. It is better to sleep than smoke!

I'm still standing

No I didn't have a Wild Wednesday or anything like that. Just another long stressful 12+ hour day with a 5 minute lunch at my desk. I'm still standing because I have not had any smokey treats. This is just the end of day two I realize, but you have to start somewhere.

There's nobody on the train...not sure what I'm doing for dinner.

I will survive

I didn't leave the office all day...not even to eat. I was there for nearly 11 hours of non--stop action. The craving to smoke grew quite strong and I am pretty much dying on the train.

I plan to go have some food and then to bed. We're skipping trivia night at Stetsons for a variety of reasons, including some football game LW has to watch. We didn't study anyway! A few weeks ago we won the "Participation Award," which was a lovely ribbon for us to proudly display! We might not win, but we positively have fun trying!

Not sure if I'm going straight home to eat frozen food or if I'll buy something out. This is the first night I might be able to catch the Yellow line all the way to U Street. Very exciting! Perhaps today's excuse to dine out???

No Smoking

Well here it is. The first non-smoking day again! I don't usually have one until mid morning so I shouldn't even notice for awhile. Psychologically it is killing me. I can't even focus on my Express paper today on te train! I'll be at work shortly and that should take my mind off of it.

The train is dead because the Federal Government is closed for a day of mourning. They are having the service for President Ford today at the National Cathedral.

My 2007 smoking picture

Happy New Year

Having fun with friends at Michael & Catrina's house. We are ringing in the new year with a Mexican theme party and an Ab Fab Marathon! Fun times!

Bens Chili Bowl

yeah it ends like this

Omega

I know...the sign is vague....so are we. Need to eat.

Be Bar (continued #2)

blurry. i know. fun. hmmph