Random

Ah, it’s good to be back. I’m telling you, I spent the last week sitting on the coast of northern California listening to the waves crash on the rocky coast and all I can say is that I feel far more at peace sitting out on my porch drinking a cup of coffee. To me Petworth = Tranquility. Despite, the dogs, the trash and the car crashes! I am excited about this new year. I still have about a half a dozen Ward 4 candidates to interview and I have no doubt some interesting Petworth encounters. So a sincere Happy New Year to all. Stay tuned for the proper return of the Prince.

The following took place a couple of weeks ago: I’m walking home from the metro listening to Amadou and Mariam, having an uneventful time of it. So I cruise by the all the nice houses decked out in Christmas lights, I favor the white lights for the record, and all is swell. So I make my turn off of New Hampshire Ave and all is good until I get to my house.

I’m really rocking out now doing my best to sing along in French with Amadou and Mariam (a really good African duo influenced by Manu Chao) when a guy jumps out from nowhere while my keys are literally in the door. So I turn around and, and… I froze. I was so stunned and oblivious, just totally taken by surprise. I mean it was ridiculous. I always thought I’d have a Robert DeNiro moment and say “are you talking to me?”. Suffice it to say I reacted in just about the exact opposite way – I just stood there with my mouth hanging open, thinking Oh God this is it.
(more…)

As Homer Simpson might say: Taco Bell – the cause and solution to all of life’s problems. With this in mind I thought I would treat myself to my standard T-bell fare – two meximelts and a nachos supreme. It is the small things in life that make it special. Alas the Taco Bell on 14th Street can sometimes be a less than ideal experience.

So I’m waiting on line to order the meal I would probably order as my last meal if I were on death row and I’m getting giddy with anticipation. Unfortunately, the cashier did not share my joy. Instead she is yelling at whom I can only assume must be the manager. She is adamant that she is not going to plunge the toilet. And I have to admit I sympathized with her. I can only imagine how horrid the toilet in Taco Bell on 14th Street must be.

So the manager leaves and the cashier and I have a heart to heart, we discuss all the reasons why she is not going to plunge the toilet. I admit that this is less than ideal banter before ordering dinner but I do believe the manager was being a jerk, so I fully supported her decision.
I finally ordered my dinner and I was already imagining that first bite when things seemed to have hit a snag. My comrade, the cashier, took my money, ordered my food and then promptly went on break. Unfortunately nobody was there to give me the order.

I saw the food sitting on the table just taunting me. But no, the woman who makes the food, very nicely by the by, does not give it to the customer. The cashier must also give the food to the customer. Well, it felt like a curb your enthusiasm episode. I’m standing there, staring at my food on the counter, listening to the cashier in the back talking about not plunging the toilet… So I’m thinking to myself – do I hop the counter and grab my food? I mean I already paid for it. No, I just sit and brew. And five minutes later I got my food and ran from the border.

I have decided to experiment with hair gel this morning as my hair has started to get a bit long. I may have made a mistake. I now look like Gordon Gecko from the movie “Wall Street” circa mid-80s.

Now like anyone I appreciate a clean car but I have to be honest, I don’t really understand obsessive car washing. Is it just an excuse to get out of the house? Is car washing the golf of Petworth? True story: scene – about three years ago when that hurricane hit us, I had to walk my dog because my dog was a very particular dog and understandably (as has been posted below) when you gotta go you gotta go. So I take my dog for a walk and the wind is howling, the rain is pouring and I’m thinking to myself, why the hell did I get a dog? At any rate as I’m congratulating my dog for taking car of business and tree branches are littering the street, I see a guy washing his car. During the hurricane he is washing his car? What the hell is that? I mean, won’t the 65 mph winds and driving rain clean the car anyway?

Well, as I always say I don’t like to judge. And I of course appreciate the gleaming cars I see on my walk to the metro. So to answer the question about obsessive carwashing – who cares! What ever works for you. I’m sure people would question my obsessive ping pong playing. So cheers to all the clean cars and please forgive my dirty Honda – I’m just waiting for the next hurricane to show my solidarity.

Every Spring I like to throw a little party to celebrate the joys of, well, Spring. Well as often is the case the first one is always the best. A buddy of mine who is quite tough, army – few tours in Iraq and Afghanistan already, had never been to my house before and got a bit lost on his way over. So he is roaming all over the street I live on and he encounters some of our hmm let’s say “entrepreneurs”. Well they swarm around like bees to honey and he simply says do you know where the party is? And without hesitating they reply “oh, you’re looking for the crazy white boy’s party, it’s right up there on your left.” Beautiful. I don’t quite know how I got that reputation so soon but I’ll take it!