Not a bad weekend overall.
Polywog came in on Thursday and I managed to navigate the chaos that is known as IAD, in a car that is not my own.
We went into the city on Friday.
I will say the highlight was the Hard Rock Cafe - before you say anything, I happen to really like HRC. All of them. About 5/6 years ago I decided that my goal in life was to get a picture of all of them. A bizarre goal, but one that would take me everywhere. So far I have only seen about 10. About 5 years ago I joined their All Access club, which was $20/25 and at the time the perk was for every so much you spend, you get $20 off your next purchase. I figure if I am going to be visiting a lot of HRCs I might as well get some cash back. But there was one little perk that, while didn't go unnoticed, didn't seem really relevant. It was what they called "Love All, Serve Me First", a pun on their "Love All, Serve All" slogan. Basically it meant that if there was a wait at a restaurant, you could flash your card and move to the head of the line. I've never used it, because I have never had much of a wait before.
So back to Friday. We knew that Hard Rock:DC would be busy. But we went anyway, I gave the hostess my name and she said it would be about an hour. I am reluctant to wait an hour at any restaurant. So I asked her "Do you do All Access?" Blink. Blink. "Are you All Access???" Yes. I said. She scratched my name off the list and told me to stand on her other side.
The short of it: We we seated in less than 5 minutes. 60 minute wait reduced to minutes.
Maybe I should feel a little bad about all of those who had been waiting, but sometimes its about who or what you know. And I for once, happened to be in the know.
And to top it all off, their French fries were made of Awesome. Perfectly hot and seasoned. and the waitress screwed up and swiped my All Access twice, so I go double points. Yay!
Things that were not as wonderful. We went down to the Navy Yard, where I expected to see sailors - in uniform - and ships! What we found was ghetto, the Nationals Stadium and a ship which was so far away it might as well have been in Guam. So that was a complete waste of an hour.
We went to the Newseum, um. We made it through security only to find out tickets are $20 and we weren't paying that sort of money this weekend.
Then when we went to the Mall, about 6 it started to rain. We managed to find what could have been really fantastic seats, but the rain turned from a sprinkle, which I was fine with, into a steady light rain. After a half an hour I was really wet. We didn't have a blanket, poncho, or umbrella. I had a headache and I was exhausted. By then, I didn't care if I saw a firework or not. Polywog was a little more torn than I was. Her goals for the day were fireworks and Hard Rock. I had accomplished one for her, I wasn't sure I could make it to the other. We had no idea if it was going to stop raining in 20 minutes or we were going to sit there only to get rained out. So she finally called it a day and we left.
By the time we got back to our end of the Line, it had stopped raining. If we had stayed we would have had a really amazing view. But you just don't know.
We did learn a few things for next year: bring a blanket, umbrella and maybe a poncho - even if the weather calls for Sunshine and strawberries. And pack your All Access card.
We settled for pizza and going to bed at 11 and sleeping for 12 hours.
What's your favorite song with "America" or "USA" in the title? Bonus points if you share it with us.
How much does a ticket cost at your usual movie theater? Does the price affect the number of movies you see at the theater?
Submitted by Kristie.
$8 for a matinée
10.50 for a regular show.
They were expensive back home, but I about died when I went to see Hulk and it was $8.
Usually it does affect my moving going, but I promised myself that when I got moved and started the real job and to keep myself from staying home all weekend, I would go see a movie every weekend.
So far I have seen
Incredible Hulk
Get Smart
Wall-E (who I think is the best thing since Bumblebee)
Out of anyone in your address book, with whom would you most like to have lunch today?
Tortuga.
Mom.
Cuz.
But I get to have dinner with Polywog. Which is more than I can say for the last 4 weeks.
Ah hem.
Hi,
Not having internet sort of sucks, because I miss you all. Plus the new job has me worn out. Pretty much I come home, have dinner and contemplate going to bed until I actually do.
I don't work crazy long hours or anything, it's just a lot of information that is mentally exhausting.
The job is still good and I like my co-works. They are librarians, so of course they are a little chatty at times and love food and coffee. They have been really nice about offering help if I need it, and not in that phony "Let us know if you need help, but you better not need help" sort of way.
Which is good because on my way to work Tuesday the check engine light came on in my car and completely freaked me out. Last year about this time the light came on and it turned out my alternator belt had mysteriously disappeared. One co-worker found a dealer in my area and even double checked online to make sure they were a Kia dealer. One offered to follow me home and then told me to call if it died on the way home.
I got an appointment for yesterday morning, so they said I could make up the time by either staying or coming in early or however I could get the hours in. The dealer was nice and gave me a loaner car and was going to do all the required state inspections. I was suppose to have the car back last night.
The dealer called yesterday and said that the check engine light was my gas cap not being seated right and it had passed the Echeck. However, my rotors were rusted and had to be replaced and my left wheel barring was loose. The car would not pass inspection in the condition that either were in.
Many years ago, before the Tattooed Librarian was tattooed or a librarian she had a VW Fox. She also ended up on the side of the road because her left wheel barring decided to explode. Dad and TL tore the tire off when she got it home and found the casing was in 3 parts. Dad said he had never seen a casing come apart like that.
So when the dealer said wheel barring, TL wasn't about to not get it fixed.
And you can't really drive without breaks. Well you can drive but good luck stopping.
So, despite it being a lot of money, what really has me ticked off is that the loaner car they gave me is a 2006 Jeep Liberty. Supposedly everyone wants that one when they borrow one. I however do not. Why? Because I haven't driven an automatic transmission in almost 11 years. I haven't driven anything that big in almost 12 years.
I learned to drive in an '84 Volkswagen Vanagon with an effed transmission. So ordinarily the size would not freak me as much but between the transmission, the size and being in a foreign city for one of the busiest holidays, I am not happy.
The car was suppose to be fixed today because they didn't have the parts. I called at noon to check on it and to give them my cell number because I wouldn't be back at work until Monday and that was the only number they had. He told me their parts had just come in and I would have my little car back this afternoon.
Only this afternoon started to roll into evening and I was getting worried. Convienced he had tried calling me at work I called to check.
Turns out that "the parts just came in" really means, "our shipment of parts just came in" and not necessarily "your parts just came in". Because he told me that they indeed had not come in, and he didn't want me driving on the bad barring so I could just keep the Jeep. Whatever my plans were, if I was going out of town or what ever, just take the Jeep because it wasn't costing me anything.
Except I hate hate hate the Jeep.
And it guzzles gas.
It will be Monday before they can get mine fixed and they don't have any other loaners.
Dad says I should be happy because its a $20K car.
le sigh.
Have I mentioned I hate Virginia?
When conversing between your dad and your cousin through IM pay attention, because you might accidentally send something like this:
"things like "i want to punch you in the face" or "i want to bend you over a table"?"
to your dad. Which might be awkward.
What would make you question a friendship?
Submitted by stueykins.
Not so much as a phone call, an email, or a facebook message after my big move.
Or complete and utter lack of support.
Share a song you listened to in 6th grade.
Who's your favorite celebrity couple? Least favorite?
Seal and Heidi.
Darren and Richard.
Brad and Angelina.
I also sort of like Susan Sarandon & Tim Robbins and Kurt and Goldie, just because they are so not always in the spot light and have been together since ever. David Bowie and Iman are pretty awesome. There is probably a few others.
Least favs?
Heidi and Spencer... who ever they hell they are. Any couple involving a Hilton or Disney star.
What's your favorite type of donut?
Submitted by tomatshonino.
Dunkin' Donuts chocolate cream filled donuts. And their chocolate cake donuts.
