Groundhog's Day

If you live in a city and commute to work everyday, you tend to see the same people over and over. For me, it becomes sort of like a little game I play. I am always eager to see each person at their usual spots, to see what they're wearing, if they're running late (like me...hehe), or if they took the day off, etc...

It really makes my morning walk to work bearable when I'd rather be in bed asleep. Here is a rundown of the people I see every day. I've named them in my head.

1. Tall guy with sneakers (aka Kyle) - He's really tall and smiley and always wearing khakis and Nike's...I wonder what he's listening to on his iPod?

2. Chinese guy with shirt unbuttoned (aka Jim) - Oddly, this man always has his coat open and the first two buttons on this collared shirt undone...I think he gets overheated easily.

3. Old lady with the sunglasses - Rain or shine this woman is wearing her shades...I love her. She reminds me of the cartoon old lady "Maxine."

4. Guy with puffy green coat (aka Niko; I think he's Greek) - I saw this guy all the time wearing this really ugly puffy olive green coat. Even on warmer days he'd be rockin the puff...then poof! I didn't see him for an entire week. I figured he was on vacation, or he moved, or switched jobs. I was sad. Turns out, he was shopping for a new coat! Now he wears a stylish black overcoat and walks with a swagger - You GO puffy coat guy!

5. Stylish Italian girl (aka Maria) - This girl wears the cutest outfits every day. I mean, I try to look good on a daily basis, but some days it just doesn't work. No matter what the weather is like, or what day of the week it is (Monday's are hard for me), this girl is looking good. I hate her (j/k).

There are several others, but you get the point. Each of these people bring a little bit of joy to my day. Who do you see on your commute?

Pensacola Sucks!

I haven't posted in a while. My trial starts next Monday, and I've been in North Florida since January 31. After three weeks, the Residence Inn and a hotel bed are starting to wear on me. But with a couple of months to go, it's a bit hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thus, I am starting to realize that DC isn't so bad when compared to my current whereabouts. Here are a few realizations that make DC seem pretty darn good.

1) The rest of the world is pretty depressed outside of the federal city. Dozens of businesses and restaurants are boarded up in and around downtown Pensacola. The local news networks spend a lot more time covering folks who are down on their luck. All things considered, DC is still pretty much thriving. We don't realize how good we have it.

2) God and personal injury lawyers are plentiful. There are at least five networks that seem to have a big budget televangelist on at all times. And every other store front is Dewey, Cheatam and Howe. In small town America, liturgists and litigants run rampant. At least in DC the lawyers are top notch and God is not televised.

3) Restaurants in DC, while not NYC caliber are still better than average. Chains, chains and more chains in P-cola. Thank the Lord for my kitchen and crappy cookware.

4) This one sounds bad, but, where is high-end retail? If the best place to grab a tie is Jos A. Banks, and the "it" store is Dillards, it's no wonder everyone dresses like a total shlepp.

I am sure there are dozens of other reasons to appreciate the fact that we live in a real city. Most of all, I just want to get home to my wife and the Bella Boo. Wish me luck during trial. I'll try and post updates throughout the case -- I'm sure that something will happen during trial that is more post worthy than another dinner at the Macaroni Grill.

Impossible!

Why is it that men are so impossible sometimes? Well, I should be more specific. Why is it that you ask a man (take your husband, for example) to do something and it takes him ten years to do it? Even if it's the smallest thing possible. Like writing an email, or sending a text.

It's maddening I tell you! Then when you ask him, "have you emailed (fill in name here) yet?", or "have you asked (fill in name again) about (whatever)?", he tells you your being a nag and that he can handle his own business...

Ugh! Trust me people, I don't want to be a nag. I hate reminding someone to do something, but if I don't, some things would NEVER get done. It shouldn't be so hard to find out information on something that will impact our plans, or our lives.

Some of you might be worried about Mike reading this post, but don't fret! You see, I've already told him to check the blog, so I'm sure he won't - and I'm done reminding him.

The Comeback Kids

A couple of months ago Mike and I started talking about celebrities who have recently made a comeback. It was actually a really fun and lively conversation because there are so many singers/actors/politicians, you name it, who have made a comeback from either being junkies, or alcoholics, or just plain losers. It's fascinating. Seriously, our society forgives and forgets way too soon.

Here are my top 10 comeback kids (in no particular order):

1. Robert Downey Jr. - Who doesn't love this guy? He's a great actor who had a bit of trouble in his early days...but now he's outta rehab and doing really well. Mike and I LOVED Sherlock Holmes and we know our boy Robbie will keep on the straight and narrow from now on...well, at least he's good for now.

2. Mickey Rourke - Really? Mickey Rourke? I never would have thought this guy would be up for an Academy Award, but his work in The Wrestler was amazing. He's really done a complete turnaround. He went from actor to boxer to alcoholic to actor...we'll see where he ends up next!

3. Britney Spears - Remember what a hot mess Britney was? All bald, and fat, and white- trashy. Now she's in the recording studio again, appearing at the Grammy's, and looking semi-presentable. Thank Jesus.

4. Mike Tyson - I don't agree with this one, but apparently someone out there believes this guy should get a second chance. I couldn't believe that he was on stage at the Golden Globes for his cameo in The Hangover...gross. Have we all forgotten that this man bit Evander Holyfield's ear off like a squirrel would bite someones finger?! WTF people?? The man is an animal. Let's also not forget that he's a convicted rapist. Yuck.

5. Jason Bateman - I love Jason Bateman! Remember the show Valerie and then the Hogan Family (after they killed Valerie off)? He was great in those shows, but then he disappeared. Poof, he was gone. Then he re-surfaced in the brilliant show Arrested Development, which didn't last long, but his real comeback was in the movie Juno which was nominated for 2 Academy Awards. Now he's in Up in the Air, also nominated for a couple of Oscars...way to go Jason!

6. Alec Baldwin - My favorite comeback kid. Yea he had a miserable and public divorce from Kim Basinger, and yes he totally yelled at his daughter in a drunken rage over the phone...but who cares? This guy is hilarious and a comic genius. 30 Rock is a riot and Jack Donaghy is my favorite character. I also heard that he's great in It's Complicated, which I have yet to see...Alec, you rock!

7. Rod Blagojevich - This guy is a Grade A douche bag. Just look at his hair!! But I guess even douche-bags get a second chance. He is a disgraced Senator, turned reality-TV star. Talk about a comeback. If I was Donald Trump I wouldn't want this guy as my apprentice, but that's just my two cents. Come to think of it, Donand Trump is kind of a douche-bag also...

8. Hillary Clinton - My girl! She went from being the First Lady and having to endure her husband's scandals, to running a stellar Presidential campaign and getting beaten by the Obaminator, to becoming our Secretary of State. What an amazing comeback, and she's doing a great job. I love you Hill!

9. David Hasselhoff (aka The Hoff) - One of my favorite You-Tube videos to watch (yes, I am evil) is The Hoff drunk off his rocker, sitting on the floor, eating a big mac while his daughter tapes him. I know, it's actually really sad because she's trying to help him, but I can't help but laugh...sorry. Anyway, be happy! He's fully recovered and now one of the judges on America's Got Talent! Great comeback story...and the man can sing! (That's me being mean again, he can't sing a lick)

10. Brett Favre - He's retired, he's not retired. Whatever. I have to say though, that his run with the Vikings was an amazing comeback to the game of football, and I don't even like football. All season Mike kept saying something like "He's 41 years old, look at him!" I guess. Anyway, he made the list.

Here are my top 5 that will soon make a comeback:

1. Tiger Woods (ugh!)

2. Amy Winehouse (unless she dies first)

3. Eliot Spitzer (maybe he'll be on a reality show)

4. Lindsay Lohan (she needs to get it together)

5. John Edwards (he'll write a "My Side of the Story" book or something)

What Have I Done?

The pressure has been mounting for months and this weekend I finally caved. Yes people, I have joined Facebook. I know! I resisted for so long, and I never really believed that I would join, but alas, I did.

And now...I'm obsessed. Why does this thing suck you in so easily and so fast? I'm now constantly checking my "wall" (I hate that I now know what that means) and checking to see if anyone commented, or accepted my friend request, blah, blah, blah...

The one thing I'm excited about though to be honest, is that I'm already back in touch with some old friends that I haven't spoken to in years. That's the good part about Facebook. It really does re-connect you with people you just fell out of contact with but never meant to. I like that part. What I don't like is being crazed and searching for people to see what they're up to, or where they live now, or what their careers are, if they're married, if they got fat, etc...

I will probably stop searching in a couple of weeks after the initial intrigue has passed and I get bored. At least that's what I'm hoping...wish me luck!

Freak Out!

I just wanted to let you all know that a winter weather advisory is in effect from 10am tomorrow until Saturday evening. Washington DC is supposed to get anywhere from 18-24 inches of snow, and everyone here is freaking out!

Mike and I live across the street from Whole Foods and when I walked home from work tonight there was a line to get into the store! They had also closed off parking lot because there weren't any free spots....whatta mess.

At this point my office is still open for business tomorrow, but the company that we share a floor with has already said that they are closing at noon. Several schools have been closed for most of the week after a dusting last weekend, and I'm sure will be closed all day tomorrow. A few of my colleagues will be "working from home" tomorrow which really means they get a day off without taking vacation time, and all I can think about is how insane it is that our great nation's capital completely shuts down at the mention of snow.

It's snow people! Not a 7 point earthquake, or a tsunami, or even a hurricane. It's snow, and it can be plowed, shoveled, and it melts. The thing that people here don't get is that they need to be proactive. Home owners need to salt the sidewalks and then shovel the sidewalks after it snows. Plows need to be ready to go so that the streets are cleared in a timely manner. The metro needs to be "snow ready" so that people aren't stranded with no way of getting home. Why is this so difficult? Cities like New York, and Chicago have been able to deal with snow storms forever. They don't just "close" before the first flake has even fallen!

Come on DC! Buck up! We will get through this storm together and if we don't, maybe NYC can be the new capital of the country...fine by me.

I Endorse: RuPaul's Drag Race

I was introduced to RuPaul's Drag Race on the LOGO network by my friends Josh and Matt and I was immediately hooked. It's a show that celebrates the lives and lifestyles of drag queens and let's them strutt their stuff, dance, sing and "lip sync for their lives" all while competing for the crown of "Next Drag Superstar." You simply have to watch. All of the Queens on this show are F-I-E-R-C-E!! They are amazing entertainers, they are beautiful both inside and out, and they are honest about who they are and what they stand for.

Season 1 just ended and Season 2 began last night. I caught the Reunion Show last weekend and it was really interesting to watch. These women are so strong, and so passionate about who they are and what they do. It was really inspiring to me. It's hard to live in this world and feel like you can be 100% who you are. We all have skeletons in our closets, memories of times in our lives that we would like to forget, and parts of ourselves that we may not like. These women though, are putting it all out there and are being judged, and that's tough.

During the reunion show Shannel, one of the contestants, got a chance to face Santino (one of the judges) and ask him why he was so hard on her during the competition. It was really interesting to hear Shannel say that Santino made her "feel like shit" every time he critiqued her. Then RuPaul who was not in drag for this show, went into this animated lecture about how all the women sitting in front of her are amazing and how they should all be proud of who they are, and that they are extremely talented or they wouldn't be on the show at all. "You are all stars!", she yelled...I wanted to stand up and cheer! RuPaul said that she doesn't care what other people think of her because she is ok with herself and is honest about who she is. She also said that there would always be people out there who disagree with your lifestyle, or who pass judgement, but if you are happy and comfortable in your own skin, then it shouldn't matter.

I love this show. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and it features real people who face so many obstacles in their lives, but continue to live large and honestly, and I really appreciate that.

Star Sighting!

Spotted at Vapiano in Dupont Circle: The dude (whatever his name is) from Arlington Rap. Yes you heard right, Arlington Rap! You mean to tell me that you've never seen Arlington Rap? Well lemme tell ya buddy, you sure are missing out! Check it out...it's the video of the week.

**Arlington is a city, or suburb of DC in Virginia and let's just say, it's not that cool...sorry Cindy!

Anyway, I was out for drinks last Friday with my friend Cal and his boyfriend Josh, when out of nowhere came the Arlington Rap guy in all his glory. He looked just like I'd remembered from the video. Skinny, nerdy, and weird (he's actually really funny though).

You're probably wondering why this was exciting to me. Well, after living in D.C. for almost 4 years you come to realize that you're most likely not going to see any really famous people, so you make due with semi-famous people, or quasi-famous people, or not-really-famous-people-at-all...

It's typical to see a politician once in a while, or someone like George Stephanopoulos walking down the street, but other than that -- nothing. In NYC I've talked to Cameron Diaz, seen Tim Roth with his wife and baby, rode the subway with Henry Winkler (the Fonz), and called DL Hughly "Jamie Kennedy", and then "Jaime Foxx" when I was drunk at the Hudson bar. Whatever, I was close.

So in DC it's all about small victories. Arlington Rap guy is a small victory for me and I'm proud to have seen him. He is a true art-iste!