February 6, 2015

The one where I spice up your life...

...but in a clean and fun way because that title is a bit suspicious.

At lunch today I mentioned to my co-workers that I write a blog. Well, two blogs. They of course seized upon that information like a starving dog with a bone. They thought it was hilarious and found such amusement in it. I was glad because I aim to please by keeping people amused, but then again I was a little shy about it. It may not seem like I'm shy about letting people read my writings since I write two online blogs for Pete's sake, but I really am. I only get through it because I never check how many people read it and if/when people do praise me I just blush and move past it. In any case these folks were super eager to hear about my latest post and I told them all about 'Arizona' and the case of 'relax and chill'. They loved it! (At least they said they did.) One co-worker made a comment about how she wouldn't have anything to write a blog about because her life is so boring. I, of course, immediately heard "spice up her life!" and the challenge was accepted! Here's how I spiced up her life...

Today was a cold and windy day. Not one of those typical cold and windy January days you only seem to experience in the suburbs of Washington D.C. or the tundra of Siberia. Today there was a chill in the air that seemed to suck all the happiness out of my soul. It lashed with a harshness that made me lament for any exposed piece of skin. My poor face was taking the brunt of it. The face that was used to the warmth and beauty of the Caribbean sun was undergoing a torture that was unequaled. Every step I took seemed like an uphill battle, like I was Sisyphus, King of Corinth, doomed to forever push a boulder up a hill. The ten-minute walk seemed interminable and I cursed every dreaded step. I closed my inner eye and tried to soothe my soul because I knew a bigger battle awaited me; work. Today I needed to don my armour and prepare my sword and get ready to do battle with Abby, my demon of a boss. She loved work and loved making our environment similar to hell, from which she had sprung. She pumped freezing cold air into the office in the mornings, so cold we had to wrap our hands in order to type. In the afternoons, hot air blasted from the vents in an effort to reverse any damage from the morning’s cold air. However, the damage had already been done. My brain had stalled and refused to restart. It whimpered, “No more, please no more.” I sadly whispered, “I’m sorry brain! There isn’t anything I can do.” Tears formed in my eyes. Whether they were from the harsh wind or knowing what my future held, I didn’t know. I saw a shadow on the ground in front of me and I grimaced. I knew without looking what caused that shadow. It was the shadow of a building that haunted my dreams. Nightmares really. I took a deep breath and steadied myself. “You can do it,” I thought as I walked through the door.

February 4, 2015

Adventures in Dating: Relax dude, it's all chill...

I'm baaaaack! Not in the creepy Jack Nicholson/Shining way, but more in the kick-ass Randy Quaid/Independence Day way. It's been a while, I know, and you can blame it on graduate school. It's amazing and the most fun I've ever had in school, but it also sucks up all your free time and leaves you with a shell of a life. I decided now that I have more free time I could maybe start online dating again. What a great idea! Not. If I sound less than enthused it's because during my very first conversation with the dude, let's call him Arizona, told me to 'relax' AND 'chill' in practically the same breath. In case you're wondering what's the big deal, I'll tell you! To me, and lots of people I know, saying relax, chill, calm down, etc when they're not angry or worked up, but simply expressing an opinion that the other person doesn't agree with is a good way to actually make them angry or worked up. I've posted the screenshots here, but I should preface this by saying he does digital analytics for a living. If you're wondering what that is, why, I'll tell you! You know when you visit a website and you're like "ooooh, that's cute" and then you go to Facebook, Mother Jones, Forbes or basically any website that shows ads and all of a sudden that dress/pair of shoes/external hard drive you were checking out is featured in an ad on that site and you're like "omg they're stalking me!" Well, yes they are. That's what cookies are! I'm sure you all know this. At least I hope so. This guy didn't think I knew that and sent a good three or four messages telling me about it before I looked back at the conversation and told him "stop, I get it, I live in the 21st century."  (Or something more polite.) Anyhoo, he later asked for my last name and I wasn't going to give anyone my full name so they could look me up online, especially a self-confessed professional creeper! I told him that and here's what he had to say! I'm sure a lot of it is me overreacting, but on the other hand I really do hate when people tell me to relax especially when I don't want to do something and I say so and they turn it back on me to seem like I'm  crazy, overreacting, or emotional. Word of advice dude, it's just not cool. I'm not the only one who feels this way. Thoughts? Did I overreact? Was he just a ridiculous person?




May 9, 2014

Adventures in Dating: Getting dumped can be cathartic if you handle it well

Soooo...this happened to me recently.



Adventures in Dating: Messages that would never get a response from any woman on this planet...

Okay, okay. I know that blog post title is über harsh, but I'm feeling slightly cranky this morning and really irritated with the way online dating is going. I spend more time fending off weirdos with freaky messages than meeting normal people. How would these men approach women in real life? Is this how they would present themselves for the first time? Not sure why they think it would go over well in cyber life. We have the same reaction: roll eyes and ignore.

1) U can't be real lol

2) Look..you have got an entry here :P

3) hi, hausau!! (He didn't even get my screen name right!)
You look awesome!!
but do you watch community?

4) Hey there
kaisi ho? how's your life going?
it's N here would you like to chat?
(He lives in India. I don't know what he thinks is going to happen and I don't understand people who want to be online friends.)

5) Howdy, here's to hoping that you want to get to know each other :) (Combined with his height of 5'3" there was no way this guy was getting a response. Kudos for being outgoing enough to message first.)

6) u very cute

7) Hey whtzup!!!
I like you plz reply me on ur opinion!!

8) Hi


How are you? You look exotic. What do you do for fun? (Nothing. I do absolutely nothing for fun.)

April 29, 2014

Adventures in Dating: The one where I go on a second date!

I met W a couple of weeks ago and it was seriously one of the best first dates of my life. We debated the merits of the LOTR films vs. the books and agreed that it was probably one of the ONLY times in our lives where the movie was quite possibly better than the book. I'm sure he couldn't believe that he was having that conversation with me...a girl in pink glasses. (Hmmmm....new screen name perhaps?) Okay, back to the important stuff. We talked for hours and hours and hours. I missed several trains home. When we finally stood up at the same time my heart skipped a beat because he was a solid 4 inches taller than me. As a tall girl I can't tell you how rare it is to look up to someone. It's worth the crick in the neck. We walked to the metro together and he held my hand AND I wasn't freaked out by it. In fact, it was quite refreshing. He kissed me as he put me on my train and we made plans to see each other again. In fact, when I texted him later that evening to thank him for a lovely date he texted back and we continued to chat. I saw him again on Thursday. We skipped the weekend because I had friends in town (and...well he was out of town.) I'd just like to make it clear that if my friends (who also happen to be two of my biggest fans) ::whoa watch out head, no getting bigger:: were also in town while he was, they have/will always have priority.

We texted back and forth for a while, but inevitably the conversation started slowing down. We made plans for the following weekend, but he called out sick/had work/who remembers what the excuse was. I began to doubt the whole thing, but when he texted, on Monday, asking to go out later that week I said yes to Friday. He, of course, didn't text until 7:30 Friday night. 5 days. (Hmmmm...I feel like that number has popped up before.) I mean, I feel like it's just common sense AND good manners to text earlier because who the hell texts right before expecting to get a yes? I felt like it was turning into something I didn't want and so I didn't see him that night. We did go out to dinner after the library the next evening, which made me realise I should never hang out with anyone after spending so many hours hunched over microfilm in the library. I should head home immediately and take my frustration out on stupid tourists. It was a slightly awkward meal because all I could think about was food and every time I opened my mouth all I could say was "sushiiiii" and drool slightly. Not super attractive. On our walk back to the metro we both realised we'd be going to AWESOME CON the next day. If you don't know what Awesome Con is you can find out here. My friend Dana over at Good Red Herring is a fantastic blogger and her pictures are infinitely better than mine. I digress...again. I texted him shortly after I arrived at Awesome Con the next day because Dana was off at her own panel and I had a bit of time to kill before my next one. He never responded. I made up my mind there and then that was it. Then, of course, we ran into to each other. He was there with his roommates and I feel like the proverbial third wheel. Well maybe 5th wheel. It was supremely awkward. I'd go on about how it was awkward, but then I'd probably seem like the crazy one for complaining about the "small stuff." The point is I felt awkward and that's pretty much all that matters. I vowed to get out of there asap and never put myself in that position again. I stopped talking to him and vice versa after that. I'm sure I'll put myself in that position again because you never know how life turns out, but I did learn another lesson. No matter how good a kisser a guy is nothing's ever going to happen if he isn't really a good guy.

Sorry, if this seemed uber depressing. My next blog post will probably be about the 23-year old who keeps messaging me. In his defense, I messaged him back. Orrrr maybe it'll be the one about the GIRL who keeps sending me messages on OkCupid. In her defense, I message her back too. We talk about how terrible guys are. It's kind of funny.

April 7, 2014

Adventures in Dating: The one where a good date goes awfully wrong.

I know I’ve been writing about all the bad stuff that happens and since that’s always the funny stuff I have no desire to do otherwise. When I started planning this blog post I knew that I wanted to write about the one date that went really well. The thing was I started I planning it in the middle of the date. I should have waited until the end to really decide. It did not end well. 5 days later, it finally ended and it was not on the good side of things. In fact, I’m not going to use his screen name, because I would hate for him to read this and know that I was talking about him.
We got matched on OKC because we both rated each other very highly. I sent him my slightly modified generic message that I send to all guys I’m matched with. It’s gotten me a few responses so it’s not too bad a message – I guess. His response to me was hilarious and that pretty much set the tone for our subsequent online message and text message exchange. It was all very positive and I was really excited about it. I actually got dressed up and got my hair did and all that jazz. We met in Chinatown and had dinner at Zengo. Good sign because I told him that it was one of the few places out there I hadn't tried before. 
The date got off to a weird start because he kept trying to touch me. Like his hand would brush my hand and then it would touch my knee and I know I’m weird about that stuff because it freaks me out, but what made it even weirder was the fact that it felt forced. He would look down at his hand as it brushed mine as if to reassure himself that it was there and doing what he wanted. Not in a crazy, psycho way. In a...nervous way. I didn't understand what was happening. If you're nervous about something, especially on a first date, why push yourself to do it. I reiterate, ESPECIALLY on a first date. 
Thankfully, things got better as the date wore on because he was funny and smart and we had a lot in common and I became more comfortable with him. By the end of the date when he tried to hold my hand I didn't run away screaming. At the end of the date he walked me to my car because I was parked quite far away and I offered to drive him back to the metro because 1) it was only polite and 2) it was hella freezing. I knew he was going to try and kiss me because the entire way back to my car he kept making these odd movements with his head and I was like “oh God, he’s going to try and kiss me.” Sure enough, as soon as we got into my car he kissed me. It started off nice enough, but then he started using his teeth and soon escalated into a situation where I’m pretty sure he tried to eat my face. 

This Gchat pretty much sums up my feelings on that subject:

me:  ugh, it makes me shiver when i think about his teeth on [my] mouth
D:  um i shiver hearing you shiver
      gross...

 Yeah, everything else was great, but at the age I’m at, I don’t need to teach my man how to kiss. Am I right? (Or was I wrong?)
I decided that I’d had a better time on the date and was willing to give him a second chance hoping that his way of kissing was due to nerves. He texted me when he got home to make sure I was okay and I assured him I was. That was the last time I heard from him. I texted him 2 days later to chat and he responded, in a very stilted manner (if such a manner can be deduced through text message) and then abruptly stopped responding in the middle of the conversation. BIG NO NO in my book. I didn't message him again. Late Thursday evening (read: 5 days later) he texted me asking if I wanted to hang out on Saturday. I told that I made plans with a friend of mine to see her baby. He asked about Sunday and I said I had to babysit. Then he asked me about my plans in the upcoming week and I sort of gave up on trying to be subtle because obviously men don’t do subtle. Am I being mean and generalizing? I said “Look, you didn't text for two days, barely responded when I texted, then just stopped in the middle of a conversation and then texted two days later to ask me out. Not sure what happened and I had really nice time and I wish you’d followed up, but I don’t have time for whatever is going on.” Then there was all this blah, blah, blah about work and how he had to work on Sunday and how he’s so busy. Dude, we’re all busy. Life is crazy. I work, go to school, read constantly, date, babysit, blog and still find time to text a guy if I’m interested. My whole point is that people make time for the things that matter to them. If seeing me again was really that important to you, you would have texted right away."
At the moment I have the 2nd most awesome professor I've ever had in my entire academic career. We discuss indentured labor, bond over research and using microfilm and then end our meetings talk about our lives. She told me how her husband texted the morning after their first date. Why? Cos he was into her and wasn't afraid to show her that he was. I have no time for guys that are afraid of their feelings and I don’t need that projected onto me and surprise, surprise, I’m not the only girl out there that thinks that.

Lessons (hopefully) learned by me and my fellow ladies? Follow your instinct. When he touched my hand and made me feel awkward, I should have said something, even if that was likely to make him feel awkward. Who the heck cares how he feels when I’m made to feel weird?

Lessons (hopefully) learned by men? Texting after a date isn’t a game. Who cares what Hollywood/your friends/anything that isn't your gut tells you to do? Waiting is stupid and the right woman won’t tolerate that. If you want to text her the very next morning, you should do it! (Unless the date went badly, then save both yourselves the trouble and don’t waste your time.)


My tips: A text message conversation is akin to real life conversation. Sure, there are some niceties that needn't be observed all the time, but to quit responding in the middle of a text message is like walking off in the middle of a conversation.

March 17, 2014

Adventures in Dating: The one where I throw up a little in my mouth.

Note: All posts are verbatim. I have changed nothing, including grammar and punctuation (or lack thereof), except their screen name in order to protect the stupid. 


Yep...this just happened.

Master MAXIMUS: your neck, eh ? I have a certain bauble for your neck !
now, for the important stuff - - - are you really, I mean, really, really, really ready for a dominant Master in your life ? this is way beyond the pale of "kinky" play - this is for real - and not to be entered into like a high school seduction "going steady" type of relationship. 
now is the time to run and hide - later it will be too late. 
so, again, are you ready to explore your inner nature with a dominant Master ?
take care, MAX


I responded with "Eww,..I mean ehh, no thanks." Not sure what else it warrants saying.

--
OOOOOH UPDATE!!!

Just realised my message to him never actually went through and so I took the opportunity to write this.


"Hi, not sure what in my profile indicated that I'd welcome such a message, but I don't and I'd thank you to not send a message like that to me or any other woman out there without knowing if she'd welcome it first." 

(I'm sure I could have gone meaner or colder, but hopefully this will have the same effect.)

March 3, 2014

Adventures in Dating: The one where I let it go on for far too long.

Note: All posts are verbatim. I have changed nothing, including grammar and punctuation (or lack thereof), except their screen name in order to protect the stupid.

A guy with the screen name OKC s/n USM@rineVA/ Skype s/n mandib@ins sent me a message on the website and after chatting with him for a bit he asked for my Skype name because he said that Quantico will block the chat. Normally I wouldn't give that out, but Skype is one of those places where you can block someone almost immediately and report them for abuse if they start to get stupid. Which is what I ended up doing. Read on for more details. (My notes are in yellow about how this conversation went so badly.)

mandib@ins: wow DND .. hv a good night
mandib@ins: u went to DND lol do u hv many admires on skype or what ;) (Should have known. Also, by the shirtless picture. Ugh, never talk to those guys. They are the worst!)
Me: What is DND?
mandib@ins: Dont not Disturb
Me: I did it because most people I chat with are on the other side of the world so I do it just in case.*
mandib@ins: i bet u r ass is on bed nnow. Wht do u do for work? (Should have known.)
mandib@ins: wow u r geo spatial chic ;)
Me:  Yeah, I guess I am
Me: I’m an executive assistant at an education non-profit
mandib@ins: hot seceretary :) (Yep, should have known.)
Me: And I am in bed. My medication is kicking in. Been very sick lately
mandib@ins: u like office admin
mandib@ins: aww wht happened love? (This is what immediately turns me off. I even put it in my OKC profile that we shouldn't pretend that we know each other and this is specifically what I was referring to. Rhetorical question, but don't people think about things before they write them???)
Me: Love?
mandib@ins: NVM
Me:  No offense but we don't know each other
mandib@ins: what is u r major in school?
mandib@ins: ok may be u r conservative side is kciking in
mandib@ins: i ll take lov back
Me: It's not conservative
Me:  Just common sense I think
Me: Anyway I've gotta go
Me:  You have a wonderful night
mandib@ins: good luck
mandib@ins: u r too judgemental n actually i guess u r like 35 or so (This is where he lashes out because he just felt rejected. Also, I think it's hilarious and sad that 35 is old to him. He's only 27!)
mandibains: jus pretendin to be young
mandibains: bye
Me: Actually I'm 50 (This is where I prove I'm funny.)
Me: Good guess
Me: And judging by your atrocious grammar, you're how old...? (This is also where I prove I'm pretty immature as well.)
Me: Goodbye
mandib@ins: hahaha
mandib@ins: Good bye asian lady
Me: See ya white boy

*This statement didn't copy and paste so for transparency's sake I want to say that it's not verbatim. After I blocked him the conversation disappeared, but didn't C/P into Word very well.

Adventures in Dating: Why?

I get a lot of people asking me why I'm doing online dating. "Why, why, why?" I'm now sure how to answer this because I feel like they secretly mean, "what's wrong with you that you can't meet a man in real life?" There's nothing fundamentally wrong with me. I know there are quirks, there always are, but to think that something's wrong is...well...is just plain wrong. I do have quite a number of friends that are supportive and might I say, enthusiastic, about my venture into the world of online dating and let me tell you, it's a world of it's own alright. It's a world where you have to be really good at sales because the product you're selling is yourself. It's a world where you're apparently allowed to be as rude, lewd or ill-tempered as you'd like because there's no one to hold you accountable for your words. It's a world where the purpose is to put yourself out there and hopefully experience something amazing, but instead you're often left feeling put off by your fellow man, nay human being. I feel like I've just listed a lot of negatives when in fact I've actually had some positives, but in the end I haven't met anyone I could envision a long term relationship (romantic or otherwise) with so I chalk that up to the negative column. Continue to read for more "Oh. My. God." moments.

February 23, 2014

Adventures in dating: The one where I get cursed out for doing something I thought was polite.

Note: All posts are verbatim. I have changed nothing, including grammar and punctuation (or lack thereof), except their screen name in order to protect the stupid.

youngdl173: Hey how are you? Im david nice to meet you

Me: Hi David, thanks for your interest, but I'm not interested. Cheers.

youngdl173: A simple non response would have worked but f**k you to! Cheers*

Me: Wow, manners much. And here I was thinking I was being nice. Why so angry? What was it about that message that elicited such a response from you? Just because this isn't 'real life' doesn't mean you can go around saying those things.

Me: And it's "f**k you too." Idiot.

-- 
1) I wasn't interested because he didn't capitalise his name which is A PROPER NOUN AND SHOULD ALWAYS BE CAPITALIZED. Unless he's an an animal, which based on his response, kind of seems like he might be.
2) What's a simple non response? Ignoring him? Sorry, but that's not me. I hate being ignored and therefore will not ignore someone. There are, of course, exceptions.
3) Why so angry chum? Seriously? How on earth was that an insult?
4) This is a perfect example of people thinking they can say whatever they want because it's online and there's no one to hold them accountable. If a girl ignored him in a bar would he react the same way? (I slightly afraid now that I've thought about that.)
*I edited the curse words because no one really needs that up in their face. 

February 22, 2014

Adventures in dating: The one where the "charming" guy turns racist.

Note: All posts are verbatim. I have changed nothing, including grammar and punctuation (or lack thereof), except their screen name in order to protect the stupid. 
--
Ch@rmingfrenchy1: Hey cutie :) :)

Ch@rmingfrenchy1: So

Me: So...thanks for the message, but I'm not interested.

Ch@rmingfrenchy1: Oh yeh just looked at your pix u an Arab?? And you like in burke lol sound like someone sounding discussed lol bye good luck.

Me: "Sound like someone sounding discussed"? Who exactly is talking about me? You didn't think to look at my picture before you messaged me? Also, what does me looking like an Arab have to do with anything?

Ch@rmingfrenchy1: Nothing not interested either go away

Me: Hhahahaha, oh good, you're mad because you're interested in me and I turned you down. Lovely behavior!

Me: Also, you're being a racist and that's super unattractive.

(I'm sure he would have written more angry messages, but I blocked him after my last one. He made my blood boil.)

--
1) I get really irked by guys who use "cutesy" nicknames right off the bat. I don't know about other girls, but to me it denotes a level of intimacy that isn't there and I'm not sure what they hope to achieve by doing so. Plus, cutie? Out of all the words you could possible use, you choose the one that suggests you'd like to treat me like a child or a small animal.
2) Guess I don't really need to say this, but punctuation helps so much. Why would I respond to someone when I have to spend extra time deciphering their messages? It's a waste of my time.

June 22, 2011

Updated: Food Truck list 6/22/2011

Note: Unfortunately I'm going to be cutting down on partaking of food truck fare for a while because 1) I have that move coming up that I need to save money for and 2) I also wanna drop like 40 lbs and food trucks don't help. However if a new one (or Tasty Kabob (because I looooove them) is in the area I'll try it.

DC Food Truck Scene Where I've eaten so far: (Updated 6/22/2011)
Curbside Cupcakes (http://www.curbsidecupcakes.com/) Try their H Street. It's ah.mah.zing!

WhereSauca (http://www.eatsauca.com/) I am SO EXCITED to try their new Sauca Grill because everything I've had from here was excellent. (As of 6/22/2011 I still haven't tried their Sauca Grill.)

DC Slices (http://dcslices.com/menu/) Bacon on pizza. Enough said.

Lobster Truck (http://www.redhooklobsterdc.com/) Lobster. Enough said.

CapMacDC (http://www.capmacdc.com/menu.html) Must. Eat. More. Mac n' Cheese!

Fojol Bros. (http://fojol.com/about) --Butter Chicken? More like BEST Chicken. Okay, right that was lame but it's so good!

TaKorean (http://takorean.com/) Well I got sick after eating their food but I don't think it was their fault. I should NOT have eaten the Sirarcha sauce. I know that it causes problems. :(

DC Pie Truck (http://www.dangerouspies.com/) Crab and Cheddar quiche -- ah.mah.zing.

Yellow Vendor (http://chewbrew.com/2010/08/19/yellow-vendor-love/)

Sabora Street (http://www.saborastreet.com/menu) Their churros are without a doubt one of the best things I've ever eaten.

Meathead Mobile Eats (@wheresthemeat) -- Their Oink Oink made me fall in love with sandwiches all over again.

Carnivore BBQ (@carnbbq) Good pork but not as good as Meathead Mobile Eats. Lotsa meat if you're into that kinda thing.

Big Cheese Truck (@bigcheesetruck) --Good, but not worth $6.50 for a cheese sandwich no matter HOW gourmet the cheese is.

Tasty Kabob (@TastyKabob) -- I LOVE the lamb and I LOVE the chicken so I always get the combo. Their chickpeas are only okay. I've had better. 10 out of 5 yums.

PiTruckDC (@PiTruckDC) Okay, I get that it's $12 for a medium pizza pie but that crust is SO thick and delicious and I got three very satisfying meals out of it. So I think it's worth it even if shelling out $12 at one go is hard to swallow. Thank god their pizza isn't. I got their Western Addition – mozzarella, spinach blended with ricotta and feta, mushrooms, onions, garlic. This way I didn't feel half as bad for eating pizza. 4 yums.

Eat Stix (@eatstix) -- It was amazing what food tastes like after being grilled on an open flame. Obviously spices help but this was just amazing. It's really not that much food for $4 but to taste (everything) at least once is worth it. 3 1/2 yums.

Fry Captain (@FryCaptain) -- I have mixed feelings about this one. They said they'd be set up by 11:30. Apparently set up means parked. One guy was at the bank getting change, the other was getting the fryers ready and some random dude showed up 2 minutes before the started serving. We waited for FORTY minutes for them to open up for orders. Also, apparently getting your fries fried in duck fat is option for $1.50. I definitely did not want to spend extra on clogging up my arteries but apparently all the french fries are now fried in duck fat and you automatically pay the extra. I probably would have not gone if I knew that before hand. Things did get better after that though. The fries were pretty good. Not any better thanks to duck fat in my humble opinion. The dipping sauces are OUT of this world. I got the cilantro-lime aioli and it was freaking amazing! I wanted to dive into it and swim around for the rest of the day. Scratch that...the rest of my life. I also got the chocolate brownie milkshake. It was so thick and creamy that it took all my energy to suck it up the straw but it was worth it. My first sip had a brownie bit in it. So overall the bad service and really great food balance it out. 3 1/2 yums!

Where I still need to eat:
FL Meets DC (@FLmeetsDC)

District Taco (@districttaco)

Eat Wonky (@eatwonky)

Sub-Urban Bros (@SUBBros1)

Sweetflow Mobile (@SweetflowMobile)

Porc (@porcmobile or http://www.porcmobile.com/)

The Ficelle (@TheFicelle)

DC Love Bites (@dclovebites)

Sweetbites Truck (@sweetbitestruck)

Sidewalk Sensations (@SidewalkSweets)

Pleasant Pops (@pleasantpops)

DC Empanadas (@DCEmpanadas) -- God I can't wait until the visit the State Dept again!

Kabob Bites Truck DC (@kabobbites) --new truck - haven't seen much activity on Twitter

Austin Grill Truck (@AustinGrillTruck)

Doug the Food Dude (@Dougthefooddude)

La Gloria Mexicana (@lagloriamex)

Sprinkles Mobile (@sprinklesmobile)
Goodes Mobile Kitchen (@mobilekitchen)

Sol Mexican Grill (@solmexicangrill)

Rolling-wit-burgers (@rollingwburgers)

Bada Bing (@badabingdc)

People's Bao (@peoplesbao)

Sang (@sangonwheels) -- I'm SOOO EXCITED to try this one.

Choupi (@choupicrepes)

DC Grilled Cheese (@dcgrilledcheese)

BBQ Bandidos/Nathan Spittal (@bbqbandidos)

Solar Crepes (@solarcrepes)

Sixth and Rye (@Sixthandrye) I think it's a Jewish sandwich truck. Sounds pretty cool!

June 21, 2011

Robocall telemarkters continued.

The previous blog post should have been posted a week ago when I actually wrote it. Instead I somehow saved it as a draft and just realised that.

Update!!!!

The next time one of those douchebag agents called I talked to them. I said 'yes, I have credit card debt.' 'Oh, about $30,000.' 'I have about 10 credit cards.' 'Which one has the most? I think my Macy's store credit card.' 'Hmmm I can't give you a credit card number because I'm nowhere near my purse. I'm currently in the basement and it is in my bedroom upstairs.' 'Oh, I'd love for you to help me but I can't step away from what I'm doing right now but could I have a call back number for you so we can continue this conversation?' ::endured approximately 1 minute of absolute bs about why he couldn't give me his number. 'Are you sure you can't give me a callback number because I really am interested in lowering my credit card rates?' ::CLICK:: Yep, they still hang up on you even if you seem like a viable interest.

Oh, well. I got that out of my system and ::knock on wood:: haven't heard from anyone in about a week.

June 14, 2011

Robocall telemarketers

I am pissed. I am so mad and there's nothing I can do about it!

Why? I get approximately 3 phone calls a day from unknown numbers with the same message:
"There are no problems currently with your account, however it is urgent that you contact us concerning your eligibility for lowering your interest rates to as little as 6 point 9 per cent" or "This is our final attempt to reach you since you’ve not responded to our other calls to discuss your credit card debt."

Unlike some poor (unfortunate) saps out there I know that this is a scam. So when I press the button they tell me to in order to speak with an "agent" I do it because I really want to talk to this person to tell them to take me off their list. I want to say, "Thank you kind agent but I don't currently use any credit cards that need a new lower interest. I do thank you for thinking of me and I bid you a good day. Since I've been so polite will you please take me off your calling list?" You'd think that since I was SO nice that they would acquiesce to my request? Yeah you'd think so. You know why you think so? Because you're a human being and they are devils. Less than human. The beetle that lives in the dung on the bottom of my shoe that I squish with each step. Every time I've asked to be removed from the list they've hung up on me. Three different agents, three different hang ups.

You know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna talk to them next time. Tell them "Yes, I would love a new lower credit card rate. What's my name? It's Angelina Pitt. What's my social security number? 061-14-2011. I know! It's so similar to today's date, it's quite extraordinary."

All I have left to say is "I'm coming for you..."

April 19, 2011

Updated: Food Truck list


DC Food Truck Scene
Where I've eaten so far: (Updated 4/19/2011)

Curbside Cupcakes (http://www.curbsidecupcakes.com/)

WhereSauca (http://www.eatsauca.com/) I am SO EXCITED to try their new Sauca Grill because everything I've had from here was excellent.

DC Slices (http://dcslices.com/menu/) Bacon on pizza. Enough said.

Lobster Truck (http://www.redhooklobsterdc.com/) Lobster. Enough said.

CapMacDC (http://www.capmacdc.com/menu.html) Must. Eat. More. Mac n' Cheese!

Fojol Bros. (http://fojol.com/about) --Butter Chicken? More like BEST Chicken. Okay, right that was lame but it's so good!

TaKorean (http://takorean.com/) Well I got sick after eating their food but I don't think it was their fault. I should NOT have eaten the Sirarcha sauce. I know that it causes problems. :(

DC Pie Truck (http://www.dangerouspies.com/) Crab and Cheddar quiche -- ah.mah.zing.

Yellow Vendor (http://chewbrew.com/2010/08/19/yellow-vendor-love/)

Sabora Street (http://www.saborastreet.com/menu) Their churros are without a doubt one of the best things I've ever eaten.

Meathead Mobile Eats (@wheresthemeat) -- Their Oink Oink made me fall in love with sandwiches all over again.

Carnivore BBQ (@carnbbq) Good pork but not as good as Meathead Mobile Eats. Lotsa meat if you're into that kinda thing.

Big Cheese Truck (@bigcheesetruck) --Good, but not worth $6.50 for a cheese sandwich no matter HOW gourmet the cheese is.

Where I still need to eat:
FL Meets DC (@FLmeetsDC)
District Taco (@districttaco)
Tasty Kabob (@TastyKabob)
Eat Wonky (@eatwonky)
PiTruckDC (@PiTruckDC)
Sub-Urban Bros (@SUBBros1)
Sweetflow Mobile (@SweetflowMobile)
Porc (@porcmobile or http://www.porcmobile.com/)
The Ficelle (@TheFicelle)
DC Love Bites (@dclovebites)
Sweetbites Truck (@sweetbitestruck)
SidewalkSweetsations (@SidewalkSweets)
Pleasant Pops (@pleasantpops)
DC Empanadas (@DCEmpanadas)
Kabob Bites Truck DC (@kabobbites) --> new truck - haven't seen much activity on Twitter
Austin Grill Truck (@AustinGrillTruck)
Doug the Food Dude (@Dougthefooddude)
La Gloria Mexicana (@lagloriamex)
Sprinkles Mobile (@sprinklesmobile)
Eat Stix (@eatstix)
Goodes Mobile Kitchen (@mobilekitchen)
Sol Mexican Grill (@solmexicangrill)
Rolling-wit-burgers (@rollingwburgers)
Bada Bing (@badabingdc)
People's Bao (@peoplesbao)
Sang (@sangonwheels) --> I'm SOOO EXCITED to try this one.
Choupi (@choupicrepes)
DC Grilled Cheese (@dcgrilledcheese)
BBQ Bandidos/Nathan Spittal (@bbqbandidos)
Solar Crepes (@solarcrepes)

April 4, 2011

What I've eaten recently...

The Oink Oink from Meathead Mobile Eatery It doesn't look like much in this picture but this is one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. It's their Oink Oink with the dressings of a Cluck Cluck (lettuce-tomato salad, lime vinagrette, and a dijonaise sauce.) 5 yumms.

Bacon and cheese tots from DC Slices. This heartattack waiting to happen is heavenly. 4 out of 5 yumms.








Bangers and Mash from Againn DC. Amazing St. Patricks Day fare. 5 yumms. White Pizza from Cici's with the amazing Chandni. :) 2 1/2 yumms for too much grease.


March 18, 2011

Happy St. Patrick's Day from DC!


The North Portico of the White House and its green colored fountain in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

February 24, 2011

U.S. House Makes Underhanded Attempt to Gut Clean Air Protections

U.S. House Makes Underhanded Attempt to Gut Clean Air Protections

February 18, 2011 Posted by Steve Cochran in Clean Air Act
The U.S. House of Representatives is continuing its assault on public health by denying funding for the enforcement of longstanding protections against toxic air pollution. The funding bill and several amendments set to pass the House later today would effectively take the public health cops off the beat.
Under this bill, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state air pollution agencies would no longer be able to enforce critical programs that protect the public.
Some of the more egregious examples include:
No funding for enforcement of limits on mercury pollution from cement kilns. Mercury pollution causes brain damage in young children.
An outright ban on any EPA regulation of methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide or perfluorocarbons from stationary sources for whatever reason, including their impact on public health and ozone.
A sweeping prohibition on all work by the EPA to address carbon pollution, including a critical public right to know program that was set to give communities their first practical tools for identifying the biggest polluters.
This wholesale stripping away of EPA’s power to implement and enforce the Clean Air Act with respect to the most significant environmental challenge is unprecedented and underhanded. Recognizing that the public would reject an open repeal of core Clean Air Act provisions, and would not allow Congress to adopt a statute that told EPA "stop doing anything about climate change," Congress is trying to do the same thing via language buried in a spending bill.
In language sweeping in scope and effect, Section 1746 of the appropriations bill would tie EPA's hands and legally bar it from spending any money to do anything "due to concerns about possible climate change." Think of it. What if Congress passed a law barring the Securities and Exchange Commission from regulating securities? Or required the Food and Drug Administration to approve unsafe drugs. Or kept USDA from inspecting meat?
These would be outrageous laws, but no more outrageous than this attempt, in an appropriations bill, to obstruct EPA from carrying out its statutory obligation to protect human health and the environment.
A closer look at Section 1746 reveals that it would:
Punch a gaping loophole into vital clean air protections that took effect in January, putting a hiatus on the requirement for new large emitters to incorporate cost-effective greenhouse pollution reduction measures into their construction blueprints.
Undermine the public's right to know by precluding EPA from requiring the nation's largest emitters to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas pollution, including establishing a prohibition on EPA enforcement of long-standing program adopted as part of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments requiring the public disclosure of greenhouse gas pollution from the nation's fossil fuel fired power plants.
Put in place a stop work order on EPA's consumer-based ENERGY STAR line of together with an array of effective voluntary partnerships to cut dangerous pollution such as the Natural Gas STAR program, the Methane to Markets program, and the coal-bed methane outreach program.
Place a gag order on all EPA activities "relating to" greenhouse gas pollution including scientific research, press releases, public statements, web site, work to advance new technologies, collaborative stakeholder processes to find common sense solutions, etc.
Put the brakes on EPA's national emission standards being developed now for proposal in July that would be designed to deploy cost-effective, proven technologies to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from the nation's largest polluters — fossil fuel power plants and refineries.
In addition, Sections 1742 and 1743 appear to be a major assault on state and tribal grant funding to carry out these vital clean air protections.
This bill is an all-out assault on the Clean Air Act and the longstanding public health protections it has provided for 40 years.

February 18, 2011

DC Food Truck Scene

Where I've eaten so far: (Updated 2/25/2011)
Curbside Cupcakes (
http://www.curbsidecupcakes.com/)
WhereSauca (
http://www.eatsauca.com/) I am SO EXCITED to try their new Sauca Grill because everything I've had from here was excellent.
DC Slices (
http://dcslices.com/menu/) Bacon on pizza. Enough said.
Lobster Truck (http://www.redhooklobsterdc.com/) Lobster. Enough said.
CapMacDC (http://www.capmacdc.com/menu.html) Must. Eat. More. Mac n' Cheese!
Fojol Bros. (
http://fojol.com/about) --> Butter Chicken? More like BEST Chicken. Okay, right that was lame but it's so good!
TaKorean (
http://takorean.com/) Well I got sick after eating their food but I don't think
DC Pie Truck (
http://www.dangerouspies.com/)
Yellow Vendor (http://chewbrew.com/2010/08/19/yellow-vendor-love/) 2/25/2011
Sabora Street (http://www.saborastreet.com/menu) 3/2/2011 --> Their churros are without a doubt one of the best things I've ever eaten.

Where I still need to eat:
FL Meets DC (@FLmeetsDC)
Meathead Mobile Eats (@wheresthemeat)
District Taco (@districttaco)
Tasty Kabob (@TastyKabob)
Eat Wonky (@eatwonky)
PiTruckDC (@PiTruckDC)
Sub-Urban Bros (@SUBBros1)
Sweetflow Mobile (@SweetflowMobile)
Porc (@porcmobile or www.porcmobile.com)

February 15, 2011

Why we won't survive when the robots take over

I just finished watching the second episode in the Watson-Jeopardy challenge. For those of you who don't know what that is read about it here. I am absolutely flabbergasted after watching this and there are several things that completely astonished me but the two most important things are:

I) How amazing the human brain is. I think way too many people take its abilities for granted and I for one will never be one of those people. Again. I promise to never scoff at brain food. My body will eat whatever is necessary to make sure my brain is a lean, mean, thinking machine. Cheesy, yes. True...also yes.
II) I totally got final Jeopardy correct and Watson didn't.
a) Yes, that's bragging.
b) Supports roman numeral I.
c) Mostly here for bragging.

If you want something to make you think about the impending doom we're facing when the robots take over read this article from the Huffington Post. It's food for thought. And pretty funny.

Final jeopardy question from 2/15/2011's episode: Category: U.S. Cities. Question:
Its largest airport is named for a World War II hero; its second largest, for a World War II battle. Can you answer that in 30 seconds without the aid of a search engine?

I'm mostly astonished that I got final jeopardy correct and Watson didn't. Here's why he didn't.