Parking Challenged No More

Adams Morgan?! Why? In my mind there are very few reasons to go there, a few good places to eat; Diamonds in the rough if you will, but after that nada. Besides why would I go any where I can't wear nice shoes...all of my shoes are nice. But after some persuasive text I find out the destination is a private residence, I love getting a peek of those old houses so my interest ::for the moment:: is peaked. This adventure seems fit for AA so I make the call, give a time line and the night is pushed into full swing.

Wanna be comfy in case we have to walk, warm cause it's cold like no other outside, and as always perfectly hot so the outfit choice goes to cotton dress and tall black boot complete with four inch stiletto heel ::wouldn't have it any other way:: Even with getting ready in record time, I'm already an hour behind schedule, what will be really hard to pull off is getting AA out of the house in her own record time. Run in, have a quick cocktail, pick out a cute outfit, and we're on our way.

As I make my way up eighteenth I remember why I never go higher than Florida Ave, I hate this area. Packed with young frats looking to bang anything with a hole wondering bar to bar, a main strip that takes an hour to get through and absolutely no parking. We near our destination a couple of blocks up from The Strip and I realize all the people parking and walking around us are walking all the way down to the bars. Which solidifies my thought that we are never finding a spot. After driving around a couple of times we luck out and only three blocks from the destination, I announce that we are not moving this car again for the night.

I have a double thought about my gorgeous boots as I trot up a steep hill with AA in tow already listing her complaints. We make it and are greeted by our host a Traveling Tri-Athelete, pleasantries are exchanged and as I catch a questioning side glance from him I wonder what the question brewing behind his eyes is. The thought is short and quickly replaced when a maybe not buzzed but definitely feeling good C.St walks into the room to greet us, I introduce AA and can tell that his earlier inquiry about the cuteness of my friend has been answered.

The home has been renovated to a degree clearly with a masculine eye, glory photos and pieces collected from all over the word fill every corner of the house. Each with a story TT is ready to tell at any prompt given, most of them amusing some even interesting. We share drinks, a few stories and more laughs. As everyone runs low we move to the kitchen, AA is takes a tour of the photos and somehow her detailed eye catches a small box on the counter. 'Super Macho' She repeats herself and shoots an inquiring eye to TT, before flat our asking what it is. With a laugh he explains his impulse buy and the fact that he really doesn't know what it is or what's in it or what part of it makes you Super Macho. AA opens the bottle and I see things take a terrible shift, one after the other the three of them all pop one into their mouths, swallow hard and wait to feel...what else but

Super Macho

Another drink and I have requested a tour, specifically to see the steam room addition that has been added. Tempted to take a go myself as the guys had done earlier in the night, I think better as I catch a image of my hair in the mirror ::maybe next time:: We all find ourselves in the kitchen again chatting up a storm, not sure if it was the drinks or perhaps the combination of lots of time and lots to talk about. AA and I can talk anyones head off between the two of us, it was a good pairing with our congenial companions for the night. Already knowing a bit about C.St I leave it to AA to find out anything I might have missed, I take on TT and I find like myself he can talk about anything...which made for conversations that were all over the place. From the Granite on the counters to his accused obsession with anything Asian. I double check my watch when I notice the clock reads 12:30a, earlier in the night each party expressed the need to stop by different birthday events separately at some point in the night. Well that 'some point' was now, we finish our drinks and bundle up accordingly with the freezing Jan night. Say our goodbyes on the sidewalk as a Panda watched over us and agree to meet back in two hours, logically we should be able to do that ::logically:: AA and I make it back to the car and map out our next couple of spots...I admire my nice parking spot and suggest the idea of a cab, she frowns announces her lack of cash I shrug and start to get in the car. Just then a Black Town car pulls up behind us, the driver gets out and opens the trunk to receive his cab sign. I ask the obvious, Are you a cab? then the next valuable piece needed, Do you take credit? With yes and yes answers AA and I hop into our the car, that is after bargaining the price of our destination a little. We fill the cab with small talk...well as 'small' as talk can get with two girls that have been drinking for a while can get. Almost half-way there and we change the first destination for one closer, Current is on the way and friends are set up on a table...why not. As I get ready to pay, sadness comes to me when I think that we are getting out of a nice cushy ride until the a thought pops into my head and out of my mouth. What's your number? We can call you when we're ready to go to the next place. He looks to me and I feel it's not going to happen, until he smiles and produces a card with his info on it. 'Call me when you are ready.' I get out of the car and thank Steve with a waive goodbye.

It's cold so I'm happy to see that we won't be waiting in any lines, a kiss on the cheek and we're inside at the bar for a quick shot. Soon after we find our friends a quick sit and see what else is on the agenda for them tonight. Nothing very exciting seems everyone is having a quite weekend after the debacle of a week last week was. We dance, meet a few new people, and have a drink. Saying our goodbyes we inform that we have to get to a birthday in China town. I call Steve and he's there in less than the suggested fifteen minutes. He pulls right up to the curb and we plan the next spot...destination Muse. A very Asian inspired Lounge and Club in the ever growing Penn Quarter. As we settle into the warmth of the car I notice Steve our Mediterranean driver is listening to Country music, I ask if this is always what he listed to. His simple response is 'Would you rather the rap ?' Perhaps poking a little fun at my upfront question, I smile and answer what ever you like, I like Steve...this is great.

Muse Lounge has taken over the old Coyote Ugly building with renovations turning the whole corner into a new place. With three floors, there is a place for everyone. The first has a large bar and dance floor, the Second and Third levels are more geared toward table seating and smaller dance areas. Any given day different djs with different genres will be on each level. After running into friends on the first floor and grabbing a quick drink with them, we find our party on the Third floor. It's late in the night and this party has been going for a while so the general look of the group is super buzzed fun. The birthday girl however is complete wasted, hate to be any where near her projectile vomit later on tonight, kind of fun. Some times nights start to feel like doing the dishes (wash, rinse, dry...repeat) We dance, meet a few new people and have a drink. C.St is looking for me but doesn't want to meet us at our current location, instead wants to come to him. In the confusion of text the plans get changed and I wonder how clear headed the once 'feeling quite good' C.St really is, have he and TT gotten to past the buzzed point not unlike AA? I call Steve and suppose the rest we'll just have to find out.
We get to K Street and find the C.St and TT have separated at some unknown point in the night, I can hardly get an answer out of C.St between his pursuit of a girl that has caught his fancy and AA running to the restroom, I decide I am done. Even as the driver has just dropped us off, I am calling him to come back. With the last patient bone in my body I offer C.St to catch a ride with us, he doesn't seem too worried and I don't have the energy to do any convincing, beside I have AA to worry about and that is quite enough for me. I gather up mine, and we leave without goodbyes. Outside a fav staff person points out our car in the slue of people trying to get cabs, a kiss on the cheek and we're swept away. I lean back take a look at AA who is fading in and out of sleep and take a big breath, then my phone rings. We're already over half way there and it's just too far to turn around...as my phone continues to ring I make the mistake of answering. It's always impossible to talk with a wasted person, and that's all I have to say about that. The night ends with AA snuggled under the covers and I giggle to myself as AA ask me to cuddle with her and keep her warm. ::Why not...this must just have been one of those nights::

In the early afternoon, I cancel Brunch plans, then lunch plans and finally get out of bed long enough to send a text to everyone from the night.
How ya doing soldiers?
The response is the same across the board...hurting. Seems terrible but I get a laugh out of it and think next time we'll all know better ::not::

-n

Photo of DC Pandas before being actioned off to private parties.

Inaugural Survival Kit

Four hundred plus person event...check

Four inch heels...check

Rockin dress to show off the rockin body...check

Glass of Champagne glued to hand...check

Okay so not really a survival kit, but its the way I survived yesterday. The day was great millions of people lined up for miles in the freezing cold, waiving flags and witnessing history. After questioning our cities ability to keep up with all these people I am happy to say that we were more than ready. The snag of the day would have to be the metro, and that was really to be expected. I think it's nice that everyone took the metro, but am also happy that it's not like that all the time.

The week has been filled with endless parties and a constant parade of endless celebrities ::quite the show:: Catching up with local friends, I ask how everyone fared through Inauguration. Most common response, Glad the city is back.

Yes, our city is back...but never the same.

-n

Count Down to Obamanation

This will always be Martin Luther King, Jr Day and no matter what is going on it will always keep it's importance and place in my heart. Here in this city today as we take a moment to thank our lucky stars for what's been done for us and what we'll be able to do to make it even better for our kids there is a collective breath being held. All over town I hear the same comment from residents and visitors alike.

The city has never had this kind of buzz about it, feels like we're in New York.

Boy, is that the case! Tomorrow we are expecting 2 million plus people to pack on the very same grass we play kickball on. Even though this is the only story the news has covered for the last year, the vastness of what we get to witness first hand is amazing. We got a sneak peek yesterday as a Star-studded concert was preformed for a 500k plus audience and yes all survived. While I look forward to the festivities of tomorrow, I would be lying if I said I wasn't waiting for it all to be over with.

This political power house of a city has all but shut down, if you make it in by deadline today good luck getting to the ceremony. Don't make it in today? You've got until about 5am tomorrow, but if a bridge is your plan, turn around and go home because they are all shut down the list of walkable bridges is very slim to top that off. As I said the city and people are buzzing, with excitement, concern, dis-belief, hope, pride and happiness for many. People from the A-list to the Z-list role in fill every last hotel room all to freeze their keesters off and witness.

As I drive through the city hearing sirens in every directions, see police on every facet of transportation, and read license plates from all over the country I can't help but wonder. Is our great city ready for all this? Tomorrow and after we'll be changing not just us but the whole country and letting out that big breath we've all been holding since election day. I am comforted as I drive past a bus stop that has been plastered with stickers all saying the same thing

Yes we can.-n

Photo taken at the Lincoln Memorial

Parched and Craving

Opening a bottle of wine and turning on the tv for some noise, the travel channel is on. How I love the travel channel bringing me to all the places I long to visit. Awaiting a girlfriend to come over I pour a second glass of wine ::this one is better a little more open:: She catches me on the way home from work, which is my calm time after the storm and not the best time to call me. But I catch the bewildered tone in her voice and invite her over for some dinner. After being happily greeted by my two furry babies, she flops down on the couch next to me takes the glass I've extended to her and takes a look at the tv. Out of nowhere she announces

'That desert is wetter than I've been in months.'

Problem revealed and I didn't have to do any digging ::saves a lot of time:: I can't help but break into laughter, she gives me a serious look then giggles at herself. She is a classic case of Dry Spell, but what is the dry spell from? Sex, Relationships or something else. I agree that everyone needs to be intimacy. A time just comes when you want to be touched, you crave to be held, kissed...wanted. But you can have sex and not really get any of those things...which leaves a line. The people who think not having sex is a problem and people who rather wait for something more worth while, thus resulting with not having a problem with it. Back to the point of sex without intimacy and in the same breath intimacy without sex. My close friends can provide an intimacy and comfort that certain loves just can't, but I suppose the key word is comfort because perhaps what my dry spells are from is a little comfort. Back to the ball of pent up emotions on my couch... I do the math of the last time she dated one person seriously and the last time she had sex... and come up with the question, what are you missing? She looks at me eyes blank

'Sex, I'm missing sex.'

Now we know what side of the equation she falls on. What about that guy you talked about non-stop last week? 'Ugh, no he was all about himself and no one else, plus not that hot.' Well maybe you should be a little more picky. Now she gives me an are you out of your mind look, 'If I'm any more picky I won't be getting laid for the rest of my life.' Then it comes to me maybe she's being the wrong kind of picky... Just because a guy is a good sweet talker upon first meet does not mean he'll go the distance. She will frequently choose the sweet talker over an interesting guy any day ::to each her own:: I like puzzles, but most of my girlfriends don't. Anything that can keep my attention for longer than the weekend is fun for me, but if I meet you on Friday and by Saturday you've blown me up so much 'desperation' shows up on my phone instead of your name...we have a problem, take that back you have a problem. Maybe you're interested in the wrong guys. 'Of course I am, but all the so called right guys are soo boring.' I make the note that I haven't see her very often lately, she explains that she's been going on as many dates as possible. She frowns at my suggestion that she should take a break from the serial dating and figure out what she wants. She argues, and I end with a simple direction of Spend more time with friends.

There will come a time for most when you will have that person for a little while or for a long time, when there is a mutual feeling of 'Us against the world' but until then as you walk through a seemingly endless desert with not even a mirage to distract you, there is a comforting thought.

Life with great friendships is your lake complete with shady tree in the desert.

-n

Photo taken at the WWII Memorial