Ever Hunter

Seeing something.
Perhaps someone.
Sizing them up.
Deciding you want it.
Pursuing.
Taking in all forms possible.
Stopping only with surrender.
With a final pause of triumph.
Glimpse to the side.
Take steps of new interest.

Go on...you know you want to.

No one wants to be told they can't make themselves happy, which is how I took the term at first. Thoughts quickly filtered into maybe I just know exactly what makes me happy, and that is the actual 'hunt'. As I sit drinking my latte in the perfect window seat, I'm able to see lots of people, all different, all approaching things from a different view. Hunters and Gatherers...Lions and Lambs...Wanters and Givers. Definitely a hunter, and last time I check that is not a bad thing.
Why settle for what comes your way, in any instance? On that note, why would you let someone make you think that 'they' are as good as it gets?! I have a friend who likes to say 'Girls are always looking to trade up'. Of course we are! We're f*ing smart. Yes, there will be a time, when every woman decides this is 'the' man. But until then, nothing and I mean nothing is holding us back, shocked? ::maybe for good reason, I mean it in the worst of ways::
Before my male readers think they are getting away with something, you are just as guilty as us. Mentally I would say you guys have the same thoughts all the time, it's the actual act that separates. Men are, for lack of a better term lazier about things like this. If a guy is just happy enough and gets just enough of his needs met chances are he will not go anywhere, he might think about it heavily, he might even cheat here and there. But to start all over, new relationship, learn a new person, too much work...besides he was happy enough before. Point being that everyone thinks about another life, perhaps a better life, I take that back most think about those things. I suppose there is a little hunter in all of us, but this term makes me think of the 'art' of the hunt. Or at least making it into an art, being so good people don't even see it coming. By that description...uh huh that's me. Watch out or don't gonna get ya anyways.
-n

Photo of Clouded Leopard, National Zoo

House Smoke and Chili

We'll not talk about the parking in this area, the U street strip is surrounded by residential properties which means parking if you are a lucky, lucky duck or you stock someone all the way to their spot ::stop laughing if you do that:: I should've called Steve tonight AA is my co-pilot, we head into the city with plans to see an old friend and maybe hear a song or two. We arrive in the U street corridor and where people are buzzing around and crowding into the many venues that line a three block radius. I don't visit here often a little too far from everything, as you know I like to hop around a bit. But there has been a request for my appearance that I would never deny.

After rounding the block a couple of times we find a spot, walking down the street there are structures in all different stages, some boarded up, some gutted, some the same for 50+ years and some brand spakin new using up ever little inch of lot they rest on. It's an interesting neighborhood, on the edge of an interesting and amazing time.

We see our guide light in the form of a red sign, that has been seen that much more often since Obamas recent visit, which is great for the already famous Bens Chili Bowl. But the old stand that is so well known among the neighborhood is not our destination tonight. We're going next door literally, to an understated entrance of Ben's sister location, Ben's Next Door. An lounge, bar, upscale version of the it's neighbor. Next Door boast over forty feet of bar length, elegant decorations, seated bar area, dining room, complete with celebrity chef Rock, you may know him from a couple season ago of Hell's Kitchen. But tonight we're in for a 'first glance' house smoke, and friends. We walk in and the bar gives quite the dramatic entrance, lining the whole right side of the space, the left side filled with hightops and chairs. It's comfortable and the crowd is a mix, just all over the place in a good way, no one could possible feel out of place with all these people here. We start with a couple of cocktails AA the Blueberry Caiprioska and I choose the Citrus District, lemoncello cocktail sounds attractive tonight. We've originally come for just a drink and a little catching up with one of Ben's grandsons and long time friend Logan, all in the family this will stay, he helps run daily and works his tootie off. From the days of seeing him behind the bar, he'd light my drinks on fire to a day when we both get to watch great futures roll out.
We stay longer than expected of course, and my stomach starts to take notice, he must've noticed the look in my eyes. Because as I reach for the menu I'm greeted with a House Smoke with Chili, I smile ear to ear of course when food is involved and dig in. An interesting note, is you are constantly greeted with the great smells of house smokes and chili, there is a rotisserie right behind the bar! It's great, worth all the talk. We have other stops in the night so we promise to return for a taste of the upscale soul food. Kisses and hugs are exchanged and we're walking down the bustling streets of dc, out night is in mid term but many night are just beginning, something I've always like about the city.

Introducing Layin' It Down

By none other than capital C

C has been quoted to say that I am a great writer, second to her only! So what better way to get to the bottom of this, than have her guest write here and there. So now introducing C in her own words to give you a little taste...a tease if you will.

Layin' It Down: Gone

I can still taste his scent,

Like it was just half past the hour.

The song of desire in my ear,

The caress of his eyes on mine,

Almost too much to take.

The painful pleasure of my heartache,

At a drummer's pace.

Seduction with barely a touch,

Drunk with less than a sip,

Trembling without cause,

He could write the tale.

Only darkness now,

Like before the very first day of first days.

Almost forgotten,

Just a vision of maybe.

A memory of something that never was,

A taste of that which was already gone.

-c

Photo of a little written word

Comfort vs Security

In a time when all the decisions are yours where do you turn?
Should you really be looking to turn in any other direction but yourself? This thought along induces a dismal thought of 'what the hell?' Why do I spend all this time giving everyone else advice, just so when I need some everyone tells me to come to the decision myself. Yes, I know everyone should make their own way in life, based off of their own choices. But maybe I just want someone to tell me what to do and have that not only be the right choice for me but the best choice in the situation. Asking for a little much? I suppose. What's the saying?...No question is a dumb question.
When faced with a choice and we're not talking about what latte to get, we're talking about life altering, shit hits the fan, crap storm, please get me outta here, I want to escape kinda decision. How do you deal?! I've gotten everything from making bullet point list, weighing the pros vs cons, ignoring until there is just not other choice, or not making it. The one that I got the most and was shocked but understanding about... Not making the choice. How many time have you heard the relationship went on two years too many? Never? Well I've heard it plenty and it's a strange thing, that is until you're living it. From what I hear it doesn't make the decision any easier, there is still a storm you have to get through and survive. Which still leaves me wondering how to deal? Personally I think it out very logically, perhaps too logically but that is the only way I know. Once I come to the decision I figure out the upside, no upside? Plan B: Ball up into the tightest ball, bury myself for as long as possible ::leave the chocolate at the end of the bed, thanks:: I never thought that I would be too logical for my own good, but if emotion is what is needed to understand both sides of the arguments, how can you trust your thoughts? Then again I feel that my need to do the best thing for everyone helps me see it for what it really is. Not so much as life altering, but more so just a pain in the ass. Decide to do it you break that security that you've built, living in a world with lack of security...welcome to the storm ::sans an umbrella..ella..ella:: Maybe it will go away? Stay in the place you know, in your comfort zone. But how long will that stay your comfort zone, when all the straws are lined up on the camels back, is comfort really waiting for that last straw? For that fight that hangs over head, anything could tip the perfectly balanced scale of love and hate.
On this subject I would take into consideration what I hold more in higher priority. Yes, I'm a creature of habit and enjoy comfort. Yes, I do value my security. More. If need be for the better of yourself, than that is the direction you should go. While we all have people we care about, people you don't want to hurt, people you don't want to leave. The decision must be 'for the better of self' no one and nothing else. Hard to say aloud, even harder to hear when you've shut yourself down. When the decisions are all but lost to you, blackout everything else and think about your number one priority in life. Yourself.

-n

Photo taken at Great Falls National Park