DC

Escalating tensions

/ josephpatrickrichards / Leave a comment

1 August 2011

After a long day at work involving a trip into Alexandria to meet a volunteer, I am home. I ate Ramen noodles and GF and I watched Sex and the City on E!. Hooray.

If you, dear reader, live in the DC metro area then you know the agony that is Metrorail. Here is my impression of a conversation with Metrorail.

Me- Hello Metrorail. How are you?

Metrorail- That will be $2.20 each way for your trip to work in the morning.

Me- Yikes. That seems steep, but I think it is worth it for such a highly functioning Metro system.

Metrorail- Oh. About that. Actually, If you try to catch me at anytime outside of the 6-9 AM timeframe, then you will be waiting at least 13 minutes for each train, if not 20 minutes or more.

Me- Yeah, but that’s fine for such a cheap price. At least it is a clean and comfortable ride since you have all those signs and strict policies against eating and drinking in the Metrorail system.

Metrorail- Actually, unlike our New York counterpart, we have disgusting carpet and seat cushions that hold non-existent-deity-knows-what in them. At various points, riders have found Ebola, toothpicks, tater tots, king crabs and toxic waste blinding them while heightening all their other senses and giving them radar-like abilities: all within the cushions of our seats.

Me- Ick.

Metrorail- Not to mention all the cars that don’t have air conditioning.

Me- I think I’m leaving now.

Metrorail- Ah. But that is the best of all. You see, at any given point every elevator and escalator in the entire system will be down. In fact, it would be easier to count the number of operational lifts and diagonal people movers.

Me- [No sound except the buzz of radioactive tater tots.]

Escalator repair or Indiana Jones mine adventure?

Into the abyss

The Replacements (Let It Be?)

GF ventures into the unknown.

Safety first. Second? Eighth? Anywhere?

Next stop rejuvenation?

Sunday is coffee cake day Charlie Brown

/ josephpatrickrichards / Leave a comment

24 July 2011

In February or March of 2010, I was on my way out of Salt Lake City. I left my job at Planned Parenthood Action Council and took up a temporary position at the Tracy Aviary. I knew I was on my way out of the city in my move back east, but I still had no specific clue as to how my life would look.

So, GF’s parents were kind enough to let me stay with them for a while prior to my transition from the West to DC.

I have many great memories of that time. First of all, I was not working (which hurts a little bit now on the financial front), but I did get the chance to relax, watch television, play video games and simply sit and speak with GF’s family. I remember feeling safe and at home in such a welcoming family environment.

While I had the opportunity to eat many tasty food dishes, one of my favorites was GF’s dad’s coffee cake.

Today, we brought that tradition to our neck of the woods.

After a quick phone call to Utah to clarify some instructions, I took to whipping up my first attempt at the dish. I think it turned out quite well, mainly due to GF eating more than one piece. The best compliment.

Out of the oven and on the stove to cool.

Corner piece with home-made coffee mug from AJ.

I was quite pleased with the dish as well, especially when paired with fresh coffee in a mug GF’s brother made in pottery class. The combination is what I love most about Sundays. Sitting around with homemade breakfast and fresh coffee, while watching television or simply talking about life with a close friend.