Two weeks ago we caught a bus down to D.C.(after Elizabeth worked all night) to spend the weekend with Patrick, Karen, and Annie(it was Annie's 3rd birthday). It was our first time out of the city since my return. We were pretty excited to not only get out of the city, but to also get to spend some time with the family. Its a long bus ride down there, about 5 hours and not much to see. We arrived in the city just in time for Karen to meet up with as she was getting off work. Went back to there place, the last weekend they will be living there as they have just purchased a house in Arlington, got ready and jumped in the car to go meet up with Annie and her nanny at the swimming pool. After the pool we head back to their condo to meet up with Patrick and go out to dinner. Went to a great pizza place and had some good beer. The next day we had the opportunity to go to Annie soccer practice, pretty entertaining to see the coach and parents try to keep half a dozen three year-olds focused and involved in the practice Pretty sure one kid just sat in the grass the entire time, until the picture, then he was interested. Annie was far and away the most skilled and helpful of them all. We spent the balance of the day hanging out, checked out where Elizabeth used to live, and the Georgetown area. We stayed that night and the next in a nice bed and breakfast that was just around the block from Patrick and Karen's place. On Sunday we celebrated Annie's birthday and enjoyed some more time with the family. Monday morning we headed back on the bus and Elizabeth was fortunate enough to get to work that night. In Elizabeth's name change experience we have also had the opportunity to spend a morning at the Harlem DMV office. While not as bad as one might expect, the adventure afforded me the opportunity to further witness public restroom etiquette in the city. As Elizabeth stood in numerous lines with a least another two hundred people I found a nice sunny spot in the hallway with significantly less people around. In this hallway were the only restrooms available to the public, a single occupancy each men and women s restroom. First off, there was no indication on the door whether or not the restrooms were occupied, therefore everyone who came along had to grab the handle to find out. Second, more often then not there was a line formed. At one particular time a small statured man came along and grabbed the handle, to no avail, it was occupied. He started the line, after a moment or so he knocked, and waited. A few moments later he knocked again, and waited. After a short time more, just as a couple came along, he figured maybe kicking the door would alert the occupant that there were other customers. The couple that had walked up, joined the line, and within less that a minute the lady took it upon herself to begin knocking on the door, this is the men's restroom I remind you. As she knocked she also communicated that 'there is a long line out here, other people need to use the bathroom'. Eventually they grabbed a security guard to unlock the door, they were convinced there was nobody in there. I will say at this point I was distracted so I missed whether or not there really was somebody in there, but I can't see how it would get locked otherwise. Needless to say, in this town even if you are on the toilet you receive no common courtesy, or privacy! Other than that we have continued to explore the city, show up to museum houses to late to tour them, and endeavor in our search for a location in this city that doesn't smell like urine, garbage, or cigarette smoke. Stay tuned, we head to the Jersey Shore for Labor Day weekend, I have high hopes to witness some spectacular material for blogging purposes.
Voices from the streets:
One woman speaking at(and I do mean 'at' not 'to') another woman, just as we walk by
'We were an enslaved people, we still an enslaved people. Do you understand that?'
Woman speaking notices us, and continues...
'You think you are supposed to act like those white people.'
Evidently, to her walking down the street eating frozen yogurt is only for white people'
I was too lost in trying to comprehend her very intelligent comment, otherwise we would have lingered to see how much more knowledge we could have acquired from such a philosopher.
The Perrys in D.C., I think George Washington crossed the river here.
Bell peppers stuffed with chicken and rice, topped with pepper jack cheese, side of garlic toast, and a side of beer. (Every good house husband needs to provide a delicious meal for his sugar mama)
