So, I had a lovely week and a half in the US, and lots of time spent on the DC Metro and Metrobus. All in all, the tube still kicks the crap out of the metro, but the metro isn't as bad as I thought. The major difference is in how many trains they have running. On the tube it is the exception, rather than the rule, that you would have to wait more than 5 minutes for the next train. Same thing goes for buses.
Anyway, my first real annoyance is with myself, not the metro. I'm upset that I didn't look into public transportation when we lived in Ballston. On average I would have made it to the office in about 30 minutes. Obviously some days it might be much shorter, or some days longer if I just miss the bus, but overall I think 30 minutes is a pretty good estimate. Considering that on a really good day, I could drive the same route in about 20 minutes, but that on a bad day it might take me 45 minutes to an hour (especially in the evening), it would have been pretty easy to metro/bus it in to work.
Now, that was my first thought on the first few days I was riding the bus. Then came Thursday, when I just missed the train coming home at West Falls Church, ended up standing around while THREE(!!!) "No Passenger" trains went by, and ended up taking over an hour and a half to get to my Dad's house. So obviously, there are some downsides.
My only other really exciting adventure in public transit I had was first thing on Monday morning when my bus smashed in the side view mirror of the truck in the next lane over. Gotta love those top-notch MetroBus drivers.
30 October 2007
29 October 2007
Updates
Whoops. I seem to be quite good at letting weeks go by without updating the blog. My mistake.
Some ramblings on my week and a half in the US to follow, but for now some excellent news updates.
Well, there's only one update really, and it's that Laura is coming to the UK! We bought a one-way ticket last weekend and she'll be joining me in jolly ol' England in a week and a half!
I'm very excited about not being half a world apart anymore. Not only that, but now we can start exploring London and the rest of Europe... hooray!
The only downside is that I'll have to retrain myself to not leave the toilet seat up. But that's a sacrifice I'm very willing to make.
Some ramblings on my week and a half in the US to follow, but for now some excellent news updates.
Well, there's only one update really, and it's that Laura is coming to the UK! We bought a one-way ticket last weekend and she'll be joining me in jolly ol' England in a week and a half!
I'm very excited about not being half a world apart anymore. Not only that, but now we can start exploring London and the rest of Europe... hooray!
The only downside is that I'll have to retrain myself to not leave the toilet seat up. But that's a sacrifice I'm very willing to make.
15 October 2007
Born in the USA...
... well, actually, I was born in Germany.
However, I am in the USA now. I'll be here for a little over a week. In DC at work this week, then back home for a long weekend.
So far everyone is disappointed that I don't speak with an accent. Give it some time, I'm sure by the end of my UK tenure I'll be rapping British-speak with the best of them.
Along those lines, here's some more English-to-English translations for you:
ta = thank you
"Here's that report you wanted" "Ta"
(I guess it's shorthand or something, but getting an email that contains only "ta" in it is still very strange)
kit = equipment, clothes, accessories
"I'm biking after work, so I brought my cycling kit with me"
(here 'cycling kit' could mean jersey, spandex shorts, bike, shoes, or basically anything at all)
However, I am in the USA now. I'll be here for a little over a week. In DC at work this week, then back home for a long weekend.
So far everyone is disappointed that I don't speak with an accent. Give it some time, I'm sure by the end of my UK tenure I'll be rapping British-speak with the best of them.
Along those lines, here's some more English-to-English translations for you:
ta = thank you
"Here's that report you wanted" "Ta"
(I guess it's shorthand or something, but getting an email that contains only "ta" in it is still very strange)
kit = equipment, clothes, accessories
"I'm biking after work, so I brought my cycling kit with me"
(here 'cycling kit' could mean jersey, spandex shorts, bike, shoes, or basically anything at all)
10 October 2007
A Lemon Wedge?
Okay, this is the craziest thing I've seen in quite a while, and I thought I'd share.
I was eating lunch yesterday in the cafeteria and a man and woman sat at the table next to me. They were ordinary enough, so I continued to eat my lunch without really noticing them.
Then, I looked over because the woman seemed to be struggling with her meal. She had a fillet of fish (which was apparently grilled salmon). Next to her fish was a more or less ordinary lemon wedge. The problem she was having was that her butter knife wasn't sharp enough to cut off a piece of the lemon wedge.
Let me explain this with a little more detail. She was trying to cut about 1/4 of her lemon wedge off with a knife and fork. Not just the juicy part, but through the peel.
My first thought was that I'd discovered the most proper dinner guest in the world. The I'm-about-to-cut-up-my-Snickers-bar kind of proper that they make fun of in popular TV shows. It seemed like she was actually about to squeeze out a portion of her lemon onto her fish without actually touching it with her hands. Crazy!
But wait, there's more...
She finally gave up with the knife and fork, realizing that the lemon's rind was apparently impenetrable. She then swooped in to pick up the wedge like any normal person. Phew. I was relieved that I was sitting next to an actual human and not some dining robot.
And then... she took a bite.
Now, I realize that some people like sour foods. I'm totally comfortable with that. If you want to eat a lemon as you might an orange, go right ahead. But that's not what she did. She took a bite out of it like it was a hotdog (minus the bun). Obviously her knife had failed to slice through the lemon's pithy peel, but her teeth were doing a fine job.
I have no explanation for why anyone would decide to eat a chunk of a lemon wedge, rind and all, but I realized that I might be staring at some sort of pure evil in human form, so I picked up my tray and ran out of there.
Now, I'm not trying to judge her based completely on a 30 second encounter with a lemon wedge. Maybe she's from a lemon-eating part of the globe, I don't know. Does anybody know where in the world people eat whole lemons?
I'm at a complete loss for what happened, so I just thought I'd share it with you. Also, I'll be in the US in 2 days.
I was eating lunch yesterday in the cafeteria and a man and woman sat at the table next to me. They were ordinary enough, so I continued to eat my lunch without really noticing them.
Then, I looked over because the woman seemed to be struggling with her meal. She had a fillet of fish (which was apparently grilled salmon). Next to her fish was a more or less ordinary lemon wedge. The problem she was having was that her butter knife wasn't sharp enough to cut off a piece of the lemon wedge.
Let me explain this with a little more detail. She was trying to cut about 1/4 of her lemon wedge off with a knife and fork. Not just the juicy part, but through the peel.
My first thought was that I'd discovered the most proper dinner guest in the world. The I'm-about-to-cut-up-my-Snickers-bar kind of proper that they make fun of in popular TV shows. It seemed like she was actually about to squeeze out a portion of her lemon onto her fish without actually touching it with her hands. Crazy!
But wait, there's more...
She finally gave up with the knife and fork, realizing that the lemon's rind was apparently impenetrable. She then swooped in to pick up the wedge like any normal person. Phew. I was relieved that I was sitting next to an actual human and not some dining robot.
And then... she took a bite.
Now, I realize that some people like sour foods. I'm totally comfortable with that. If you want to eat a lemon as you might an orange, go right ahead. But that's not what she did. She took a bite out of it like it was a hotdog (minus the bun). Obviously her knife had failed to slice through the lemon's pithy peel, but her teeth were doing a fine job.
I have no explanation for why anyone would decide to eat a chunk of a lemon wedge, rind and all, but I realized that I might be staring at some sort of pure evil in human form, so I picked up my tray and ran out of there.
Now, I'm not trying to judge her based completely on a 30 second encounter with a lemon wedge. Maybe she's from a lemon-eating part of the globe, I don't know. Does anybody know where in the world people eat whole lemons?
I'm at a complete loss for what happened, so I just thought I'd share it with you. Also, I'll be in the US in 2 days.
08 October 2007
Coming To America
I'm leaving on Saturday (13 Oct) to head back to the US for a week and a half. My reasons for coming back are primarily work related (especially since they're footing the bill for the plane ticket and all), but I might be able to squeeze a few hours for social visits... at the bar... every night...
My plan thus far is to be in DC for about a week, then I'm heading back home for a long weekend, then back up to DC for a day or two and on Wednesday I'll head back to the UK.
Unless I pick up a new sim card this week, I probably won't have a mobile phone that works, so, let's all just plan on meeting at Carpool around 7 pm. And yes, I didn't specify a day for a reason.
More info to follow.
My plan thus far is to be in DC for about a week, then I'm heading back home for a long weekend, then back up to DC for a day or two and on Wednesday I'll head back to the UK.
Unless I pick up a new sim card this week, I probably won't have a mobile phone that works, so, let's all just plan on meeting at Carpool around 7 pm. And yes, I didn't specify a day for a reason.
More info to follow.
04 October 2007
Seriously, People Are Weird
Okay, so I have been quite absent lately. My apologies. I had a great week with Dad visiting the city and was a little preoccupied (with drinking). Oh yeah, and that whole job thing, that also tends to keep me busy.
Anyway, I'd like to use this opportunity to comment on how strange people are through a couple of anecdotes.
I was getting into the elevator at the office a while ago after just purchasing a soda from the downstairs coffee bar. I had opened the can of Diet Coke (gotta watch that waistline) as a lady was getting onto the lift. She opened up conversation with this little gem, "You don't drink soda from the can do you?" I gave her a puzzled look as I brought the can to my lips and took a sip. She continued her enlightening conversation with, "Do you know how much rat poop is on that lid?" I think I tried to comeback with "delicious" or something like that, but she had reached her floor and got off.
Seriously though, is it necessary to strike up a conversation that at any point references "rat poop"? I'm not sure what Dear Abby would say, but I think it's a little ridonkulous. Let me drink my rat poop in peace lady, c'mon.
Another little tidbit of the human species that I really don't understand is the need for men to remove belts, unbutton, or otherwise take off their pants while standing at a urinal. That's why they invented the zipper thousands of years ago, so the cavemen could pee standing up and not moon the saber-tooth tigers, duh. Even with a button-fly it's easy enough not to become undressed while visiting the loo. I really just don't understand what's going on there. And more to the point, I'd rather not understand it, I just wish it would go away.
In light of my vocabulary changing to be more British the longer I'm here (notice 'lift' and 'loo' above), I've decided to add some English-to-English Translations to the blog. You should read up on these so you can fit in more when you come to visit me. Here's your first installment:
Diary = Calendar/Planner
"I'm not sure if I can meet then, I'll have to check my diary"
(and no, people who say this are not also 12 year old girls)
Half seven = 7:30 (or any other o'clock)
"I'll meet you at the pub at half 6"
(and make sure to say 'half' more like 'hof', you'll sound more pretentious that way)
Do = Gathering (or something, I haven't really figured this one out)
"We're having a leaving do for Tom's retirement next week"
"Can you make it for my birthday do this evening?"
(seriously, I don't get this at all)
Could Do = Yes
"Hey Jim, can you finish that report by 5?" "I could do"
(as opposed the the actual meaning of 'i might, let me consider it for a moment', crazy Brits)
Alright, that's enough for now. More to follow soon enough.
Anyway, I'd like to use this opportunity to comment on how strange people are through a couple of anecdotes.
I was getting into the elevator at the office a while ago after just purchasing a soda from the downstairs coffee bar. I had opened the can of Diet Coke (gotta watch that waistline) as a lady was getting onto the lift. She opened up conversation with this little gem, "You don't drink soda from the can do you?" I gave her a puzzled look as I brought the can to my lips and took a sip. She continued her enlightening conversation with, "Do you know how much rat poop is on that lid?" I think I tried to comeback with "delicious" or something like that, but she had reached her floor and got off.
Seriously though, is it necessary to strike up a conversation that at any point references "rat poop"? I'm not sure what Dear Abby would say, but I think it's a little ridonkulous. Let me drink my rat poop in peace lady, c'mon.
Another little tidbit of the human species that I really don't understand is the need for men to remove belts, unbutton, or otherwise take off their pants while standing at a urinal. That's why they invented the zipper thousands of years ago, so the cavemen could pee standing up and not moon the saber-tooth tigers, duh. Even with a button-fly it's easy enough not to become undressed while visiting the loo. I really just don't understand what's going on there. And more to the point, I'd rather not understand it, I just wish it would go away.
In light of my vocabulary changing to be more British the longer I'm here (notice 'lift' and 'loo' above), I've decided to add some English-to-English Translations to the blog. You should read up on these so you can fit in more when you come to visit me. Here's your first installment:
Diary = Calendar/Planner
"I'm not sure if I can meet then, I'll have to check my diary"
(and no, people who say this are not also 12 year old girls)
Half seven = 7:30 (or any other o'clock)
"I'll meet you at the pub at half 6"
(and make sure to say 'half' more like 'hof', you'll sound more pretentious that way)
Do = Gathering (or something, I haven't really figured this one out)
"We're having a leaving do for Tom's retirement next week"
"Can you make it for my birthday do this evening?"
(seriously, I don't get this at all)
Could Do = Yes
"Hey Jim, can you finish that report by 5?" "I could do"
(as opposed the the actual meaning of 'i might, let me consider it for a moment', crazy Brits)
Alright, that's enough for now. More to follow soon enough.
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