Song of the moment: Shaun Escoffrey - "Give Everything"

Adventures in DC
(March 8 - 9)

The title is not to be confused with this, but refers to my two day, one night stay in Washington, D,C.,Our "morally ambiguous capital".

For the past year, I have had an itch to do more with my twenties than just erraticlaly pout over what i have not yet accomplished. Hence my trips to my birthplace (Montreal), Atlanta, and finally D.C. -- this past weekend. I had felt confident to drag my 1990 Toyota Camry through the 4 hour + drive to our nation's capitol aftre my previous two drive to New Haven, CT.

To those who love road trips... I have no idea how you do it. Two hours is enough for me. And the tolls... wow! Thankfully, i had a willing last-minute passenger to ride shotgun with moi and we were off from Jersey City, Saturday morning. Over four hours later, I got a geography lesson on how long it would take me to get to Philadelphia, Maryland/Balitimore, Delaware and VA, from NY.

In D.C., our first stop was my host's home, which was a large sprawling house that she shares with three other roommates (yep three). My partner parted, heading towards family, while my friend attempted to give me a tour of some D.C. areas. Needless to say, her 6-month stint as a D.C. resident showed and she admitted it. But twas fun. I was in the middle of the capitol. The ultimate phallic symbol was in sight -- Washington Monument. Capitol Hill; Smithsonian (which is basically a collective of buildings representing different museums); and white non-profit twenty something activists. Of course, i took pictures of everything. Here's hoping i had a better time with my new macro lens this time.

My friend took me through her neighborhood, which has a large El Salvadorian population; Howard Universities surround neighborhood, which felt a little dismal compared to other black "ghetto" areas, maybe because it wasn't gentrified yet. Popeyes, liquor stores, you name it. Anyhow, we then traveled through the "boho" section, the strip filled with lots of Ethopian restaurants, and finally a road full of foreign embassies.

At her home i taught her how to play UNO, which she promptly beat me three times in. I pretty much blame he Russian vodka I was downing, for my lost. Later, we met "bonamie" and her freiend and hit the club strip, Adam's Morgan, which was packed with lots of young Caucasian folk on long lines. On my suggestion, we ended up at a Top 40 hip-hop/R&B spot and danced the night away.

------And damn the streets in D.C. New York Ave. NW is not connected to New York Ave. NE. The hell. And parallel roads are not plentiful there. Look at me, my NY elitism is getting the better of me.----

Sunday was our last hurrah. Sunday Brunch at a place called Jasper's. Chating with my friend's roommates. Then Our long trip home. It felt so much longer coming back, because we left in the evening. As we approached Jersey City, I thanked the Creator (whoever that may be) for getting us back in one piece and for my car no breaking down at all.

Next time, I must leave the country.