Just Another Day on the Job.

Today, I learned that my company is officially restructuring and that my group may cease to exist, at least in the form into which I was hired. Oh Joy!

 

Photo Source: http://completelytotallymadly.blogspot.com/2011/09/oh-monday.html

My New Favorite Band.

Just as Andrei promised (er, threatened) the title for this post has in fact become true.

One of the most exciting aspects of being home is having the chance to see some of long time favorite bands live. Orkkervil River kicked off a great fall season of live music for us, on our cotton anniversary in Richmond. Felice Brothers rocked out at the long time favorite venue, Black Cat this past Wednesday. And Bonnie Prince Billy will surely put on an unforgettable show at the Birchmere this Sunday. Tickets are still available - come one, come all!

In the mean time, here is a shout out to a good friend who was the first on the welcome band wagon for our arrival into DC. O, Dana.

Vegan Delight.

As seen at the Mount Pleasant Latino Festival.

Loneliness in a Cup.

As seen in our new favorite bar.

Transitioning out of Transition.

Amidst transcontinental and major life changes, this question seems timely.

Source:
http://2bydesign.blogspot.com/2011/09/waddup-yo.html

MuralsDC Project.

How cool is this?!

The MuralsDC project is a program created by DC Councilmember Jim Graham as an effort to replace illegal graffiti with artistic works to revitalize sites within the community and to teach young people the art of aerosol painting. The goal of this initiative is to positively engage the District's youth by teaching proper art techniques, providing supplies, and a legal means to practice and perform their skill in a way that promotes respect for public and private property and community awareness. Site selection was based on areas of the District with high incidence of illegal graffiti as identified by the Department of Public Works and other agencies. Each mural reflects the character, culture, and history of the neighborhoods in the District and interests from business/residence owners.

Check out some before and after pictures:

“Cultivating The Rebirth” Bruce Monroe Park, Columbia Rd. NW off corner of Georgia Ave. (Ward 1)

Lead Artist: Joel Bergner with youth from Latin American Youth Center’s summer program at Roosevelt H.S.

cell phone tour: dial (202) 292-2565, when prompted dial stop no. 2 to hear more about this piece.

“DC 500″ 1208 9th Street NW (ward 2)

Produced by Words, Beats & Life Inc., Lead Artist: Coby Kennedy

cell phone tour: dial (202) 292-2565, when prompted dial stop no. 4 to hear more about this piece.

“Greetings From Deanwood” 4748 Sheriff Rd. NE (Ward 7)

Produced by Words Beats & Life, Lead Artists: Juan Pineda

cell phone tour: dial (202) 292-2565, when prompted dial stop no. 1 to hear more about this piece.

“Changing Gears” Metropolitan Branch Trail NE DC near New York Ave. (ward 5)

Produced by The Midnight Forum, Inc. w/ Street Artists Workshop, Lead Artist: Asad Walker

cell phone tour: dial (202) 292-2565, when prompted dial stop no. 3 to hear more about this piece.

“Sousa’s New Marine Band” 1432 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (Ward 6)

Produced by Albus Cavus, Lead Artists: Decoy

cell phone tour: dial (202) 292-2565, when prompted dial stop no. 5 to hear more about this piece.

“Explore & Learn” Malcolm X Elementary School, 1351 Alabama Ave. SE

Produced by Albus Cavus, Lead Artists: Peter Krsko, Jazirock, Michael Pinnix

cell phone tour: dial (202) 292-2565, when prompted dial stop no. 6 to hear more about this piece.

and one more mural is coming to our neighborhood this fall. be on the look out around mid-November

Safeway grocery store, 1747 Columbia Rd. NW, alley side (ward 1)

“Building Together” 1747 Columbia Rd NW (alley way) (Ward 1)

produced by The Midnight Forum, Inc., Lead Artist: Aniekan Udofia

cell phone tour: dial (202) 292-2565, when prompted dial stop no. 7 to hear more about this piece.

Donkey.

with a Side of Baby Goat.

Unfortunately my current commute to work does not include a side of baby goat. Alas. Baby Goats are so cute and bouncy.

On a somewhat related note, if anyone is ever lucky enough to find themselves adventuring in British Columbia. I highly recommend a pitstop @ Goats on the Roof, otherwise known as Coombs Country Market.

Also, I tasted goat cheese for the first time in a long long while this past weekend, compliments of the Cherry Glen Farm at the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market. It made me a believer. Swing by our 'hood next weekend and see for yourself. I promise it will not disappoint. For those a wee skeptical, the bacon truly will knock your socks off.
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Source: http://www.isuwannee.com/2011/09/donkey-of-day.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ISuwannee+%28i+suwannee%29

Housing Search.

Our DC housing search has begun in earnest. And we have met many characters along the way. The considerations have been many - which neighborhood? what price point? year long lease? short term? hotel? roommates? But it was not until we came across this advert that these debatable questions got tipped in a very definitive direction.

As found on craigslist, the authoritative source of housing searches:

$1000 Best. Roommate. Ever.

Konichiwa bitches. Are you looking for the most kick-ass fucking roommate that ever lived? If so, look no further. You fucking found him. I'm a 25-year-old professional marking agent with experience at bad-ass companies like AOL and FORBES FUCKING MAGAZINE. That's right! What you know about experience? I graduated from Auburn University in Alabama, and moved to NYC at a ripe, tender age of 22. After deciding that New York was a stinky shit-hole, I moved back to Alabama to cultivate a more professional experience. Why? So I can make millions of dollars and not have to post shit like this on Craigslist.


Anyway, so I landed a job with a marketing firm in Boston, and I have no fucking clue where to live. My office is located in Cambridge, so I guess I want something in that area. Honestly, I'm moving there in 3 weeks, so I don't give a shit if I have to sleep in your bathtub.


A bit about me: I'm respectful, quiet, clean and I won't bother any of your shit. If you leave shit out, I'm just like, "Oh fuck I better not mess with this shit, because it's not mine." I turn off lights. I clean toilets. Fuck it. I'll even cook for you. That's right! My dad is a chef and taught me everything there is to know about cooking southern cajum cuisine. I'll fry green tomatoes, cover them with marinated crab meat and smother that shit in bearnaise. EVERY. GODDAMN. NIGHT. Don't eat meat? That's fucking FANTASTIC! I'll make a zucchini and yellow squash carpaccio that will knock your fucking socks off.

I also read a lot. I fucking LOVE books. Vonnegut, Palahniuk, Hawthorne. All that shit. I read Tuesday's with Morrie the other day. It's a sad story, but I learned something about life, love, knowledge and the pursuit of something greater than myself. Fucking smart. Do you like movies? I fucking love them. We can watch the shit out of some movies together if you like, or go get drinks, or work out, hike, play video games or play a game of one-on-one basketball, or I don't have to talk to you at all. It's completely UP TO YOU!

Sometimes I play guitar. Are you going to love getting baked and listening to Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd? LIVE? WHENEVER THE FUCK YOU WANT? Of course you are! I'll take requests and learn any song you like, because I have the voice of an angel and the acoustical stylings of James Fucking Taylor. AWWWWWWWW SHIT YEA!

A lot of people ask me, "Hey, you're from Alabama. Are you racist?" And, the answer to that question is, no. I'm not racist or judgmental at all. I love everyone. I'm a secular humanist. I FUCKING LOVE PEOPLE. That's the only requirement to being a secular humanist actually. You have to like other human beings and want to help them for no other reason than they are human regardless of race, religion or sexual preference. WTF?!!!? Pretty fucking cool right?

I own almost nothing! I's driving my car from Alabama to Boston in which I'll be transporting two duffelbags of clothes, one laptop computer, one guitar, one cell-phone with charger, 8 pairs of shoes, one picture frame, probably some condoms and a shitload of beef jerky and Pringles for the trip. Though, you can expect the jerky to be gone upon my arrival. Unless you'd like me to pick up some on the way into the city. See?! I'm the most considerate person you've ever met. I'm offering to buy you shit already!

Am I interested in your pad? You can bet my nomadic ass I am! I only require 4 walls, a ceiling and a floor to shelter me from the elements. Other than that anything else will be considered a convenient plus. I's taking being a roommate to the next level. Email me! I'll hook yo ass up with Facebook links, background checks, credit reports, phone numbers, resumes, references, awards, sexual history, pictures of karate trophies and a list of the top 10 women I'd like to band before I die. If you want a next-generation roommate who consistently blows your fucking mind with awesomeness, then hit me up. I's ready to give you money.

United Victory Banner.

Holiday Traditions.

Our recent trip to the US allowed us the opportunity to continue some of our favorite holiday traditions. Among our favorite holiday traditions, is our annual visit to the Botanical Gardens to see their train display and miniatures of national historic buildings - notably all made from scrap organic materials collected from the in-house gardens. These are works of pure genius and bring out a childhood sense of fascination - I highly recommend you squeeze in a visit to this annual display amidst your holiday reveling next year. Oh! and the Willard's Round Robin Bar makes for an excellent place to warm you up afterwards - a Dirty Martini is my guilty pleasure - and you may just overhear some interesting political gossip while enjoying your drink!

This year I also managed to learn a thing or two along the way.
1) I did not need to travel 5000+ miles to see how a banana grows

2) Everyone in the US has an iphone, including her

and her:

3) Sometimes simple can be better: