The weather predictions are growing like the tales of Paul Bunyon in the DC metroplex as the second winter storm of the year comes rolling in. They're calling it Snowpocalypse II around here, and people have been getting ready for it for three days now. On Wednesday evening the stores were packed full of people buying groceries and snow shovels in preparation for today, and the moment a few flakes began sifting down from the ominous grey clouds most every agency in the area called a code red: if you're not security don't come in, stay warm, and stay safe …
In the DC metroplex it isn't uncommon for people to drive to a Metrorail station (which aren't always just down the block), grab a space somewhere in the daily parking lot, and then walk inside to catch the subway. The down side of this is that you have to leave your car sitting unattended and unmonitored for something like ten hours out of the day... as a few people have recently discovered one's catalytic converter, which contains non-trivial amounts of rhodium¸ platinum, or sometimes palladium (which is why they're so damned expensive to replace) are being stolen right out from …
On my way home after work this afternoon I stopped at the Safeway a couple of blocks from the apartment complex Lyssa and I live at to pick up a few last minute items for dinner. On my way out I stumbled across a most curious thing: a TV Kart, which appears to one of those shopping carts with the vehicle-like plastic thingy underneath that lets kids pretend they're driving with a pair of television screens attached to them. The idea is that you check one out on your Safeway membership card, unplug it from the recharging station, and wander …
Much of the DC metroplex is still digging out from under what has been dubbed Snowpocalypse 2009. At least where I live, the main roads are in pretty good shape, albeit they're down about three feet of clearance so they're more like one-and-a-half lanes in both directions. The side and back streets haven't really been plowed and are still touch and go should you need to drive on them. Generally speaking, unless stoplights are involved the snow removal strategy seems to consist of sunlight melting the snow, brave drivers breaking up the ice as they go, and the powers that …
After my utter failure to get to the store to stock up for the winter storm that I didn't expect would actually happen (cynical cat screwed the pooch this time), Hasufin and Mika cleared some space for me at their place while I packed up enough kit to last me a day or two. Nothing major, you understand, but there's a good chance that I won't be able to get home until Sunday night so I figured that I'd better be prepared. Hasufin and Mika are more than ready for the blanket of snow that brought the DC metroplex to …
Yesterday morning, the newswires were burning up with winter weather warnings, effective midnight last night for a region of the eastern seaboard as far north as Manhattan and as far south as North Carolina. A Pittsburgh native, I said "Yeah, right," and proceeded to battle the DC beltway, which happened to be clogged with people who forget how to steer or accelerate whenever they think something is going to fall out of the sky. This included a multiple-hour drive home last night which culminated in my getting in the front door around 2230 EST5EDT after a cut-short dinner at a …
A couple of weeks ago, Lyssa and I bought a couple of tickets to see the Australian Pink Floyd Show, a world-renowned Pink Floyd cover band that is widely considered to be the closest you can come without actually seeing PF live. Unfortunately, Laurelinde had to back out at the last minute due to a scheduling conflict, so Kash drove down from the vicinity of Baltimore to join us tonight. I got home from work a little later than usual so after changing clothes and filling out my daily timesheet the three of us hit the local deli for a …
Only on the DC beltway can you be doing 70 in a 55 zone and have a little old blue-haired grandmother in a Thunderbird behind you hammering on her horn and pitching a conniption fit because you’re not going fast enough for her. The moment traffic opens up, that grandmother will stand on the gas pedal and burn past you like you were standing still, flagging you off as she did so. If you’re very fortunate she’ll hurl her $8us vaguely-coffee-flavored mixed beverage from Starbucks out of the driver’s side window at your windscreen in an …
I got home early Tuesday afternoon after work and after taking care of some lifestyle maintenance (like synching my e-mail, filling out timesheets, and checking the backups) I got changed to hit the 9:30 Club with Lyssa and Laurelinde. We had tickets to see Ayria, the War Tapes, and VNV Nation who were playing an all ages show there last night (though technically the 9:30 is always all-ages). At the back of the closet I found my 40 hole Doc Martens, and discovered much to my chagrin that one of the boots is missing its lace, so I …
