Standing in an Adams Morgan bar, waiting for my crew to arrive, I received a terrible phone call. One of my friends was just robbed! I left the bar and went to meet up with her. Luckily, she wasn't injured, and as we sat together, she told the story:

 We were to have a girls night out in Adams Morgan and she stopped at CVS to pick up something. Walking from the car to the store, passed a couple teenage boys, only for one to grab her purse. She grabbed it back but he held her down and grabbed it again. They fought back and forth, she called for help and eventually he seized the purse. He and his comrades ran off. Alas, the store security guard appears, aloof as can be, and she tells him she was robbed and they are getting away. He goes down the street to look for them (not even running, but walking). Surprisingly enough, he  failed to capture them. When the DC police arrived they assessed the situation and asked for a detailed description. While asking what the guy looked like, the cop asked if the culprit had "good hair". Why oh why must this officer show his ignorance? (sigh) He then proceeded to call her the wrong name (several times) despite her corrections. After the frustrating interview, several police officers gathered and stood around talking. They didn't search the streets or nearby alley for her purse or the thief nor did they escort her back to the car.

Living in a metropolitan area clearly has its perks as well as downfalls. Yes, we enjoy the benefits of a rich culture due to our diverse population, and seemingly faster paced lifestyle but we are faced at times with a higher likelihood of being a victim to crime. Unfortunately this may also yield a somewhat desensitized police force. (sigh) Not to knock the good cops out there but there are certain seeds out there...

Im very aware there are some awesome cops out there who do their job well ( I happen to know a couple) but there are some like the ones my poor friend had to deal with who don't seem to care.

Today I gave in to a terrible temptation. The social city game app on facebook has morphed into a game where in order to achieve higher levels....you have to spend money. I don't particularly mind spending to have fun but when there are so many fun things you can do for free.....why bother? So what did I do wrong? you guessed it, I spent twenty bucks and went up three levels in a day. It felt great to have new buildings and factories and finally get closer to the highest level......but I refuse to do it again. This app is about to lose me...well maybe I should stay a lil bit longer and make my twenty worth it....

Close your eyes and imagine...hot humid weather with a barely there breeze, sirens blaring, dirt blowin on the street as if we're in a old western, Ethiopian cab drivers asking YOU for directions, mormons in black suits on bicycles, hood rats in clown clothes struttin like theyre on the runway, hispanic old men makin kissy faces at u, ppl yellin on cellphones (apparently when on the phone, u MUST shout to be heard), busses taking hours to come and when they arrive there are two or more of the same exact bus bumper to bumper, men dressed in terrible drag, women dressed in men's clothing with shaved heads, prostitutes parading in broad daylight (not the pretty kind either), CD/DVD/socks/shoelace salesmen dragging their suitcases to you, crackhead usin his feet and hands to move his "wheelchair" (really a stolen office chair) up the street.......and a slew of campaigners standing on a corner asking you to help keep the current mayor in power....

While I had a temporary gig at a Caribbean Bakery, I must say I have heard some of the dumbest questions and experienced the dumbest complaints ever!!!! Here are some I remember:

Customer walks in, can't possibly miss the loud calypso music playing, or the big trini flags everywhere or the giant menu on the wall facing her...."yall got some mambo sauce n wings?" 


Other questions were:

Are yall open? (after person walks through door, lights are on and there's clearly a customer eating at the table by the door.)

Why dont u have donuts?

What is in the beef patty? (im pretty sure we call it beef just for the hell of it)

Is trinidad in jamaica? (my all time fave)

Customer number ten million  came in and complained the sodas weren't american...last time i checked there are at least four stores on the same block selling american drinks but she walked into the CARIBBEAN  place asking for AMERICAN drinks....

and there was the guy who asked for rice n stewed lentils minus the lentils.....as in rice with... water?

So this morning.......

 I babysat. I arrived a lil frazzled cuz I had to find an atm to get money to take the bus, only for the atm screen to be dim (as if my sight isnt already blurry enough)  anyhow I took out my 20 n went to the gas station to get it changed all while missing 3 busses. I finally get what I need and run to catch the 4th one to pass, caught it! rode it to work and you wouldnt believe what happened next......(cue mysterious music)

....Im left to care for a baby boy and his pet dog (mind you, I hate dogs)....the dog didnt bite me ....but it did manage to vomit all over the carpet and a little got on the boy's Dr. Seuss book (thank God for hard covers). Thoroughly grossed out, I moved the baby away and got plastic bags to clean it up (the vomit was solid) only......as I got closer......I see dark pink worms squiggling in it!!! I screamed, grabbed the baby and ran upstairs for safety!!

You see why I hate mornings?

Sorry my dear...I have been meaning to add blog entries but simply havent gotten around to it. I told you I have a procrastination problem. Its been 2 years! lol! Well, anyhow if its any consulation I have lotsa stuff to say!!! hmmmm....where shall I start? well....I still end up being that poor random soul who gets approached by the crazies on the street. I still have to ride the crazy 70 bus filled with  teenaged American Idol Wannabes, whinos, screaming babies, dvd/cd salesmen and of course the few normal ppl like me who quietly cling to our purses or briefcases and pray no one sits beside us.....uuuggghhh too late!  Hopefully we get to my stop quickly...

Ok so... clearly I wasn't on lunch break that long. I told you i'm a procrastinator. Well, I'll fill you in on all the little quirks I meant to mention before I got distracted. Here's a list:

I spilled honey mustard on my white button up and tried to cover it with my hair, had a rip in my skirt I tried to cover with my hand (robo cop type of stance) and had to work both jobs in this ridiculous state.

I got caught in the rain and had my trusty umbrella plus ipod to keep me company. Well... lets just say my ipod has the best tunes cuz as I was jammin down the street, the wind so graciously lifted the back of my skirt!! It took a second for me to realise and yes people saw :(

I did the usual trip on the stupid DC brick sidewalk cuz the bricks are NEVER flat like they should be, while doin my strut down the street past some hot random guy.