Is that a shrub in your pocket...
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Long Time, No Blog
Hard to believe it's been, what, damn near two months since I've posted anything. Not surprising that I haven't posted, I guess, but that two months can go by so quickly when you're looking back on them, no matter how slowly things to be progressing in "real" time.
As for me, I'm in DC for the summer, which you might think would be interesting, but really it isn't. I guess maybe if I wasn't living in a dorm room it would be a little bit better. I didn't like dorm life all that much when I was still young. Now that I'm old, well, let's just say things haven't gotten any better. In fact, this dorm that I'm in sucks far more than the ones I lived in 25 years ago. Apart from having cable TV and Internet connections (no Internet - as we know it today, anyway - back then), this place I'm at is pretty primitive. Cinderblock walls, a "lounge" at the end of the hall with no furniture, not TV, no nothing, and not a kitchenette anywhere in site, with a proscription against microwaves, hotplates, or even a hotpot. I am allowed to have a coffee maker, and a small refrigerator, thankfully. The frig is so small that there isn't room for much more than some water bottles and maybe a couple of food items, plus a box of wine that kills the airflow so much I have to defrost the goddamn thing constantly. Seeing as it's a little thermoelectric model that never gets all that cold to begin with, it's kind of a pain in the ass (but I was glad it didn't have a compressor - even a little on - when I was carrying it up the stairs when I got here; yes, there is no elevator in this shitty little building, and while I'm content to use the stairs when coming and going, it really kinda sucked when I moved in on Memorial Day, at 90 degrees and 90% percent humidity).
The bathroom facilities are predictably crappy. Ten or so shitters, 8 urinals, and 10 shower stalls. I suppose I should be thankful it isn't one big open shower area, ala 5th grade gym class. I guess they don't have traps, because the place always smells like sewer gas. And of course there are alwys they people who refuse to flush the urinals. I've never understood that, personally. Some sort of misplaced pride? Not enough (or too much) praise during potty training? Maybe you grew up in a trailer or with a well, but you're on city water here, folks. Flush the fucking toilet.
I went home after the first two weeks, and am planning on going back next weekend, for the 4th of July holiday. The dog should be happy to see me, if nobody else. After that, I'll be here for the duration, which means until August 4th or so. I'm already plotting the best way to pack everything up and move out. Of course, once I'm back, it won't be long before school starts up again, and I can bitch about that.
So, I've walked the monuments and done the museums. Saw Archie's chair, and Ted Baxter's WJM blazer. I went out to a park one weekend, which was the highlight of my visit so far. I wanted to go to another one this weekend, but they predicted shitt weather yesterday tht didn't really manifest itself, so I figured I'd get up early (lucky for me, I was up at about 2:30 this morning, and finally gave up trying to get back to sleep, and started watching some movie) and go today, but of course it's been raining.
Some days are better than others here. Some days, I hardly mind being here at all. If it was football season, I could content myself with that on the weekends. But all there is is baseball and the World Cup, and, frankly, I don't give a damn about either.
So, I reckon I'll venture out to K-Mart or something and pick up a few things. Maybe a mirror so I can trim my beard in peace (I've taken to getting up at six so I can have something resembling privacy in the bathroom - not a prblem since I don't seem to sleep anyway), and a cheap DVD or two to kill some time with. Seems like I brought a few with me; I'll have to go look for them.
So, I guess that'll do it for now. Let's see how long it takes me to write again.
