I saw a sign today that warned people, "Heavy traffic. Avoid delays. Use metro." Either there is a secret metro that I don't know about, that sign is woefully misleading, and/or the malicious creator of the sign needed to get in another set of digs to his or her hapless victims.
I love the metro more than most people I've encountered. I leave early, 'cause I know that they're likely "experiencing delays." To this day, I get excited when the train comes out of the tunnel crossing the river into, or on my way from VA. If I have the time, I'll take a few buses to my destination in order to get the view from the ground in the district I call home.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is this:
If you live in the District, and you have a good experience "within the metro system," commend them on their website. It takes about five minutes and hurts less than giving blood. For extra credit, write a brief letter to the editor of any small DC based periodical.
If you are outside of the District, take the most praiseworthy aspect of something that often raises your ire, and publicly commend it. Most company websites have an entire segment dedicated to consumer feedback.
Once you do that, post a comment. Tell me what happened, and the method of commendation. Invite one or two friends to play along, and add their comments to the mix. Have a great week. And give one to someone else, too.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood.
Today I pulled out the cookies I'd made earlier this week, and I found something totally strange...Neighbors. I met Billy, Minnie, and Walter because I didn't eat my cookies in my apartment. Actually, I didn't eat them at all. On this beautiful sun filled afternoon, the sharing of the cookies was less a choice and more the firm hand of guidance.
Not that any great epiphanies came during this hour long foray across the street. A little perspective was gained. Our side of the street is a small collection of apartments, which do just that. They keep us apart. Not physically, at any time one could knock on the neighbor's door and ask them to lend out a cup of sugar. But having lived in a third set now, I understand that the "apart" in apartment is mind and soul.
My roommate called yesterday to tell me to call the "rental people," because water was coming down between the walls and originating from above us. A broken pipe or overflowing drain may have caused the problem, but walking up the stairs and talking to the neighbors may have solved it. It will never be known.
Go bake some cookies, and don't eat them. Instead, meet someone from Chicago, who just moved here with his fiance. And someone who moved here 45 years ago.
...And they'll have things they'll want to talk about. You will too.
Not that any great epiphanies came during this hour long foray across the street. A little perspective was gained. Our side of the street is a small collection of apartments, which do just that. They keep us apart. Not physically, at any time one could knock on the neighbor's door and ask them to lend out a cup of sugar. But having lived in a third set now, I understand that the "apart" in apartment is mind and soul.
My roommate called yesterday to tell me to call the "rental people," because water was coming down between the walls and originating from above us. A broken pipe or overflowing drain may have caused the problem, but walking up the stairs and talking to the neighbors may have solved it. It will never be known.
Go bake some cookies, and don't eat them. Instead, meet someone from Chicago, who just moved here with his fiance. And someone who moved here 45 years ago.
...And they'll have things they'll want to talk about. You will too.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Mr. Totally Connected
I've been crap at keeping all of you entertained, informed. Even one line updates have proven out of my reach. In my defense, I've been super busy and I can't update my blog from my phone. I haven't tried it, truthfully, for fear of succeeding. Fear of success, you ask? Yes, the fear that I will succeed and be one step closer to this type of person. On more than one occassion I've stood in the lav simply awe filled. But without further ado:
Mr. Totally Connected
This guy explodes into the Men's with blueteeth in his ears holding what appears to be the most pivotal point of the most intense negotiation this year has seen. Filling the echo chamber with his position would suffice to earn him my disdain. He, however, tops one's expectations for boundary when, bracing himself by an elbow in the corner next to the last stall, he is finally stable enough to continue working on his blackberry while peeing.
I have nothing against being connected. I have nothing against Blackberries. Frankly, I love being connected which is why I own a blackberry. But when an obsession for connection hinders you ability to perform a basic necessary function, put it in its holster and put your hands where they belong at a urinal. We're not at DefCon anything, stop kidding yourself, it can wait.
Mr. Totally Connected
This guy explodes into the Men's with blueteeth in his ears holding what appears to be the most pivotal point of the most intense negotiation this year has seen. Filling the echo chamber with his position would suffice to earn him my disdain. He, however, tops one's expectations for boundary when, bracing himself by an elbow in the corner next to the last stall, he is finally stable enough to continue working on his blackberry while peeing.
I have nothing against being connected. I have nothing against Blackberries. Frankly, I love being connected which is why I own a blackberry. But when an obsession for connection hinders you ability to perform a basic necessary function, put it in its holster and put your hands where they belong at a urinal. We're not at DefCon anything, stop kidding yourself, it can wait.
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