Did you miss us? A month and a half hiatus is a long time. I blame the poor blogging to my new schedule. Every Wednesday morning I have to present at a lab meeting leaving my Monday mornings stressed because I am trying to figure out how to cram a week's worth of work in two day. Excuses, excuses.
To prepare for her second trip to B'more, Evil Twin #2 watched season 2 of the "Wire." Actually, the true test of ET#2's preparedness was wearing and packing only pants that were either too big for her or that had an elastic waist.
Evil Twins have know each other for almost 15 years now and in this case familiarity breeds not the most interesting post. No longer are we going to get wasted and get hit on by some strange characters. We are no longer playing pranks on contemptible vegans. Yup, 15 years later, we are dare I say...adult like.
On Saturday, we had brunch and took a water taxi around the Inner Harbor. We walked the safer streets of Baltimore, and went for a leisurely drive to see the last of the fall color. After a brief pit stop, at the Korean supermarket, we parked the car and went for the main event: steamed crabs.
The walk to Obrycki's on Halloween night was a lot less scary had it been any other night of the year. As two small Asian ladies, we passed through a few unsavory neighborhoods unharrassed or mugged. We got to the restaurant and ordered. Within minutes of ordering, steamed crabs landed on our brown paper table cloths. We spent about 45 minutes in silence as we worked on our crabs. Perhaps we should have stopped at 3 crabs a piece, but we decided to split 4 more. Needless to say, it was too much. After a leisurely walk home with a brief stop at the ice cream store, ET#2 and I watched the only TV station I get: CBS.
It was a pretty perfect weekend.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Head scratchers
America and chicken:
My Aunt and Uncle were in the area this past weekend. They are old and retired, and like to travel. This fall they wanted to do a tour of the American Northeast. They are German with very little English skills so they decided to take an organized bus tour. In 10 days, they went from NYC-Niagara Falls-Toronto-Ottawa-Quebec City-Montreal-Boston-NYC-Amish country-Washington DC. Phew. I am exhausted just typing it.
I drove down to Washington to see them. Their bus was about to leave for Alexandria, VA for dinner and the tour guide admonished them for missing out on such a wonderful place to visit. He, also, said they should not walk around because DC is very dangerous. I was about to call him a Nazi, but realized saying that in German has a whole different context then here in the US.
We had dinner in DuPont Circle instead. I asked what they wanted to eat and my Uncle replied "Italian." I, of course, ignored his request and got called a friend for a suggestion. "Hank's Oyster Bar," she said. So that is where we went. I told them that I was taking them to an American restaurant, and they seemed very apprehensive. We ordered some fantastic seafood and split them like tapas. My Uncle seemed relieved when he saw the food and had a huge smile on his face. My Aunt and Uncle started to laugh. "We were so worried. We had a lot of American food on this trip. We did not know Americans ate seafood."
[And here is the head scratcher] Then they asked "Why do Americans like chicken so much? There is chicken on the menu of every restaurant we have visited."
I had no answer. I was completely stumped. When I went to work yesterday I asked the everyone I work with (since only one of them besides me was born in the US), if they thought there was more chicken on the menus in the US, then in their countries. Everyone except the Indians said yes. And then they demanded an explanation why chicken was so popular here. Still answerless.
Cathy:
For some reason the Cathy comic strip has been in the forefront of my mind. I find myself saying "Ack!" a lot. I see imaginary heatwaves emanating from head. Complaining about housework that needs to be done. Having my mom say passive aggressive things to me about marriage and the way I dress.
Also, I have noticed it referenced in pop culture a lot more. There is a skit on SNL with one of the male actors in a Cathy costume saying things like he wants chocolate. Or in the show "Greek" when one characters says "You look like Cathy," and the reply by the other character was "Ack!"
I googled Cathy this morning to see what she was up to.
[Head scratcher] Cathy got married? What? Now the comic strip is based on the trials and tribulations of a newlywed couple.
Maybe it really is not that confusing, but I had no idea. It put my world in a tizzy.
My Aunt and Uncle were in the area this past weekend. They are old and retired, and like to travel. This fall they wanted to do a tour of the American Northeast. They are German with very little English skills so they decided to take an organized bus tour. In 10 days, they went from NYC-Niagara Falls-Toronto-Ottawa-Quebec City-Montreal-Boston-NYC-Amish country-Washington DC. Phew. I am exhausted just typing it.
I drove down to Washington to see them. Their bus was about to leave for Alexandria, VA for dinner and the tour guide admonished them for missing out on such a wonderful place to visit. He, also, said they should not walk around because DC is very dangerous. I was about to call him a Nazi, but realized saying that in German has a whole different context then here in the US.
We had dinner in DuPont Circle instead. I asked what they wanted to eat and my Uncle replied "Italian." I, of course, ignored his request and got called a friend for a suggestion. "Hank's Oyster Bar," she said. So that is where we went. I told them that I was taking them to an American restaurant, and they seemed very apprehensive. We ordered some fantastic seafood and split them like tapas. My Uncle seemed relieved when he saw the food and had a huge smile on his face. My Aunt and Uncle started to laugh. "We were so worried. We had a lot of American food on this trip. We did not know Americans ate seafood."
[And here is the head scratcher] Then they asked "Why do Americans like chicken so much? There is chicken on the menu of every restaurant we have visited."
I had no answer. I was completely stumped. When I went to work yesterday I asked the everyone I work with (since only one of them besides me was born in the US), if they thought there was more chicken on the menus in the US, then in their countries. Everyone except the Indians said yes. And then they demanded an explanation why chicken was so popular here. Still answerless.
Cathy:
For some reason the Cathy comic strip has been in the forefront of my mind. I find myself saying "Ack!" a lot. I see imaginary heatwaves emanating from head. Complaining about housework that needs to be done. Having my mom say passive aggressive things to me about marriage and the way I dress.
Also, I have noticed it referenced in pop culture a lot more. There is a skit on SNL with one of the male actors in a Cathy costume saying things like he wants chocolate. Or in the show "Greek" when one characters says "You look like Cathy," and the reply by the other character was "Ack!"
I googled Cathy this morning to see what she was up to.
[Head scratcher] Cathy got married? What? Now the comic strip is based on the trials and tribulations of a newlywed couple.
Maybe it really is not that confusing, but I had no idea. It put my world in a tizzy.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
FYA (For your amusement)
Since I have been driving more, I have been noticing vanity plates. I used to think it was the most ridiculous thing on the planet. Now I am certain of it.
I saw this one this weekend. I'm pretty sure the irony was lost on the owner.
I saw this one this weekend. I'm pretty sure the irony was lost on the owner.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Under construction
Poverty and racial inequality issues are far more prominent in Baltimore, than any other city in which I have lived. Maybe it because it is impossible to avoid as you drive from one yuppified section to another pocket of yuppiedom through some pretty tough neighborhoods. In cities like, Boston, New York, San Francisco and Chicago the stretches of "good parts" are connected so you can go years without seeing any problems.
I went to DC this weekend to celebrate A's birthday. A's sister lives near DuPont circle, and so that is where we started our day. We drank a pitcher of beer outside in an outdoor cafe, watching the white folk walk pass in their weekend dresses and khaki short uniforms. After some time in the Smithsonian, we trekked our way to the Metro to go to the DC Waterfront fish market. All in preparation of a special dinner for the birthday girl.
The joke goes: Two blond girls and an Oriental girl get off the Metro in a black neighborhood....
Actually, since moving to Baltimore, I have not felt as much paranoia as I once did, although in this case the torrential rains was making the neighborhood seem fairly gloomy. A needed a poncho/umbrella so the three of us ducked into a CVS. While A was debating what she wanted, I overheard a pretty awesome conversation.
Touristy old white couple with bags of food:
Excuse me [to a white lady], do you know this area well? We were wondering if that Safeway next door would sell wine. Or of a wine store nearby?"
White lady:
I think the Safeway might have a few bottle of wines, but I would not say it is a good selection. This neighborhood is under construction so there aren't any wine stores nearby. Your best bet is to go to the Harris Teeter[yuppie store of MD, DC, and VA] by Capitol Hill.
I don't know if the couple understood what "under construction" meant, but I thought that was an incredible diplomatic way to put it. I was feeling so superior that I got the code.
I woke up this morning and it was 68 degrees. I could not believe it. So I traded in my car for the bike to go to work. I should point out that my route to work does include some of the roughest neighborhoods in the country. And as I was pedalling through, I noticed a number of boarded up houses and signs that read "house under construction." Guess it really is more of an accurate term than a politically correct one. Guess who is the rube now?
I went to DC this weekend to celebrate A's birthday. A's sister lives near DuPont circle, and so that is where we started our day. We drank a pitcher of beer outside in an outdoor cafe, watching the white folk walk pass in their weekend dresses and khaki short uniforms. After some time in the Smithsonian, we trekked our way to the Metro to go to the DC Waterfront fish market. All in preparation of a special dinner for the birthday girl.
The joke goes: Two blond girls and an Oriental girl get off the Metro in a black neighborhood....
Actually, since moving to Baltimore, I have not felt as much paranoia as I once did, although in this case the torrential rains was making the neighborhood seem fairly gloomy. A needed a poncho/umbrella so the three of us ducked into a CVS. While A was debating what she wanted, I overheard a pretty awesome conversation.
Touristy old white couple with bags of food:
Excuse me [to a white lady], do you know this area well? We were wondering if that Safeway next door would sell wine. Or of a wine store nearby?"
White lady:
I think the Safeway might have a few bottle of wines, but I would not say it is a good selection. This neighborhood is under construction so there aren't any wine stores nearby. Your best bet is to go to the Harris Teeter[yuppie store of MD, DC, and VA] by Capitol Hill.
I don't know if the couple understood what "under construction" meant, but I thought that was an incredible diplomatic way to put it. I was feeling so superior that I got the code.
I woke up this morning and it was 68 degrees. I could not believe it. So I traded in my car for the bike to go to work. I should point out that my route to work does include some of the roughest neighborhoods in the country. And as I was pedalling through, I noticed a number of boarded up houses and signs that read "house under construction." Guess it really is more of an accurate term than a politically correct one. Guess who is the rube now?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
