Hark Spring, is that thou?
Today as I got ready for work, I
was glum. May be this had to do with the
fact that yesterday it snowed. Not just
snowed, but throw into that mix sleet and rain and you’ve got a party…but not
really. By the time I got home from
Baltimore, I was frozen solid, my car would have had a thin layer of ice had I
not been speeding (responsibly) and had I planted vegetation in my non-existent
garden, they would have bit the big one.
Facebook went nuts with status updates regarding the weird weather event
and when you wrap your mind around the fact that it’s the end of March, nearly
the beginning of April, well one can’t possibly have a bounce in their step.
Like Sunday, I had checked the
weather app to see what was to happen but unlike Sunday, where I felt reassured
by what the screen was saying to me, today I was just negativity personified. I was not about to be caught unawares hence I
left with two jackets, an umbrella, my
hair tied back and a perma-scowl on my face.
I even pulled on boots. I love my
boots, anyone who has seen me in person knows this. I can’t wait for fall when I can start to
pull them out of the closet and prance around but even my boot-loving self
looks forward to spring when my toes are more able to breath (after getting a
pedicure of course). I’ve been long
since ready to put this particular foot gear away to be replaced by adorable
wedged heels or cute strappy sandals.
This is not too much to ask for.
For the beginning part of the
morning, the weather went right along with my mood. It was sunny yes, but a cold wind blew from…wherever. I glared at the sky a few times while
muttering a few choice words under my breath.
This may have garnered some interesting looks from others but my ability
to ignore humanity sometimes comes in handy.
However by lunch time, I must say the wind, although still blowing, has
warmed up. Now it’s tolerable to stand
outside without a jacket. Yes, I believe
spring is in the air and any resident of this fair city can almost smell the
Cherry Blossoms in the air.
I don’t know if I ever told you
folks, long ago, I used to work in the same spot here in GT that I work at
now. From 2000 – 2003 my butt used to
schlep down to Washington Harbor every day.
Back then I didn’t have the ability to pay for parking so it was public
transport all the way. Let me tell you
what an ordeal that was. First I’d catch
the metro to one stop, change to another train, disembark and then make it to
the shuttle that would take 20 minutes (if we were lucky) to get down to the waterfront. Now couple that with nasty weather and you
truly have good times on your hands. Oh
and let’s not forget the most important ingredient. I hated where I worked.
When I say ‘hate’, I mean hate
(and I don’t often use this word in reference to anything for it is far too
strong an emotion). That place (which I
shall not name) was straight from the pit of hell and those folks who worked
there (save a few good friends who I am still in touch with till today) were
minions of the devil. The elitist
snobbish wankers who ran and worked in that establishment thought they were
truly the shiznit. Heck, I thought they
were too but I didn’t know better since I was a young paralegal. It wasn’t till after I left that I realized
how ‘small fish’ they were in the otherwise large pond of law firms.
That experience so soured me to
the location that for nearly 10+ years after leaving, I wouldn’t venture this
way even for social reasons. It was like
every bad memory of those 3 years jumped out to greet me whenever I hazarded
anywhere close. Yuck. In fact, when I found out this was where my
interview for my present job was to be, I nearly refused. Friends and family convinced me not to let my
dislike for the area, or rather the memories of my past, to prejudice new
experiences. I’m glad I’m not so
stubborn that I wouldn’t have listened.
I have once again found a renewed love for this spot.
What I do not love, and this was
brought to my attention the last beautiful day we had (which was when, I can’t
actually recall), is the fact that every fool in D.C. decides to rush here to enjoy
the water. As if there is no other darn
place in this huge city to go and enjoy *frowns and scowls*. There are bars here that are basically on the
dock and these bars are stupid crowded as soon as the temperature even touches
on 60+F. This doesn’t seem like a big
deal, right? Well it is when you work
down here, have to deal with their nonsense and the extra traffic when all you’re
trying to do is live and worse of all at the end of the evening take your tired
exhausted self, home. I hated it back then and this one thing hasn’t
change, even now. This is also just the
beginning of the warm months which means I’ll be in a fairly pissy mood every
night from here on out till it gets cold again.
Great, as if I need more reasons
to be negative.
Before I sign off, let me share
this funny story (actually it was hilarious to me, may be not to the other
person(s) involved):
12 years ago(ish), on a warm Friday
night after having worked till about 10pm, I gathered my belongings and with a
final sigh, left the building. I stepped
out into the courtyard of WH only to be met by scads of folks walking about
lazily, heading for the bars, eating slices of pizza, laughing, lounging,
generally enjoying the evening that was to herald in the weekend. They all seemed quite happy. I was not.
I was in fact in a foul mood after having worked overtime every single
day leading up to that night. The only
consolation was that since I had known I would be working late, I had driven
in. At that time, the big park that now
stands next to the harbor actually used to be a rat-infested skeezy parking
lot. The thing went practically to the
boathouse that was (is) located all the way under the Key Bridge. I would avoid at all costs to park in that
area, even if it meant getting in early, since I had heard there was a lotta
shady goings-on in the darkness.
That night there was a stream of
cars heading into the already chock-full lot.
I saw the line of taillights as I approached from a distance, sighing
resignedly. Getting out would not be
pretty, that much I knew from experience.
Weaving through the cars, I headed for my truck that was near the middle
of the lot, which was not close since the parking area was so vast. I had a laptop case slung over one shoulder,
a purse on the other while clutching a bag in my hand. Honestly, I looked like a zombie.
As I trudged along with the
weight of those things practically dragging me to the ground, I rather felt
than saw the car that trailed after me.
It was a bunch of people stalking me for my space. I knew this, it had happened before
also. And whereas I would normally be
congenial and indicate to them where I was, even rush to my vehicle to jump in
and zoom away so they could get themselves situated, that night, I was
sooooooooo not in the mood. So what did I do?
Instead of heading directly for
my car, which was approximately 10 vehicles directly in front of me, I started
to zigzag. I went from left, to right to
left again. I paused, turned around,
looked about in confusion, scratched my head, even put my stuff down on the
ground and panted in an exaggerated fashion.
I managed to frustrate so many hopeful party-goers that had looks been
daggers, I would have laid in a heap of my own blood on the gravel road. It was awesome. Gleefully I messed with them until my arms
and feet couldn’t take the fun and games anymore. Eventually I got to my car, but I didn’t
leave immediately. Yes, another car
waited for me to pull out. That carload
of folks also irritated me so I sat there looking at my phone and killing time
until they got fed up and left. Only
when the coast was clear did I back off and head home, feeling ridiculously
smug as well as a tad bit satisfied.
This time around, I park in the
garage just below my office. It’s okay
if someone stalks me; take my space, as long as I get out of the blasted
building I don’t care. I’d like to think
I’ve grown up and matured but it’s not that, I just don’t have the patience to
be that vengeful.
Okay people, enough messing
around on my blog. I’m gots to finish up
some work and go home to my beloved couch, even as most of my friends speak of working out or going and doing something fun. Clearly, there is no shame in my game.
Have a good one.
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