Friday, July 31, 2009

Harrison, I don't think we're in Texas anymore

Casual observations on DC life that remind me just how far away my Texas is:
  • I was running errands one weekend day, sporting some well-worn jeans to accompany my Austin City Limits t-shirt (thank you, Carolyn!!). The checker at the grocery store asked me, "oh, is that a band?" Sigh. I didn't even know how to begin responding.
  • I occasionally get funny looks for saying ya'll. I think it sounds a hell of a lot better than "yous guys"...plus it's more efficient.
  • "Tex-Mex gravy sauce" is not anything that belongs on top of a cheese enchilada. I believe you were attempting to refer to and possibly come nowhere near creating something known as chile con carne.
  • I didn't find name-brand Rotel until Friday, June 5, 2009. I bought more than my inadequate cabinet space should really accommodate.
  • The only Target in D.C. proper has this whole parking garage thing going on. I pay at least $1 to park my car and go to Target. What?? Sometimes I resort to driving to Alexandria...which is in another state entirely. That continues to fascinate me. I think I've mentioned this before, but it merits one more.
  • I got stuck at the light at the corner of 6th and H. Oh, and I got stuck as a pedestrian, not as a driver of a vehicle, which is another observation in and of itself. Anyway, I hate missing that light because then I just have to wait it out - almost home, nowhere to turn. Except that I can turn, walk about twenty feet to Chinatown Express, and order takeout - steamed pork dumplings and Szechuan beef. Dinner, solved.
  • One weekend I went out with Stephanie & Shane and one of his buddies for dinner. This is not an odd occurence - I go out for dinner all the time no matter where I live. What did I do for dinner, you might ask? I whacked crabs with a mallet, flinging shells about and extracting all the crabby goodness.
  • A few weeks ago when I walked past the Gallery Place - Chinatown Metro station, there were two men selling baby turtles. What?? And people were buying them.

Happy weekend, everyone - watch out for turtles at Metro stops and flying bits of crab shell.

5 comments:

Diana said...

FYI - people were selling baby turtles for $10 (or 2 for $15) on the street the other day. I'm not sure why anyone would buy a turtle...usually you can find some after it rains. But at least you know they sell them here in Texas too!

Trinity said...

Diana wouldn't let me have a baby turtle. 2 for $15 was a steal.

Sarah said...

No knowledge of ACL? or Rotel? such a tragedy!

Erin said...

I'm so perplexed by this turtle business! At least it's not just a DC phenomenon - it's apparently sweeping the nation. And Trinity, you don't need one (much less two) baby turtle(s). I can see Hazel trying to play with it and it all going horribly wrong.

Sarah, can you imagine a life without ACL and/or Rotel?? Truly a tragedy!

Girl Interrupted said...

I agree 100% that "y'all" is infinitely nicer than "you's guys" which just makes me think of the big, wonky-eyed bloke in The Goonies.

Also, I'm concerned about this turtle thing ... I do hope it doesn't mean that whole ghastly "Cowabunga" culture isn't making a comeback! It was bad enough the first time around.