Gentrification

I like this article on gentrification in DC. (“Gentrification in D.C.: How will we remember those displaced?” in the Washington Post). While ‘gentrification’ is a loaded word, the article is one of the more balanced I’ve read on the topic. It doesn’t instantly assume that the new people moving into these neighborhoods are bad. (Though almost as bad — it does assume that all new residents will be interested in “improving” the neighborhoods.) It instead just asks that people learn about their new surroundings, and try to find a way to coexist that benefits everyone. That’s kind of — you know — the definition of civilization. Otherwise, we’re just in a predator/prey situation. (Which isn’t to say it doesn’t happen that way quite often. Just that I agree with the author’s request.)

As someone currently trying to buy a house in a ‘transitional’ neighborhood, I’m very aware of all these tensions. I’ve actually lived much of my life in such places; more often being in the minority dispute being a white male. But I don’t choose a place solely on what it might become. I’m sitting on the porch of the hopefully-new house right now, watching kids playing together. Watching people talk with their neighbors. Listening to the wind in the trees, and the sound of the nearby city. I love all this, and certainly wouldn’t want to lose it. Starbucks and a hipster bar would certainly be no decent replacement.

Please keep in mind that this post is more than 6 years old. Who the hell knows what I was thinking back then?! Damn kids... get off my lawn!

Housewarming

Wonderful night out with friends… well… most of the second half of last week. Thursday was the Die Antwoord concert I’d been waiting for. Friday I got out of the house as needed, and ended up bar hopping on H Street with friends and catching a Burlesque Show at the Red Palace. (Ran into Katie, from the Derby… very nice to see her again).

Saturday was the housewarming for Eldridge. He has a wonderful new place out in the woods of suburban MD. There was fire, watermelon decapitation, lightsaber fights with hawt chicks, and plenty of barbecued meat. Rounded out the night sitting on the roof with awesome friends, watching the party dwindle down below.

Eldridge's HousewarmingEldridge's HousewarmingEldridge's Housewarming

Please keep in mind that this post is more than 6 years old. Who the hell knows what I was thinking back then?! Damn kids... get off my lawn!

new drinks

Haven’t written about drinking in a while. Has been about 7 months now, but I’m still usually pretty overwhelmed. Still sticking with variations on the whole “Rum and Coke” theme, when all else fails.
This weekend was mildly adventurous. I don’t know how many new drinks I ended up trying. There was a party out in Georgetown with Lindsey, on Friday night. Had a Vodka-Cranberry thing, that I think was pretty badly mixed. So while I completely distrust the taste, it was my first vodka. Followed up later with Gin and Tonic, which tasted like… nothing. The people drinking with me assured me that this is what Gin tastes like… but it had almost no taste at all, to me.
Anyway.
Last night was a housewarming and barwarming for some friends who moved in together. You know… I started the night wanting a glass of White Wine. Never got it, the whole night. Purely my fault. Just saying. But I made up for it with plenty of other drinks. The first thing I was handed, after asking for “anything”, was a SoCo and Coke; another first. Just tasted like pure candy. A sweet, sticky, fruity taste. (Dangerous drinks… so very tempting to down them like a soda.)
Shiiiiit. My mind just blanked on the second drink of the night. All I can remember is that it was another first. (Guess it will be again, if I don’t remember what it was…
wait….
Okay… there were two martinis. One Chocolate thingy. Just sort of a chocolate YooHoo that burned on the way down. And later, a White Russian, I think. Dunno what’s in that, but it tasted just slightly different than the chocolate martini.
There was a Coke Zero in there somewhere, just for the sake of getting some non-alcoholic fluids in me.This was the point where I was starting to really feel it. Turn my head too quickly, and my brain didn’t stop turning with the rest of my body.
But the Coke, and the cheeseburger off the BBQ grill, as well as an hour or so of conversation and nachos, all served to sober me up a bit. No more speeding perceptions problems.
Tried to behave myself after that, and just had a Woodchuck Cider, which is probably just this side of cough syrup. But of course, just as I’m finishing off that, sitting nicely on the couch and talking with friends, the host decides that everyone with an Irish name had to have a Carbomb. Now I’ve heard the phrase, but I have no idea what was in them.
About 10 minutes later, that was that. And I think it pretty much wiped out everyone involved.
housewarming
After that, walls and railings were my friends. No nausea or anything… just plenty of vertigo. Lots of careful concentration in getting to the car, and up to my apartment. (I really must learn to find hawt chicks to help me with that). Head was buzzing by the time i laid down to go to sleep. Almost didn’t get up to grab my water bottle. But I as I had a client meeting this morning, I didn’t want this to be my first hangover.
General observation: drunk with friends is fun. It’s an exaggerant of the general mood. You do silly shit. (No… I will never let my aunts live down the time they got drunk and all climbed in the bathtub to start singing). But drunk alone is just not fun. It’s all the physical deficits, with none of the social benefits.
I’ve certainly had drinks here and there. But judging from these journal posts, this is the first serious session of braincellkilling since January. Yup… still failing at the whole lush thing.

Please keep in mind that this post is more than 6 years old. Who the hell knows what I was thinking back then?! Damn kids... get off my lawn!