Got Quakes?

Today was a very moving day for me. 

(I’m trying too hard, aren’t I?) 

If you weren’t on the East Coast to experience it, you’ve no doubt heard about it by now.   There was an earthquake, epicenter near Richmond, Virginia and felt all the way…actually, I haven’t seen the news so I don’t know how far away it was felt but I’ll tell you where I was when I felt it. 

I was in my chair at my desk doing very important government work.  I had just clicked a very important button to do a very important thing when suddenly there was a rumble from beneath me, my desk started quaking, my very important Presidential Library mugs started clanging together, and I thought what the hell is that?!  Okay, I didn’t think it.  I said it.  My colleague in the cubicle across from mine looked out his window and informed me, very calmly and matter-of-factly, that it was an earthquake. 

Look, this was the first time my world’s been rocked, if you know what I mean.  Earthquakes don’t happen on the East Coast!  What does one do in an earthquake?  They didn’t run drills for this sort of thing in my elementary school!  Do we shelter in place?!  Do we find a bathtub and cover ourselves with a mattress?  I work in a federal facility – no bathtubs or mattresses for us – there was a plan, by golly. 

The plan was to exit to the nearest stairwell.  That pIan was fine with me...I work darn close to a stairwell so I calmly proceeded into the stairwell.  But then they told us to keep going, exit the building, huddle together at our assigned spot.  Good plan and all.  But I couldn’t help but wonder…what happens when the trees start falling and the ground opens up and swallows us deep into the Earth’s core?  Then I realized that I was just being a panicky East Coaster who has never been through an earthquake before.  It was gonna be fine.

Besides, I had more pressing concerns.  I left my purse and my phone inside.  Inside the building in which I was no longer inside.   So, unlike my colleagues who were furiously calling loved ones, following Twitter, and checking into the earthquake on Foursquare, I was just standing there, waiting to get back into the building so I could get my stuff, text my mom and friends, follow Twitter, and check into the earthquake on Foursquare.

Eventually, I got back into the building and got my purse.  When I turned on my phone, I was surprised – and moved – by the concern for me on Facebook.  I sure have caring friends!   My brother sent this nice text (it’s the last one):

Are you impressed that I figured out
how to take a screen shot of my text
message?  Because I sure am!

What?  Now you’re laughing?!

I survived my first earthquake but I’m fine with making it my first and last.  Let’s hope there’s a little less movement of the Earth’s plates tomorrow!

*For the friends who care - the Presidential Library mugs are fine.  More importantly, the Donald Duck curio is safe!  No Donalds were damaged during the quake!

Becoming a Regular

You’ve probably figured out by now that I have a love-hate relationship with food.  I love to eat out and I hate to cook.  I’m really, really trying to cook more at home – to prove it, just come take a look at my freezer stocked with all sorts of meat stuffs!  But sometimes the kitchen is just too hot to cook in!

Not counting lunch – which would really throw this equation out of whack – I have been known to eat dinner out four five four times a week.  I know it’s ridiculous.  Think of how much money I could save!  Think of all that unhealthy food that I’m eating!  But that’s a topic for another day.

There are two places in my little slice of Maryland suburbia where I eat pretty frequently – so frequently that I have earned the proud distinction of being “a regular.”  Who doesn’t love being a regular?  You waltz in after a hard day at work and they greet you like they’ve known you your whole life or like they just saw you yesterday…which they probably have but that’s neither here nor there.

Each place is really different from one another but I like them both because they have great atmospheres, oh, and good food! 

Jersey Mike’s is a chain sandwich shop where they sell subs (hoagies).  They also have the most delicious Philly cheesesteaks in the area – that’s my regular sandwich.  Nine times out of a ten, I go in and the guys welcome me back and say – #17, no onions, no peppers, light ketchup.  For here.  And I giggle (okay, the guys behind the counter may be cute) and say – yep!  Sometimes I throw them off and I order a #7 - a turkey and cheese sandwich with mayo.  Because sometimes you just need a little variety in your life.  I was just there (again) tonight because there was no way I was cooking in 98 degree heat!  So that makes two nights this week already.  Thank goodness I’m going away for the weekend!

The other place is the Tastee Diner which has been in the area since 1935.  The Tastee is about the shabbiest looking place you can imagine; if you want to do some interesting people watching – hit that place up around 1 AM on a Saturday night.  Oh my.  But the food…the food is really good.  The Tastee is my weekend spot.  I usually hit it for grilled cheese sandwiches or the Saturday night dinner special – baked turkey with dressing.  Oh my.  I love it because the tables have old table juke boxes…but not the shiny fake ones that you find in shiny fake diners.  Plus, you can play keno there.  I’m not sure but I think keno is like the Maryland state lotto game or something.  I never heard of it until I moved here.  So, all in one place you can get dinner, listen to some tunes, and gamble.  It’s kinda like a casino on the Vegas strip except without all those annoying bright lights and showgirls.  Okay, you might see a showgirl every now and again.  But she’s probably just doing it to earn money for school.        

Last Saturday, when I took my mom to the Tastee for breakfast, she told the lady at the cash register that she heard I was becoming a regular.  The lady replied – yes she is.  I’ve never been so proud. 

I made it.  I’m a regular!