To the driver of the late model Honda Accord from Maryland who nearly ran over myself and another pedestrian crossing at 14th and Kenyon Sts NW around 6:15am this morning, and then proceeded to curse at us through your rolled up window…

We had the right of way, not you.  Dipshit.  Your little green arrow wasn’t lit and our little “cross now” numbers were still in the 30 second range.

I highly suggest some anger management classes.

Current Mood: Exhausted

Smokers are irresponsible.

Harsh words, but sadly, there is at least 95% accuracy to the statement.  They can be some of the kindest people in every other aspect of their lives, but the lack of responsibility comes when they carelessly toss the butt of their cigarette, still lit, into grass, mulch, or other flammable-when-dry material.

Walking my usual route to work, I pass an apartment complex surrounded by bushes with a great deal of mulch all around them.  As I approached, I smelled the faint aroma of burning wood, which normally isn’t alarming in and of itself.  The smell could have wafted from a fire blocks away, as is normally the case.

Not this time, though.

The closer I got, I noticed a small tuft of smoke rising from the mulch, and sure enough, an area of about four feet in diameter was just smoldering away.  I immediately moved through the branches and started swiping the mulch onto the sidewalk with me feet.  Drivers stopped at the red light (this was right at an intersection) watched with interest.  Curiously enough, the smoke only increased as I tried to stomp it out, which I discovered was due to the seriously deep burning of the dry chips of wood.

After a few moments of this, I decided to trek back to the gas station a block up the street for a huge bottle of water.  As I was hurrying to do this, others passed by me on foot and bike only to completely ignore this little fire.  Purchasing the water and returning to the corner took about five minutes and of course no one else stopped to investigate.  If they did, they just didn’t care and went about their merry little way.

I don’t think I got a big enough bottle of water, but I did my best at more stomping, swiping and dousing the areas that looked the worst.

I now smell/reek of burning wood.  I was essentially dancing around in the smoke, so I’m not surprised.

I wonder if the scent is a pheromone and will attract me some hot chicks…

I know almost every city and town has them, but I’ve noticed a lot of those all-in-one carry out places in DC. Mostly in the “not so great” parts of town, like where I live.

There’s just something inordinately wrong/disgusting to me about a place that makes Chinese food, seafood, subs and pizza all in one area.

Ok, ok, they’re convenient, I’ll give you that. You’ve got higher odds of your craving being satisfied quickly in just one place.

Still.

Generally, they’re dingy and not at all welcoming from the outside. There are never any seats inside (it is a carry out only place, after all) and more often than not, you’re yelling your order through bulletproof glass to someone who can barely speak English. I’ve been witness to this in passing the many I have discovered. I have never, and don’t see myself ever, stepping foot in one. They frighten me a little.