Street conversation

Downtown DC. An old black man starts talking to me as I head to Macy's (one day sale - who can resist.) I decided to try and write it up as it was the most brilliant example of a soliquey I've heard in a long time.

"They find the bodies, you know. Frozen. That's why I don't drink. When you drink, it keeps you warm but when you body temperature drops to 17 degrees, you freeze. It opens you up. No resistance."

PAUSE. SIGH.

"That's why they have the trucks in New York and DC. The thing is...people that are sleeping go hide. And sometimes they die. And then nobody, nobody finds them. For a long time. But they're dead. No question. And when they find them, they take them away."

Sad, eloquent and lost but probably true.

Obama wins!

Love this. Love the fact that a good man, with a fine heart, was elected by a country that has, let's be honest, had lapses in judgement in the past! Fun to be living in DC  - the most political city in the world on November 6th, 2012.

Aha - creativity returns

For some us, writing and being creative is a sign of healthy emotional balance. I couldn't write for a long time, I had nothing of interest to say, was drained, tired, 'over it all.' But thanks to improvisation classes, finding some new artsy friends, going to have more 'artist dates' with myself, the Bard has returned - whoohooo! And, now I have nothing to say except all this time in, I still sound very English, I still say 'knickers and pants interchangably' and not 'underwear' and trousers for 'pants' -wow that gets confusing. I am midst a love-hate relationship with DC  - like all cities and oh -wait up IT'S AN ELECTION tomorrow. What a time to be here. Let's hope they choose right.

Observations of language

'My bad', My bad what???? No - this is a way to say sorry. ie my bad behaviour. My screw up. Shorthand. Odd. I get a lot of emails. "Sorry, my bad." Last time I looked - bad was an adjective - not a noun but who am I to quibble? I feel. Americans FEEL a lot. Brits THINK. They feel it is a good bottle of wine. They feel that something is a good idea. Now I am not convinced that thinking is better than feeling. Normally I am a proponent of feelings but ...it also makes me laugh. This is the country that 'feels' that climate change doesn't exist and 'feels' that America is the be all and end all. Perhaps a little more thinking would be useful?

CVS

I hate CVS - there I've said it. The horrible antiseptic, cheap, plastic, artifical small assaults my nostrils and I tend to frequent my local CVS at night because it's open. And there are the outcasts, the down and outs, the blacks of the city, disenfranchised, buying junk food, cheap drink, cigarettes, a few of us buying washing powder or something utilitarian. It is no English Boots - I miss UK chemists. This is all about need. Drugs, medicine but to me it reeks of loneliness.

Yoga peeves

Ah...the practice of yoga, my balm, my saviour, my irritant, my sometimes reduce to mirth or tears... In DC - at a particular class of rocket yoga -don't ask - but yes, it is all very energetic and adrenalin fuelled - my handsome gay teacher took particular pains to ignore me. However, one glance around and he is sitting, yes, sitting on another handsome man's bottom - doing a tete a tete or bottom to bottom downward dog. Seriously? Am delighted they are getting some joy and a good stretch but slightly dumpy girls need some leverage and attention too at times!

Mama Mia Marketing

I have never ever been subjugated to the kind inane marketing crap as I get here.

But this week amused me greatly. The local church sent me a "Welcome to the Neighbourhood" and an invite to go meet and greet. Not to mention the usual marketing pitch for god. They did a pretty good job actually.

In same batch, an advert for botox written in the same vein as one would sell a sandwhich...check this out:

The botox advert:
In a city brimming with backroom dealing and polarizing politics, it's important to not let too much get under your skin. Especially stress. Unfortunately, when you're surrounded by overachievers in your 9-to-never job, the daily grind can start to show on your face. Smooth things over with today's Ruff deal: Pay $150 and get up to 20 units of Botox from Ruff Plastic Surgery -- a $300 value. Headed by award-winning plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Ruff, this West End practice has years of experience smoothing fine lines and wrinkles with this nonsurgical treatment. Available on most parts of the body, Botox doses relax stretched skin to promote a healthier, more vibrant appearance. It can be hard to keep your composure in the city that never sleeps (-in past 6 a.m.), but with today's 50%-off deal, you can certainly keep your complexion.

I ask you...seriously???

Nearly 12 weeks in....

So far I've learnt to say elevator, not lift, side walk not pavement, still have trouble with pants and purses - trousers and handbags..a calender is not a diary entry, to be 'pinged' is nothing sexual = it means to email or skype or text...not everyone gets my British humour and trying to find a decent news channel - impossible!