30 going on 12

I got carded at a restaurant last night for the second time in recent memory. I was out with my husband and my mother-in-law, which incidentally was the same company I was keeping the first time around. The scary part... I'm sure the waitress thought I was my husband's younger sister and we were out with our mom.

Now that I've turned 30, though, I've decided to take a different approach. And instead of getting huffy about it all, I just laugh it off. Maybe even make the waitress uncomfortable by joking, "Did you think I was his sister?" as I emit one of those "ha, ha, ha" laughs. (That's mean, I realize, and I've never worked in food service, and I do know she is just doing her job. If it is any consolation to me, she did look embarassed to have to ask.)

The problem is, I don't know how else to try to look older. I dress professionally during the day and stylishly at night. I wear heels to make my 5' 2" frame appear taller. I just got a sleek new haircut. I've been blessed to have never found a gray hair or wrinkle - yet. The only thing I can think of is that I'm flat-chested. Very. And I've got no plans to do anything about it. Ever. So, if that's what is holding me back from joining the ranks of my 30 year old looking peers, so be it. Guess I'll just have to get used to carrying around my ID - for the rest of my life.

Rambles

I don't know whether it is my lack of creative ideas or this extreme heat we've been enduring that has hampered me from posting more often this week. What is the humidity, like 1000%? It is like there is no air to breathe out there.

Tonight I start my second drawing class and I'm way excited. Its the same class I took last time - I'm taking it again to "refine my skills." Whatever skills I think I acquired could definitely still use some refining.

And this weekend is my first pool party of the season. Don't think I haven't been kicking up the On Demand workouts to get ready for the official start to bikini season. And I bought a super-cute yellow polka dot bikini for the occassion. Now to get that six-pack in order...

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a better post for you - but in my creative absence, here are a few sites to keep you going.

Draw like Jackson Pollack...

Pretend you are on the beach...

Driving Lessons - Metro Style

I saw something funny today. A metrobus display proclaiming "driver in training." Now, I've seen that before, but what I haven't seen, or hadn't noticed, was that this bus was packed! With, presumably, other drivers in training - like, a whole class of them. In uniform, just chilling on the bus while this woman - fear set in her eyes - tried to maneuver a right hand turn around the corner of 17th and I Streets NW at lunchtime.

I wondered if this was their final test, the 85th class of metrobus drivers or something like that, and if they all took turns driving around the city until all had their share of precarious situations on the streets of D.C.

It reminded me of my driving lessons at age 16 (NJ) and how in one particular instance, the instructor decided to take two of us out at the same time and we switched off the driving. I wonder now if this is even legal, or if it is whether is should be. I'm fairly certain this other girl had never been behind the wheel before and I think that I had had maybe one other lesson. The area that I grew up in was very flat, bordered by a lot of farm land, but on this day we wound up in the hilly section of town and this girl was accelerating, full speed, DOWN the hills. I was in the back of some cheapo American car that at the time only had those lap belt seat belts which tended to save the passenger's life but leave them with paralysis.

I hope that the metrobus drivers today do not encounter any scary, life-threatening moments as they entrust their fellow classmates to guide a 40 foot vehicle along 335 routes to 12,301 bus stops. May the force be with you and maybe I'll see you on the S line someday.

My Psychic Ipod

I can't possibly be the first one to think this, but I really believe that my Ipod is psychic. Or just really really smart. When set on shuffle, it tends to read my thoughts, and provide the accompanying soundtrack.

Ok, here's a concrete example. This morning, while walking to work, I saw the cutest old couple sitting on the steps of their townhouse, each typing away on their own laptop and sipping cups of coffee. It was really the cutest thing and I couldn't help but think about how much I hope I lead a similar life at their age. They were with it, of the times, and looked very much in love.

My Ipod, set on shuffle, took cue from my reverie and tuned up Love Theme from Saint Elmo's Fire.

Time goes on
People touch and then they're gone
But you and I
Will never really end
We'll never love again
Like we did then

A sad tune, for sure, and probably talking more about a love that didn't last, but I still thought it was effective in describing an older love like these two were lucky to be sharing.

Next up - The Times They Are A Changin' by Simon and Garfunkel (yes, my Ipod was breaking out all of the oldies today).

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

Well, this couple clearly heeded Paul and Art's advice - you could tell they were not going to go quietly - with their matching laptops and all. They are living in a decidedly younger neighborhood and are quite adequately keeping up with the times.

At this point, I'm getting exciting with my Ipod's talents. What song will be next? Maybe an 80s love ballad, or a greatest hit of Air Supply - how is this story going to end?

Walk Idiot Walk by the Hives.

So that's where the story ends. And apparently my Ipod is trying to tell me something.

Working Out: On Demand Part II

Last night, circumstances (again!) prevented me from going to the gym. Two parts laziness, one part finding "more important" things to do. So, I again turned to On Demand to fit in my daily exercise. This time, I opted for Tae Bo - because I vaguely remembered a celebrity craze from the early nineties. My instructor was a big BIG man, with arm muscles the side of my head and as the program got underway, I felt it was seriously false advertising. There is no way this guy got that jacked by throwing punches into thin air. So I learned the one punch, the two punch, the three and on and on until we were ready to put it together into a routine. I had a hard time remembering the numbers and maybe that's why he kept yelling at me to scream the numbers back at him every time I punched. There were two other exercisers on the screen - one equally as jacked woman with a set of abs to rival my washboard [I don't have a washboard, but if I did...] and a man - pretty average looking - who also refused to call out the numbers of his punches, or maybe his microphone wasn't working, I don't know. But what I do know is that big Mr. Tae Bo man kept turning toward the woman to indicate an example of good form, so I imagine the other man was either supposed to represent me, the student, or was as annoyed at big Mr. Tae Bo man as I was that he, too, was rebelling.

And on another bizarre note, there was a banner in the background that said, "Walk by faith, not by sight." Are my exercise instructors trying to preach spirituality to me now? I'm not a Bible person, but a quick Google search yielded this scanned from the Sept/Oct. 2006 issue of Christianity Magazine.

Working Out: On Demand

I've hit a new low. On Demand workouts.

Last night as I left my office, it had become sunny again after a brief rain storm earlier in the afternoon. Things were looking up. I left my gym bag with my sneakers and gym clothes at work, purposely, because I decided on a bike ride instead. Half way through my walk home, somewhere around Rhode Island Avenue and 17th, the skies opened up in all their glory. My flimsy, yet very chic, umbrella could not hold a candle to the force coming down from above. My flip flops started squeaking, then slipping off my feet as I rushed to get home. Somewhere in my depression over the rain storm and now my lack of ability to work out, I remembered that On Demand has an exercise section to its menu and perhaps I would find a yoga or pilates "class" to take.

Finally I'm home. Soaked, but not much worse for the wear. I quickly change into some yoga clothes before I have a chance to change my mind, plop on the couch, and watch Seinfeld re-runs. I even vacuum the rug before I start browsing through my On Demand options so that I'm starting with a "clean slate" so to say. There is cardio, yoga, pilates, kick-boxing - you name it! This is looking better than the selection at the gym! I finally decide on "Cardio Dance." Sounds fun.

Well, it was all I could do not to laugh my way through my entire work out. And several times, I really did laugh out loud. Here I am, in my living room alone, doing "runway struts" and "grapevine shimmies" with these four beautifully toned women on my plasma screen - barking orders to me but never breaking their plastic smiles. Who are these people? I worked up a sweat right off the bat and then they told me that we had just completed the warm-up. "Have fun with it! Add some soul! Shake and shimmy! Get FUNKY!" Seriously?

I do have to say it was a good work-out, and a nice alternative to the gym when all odds are against going. Though next time, I'll need to work on my shimmy a little more and put some more attitude into my runway strut.

My Oscar Speech

Wow! Wow. I'd like to take a moment to thank all of you who visited my blog over the past few days and especially to DC Blogs and Wonkette for thinking my post of the new 14th and U Farmer's Market was worthy enough to share with your readers. And last but not least, I'd like to thank our lord and savior Jesus Christ (KIDDING!...). Draw Me A Sheep, which started off as a little idea of mine - a trivial way to pass the time during a quiet holiday season at work. Draw Me A Sheep started with a daily readership of 1 - my friend R, who supports me in all of my zany ideas. And this week I have received 438 hits since my post on Saturday. Thank you to the blog academy for bestowing upon me this high honor. And thank you to my husband - who doesn't read my blog - but is supportive anyway.

Thank you!

14 & U Farmers Market

Today marked the day that I have been waiting for, for some time. The first day of the 14 & U Farmers Market. As I mentioned before, there is something refreshing about buying produce directly from the farmer. I'm always up early, so I decided to get there right around opening, at 10am. It seemed small at first, with only about 10 vendors/ stands, but I soon realized that it was quite comprehensive. All the current, fresh produce of the day was available - asparagus, fuji apples, mixed greens, radishes, a variety of root vegetables, strawberries etc. Even some meats, flowers, and jarred goodies.

I decided to spend no more than $20 and I made it out of there with everything I needed, a frivolous purchase and $1 to spare.

1/2 lb of mixed greens
sugar snap peas
3 fuji apples
1 pint of strawberries
1 jar of homemade applesauce (with strawberries added)
1 bunch of radishes

I had in mind A) an afternoon snack and B) salad fixings for the week. The applesauce was an impulse buy.

The strawberries, I learned, are on their way out for the season, but you couldn't tell by the selections offered at the market today. The whole market smelled like sweet berries.

And I wasn't disappointed when I got home. My afternoon snack was delicious. Of course, I had to taste everything.

The sugar snap peas were crisp and sweet. The radishes, which I sprinkled with kosher salt, were among the most peppery I have ever had. They had a real bite to them, but they were quite tasty. I tempered my tingling tongue with a mouth-watering strawberry and was ready to move on to the homemade applesauce. The apples were sliced thin and coated with cinnamon and cider. It tasted like it could have been made this morning and I look forward to pairing it with a brisket or roast in the near future.

14 & U farmers market. Every Saturday through November. 10am - 2pm.

Me, my Specialized, a new helmet, and $1

I set out for an impromptu bike ride last night. The first of the season. After dusting off the cobwebs and searching high and low for my bike lock, a water bottle and pouch (to no avail), I stuffed everything in my pockets and hoped I didn't get thirsty. Map My Run informed me this morning that I biked about 10 miles. I'm not sure how that compares to any other form of workout, but it sure beats going to the gym. The temps were probably still in the low 80s, and I definitely worked up a sweat, but the breeze was nice as I soared through the streets of D.C. The destination of my ride was Eastern Market which, for those of you way outside of the beltway, was recently engulfed in flames and has since been closed for (hopeful) renovation. I went mostly out of curiosity and a little bit to pay my respects.

Now that I have a bike helmet, I not only felt like a bad-ass, but I was probably more fearless than I should have been. Zipping through the streets, and even around Columbus Circle at rush hour - I could do anything. At a petite 5' 2", I fell right in line with the athletic men sporting bike shorts. Keeping pace with the best of them. A veritable Lance Armstrong.

From the bustle of Mass Ave. and into the quiet tree lined streets of Capitol Hill, I passed by rows and rows of old townhouses, pausing in front of the one that my husband used to live in when we (re-) met a few years ago. Eastern Market was where we would pick up our veggies and as a special treat, a pound or two of short ribs for braising. Today the city is banning together, to raise funds and to rebuild.

On my way back into the city, I followed close to the same route. Past the monumental arches of Union Station, 'round the bend towards the new convention center (where, thankfully, a man was closing up shop on his hot dog cart and had a cold water bottle with my name on it), and back through Logan Circle.

This city is an exhilarating place and a bike is a great way to explore it. Each neighborhood holds its own character and they work together to form the plot. But, it is up to you to navigate its story lines.

If you are in the market, let me recommend Bike Rack DC.