Even in College, There is Death

I've no desire to feel nostalgia. I think if I had a get-together with some of the folks I started college with that I would feel nostalgic and could handle it, but my best college friends switched schools or graduated a year ago or are a year younger and slower to finish than I. Or, dropped out entirely before getting very far.

Therefore, looking back on the years seems like a horrible idea to me. All I seem to come up with is 'but there are people I miss...' and then the memories stop flooding back. When I do want to 'feel' as it were, I will think lovingly of:

MM Hall and the "secret" tower-dungeon
Photography class
PSU
Art Attack(s)
wanderings with hippie friends (sunshine, jenn, cory and more)
the baywatch greeting, though it shall live on
losing my favorite sweatshirt... hey wait! that sucks!!!
living in the art building (and haunting it)
painting class
free photoshop (cries)
that weird rabbit sculpture
astronomy class
a golden girl
whistling in the dark. and all the time.
bagel place
the pirate party
Perk, despite whatever flaws
Noodles and potbelly..... ok, i know they're chain restos...
ALL THE BUBBLE TEA and cheese wonton you can afford
laying on the mall and imagining i'm in a fishbowl
poetry-writing
lying out in the rain waiting for the hurricane to wash over me ecstatic and free to help me to see that i had chosen......... pneumonia.
crabapple blossoms tree
lili and ting/the clubhouse year
the house of sun and light
I-goddamn-rene
freshman orientation with those goofballs
women's bball
learning french <3


And you know what? anybody else would be 'oh, i'm crying'. I'm not. Do I even want to go to graduation? Uh.... if I get to meet the basketball team? If I can really tapdance across the stage. If I don't fall asleep while they're calling my name? If I can read my book about pandemics while Someone in the audience inadvertently infects us ALL with swine flu...........

Lemme just.... take out my raincheck calender and pencil you in, dear graduation.... lemme just.

Put off the nostalgia, I just got back in town from SADDwinter.

Local Businesses Worthy of Note

Selfish, I feel a twinge as I write about my favorite businesses, wondering if they will become more crowded and less accessible, wondering if that piece of clothing or antique lamp will be bought by someone else. But really? I’d much rather increase support of these places to ensure they don’t disappear as several others have.

To begin with, places to eat:

Mark’s Kitchen- Located in quaint downtown Takoma Park, this restaurant serves Asian, American, and vegetarian specialties. They also have an incredible variety of smoothies blended before your eyes from fresh fruit. Their “mahn doo” (potstickers) are popular. I personally enjoy the chicken avocado club sandwich. Not all the food is vegetarian, yet whether you crave edamame or beef fried rice, this is a delicious place to feast.

Franklin’s Restaurant, Brewery, and General Store- As evident from the title, this is no ordinary grub-‘n’-go. While your table waits for the kitchen to deliver your ribs or crab-dip, thai chicken satay or roasted muscles, sandwich, pizza, or even salad, (the crab dip is the only thing on this list over $10… it’s $11) you can find kitschy items for children or adults in the general store. There are joke cards, soaps, scarves, wine, plush toys, rubber chickens….. And did I mention that from the upstairs seating you can see the shiny instrument in which they brew their house beers. I highly recommend Anarchy Ale.

Dumm’s Pizza & Subs- Riverdale’s tiny gem is just a few blocks closer to the University than Franklin’s. They serve pizza, sandwiches, apparently gyros, and the best BLT. At Dumm’s corner, which is next door, you can purchase cases of beer, ice cream, and a wide variety of other snacks. There is a genuine small-town feel to the place and tasty food.

Plato’s Diner- Everyone knows Plato’s; what a relief. While I would have said several years ago that they were struggling (and they were) the recent revitalization not only created atmosphere, it also transformed the food from ‘inedible’ to ‘delicious’. I’ve heard rave reviews about the Greek section of the menu (from people who know) and I have enjoyed their pancakes, chicken-fried steak, red hot and blue burgers, and apple pie more times than I can count. With reasonable prices and proximity to the University, Plato’s will remain a favored destination.

Julia’s Empanadas- Empanadas are amazing. This tiny café serves empanadas with six different types of filling if you want something savory. There is always a vegetarian empanada of the day, and it is always delicious. They also serve dessert empanadas filled with fruit and sometimes cream cheese.

Raulins Bakery- I save the best for last. Donuts, cakes, cookies, even a sort of breakfast sandwich (sausage baked into dough). Milk and coffee are available. You can get a half-dozen donuts and a drink for about $6. These donuts are the only donuts I can eat, simply because they are so delicious that all other donuts (yes, even krispy kreme) taste over-fatty and flavorless. The dough at Raulins is flavorful, the icing is distinct (if you buy a maple donut, you will taste maple), and the texture is perfect; soft and doughy on the inside, slightly crispy on the outside. The only issue in finding Raulins is that the sign humbly states “Bakery” and no more. It’s between Pho 88 and the pet store.

That’s a comprehensive list of my favorite restaurants. Look at their websites. Please do patronize them. And if you run into me there, feel free to thank me.

Also worthwhile:

Marathon Deli

Pho 88

Under the Coconut Tree

Fashion Strikes Again

I'm in love with these designs
And reading this book: The Coming Plague
When I'm on the metro and reading it, I giggle to myself any time I see words put together like 'infectious disease.' What no one [but you] knows is that I'm thinking of zombies. Though I well know, zombies are no laughing matter.

Regrets

I wasn't writing enough.

I wish I had this magazine.

It is no longer in publication.

I wrote enough to make up for.

And now I want to take it down.

Je n'écris pas assez.

Je veux cette revue.

Il pas est plus publié.

J'ai écri plus pour compenser.

Et maintenant, je veux l'enlever.

Medusa Belladi

An utter Gorgon, Saturday night.
Unattractive, unsightly, a fright.
Ten snakes counteract every belly shake.
They rattle as I dance.
Bitter snakes eschew romance.
Loath to bite, though they loathe the sight
of the pitiful suitors' prance.


copyright M. E., April 13 2009, all rights reserved

Hey Baby

2: Driving home from Easter dinner today, I was listening to Garbage's #1 hits album.

"Bleed Like Me"

Avalanche is sullen and too thin
She starves herself to rid herself of sin
And the kick is so divine when she sees bones beneath her skin
And she says:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me?

Chris is all dressed up and acting coy
Painted like a brand new Christmas toy
He's trying to figure out if he's a girl or he's a boy
He says:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me?

Doodle takes dad's scissors to her skin
And when she does relief comes setting in
While she hides the scars she's making underneath her pretty clothes
She sings:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me?

Therapy is Speedie's brand new drug
Dancing with the devil's past has never been too fun
It's better off than trying to take a bullet from a gun
And she cries:
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me?

JT gets all fucked up in some karaoke bar
After two drinks he's a loser after three drinks he's a star
Getting all nostalgic as he sings "I Will Survive"
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me?
Hey baby can you bleed like me?
C'mon baby can you bleed like me?

You should see my scars
You should see my scars
You should see my scars
You should see my scars
Try to comprehend that which you'll never comprehend
Try to comprehend that which you'll never comprehend
Just try to comprehend that which you'll never comprehend
Try to comprehend that which you'll never comprehend
You should see my scars
You should see my scars

Also, when I exited the bathroom, there was something with pills going on. I was reminded of that while listening to the album, though it seems this song (which made me STOP and go 'whoah, I dreamt this song exactly last night') does not mention pills.
This is the pop culture stage, where you become interested in my influences.

We are alone

I guess it's just.... just you and you and me.........
http://www.lastdaysjournal.com/