#29 Napping in Freedom Plaza

Freedom Plaza is at Pennsylvania and 13th street and is also the staging location for many marches, including Light the Night (love you Jon, Mr. Sanders, and Mr. Cheng, we miss you). During the day its pretty empty and within three blocks of my office. Based on my last post you'll probably think I barely work, but I really enjoy walking down here and eating my lunch while looking at the Capitol and then laying down for a quick nap. Unlike most parks/public spaces in DC, its not overrun with homeless people and there's plenty of room to stretch out and take in some sun and some mid-day sleep without worrying about being harassed for money or getting drool thats not yours on yourself, all within view of the Capitol and the White House. Thanks for the zzzzzz

#28 Park at 13th and G

Park is probably a generous term. Courtyard is probably better. Since I've moved to DC, I've worked (other than Madhatter, see #25) within a block of this little sanctuary. There's a church and a few benches and trees in the middle of metro center. Its somewhere in the middle of the day I can go and just sit and make phone calls or read my book (being anti-social as I sometimes need to be to leave Spanishland at lunch) or people watch and enjoy some sun. My favorite regular is a 45 (approx) woman who seems to always be there peacefully enjoying her book. If I'm 45 and reading in a park on my lunch break, that won't be too bad for me (lets be honest, I'm doing that now cause I'm 45). Thank you park for giving me some sun and solitude in the middle of a workday, and fewer homeless people than in normal parks.

#27 Tono Sushi

Yum. I could end it there, but as my Japanese colleague would tell you, there aren't a lot of good sushi places in DC. Tono stands apart because its cheap, it delivers, and it has inventive rolls. And they also happen to give you free bean sprout salad when you sit down. Mexican roll sounds gross but so good. It makes you feel okay about eating tuna with all that mercury, cause the Kimchi roll is that good. Tono, do you deliver to New Zealand? 45 minutes? Perfect

#26 Living in a non-state

The show "Do you think you're smarter than a fifth grader" should probably include a question about what state DC is in. I was recently in another airport, I won't name the state so as not to embarrass them, but they took my id and immediately asked me why my license didn't have a state on it. Ummm, cause DC is not a state. Apparently the fact that DC is a district is not an obvious fact for the rest of America. One thing about living in a non-state, no Senators, and as they say "Taxation with no representation". I'll keep paying those high taxes for no senators, for the laughs it gets me and the feeling of superiority over all those who don't understand our status, when I encounter this convo again. The one thing I'm pissed about is the repeal of our anti-gun laws. Not to get political on my silly blog, but why do you care what we're doing in our non-state with the highest gun violence in the country, I mean we have no senators, at least let us have no guns.

*** Yes I understand the complexities of the gun law and what it means for the rest of the U.S. Again this is a silly blog, so please save your comments on this issue for other venues

#25 THE MADHATTER

Yes, all caps because of how I love it so. I was planning to save this post for closer to the end when I really get sappy and sentimental (stay tuned). I was also planning to host my goodbye party at Madhatter, but alas they're trying to beat me at my own game by leaving first. Thats right, the Madhatter is closing! I know they're moving to a new location, but it will never be the same, and frankly what makes the Madhatter is the urine, mold, rotting food smell in the bathrooms, the cockroaches and rats running through the dining room at 7pm on a Thursday, and the awesome lack of a dance floor dance floor. Madhatter also holds a special place in my heart in DC because it was the first job I got and kept me afloat while slave laboring at a non-profit in my first years here. For those unfamiliar with Madhatter, its an institution. Its one of the grubbiest, most lax, places you could call an establishment in DC. While being one of the grubbiest places, it somehow has awesome cheap food, even vegetarian friendly. You should have had the veggie burger or spinach dip or veggie panini, or bottomless mimosa brunch. Too many specialties to name them all. In addition to the food, the myriad of employees of the Madhatter can't be matched. Working there was like a warm (soggy) hug, where they played Dirty by Christina Aguilara everytime I asked or Stunner Glasses from my Ipod, even if they didn't want to, and cleared off the dance floor whenever I asked. Madhatter was basically a home away from home. From Mickey the owner, to Emily a waitress that used to abuse me for my first months, and eventually got fired for being too drunk on the job (quite a feat at Madhatter), to Danny, Trey, Coach (miss those Tuesday Trivia nights), Sean, Meg (in the Peace Corps, look what Madhatter does for your career), Jessica, Tommy, David, Denise (love our JT, James Taylor or Justine Timberlake, however you like), Carp, Clara, Rosa, Theresa, Marvin, Soup,Margaret (loved your peach mimosas and will always help with roll-ups) - I will miss you! Too many memories to name them all, but those of you who read this blog, if you haven't been to Madhatter, get there before Sunday.

#24 Washington Monument pop-ups

Again sorry I haven't written in awhile, its because I haven't really been in DC. Now the Washington Monument as a favorite thing is pretty cliche. I'm referring to it in its random pop-ups on streets where you don't expect it. I lived on Ontario Road a few years ago, and out on the stoop was a perfect view of the monument. Today driving down 16th, there it popped up again. Its always great to remind you that yes we do live in our nation's capital....thank you George Washington and all you revolutionists.