Woman & Child Rescued by Olney Firemen

As you can imagine, this week has been very dismal with the passing of my grandma. However, something happened today to lighten the mood.

I’ve been spending a lot of time this week at my mom’s house, and tonight, my sister and I spent about an hour in the basement researching cars online. After we finished, I headed upstairs to say ‘goodnight’ to my mom, niece and nephew. When I came upstairs, I heard my mom yelling, “I’m locked in here!”. Apparently, my niece slammed the door to the bedroom with my mom and nephew (who is 8mo old) in there. Somehow, when the door slammed, the door lock jammed in the door frame and got stuck. For some reason, that was so funny to me. In the midst of my laughter, I tried to open the door, but to no avail. I called my sister, and she came up and tried to push the door open…also to no avail. Suddenly we started to smell a “poopy” scent. We immediately looked at my niece who is currently being potty trained. I looked down to notice that my niece had ‘taken a dump’ in front of the door…probably out of nervousness that her ‘grammy’ was locked inside. I accidentally stepped in it, and had poop all over my socks.

That made us laugh even harder.

After picking at the door and lock for 20min. with an old screw driver, we decided that our last resort was to call the ‘non-emergency’ number to the fire department (which was a better option than 911). In 10min a giant fire truck arrived, and the firemen jumped out with axe and tools in hand. Of course 3 of my mom’s nosiest neighbors had to come outside to see what was going on.
Three large firemen, and one firewoman came upstairs and took a hammer to break and pry open the lock. Of course my mom and nephew were fine. He gave a big cheesy smile to the firemen when they opened the door. Obviously, now my mom has to change all the old door knobs in her house.

By the way, in case you were wondering – we did clean up the poop before the firemen came in. And, I guess when the fire department calls my home next time, asking for donations – I’ll definitely give them a large one. (lol)

In Loving Memory

This isn’t my usual jovial post.

My grandmother, Evelyn Hall passed away unexpectedly yesterday morning. She was 71yrs young, and the light of our lives. Please keep my family in your thoughts during this devastating time.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

On Friday, a few girlfriends and I went to 'happy hour' around 5:30pm. It lasted until 11:30pm. We had a lot of catching up to do, and were happy to down a few long island iced teas, amoretto sours, and margaritas. During the conversation, one of my friends mentioned that she's moving to California in October! I'm sad to hear she's leaving, but I'm ecstatic that she's going to move out of the area and experience something new. I credit myself to giving her the 'travel bug' a few years ago.

I'm a firm believer that everyone should travel, if not move away from their home town all together. There's nothing like meeting new people, hearing new languages, and living like a 'local' in a different area. If I hadn't gotten married when I did, I guarentee I would have moved to England for at least a year.

In any case, the hubby has been talking about moving out of our area for some time now. We both grew up in Maryland and have lived here our whole lives. Truthfully, I've traveled to a lot of cities, and have not found one that compares to DC. But maybe I should take him up on the offer to try out a new city for a year or two. I'm 27, and have no kids. What do we have to lose? Right now, we've narrowed down the choices to Colorado, Hawaii, Los Angeles or Chicago.

‘Discover’ Me!!

Everyday I ride by the Discovery Channel building at Silver Spring station. I basically drool on the window as I longingly wish that I had a job there. In my opinion, ‘Discovery’ is the best local company anyone could work for. Their location is awesome – only 15min from my home. They have a private parking garage – so the employees don’t have to park at metro. They have a phenomenal graphic design team. They pay well, have great benefits, and is one of the most desired companies in the DC metro area.

Unfortunately, they rarely hire graphic designers directly. I’ve heard they use Aquent, but hardly any of their designers quit, so they never have openings. I’m sure that even if they did, the job is filled by the ‘buddy system’ – someone in there knows someone, and their friends get job. Come on Discovery – I’m a great designer. I’ll work overtime. I watch shark week!

Don’t get me wrong – I’m happy to work where I do right now, and even have a job in this poor economy – but a girl can dream right? Until some miracle happens and Discovery actually looks at my resume, I guess I’ll continue to drool on the train window.

MD Foodie Review: Gordon Biersch

Friday night was my third time going to Gordon Biersch. In an area that is overrun by ‘beer/burger” joints, this place is a real gem. I mean, they have their OWN brewery! Not only that, the location is perfect – right smack in the middle of the newly renovated Rockville Town Square. The décor is romantically handsome (if that’s an expression). There are elegant wood furnishings, and soft lighting. It has a cozy feel to it, without the ‘frat boy’ or ‘teeny-bop’ style like dowdy TGIFridays or Ruby Tuesday’s.

The food is phenomenal. This is my new favorite spot for a basic juicy, well cooked burger (sorry Red Robin, you’ve been demoted). And you simply have to try their ‘garlic fries’. I also highly recommend the crab dip. I’m a stickler for crab dishes, and this one really gets high marks. It’s loaded with lump crab meat, and well blended seasonings. About the beer – if you come here, skip the YingLing and Sam Adams and try one of GB’s brewed beers or lagers. I usually opt for the Marzen or the Hefeweizen. Light and bold, not too ‘hoppy’.

Just a little side note too – this place gets packed! The dining area if full of patrons, and the bar is usually standing room only on weekends because of the crowds. If you’re starving, be sure to call ahead to put your name on the seating list. But if you don’t, no problem. Just take a stroll around Rockville Town Square. I guarantee you’ll find other new restaurants to try on your next visit.

I apologize for the ‘el-crapo’ photos this week. I’ll do better next time.

A New, Smarter 'Steph'

My job approved my training for this year! Woohoo! After Wednesday and Thursday, I’ll be a more proficient Adobe InDesign (CS3) user. I have a second training course in October as well. The courses are offered by EEI Communications. I’ve taken classes from them before, and their instructors are well educated, well spoken, and experts in their field. They offer non-designer related courses too – primarily for writers, editors, marketing professionals, and Microsoft Office geeks.

See ya Friday people!

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair

In the 10+ years I’ve lived in Montgomery County, I had never visited the fair. What was wrong with me?! The fair is awesome! On Sunday afternoon, I went to the fair with my family, which included my two year old niece and my 8 month old nephew. We had an awesome time.

The fair runs from August 8 – August 16th, and is located near Lakeforest Mall off of Route 355. It’ll cost you about $5 to park (unless you park in the nearby shopping center and walk a couple blocks), and $8 admission (kids under 2 get in free). At first, I thought it was quite pricy for a fair, but once you enter, you see that your money is well spent. They offer just about any food you can think of, from the basic funnel cake and hot dog to burritos and low mein. All ages are guaranteed to have a good time as the fair has numerous rides in the front, and hundreds of farm animals in the back. What’s an agricultural fair without animals?!

The local farmers take pride in what they do. And we as a community should feel obliged to support them in their efforts. Local firemen and policeman share in the fair too, and will give you and your kids some great safety advice and even a little tour of a real fire truck. A few local musicians sell their music there as well. My niece especially loved the Peruvian guy who drew crowds while playing his native flutes.

Stop by the fair before it’s too late. Support your community. You’ll have a great time, and maybe even learn about farming in the process!

[Montgomery County Agricultural Fair Official Site]

Otakon 2008!

Warning – nerdy post ahead…

Saturday was my first experience attending Baltimore’s Otakon anime convention. I had mixed feelings at first, since I really haven’t watched anime since I was 17. Even still, I always have a soft spot in my heart for the anime/manga of my youth (Tenchi! Ranma!). My nifty Sailor Moon shirt helped me not to feel too much like a ‘poser’ amongst all the true ‘Otaku’ (name given for extreme anime/manga fans). The kids that attend this convention are die hard fans. They obsess over Japanese culture –and it’s actually quite fascinating to see that anime/manga has such a strong following.

Immediately after parking the car, I was bombarded by hundreds of cosplayers. I swear nearly every person that attends Otakon dresses up as their favorite anime, manga, or video game character. Plenty of individuals represented Naruto, Final Fantasy, Mario Brothers, and even Halo. I was honestly overwhelmed by the sheer size of the convention center. There were panels for discussions, videos, autographs, and even an entire floor dedicated to anime/manga vendors. Unfortunately I was not able to find the Ranma ½ shirt I so desired.

As I am an Otakon newbie, I missed all of the panels and didn’t get any autographs. Part of the fun was scoping out and taking photos of my favorite cosplay outfits. The most phenomenal outfits were of Final Fantasy fame. Those ‘Kingdom Hearts’ fans also take their cosplay seriously.

The highlight of the entire day at Otakon was the Masquerade at the 1st Mariner Arena, which started at 7pm. The masquerade was basically a glorified talent show. Majority of the acts were lackluster, but a handful were quite humorous (loved the Dragon Ball Z skit). My favorite skit (and the only one to receive a standing ovation), was performed by a girl cosplaying as Link from ‘The Legend of Zelda”. With the aid of her flute, this girl played the theme song to the Legend of Zelda with such prowess that she made every Otaku’s skin crawl with delight. She was the gem of the entire show. I hope to find her skit on YouTube this week.

Overall, I defiantely got my $65 worth. Can’t wait for Otakon 2009! Maybe next year, I’ll be there with my costume in hand too.

*Yes...that is a guy dressed as Princess Peach...

Health Scare

On Monday, I thought I had a stroke.

Right before lunch, I started seeing white spots and an over-stimulation of colors in my right eye. Then, I had pain in my left eye. I figured maybe I was just hungry, and should eat something. Before I could sit at my desk to eat lunch, I started having trouble talking. I could speak, but couldn’t think of the right words to say. I tried to read an email. I could read, but not fully understand what I was reading. I started to freak out! I thought I was having a stroke at age 27. My fingertips started to ‘tingle’, and then it got to a point where I could not writing the words I wanted to write. I was scared.

I called my husband who urged me to rush to the ER. I couldn’t bare the thought of calling 911, and being a spectacle for all my co-workers and DC tourist - watching me get into an ambulance. I braved the metro, and offered to meet my sister in law at the end of the line so we could head to an ER that was closer to home.

On the metro ride, all of my symptoms went away, then I got a splitting headache. The whole ordeal only lasted 30min or so. At the ER, the doctors ran all kinds of tests…CAT scan, MRI, EKG, etc. They wanted to make sure I didn’t have a stroke or a blot clot. In the end, the ER doctor told me that what I had was a very severe migraine. The MRI showed no signs of a stroke. The next day, I went to see my family doctor who referred me to a Neurologist to make sure I didn’t have any blood clots. Neurologist diagnosis = severe migraine.

I did a bit more research on this phenomena. I’ve always had migraines, but never this bad. What I experienced this time was called an “Aura Migraine”. “Auras” are visual and physical symptoms your body displays 30/45min before the onset of a migraine. Aura Migraines explain everything…the distorted vision, the trouble with my thought process, the tingly fingertips.

At least now I know what ‘auras’ are, and how I should handle my migraine if an ‘aura’ appears.

Needless to say, this was a scary week for me. I’m happy that all ended well. Migraines are terrible…but I’d much prefer them over a stroke or blood clot!

Eyebrow Threading in DC & Maryland

For all of you that are still getting your eyebrows waxed – tsk tsk. There’s a better way to get rid of those unsightly stray eyebrow hairs. I stopped waxing 3yrs ago. Everytime I had my brows waxed, I ended up with major red bumps, soreness, and peeled skin. I was probably allergic to the wax, but at the time, I didn’t care because I figured being ‘beat-up’ was better than having a Bert and Ernie unibrow. However, the last straw came when I ended up with only HALF an eyebrow after a bad wax session with an esthetician named ‘Ming’.

Fortunately, I found out about ‘Threads’ – a local threading salon operated in part by the always cheerful, always pleasant Sonya. This quaint Indian salon has expanded from two location in DC, to a newly opened salon in Bethesda, MD. If you’re never heard of threading, you can find a description of the process here.

The ladies of ‘Threads’ are absolute eyebrow professionals. Your brows will be perfectly arched and shaped according to your facial frame. And if you’re new, they’ll gladly take the time to answer all of your questions. All locations are popular, and can get quite crowded, so if you’re in a hurry, you should definitely make an appointment. Eyebrow threading is about $15 and can take up to 5min for the entire process. Some girls get their entire face threaded, which can take up to 20 or 30min.

For the novice, threading can be a little uncomfortable. I have extremely sensitive skin, so I tend to get a little red after my session. But the redness fades after 20min. A small price to pay for perfect brows. The process is much less painful than waxing, and way more gentle on the skin. I never feel like my skin and brow hairs are coming off at the same time. And, at the end of your threading session, your threaded area is lightly padded with rose water.

I normally frequent Sonya – but all the ladies that work there are proficient in their craft. This place comes highly recommended by the Washington Post and neighboring locals alike.

Here’s the contact information for the three current ‘Threads’ locations:
1424 L St NW, DC = 202.737.7710
1534 U Street, DC = 202.265.7710
8211 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda MD = 301.907.4545

DC Foodie Review: Café Chopsticks

This little Pan-Asian café is located at 1020 19th Street, NW (on the corner of 19th and L Street, next to Java Green). I’ve been eyeing up this place ever since I saw their “Opening Soon” sign a month ago. The décor is rather minimalist, but bright and clean, with a few hints of Japanese flare. The bright red umbrella and chairs outside are inviting.

Yesterday I tried Café Chopsticks for lunch and, sadly…I was somewhat disappointed.

Every time I try a new Asian style restaurant, I usually opt for the curry. I mean, really, is there any way to ‘botch’ curry chicken?! Unfortunately, Café Chopsticks did. First off, the curry chicken had a really strange dark brown color. There were veggies mixed in there (carrots and unions), but only 5 pieces of chicken (yes, I counted them). They gave me plenty of white sticky rice, but I was left wondering why so little curry and veggies? I’m not into Titanic-sized meals for lunch, but this place really skimmed on the portions. I was still starving afterwards. Is the economy really affecting you so much that you can’t afford some substance in your dishes?

The sad part is, Café Chopstick’s menu looked promising, with an array of familiar Korean and Japanese dishes like Bibimbap and Bento boxes – but unfortunately my meal fell short. I’m not going to rule this place out yet though. I always try food venues at least twice before deciding whether or not to return. I’m interested in trying their Udon and Ramen noodle soups. I hope to fare better with those items.

Everything on the menu is under $10, which is great for DC. My only advice to this new eatery is – you really must step it up on your presentation and food flavors if you’re going to compete with organic venue Java Green next door (which I’ve tried, and will review at some point), Nooshi (a block away), and Café Asia (on I Street). I still have hope for you Café Chopsticks!