Oh! I've noticed people on those double-decker tour buses in NY taking pictures of me. Huh? I'm really not that interesting.

Who cares about the Kennedy Center on your left, there's a sweaty native girl down there!!

I always wonder how all the random tourists that have taken photos of or with me explain them to their friends and family later. "And here's that really strange Victorian Goth girl we saw in Seattle! We just HAD to get our photo taken with her!"

People, please remind me that I cannot change someone's mind who thinks that they know what it's like to be on the razor's edge of poverty because they have a large tax bill and therefore all poor people have to do is budget and sacrifice in order not to have to choose between groceries, bills and rent or their car insurance.

Do we really think that the majority of people who don't have liability don't have it because they are flauting the law?

You cannot change that person's mind, DJ. A good stint of living outta their car might do the trick, but even then, people can be weirdly stubborn.

There is a woman STOPPED in the crosswalk blocking all traffic so she can take a picture of the Capitol.

t cue Chewbacca, head back noise of agony

The people standing in the middle of Independence Avenue...basically a HIGHway for crap sake, taking pictures of the cherry trees.

I know I rant about this every year but really? trees? Okay, pretty trees, I agree, but worth your life or the lives of innocent motorists? Not really!! No, seriously, not really worth it!!

And, by the way, could I please have your name and address to I can narc your tree branch pulling down ass to the park police so that they can send you that huge ticket? Cuz, you know what? Those gorgeous flowers that so overwhelmed you with their beauty that you absolutely could NOT allow them to stay in their natural habitat...the ones that would have lived on that tree for the rest of these kabillion people to enjoy? They'll be dead in half an hour you selfish berk.

Ahem. Sorry. It's a thing.

OMG OMG OMG.

I am making the world's yummiest carnitas right now. The shredded pork just went into the oven to crisp. I had a bite to test it out and OMGWTFYUM. If DH doesn't get home soon I may eat the entire batch by myself.

I know I rant about this every year but really? trees? Okay, pretty trees, I agree, but worth your life or the lives of innocent motorists? Not really!! No, seriously, not really worth it!!

And also, pretty visible from the sidewalk! Where you won't cause a traffic accident!

And also, pretty visible from the sidewalk! Where you won't cause a traffic accident!

Seriously!

The whole, 'it's just one' phenomenon nearly fomented a battle with my visitor two weeks ago. When I huffed at her for ripping off some forsythia and another bloom, she actally shot back "Bite me." I very nearly did.

What IS it that makes otherwise sane people feel like it's okay to tear up a living thing, or to throw their rubbish on the ground?

"It's just one."

I wish I had a better retort than stunned indignation.

You cannot change that person's mind, DJ. A good stint of living outta their car might do the trick, but even then, people can be weirdly stubborn.

Yeah. There's this other guy who's a regular at the DMN's blog who seems to get what life can do to people having been through it himself. But the original board member who posted and this other guy are all "Get rid of your cell phone and cable! No luxuries for you! Take public transport!" Which, lessee, at best turns my 20 min commute into an hour and 10 minutes and still includes a half mile walk. I can't imagine what it would be like for someone who can't afford to live in our increasingly gentrified urban center.

ETA: also, did you get my email? Nothing urgent, just giving you an update on the "Why can't the whole site be in one content doc" situation.

Baby predators are so cute.