Locked out.

I woke up this morning and watched 4 episodes of 24 season 4 streaming on netflix. My rationale was that I haven't seen that season yet and it and Jack Bauer is like war on terrorism inspiration, and I had no place to be.

10:10am (ala 24) When I finally peeled myself out bed I went to the gym. I had a pretty decent workout that consisted of running, DB thrusters, DB bench, and DB press. While the gym here is pretty nice, I still frowned at all of the funny plastic "resistance machines." 2 hours later. Fully drenched. Happy to get into the hot tub in the adjacent room.

12:15pm. When I was done stretching it out, I toweled off, gathered my things and headed up to the 12th floor. I swiped my card on the door and got the red light. Three times. Locked out. Shit. I headed back to the elevator and stood in the same puddle I made in the same elevator I was in when I got up to my room and headed to the front desk.

Its 12:20. So imagine: you're the front desk worker at a pretty fancy hotel (the kind with fancy carpeting, a huge chandelier high above a giant granite round table with a fresh floral arrangement in the lobby) and you're approached by a half naked, disheveled, hungry (have I mentioned that still haven't had breakfast yet) soaking wet, manic filipino demanding a new room key. I mumbled a half apology to the wedding party assembling behind me on my way back to the elevators.

1:15pm. After showering, my intended destination was the Virginia Beer Festival, not one block from my hotel. As I approached the event I observed the horde. A mob of a crowd. Each with a small 8 oz. tasting glass, and an bad east-coast Yankees-rule attitude. Several young men sensed an obvious higher caliber of macho in the air and drew closer to their accompanying ladies as I walked past. Inside, a live band wailed 3rd eye blind lyrics. When I got to the main enterance, I just felt fully disenchanted. I feel totally uninterested in partaking in this event all by myself.

1:40pm. I still haven't found any food. On my way back to the hotel I ordered a chicken "burrito" from a street vendor. The center was still cold and as I walked I pitched the remainder of it into the open sunroof of a pretentious gray Mercedes SUV (ok I didn't do that but I definitely wanted to).

2:05pm. I arrive at the 12th floor to find that my room door is open. The threshold is cordoned off by a gray rubbermaid housekeeping cart, and as I approach I see a small ethnic woman wearing a pink apron holding one pair of size 10 combat boots apparently looking for a place to put them. I hungrily walk away and secretly thank the maid for giving me a reason to get more food.

3:10pm. On my way to the Chili's on the top floor of the MacArthur plaza mall I saw a movie theater. I buy a ticket to see the new robin hood that starts in 10 minutes and in-between bites, of margarita chicken, I've been writing what you just read. It is likely to be better than the movie "letters to Juliet." Ask KP. Reviews to follow.


7:35pm. Robin Hood was pretty good. So is double chocolate stout at O'malley's Irish Pub on Granby Street.