Hostel and Zoo

It's been hostel, hostel, hostel for a while now and looks like it will continue unabated since Antonio took a week and half's vacation to the Poconos. This morning a lot of inconsiderate people left grossness in the sink. I'm getting cabin fever.

Sadly, we're approaching Spring Break season and a look at the upcoming weeks is horrifying. We're tripling bunks in one room to hold the demand. I am willing to bet I'll be folding a lot of laundry.

I was at Travis' apartment yesterday and these girls that I have never seen before (and neither had several of his roommates) brought over this Martha Stewart-style catered picnic dinner consisting of salad, chicken, tasty ravioli, chocolate chip cookies, and homemade rice krispy treats. Oh, oh, yes! Why? I didn't care! Everything was delicious.

I pretty much stopped buying food and now survive on a medley of food that people leave behind. Smoked sausage? Sure! 24-pack of Natural Light? Um, okay! Jar of yeast? No!

Oh god, this guy checked in and I smelled him and said, "ew, reeky Play-Doh." I don't know what stench this is, but I bet it involved a healthy dose of not showering. What's worse is that now half of the top floor is permeated by this odor.

Speaking of, um... showering, no one at work told me that we have a gym on the second floor of my building and better yet, it's completely free to employees. But now I know. Look how empty and nice it is! I have never seen anyone else there but my boss, once.

And a gratuitous me-shot, looking kind of cranky.

Lovely.










Toiletries were provided and smelled excellent.







There was more equipment than this.







Of course the view from the stationary bike is a custard shoppe.







I discovered that we have magnets! Now there are a few on my bunk bed.






You cannot go through life with the last name of Payne and not want to be a doctor. It's true.






So Laura came up last weekend, awesome, and I finally got to meet Chad, who I didn't realize went to Georgetown. This was the dessert that I was brave enough to order at Tryst and oh my, so good. I didn't realize that the creme filling was some sort of cheese (mascarpone?) until I finished it. I'm not sure how it would have affected my enjoyment had I known earlier.

One receives animal crackers with all coffee beverages. How droll.







Remember a couple of days ago when I was musing about going to the zoo? I mustered the energy and indeed made the trip north. I skipped the Invertebrate House (I've spent too much time there) and headed towards the Reptile House. Last time I went my batteries died two exhibits in so for all of you that have had to wait this long, my profound apologies.

Of course everyone remembers our skinky friend.







An imperial-looking lizard.










This was some sort of giant water snake and I managed to catch it mid-hiss. Sweet.






More snake.








Close-up of a snake with what looked like a glaucoma problem.







Some reptile that was hugging the wall.







I don't care much for frogs but I do love this kind that looks like a big pile of muck.






Additional lizard.








Ah, crocodiles! But wait - they aren't real! I don't know why they felt they had to create the illusion of a croc farm, because they already had two very live crocodiles.



Here's one of them.








Dangly snake.








I think there might have been a turtle involved with this exhibit.