Hannah "Empress of The Universe" S.'s Profile

"I can't see a way that it could get better, except being cheaper." sayeth my nieces.
Shaws "has a lot of stuff, the food is good, their pizza and stuff, and they make cheese sticks.  It was remodeled recently with big murals on the walls with all the food and it's clean and and it's basically brand new, so..."
And my nieces are geniuses.  So there ya go.
I went looking for something they didn't have (a tea strainer), but I got lots of help from friendly staff and even a friendly manager... until they decided they didn't have it.  This place is as big as a Costco, and you don't have to buy in bulk.

I stumbled in here on my one hour hunt for ramen and was dumbfounded by the beauty of the offerings.   Everything is both gorgeous and mouth-watering.  The very pleasant staff was eager to direct me to the best noodle joint in the area after first clarifying whether I wanted good ramen or good udon.  I freaking love this city.
And I want about half of what they sell in this art gallery of Japanese food porn sweets.

Menkui Tei, home of deliciousness, is right next door... and they don't take credit... so Chase Manhattan to the rescue with their bank of many ATMS. Yay Money!
Interesting note:  As I was taking out the money I can't afford to spend, I picked up a receipt from a stranger who took out $300 from their account before me.  They had $67,000 in checking.  IN CHECKING.
I'm thinking about stalking this bank for date possibilities.
;)

One hour in Manhattan.

I exited the Port Authority half way between DC and Boston on a mission for ramen.  Since I was so close to Times Square and 30 Rock, I scooted up to see The Tree as they decorated it, and popped into a Japanese Bakery to ask where to find the noodles that I, weary traveler, needed.  They first asked, "Udon or Ramen?"
I paused to love New York.
I said "ramen", and they sent me here.
I ordered take out as the clock was ticking, and ran to the ATM next door for cash as they're cash-only.  There I found the receipt of the last customer at that ATM... S/he had $67,000 in checking.  Jesus Maria and Jose!
The veggie ramen is and was delish, with an almost creamy broth that makes my soul happy.  Noodles were perfectly cooked and should last through the next 4 hour bus ride... if I don't eat them first.
Gawd I love New York!

Oh!  The ambiance!  Proletarian, but in a busy way - not a dirty way.  Nice wooden tables, huge bowls of soup, good looking crowd of business shirts with the sleeves rolled up.

If you get here early enough, you can get  one of the 6 parking spots reserved for Prometric off of S. Highland Ave behind the building (see my photo).  The building is nice, with food options all around and a little cafe with free wifi should you need it during your breaks.  The staff is very friendly, and there are a few larger lockers for larger bags.  The office is clean and quiet...
Tip: Make sure your ID isn't expired, or they'll send you on your way!
Also - This is a great place to meet professional singles!  Come take a test!

Very cool, interesting, and highly intelligent students on an urban campus with some nice green spaces so that the nerds can make their Vitamin D.
An MIT education has been supporting me all my life...
Cool points go to the target shooting class which counted for gym credit for me.
I miss these geeks!

I'd never been inside a Kroger before.  This was my first.  I was so excited.  Well... it's a grocery store.  And this one's big.  But these are the things that brought me from 3 stars to 4...

1) Very friendly and competent staff
2) Store brand Rooibos tea
3) Lottery machine on my way out...  A dollar and a dream...

Gawd, I need to win!

Came after a long day for a rug that wasn't in stock... so I picked up another one that was twice the price because I was tired and weak and I just needed a rug, else the doggie would continue to slip and slide and bang his little knees on the wood floor as we play tug-o-war.  

So I spend a long half hour deciding on the rug that I don't like as much as the one that's not here for half the price... and eventually I bring it to the cashiers.

Except there are no cashiers.

Every lane has been closed except for the self check out.  Really?  You're forcing me to check myself out?  Why are there two employees assigned to this area?  Can't one handle it while the other CHECKS ME OUT?

I know - it's not a big deal... except for us tired elderly people without the technological whiz-bang gene it requires to make the damn barcode reader work, and then the combined energy and sense to read two separate screens telling me what button to press next.  Needless to say, I had to call one of the employees over twice for help.  (Between times, she was busy reading the paper with her colleague.)

Yes, I should have been able to handle it... but sometimes you just want a little help, Ikea.  And that's why I wouldn't stop and buy dinner on my way out.  Too tired and frustrated.  And those cinnamon rolls smelled sooooo goooood.

Turns out, the rug is beautiful in my space.  It's a shame I'm allergic to wool, so I can't lie on it, but the doggie likes it fine.

Polite, happy, and helpful staff.
Quiet exam room (except for the one ass who decided to curse and huff when something went wrong during his exam... um.. hi, OTHER people in the room????)  These things can't be predicted or stopped by prometric staff, so we'll give them a pass.
The bathroom could have been cleaner, but I'm finding this is true of a lot of Prometric sites.
Also - no big lockers that I could see for larger bags, but they may have had some large bag contingency plan I'm unaware of.  Plenty of free parking.  Pack a lunch, 'cuz there's nothing commercial around here for miles.

Came in here on a Tuesday night, and it was well staffed and had about a fourth of the customers one would find in a larger city's apple store... so the Genius bar was actually accessible.  You still had to get on a list, but it was possible... which is more than I can say for the places around DC.