The Adventures of Rosie and Maya

Maya and the Metro Card

I came to DC to visit with my family that I haven't seen in over a year and was given a metro card and a new travel buddy, my step sister Maya. Today was our first day venturing out into the DC area on our own and had a few little mishaps.

The first mishap was not checking the bus schedule before we left the house. It was only a 30 minute wait but still, it's hot out and I can't stand the heat. I much prefer the chilliness of air conditioning. At least we know for tomorrow to check the bus schedule.

Mishap number two was Maya. The way the metro card works is that when you get on the bus there is a censor pad and right in the middle of the pad is a picture of the metro card. You place your metro card on top, it makes a beeping noise, money is deducted from the card, and you go find a seat on the bus. Maya did not get this memo and this next moment will forever be referred to as the 'double, double, toil and trouble' moment. Unsure of where to put her card she did several large circles around the pad (which to her looked like she was stering around herown concocktion in a coldroun) until after about 2 minutes when the bus driver pointed on the pad where she had to place the card.

Mishap number three was also Maya. Another way this silly little metro card works is when you get off the subway you have to scan it. As I approached the scanner machine(that also doubles as a barracade) I pulled the metro card out of my pocket, swiped it over the censor pad, and went through the barracade. Maya didn't see my ninja metro card movement and figured she could just walk through. And she would have made it if the barracade hadn't closed on her.

'Rosie, how did you get through?'

'I paid...."

And with a large crowd of people standing behind her, she fished through her purse to get her metro card and made her way through the barracade.

Who knows what will be in store for us tomorrow as the adventure continues when we visit Georgetown.

The Shocking Electric Fence

I was walking along a road in this tiny town in Ireland with a new friend, Tracy. After having spent the last 20 minutes walking we decided to take a small break and took a seat on the stone wall nearby that separated the road from a nearby empty field. Tracy was about to jump over the short stone wall so she could sit in the green grass when she noticed the electric fence. She asked if I thought it was a real electric fence and I just shrugged my shoulders assuming it was...I mean who would put up a pretend electric fence?

She then pointed out that the field was empty and who put up an electric fence for an empty field. Now she had peeked my curiosity.... why would someone use a real electric fence for an empty field. I leaned over the wall a little bit, fully intended to just barely touch the fence. But then I chickened out. What if it was a really strong electric shock..that would be an interesting phone call to my mom.

"Uh, Mrs. Yahn? Well, Rosie touched an electric fence and well the shock was so strong that her heart stopped."

And then my mom will just sigh loudly while shaking her head, "Yup, that sounds like something she would do..."

But Tracy kept egging me on promising me that the fence was fake, just some wire to spook people from going on the field. And that was all I needed to know...

So I leaned over again, biting my lower lip in anticipation as I lowered my index finger to the wire, and my eyes shut so tightly.

My finger made contact with the wire and there was a very loud *POP* while everything went black for a brief second and the words 'Oh shit' going through my mind. I opened one eye slowly and saw Tracy's concerned face holding back a huge smile. When I nodded that I was ok she began laughing hysterically and I couldn't help but do the same. I wriggled my index finger and noticed that my elbow was hurting...that was weird.