What I’ve learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0067

3301.  At BJ’s Wholesale Club, a price ending in 9 is full price.  .00 or .90 is a manager’s special, discounted 10% per week until gone for a maximum of 60% off;

3302.  At Pier 1 Imports, a price ending in .95 or .00 is full price.  .48, .95 or .98 is a clearance or reduced item;

3303.  At PetSmart, a price ending in 9 (i.e., .09, .49 or .99) is full price.  A price ending in 7 (i.e., .07, .27 or .97) is a clearance or reduced item;

3304.  At Lands’ End, a price ending in .00 or .50 is full price.  A price ending in .97 or .99 is a marked down price often a clearance or a temporary sale item;

3305.  At Best Buy, a price ending in .99 is full price or on sale.  A price ending in .96 is adjusted to beat a competitor’s price.  A price ending in .92 is a one-time price drop at or below Best Buy’s price;

3306.  If you don’t stick to your values when they’re being tested, they’re not values.  They’re hobbies;

3307.  If we amplify everything, we hear nothing;

3308.  The Sedins (i.e., Henrik and Daniel) are phenomenal passers;

3309.  (I can say) I was at the game that Joel Ward scored his 100^th point as a (Washington) Capital;

3310.  Late at night on a weekday, you might want to double check when the last train leaves the Metrorail station. . . . At some places, the last train goes by a half an hour before the station (actually) closes . . . like at the College Park-U of Md (Metrorail) station;

3311.  Worcestershire sauce loses some of its flavor and potency after a couple of days;

3312.  Molly Galbraith’s 7 recent food epiphanies that set her free: 1.  Food is abundant in my life and I can have almost any food at any time that I want if I really want it.  Nothing is ever off-limits; 2.  I should stop eating an indulgent food at the point in time that the “payoff” (i.e., the taste) is no longer greater than the price (i.e., the calories). . . . I started recognizing that I would eat an entire pint of ice cream even though I couldn’t taste the last 2/3 because my tongue was frozen! . . . I make sure that everything I eat is utterly satisfying; 3.  I make sure that I’m only eating foods that I truly enjoy (even healthful foods).  When I do this, I find myself craving other things less (i.e., if I have buttery, garlicky, Brussels sprouts at dinner versus dry broccoli, I’m less likely to crave something more indulgent after dinner); 4.  I no longer stuff myself to the point of major discomfort/pain.  I just stop eating when I feel myself starting to get close to full. . . . I got used to stuffing myself on my “cheat day” because at midnight I had to stop eating and I was so scared of midnight hitting that I’d stuff my face from the time I got up until then; 5.  If I know I’m going to have an indulgent meal, I’ll fast a little longer in the morning (I don’t always fast, but I do enjoy waiting several hours to eat in the morning) or stretch out my time between meals to make sure that my overall caloric consumption is lower.  I also try to do a strength training workout that day, but I don’t stress too much if it doesn’t happen; 6.  I eat much more slowly when I’m indulging. . . . I’m an absolute fanatic when it comes to chips and queso and one thing I started naturally doing is breaking my tortilla chips into 2-3 pieces and taking smaller bites instead of mindlessly stuffing the whole chip in my mouth.  I eat more slowly, I eat less overall and it gives me something to keep my hands busy.  I also put my fork down between bites, drink water and engage in conversation; 7.  If I’m at my house and I really want something like ice cream or something, I’ll have a few bites and then stop, and I’ll tell myself that if I still want more in 20 minutes, I can have more.  I almost never want more(, but if I do, I have more!); and Bonus: There is no value judgment placed on food.  You’re not “good” for eating one thing and “bad” for eating another.  You’re not “on” or “off” the wagon.  You can have salad and cupcakes in the same meal . . . it’s not against the law;

3313.  I’m not a big fan of peaty Scotches (specifically Laphroaig);

3314.  I can now say that I’ve been to a Georgetown (men’s) basketball game;

3315.  Kangaroo (meat) is very lean . . . and dry;

3316.  The sweet chili butter (with jalapenos and English curry) for the mussels at the Red Star Bar & Grill (RedStarBar.us) (in Baltimore, Maryland,) is pretty tasty;

3317.  How do you take a tequila shot when you hate (the taste of) tequila?  The answer is: Take a lemon, douse it in hot sauce, bite it and then down the shot. . . . You can barely taste the tequila;

3318.  You learn more from your losses than from your gains;

3319.  Mary Lambert is pretty funny;

3320.  Heather Thomas (i.e., Mary Lambert’s drummer) is rather attractive;

3321.  According to Matt (Nathanson), playing someone else’s guitar is like masturbating someone else. . . . You know how to do it, but it feels weird;

3322.  Pat Monahan (the lead singer of “Train”) likes taking (audience) selfies;

3323.  Columbia’s “Omni-Heat” thermal reflective lining actually works;

3324.  Thinking of how she’ll feel about something is always a safe move to make sure your thoughtful gestures are received in the way you intended;

3325.  Bartenders don’t like it when you drink the random whisky shots left on the bar. . . . Apparently, they’re a dead man’s shots;

3326.  Lyon Hall (LyonHallArlington.com) (in Clarendon) has Happy Hour every day from 3 o’clock to 7 o’clock;

3327.  The “SJF” (i.e., Sobieski vodka, Barritt’s ginger beer & fresh squeezed limes) at Lyon Hall is pretty tasty . . . and so are the Thai curry mussels (i.e., rice vermicelli, coconut, lemongrass, chilies, spinach & basil);

3328.  Why would you (ever) make and/or wear ugly, holiday sweaters? . . . It’s another of the great mysteries of the world;

3329.  The 9:30 Club used to be (at 930 F Street, NW) in Chinatown;

3330.  I think a sign of how well you know someone is how easy or hard it is to buy presents for him/her;

3331.  The (mini) cake balls at Whole Foods (Market) are deceptively small.  They’re bigger than they look . . . and very sweet;

3332.  Megan likes Taylor Swift;

3333.  Some days, I really hate my job;

3334.  This thing called life is a miracle, each and every particle of it, and the holiday season is a celebration of the miraculousness of it all;

3335.  Live in the now and enjoy life one moment at a time;

3336.  Close your eyes and take a deep breath.  Then take a new look around and really see this time of appreciation, excitement, happiness and peace for the goodness it contains.  Your decision to emphasize the positive can make this a true season of light, a chance to rekindle the spirit of love and living life to the fullest.  Make your holidays about awe and gratitude;

3337.  The “holiday turkey and stuffing panini” (i.e., turkey, gravy & herbed, cranberry stuffing) at Starbucks is pretty tasty. . . . It’s (like) Thanksgiving dinner on a ciabatta roll;

3338.  Megan likes power tools;

3339.  According to Megan, she has stinky sweat;

3340.  Ariane is a hockey fan . . . and a (Washington) Cap(ital)s fan at that;

3341.  If you’re wondering if any place is open in (Old Town) Alexandria, Murphy’s Irish Pub is open every day.  There’s never a day it’s closed;

3342.  I (always) thought Stephen Hawking was American (after all his voice emulator does have an American accent), but he’s actually British/English;

3343.  Alan Turing was gay;

3344.  Apparently, you should flush with the (toilet) lid down.  Polluted water vapor erupts out of the flushing toilet (bowl) and it can take several hours for these particles to settle. . . . Who knew?

3345.  Get to a place of gratitude and you will experience peace;

3346.  Be in a state of gratitude for everything because there is something to learn in everything;

3347.  Be grateful even for pain because there are lessons to be learned from it;

3348.  When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change;

3349.  When you forgive someone, you let go of the resistance that is keeping you from your alignment;

3350.  Any resolution that involves making decisions about future behaviors is a waste of time.  It reinforces the self-defeating notion of living in the future. . . . Live in the moment.  This day that you’re living right now is the only day you get;