M.P.G.s

This post is named after Mike Lee's friend Joe's band, Kadence.  Well, not exactly: it's named after Kadence's slter-ego, the farcical rap group known as the Mount Pleasant Gangstas (or M.P.Gs).  Clearly a case of owning a drum machine and having too much free time, the three white boys who made up the group (Sniggy Floo, MC What Up and Mad Beatz) attended Central Michigan University -- which is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.  Mike would sometimes make guest appearances under the rap name OE (Oriental Express).  I honestly wish I owned a copy of their stuff, because it was hilarious (and well-produced given the resources they had). 



Why did I just tell you all that?  I dunno.  I suppose it's because I now live in Mount Pleasant - only this MP is a neighborhood in D.C.  And after many technical delays and assorted BS from Verizon, we finally have internet at home.  I live with 2 females and 3 other males in a 6 bedroom, 3 bath house.  There's been some intra-house drama since we moved in which will soon come to an end - more on that in another section.  In any case, all my roommates are nice, cool people.  And the house is outrageously nice - recently renovated from top to bottom, and with all-new appliances including mutiple heating and AC units for the different floors.  There's a built-in remote-controlled fireplace in the living room, two decks, a large separate dining room and a breakfast nook in the kicthen.



I've found a local pool.  It's about the quality of a high school gym, it's in a community center in Adams Morgan, and it's a little over a mile from my house.  But the price is right...it's FREE.  That's right - every time I go swimming in D.C., I'll be saving money on my exercise.  Not too shabby.  It also turns out that our local dry cleaners is even cheaper than my suburban one.  Shirts only cost $1.45!  Pretty sweet. 



Granted, Mount Pleasant isn't nearly on the level of a Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan or U Street.  But it's a long walk (a bit over a mile) or a one-stop train ride from the U St. corridor, Metro Center and Gallery Place -- as well as a mile walk from Adams Morgan, a short cab ride from Dupont, Cleveland Park, Tenleytown...well, pretty much all of the prime spots in NW DC.  There is a ton of diversity, some good restaurants and a couple of places to hang out on our main street.  We are right next to several parks, a quick walk from the Columbia Heights Metro, the same distance from a Giant supermarket... and much, much closer to where I work than I used to be.  



It's nice to be able to go door-to-door from home to work in about 30 minutes, as opposed to 45 minutes to over 1 hour before I moved.  It's also nice to live with people near my own age, and to have privacy again.  Finally, it's really nice to be living in the city.

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