(Phaysis)

It’s funny to me that I was raving about Kasbah and how neat it is a month and a half ago. Funny that. I mean, it is a nifty place, and it has its charm. Yet as much as I was a regular there, it just didn’t have any staying power with me. I felt home there for a brief spell, but the little “inconveniences” built up. Funny how shifting prices, bathroom keys, cruddy wireless, crowded and spartan porch seating, and slow service can change attitudes. Funny, that.

So I discovered something a few weeks ago. For the past few months, my knees have been popping every time I climb the stairs to my apartment or step up onto something. This is the same thing they did the last time I rode my bicycle – every step on the pedal would cause a knee (at that time, my left) to pop loudly; the next few days, I was sore.

Well, so here’s my knees doing the popping thing. A few weeks ago, I went to Eeyore’s Birthday down at Pease Park; the whole day was spent just kinda drifting and walking lazily, sitting for a while, walking some more, meeting friends, people-watching, walking some more. Typical Eeyore’s stuff.

Two days later, after a little soreness, I came home from work and ascended the stairs to my apartment — no popping. I stopped halfway up and tried to figure if I was going deaf. No deafness. I stepped. Nothing. Went the rest of the way up. Nothing. And it was then that I learned something: the popping goes away with exercise, something I’ve known, but it’s now brought home to me. Walking will lubricate cartilage, make it supple, and remove any little spurs on the bone ends.

Consider me schooled.

Several days later, I’m doing better. My stomach is still a bit in-and-out, but overall, I’m better. I’m starting to think less that I got a stomach virus, and thinking more that maybe I’m producing too much stomach acid, or I’m getting an ulcer. I do know that my recent love for drinking coffee couldn’t be helping. So I dunno; I’m just taking care of myself and getting better.

So Kasbah is open. It’s the new Moroccan-themed coffeeshop/teahouse that opened up in the old Mojo’s Daily Grind building. I’m still not too sure about this place. The decor is extremely different than what I was accustomed to, but it could be tolerable. Obviously, there’s a heavy Moroccan feel to the place. The main sitting room is divided up into three spaces, and each space has some chairs, some tables, low-slung couches, stained glass lamps and rugs. The sections are seperated by tapestries, curtains and freestanding screens. There’s more furniture and wall panels being shipped from Morocco; the owners also own a Moroccan import/antique shop which they will be moving into the second floor of this building, so they have connections on furniture.

For once, the tea isn’t horrible; they know how to brew it without making it cloudy. Finally, a place that can do iced tea passably well. The wireless is OK, but will be improved in the future. Also, and this is a major winning point (and key to my first visit tonight), is that this place is 24/7. So, combined with the future prospect of Epoch opening up within a few months near my house, which will be 24/7, it will be nice to have some kind of choice for late-night entertainment.

I’m even running into some of the old Mojo’s crowd, which is just strange, strange. It’s funny how we didn’t waste any time coming back.