Dear 104:

After a couple of months of early departures, it's nice to not have to get to the bus stop 10 minutes early. However, at least that was *A* schedule. Now you've given up and show up whenever. I'm convinced that they start new buses at Malden to mess with me. It sucks to get to the stop early, but to arrive at work as though I'd slept in an extra half hour.

To put it another way, I LOVE the new Hold Steady. Have it on endless repeat. But it should not be possible for me to listen to it twice on my morning commute.

No love,

The girl on the corner who refuses to thank you





Dear Male Commuters:

That's a very pretty necklace! Now will you button your shirt please?

Gross,

A Fellow Passenger





Dear Cranky Lady on the Red Line:

Nuh uh. You do NOT get to shove through the mob exiting the train, flop into a seat, and SIGH as though we decided to play Red Rover and not let you in. You wait or you suffer the consequences.

Enjoy your trip you rude wench,

The girl who glared at you

Labels: boston, observed around town, the t

I went out to return some pants and shop a bit. Then I thought it'd be a super idea to wander down Quincy Market way to find some cheesy Boston souvenirs someone. FAIL. I nearly killed 3 people, plus I still feel like crap so the walking from downtown to there was clearly too much for me and I was getting dizzy and weak.

So instead I sat down by the Holocaust Memorial because it's my favorite place to hang out/people watch/find some peace in chaos. It's a little removed from the touristmania of Quincy Market/Faneiul Hall but close enough that you can hear the crowd noise and street performers, and that people do come by, but far enough away that you're not stepped on and/or in 1500 pictures.

In the half hour or so that I spent there, I witnessed:

--4 or 5 kids with balloon-animal swords and ... sword holsters? around their waists. Much jousting to be had.
--A man try to explain the Holocaust to his 6-year-old son. I don't remember what he said but it was kind of touching.
--A woman crying silently and praying
--A homeless man dividing his bottle of Popov between three water bottles and two separate families reacting in a horrified manner before dragging their children away
--A man ask his mother what bestiality was. The whole family then debated the proper pronunciation.
--A homeless man ask another homeless man to tie his bandana for him.

Then I headed to Haymarket caught the train home. I'm spent.

Labels: boston, daily report, local, observed around town

Wow it's been a little while.

I did indeed finish the Corporate Challenge. I walked it with two coworkers and had a lot of fun. I did it in 51 real time (1:02, minus the 00:06 start and the 5 minute bathroom break for one of the girls I was with).

Been quite social this past week, doing the CC, going to the infamous 90s Night at Common Ground in Allston, going to a wedding, and tonight going to the fireworks. I've been doing these things with some local friends via a local message board. So the internet is pretty cool.

Now I gotta run and throw myself into the middle of the insanity. We're going to watch them from Memorial Drive, yipes.

Labels: boston, daily report, friends, holidays, local

I'm running my first 5k tomorrow. Holy crap. How crazy is that. It starts at 7:15 so I have to get through a full day of work first. I'm kind of nervous, but also excited. Fortunately, it's a run/walk event so I do have the option to walk. I just hope I don't finish last for our company team.

I never in a million years thought I'd be doing something like this. So much has changed in a year. I'm pretty proud of myself.

More tomorrow.

Labels: boston, couch-2-5k, gym, local

I often joke about how I almost died but the truth is, it still rattles me two years later. Yes, two years yesterday I was rushed to the St Francis ER with a blood sugar of 1300, a blown pupil, and with 30 minutes before total organ failure having thrown up 3/4ths of my body weight.

And two years later, I'm stronger for it. I take better care of myself, am more aware of my body's signals, less likely to shrug off not feeling right and tell myself it'll get better, I can handle it on my own. I'm even running a 5k in a week (holy crap).

But even I didn't want to tempt the fates when my building announced that there would be a BBQ on the plaza for lunch today. I'm sure the company that runs our cafe has much better food handling/holding procedures that won't result in allowing some nasty bugs to grow (thanks, microbiology, for giving me the words and tools to confirm what I suspect happened two years ago-- that cooking a burger =/= being safe from all microbes, especially when one is suceptible to pathogens) but I still couldn't do it. The timing was too much for me.

So I went to Chacarero for the Chilean lady that never lets me down. That was some good, safe eatin.

Labels: boston, diabetes, food, health, local, thinking

Click on the image to go to the associated article on boston.com

I'm very disturbed by Red Sneakers there. Logically, I know what's going on, but my mind goes to ghastly places every time I look at it.

Labels: baseball, boston, news, pictures, WTF?

What a mess that all was.

I spent a good deal of time hanging around directing people to alternate stations, since many of the MBTA cops I saw couldn't be bothered to do it. It's great to direct people to Haymarket and all, but not when you're not telling them where it is. So there's my good karma. Hopefully I helped some people get home/wherever they were going. I know how bewildering it can be to wander helplessly in a strange city looking for the subway.

As for me, I managed to get on a fairly empty train at State. I also finally got the answer to the #1 asked question: "What if I want the orange line inbound? Do I still get on at State/Haymarket?" The answer was apparently yes, as I saw a train go through when I was heading for the outbound platform. It just, obviously, wasn't stopping at downtown. Oh well, Chinatown isn't that much of a walk and that's where I was sending people.

Labels: boston, news, observed around town, the t

I took the red line yesterday from work to a little get together in Davis. I dozed off soon after getting on and woke up around Park Street just in time to hear "Next stop: Shawmut!"

I jumped and looked around, wondering how long I had been asleep (for those not aware of the layout, I was heading toward Alewife, Shawmut would be in the complete opposite direction on an Ashmont-bound train). I looked around, realized it was just a miscue in the system like the train I was on last week that was going from North Quincy to Quincy Adams on the inbound track. ANYWAY.

Every stop thereafter is was "Next stop: Shawmut!" and I swear to god the automated voice had different inflections based on its changing emotions. It REALLY wanted to go to Shawmut. At Kendall, he was depressed when he realized he probably wasn't going to Shawmut, like "Next stop: Shawmut? Please?" By Central, he had taken on a more determined air: "Next. Stop. Shawmut. If I have to take over and drive this train using my onboard computer and the help of some friendly rats."

I really shouldn't be surprised, the red line does have the most expressive voice of all the trains. Have you heard how excited it is to go to Braintree? Listen sometime. "The destination of this train is: Braintree!!!!111!!!111!!" I mean, this might be colored by my excitement over the arrival of a Braintree train since I took them so often to get to Quincy but I've pointed it out to other people and they hear it too. Braintree! HOORAY!!!

And finally, speaking of Quincy and the guy on the Shawmut Express reading the latest issues of the Journal of Infectious Diseases ... I got a B+ in Micro! I'm done with it! WOOOOOO!! Thanks for all the well-wishes and thoughts for my exam, they seem to have worked!

Labels: boston, funny, nursing school, observed around town, stories, the t

We were at the game tonight. It was called around 8:45 or 9 so we instead went to the new Apple store to play.

We came away with this, which was so worth the price of admission:



It was taken with the on-board iSight webcam and Photobooth. Apparently this means everything is backwards. Whatever, it's an awesome animated GIF and you know you love it.

Labels: baseball, boston, family, funny, pictures

COME ON Farnsworth. Whipping it at Manny's head? He looks kind of scared in his media follow-up. Just trying to be "aggressive"? Yeah, I'd say knocking a guy who's gotten 2 home runs in one night in the base of the skull would be considered aggressive. Joe Girardi is a slimeball not worthy of even trying to fill Joe Torre's shoes.

Ah, baseball. It's nice to be able to focus on it and not my own mental crap this year. Early spring is usually tough for me, depression-wise, with last year being the obvious height of that. Nice to have shaken free of that for a bit.

I walked from work to the Trader Joe's on Boylston today. It was a lovely evening and it took me awhile to get there because I kept wandering off to look at things. Then, of course, the inevitable distractions at Trader Joe's. Today was the last day of their cheese tasting. I wish I could live at Trader Joe's. I tried:

California Goat Cheese

VT Sharp Cheddar

Old Amsterdam Gouda

Sheep's Milk Gouda

Sheep's Milk Cheese

Goat's Milk Brie

If you bought any one of these cheeses, you'd be in heaven. I want to go back right now and buy all of them and have a cheese party.

Labels: baseball, boston, food, local, thinking

First order of business: BostonNOW shuts down effective immediately. I would like to say that my mornings will be a little emptier but the truth is, they've been emptier for a few weeks now.

You see, for non-Bostonians, every morning at pretty much every T station there are competing paper hawkers. You've got your BostonNOW and your Metro. They all had their unique schtick, their unique personalities. At my station, there used to be Boston Now Guy. He'd stand outside the door, or just inside if it was cold, and greet every passenger that entered with a jubiliant "Good morning! Buenas dias! Watch your step! Free papers! Good morning, America, get your Boston Now! It's FREE, America!" He started my day off with a smile and made Boston Now more popular at least at that station. In comparison, the Metro guy stands at the top of the stairs, always with a smile on his face and a nod for everyone, but drowned out by the constant "It's FREE, America!" Sometimes I'd bypass BostonNOW guy and take a Metro just because I felt kind of bad for him. Most people just have time for one daily rag on their commute and by the time they got to him, more than half of them were clutching their BostonNOWs.

Then, a few weeks ago, I noticed Boston Now Guy standing back, observing someone else as they distributed the paper. Then, one morning, he was just gone. The new guy was, again, friendly, but he had none of BNG's boundless enthusiasm. I mean, you could really believe that this guy honestly loved distributing this free rag with the writing and content on par with the purchase price. I had been planning on posting about him for weeks. First just about his morning sunshine, then about his departure. Today, though, I knew it was now or never. So, wherever you are Malden Boston Now Guy (not to be confused with The Malden T Stop Singer), I hope you're brightening someone's day. Know that at least one weary Malden commuter misses those 30 seconds every morning.

Speaking of the T, I rode the blue line for the first time today. I think I have now ridden every line. Took me long enough. Nate and I took it out to Revere to the Target there because I have been searching in vain for these shoes. I finally ordered them online, but not before I called and/or visted 6 different Target stores. By the way, Revere Target, why the heck did you tether two totally different sized shoes together and then put them out for sale? I didn't end up buying them but I did bring the mismatched pair up to customer service because I know how angry I'd be if I got home and found that I had bought a 7 and an 8.5. I know you should check those things but when they're attached with a plastic tie, you assume someone's checked that out.

Now, onto baseball. First of all, Youk, what was that in the 6th? First the fake hit-by-pitch, then the chasing? It was hilarious but not what you like to see from one of your ace hitters. I gave up at that point, figuring if Youk was resorting to faking an injury to get on base then it was all over.

But then. THEN!!!! Youk brought it to a one-run game, followed by the game being broken wiiiiide open in the 9th. All the needed was 1 run to stay in the game but they delivered THREE, one of which can be attributed in part to Pedroia which, again, made me very happy.

I love watching these guys in the dugout because they're just such a supportive team. That's the operative word, team. The pre-game ceremony around Ortiz, the cute moment between Ortiz and Manny when Manny hit #493 and drove pinch runner Ellsbury home.

And, of course, Papelbon gettin in done to close out the game.

On that note, I need to head to bed. But first! Today for lunch I had the pleasure of experiencing a Chacarero sandwich with an internet friend, which was a nice change from the usual desk lunch. Check out the menu to see what I mean. It involves green beans. On a sandwich. And it's fantastic.

Amanda, how was that?

Labels: baseball, boston, food, friends, news, other bloggers, the t, vanity, WTF?

If you weren't watching last night's Sox game, let me set the scene. Sox vs. Yankees. Yankees one up in the series. Score's 4-3 Sox. A two hour rain delay that resulted in 4 false starts for Papelbon to close the game. Finally it's the top of the 9th. He retired the previous 3 batters handily, including A-Rod, which is why he was brought out in the first place.

Cano's at bat, full count, representing both the tying run and the end of the game.

Papelbon fires another one. There was drama and tension and then there were ... cars. Driving in circles. And somewhere out in the universe, BASEBALL WAS STILL HAPPENING.

Yep. Fox cut to Nascar. Yes, they had been warning since the game resumed that we might have to switch to FX at some point. But who was paying attention? The game had begun at 3:30, it was now nearly 9. Papelbon was dazzling, the Yankees were a hair from losing, who's thinking about changing the channel? AND IN THE MIDDLE OF A PITCH NO LESS.

I actually screamed, as I'm sure many people did. I shudder to think how close we came to missing it. Do you know how many channels there are to scroll through in the guide to even find FX? Particularly when you're watching NESN HD, which is in the 800s, and FX is in the 20s or so? And what of the people who don't have cable?

But, in the end, we found it just in time to see Cano's last foul tip, then the groundout. Even had time to see Pedroia swoop in, which made me very happy.

But Fox, never again. And what was up with sending Nascar to a commercial right after anyway?? Stupid. Stupid stupid stupid.

Labels: baseball, boston, tv, weekend, WTF?

The 8:20 104 was early AGAIN. Nate and I were running a little late after our wild night in the ER but we were still on time. We were 3/4ths of the way down the hill when we heard it approaching so we started running. We were just about at the intersection waving our arms as the bus was getting there. We started running faster, full on flailing like crazy people and he just pulled away. This happens at least once a week.

HOWEVER. Today, a reprieve. A cop was on roadwork detail and actually stepped out in front of the bus all official-like and forced the bus to stop, then stood there until we had crossed safely and boarded.

Score one for police details, I guess!

Labels: boston, stories, the t

You know, like, how when Kitty picks you up in the Yukon after she and Tammy have just been out shopping and, like, you let Tammy get out before you get in cause, like, otherwise you'd be in her lap?

Same goes for the T. People get off before people get on.

Also, yes, everyone's in such a hurry. That's why it's called rush hour.

Sincerely,

The girl who still has a train and a bus to get on before she gets home

Labels: boston, the t, WTF?

My bus was 10 minutes late and it was BITTER COLD this morning, leading to ...

Having to get on the first train that pulled in to Malden despite the people packed 6-deep, which was a mistake because ...

The second to last car was out of service, meaning ...

Not only did I not get a seat, due to the placement of hips and feet and arms of other passengers, I was in an S-shape until lunch, so it was unfortunate that ...

The escalator was out of service at South Station.

Ugh. Some mornings I miss driving to work. That is, until I get to walk through the warm tunnel and not across the arctic tundra of the state lot in Hartford.

Labels: boston, the t, whiney

Since moving to Boston in September I have been terribly homesick for the familiarity of Hartford. I lived within 1-2 miles my entire 7 years there. I went to the same pharmacy, the same grocery store(s), the same mall, the same park, the same movie theatre. It was comforting. It was home. I knew 4 different ways to get everywhere and I felt comfortable driving every one of them.

I have greatly benefitted from the larger "world" Boston has to offer, yes, but I still felt like a stranger in a foreign country far from home.

Until I expanded my blog world. Thanks to the hyperlocalism of sites like Universal Hub, I'm making this city my own, too. I'm recognizing more than just town and neighborhood names when I catch the evening news. I hope this continues.

I know, all my Hartford friends are shaking their heads right now.

Now I have to get myself into bed. Stupid time change. I love the extra daylight but it's a pain to adjust to.

Labels: boston, hartford, local, thinking

Leave me alone, you smirking bastard!



Hey, it's another Saturday afternoon guest starring the MBTA police!

I was walking across the skybridge from the gym to the Wellington to catch a train home when I heard a kid screaming bloody murder. The kind of ear-piercing shrieking and screaming that makes dogs cower in fear. I could see a bit of commotion at the other end and as I got closer I heard a woman yelling "HELP! Stop! Call the police!" The man passed me at that point, holding the kid in a splayed sort of way while she kicked and fussed and screamed and cried. He wasn't running, just walking purposefully and not making eye contact.

I got to the other end and the woman there was near-hysterical yelling "STOP! You're hurting her! Please! Let her rest!" I looked out the window and saw the police pulling up and the lady started jumping up and down waving her arms so I asked her if she was okay and if she needed anything.

She tells me that this man has obviously kidnapped the little girl and won't someone please stop him? At this point a crowd is gathering and the cops go running by into the skybridge. I asked her what happened and she said that they got off the train and the little girl came up the steps, then said she wanted to sit down and rest. He picked her up and started walking away when she started screaming and crying and he was holding her much too tightly.

She also informed us that he looked just like a predator with thick black glasses and a pointy nose. Plus he was very tanned and the girl was very pale. So he had obviously kidnapped her.

Uhhhhh ... huh. Obviously.

At that point, we were all taking a few steps back, not wanting to be involved in this rapidly developing mess. Then some people came walking out of the skybridge and told us that the cops had caught up with the guy. The girl is his and she has "a disease" that causes her to go into hysterics and he was just trying to get her home.

I left at that point.

I'm all about erring on the side of caution, and something did seem odd about her screaming when I passed them, but lady, step away from the SVU and read a book. A happy one. Maybe give The BFG a try.

I don't think I'm going out on Saturdays anymore.

Labels: boston, daily report, media literacy, observed around town, stories, the t, WTF?

Memo to commuters: when your heels are fully over the door track YOU CAN'T FIT ON THE TRAIN. No one wants to hear the remix of the doors closing warning tone.

Look, I know that sometimes it can seem like 3 days between trains but it's Downtown Crossing at rush hour. I think something will be along soon. I know I enjoyed such luxuries on my trip as being able to get a seat, see my own shoes, and travel in the "no elbows in my ear" section.

Evenings like this, there's one orange line conductor I wish worked more. One evening she got fed up and yelled "If you don't get back BEHIND the YELLOW LINE you WILL be DRAGGED BY THE TRAIN!" Some people just need tough love.

Labels: boston, observed around town, the t, WTF?

Today I went looking for any other blog reports of Saturday's melee and found none so I submitted my link to Universal Hub and it looks like the story was up there within minutes, which would explain the uptick in traffic this afternoon.

Today I was also a LOT more aware of my fellow passengers and how close my accessories were getting to their personal bubbles. Can't say that I didn't bump into anyone but I also didn't get my face bashed in so I consider it a good day. Here's hoping KG is out there ingesting/shooting/smoking more or less of what he had ingested/shot/smoked on Saturday. I'm still shaking my head in amazement at what little provocation it took for him to completely lose it.

I drew this handy diagram, which I've also added to the original post, to show just how little of OG's hat hit KG's arm. The rest of the drawing may not be to scale but that sure is.



Everytime I look at this picture Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" plays in my head. So I'm just gonna stop now. Yeah.

Labels: blog business, boston, WTF?

So I've been a little slack on the picture posting but the truth is that my days are all pretty much the same. Work, gym, home, dinner, sleep. And since the phone-on-the tracks incident I'm loathe to whip my phone out to snap a pic of something interesting on the subway platform. Then there are things like yesterday's melee but I sure as hell wasn't in any position to be taking pictures of THAT. Nevermind that either or both participants likely would have just turned on me.

So, maybe a mix of pictures and stories is in order.

Like today. Today I made this cannellini and parmesan soup that I posted about over a year ago. I switched up the recipe a bit, using a small handful of frozen chopped onion instead of chopping a large one, adding some minced garlic, and of course the ditalini. The soup was fantastic if I may say so myself, though not terribly soupy. I liked it but anyone looking for more liquid might want to decrease the casta by a quarter to half.

It's now packaged into some small tupperwares to bring to work for lunch along with my ciabatta and cheddar. I'm really looking forward to it.

Also, I have calf muscles! Hooray! Not sure how I'm going to do with the couch-2-5k but it's definitely doing SOMETHING. It better be since I just got me some fancy new sneakers. I went to Boston Running Company in Beacon Hill and got my feet videotaped while I walked on a treadmill to analyze my gait and get properly fitted. It was a cute little shop and the proprietor is so friendly and helpful. If you're in Boston and thinking about taking up running, or even walking, I'd highly recommend BRC.

Tomorrow it's back to the old work-gym-dinner-bed grind. Right now, though, just bed.

Labels: blog business, boston, couch-2-5k, food, gym, local, weekend

Echoing Amanda and Melissa, this week can suck it, culminating in today's experience on the bus, which I will recount for you now. May contain some Language.

EDIT: I drew this diagram to better illustrate the situation. Enjoy!



So I was on the shuttle bus to the gym today (trains are undergoing maintenance and they're running buses between some stations) and minding my own business when a frickin royal rumble broke out.

Two guys were sitting perpendicular to each other, an old guy and a guy who later turned out to have a knife. I will call them Old Guy (OG) and Knife Guy (KG). OG was sleeping through most of the trip. He half woke up and took his hat off and laid it on his lap, tapping KG in the arm. KG flipped his lid and started in on OG, who was still half-asleep, screaming "You just touched me, mofo! Don't touch me!" He stood up and got in OG's face, shoving him. OG stood up and shoved KG back and it was off to the races.

I was sitting directly across from KG and tried to get out once I saw what was going down but there was no time and I was trapped as these two beat the crap out of each other, often times shoving each other onto me. While the bus was still moving so there would have been nowhere to go anyway, since it was a packed bus. In the back we were screaming to get the driver to stop and he finally did. Fortunately we were at the station by then so a guy in the front hopped off to flag a cop.

Meanwhile, in the back, OG is bleeding, KG has blood all over his jacket. KG's gf was jumping on his back to try to get him off OG and he just shoved her off. KG then headbutted OG in the face and OG fell back, dazed and gushing blood now. KG took this lull as an opportunity to pull out his friggin switchblade and start waving it around. I took the lull as an opportunity to get the hell outta there.

Shortly after that KG took off yelling "I'LL GET YOU MUTHAFUCKA!!!" OG followed him off the bus, threw his bag down and yelled "I'M RIGHT HERE, COME AND GET ME!" Sweet. Other passengers started trying to see if OG was okay but he resisted their advances with such coy remarks as "What the fuck is it to you?" and "Leave me the fuck alone fucker!" He also yelled at several of them to get the fuck back on the bus and fucking drive, only getting angrier when they informed him that they were not actually the driver. Fortunately the cops showed up at that point.

I kept it cool until I called Nate, at which point I all the terror and tension escaped in the form of sobbing. Strangers tried to comfort me, which was nice but mortifying so I pulled myself back together right quick.

I then gave a nice lengthy statement to the police and while I was doing that they caught KG so we all breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn't going to be coming back with his knife or a posse or an uzi.

So KG is presumably in jail, OG is off to sleep it off (I saw the cops tell him he could go when he refused treatment. He was kind of drunk and apparently a notorious homeless/Veteran character in the area), and I'm pretty banged up for having nothing to do with the whole thing but I do have a cool story.

Moral of the story: you can leave your hat on. In fact, the management would prefer it if you did.

The End.

Labels: boston, observed around town, other bloggers, stories, weekend, WTF?

This weekend we did much the same thing we did last Valentines Day Weekend-ish: We saw a friend play the character of Melissa Gardner in "Love Letters." Last year we saw Amanda and Alan. This year was Carolyn and some guy who looked like Alec Baldwin playing a politician. I thought about turning it into a tradition but quickly squashed that idea because I don't think I could handle seeing it again and again and again. It's a very powerful, moving play but damn is it depressing.

Both were quite convincing in their respective roles even though I seriously cannot handle that play.

Before going to the play we spent the day being Bostonites. That is to say we took the subway to two different malls to hit bookstores, Gap, and Banana Republic. I loved every minute of it. We hit Copley/The Pru first for B&N, Gap, and BR. We decided against B&N because the book I needed for bookclub is only in hardcover and we don't have a B&N rewards card. We hit the Galleria next and each got a book at Borders. Then it was off to Harvard Square where we decided to eat at Bartley's. I got the Dick Cheney while Nate got ... what he always gets, which is a burger with cheddar and tomato.

Today was much less exciting as I just spent it in my pajamas. I have no idea what I'll even do for the daily photo unless it's just my butt sitting in my chair.

Tomorrow: a day off! Hooray! This has been the best weekend between waking up Saturday thinking it was Friday and then realizing I in fact did NOT have to get up and could go back to sleep, no class on Saturday, and not having to get up tomorrow.

Labels: boston, friends, other bloggers, theater, weekend

After taking Friday off to let the meds really do their work (I'm on a taper of Prednisone, hence yesterday's pic of my pills. I took 6 the first day, 5 today, 4 tomorrow, and so on) I was raring to get back into a productive life. Minus the gym because I can't walk all that far without being winded but it's a start!

This weekend my internet friend Laurel and her husband are in town from the far west for a conference. She's tons of fun to talk to online and it carries over into real life. She flew in this morning and crashed on our office floor (well, on an air mattress) for a couple of hours because I couldn't in good conscience let her sleep on the airport floor. Then we got on the train and I sent her on her way while I headed to class.

Got to class and ... no one was there. No prof, no students, no note. I'm confused and concerned and annoyed because this is the third problem I have had this semester with this school and its class locations.

So back I went to downtown crossing-ish to shop a bit until Laurel finished her Fenway tour. When we met up again, we went toward the Common, taking the long way, because I'm terrible with directions. We were quite a pair, climbing Beacon Hill stopping to rest every few blocks and stopping on a bench to take our handfuls of pills. I should mention that she's about 4.5 months pregnant and not just a wimp like me.

After that we met Martha, another internet friend I've hung out with a few times since moving up here, at went to Lulu's Bake Shoppe for incredible cupcakes that I will dream about for years to come. Mine was pumpkin with cream cheese frosting. More please.

From ye olde bake shoppe, we went to the aquarium! I'm kicking myself for forgetting my camera because I can't show you all the fun stuff we saw. Mostly penguins. We also learned that clipping a sting ray's barb hurts no more than cutting your own finger off. I'm guessing we got the new girl to give the talk. There were also giant turtles, creepy eels, blind fish, birds, fur seals, a tent, and more penguins. The Rockhoppers had one giant penguin that just stayed on top of the rocks like the one in Happy Feet. He was the unanimous favorite, especially when we passed by again on our way out and he had stood up to shower in the spray they were using to clean the rocks.

THEN, after parting ways, Nate and I met Laurel and her very funny husband for drinks in Kenmore. BU kids never fail to amuse and horrify. The boys tried a whole range of beers while we sipped our sodas and fended off encroaching elbows on our table, which was apparently the best table in the whole place judging by the way the guy next to me lovingly patted it.

Caught the last train home, thank god. I love you, Boston, but another hour of trains on the weekend might be nice.

Tomorrow, more wandering until Laurel's flight back to the wild west. Then I guess there's some sort of big sports game on TV.

Now, though, bed. I love bed. And sleeping in. I love that, too.

Labels: boston, daily report, friends, nursing school, other bloggers, weekend

Labels: boston, funny, weather

I was at Downtown Crossing waiting for my redline train to work this morning. Nate had an interview so I was obsessively checking my phone to see if he had texted. I pulled it out one more time, fumbled, and it flew out of my hands and landed on the tracks!

Customer Service told me to stand there and wait for the inspector to come so I did. And hour goes by, nothing. I see a T conductor waiting for his train so I asked him if he knew anything about it. He suggested I go back to customer service. I did, they’re amazed that no one has shown up so they send me back down, this time with a T employee to wait with me. Next train that comes in stops, an inspector hops off and comes to talk to me. He was the second guy they called and he rushed right down for me, so that was nice. The train left, they called to hold up the next train, and he hopped down, grabbed it, and gave it back to me. 22 trains passed over it and barely a scratch on it!

Labels: boston, daily report, funny, stories, tech stuff

My new office has an amazing view of the harbor. I can see the very tops of buildings from my cube if I pop my head up a bit. At 12:30 I looked up and saw whiteness. At first I thought it was maybe the fog before the storm but when I got up and walked closer I found the truth.

At that point we were still supposed to have a normal day so I cursed Nate because he was being let out at 1, but resigned myself to the rest of the day. After all, I don't drive at any point in my commute so I'd really just be whining over nothing. Plus I had a meeting at 3.

THEN the most coveted of all emails came: The office would be closing at 2! Suddenly the snow was a lot prettier. I chatted with a guy on the elevator and practically twirled out of the building. I took a picture of it (see previous post) and got down to the subway. That was all cool. Got a seat on both trains, got to the station.

Walked outside to get the bus and found ... a hell of a lot more snow than when I went underground.

Two of my buses came near the station and went to "Out of Service" before turning in. The rest of the waiting passengers and I considered commandeering one of said buses but then one that would get us somewhat near where we were all going so we got on it. It got me to within a half mile of my house and I walked the rest of the way home. My coat and belongings should dry out sometime in the next week.

Still, I'm glad I wasn't driving. And now I've been home safe and warm for a few hours watching Day 6 of 24.

Labels: boston, daily report, tv, weather

So despite the fact that my 12 forms of ID and documentation clearly showed my named as Flannery, the RMV interpreted it as ...

(Please ignore the pic. Please?)



FLANNFRY. Super.

Labels: boston, funny, pictures, WTF?

There are a lot of events happening around it, but I think the coolest are the Blue Monuments. So on Wednesday wear your blue shirt and look to the skyline and think about those of us with lame pancreases. :)

Labels: boston, diabetes, health, local, news

Can't wait to whip this one out! God help me if I get pulled over. They'll preemptively haul me in.



Also, I am a library card holder once again. That little bar on the right will tell you what books I currently have out to read.

Labels: books, boston, pictures

Not much to talk about anymore. I'm temping at a CPA firm in the theatre district. It's wonderful to be able to take the train in, especially because I don't have to change trains.

Nursing school application went in Wednesday night. The essay was my stumbling block but I pulled through. Didn't dress up for Halloween, obviously, and I was home alone for a good portion of the candy distributing part of the evening so I left a bowl and a note on the porch. I was happy to see that the kids were very respectful and didn't grab whole handfuls. I'm really happy with the essay. Maybe I should post it.

I finished my nutrition prereq and am currently doing anatomy & physiology in a self-directed online format. Next up will be Statistics at Quincy College, likely in a 2 week wintersession format. After that, bio and chem in the spring, also at Quincy College.

Meh. I don't even know if anyone reads this anymore. I haven't gotten one comment in probably a month. /end whine.

Labels: boston, daily report, nursing school, whiney

I've been pretty absent, but I haven't had much to talk about. Here are the three main things happening in the week since I've posted:

1. Nursing school

My application for the program I reeeeaaaaalllllly want is due 11/1. I really don't think I'll get in, but I guess I have to try. My big hold ups are the essay (working on it) and prereqs (ohgodbiochema&p)

2. Rock'n'Roll

Eric was awesome and emailed me Monday to offer his extra ticket to The Hold Steady at The Roxy. I didn't have to think twice. He does this stuff for a living so here's his write up. It was an exhilarating musical experience that I would not have missed for the world. I hadn't heard much of Art Brut, the opener, but I will be finding more and more. I am rather well-versed in The Hold Steady's work but it was something else to be in the crowd watching lead singer Craig Finn just go completely insane.

3. Baseball

Does this need any further explanation? Wow. Twice in 3 years! Incredible to watch, though tonight's game was just pretty sad.

Also, Blogger's post page is incredibly slow. I have such a lag on my typing that I will type an entire paragraph and then wait 30 seconds to a minute for all of the text to actually appear. Anyonme else have this issue? Forget about making any typos. It'll be too late by the time they appear.

Labels: baseball, boston, daily report, music, nursing school, other bloggers

Got my new phone working! It arrived last week but was defective. It'd exit out of menus on its own, shut off at random, the backlight would stay on or turn on for no reason. The new one, however, is everything I dreamed it'd be.

Among it's cooler features is the VCast Song ID feature. I can start up the app, hold the phone to the music source, and know what I'm listening to! It'll even email the info to me so I can look up the whole song when I get home. No more frantically deciphering/memorizing lyrics to later Google or, failing that, email Eric asking what song it is.

I'll be emailing the new number out shortly, don't worry!

Labels: boston, moving, music, tech stuff

We're selling off a bunch of stuff we don't feel like moving with us, like Nate's piano and my blue chair. He already sold his GameCube and we each have two interested buyers on our items. Next I am boxing up all the misc kitchen crap we don't use (a set of plates, a set of silverware, some drinking glasses, some steak knives) and selling it as a box for $25. Those seem to do well on CL, especially as back-to-school approaches.

I told Nate I wanted to just put up signs inviting people to come take what they wanted but he told me he likes our furniture and our TV. Sigh. I hate moving.

Labels: boston, hartford, home, moving, whiney

Well, it all came together quickly but September 1 we will be MA residents.

Locals, I expect to see each and every one of you before I leave (Lisa and Eric, drinks. Amanda, I'll bring lunch, Francine ... I'm leaving you out because you'll evidently be living in my closet.)

Whee.

Labels: boston, friends, hartford, home