#36 Boston - But I Don't Have 3 Dollars - February 10, 2006
Well, it was a bit of a struggle to make it back tonight-- my boss Bruce and I paid a lovely visit to a biotech company in Waltham, just outside of Boston, (historically known best as the home of the Waltham Watch Factory, a pioneer company of the Industrial Revolution) and it was a bit of a challenge for me to get home (or the office actually where I am typing this). (http://www.waltham-community.org/history.html)
I got on the "T" in Newton Center, and very proudly gave the conductor what I considered an adequate fare of $1.25. I had almost reached my seat when I was called back to the front and asked to pay an additional $1.75 (!!!) for the actual fare of three dollars. "But I don't have $3.00", I said, and I think only because I must have looked so genuinely surprised and also because it is currently minus 200 degrees outside, she let me stay, but not without an additional lecture as to what the prices were for such a luxurious ride. Many many stops later, fighting a serious bout with nausea (this is why I walk everywhere), part two of the journey began - nothing spectacular on a normal day - just the few blocks from the T stop to my office, but considering the biting cold, it was no small undertaking. I eventually ducked into Whole Foods and bought something mainly because I could no longer feel my toes, and I thought my nose had fallen off somewhere on Cambridge Street. For a short moment there I was seriously exploring trying to figure out if Whole Foods would sell warm socks and shoes - but I regained consciousness and thought that a hot soup would do the trick as well. It is bloody freezing out there, the wind-chill has dropped current temps down to a lovely 17 degrees Fahrenheit (= Minus 8 Celsius) - there are snow flurries expected tonight, and tomorrow evening a large snow storm is coming to town. If I am lucky, I can use my snow shoes right here in Boston on Sunday!!
The weekend prior was such a sharp contrast - warm, windy and rainy weather dominated and plans had to be rearranged according to Mother Natures' ever-changing whimsies. We rang in the weekend by joining one of the Appalachian Mountain Club's "local walks" (http://www.outdoors.org/). The AMC is a great organization - they offer short local hikes, you can join them for some serious peak bagging in the White Mountains up in New Hampshire, and they do all sorts of outdoorsy things - biking, canoeing, cycling, skiing, snowshoeing - you name it. If you do attend the local walks a lot, you will get to know the usual array of suspects, and some of these core people are a lot of fun to be with. Then there are the other ones..... hmmh, let's see - how to describe them? A little on the odd side or maybe crazy, generally leaning toward the socially inept, and really not "people persons". Thank God for Phil, a retired physics teacher, who is one of the regulars, he always has something funny to say and is an absolute gem, and for Renee who accompanied me on this outing. The destination of our dysfunctional little group was Great Brook Farm State Park in the lovely town of Carlisle, Massachusetts (http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/gbfm.htm). A fully functioning dairy farm run by Mark Duffy, it offers more than 20 miles of enjoyment for hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders. Of interest to us where some Native American sites with grinding stones (http://www.concordma.com/magazine/oct98/sacred2.html) and "seventeenth century cellar holes comprise "the city" where early English settlers worked one of numerous mill sites on the 1,000 acre park. " All in all though it was lovely to be out and about, in particular since the rain we were promised held off until we returned back to Boston, and aside from the occasional mud hole and some sheets of ice, it was a very agreeable hike and not too demanding on us weekend warriors.
The day ended on a very nice note with Amanda and myself trying to find some decent beer and pub grub, so we ended up at MJ O'Connor's Pub on Columbus right next to the swanky Park Plaza Hotel. Apparently the pub is an authentic Irish pub which was dismantled, shipped to the US and re-assembled right here in Boston. The food was great, the beer good, but we knew it was time to leave when a large gaggle of Irish boys started arm-wrestling near the bar. Dessert was enjoyed at "Finale" - http://www.finaledesserts.com/menus/menus.html - which was spectacular as always.
Sunday morning the plan had been to go running again with the L Street Running Group, but after looking out the window around 7 AM, it was a quick and easy decision to crawl back into bed. It was raining buckets, cats, dogs, wheelbarrows, shoemaker's apprentices, cobbler's knives, chair legs, frogs, fire and brimstone and I for one did not want to have to dodge any of these items. I eventually was able to get up, decided to join the rest of the world, and go outside as soon as the rains cleared. There is nothing like a 10-mile run on a Sunday along the Charles River (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=13656) , and despite the fact that I had to fight majorly against wind and weather, it was a worthwhile effort. Needless to say I was wiped afterward, and sat in my friend Claire's most commodious Le Corbusier chair lounge (http://www.futoncreations.com/le-corbusier-chaise.html), unable to move or lift a finger, watching the Super Bowl and barking orders at anyone who was in the vicinity of the fridge to bring me a beer. Gratifying and acceptable levels of alcohol were consumed, and Monday's level of motivation and activity was only slightly encumbered.
Since the weekend it has been a whirlwind week, with lots of activities, mostly Running Partners-related (including a kick-ass interval training session on Tuesday), and a lovely Thursday night "Port and Dessert" late night get-together with Claire and Karen. Work has been busy as well - I have some traveling coming up and my Europe trip in March, which originally included only Amsterdam and Germany, has now tacked on Barcelona as well. The condo shopping team has regrouped, my real estate agent has regained the ability to breathe and we have zeroed in on another lovely apartment in East Cambridge, this one much more in my size and price range. Stay tuned.
Oscar is on his way to recovery - turns out the little yellow guy has "hepatic lipidosis", also known as fatty liver! He's probably been getting into the chips when I am out, that little weasel! I should also monitor my whiskey supplies, who knows. Turns out he had five times the LDL (bad cholesterol) of the norm. He is now on antibiotics and a nutritional supplement that I have to purchase at Whole Foods (milk thistle). Do I sound like a crazy bird owner person already?
Mes amis - It is time to go home now - wishing you all a happy weekend, but not without a funny bit about the dangers of alcohol - enjoy!
pet:)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Liquor manufacturers have accepted the Government's suggestion that the following warning labels be placed immediately on all varieties of alcohol containers:
WARNING:
The consumption of alcohol may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
The consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a retard.
The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing.
The consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what the hell happened to your bra.
The consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really dying for you to telephone them at four in the morning.
The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.
The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most
people.
The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.
The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy.
The consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe you are invisible.
The consumption of alcohol may cause a disturbance in the time-space continuum, leaving you unable to account for large
chunks of time.
The consumption of alcohol may make you think you have mystical Kung Fu powers, resulting in you getting your ass
kicked.
The consumption of alcohol may cause you to roll over in the morning and see something really scary.
The crumsumpten of alcohol may Mack you tink you kan tpye reel goode.
I got on the "T" in Newton Center, and very proudly gave the conductor what I considered an adequate fare of $1.25. I had almost reached my seat when I was called back to the front and asked to pay an additional $1.75 (!!!) for the actual fare of three dollars. "But I don't have $3.00", I said, and I think only because I must have looked so genuinely surprised and also because it is currently minus 200 degrees outside, she let me stay, but not without an additional lecture as to what the prices were for such a luxurious ride. Many many stops later, fighting a serious bout with nausea (this is why I walk everywhere), part two of the journey began - nothing spectacular on a normal day - just the few blocks from the T stop to my office, but considering the biting cold, it was no small undertaking. I eventually ducked into Whole Foods and bought something mainly because I could no longer feel my toes, and I thought my nose had fallen off somewhere on Cambridge Street. For a short moment there I was seriously exploring trying to figure out if Whole Foods would sell warm socks and shoes - but I regained consciousness and thought that a hot soup would do the trick as well. It is bloody freezing out there, the wind-chill has dropped current temps down to a lovely 17 degrees Fahrenheit (= Minus 8 Celsius) - there are snow flurries expected tonight, and tomorrow evening a large snow storm is coming to town. If I am lucky, I can use my snow shoes right here in Boston on Sunday!!
The weekend prior was such a sharp contrast - warm, windy and rainy weather dominated and plans had to be rearranged according to Mother Natures' ever-changing whimsies. We rang in the weekend by joining one of the Appalachian Mountain Club's "local walks" (http://www.outdoors.org/). The AMC is a great organization - they offer short local hikes, you can join them for some serious peak bagging in the White Mountains up in New Hampshire, and they do all sorts of outdoorsy things - biking, canoeing, cycling, skiing, snowshoeing - you name it. If you do attend the local walks a lot, you will get to know the usual array of suspects, and some of these core people are a lot of fun to be with. Then there are the other ones..... hmmh, let's see - how to describe them? A little on the odd side or maybe crazy, generally leaning toward the socially inept, and really not "people persons". Thank God for Phil, a retired physics teacher, who is one of the regulars, he always has something funny to say and is an absolute gem, and for Renee who accompanied me on this outing. The destination of our dysfunctional little group was Great Brook Farm State Park in the lovely town of Carlisle, Massachusetts (http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/gbfm.htm). A fully functioning dairy farm run by Mark Duffy, it offers more than 20 miles of enjoyment for hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders. Of interest to us where some Native American sites with grinding stones (http://www.concordma.com/magazine/oct98/sacred2.html) and "seventeenth century cellar holes comprise "the city" where early English settlers worked one of numerous mill sites on the 1,000 acre park. " All in all though it was lovely to be out and about, in particular since the rain we were promised held off until we returned back to Boston, and aside from the occasional mud hole and some sheets of ice, it was a very agreeable hike and not too demanding on us weekend warriors.
The day ended on a very nice note with Amanda and myself trying to find some decent beer and pub grub, so we ended up at MJ O'Connor's Pub on Columbus right next to the swanky Park Plaza Hotel. Apparently the pub is an authentic Irish pub which was dismantled, shipped to the US and re-assembled right here in Boston. The food was great, the beer good, but we knew it was time to leave when a large gaggle of Irish boys started arm-wrestling near the bar. Dessert was enjoyed at "Finale" - http://www.finaledesserts.com/menus/menus.html - which was spectacular as always.
Sunday morning the plan had been to go running again with the L Street Running Group, but after looking out the window around 7 AM, it was a quick and easy decision to crawl back into bed. It was raining buckets, cats, dogs, wheelbarrows, shoemaker's apprentices, cobbler's knives, chair legs, frogs, fire and brimstone and I for one did not want to have to dodge any of these items. I eventually was able to get up, decided to join the rest of the world, and go outside as soon as the rains cleared. There is nothing like a 10-mile run on a Sunday along the Charles River (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=13656) , and despite the fact that I had to fight majorly against wind and weather, it was a worthwhile effort. Needless to say I was wiped afterward, and sat in my friend Claire's most commodious Le Corbusier chair lounge (http://www.futoncreations.com/le-corbusier-chaise.html), unable to move or lift a finger, watching the Super Bowl and barking orders at anyone who was in the vicinity of the fridge to bring me a beer. Gratifying and acceptable levels of alcohol were consumed, and Monday's level of motivation and activity was only slightly encumbered.
Since the weekend it has been a whirlwind week, with lots of activities, mostly Running Partners-related (including a kick-ass interval training session on Tuesday), and a lovely Thursday night "Port and Dessert" late night get-together with Claire and Karen. Work has been busy as well - I have some traveling coming up and my Europe trip in March, which originally included only Amsterdam and Germany, has now tacked on Barcelona as well. The condo shopping team has regrouped, my real estate agent has regained the ability to breathe and we have zeroed in on another lovely apartment in East Cambridge, this one much more in my size and price range. Stay tuned.
Oscar is on his way to recovery - turns out the little yellow guy has "hepatic lipidosis", also known as fatty liver! He's probably been getting into the chips when I am out, that little weasel! I should also monitor my whiskey supplies, who knows. Turns out he had five times the LDL (bad cholesterol) of the norm. He is now on antibiotics and a nutritional supplement that I have to purchase at Whole Foods (milk thistle). Do I sound like a crazy bird owner person already?
Mes amis - It is time to go home now - wishing you all a happy weekend, but not without a funny bit about the dangers of alcohol - enjoy!
pet:)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Liquor manufacturers have accepted the Government's suggestion that the following warning labels be placed immediately on all varieties of alcohol containers:
WARNING:
The consumption of alcohol may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
The consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a retard.
The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing.
The consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what the hell happened to your bra.
The consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really dying for you to telephone them at four in the morning.
The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.
The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most
people.
The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.
The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy.
The consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe you are invisible.
The consumption of alcohol may cause a disturbance in the time-space continuum, leaving you unable to account for large
chunks of time.
The consumption of alcohol may make you think you have mystical Kung Fu powers, resulting in you getting your ass
kicked.
The consumption of alcohol may cause you to roll over in the morning and see something really scary.
The crumsumpten of alcohol may Mack you tink you kan tpye reel goode.
posted by My Boston at
5:24 PM
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