Since I left my car at the shop last night, I took the bus aaaand the T followed by a 12 minute walk into work today. Central Square is always full of crazies but at least there's the beacon of light in the Starbuck's located right at the top of the T steps. I headed in and was followed by a guy who hadn't showered or used deodorant for a good week. I held my breath and waited it out. If I was going to wait to have coffee 30 minutes into my commute, it was going to be for Starbucks.
While fixing up my grande toffee nut iced coffee with some whole milk, the guy next to me sniffed at the pitcher of cream that he held in his hand. He sniffed, looked at me, sniffed, looked at the stinky guy who had sidled up on the other side of him and said to him, "Does this smell bad to you?" The guy waved his hand in a no, no thanks kind of way, so he tried to get my attention again. I gave my best "does-it-look-like-I-want-to-join-in-your-cream-conversation-me-thinks-not" scowl, but he tried anyway.
"Do you think this smells bad?"
"I don't smell stuff." (It's true! Not just an excuse for the crazy.)
"Ha, yeah, some people don't like to. I worked on a dairy farm and that kind of stuff doesn't usually bother me, but on this one, I just can't tell..."
I nodded and bolted out of Starbuck's with my tasty treat and gasping for "fresh" air and waited to cross Mass Ave. with everyone else.
Just as a group of us were stepping onto the curb of the opposite side, this woman who I hadn't taken much notice of turned to me and said in a Swedish accent:
"Jesus Christ! Why are you stalking me up my back? You feel like a dead ghost!"
When she first started her assualt, I smiled, thinking she wanted to vent something TO me, not AT me. I'm not the type to be quick on someone's heels - I like my personal space as much as the next guy and rarely come into danger of giving someone a flat tire. Then my expression turned startled, which provoked the next taunt from the Metro guy:
"Smile lady! There you go! Have a good day!"
I don't miss commuting via public transportation much.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
small victories
Today was one of those days where I asked myself, "What else is going to suck today?" But there was something that did give it a little lift as I was reading the Metro on the bus ride home...
How did I end up on the bus today you ask? Let me start at the beginning.
I awoke, slightly hungover from an evening out to celebrate T's birthday (Happy Birthday T!), to my alarm at 7:30 a.m. At which point I realized that I didn't need to actually get up until 8:30 since the funeral was scheduled for 10. I changed the time on the alarm but never really fell back to sleep.
After finally rousing, we headed out to a funeral for Michael's second cousin. While funerals are never easy, this one's poignancy involved a ten year old neighborhood boy, Sean, who had befriended Jim through the church. When Sean heard that Jim had a stroke, he headed to the apartment that Jim shared with his sister, Sissy. He ran into her on the street, helped her home with her groceries and offered to take her to lunch. Sissy told him that was the best offer she's had in years. Following lunch, they went to the church and prayed for Jim. As they left the church, they were told that Jim had passed.
To witness that level of grief in a such a young, wonderful kid is heartbreaking. His story was included in the priest's eulogy for Jim, and when I spotted poor Sean in heaving tears, tears came spilling down my own cheeks. At that moment, I felt for all parents who realize the weight of their children's sorrow for the first time.
In the funeral procession with hazards blinking, we drove down the Arnold Arboretum towards the cemetery for the burial portion of the service. Suddenly the lights in the car began to dim and we heard a strange beeping noise. The panel indicated there was a problem with the battery, so I switched off the hazards. The battery light went out and the beeping noise stopped. Since we drove for a stretch, I figured the battery recharged itself (right?) and the problem was over.
We started the car - as we left the cemetery and headed back to the church for the reception, again as we left the church to head home, and again when I headed out to spend a few hours at work - with no problems...
Down by the Seaport Hotel, a guy blasted through a red light and came THISCLOSE to hitting me. That woke me up.
The mini sandwiches at the church didn't quite do the trick and knowing I'd be at work a little later than my normal hours, I pulled over in a loading/tow zone to run in for a quick slice and a Gatorade on Mass Ave. I wasn't really psyched to be headed to work after emotionally spending myself all morning, so when I turned my key and nothing happened, it didn't feel quite real.
I turned the key again - this time noting the flicker of lights on the panel and that the engine barely eeked out a turn. I tried again. And again. Crap.
CRAP!
I approached a police officer working a construction detail up the block. He called in my plate to prevent me from getting a ticket and asked, "Do you want me to call a tow truck?" Hold up! I think there's another solution before I automatically throw $100 down the tube. How about asking these guys if anyone has jumper cables? Ah ha! Got the car started and drove it straight into the garage around the corner from work. Told the mechanic the story of my day so far and he diagnosed the alternator, but he would check it out and let me know. I noted, a little too late, that they are a cash only operation. Perfect!
He called me an hour and a half later to tell me it was just the battery. Phew! I could have it today at 5:30 for $170. I thanked him and then asked my boss if that seemed steep to him. He agreed that it was, and I called back to ask for the break down in cost. "Well," the other mechanic said, "we happen to have this more expensive battery on hand, but if you can wait until tomorrow, we can purchase a cheaper one and install that for you." Could've told me that in the first place! Take the girl for a ride...
I struggled through a couple tasks at work and decided to call it a day. As I settled in for my T ride home, I leafed through the Metro where I found the news that would perversely brighten my day:
"$7,400: Amount the winning bidder paid for 22 Michael Vick football cards, chewed up and slobbered on by two Missourri dogs, on yesterday's eBay auction. The money is expected to be donated to the Humane Society."
Without getting into the utter disgust and horror that I feel about this case - it's not quite enough retribution and there will undoubtedly be more - it was a small victory for today.
How did I end up on the bus today you ask? Let me start at the beginning.
I awoke, slightly hungover from an evening out to celebrate T's birthday (Happy Birthday T!), to my alarm at 7:30 a.m. At which point I realized that I didn't need to actually get up until 8:30 since the funeral was scheduled for 10. I changed the time on the alarm but never really fell back to sleep.
After finally rousing, we headed out to a funeral for Michael's second cousin. While funerals are never easy, this one's poignancy involved a ten year old neighborhood boy, Sean, who had befriended Jim through the church. When Sean heard that Jim had a stroke, he headed to the apartment that Jim shared with his sister, Sissy. He ran into her on the street, helped her home with her groceries and offered to take her to lunch. Sissy told him that was the best offer she's had in years. Following lunch, they went to the church and prayed for Jim. As they left the church, they were told that Jim had passed.
To witness that level of grief in a such a young, wonderful kid is heartbreaking. His story was included in the priest's eulogy for Jim, and when I spotted poor Sean in heaving tears, tears came spilling down my own cheeks. At that moment, I felt for all parents who realize the weight of their children's sorrow for the first time.
In the funeral procession with hazards blinking, we drove down the Arnold Arboretum towards the cemetery for the burial portion of the service. Suddenly the lights in the car began to dim and we heard a strange beeping noise. The panel indicated there was a problem with the battery, so I switched off the hazards. The battery light went out and the beeping noise stopped. Since we drove for a stretch, I figured the battery recharged itself (right?) and the problem was over.
We started the car - as we left the cemetery and headed back to the church for the reception, again as we left the church to head home, and again when I headed out to spend a few hours at work - with no problems...
Down by the Seaport Hotel, a guy blasted through a red light and came THISCLOSE to hitting me. That woke me up.
The mini sandwiches at the church didn't quite do the trick and knowing I'd be at work a little later than my normal hours, I pulled over in a loading/tow zone to run in for a quick slice and a Gatorade on Mass Ave. I wasn't really psyched to be headed to work after emotionally spending myself all morning, so when I turned my key and nothing happened, it didn't feel quite real.
I turned the key again - this time noting the flicker of lights on the panel and that the engine barely eeked out a turn. I tried again. And again. Crap.
CRAP!
I approached a police officer working a construction detail up the block. He called in my plate to prevent me from getting a ticket and asked, "Do you want me to call a tow truck?" Hold up! I think there's another solution before I automatically throw $100 down the tube. How about asking these guys if anyone has jumper cables? Ah ha! Got the car started and drove it straight into the garage around the corner from work. Told the mechanic the story of my day so far and he diagnosed the alternator, but he would check it out and let me know. I noted, a little too late, that they are a cash only operation. Perfect!
He called me an hour and a half later to tell me it was just the battery. Phew! I could have it today at 5:30 for $170. I thanked him and then asked my boss if that seemed steep to him. He agreed that it was, and I called back to ask for the break down in cost. "Well," the other mechanic said, "we happen to have this more expensive battery on hand, but if you can wait until tomorrow, we can purchase a cheaper one and install that for you." Could've told me that in the first place! Take the girl for a ride...
I struggled through a couple tasks at work and decided to call it a day. As I settled in for my T ride home, I leafed through the Metro where I found the news that would perversely brighten my day:
"$7,400: Amount the winning bidder paid for 22 Michael Vick football cards, chewed up and slobbered on by two Missourri dogs, on yesterday's eBay auction. The money is expected to be donated to the Humane Society."
Without getting into the utter disgust and horror that I feel about this case - it's not quite enough retribution and there will undoubtedly be more - it was a small victory for today.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
perspective
Off to L.A. - again! Looking forward to seeing some new and different stuff. Not the same trip this time - bigger things on the horizon.
Lessons learned this week:
The tickets on Craigslist will not always be there.
What you focusing on happening probably will. Especially if it is negative. That whole self-fulfilling prophecy thing.
That said - there comes a time when your the cliches in your life MEAN something. With a depth and weight you could never know before. "You never know until you know."
That the priviledge of having/being a "friend" is lost on some people. Others take it much more seriously.
Lessons learned this week:
The tickets on Craigslist will not always be there.
What you focusing on happening probably will. Especially if it is negative. That whole self-fulfilling prophecy thing.
That said - there comes a time when your the cliches in your life MEAN something. With a depth and weight you could never know before. "You never know until you know."
That the priviledge of having/being a "friend" is lost on some people. Others take it much more seriously.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
his middle name is carlson after all*
My brother-in-law, Johnnie, calls me now and then to keep me posted on the latest "Casey Cuteness". I received such a call this evening on my way home from work. I've been giggling to myself ever since - except when that stupid douche stole my parking space at the grocery store by cutting up the aisle THE WRONG WAY. Anyways, I digress...
This morning, as they were driving through town, a car two cars ahead put on their left blinker. The car directly in front of them swerved to go around and then decided to stop short instead, forcing Johnnie to slam on the brakes and stop short too.
From the back, he hears Casey say, "Oooh!"
Johnnie turned to make sure he was okay and Casey looked him right in the eye and said...
...wait for it...
"Jesus."
*Other titles that were considered:
"making Buppa proud"
"two more in succession"
"a carlson through and through"
Thursday, July 05, 2007
bill cosby would've had him on the show
I went up to Kittery to give mom a hand with the lil rascal while his parents were off cavorting in Kennebunk.
He did lots of cute things during the visit, but one - of the "kids say the darndest things" variety - stands out.
We took him into town to do some shopping (or, get the heck out of the house) and as we buckled him into the shopping cart at Marshall's, he said, "No cry! No cry!". As if it is the mantra that his mother (my co-shopaholic sister) has sold him on.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
eliza love
It has been a ridiculously (that is a hard word to spell once you've had a couple) long time since I've been here.
But today is a momentous occasion. Dear Eliza has given birth to little Kaede Orion Silva. 7 lbs 10 oz at 2:48 am. Listening to the Boss as he arrived.
They keep telling her she can put him down now, but almost 20 hours later, she's just so in love she can't do it. From the pic, he looks just like his dadda.
So very happy for their love. Can't wait to meet him next weekend.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
