Category Archives: Personal Life

Fools and Samaritans

Last night I had the pleasure of taking the “drunk train” home. By this I’m referring to the D Riverside branch of the Green line… after 12 in the morning. During the small but crucial window between 11:30 and 12:30 (when the last train of the night departs,) the T’s finest emerge.

Our train pulls out of Kenmore and begins heading to Fenway. Suddenly the train comes to a very sharp stop. Since I’m sitting in the back, I can’t see what’s happening up front. But I notice that the front doors open, right there in the middle of the tunnel. So I’m assuming that the driver had to fix something on the track… however after we reach Fenway, and people begin to get off, I notice the driver exiting the trolley from the doors in the rear.

So from what I hear from other passengers, there was somebody walking in the tunnel! The driver, being a good person, decides to let him/them on her train rather than leave them to the mercy of the tunnel. So as she rushed out of the trolley, I can only assume she was chasing this guy. A minute later she returns… but offers not a word.

Okay, so it took a while for a D train to come along, but who in their right mind (or in their wrong mind) would think to walk down the dark tunnels of the oldest subway in America in the middle of the night!?!?

But there was a redeeming note to the trip. Those of you who are familiar with the green line trolleys (not the awful new ones) know that there are some single seats, and that two of these seats will be facing the rear of the train (the empty operator’s cab.) I guess when the driver was running through the trolley to catch the mysterious tunnel walker, she noticed a man passed out in that last single seat. So when we finally rolled into Reservoir, she gets up, comes back to the guy, and gently says, “hey buddy, where are you headed?” He replies in a semi-dazed way that he was going to Newton Center. She says ok and returns to the front of the trolley.

I was really touched by that. T operators, as I’ve found, are not in general the friendliest bunch. And rarely have I seen one go above and beyond their call of duty. Really the driver could have just ignored the guy and once the train got to Riverside just said, “sorry, you were the one who missed your stop.” It was a small gesture, but it was extremely touching.

So it’s not all chaos out there – random acts of kindness do still occur.

Median Percentile

Well I’ve been looking over various websites on Law Schools tonight. I’m really starting to think that I would like to go to California wherever I end up next for school. And though I’m not even sure Law School is what I want to do, I have my LSAT score, so it can’t hurt to use it. I guess the three options are: Law School – Grad School in English – Teachers College. All three are appealing, honestly. But I’m told by different sources that “you can use a law degree in many ways…” Although I assume most with law degrees become LAWYERS – uuuh. Well, if I was to go into law, I would like to study either environmental, 1st amendment or glbt. Not interested in corporate or patent law – boooring.

But I wonder if the JD would help me become a professor. Of course my ideal job is standing in front of a vast lecture hall delivering long speaches while wearing argyle sox, an argyle sweater and smoking a pipe. If I can be anything like Grady Tripp then I’ll be happy. I know you who know what my immediate next plans are may think I’m jumping the gun here, but I’d like to be able to transition from PC to school ASAP and not have any dead time in between where I’ll be forced to find a dumb job.

I’m 100% sure that I can handle any graduate level program, what I’m worried about is finding one that excites me. That’s when I do my best work. So I’ll be doing my homework as much as I can virtually.

Swimmin in the Rain

Hello loyal reader(s)!

I recently returned from a great get together this weekend at Margaret’s place in New Haven. Before that, I was able to visit Camille and Cinestudio down in Hartford, before spending the night with Melissa. She and I headed down to New Haven a little early and poked around Yale. We were actually able to get into their MANMOUTH gym complex and somehow made it all the way up to the roof. The party itself was quite good, with plenty of good alcohol, namely: Mikes, Bass, Killians, Newcastle and assorted wines. After watching the fireworks show and posing as hookers, we spent the night discussing love, politics and a number of arcane topics. The next day me and the guys cooked for the ladies, then bid them adieu.

The gem of the weekend came next with Chris and I heading to Haddam to visit Gillette Castle. For those of you who have never been (and I assume that’s most of you,) William Gillette was the guy who adapted Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes character for the American stage. Gillette made millions as an actor, then build himself this castle overlooking the Connecticut River. The trip there was a little difficult considering it was absolutely pouring, but the rain and thunder only added to the castle ambiance.

Going on a little hike, Chris and I were able to locate the remains of Gillette’s private railway that once circulated his grounds. Then, wandering down to the river, I took a little swim in the rain. Interestingly enough, the boat upon which a senior week party was held passed by as we were down by the water, bringing with it some good memories.

Then after locking my keys in my car in downtown Hartford, I returned home… alas, the adventure was over. During all that I was able to work in a visit with a client who needs some work done, so I’ll have a little something to keep me busy for the week. There’s much to discuss in national politics, but I’ll save that for later.

Nope…

Well, I’ve been rejected for a job I was perfect for. So, at the time being, it looks like I’m going to go down to the temp agency. Frankly this sucks.

Credit

Today I feel great.  I finally received credit for the work I’ve been doing at the ACLU for the past two months.  Sitting down with the director, I unveiled my new website design, and she was quite impressed.  Also, it seems that I’ve potentially saved the organization roughly $2000 that an outside firm wanted to charge for basically all the work I’ve done.  She even hinted that should more work need to be done, she may approach me, but this time on an hourly paid basis!  This is good.

As for my promise to post about the DNC, I’ll attach for your edification a picture of the protest pen by the fleet center (compliments of the ACLUM.)  However, being downtown three of the four days, I must say that disruption was minimal, and the protests in general, not too overwhelming.  The only group that has really made a good show is Falun Gong.  They have one particularly moving exhibit on the common showing on one side peaceful individuals meditating, and on the other mock scenes of abuse, all with fake blood and brusied faces.  Plus they are all wearing bright yellow shirts and handing out a ton of literature. 

As for the other causes, organization seemed much more ragtag.  Of course there were the few anti-abortion nuts (one lady had enlisted the help of her 8 year old sons..) but it was no big deal.  I’m a tad dissapointed the protests were not more vocal.  Perhaps the choppers overhead, police, military, armed guards and every other law enforcement agency put a chill on peoples’ activity.  Or, perhaps people just don’t care enough to protest.  Or, perhaps anarchists should not have been designated the unofficial organizers of the protests….

No job yet, but 1/2 the world has my resume – if you’ve got a job for me, let’s talk – if not, just listen.

~Matt