Saturday:
12 Noon – Wake Up
4:00 p.m. – Go to work.
9:00 p.m. – Finish work.
9:45 p.m. – Depart for Hartford
11:15 p.m. – Arrive in Hartford for M’s party.
Sunday:
4:30 a.m. – Depart M’s house for Goldroc Diner w/ Cohn and Tree.
6:30 a.m. – Depart Hartford for Massachusetts
10:00 a.m. – Begin Work
5:00 p.m. – Finish Work
7:00 p.m. – Sit in front of computer typing this
soon – Crash big time.
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.
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.
I saw Johannes off at the airport a few hours ago and now I’m pooped. What a week! It started with a little time in good ol’ Boston. For the first time in many years, I went up to the top of the Prudential building and just looked at the city, which is truly beautiful. Then on Monday we headed down to the Jersey shore and spent two days doing absoultely nothing on the beach. To boot, the waves were huge for Jersey, making for some sweet bodysurfing. Of course there was a mini-family reunion, and I got to spend some time with each of the cousins 🙂
We did an afternoon in Manhattan sightseeing – about which I was a little less thrilled. Maybe the wow-factor of NYC has worn off… it just struck me as dirty and overly-hectic this time around. But, you can’t come to the US and not see NYC.
To end the week, we visited Chris in Poughkeepsie which was fabulous. I tell you, get a few Mikes in us and its one bizarre event. I’ll admit is was strange to see him as a REAL PERSON, but I guess that’s what the future has in store for all of us… There are tons of pictures from these various events which I will post as soon as I receive the from Johannes.
On another note, I got a lovely choker today in the mail and shall proceed to show it off.
In terms of academic stuff, I received an interesting email from professor F about a ruling in Connecticut. It seems that the state supreme court recently re-affirmed the Cologne v Westfarms case that was decided back in the 1970’s. Basically, it stated that privately owned shopping malls are not public fora, and therefore, first amendment rights do not extend therein. The case at issue was very similar, with a particular group barred from conducting informational activities in the mall. It seems as if the only speech which is really given the full protection of the law is commercial speech. I’ll re-post my mall paper under “Writing” if you are interested in the history of this legal debate. Thankfully Massachusetts has a more liberal policy, but still not quite what it should be.
Life is becoming way too sanatized.
Coming soon, information about the protesting area for the DNC and what will and won’t be done about it. For now.
Going to the South End always makes me feel crappy on one level. I see this bustling gay community and all these cute couples and realize that I’m not a part of it and that I have no boyfriend. Grrrr! But I wonder if I could really actually live in a place like that. On the one hand it’d be a great way to meet people, but then on the other, it might just be too small for its own good. Kinda like some colleges… um welll, anyway…
Went up w/Johannes to the top of the Prudential. The Hancock is closed so I can’t understand why one is open and one isn’t. I guess the Hancock building is worth more. Went to see the Shakespeare in the commons but got rained out after the start of the second act. What we did see was fun though.
Tomorrow we are off to the Jersey Shore. Yes boys and girls, it’s that time of the year again. White sandy beaches, cheezy amusement parks, and endless chocolate ices 🙂 Although I had a little funk in the South End, I’m feeling in a good mood now… yes, that does actually occur time to time.
I need to learn to play golf. I keep going by golf courses in my town, on the way to work, all the fuck over. I can’t imagine it is that difficult a game (I mean really old fuckers and fatties play all the time.) So I’m looking for a golf instructor for free – any ideas, email me.
Oh, and I shall write an opinions article for the Tripod (as an alumnus contributor) for August. I’m thinking about writing about Bill Cosby or the wildly increased security/surveilance that is occuring in Boston. What do you think is more interesting? I’ll post it here for sure. OK off to watch Falling Down – the quintesential American movie.