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Say What?

2 Jul

One thing I hated about the movie Fever Pitch was how utterly unrealistic I thought the Drew Barrymore character was. How could it be possible, I wondered, that a person living in Boston was that clueless about the Red Sox, and baseball in general? Isn’t it, like, a mandatory part of your citizenship in this city that you have to be a baseball fan? Or at the very least, how could you avoid it, what with the incessant press coverage of the Sox and the way the city seems to be totally devoted to the sport during the season. So imagine my surprise when, on my way home on the T this evening, a fellow passenger started to engage the driver in conversation.

I tried not to eavesdrop — really, I did — but she was right behind me, and certain things she said and questions she asked stood out. For example, “I haven’t been paying attention. How are the Red Sox doing this season?” “I heard they’re playing the same team tonight that beat them yesterday.” “A series is three or four games? Why do they play so many?” “What’s the team from Texas called?” I thought she might have been kidding, but no. She was genuinely clueless about the whole thing. It was as if she was talking about something that some people do, like a movie that those kids are all talking about, or the cult tv show that she’s heard is good, or something that happens in a foreign country that hasn’t yet reached the States.

I swear, I’ve never heard someone talk like that about baseball in Boston. I knew people like Jimmy Fallon’s character actually existed, but now I guess I’ll have to look at Drew’s character in a new light.

Calling Dr. Ferber …

28 Jun

Nothing says “Good morning” quite like riding to work on the T — and a warm T at that — with a crying baby. I got a nice Parenting 101 lesson from two mothers who shared the C line with me today. Both women had babies in strollers (and I’m assuming they were friends, because although they weren’t really talking to each other all that much, they stood next to each other as if they were traveling together). But whereas one child was well behaved and quiet and happy, the other was clearly, um, not. At some point as we traveled down Beacon St., this child began to cry. (I didn’t see why.) And not just a whimper, but a full-on wail. So what’d the mother of this child do? First she tried to hug the child while it was still strapped into the stroller. Then, when that didn’t work, she took it out of the stroller and sat holding it in a seat, practically smothering it. Still, no change. And all through the underground stops — from Kenmore to Hynes to Copley to Arlington to Boylston — the kid just cried and cried and cried. And cried. Amazingly, the other kid remained silent the entire way, seemingly content in its stroller. Finally, when we pulled into Park Street, the mother put the child back into the stroller, whereupon it put its thumb into its mouth and stopped crying. Just like that. And just in time for me to get off the train.

So apparently, if you want a child to shut up and not disturb fellow passengers on the T, the trick is to leave it be. I’ll remember that. And I hope other mothers do too.

Not Singing in the Rain Today

4 Jun

Forget that Garbage song “I’m Only Happy When It Rains.” Today I identify more with the Carpenters, who sang, “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.”

And when it’s a rainy Monday, that’s even worse — especially after a good weekend. So in that spirit, here’s a list of some of the things on my hate list right now: Continue reading →

So Long, Farewell, Good Riddance

20 May

Welcome to one of my favorite weeks of the year, the one right after all the big graduations, when the seniors have their diplomas, all the students have moved out of their dorms and apartments, and things along the C and especially the B line are much quieter than they are the rest of the year. It’s the best time to do things like go to T. Anthony’s because you won’t have to deal with any of the B.U. kids causing long lines and tying up all the tables. Or go to Shaw’s because it’s less crowded. Or just, you know, ride the B line in peace without having to squeeze in. The drivers will even go express from Kenmore to Packard’s Corner, which is awesome. Or drive up Comm Ave and see if you can go the whole way without stopping at a light or because of traffic, like I did over Christmas week. Of course, it’s all short lived, because in just over a week, after Memorial Day, we’ll have to deal with all the out of towners here for internships and summer school, who don’t know the B line from the C or the D, who tie up the self-serve lines at Shaw’s because they don’t know what they’re doing, and who just generally get in the way. But for now, it’s a great time to live in the Brookline/Brighton/Allston area.

Hmmmmm …

20 Apr

Here are some questions I’m asking on this sunny, very nice Friday afternoon:

* Will anything ever take up residence where Zathmary’s used to be?

* Will the weather actually be as nice as predicted this weekend, and will it stay that way until the fall? Does this mean winter is really over?

* Can Dice-K beat the Yankees on Sunday, or will he have the same lame result as his last two games, where it looks alright but he still loses? Is he really the worst starter on the team??

* If a crowded T train on the morning commute is bad, then is there much worse than having to be stuck next to a guy who reeks of cigarette smoke?

* Is there a funnier show on TV right now than 30 Rock?

* Indians didn’t even like Sanjaya. So aside from the 13-year-olds, who did?

* I’m a third of the way to my WalkAmerica fundraising goal. Will you help me go all the way?

Life Is Good

9 Apr

I know writing about it will serve as nothing more than a jinx, but I just had to mention that I’ve developed some really good T karma lately. For the past week, every day, as soon as I’ve gotten to the Boylston T stop to go home (or within a minute of my arrival), the C line has shown up. There’s been no waiting, and I’ve gotten home within about 20 minutes of leaving the office. It’s been almost as if the car was just idling by, waiting for me to get to the bottom of the stairs so it could pull up and let me get on. Did you hear me? This happens every day. That’s unheard of! It’s miraculous! It’s beyond the realm of possibility! It even happened yesterday, a Sunday, when I went to the movies. I thought I was powerful before. Now it seems I can will a T into arriving at my whim. That’s awesome.

But that’s not all that’s going well lately. We’re now within the last 24 hours of Passover, and I can already taste the hot rolls and pasta dinner that I’ll enjoy at Bertucci’s tomorrow night. The Sox are back at home (and a bonus: Harry Connick Jr. is set to sing the National Anthem before the game on Tuesday). I learned this weekend that Felicity is back (to back) on television, on Fuse. I found MP3s of an awesome live show by Amy Winehouse. And, I’m pretty sure Haley is safe. Now, if only the weather would warm up, then things would be near perfect.

And yes, I expect most, if not all of what I’ve written about to cease immediately (sorry, Haley). There’s nothing like talking about good things to make them end.

‘Scuse Me While I Scold This Guy

14 Mar

Last night at the bottom of the stairs of the Hynes Convention Center T stop, there was a homeless guy looking for change, and singing to entertain passersby. The song was pleasant and appropriate enough — “I’ll Be There” — but when he messed up the words, I had a brief desire to go all Simon Cowell and call him on it. After all, the line is “Just call my name, and I’ll be there,” not “Oh don’t you worry, I’ll be there.” Alas, I kept on walking and headed for home … where I watched three, count ’em three, American Idol contestants flub the words, including my fair Haley Scarnato (poor girl). So maybe there was just something in the air last night.

Sorry, Charlie

31 Jan

I forgot my T pass (I still can’t call it a “Charlie Card”) at home on Monday. It wasn’t the first time I’d done it, and it was particularly annoying because I had it in my hand while I was getting ready and put it down before putting it in my pocket. Thankfully, the train arrived at the Coolidge Corner station right when I got there, so I was able to “sneak” aboard at one of the back doors. But on the way home, I had to pay $2 for a one-time ticket.

Now, I realize anyone can use the excuse that they forgot their T pass at home, and I had no way to prove it, and yes, I realize that $2 isn’t so much money to pay, but isn’t there some way the MBTA can allow for some kind of amnesty and grant a “free ride” if you actually have purchased a pass and just don’t have it with you? Maybe you can scan an ID or something? Or maybe I should just be better about bringing my pass every day so I don’t have stupid questions like these.

All Dried Up

15 Nov

Folks, I’ve got nothing. Seriously. It’s not like the last time I said that. This time I am without a topic. The well is dry. I don’t want to bore you with a rant about the class of 7 or 8-year-olds who were riding the T with me this morning and were screaming and generally driving me crazy on my commute into work, or the mismatched couple who were standing right in front of me making out for most of the trip. And I don’t want to tell you how much I love the TV show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip because I don’t think you want to read another review or posting about my TV watching habits. And I was pretty sure you’d have little sympathy that my day off from work on Monday was all washed out by the rain — or that People passed me over again for the title of Sexiest Man Alive.

So you tell me: What would you like me to write about? Give me a good topic, and I’ll reward you with a good posting. Deal? The comments field is open. No password necessary. (Tho I ask that if you write a comment you give me your name. Thanks.)

They’re Back? Yes and No

1 Sep

Yes: The T is full of stupid kids trying to squeeze on to already-full trains. There are random mattresses in random hallways, moving trucks on the side of the street, and clueless parents spending money to help their kids settle into their new apartments. There’s activity in the streets after 10 p.m. Louder volumes in the malls and restaurants and most everywhere else you go. Are the students back in town? You bet.

No: Despite all their health scares and the off-field drama, the Sox have now won two games in a row for the first time in about a month. It’s a frickin’ miracle. So are they back in the pennant race? No, I don’t think so.

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