3/31/2006

150-point Mechanical and Appearance Inspection

Departure Time: 7:19
Arrival Time: 8:05
Weather as I call it: Sunny and 50s
Paper Guy: No hat again today.
Shady Gas Price: $2.49 Oooof.
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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I drove the CR-V today to work. I felt like a soccer mom. Wah.

Saw a woman singing at the top of her lungs in my rearview. Her passenger didn't seem happy. I tried to read her lips...I couldn't figure out what she was singing.

I forgot to mention on Thursday that I saw a runover possum on the road when I was stopped at a light. It was pretty flat.

3/30/2006

When Moving Through Kashmir...

Departure Time: 7:21
Arrival Time: 8:18
Weather as I call it: Sunny and 50 degrees...It's like Tuscon, AZ.
Paper Guy: WHOA! No hat! SPRING IS HERE!
Shady Gas Price: $2.39
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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I won't use this day in my number crunching...I had to pick up my dry cleaning today...which of course was some excuse-laden affair of computers breaking down and incompetent coworkers...Lady, just give me my clothes..

They are also "cash only"...so I had to hit an ATM before I went in...If this dry cleaner weren't a block from my house...I would probably go elsewhere.

Paper guy had no hat on today...his hair was slicked back...It taint spring 'til Paper guy sez so.

Picking up the second car today...It will be fun to drive it to work tomorrow.

3/29/2006

Beepin' Happy

Departure Time: 7:24
Arrival Time: 8:07
Weather as I call it: Sunny and 45 degrees
Paper Guy: Still feeling winter
Shady Gas Price: $2.39
Yelled at other drivers: Nope
Feared for my life: Nope

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First off, I am still adjusting to the new alarm clock my wife bought for us...the old one worked fine...but she thought it was dirty looking...with crud stuck in the buttons.

Sooooooooooooowah, I didn't wake up until 6:55...whoops...

My departure time was still reasonable...and my travel time was pretty respectable. I swear people move slower in the winter.

TWO! (second point) Some older lady was in front of me and she was applying makeup or something when the light turned green. I gave her a little toot.

If I can get home on time this evening...I may pick up my dry cleaning.

3/28/2006

Making My Point With A Horn Blast

Departure Time: 7:12
Arrival Time: 7:56
Weather as I call it: It's sunny, it's warmer...what does Paper Guy think?
Paper Guy: Still winter for the Paper Guy...black hat and coat.
Shady Gas Price: $2.39
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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I didn't yell at anybody today...but there was a woman who pulled a California stop at a red light. Yes, turning right on red was allowed at that intersection...but only after coming to a complete stop...

So, to make sure she understood that she made a mistake, I laid on my horn as I drove under my green light for a good 5 seconds...

And yes, she was driving a mini van.............

Ah poop, I forgot to pick up my dry cleaning today.

3/27/2006

Raging in Slummerville

Departure Time: 7:15
Arrival Time: 8:02
Weather as I call it: Clear skies, sunny, 45 degrees...the hard season is coming to a close.
Paper Guy: Black hat, black coat...shades!!
Shady Gas Price: $2.39
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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Great looking day...optimal driving weather.

I saw this one woman and she was the object of two cars worth of road rage.

One guy was older, seemed sorta out of it...but he was yelling at this woman because she hesitated at the green light...

Then, these kids almost caused an accident because they forced themselves in front of her...I felt bad...She needs to hang in there.

Paper guy made a sale...working the soft sell. He talks to his customers. It warms the heart...really.

3/24/2006

Catch me if you can't

Departure Time: 7:15
Arrival Time: 7:53
Weather as I call it: cloudy and warmer...40s
Paper Guy: Wearing a green baseball cap...now that is a sign of SPRING!
Shady Gas Price: $2.39
Yelled at other drivers: a little bit
Feared for my life: a little bit

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I usually don't treat Storrow Drive like the Autobahn...but today I thought I would fire it up...of course this is the day Ms. Minivan slams on her brakes for no reason...

You van drivers (mini and regular size) are going to get the best of me someday.

3/23/2006

Dry Cleaning Blues

Departure Time: 7:16
Arrival Time: 8:03
Weather as I call it: Sunnyish--cold
Paper Guy: He had the shades on with his winter garb
Shady Gas Price: $2.39
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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So I had to stop off at the dry cleaners before I drove to work today. Now I know Michael Stipe would tell me not to wear clothes that need to be dry cleaned, but what can I say, these sweaters were gifts and they are dry clean only.

I walk in and I get this long-winded excuse-laden explanation about why I can't get a slip this morning. It is made quite clear that I need this slip (of paper..I am guessing) so that I can pick up my sweaters next Tuesday. Blame was thrown...frustration was vented....

Me, I didn't care...Lady, we'll see each again on Tuesday. Just make sure you don't put any holes in my sweaters....

And out the door I went...

3/22/2006

Another Boston driving rule

Departure Time: 7:12
Arrival Time: 7:54
Weather as I call it: Overcast skies and still not spring
Paper Guy: Black winter hat...black parka
Shady Gas Price: $2.39
Yelled at other drivers: No...but I could have
Feared for my life: No

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Tailgating is the worst. Here's another rule: Don't tailgate. So, I am driving...minding my own business...I look behind me...there's maroon Infiniti guy eating my bumper. Not sure what his rush is, but I also see that while we are waiting at the red light, he is shaving with an electric razor. On top of that, he buys a paper from Paper Guy.

Once we start moving, he passes me on the right...which gets him that much faster to the next red light.

Guy, where are you going?

3/21/2006

Reunited...and it feels so good

Departure Time: N/A
Arrival Time: N/A
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cold...sorry to sound like a broken record.
Paper Guy: N/A
Shady Gas Price: N/A
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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No more dates in the titles...Need to be more interesting.

Went into work late today...did not want to include this day in the data. That's why you are seeing the N/As.

Sooooooooooooo glad old paper guy is back. I really wanted to be able to report what he was wearing when spring does in fact get here.

Boston Driving Rule #6...Pick a lane and stay in it...Do not ride the white dotted line down the middle....

It makes you want to yell when you see people do this...

3/20/2006

Monday March 20, 2006

Departure Time: 7:24
Arrival Time: 8:07
Weather as I call it: Cold 27 degrees..but sunny.
Paper Guy: HE WALKS AMONG Us
Shady Gas Price: $2.39
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: Ish...

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1. Spring has Sprung. Ok, it really hasn't...

2. Lots of weirdos merging haphazardly today...nothing I couldn't handle...but a little unnerving.

3. I could not believe my eyes. It was if I was seeing a ghost. I actually slapped myself across the face a number of times to make sure I wasn't dreaming...but yes...OLD PAPER GUY IS BACK!!

I don't know where he's been, I am just happy he is back patrolling the same corner. The world is right again. (He was wearing a black parka/black knit hat, by the way)

Here's to new beginnings.

3/17/2006

Friday March 17, 2006

Departure Time: 7:15
Arrival Time: 7:57
Weather as I call it: Bright and sunny...
Paper Guy: Wearing his bright green hat...must be St. Patty's day
Shady Gas Price: 2:35
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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I saw some guy in a pickup truck...yelling out his window at a old lady who pulled out in front of him...he was justified.

Driving To Work Rule #5: Blinker use is optional only when switching lanes...ok? If you are turning, let people know...if you are merging into another lane...no need. If you do that, we know you are an amateur...

3/16/2006

Thursday March 16, 2006

Departure Time: 7:32
Arrival Time: 8:16
Weather as I call it: Sunny but cold...Brush fire weather
Paper Guy: Wearing the Boston Globe parka
Shady Gas Price: $2:35
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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So, while I was driving through town, this guy crossed the double lines...and I mean gets waaaaaaaaaay over in the other lane...like he's driving in London to pass this woman in front of him. I thought to myself, "Gee, that was a little extreme..."...

Well, wouldn't cha know...that I got behind said woman and she was the slowest, most erratic driver evah!

I was behind her for about 2 miles...It was painful...when I was finally able to pass her legally...I looked in to see what was the deal...and of course...she was blabbing away on her cell phone...who she was talking to for that long at 7:47 in the morning...I dunno...but just another case for the "Shut up and Drive" campaign.

3/15/2006

Wednesday March 15, 2006

Departure Time: N/A
Arrival Time: N/A
Weather as I call it: Sunny but cold and windy
Paper Guy: N/A
Shady Gas Price: N/A
Yelled at other drivers: Nah
Feared for my life: Nope

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Beware the Ides of March! BEWARE!

Anyway, I went to a presentation about the Web 2.0...you know...like the "Internet 2" kinda stuff...

Talking 'bout when the 'net first came into prominence, information was categorized and developed in a taxonomy (think the Yahoo! directory)...Now information is developed and categorized in a 'folksonomy'...(think Wikipedia)

Here's a rundown of other Web 2.0 stuff:

Web 1.0 --> Web 2.0
DoubleClick --> Google AdSense
Ofoto --> Flickr
Akamai --> BitTorrent
mp3.com --> Napster
Britannica Online --> Wikipedia
personal websites --> blogging
evite --> upcoming.org and EVDB
domain name speculation --> search engine optimization
page views --> cost per click
screen scraping --> web services
publishing --> participation
content management systems --> wikis
stickiness --> syndication

Love it...even though there is some stuff on the list that I haven't heard of yet. Everyone wants to generate media...including some dude who blogs about his drive to work each business day. Back to the regular ride tomorrow.

3/14/2006

Tuesday March 14, 2006

Departure Time: 7:24
Arrival Time: 8:08
Weather as I call it: Rainy at times...definitely foggy...around 48 degrees
Paper Guy: Bright yellow raincoat
Shady Gas Price: $2.23
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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The biggest thing I can report today was the tremendous fog that surrounded Boston. It was so thick that the Hancock tower disappeared from view...I couldn't see any part of it as I drove towards the Beacon St. exit on Storrow Drive. A bit disconcerting, to say the least. When you can't see the Hancock from 5 or 6 blocks away, you know the fog is thick.

3/13/2006

Monday March 13, 2006

Departure Time: 7:22
Arrival Time: 8:05
Weather as I call it: Cloudy but warm...the liquor store sign said it was 49 degrees
Paper Guy: Baseball cap, black jacket with fuzzy external shoulder pads to help with the two bags he has slung over himself.
Shady Gas Price: $2.23
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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Mondays are uneventful....which is a good thing.

New Paper guy has a pony tail. I saw it as he turned around to walk back to his post...defeated because he did not make a sale and the light had turned green...ending the opportunity.

3/10/2006

Friday March 10, 2006

Departure Time: N/A
Arrival Time: N/A
Weather as I call it: Cloudy and a little warmer...40s
Paper Guy: N/A
Shady Gas Price: N/A
Yelled at other drivers: N/A
Feared for my life: N/A

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Came into work late today...we had another doctor appointment for the baby...

I want to add another rule to my list.

4. If you are going to pull into traffic, never make eye contact.

3/09/2006

Thursday March 9, 2006

Departure Time: 7:23
Arrival Time: 8:04
Weather as I call it: Some cloud cover...it's about to get warmer
Paper Guy: Back to work slinging two newspaper sachels
Shady Gas Price: $2.19
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: It got a little tense on Storrow.

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Of all people, there was a cabbie driving about 30 m.p.h. in the left lane...One really angry Nissan Murano driver was trying to get around him...which included trying to get around me at one point.

When he finally passed the cabbie, the one finger salute did makes its way out of his driver side window.

Just so you know, I was not a subject of his non-verbal communciation...but I did think there was a small chance I would get a piece of that rage.

3/08/2006

Wednesday March 8, 2006

Departure Time: 7:17
Arrival Time: 8:09*
Weather as I call it: Sunny...30's...it's like heaven, really.
Paper Guy: N/A
Shady Gas Price: $2.19
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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Let's just look at the facts:

*I had to stop and get gasoline...so it probably added 6 or 7 minutes to my drive time.

Paper Guy wasn't there...stack of papers was...Did he leave us too?

Shady Gas Price is coming down...what's up with that...?

Congested again in front of the Museum of Science...not sure what the deal is.

3/07/2006

Tuesday March 7, 2006

Departure Time: 7:18
Arrival Time: 8:03
Weather as I call it: Sunny and 35 degrees...utopia
Paper Guy: He had his hood up...made 2 sales while I was stopped.
Shady Gas Price: $2.25
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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I was just frustrated getting to work today. There was so many cars on the road.

I took Memorial Drive instead of driving by the Museum of Science to pick up Storrow Drive...just too many people to get through.

Paper Guy knows A.B.C. Always Be Closing.

3/06/2006

Monday March 6, 2006

Departure Time: 7:20
Arrival Time: 8:02
Weather as I call it: Sunny and 35 degrees, it's like paradise.
Paper Guy: Green Globe parka, green hat...made a sale while Iwas at the light.
Shady Gas Price: $2.27...HEY, wha happened?
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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Easy Monday morning...you would think that it would be a tougher day...not so...

I bet you we have a rainy spring...it's been extremely dry lately....

New Paper Guy will surprise us all with his pink raincoat.

3/03/2006

Friday March 3, 2006

Departure Time: 7:20
Arrival Time: 7:57
Weather as I call it: Looking a lot like yesterday, but windy.
Paper Guy: Same green hat...jeans...goatee
Shady Gas Price: $2.13
Yelled at other drivers: No, but I did yell.
Feared for my life: No

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1. It's the ugly season in Boston...windy days in late winter where the snow has melted to reveal all the sand and trash that collected on the ground during colder days. I saw lots of soda cans and paper wrappers blowing around on the roadways today. Street sweeping starts up soon though.

2. Some school bus stopped in front me and put on its blinking lights. All the kids piled in and the bus started to roll on...suddenly some twerp comes jogging across the street, so the whole process starts up again. I yelled out, "C'mon kid!".

3. If you haven't checked out "The IS Lists", do so today. There is a link on the right nav. Here is my attempt at one:

Old Paper GuyNew Paper Guy
Maybe working a new cornahHis demeanor could be warmah
Told the Globe to "Go To Hell"Always working the hard sell
Probably won the lotteryThe embodiment of "Woe is Me"
Taking in the Jamaican breezePaper pushing in deep freeze
Stinkin' richHerald's bitch

If you would like to add to the list, please leave a comment.

3/02/2006

Thursday March 2, 2006

Departure Time: 7:26
Arrival Time: 8:15
Weather as I call it: Sunny and around 30 degrees....
Paper Guy: Meet the new boss...same as the old boss.
Shady Gas Price: $2.13
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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First...yesterday's post was my 100th post. Celebrate good times.

Secondly...the corner has a new paper guy....this dude is all business. Wearing a fluorescent green winter hat and holding up a Boston Herald so that the headline was clearly displayed to all stopped at the light, this guy stormed down the line of cars with a scowl on his face and a look of determination in his eyes. New Paper Guy is the yin to the old Paper Guy's yang.


I would rather not talk about the old Paper Guy's yang. While it is sad to think the old Paper Guy is gone for good, New Paper Guy looks to be another intriguing subject/weather indicator for the blog.

See you out there...on the road.

3/01/2006

Wednesday March 1, 2006

Departure Time: 7:29
Arrival Time: 8:17
Weather as I call it: Sunny and a balmy 25 degrees
Paper Guy: He's gone
Shady Gas Price: $2.13
Yelled at other drivers: Welllllllllll....
Feared for my life: Ish

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A KeySpan Energy van pulled in front of me...I read the sign that was hanging on the back out loud...."Caution - Slow Moving Vehicle". I then muttered, "Great".

Strange slamming on the brakes in front of the Museum of Science...I got a li'l scared.

I need to call the Globe or the Herald and find out what happened to Paper Guy. I now feel bad about never taking his picture.