12/29/2006

Last Post of 2006

Departure Time: 7:13
Arrival Time: 7:46
Weather as I call it: Cloudy and cold -- 30s
Paper Guy: Hat but no scarf
Shady Gas Price: $2.29
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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I tried to get my duration down under 30 minutes today...but my attempt was foiled by some strange traffic pile up at Kenmore Square. It was strange because it cleared up as fast as it appeared....it may have been due to some bad merge.

Funny stuff from the user stats: I have received a few visitors from search engines on the query of "Let Earth Receive Her King". How 'bout choo?

I am currently working on the Shady Gas Price chart with all-time data. Although it isn't finished, there is a pretty clear trend.

Wellup, 2006 had its ups and downs for me.

I predict 2007 will be a better year. Be well.

12/28/2006

32 Minutes Long

Departure Time: 7:12
Arrival Time: 7:44
Weather as I call it: Clear skies, around the freezing mark.
Paper Guy: Scarf around the neck.
Shady Gas Price: $2.29
Yelled at other drivers: Nah
Feared for my life: Felt good!

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When I drove by Paper Guy, I think we had a moment...ish. Since there were very few cars on the road this morning, I approached him at a pretty steady clip. I turned to look at him while I was passing. He looked up and I think we made eye contact although it was hard to tell because he was wearing his shades.

I felt a twinge of sadness as I left him standing there. He doesn't make many sales on days like these...or so I assume. Don't fret Paper Guy! Come January 2nd the traffic will be back.

I tried to get my duration under 30 minutes...missed it by 3 minutes. I hit one too many stop lights.

I saw an old guy walking two dalmations along the Charles today. Here's a cute dog picture:

dalmations

12/26/2006

Twas The Day After Christmas

Departure Time: 8:28
Arrival Time: 8:58
Weather as I call it: Light Rain
Paper Guy: Hat, shades, winning smile, and a bundle of Heralds
Shady Gas Price: $2.29
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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Soooooowah, I was in the lovely town of Plymouth for Christmas...and that is where I woke up this morning. I drove up north to drop off all our gifts at the house and a little pebble bounced off a dump truck and now I have a little crack in my windshield.

Wah.

After leaving the house, the ride to work was awesome. A 30 minute duration is fantastic! Let's see if I can get it down under 29 later on in the week.

12/21/2006

Happy Holidays Indeed

Departure Time: 7:14
Arrival Time: 7:59
Weather as I call it: Cloudy...cold but not freezing
Paper Guy: Ready for a blizzard. He had a scarf wrapped around his face.
Shady Gas Price: $2.29
Yelled at other drivers: I tooted the horn
Feared for my life: No

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Some woman was playing games on Soldier's Field. One moment, she needs to be in the right lane. The next moment, she needs to be in the left.

It wasn't until she almost cut me off that I let her know she was annoying me and putting me at risk of another No-Fault accident.

She looked at me as if she didn't understand why I was beeping. I wanted to ask her if she recalled the 5 previous rapid lane changes.

Happy Holidays, ev'rbod. See you on Boxing Day.

12/20/2006

Later Than Usual

Departure Time: N/A
Arrival Time: N/A
Weather as I call it: Sunny and Clear!
Paper Guy: N/A
Shady Gas Price: N/A
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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I had a doctor's appointment...so I came to work late.

No problem, mon.

12/19/2006

12 Days To Go

Departure Time: 7:08
Arrival Time: 7:49
Weather as I call it: Sunny with a solid mass of wispy clouds
Paper Guy: Winter hat, shades, and a smile
Shady Gas Price: $2.29
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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I don't know about you...but I can't wait for 2006 to be over. Apart from my son being born, this year has been crappy. I guess it all balanced out.


I still need to get my car repaired from my accident.

12/18/2006

Less Cars and Loving It

Departure Time: 7:07
Arrival Time: 7:48
Weather as I call it: Cloudy...but still mild
Paper Guy: I didn't see him...driving too fast.
Shady Gas Price: $2.29...boo!
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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And it begins! The holiday season brings light communtes...people on vaca...college kids home for winter break...shoppers getting locked inside department stores overnight.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...except for summer...and opening day...and my birthday.

As long as you are out of my way, I am pleased.

12/14/2006

Wishing You A Cup Half Full

Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:48
Weather as I call it: Foggy at the start...then sunny.
Paper Guy: Smiling with his hat and shades
Shady Gas Price: $2.23
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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I have my satellite radio receiver programmed to alert me when certain songs are broadcasted over any of the channels, although I think this particular one is only played on the Blues station: "Stay All Night" by Junior Kimbrough.

If you ain't rocking the Kimbrough, then you ain't rocking.

Off tomorrow...Type at you Monday.

12/13/2006

Catchphrases

Departure Time: 7:14
Arrival Time: 8:00
Weather as I call it: Cloudy but mild
Paper Guy: Smiling, waving, and selling with his winter hat and shades
Shady Gas Price: $2.23
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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Have the college kiddies gone on winter break already? The roads have been calm, and although the volume has been roughly the same...there seems to be a rhythm...a smoothness...to the commute that usually coincides with the lack of inexperienced drivers on the road.

Or maybe I am just filled with X-Mas joy and it's affecting my attitude about driving to work.

Like Dean's Home Furniture used to say, "I doubt it!"

12/12/2006

Driving While Blind

Departure Time: 7:08
Arrival Time: 7:52
Weather as I call it: The sun was up and out...I had to scrape the windshield though.
Paper Guy: Working hard with his hat and shades on.
Shady Gas Price: $2.23
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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No racing today, but I did see a woman pick her nose. I just happened to look in my rearview mirror and there she was...digging for China.

Other than that, it was pretty uninteresting. I did have some frosted-up windows that did impair my view...but I'm a pro.

I can drive this route with my eyes closed.

12/11/2006

I Wouldn't Call It Dragging

Departure Time: 7:12
Arrival Time: 7:56
Weather as I call it: Cloudy...probably in the 30s
Paper Guy: Leaning against the "Left Lane for Left Turn Only" sign. Hat, McDs windbreaker, shades
Shady Gas Price: $2.23
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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Ugh...having problem with the new blogger interface...no matter....

Quiet Monday morning. I got into a little race with a young woman in a silver Civic. She passed me once on the McGrath HWY (The seagull is gone, btw)...I came up behind her and passed her while I crawled up to a red light.

As I passed her, I looked over...and although we didn't make eye contact...we both knew...it was on.

At the next light, she deftly maneuvered and got way ahead of the line of cars.

By the time we got on to Storrow Drive, I conceded.

She's tricky.

12/07/2006

Better Late Than Never

Departure Time: 8:42
Arrival Time: 9:21
Weather as I call it: Sunny and a little warmer
Paper Guy: N/A
Shady Gas Price: N/A
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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I left a little later today because I had to take my wife to the dentist for a 7:15 cavity filling.

I went a different way...Tobin bridge to get to work faster. Meh, traffic.

I'm out tomorrow. Check back Monday.

12/06/2006

Go Down To The Crossroads

Departure Time: 7:08
Arrival Time: 7:50
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cold
Paper Guy: Shades Scarf Hat
Shady Gas Price: $2.23
Yelled at other drivers: Yeah
Feared for my life: No

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On Storrow Drive heading westbound, there is a split...a crossroads if you will...where everybody has to make a decision.

Either stay to the left and head into Kenmore Square or stay to the right and keep on trucking west.

This morning, a woman in a minivan (I hate vans) paused while traveling in one of the right lanes...probably to contemplate and reflect on her choice.

As fate would have it, I was in that same lane....and I almost hit her...because two of her three brake lights were out.

I passed her on the left and I looked in to see who was having these deep thoughts.

Alas, alack...a woman on her cell phone.

"But I still love technology...always and forever..."

12/05/2006

Frozen Bird

Departure Time: 7:08
Arrival Time: 7:48
Weather as I call it: Cold. Temps in the high 20s
Paper Guy: Bundled up! Scarf, hat, coat.
Shady Gas Price: $2.23
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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There is a dead seagull on the McGrath HWY. It lying close to the barrier on the left hand side of the inbound lanes. This is the second time I have seen it this week. It may have been hit by a vehicle, but the carcass is pretty intact so I doubt this cause of death.

Maybe I should contact the DPW to give it a proper burial?

Seagull in a living state

12/04/2006

Snow Slows The Ride

Departure Time: 7:08
Arrival Time: 7:58
Weather as I call it: Snowy...a light wet snow that didn't collect on the pavement
Paper Guy: I didn't see him. I was paying attention to the road.
Shady Gas Price: $2.23
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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Slow going today...slow but steady. No one did anything annoying, which is half the battle.

I saw a guy with a "Save Our Center/Stop Home Depot" bumper sticker. I let him cut into my lane.

I thought we had to "Save the Cheerleader" to save the world?

12/01/2006

Let Earth Receive Her King

Departure Time: 7:03
Arrival Time: 7:44
Weather as I call it: Warm...too warm to be December. Overcast.
Paper Guy: No hat needed.
Shady Gas Price: $2.23
Yelled at other drivers: No
Feared for my life: No

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There were multiple emergency vehicles in front of the retirement home in town this morning. They didn't block or slow down traffic, but I hate seeing that....and so it goes.

There was this Lexus SUV with a huge red bow on its front grill...apparently to spread joy around and to the world and beyond and goodwill towards man and all that.

So, I did find it a bit unusual when, as I was stopped alongside the Lexus at a red light, the driver decided he had enough with said red light and proceeded to run right through it.

I did find it even more unusual when I found him tailgating me 5 minutes later, red bow and all. How did that happen?

See you on the roads Monday.