FrontEnd Loader of Death

Ahhh!! I was driving south on Route 4 in Chelmsford around Mill Pond when I saw a frontend loader with a bunch of long pipes in its bucket coming right for me...!



He was in the middle of the road. I had to slow down and pull over...

Got a little hairy there. I thought I was in for it.

Changes the ol' status on the 'feared for my life' line.



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Departure Time: 7:02
Arrival Time: 7:30
Weather as I call it: Mostly cloudy...some hazy sun. High 60s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: For a moment there.

I Don't Know The Effects Of The Heat

A few jobs ago, I remember driving to work during a heat wave and people on the roads were really cranky.

It was an awful driving experience. People were beeping and yelling and looking angry.

Since I don't drive with as many people, I am not sure if the heat is affecting many people.

It didn't seem that hot this morning.

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Departure Time: 7:00
Arrival Time: 7:28
Weather as I call it: Hazy sun. 70s
Shady Gas Price: $2.61
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

More Deer

I saw a big doe run in front of me on the way to work. I think it was sorta hobbling. It didn't seem to be in the best of health. I am not sure if it was hurt or half awake or what.


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Departure Time: 6:51
Arrival Time: 7:19
Weather as I call it: Hazy sun, low 70s, just sticky.
Shady Gas Price: $2.61
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Thanks For Pulling In Front Of Me

While driving this morning, two cars decided to press their luck and pull out in front of me to take their left turns. I tooted my horn at them both since that is what I do. If you are going to be bold like that, then you should make haste....not take your time and make things dangerous for everyone.

Other than that, the wet roads and the cloudy skies didn't deter me much.

I did run a red light at Drum Hill. I am sorry...but I thought I could make the yellow light and failed...

Off tomorrow. See you around the roads.


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Departure Time: 7:02
Arrival Time: 7:29
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, a little drizzly here and there, low 60s
Shady Gas Price: $2.61
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3.5
Feared for my life: No

Goodbye WBCN

I have been listening to the last hours of WBCN airplay over the past couple of days driving to work. Not sure why things change, but they do...always.

Radio as a medium is dying...but I think all one way, mass communications are dying...or at least changing.

Thanks for all the good times and some bad times...when I worked there :)

Goodbye WBCN. I will miss you.


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Departure Time: 6:56
Arrival Time: 7:25
Weather as I call it: Mostly cloudy. Humid. High 60s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

The 3 Hs

Hot

Hazy

Humid

This morning was sticky. It's gonna get worse today.

Seemed to be a lot of people on the roads today.

Are people not on vacation any more? I had some good summer driving over the past few weeks.

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Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:30
Weather as I call it: See above
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

Gas Prices Back Up

Just in time for Labor Day traveling, the gas prices are going back up.

It was holding at $2.47 for a while there. But now it's up 12 cents.

I wonder if we will see prices under 2 dollars a gallon again?

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Departure Time: 6:56
Arrival Time: 7:24
Weather as I call it: Sunny, milder.
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

Construction Didn't Last That Long

I forgot to mention in my last post that the route I usually take to get to work has reopened to "non-local" traffic.

The road is uneven in many places, but it's not too troublesome.

Aesthetically, it's not pleasing...but they got the new sewer line in.



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Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:30
Weather as I call it: Sunny, humid
Shady Gas Price: $2.55
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Make Way For Emergency Vehicles

On the way to work this morning, I had to pull over for a police cruiser and a fire vehicle (not a full blown fire truck, but a smaller SUV-ish truck with fire truck colors and lights).

They went to a residence where there was a scene with a family with a baby on the front lawn. They were speaking with some of the emergency technicians.

It may have been an emergency at one point but by the time the crews got there, it seemed to be not so bad.

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Departure Time: 7:02
Arrival Time: 7:29
Weather as I call it: Sunny
Shady Gas Price: $2.47
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

At Some Point I Will

...need to get new tires. Like a friend of mine (at least on Facebook) once said, "God Bless Tires." Not sure what that means...but I think he wanted to give thanks that we had rubber wheels on the car after we rolled over a large pothole.

Weird.

But no matter what my friend wanted God to bless, I still need to get new tires since mine are bald and I won't survive the winter....if they are not replaced.

How's that for prophecies? Take that, Nostradamus!



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Departure Time: 7:14
Arrival Time: 7:45
Weather as I call it: Gloomy. Summer of '09 has it in spades
Shady Gas Price: $2.47
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

My A/C is Cranking!

I am glad it's summer...but I am really glad that my A/C is working well. It was pretty chilly in my car.

The wild turkeys were out again. They tend to hang around this one house and sleep on the car out front. I wonder what the tenants think.

Anyway, I think I need to take a few days off. I haven't had a vacation in a while. The drive isn't bad, but the routine is.

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Departure Time: 7:05
Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Sunny, a little mugggy, high 60s
Shady Gas Price: $2.47
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Fern's Country Store

I stopped to get some breakfast at Fern's Country Store. It was great. I got a medium coffee and a few pastries. The chocolate croissant was delicious. It was filled with a rich ganache that got better with every bite.

I am glad my route has been diverted. I would have never experienced this place if it hadn't been for Route 4 construction.


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Departure Time: 7:07
Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Rain. Heavy rain.
Shady Gas Price: $2.47
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Some big puddles. No big deal.

Breakfast For Tomorrow

There is a general store in Carlisle Center called Fern's. They have coffee and bagels and pastries...

I think I will go there tomorrow. Sweet treats.

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Departure Time: 7:06
Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Partly cloudy, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.47
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Not Much In Carlisle

I am comfortable with my diverted commute. I think I have added a mile or so to my distance but my gas tank doesn't seem to mind much.

I wish there were more breakfast places on this new route. In Carlisle, there just seems to be more trees, farms, and trees on the main road. Even the post office has a nice lawn.


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Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:31
Weather as I call it: Steady rain, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.47
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Number One Dad

I saw a guy taking out his trash this morning. He was wearing a Bruins shirt with the slogan #1 Dad on the back.

I will need to verify my standing. I thought I was THE number one Dad.

Anyway, that guy is probably excited about the Bruins playing at Fenway.

I am.



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Departure Time: 7:07
Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny, a little humid this morning.
Shady Gas Price: $2.51
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

More Wildlife

On my 'new' way to work, I saw a 4 footed creature trying to cross the street. I slowed down to make sure I didn't hit it. It backed away... I thought it might have been a small deer, but it was more dog-shaped.

It turned out to be a coyote. We had heard one outside our house in the winter...and here was another one (maybe the same one?) about 4 miles down the street.

We used to see them in Malden during the day...they have followed us.

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Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:31
Weather as I call it: Sunny, high 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.51 Going down
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Friday With Sun and Toast

Stopped at Jessie's Place for breakfast. Not to be confused with Jessie's Girl. I like Rosie's Diner better.

You get a real sense of community at these places. The guys in there work on the roads and lay concrete. You hear their concerns for the town and their opinions on current events. They drink black coffee and eat dry toast. Not sure I fit in, but they don't seem to mind.

How about that sun?

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Departure Time: N/A
Arrival Time: N/A
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cool
Shady Gas Price: $2.55
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Through Late August

I just found out that the construction that forcing me to find an alternate route is going to be in place until August. Late August.

Meh, the summer has been great so far. How could it get any worse?


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Departure Time: 7:10
Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Light rain, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $2.55
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Just Give Me 8 More Hours

...then the long weekend starts. Then I can take a break from the wild turkeys and the deer and the rain and the construction and the police speeding traps.

Yes, that would be nice.

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Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:30
Weather as I call it: Rain. Heavy Rain.
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Road Construction

I have dealing with some road construction on Route 4 in Chelmsford (also known as Boston Road for you locals).

The whole road is shut down from Mill Road to Rangeway Rd. I have to seek alternate routes as the sign told me.

I tried a few different ones, but the best route is Concord Rd. all the way into Carlise and then picking up Rte. 225 into Bedford.

I hope it doesn't last long. I had the same hope about the rain and look where that has placed us.

Boo!!



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Departure Time: 7:10
Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, misty, foggy. Did we do something wrong?
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nah