Involuntary Slacker

Law and Order causes disorder

2009-04-09T17:50:00.002-04:00

After a trip to Fairway, I stopped to watch Law and Order film at the 72nd Street subway station. More accurately, I stopped to watch NYers openly defy the pleas of L&O staffers to not walk to the subway entrance during filming. I guess that's what you get for filming during rush hour.

Back to blogging

2009-03-26T19:13:00.003-04:00

I've relocated yet again, this time a mini move to a sublet in NYC. Therefore, I've decided it's time to start blogging again, as life seems to be getting interesting again. I'm really enjoying rediscovering the city after having lived away from here for so many years.

Newsflash

2009-01-14T20:57:00.004-05:00

I've got a new gig, at least for a few hours a week. I'm doing some online news editing for a website called BreakingNews. Tonight's shift will be only my second, but so far it reminds me a lot of my old job as a web producer (except now I don't have to deal with editing and then uploading video packages).

Time... what is time?

2008-12-27T18:31:00.004-05:00

I ask myself that quite often these days as my sense of time continues to deteriorate. Weekdays and weekends blur together as the calendar inches towards the new year. It's strange when you don't have someplace to be every weekday around 9am. Sure, there's the occasional doctor or dentist appointment, but overall I am having a tough time remembering what day it is, let alone what time it is.

Engineering Love?

2008-12-20T01:25:00.001-05:00

Engineers seem to be drawn to date me. I find this fascinating and often wonder what it is about me that they find appealing. Not that I'm getting down on myself. I'm just seeing a pattern and am curious about that.

Keeping fingers crossed

2008-12-17T18:43:00.004-05:00

I had a decent phone interview the other day with an educational organization that's doing some interesting stuff in the NY area. The HR person said that she plans to pass along my stuff to the department head.

I've often volunteered my marketing and media skills to help non-profit organizations, and if they want to pay me and give me health insurance, I'm hardly in a position to say no. It'd be an interesting change of pace from working in the media industry proper. But I don't want to get ahead of myself and get excited about such a nascent thing.

Unemployment means more time for photography

2008-12-04T21:38:00.002-05:00

fireplace candles2.jpg
Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

Apartment complete with free tiger

2008-12-02T19:33:00.002-05:00

This Craigslist posting seems pretty unbelievable. (Even by NY standards.)

$60 Free Studio for care of uncaged Siberian Tiger (Upper East Side)

Reply to: hous-942489913@craigslist.org ^[?]
Date: 2008-12-02, 6:07PM EST

My large, clean studio is available for sublet immediately. There is a queen sized sleigh bed and full cable access. You would be required to care for my pet Siberian Tiger, who is generally friendly.
Zoo/veternarian related experience preferred, but not necessary.

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 942489913

Link Hostage

2008-11-20T18:11:00.002-05:00

Blogrolling is holding my blogroll hostage as I can't seem to access it to change it. Frustration.

Yawn

2008-11-20T17:53:00.002-05:00

I'm not sleeping. I'm not sure if that's due to stress over not finding a job or simply because being unemployed leaves you with time to catch up on sleep. I'm all caught up.

Unemployment, Take II

2008-11-11T19:01:00.004-05:00

It's different this time around. I've got more experience and more bullets to put on my resume.

So, in addition to sending said resume to pretty much every friend and family member I have, I've been thinking about doing some freelance writing and editing. However, I'm having a tough time deciding what to put on business cards. I want to make sure that the brand I create for myself is a good representation of my talents and of what I have to offer a potential employer. How do I want to position myself? As a writer? A marketing professional? I don't want to narrow my chances because someone only sees me as a Copywriter or a Media Planner.

UFOs over Rockland

2008-11-05T17:14:00.002-05:00

Why would my local paper want to waste whatever local talent they have left on special reports like this one?

That's what you marched for

2008-11-05T00:19:00.005-05:00

... is what I said to my mom and her friend as they hugged when Barack Obama was announced as this country's newly elected president.

It was an emotional night for many of the people around me, as seen in the video above.

Not long after the historic announcement, we were asked to join hands and Reverend X (I don't remember his name) was going to say a prayer. I happened to be standing next to a big deal county politico, and as we joined hands I said to him "I'm Jewish and may need some guidance in this." He looked at me and said "that makes two of us." So we kind of stood there awkwardly, yet respectfully, as the minister thanked the Holy Father for Obama's victory. Then there was a champagne toast.

NY, NY

2008-11-04T15:32:00.002-05:00

Life back here in NY is kind of surreal. So many things about my hometown are the same (thee's stil a McDonald's and a CVS and the movie theater), but so many things are new and seem out of place to my psyche. I still can't get used to the (newish) Walmart. And all those housing developments that've sprung up from grass and trees and vacant lots.

I can't help but dwell a little about the difference between life here and life in New England. I can't lie - the bagels, Chinese food, and pizza are better here. I kind of miss the walkability that you find around Boston and I dislike having to drive everywhere here in Rockland. Sure, I could try to walk to the CVS here in town, but I'd probably get run down trying to cross Route 59. I miss the racial/ethnic diversity of JP. Here in my hometown it's pretty homogenus.

It's a good thing I'm moving soon...

2008-10-28T17:19:00.002-04:00

...because violent crime is seems to be occurring closer and closer to my house.

J. and I drove by on Forest Hills Street around 4:45pm on Saturday and wondered why there were so many cops and a medium-sized crowd of people gathered on the corner of Rossmore and Forest Hills streets. Not to mention the two or three police cars that were parked in the immediate area. I commented that the films crews I've seen in the area (mainly at Doyle's) did not seem to require nearly as many police officers. Then we spotted the yellow tape - definitely not a film crew.

MA unemployment dept. is illogical

2008-10-27T11:11:00.003-04:00

Because they take your call based on your social security number, not what order you are in the queue of callers.

The joys of unemployment (sort of)

2008-10-23T21:17:00.005-04:00

Yes, my blog will again deal with the topic of unemployment. (And the little things that make me feel better about my situation.)

Anyway...

Now that I no longer have a job, I no longer have a commute. No more commuting means that I won't be as bothered by the movie being filmed on Centre Street in West Roxbury.

One of the catering trucks I passed was imported all the way from Sylmar, California. (At least that's what the side of the truck said.) Seems kind of silly to bring a basic catering truck across the country. Unless it's a prop.

Anyone know what EOD stands for?

Who dislikes the Dali Lama? (Besides the Chinese government)

2008-10-19T20:16:00.004-04:00

Somebody who rides the Red Line.

Burglary in the 'burbs

2008-10-16T21:17:00.004-04:00

Someone (or maybe several someones) broke into my workplace last night. Ironically, they chose to enter through the window which leads to an office with a door that is locked from the outside (well, really it's the hallway to be technical). Which basically left the master criminal(s) trapped in that particular room. (Which is probably for the better.)

A quick inventory of items that were taken:

a framed photo of all the female employees taken at our holiday party two years ago
a Rolodex
a large poster of a Norwegian fjord
a small poster of a castle
a coffee cup full of pens
a bottle of hand lotion

Items in plain sight that were not taken:

an iMac
a slightly older G4
a printer
a postage machine (it weighs mail and looks something like this)

From what I understand, the police said that they couldn't get any info from the fingerprints on the outside of the window. I'm no CSI, but even I saw a few partial prints. But I guess they're the professionals...

The smaller poster was later recovered on the other side of the parking lot. Late this afternoon someone from the company upstairs found the framed photo out back behind the building.

Canadian consulate adventure

2008-10-15T20:16:00.005-04:00

I should preface this post with the fact that I am a big fan of Canada. I can't exactly pinpoint the origin of my warm feelings for the Great White North... maybe it has something to do with my love of hockey, or fondness for ice wine.

Anyway, I got invited to an election night party at the Canadian Consulate in Boston by a friend who hails from British Columbia. We passed time waiting for the polls (at least those in eastern Canada) to close by enjoying some fine Canadian wine (no ice wine, sadly) and of course, beer (Molson is actually popular with Canadians). Then, like good citizens of any first world country, we gathered around a big screen TV to watch the election results come in.

It was interesting to have a sort of insider's p.o.v. as to how another county's government is formed. I also learned that I can pass for a Canadian. (As long as I stayed sort of quiet and pretended to get jokes about Corner Gas, The Friendly Giant, and the NDP.) It felt kind of odd having to repeat "I'm from the U.S. and I'm a tad confused by your minority parliamentary government. Can you please explain again how your electoral system differs from mine?" But everyone was very polite about my lack of understanding. After all, they're Canadian.

Sad Truck gone wild

2008-10-10T20:28:00.004-04:00

Sad Car, meet Sad Truck
(which, incidentally, is located next door to my second favorite dilapidated car).

Sad Truck reminds of those ships that are sunk to make artificial reefs.

Who're you calling a giant inflatable rat?

2008-10-10T19:24:00.007-04:00

Newton Roofing, apparently.

As seen on Providence Highway in Dedham this morning.

The Hummus Wars are heating up

2008-10-08T09:23:00.001-04:00

"Lebanese businessmen are making a legal claim that would designate hummus as traditional to Lebanon. That would make it easier for them to sue to prevent companies in Israel and other nations from marketing the popular chickpea-and-olive-oil spread as their own."

read more | digg story

Atrium Mall gets Proactiv

2008-09-28T19:49:00.001-04:00

Proactiv vending machine at the Atrium Mall

Would you like some advertising with that gas?

2008-09-26T23:21:00.004-04:00

In addition to (relatively) reasonable prices, Ames Street Sunoco in Dedham now brings you PumpTop TV. So much advertising, so little time.

Sunday on the square, with balloons

2008-09-24T22:01:00.003-04:00

I caught a glimpse of balloons at Copley Square on Sunday. I think there was some sort of charity walk going on. This was about as close as I got.

Plane to see

2008-09-18T22:32:00.003-04:00

Planes fly really low over my house sometimes. Close enough to see the underbelly. If it was daytime I imagine I'd be able to tell you what airline it was that just buzzed the place. And they seem to fly really close to each other on takeoff/landing approaches.

While I was on the porch watching the jets zoom overhead, I noticed a police officer walking through my parking lot. Then he noticed me noticing him and waved. I guess that's what community policing is all about.

Bootie Lifter livens up the workplace

2008-09-17T14:58:00.001-04:00

Bootie Lifter car
Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

This car appeared in the parking lot at work today, lifting our spirits, if not our booties.

Orange Line confusion

2008-09-17T00:27:00.002-04:00

Saw this in the Orange Line station near my house. Note that none of these stations are actually on the Orange Line, which is not terribly helpful.

I don't usually blog about politics....

2008-09-04T02:15:00.003-04:00

If I were Bristol Palin, I'd be sad and perhaps confused that my mom would rather be campaigning than with me. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know what goes on behind closed doors, and I'm not saying that woman should be at home rather than in the workplace (or the House or the Senate) but if I were 17 and pregnant, I'd probably want my mom by my side.
I feel for the poor girl. Being 17 and pregnant must be hard enough, but to do it on a national stage must make it unbearable. (At least pregnant teen star Jamie Lynn Spears didn't have to worry about hampering her parents political careers.)

Wal-Mart really is a big box store

2008-09-02T20:32:00.003-04:00

Found this giant wooden box near the personal care section of the Wal-Mart in Framingham.

Masshole swiped my car

2008-08-07T23:59:00.004-04:00

My day started and ended with car accidents.

I was traveling northeast on Centre St. in West Roxbury at about 6:23pm on Thursday, August 7, 2008, I was stopped in the right lane at the light at Corey Street. A commercial truck was next to me. A police car with lights and sirens came down Centre St. (heading northeast). I moved about as far to the right as I could. The small commercial truck to my left (in the left lane) suddenly seemed to be making an attempt to turn right onto Corey Street from the LEFT lane (at least that's what he appeared to be doing) by in front of my car. He cut WAY too close to the right. I began beeping to remind him of my presence. And then I heard a horrible scraping noise coming from the front end of my car (driver's side). Asshole had struck me. I honked and honked and honked, as the light turned green, he kept going straight down Centre Street. I pulled up next to him, honking and gesturing, trying to get his attention. I wanted us to pull over and exchange insurance info. But no. The masshole drove off down towards Belgrade Ave. Luckily I got his license plate number, as well as the name and phone number of the company he works for. I've already called an left a message with them. Now I have some nonsensical paperwork to fill out and return to the police.

I also got some pictures of the damage.

Crash!

2008-08-07T09:22:00.001-04:00

Just passed by a terrible car accident on Rte. 140 South near Wrentham Center (just before the courthouse).

I wondered why the cars ahead of me were moving at such a glacial pace.

Motorcycle versus small SUV (Rav 4? CRV?). I got there before the first responders. There was a small group of people who looked distraught (understandably so) and a kid in the backseat of the SUV. I wondered if anyone had called 911 yet.

As I drove by, following the glacial pace of the cars in front of me, I saw not just the mangled motorcycle (Honda? Suzuki? Definitely something small and Japanese…), I saw two legs. Then I saw a man in a sort of twisted version of the fetal position. His helmet was still on, visor either open or gone completely, and blood streaming down his arm onto his t-shirt and probably the pavement. Not moving. But not dead either. Eyes open, he seemed to be looking straight at me. Blue eyes, I think. Then he blinked. Then I heard the sirens and pulled over to let them by. Hope the guy is alright.

Storms blows through Swampscott

2008-08-03T23:04:00.003-04:00

swirly clouds

2008-08-03T16:17:00.001-04:00

swirly clouds
Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

Got caught in today's rainstorm while enjoying beach food at Lime Ricky's in Swampscott.

James Hook & Co. rises from the ashes

2008-07-31T22:13:00.004-04:00

James Hook & Co. as the longtime Boston business rebuilds after a fire in May. (Photos were taken around July 4th.)

The T is chepaer than I thought

2008-07-31T20:47:00.003-04:00

They couldn't even be bothered to order correct signs for this Silver Line bus. (Is that the proper terminology for Silver Line vehicles?) I only saw the correct labeling because I was standing this close to the sign.

The real question is, who made the above clarification - the MBTA or a rider who finally had enough of the confusion surrounding Silver Line routes?

Water feature at my office

2008-07-24T13:59:00.001-04:00

Office_lake.jpg
Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

The parking lot turns into a lake on rainy days.

Lightning flashed while I was snapping this photo

2008-07-23T23:17:00.006-04:00

Interesting (and accidental) timing on my part. Wasn't trying to get lightning on film.

Live at the top of a hill. Went outside to take some pictures of the stormy night skies. Was playing with manual settings and ISO speed on the camera (Canon IXUS 40).

Took some other shots of the rain.

R.I.P. Sad Car

2008-07-22T19:14:00.004-04:00

The slow decay has ended. It seems that Sad Car has been put out to pasture.

It's been a little while since I've driven that particular stretch of VFW Parkway, but a friend recently alerted me about the disappearance of the familiar rotting hunk of metal and steel. (The once white sedan can even be seen in the aerial photo on the city's Property Data Viewer).

Sad Car made quite an impression on this West Roxbury (Roslindale?) property.

Without Sad Car guarding the garage like a dedicated sentry, Sad House has lost part of its identity . (J. adds that this "looks like the home where a serial killer lives.")

Alyssa's ark

2008-07-14T21:06:00.007-04:00

This morning as I sat in my car in the parking lot, rain pouring down over the windshield, I began wishing for an ark to help me get across the parking lot and into my office. When the rain slowed (sort of), I got out of the car and headed towards the other set of doors, where the current running across that entrance proceeded to pull a band-aid off my foot.

If you look closely, you can even see some whitewater ( which consists of rapids and eddy lines caused by debris washed down the street and into our parking lot).

The water covered the bottom step of one entrance.

La Course des Garçon de Café

2008-07-13T21:40:00.003-04:00

Traditional French Waiters Race at the Bastille Day celebration in Harvard Square.

Has JP been annexed?

2008-07-13T10:58:00.002-04:00

Since when is Jamaica Plain no longer part of the city of Boston?

At least that what a Boston Globe article makes it sound like:

And communities in Boston's inner belt - including Somerville, Brookline, Newton, and Jamaica Plain - are also doing somewhat better than Cambridge, with their single-family home sales collectively down about 22 percent from the first five months of 2007, he said.

Line for iPhone

2008-07-12T17:00:00.004-04:00

Line for iPhone
Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

The lineup for the iPhone outside the Apple Store at Cambridgeside Galleria on Saturday.

(I took the picture with my cellphone and blogged this from inside the Apple Store.)

No more Rojo?

2008-07-09T09:32:00.001-04:00

No more Rojo?
Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

Fireworks... finally

2008-07-07T01:00:00.006-04:00

My belated (thanks to some computer issues) video montage of Boston's July 4th fireworks spectacular. I was lucky enough to have seen them from high up in the Hancock Building.

(Sorry for the crappy video quality.. compression and all...)

Parking rules n' regs

2008-06-27T19:21:00.005-04:00

In my apartment's parking lot, everyone who has a car has their assigned spot. And guests aren't really supposed to park in the lot. (We have more parking spots than cars, so people's vehicles tend to be scattered in a non-uniform manner, leaving us with a few extra spaces near the back fence.) But when they park in someone's spot, and that person comes home, the accepted protocol is to honk your horn as loud and as long as possible. Even if it's the middle of the night.

So it's not a surprise that I drew a crowd with my loud honking after my annoying commute home after a long day of work. People hung out on porches and stared. Eventually some nice ladies from one of the neighboring buildings started ringing doorbells of the building that the offender was most likely visiting - nice to know that neighbors still help each other out.

Turns out that the offending visitor belonged to the asshole downstairs. Who was on his porch sans shirt while his fat belly hanging over his shorts, watching me honk and honk and honk and honk.

(Yes, I realize what I said yesterday. But I'm getting to the point where I don't know how much longer I can live around them anymore (and from what I understand, I'm not the only one who feels this way).)

Not exactly Mr. Rogers' neighborhood...

2008-06-25T21:16:00.005-04:00

Won't you be my neighbor?
by Fred M. Rogers

It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?...

These two postings got me thinking a little deeper about the neighborhood that I live in within the larger context of the city of Boston.

I found a decently priced place to live here and my neighbors are all colors and ethnicities and ages and income levels. You'll find a pretty diverse lot waiting for the Orange Line or walking down Centre Street or waiting on line for ice cream at JP Licks. I have the typical 'neighborly' friendships with some of my neighbors - We help each other clean off snowy cars, take in packages for each other, etc. - despite the fact that we don't always speak the same language (English, PSanish, Portugese, Creole...).

I'm not saying that there aren't problems, issues, and/or misunderstandings sometimes. That's life. As neighbors, we have to be able to live around each other, not be best friends.

Blurry images from Fenway

2008-06-24T23:44:00.002-04:00

Manny at ease, on deck.

At bat.

Lefty ready to swing.

Manny warming up.

Last minute tickets to the game - unexpected but very welcome... grateful that the weather eventually turned around and made it a great night.

Down 4-1 for most of the middle innings, the Sox rallied in the 8th to pull ahead 5-4, before a fastball performance by Papelbon in the top of the 9th shut down the Diamondbacks.

Good graphic design: the lower case 'db' on the Diamondbacks jersey sleeves looks like a snake's head.

-j.

Protesters outside the Hynes

2008-06-22T12:40:00.004-04:00

They were protesting against Aramark, but I couldn't understand what they were saying.

(Turns out one of them gave J. a flyer when he arrived to meet me at the HealthFit Expo, but he had to seek someone out to ask for it. It didn't help us understand any better.)

Cheap gas causes minor traffic jam

2008-06-19T22:13:00.004-04:00

Gas was $3.97 at BJ's in Franklin. It caused a minor traffic jam, even overflowing into the main driveway at some points.

2008-06-19T00:50:00.001-04:00

Celtics... the aftermath

2008-06-18T00:06:00.009-04:00

Yay Celtics!!!!!

My next door neighbor is out on his porch yelling "Lakers can suck my dick!!!!!"
and that Kobe can lick his "big, huge Puerto Rican dick!!!*" against a cacophony of car horns, sirens, intermittent fireworks, other neighbors screaming, and more car horns. He's also yelling random words just to hear his own echo about 5 seconds later (the delayed effect is kind of neat).

I don't remember the neighborhood getting this loud after the Red Sox won the World Series.

It's 12:41 am.
Please stop honking. I want to go to sleep already.

*This is really what he said, not some attempt by me to stereotype my neighbor.

Crazy crustacean

2008-06-16T21:28:00.003-04:00

Largest lobster in the tank at BJ's in Framingham.

100 degrees is too hot

2008-06-10T13:26:00.001-04:00

100_deg.jpg
Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

My car says it's 100 degrees outside.

Hellfire in Harvard Sq

2008-06-08T16:35:00.002-04:00

Saving Souls in Harvard Sq
Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

Couldn't help but notice the guy yelling about hellfire and brimstones in Harvard Square last night.

Kidnap encounter

2008-06-05T23:25:00.006-04:00

I didn't blog about this until today because I've been busy. And because I had some trouble finding evidence of a real kidnapping until now.

Picture it, Allston, Massachusetts, a late Sunday night in June.

J. and I accidentally sort of drove by the scene of the crime. It began with me facing the wrong way on Harvard St. and trying not to be that asshole who pulls a u-turn in the middle of a busy street. I turned off of Harvard St. and was just trying to go around the block... bad idea. Glenville was blocked by a cop car and a bunch of fire trucks. And there we were on a one way street with no place to go.

Adding to the chaos was this white car in front of me. I thought he was trying to parallel park (badly). It seems that he was actually trying to turn around.. on a one way street! First I thought that maybe the cop told him to do that. But then I realized that if the cop was so keen on this guy driving out the wrong way, wouldn't he be trying to assist or attempt to turn me and the car behind me around too? By the time White Car Guy managed to complete the turn, said cop had driven away, allowing me free passage to Comm. Ave.

We must've gotten there towards the end of the action. Oh well. As I turned the corner heading towards Comm. Ave. I asked one of the people gathered on the street corner what was going on. "Kidnapping" replied a woman in her pyjamas. I sort of thought that she was just being flip. Until I ran across this.

Dedham theater turns to dust

2008-06-05T21:24:00.002-04:00

...in front of my eyes (and camera)

Movie in Dedham?

2008-06-05T20:38:00.003-04:00

Seen in Dedham last week. Directions to a movie set? Looks like the Mall Cop signs all over West Roxbury.

Baby wars, eh?

2008-05-30T20:07:00.005-04:00

Like the South End, it seems that the hipper neighborhoods of Toronto are also teeming with urban assault strollers. Are Canadians really more polite about tots in trendy restaurants? Not always.

"The bartender and all the staff were cool, but we got a mixed reaction from other people—a lot of really dirty looks in that passive-aggressive Toronto way, like they thought we were bad parents. "

"The next day, she woke up to a lengthy rant in her in-box: “I will let you know, as a manager of a high-end retail store in Toronto, that your ‘mommy bubble’ attitude is ruining the independent retail sector in this city."

"a sign in the window: “No SUV-type strollers, please” (the store has since moved to the Danforth, but the sign remains). Every time I saw that sign, I thought about the descriptor “SUV” and how it connotes something specific: space sucking, aggressive and, above all, entitled."

"The entitled parent easily becomes the militant parent, lashing out at the restaurant that doesn’t serve organic milk or the singleton who doesn’t help get the stroller up the streetcar steps."

... or the Starbucks barista who wants you to stop changing your tot's diaper on a table?

Some Canadian complaints sound like what we've heard (read?) about some Boston neighborhoods.

"What emerges in these family-driven downtown neighbourhoods, over a long period of time, is effectively the kind of monoculture that happens instantly in the suburbs when a group of economically similar people buy into a development while it’s being built."

They also apparently have some problems that have developed between 'human parents' and 'doggie parents.' Like what happens when an off-leash dog nearly knocks down your toddler.

“She was definitely afraid,” he says. “And the owners just laugh. They think those dogs are their children, but I tell them, ‘Your dog doesn’t grow up to be a taxpayer. My daughter will, and who do you think will be looking after you when you’re old? My daughter and her taxes.’ ”

"After two years of consultation between dog owners, the dog-less, and parks and recreation officials, the dogs of Jean Sibelius lost their off-leash hours in January. An appeal is under way.... She believes city councillors and judges favour parents, and notes, like a police officer talking about a gang, that parents are “highly organized.” Interestingly, Mills complains that the dog owners are “highly organized,” because they have no kids and far more time to lobby for dog rights; Mills uses the word “entitled” to describe dog owners, and Morton uses it to describe parents."

Not sure if this kind of activism has made it to Boston yet. But I won't be surprised when it does. Parents are parents, I guess.

WBOS Earthfest 2008 in pictures

2008-05-24T22:00:00.006-04:00

At one point, the music stopped and the police got on the stage with Cracker. Not entirely sure what the problem was.

Zombiefied Earthfest

2008-05-24T20:51:00.008-04:00

Zombies celebrate the Earth at WBOS Earthfest!

police confront the zombies (photo above)

(some of these photos were snapped by my friend Paul, as I was stuck in a line.)

Busy night skies

2008-05-19T22:57:00.002-04:00

What's with all of the helicopters buzzing around my house tonight? One of them was even close enough for me to see that it was blue and white. (Life Flight? One of the local TV stations?)

Avon walkers make their way through JP

2008-05-18T23:46:00.005-04:00

Captured some of the Avon walkers on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain yesterday. Love the gal with the pink hair.

Israelis for Obama

2008-05-18T23:41:00.002-04:00

IMG_8397.JPG
Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

Parking lot of Whole Foods in Cambridge, MA.

Rude awakening

2008-05-18T15:28:00.004-04:00

Every morning there comes a moment of awareness - I'm awake. [pause] Why am I awake? - sometimes it comes following the annoying buzz of the alarm clock, sometimes it's the dog needing to go out, and sometimes it's your kid is trying to tell you that she had a bad dream. Today I was roused to consciousness thanks to a REALLY LOUD BOOM followed by an eerie envelope of stillness. It was like when there's a huge clap of thunder that almost seems to make your entire house vibrate punctured by the silence that makes you notice that the thunder is gone. I glanced at the clock, which was blank. Confused, I tried to turn on the TV, and when that didn't work I stumbled out to find my cell phone. The time said 6:45am.

I was not the only one awake - I ran into a neighbor in the hallway who was coming inside with his young son (where were they coming from at 6:45 in the morning?). He said that he'd heard it too and noted that the building's 'power off' alarm was beeping and that the emergency lights were on in the hallway. Still confused and barely awake, I went back inside and called the local police station to ask what tha what the what had happened to my electricity. The person who anserwed their phone patched me through to 911, despite my sleepy protests that I didn't think it was an emergency, I just wanted to know what was going on. The 911 operator asked me what happened, I said I wasn't sure that this classified as an emergency, but was patched through by the police. I told her that I had been awakened by a VERY LOUD BOOM at around 6:45am and I had no idea what it was, but that my apartment complex seemed to be without power. Confirming that it was not a weekday and I wouldn't oversleep and be late to work, I fell back asleep.

I still don't know what happened to create such a cacophony. But by the time I woke up again around 10:30am, the power was back on. Weird way to start the week.

Rozzie Plain bloggers in real life

2008-05-14T22:54:00.005-04:00

Somehow, the Interweb makes the world larger and smaller all at once. Went to the Rozzie Plain blogger get-together tonight. Was cool to finally some of these fine authors in person. Wish that I could remember the URL's of everyone I met. (Sorry if I didn't.)

(If you don't wish to have a photo of yourself on the blog, please notify me and I'll remove it.)

Starbucks sucks up street space

2008-05-14T22:24:00.002-04:00

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Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

Why can't the Starbucks delivery tuck just park in the parking lot (which is right behind that small tree) instead of blocking a large chunk of Centre Street (and what seemed to be a bus stop) during rush hour?

Playtime

2008-05-11T21:31:00.003-04:00

A little while ago some kids from the apartment complex were outside hitting each other with plastic strips that broke off from a chain link fence. I guess it's better than them being outside on a school night selling or using drugs.

Rural Wrentham

2008-05-07T21:03:00.002-04:00

This morning I saw a man riding right through Wrentham Center on a small John Deere tractor. Tractor* Guy wasn't going very fast, but seemed to be obeying traffic laws. Reminded me of The Straight Story (except that the the guy in Wrentham was much younger).

*If it wasn't a 'real' tractor, it was a seriously large riding mower.

Something sounds funny

2008-05-07T20:59:00.005-04:00

On tonight's Chronicle, during a segment on Dorchester's Peabody Square, the following (amusing) line caught my ear:

"...including a growing gay and lesbian community, a population that many say adds a creative element to the area..."

So, just because you're gay (or a lesbian), you're automatically creative?

Aftermath of violence

2008-05-03T17:55:00.007-04:00

The Wake Up the Earth Festival took place today in the same park where a young man was killed recently. The basketball court where he died has become some sort of shrine to him.

More pictures can be found here.

Sweeping time

2008-04-28T23:18:00.005-04:00

Whose bright idea was it to have the street sweepers out and about when people are trying to drive to work in the morning?

Reflections on violence II

2008-04-23T19:36:00.004-04:00

Every time a siren can be heard I see my neighbors outside looking around more, instead of ignoring them like we usually* do. There are more parents outside with kids, gripping their hands as the sirens blare. Their body language indicates that they're wondering if something violent has occurred even closer to home.

*We live in proximity of a police station, so sirens aren't terribly unusual.

Reflections on violence

2008-04-22T23:02:00.003-04:00

What a wonderful thing to come back to after a trip to NY to visit the family - there was a shooting near my house on Monday.

In a park that I often drive or walk by. A park that tends to be filled with children – on the playground, playing baseball, shooting hoops, etc.

I realize that I live in a city and that shit happens.

But it just seems kind of ballsy and brazen to shoot someone during the daytime in a park filled with people. JP isn’t perfect, but the areas between the Green Street and Stony Brook T stops tends to be a quieter, feel a little safer… until Monday.

Fantastic seats at Fenway

2008-04-13T22:54:00.003-04:00

Pictures from the Red Sox game I went to on Thursday. More can be found on Flickr.

What's so bad about Bicon?

2008-04-12T01:57:00.003-04:00

More trouble is brewing about the Bicon building in JP. It's right near my neighborhood, so I pass it frequently.

let me be honest in the beginning, my opinion is not unbiased, since I'm also a patient there. I've spent a decent amount of time there in the recent past. The staff at Bicon has been nothing but helpful since I set foot in the controversial building for some emergency oral surgery in February. As far as surgeons go, the docs there are conventionality situated (for me at least) and provide important services for those of us who suffer from rotten teeth that often need to be extracted and replaced with dental implants. (My mouth is full of bling... just not the kind that you see on MTV.) Bicon also offers parking in a small lot. (Think that's overrated? You try walking home after having oral surgery during which you were sedated.)

I understand the desire to keep Boston's neighborhoods leafy and keep them from getting overrun by rampant, soulless development. Let's be realistic here - it's not in a park in the proper sense - it's not surrounded by parkland in the traditional sense (ex: Tavern on the Green in Central Park). It's on a high-traffic rotary that isn't too attractive itself, save for the leafy entrance to Franklin Park.

I'll be the first to admit that the building itself isn't the most attractive, but it's already built. What does the opposition plan to do - tear it down?

Fanatics, up close and personal

2008-04-11T02:08:00.006-04:00

J. got free tix to tonight's Red Sox v. Tigers game. Not only were they free but the seats were fucking awesome - right behind the 3rd base line... like 4 rows behind where the opposing players hang out when warming up for their trip to home plate. We sat behind these 2 crazy guys, J. said they reminded him of Statler and Waldorf (the 2 old hecklers on the Muppet Show). Another guy sitting near us referred to them as 'schizophrenic yellers.' One of them reminded me more of Randy Quaid's character in Major League II. He was yelling such things as "you have no ass!" (to Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez). He also seemed to get personally insulted if we were not enthusiastic enough.

Other gems overheard tonight.

Have some excellent pictures, but am too tired to upload them now.

Update:
I accidentally caught some of the more enthusiastic fans on film. And the wave too.

The Globe explores my 'hood

2008-04-04T20:05:00.005-04:00

A nice job capturing some of the flavor of JP.

One suggestion for the whoever edits these videos at the Globe - just because JP is quirky, does not mean that you have to add annoyingly quirky background music.

Boston blackout?

2008-03-30T15:23:00.002-04:00

Darkness falls on Boston.

Around 1:30 am, heading down Harvard Street near Comm. Ave.

Some drivers are just stupid

2008-03-21T18:25:00.011-04:00

I was at the light at the corner of VFW Parkway and Rte. 109 around 5:45pm today and noticed crime scene tape and a few police vehicles are blocking VFW Pkwy. South. (~~Anyone know why?~~)

Some idiots still kept trying to turn onto the closed portion of Rte. 1 South. What did they not understand about the police cars and the patient officer directing traffic? (Those of us going straight on Rte. 109 were supposed to follow the traffic light.) The officer saw that the idiots were totally screwing up the traffic pattern by their insistence that they HAD to get on Rte. 1 South, that he seemed to start directing them to a sort of waiting area near the cruisers. (I don't recall it being a very residential area, so I'm not sure if they were desperate to go to Stop n' Shop or what....)

{Note - The kind folks at Universal Hub later informed me that the blockade was due to a fire.}

Sugar-scented commute

2008-03-20T19:35:00.003-04:00

The scent of fresh baked goods lingered in the morning air as I drove down Centre Street in West Roxbury on Tuesday. What a nice way to start the usually droll drive to work.

Springtime snowflakes

2008-03-19T00:59:00.003-04:00

Big, fluffy flakes are falling outside my window... in late March.

Charles River rising

2008-03-10T20:52:00.002-04:00

Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

Signs of spring

2008-03-03T21:32:00.003-05:00

The people in the neon yellow shirts are (re)appearing at intersections...

spring must be just around the corner.

Snow blogging (by request)

2008-02-22T16:36:00.003-05:00

See more here.

The saddest car on the VFW

2008-02-19T21:45:00.007-05:00

This is Sad Car.

I've watched this poor thing deteriorate over the past 5 years or so.

Back when I lived in RI, I'd drive past this rusty white car on my way up to Brookline to visit friends. When I moved to Boston 2 years ago, I was sort of surprised that it was still sitting there, rotting in the same driveway along VFW Parkway in ~~West Roxbury~~ Roslindale.

Every once in a while Carpool Buddy and I wonder aloud whether the neighbors complain about this eyesore and ponder how much it brings down their property values. I mean, would you want to live next door to Sad Car?

UPDATE:
I stand corrected. Sad Car lives in Roslindale.

The squeaky wheel that did not get the grease

2008-02-19T20:42:00.009-05:00

No, that sound you hear isn't a train going by my car. It's coming from the truck and trailer in front of me. I was worried that something (a wheel? lug nut? random piece of metal?) was going to fly off that trailer and smack into my windshield.

Sorry for the bouncy camera, it was resting on the dashboard.

Vote Here - Boston English High School

2008-02-05T07:36:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

Super Sunday

2008-01-30T19:55:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

Another Sunday night, another visit to the ER

2008-01-28T20:13:00.000-05:00

Roommate2.0 sliced his finger open last night while trying to open a glass bottle with some sort of tool. So, after cleaning up the glass shards I took him and his bloody finger over to the Emergency Room at BIDMC. They fixed him up, but not before we realized that we can't try to escape fate.

We had high hopes of making it through this visit without having an ER neighbor with something bad happening below the belt.

Patient (who speaks very loudly): "Yeah... at first it was small, like a pea. Next thing I knew it swelled up. I thought I was growing a third testicle!"

Doctor announces she has to do a rectal exam. Gloves up.

Patient: "I've never had a rectal exam given by a female. Wait, there was one, a long time ago. She told me that since her fingers were a lot smaller than a guy's, I might enjoy it."

Doc: "Well, my fingers are smaller, but I can't guarantee that you're going to enjoy this."

Roommate2.0 and I tried really really really hard not to laugh out loud, which of course only makes you laugh harder. We could not look at each other for fear of hyena-like laughter erupting from our little curtained corner.

We also decided that it's time for BIDMC to come up with some sort of frequent flier program for those of us who are huge klutzes. Like ensuring me a good parking spot or something. But seriously, we're starting to think that some ER staffers recognize us.

(Note- This isn't meant to make light of those return patients who are drug seeking or being abused. That is terrible and those people deserve real help, not parking perks.)

Where am I again?

2008-01-28T14:58:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

A sheet from Mass general seems to have made its way to the BIDMC Emergency Room.

Mystery train

2008-01-24T20:31:00.000-05:00

Saw this sitting on the commuter rail tracks near work. Wonder where it came from.

The Obama-ites

2008-01-20T15:55:00.000-05:00

Let me start this by saying that I have nothing against Barack Obama or his decision to run for president. But I do not like waking up to find leaflets slipped under my door, with more stacked downstairs by the mailboxes. I find them to be a waste of paper (and trees).

There's even a handwritten note on it:
"Sorry we missed you! Please contact us for any info!"

How the enthusiastic Obama-ites even got into my locked apartment building is a mystery. I know my neighbors aren't too fond of strangers wandering the halls. And if the (presumably) harmless Obama-ites can get in, who else can?

Random thought - would the environmentally sensitive Kuchinich crowd hand out leaflets that kill defenseless trees?

IMG_6474.JPG

2008-01-14T19:41:00.001-05:00

IMG_6474.JPG
Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

Snow Bird in JP

Winter wonderland in JP

2008-01-14T14:18:00.000-05:00

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2008-01-14T14:17:00.001-05:00

IMG_6475.JPG
Originally uploaded by LoveLyss

Run Katy Run

2008-01-13T21:08:00.000-05:00

See Katy Run the Boston marathon to raise money for cancer research.

Well, I'm definitely awake now

2008-01-11T21:38:00.000-05:00

Sometime around 7:35am I stepped out of the shower and heard a horrible CRASH!!! followed by a dozen car alarms going off - I thought a tree had fallen in the parking lot. Then came the deluge. I had no idea it was even raining out. (Of course I'd been awake all of 7 minutes.)

I had to scramble around (in a towel, no less) and close all the windows that were open because my thermostat is on steroids. Roommate2.0 had already left for work, and I was running late, so you can imagine how frantic I was.

Rooommate2.0's window sill, wall, and dormant AC unit were soaking, so I was forced to shut the window and lay down a towel. My bedroom window had a small window fan in it (on HIGH, to help circulate cool air into the house), which was now dripping wet while still plugged in to the outlet. Electrocution is not cool, but I managed to shut it off and unplug it without zapping myself. Then I had to set on the edge of the bathtub to drip dry.

I made it (safely) to work in the 'burbs where a nearby parking lot had morphed into a little lake.

Warm winter day

2008-01-06T20:58:00.001-05:00

Images from a city celebrating a mid-winter thaw