Burning Down the Park

Last night a spectacular thunderstorm rolled overhead. I had kind of dozed off around 11ish and by 11:45 I was rocked out of bed by the crash of loud thunder. It was warm and steamy, so I left the windows open. I didn't expect to be kept awake from the noise.

It was a gully washer - fast, loud and violent.

We needed the rain because it has been pretty dry here in Massachusetts. We've been under brush fire warnings for the past few days. Even Harvard Square had some problems.

Yesterday, I was minding my own business when Salena rolled into my office to ask if I'd talked to our colleague Joe*. Apparently Joe had gone for a walk at lunch and encountered a smoldering pile of mulch and a burning bush.

He stamped it out and saved the Boston Public Garden. That's right - he strolls through parks to aid in digestion. Who doesn't?

I was very curious, so we swooped in on the unsuspecting Joe. He smelled a bit like a campfire.

Joe said he was walking when he noticed a lot of smoke. Someone had left a large, burning cigar in the mulch by a shrub. Joe took matters into his own hands - or feet - and spent a few minutes putting out the fire.

It's always good to know when your co-workers are action-oriented. And it's always good to reward such behavior.

So now I call him Smokey.

* changed for privacy.