I hike through Beacon hill most days of the week - it is usually pleasant and uneventful. Yesterday it smelled like warm garbage. It wasn't hot enough for the hot garbage smell, but I was getting a pretty regular waft of something unpleasant.
We're having a little heat wave and high humidity which makes everyone a little uneasy. On the T last night I was blasted with BO by a few of my fellow passengers. I'm not especially squeamish but after the garbage shuffle, the jerky T ride and some stenches that are best left at home, I felt a bit out of sorts when I got to the end of the line.
Deeps asked me how I was doing.
Me: The T smelled a lot like moldy burritos.
Deeps: So I guess we should do pizza for dinner?
Me: Sounds fair to me.
Labels: 2008, Boston
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, July 09, 2008 at Wednesday, July 09, 2008 | | 
I'm not a biker - I'm a pedestrian. I understand the appeal of the bike, but I don't have the dedication or the constitution to bike to work. I take my life into my own hands just walking, I figure I'll leave biking to the better equipped.
Except....
As gas prices rise I see more and more of the "accidental biker." I've determined that they're accidental because they didn't intend to bike, but due to circumstances beyond their control they're biking. And they bike in the most bizarre get-ups: suit pants and a muscle shirt and no helmet. A dress that is hiked up, sandals and no helmet.
Mostly they don't wear helmets. And while the old adage about something being as easy as riding a bike, apparently bike riding isn't as easy as one might think. As a casual observer I see a lot of wobbling on bikes too big for people on bikes too small for peple, a lot of fast pedaling without getting anywhere and the dreaded drift.
Just this week I've seen people nearly die, but I don't think they were aware how close they came to certain death. And they did it in a sundress and cute sandals. If you're riding a bike, you might take a second look at it to make sure it is going to work best for you. Learn about how the gears work and for the love of all things good, wear a helmet.
I don't care if you dress like a bumble bee and wear clicky shoes. Mostly I care if you laid out by a Prius.
Labels: 2008, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, July 02, 2008 at Wednesday, July 02, 2008 | |
So I have a plan about how to get home if there is a terrorist attack while I'm at the office. This might sound weird and a little bleak, but in fairness I also had a plan in case we were attacked by Russians in the early 80s. Think Red Dawn. I was nine.
Anyway, the plan is good to have because "terrorist" can easily turn into "when the MBTA fails at every turn" which happens more often than you might think.
Last night I was happy to have some plans in place. Plan A is full blown disaster plan - I walk up Massachusetts Avenue for approximately seven miles until I'm close to home. Plan B is the inconvenience plan - I walk to Kendall Square and hang out at the mall and wait for Deeps to show up and meet me for dinner.
I implemented that plan last night when
a fire on the T shut down Red Line service for a good long while. Once I saw a flood of people crossing the bridge towards the MGH stop I knew I'd have to keep hiking.
But while I was walking across the bridge, as dark clouds loomed and the rain gently fell I started to wonder if it was really wise to be walking on a big metal bridge during storm - especially when I suspected there might be lightning. That's when I started to formulate Plan C. Call my work buddies to see if anyone is still in the neighborhood.
Plan C means I hole up in a nice pub, sip some whiskey and wait out the delays with my friends. It's a good plan, I don't see what could possibly go wrong.
Labels: 2008, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at Wednesday, May 28, 2008 | |
Last night I met up with a few friends after work to have a drink and enjoy some cheap Happy Hour bar food. It's tougher to find discounts than you might think.
There were three of us and as we waited for our forth we ordered some drinks and some hideous bar snacks: things covered in cheese and things you dip in cheese. These are separate and distinct items.
We were able to slide in an order before the 5:30 Happy Hour cut-off point. Our friend didn't arrive until after 6.
Me: You've missed Happy Hour!
Friend: What? It's only six!
Me: Well according to this place Happy Hour runs from 2:30 to 5:30.
Friend: That's not very convenient.
Me: I would agree. But at least they discount some of the food for that time.
Friend: But not the drinks?
Me: I don't think you can do that in Massachusetts. You can only discount the food.
Friend: None of this seems very happy at all.
Me: Times are tough and we merely pursue happiness, there are no guarantees we will catch up to it.
Friend: I was hoping to catch up to some discounted nachos.
Me: They were delicious and they went quickly.
Friend: Like happiness.
Labels: 2008, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Thursday, May 01, 2008 at Thursday, May 01, 2008 | |
Me: I'm putting the snow boots away.
Deeps: Really?
Me: Yeah. I'm really going to do it.
Deeps: But it isn't June yet.
Me: I'm saying I think the snow is over.
Deeps: It's still cold.
Me: I know. But I'm betting against snow.
Deeps: As long as you don't put away the warm coats.
Me: Are you crazy? It isn't June yet.
Labels: 2008, Boston, weather
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at Tuesday, April 08, 2008 | |
Last night I tagged along to happy hour to mark our friend, Pudding's birthday. It was a big day for Pudding. He's turning 30 and he finished all three seasons of LOST on DVD in record time. He's nearly caught up to the rest of the viewing world.
We met at a nearby pub where we were greeted by a cute lady bartender, who took our drink order somewhat laconically. She then said to my friend, "Can I see some ID? You just look so..." she trailed off.
My friend is about the same age as I am. She looked somewhat taken aback, but whatever. She handed over my ID. The bartender never asked for mine. She then turned back and said "What did you want again?"
Thus began a night of ferocious ribbing related to my hideous old age.
Friend: You have skin like a baby.
Me: Yes - a mummy's baby. Or a really old baby who collects Social Security.
Friend: You're spry for a woman your age.
And while that was fun, I was ultimately left without being offended. Our bartender was incredibly spacey - forgetting easy drink orders like "a Sam Adams." I reckon that is probably the most common drink ordered in the state of Massachusetts.
Still. I'll drink an extra glass of water today and throw on a little more sunscreen. No need to take these things
too seriously.
Labels: 2008, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Friday, March 07, 2008 at Friday, March 07, 2008 | |
Last night I walked home up Newbury Street and waited for the light to cross the street to the Boston Public Garden. Several months back the city finally installed a proper stoplight and crosswalk signal for the intersection.
I always wait for the walk signal because I've been hit by a car before. That's how some people learn. Stove hot, cars dangerous. See?
Anyway, the light had been red for several seconds - long enough for cars to be fully stopped and lined up near the crosswalk. I was about half way through the crosswalk when an Audi blew through the red light - in the one open lane - just a few feet from me. If he'd hit me I'd be a dead blogger.
I was so stunned, as were the other pedestrians, that we just stumbled to the sidewalk and stared for a moment as he sped away. I kept heading home. I didn't think much more
about the incident until this morning.
A few minutes ago I had to physically throw myself out of the way of a Honda Element. I know what it was because the grill was dangerously close to my body. Once again I was in a crosswalk, I had the walk sign, I was looking just to be sure and again a car gunned it and blazed around the corner to come within inches of hitting me. It was the closest call I've had in a very long time. I had to take evasive actions to avoid death.
The driver waved and apology. I waved a fist and my giant magenta umbrella. I suppose he didn't see me - like the guy from last night. I'm hard to miss with big red hair, my purple raincoat and my hot pink umbrella.
I suppose I was asking for it. I am perpetrating a
crime against fashion.Labels: 2008, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at Wednesday, March 05, 2008 | |
As you may know, I commute into Boston every morning. It's a short distance to travel, but takes a while because I'm in the exciting world of public transportation as provided by the MBTA. I ride the local subway and bus, we call it the T.
Now that you have that little bit of information - you should know that a lot of
skeevy things have been happening on the T lately. Apparently a lot of groping, exposing, and other stuff has been happening.
I have been spared any of the recent indignities. Usually I suffer from being dripped on by a soaked umbrella, being blasted with some form of body odor, overly chatty drunks, or I sit next to a chronic sniffler. Nothing more than the usual weirdness we must all endure.
Apparently I've been very lucky. I read on
Universal Hub yesterday - well, you should just go read it and then come back. I'll wait. Go on, it's quick.
Shocking, huh? We're bombarded with mixed messages from the T - if you see something, say something. And then we get some hockey player over the PA telling us he takes the T to work all the time. Then the MBTA employees are like, eh, creepy is part of our charm!
While the story is disturbing, I can't say that I'm especially surprised. Even the part about red heads. Wait. Red Heads! They're targeting my people now?
I need to make sure I'm wearing my stomping shoes.
Labels: 2008, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, February 06, 2008 at Wednesday, February 06, 2008 | |
Today I was walking to the T, waiting at the intersection I think of as a cluster*&^% and wondering if people will ever obey the signal and let me cross.
A pretty woman tapped by on the shoulder.
She and her partner smiled at me and she asked if I was local. She's from Australia.
"I guess I'm local enough," I confessed. When you're a tourist you'll take directions and advice from anyone who has been in the city longer than you - even a few hours.
Don't ask my neighbors if I'm a local. As far as they know, I'm an interloper not to be trusted.
"Is this bad weather for around here?" she asked.
I nodded as the snow continued to fall at a decent clip.
"It's not as bad as it could be, but it's a mess on top of what we already had." I noted it snowed more last week than it did last winter. "It's not that bad if you're just walking. Driving is a different story."
She seemed relieve by that information.
I opted not to share how it could be worse. It could be incredibly cold instead of hovering around 32 degrees.
Maybe I'm filled with the holiday spirit. I didn't feel like raining on that lady's parade. I can't say the same for the snow.
Labels: 2007, Boston, weather
By: Alyssa | Thursday, December 20, 2007 at Thursday, December 20, 2007 | |
Earlier in the week I took a quick break from the office to run over to the local bookstore to pick up a book I'd heard about.
My friend offered to tag along for the promise of a hot cocoa - plus she had a coupon for 25% off of my book. Score!
I found the book quickly, we savored the cocoa and headed to the checkout. A 20-something guy was running the register.
As he was ringing me up, he commented on the cover of the book. He noted it looked interesting.
"I hope it is," I replied. "The writer is my MySpace friend. It would be awkward if it sucked."
Register dude took this opening as an opportunity to tell me about his MySpace relationships and then he noticed my friend looking at a little book of hip stuff. He started quoting from it to her.
We both nodded, smiled and made reassuring sounds.
I quickly paid for the book and beat a hasty retreat out of the store, bumping into my friend as I steered her towards the door.
My friend was giggling at my reaction.
Friend: Your new friend is probably sorry to see you go.
Me: Yeah, that didn't go the way I'd hoped.
Friend: He thinks you are very hip.
Me: I was going for weird. I suppose I could have ended everything by just saying "Yes the cover is interesting" but no - I decided to go for the absurd.
Friend: It happens.
Me: Sometimes I can't help myself. I like to explore the theater of the awkward. I'm having that kind of day.
Friend: You can't always weird people out.
Me: I guess.
Friend: Things were going so well, then he just overstepped.
Me: That's the part that is intriguing. What takes it from pleasant to awkward so quickly?
Friend: I don't think he was interested in us. He was just kind of bored.
Me: And weird. I hate when theater of the awkward blows back at me.
Friend: I suppose it is part of the job.
Me: Sometimes I have to suffer for my art.
Labels: 2007, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Saturday, December 08, 2007 at Saturday, December 08, 2007 | |
Massachusetts has offered up a
very generous tax credit to movie productions and so we've seen a lot of action around Boston lately.
I work in a very scenic and historic part of the city near
Copley Square. During a normal day I navigate around tourists, shoppers, office workers, pigeons, squirrels, the guy who feeds the ducks, the occasional cop on horseback and a herd of child-care givers with double-wide strollers.
Now I have to get around film crews, craft services and clumps of lookie-loos and extras. Hurray!
A few of my friends live in LA and remind me that they have to deal with film shoots all the time. I pointed out they have better weather, better tacos and my personal favorite, palm trees.
My foot commute is altered a little to avoid klieg lights - and that's fine with me. Change is good. I haven't spotted any celebrities yet. At this point, I'm not surprised. With the onset of winter, we're all bundled up. I could walk by
Whitey Bulger and not know it.
But I'll be on the look-out for Morgan Freeman or Christopher Walken over the next couple of weeks. I think Cameron Diaz is hanging around too. And I hear Bruce Willis is due in town sometime in February. I hope someone packs his mittens.
Labels: 2007, Boston, famous people
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, December 05, 2007 at Wednesday, December 05, 2007 | |
A few weeks ago, the much heralded and beloved,
David Armano, was in town for business.
David and I worked together about ten years - as I had to remind him - back in Chicago. I think I last saw him when Deeps and I got married. As I am an old, married lady now - it's been a while.
Scott Monty organized a meet-up for those who wanted to get up close to the Great One. I just wanted to see my old drinking buddy.
Everyone chatted, we had a great time and sucked down some pumpkin beers. When the evening wound down, I walked down the street with David back to his hotel. Deeps and I had arranged for a pick me up nearby. Someone has to work late on secret projects. It doesn't always have to be me.
Anyway, we chatted on the sidewalk, marveling at the oddness of the the urban canyons around Kendall square. Somehow we ended up at the wrong hotel, which was confirmed when we spoke with the clerk at the front desk.
As we walked out of the building, a man paused briefly and said, "Hi David."
David smiled and said hello and we walked on.
I asked David who the guy was. He didn't know.
I suggested that perhaps the guy might be attending the same event he was. Or he was a stalker.
David thought it was strange that someone he didn't know, in a city where he doesn't live, might know him. I suggested that David hasn't looked at his Web site lately.
Then he stopped, and in a monumental moment he asked
"Does that mean I'm a weblebrity?"
We were silent for a moment. And then we started to laugh.
Labels: 2007, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at Wednesday, November 28, 2007 | |
It's starting to get a little chilly 'round these parts. That's pretty typical for New England this time of year.
Last night Deeps was sorting through some winter gear - gloves, hats, and scarves - when he noticed that his "favorite scarf" was a mess of holes and tears.
Deeps: It looks like something ate it.
Me: What? Are the others eaten?
Deeps: Just mine.
I pulled out the little storage baskets holding our stuff and noticed a couple of dead moths behind them. Eww.
Me: I guess a moth ate your scarf.
Deeps: We should have used mothballs.
Me: No.
Deeps: It would have saved my scarf.
Me: But we'd have smelled like mothballs. That is totally unacceptable. Besides, who has stuff eaten by moths anymore? Is this Dickensian England?
Deeps: I really liked that scarf.
I'm going to hear about this for a while. But there will be no mothballs. Cedar balls, lavender oil, whatever - no mothballs. The smell... Our marriage couldn't take it.
Labels: 2007, Boston, marriage, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Friday, November 09, 2007 at Friday, November 09, 2007 | |
Actually, this post is more about how you shouldn't talk to famous people.
Last week I had the unique opportunity to see
Salman Rushdie give a talk about writing at the Boston Public Library. He spoke for about an hour and discussed political writing, religion, freedom of expression, and the role of the novel in the modern world.
I'm a big fan of Rushdie's work. I haven't read all of his novels, but I try to read one a year - they are so dense and fantastic that I really take my time with them. I luxuriate in them and take weeks to finish. The man is a genius – I don’t use that term lightly here - and I admire his work a great deal.
But back to the library….
The room was packed. I noted several students talking about having to read Rushdie for a class. I sat next to a very cute, elderly couple. She was working on sudoku and he was doing a crossword puzzle before the talk began.
On my other side a very well-dressed business man fidgeted with his expensive watch. I heard him mention to his friend, another well-appointed gentleman, that he had never read any of Rushdie's work. The friend confessed he hadn't either.
Someone nearby was wearing way too much cologne. I surreptitiously breathed through my mouth, sometimes digging my nose into my shoulder.
After Rushdie spoke, he offered to hang around for a few more minutes to answer some questions. Rushdie was fighting a cold and I thought it was rather generous to offer to spend more time talking when clearly wasn't that well.
He asked, rather simply, that we stick to questions and avoid making speeches. Clearly he's been to
Q&A sessions at the Brattle Theater.
The first question was a brief one about religion. Rushdie offered a clear, cogent argument for his position while being charming and funny.
The next question was from a man who started by saying something along the lines of "I too have been the victim of persecution. A fatwa, if you will....." then the guy rambled for another minute about his own works, plugging a book and alluding to an appearance in several well-known magazines.
Everyone slumped into their seats as soon as they realized a rambler had gotten a hold of the microphone and it appeared little could be done to shut him up. Finally, the man next to me - fancy watch - decided he'd had enough and started to shout down the blowhard. A few other audience members rumbled their agreement.
Rushdie finally was able to break in and noted "I didn't hear a question, but I'll find one anyway..." and talked about freedom of speech and expression in the US and UK.
I suppose the irony was lost on fancy watch - trying to shut up someone at a talk that covered communication and the first amendment. But then again, fancy watch was well within his rights to express his views.
Boorishness is protected by the first amendment, but it doesn't mean we have to listen to it.
Labels: 2007, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, November 07, 2007 at Wednesday, November 07, 2007 | |
Looks like Noel is kind of moving our way. Doesn't look like a direct hit or anything dangerous, just a very rainy weekend.
That's too bad, the leaves are starting to turn here in Boston and some of the trees in our backyard show no sign of change. Nothing like a good storm to take the leaves off the trees. But that's the way of nature.
So let's remember the pretty stuff.
And wait for the wind to blow the leaves into your neighbor's yard.
Labels: 2007, Boston, weather
By: Alyssa | Friday, November 02, 2007 at Friday, November 02, 2007 | |
This is the bird, Perry. He flew over my head a few times last week and I followed him across the Public Garden to the tree where he landed.
He's pretty big, I guess he's a he - I'm not a bird expert. Anyway, he flew low over my head and despite the crowd in the park walking home, nobody else took notice. I didn't get any great pictures, but you can at least see him.
Apparently he does a little early dinner flight around the Boston Public Garden just before 5 PM. Keep an eye out, he's extremely impressive.
Last night I walked home again, Perry flew over and circled a bit. The sun was setting and the sky was pinkish gold. He caught the right ray for a moment he was brilliantly illuminated before I lost him again.
Labels: 2007, animals, Boston
By: Alyssa | Thursday, November 01, 2007 at Thursday, November 01, 2007 | |
I lived. I've been better. And lord knows I've looked better.
But I can keep down water and dry toast, so I will now declare victory over what I think was probably something like a
norovirus.
Deeps had been sick with something he thought was food poisoning, but when I caught it after not sharing any meals with him - well... anyway, I blame him. I blame him for keeping me away from
Blogtoberfest and my simple goal to meet Adam Gaffin.
Devastating.
Happily, I'm well enough - so far - that I'm able to go back to work and I will be at
Podcamp this weekend.
By the way, Deeps feels very, very bad that he got me sick. I told him it was probably unavoidable - but that he could make it up to me. So I'm making a little list of jobs he can do while I'm off learning more about
podcasting.
I'm sure nothing on the list will be completed, but a girl can dream.
Labels: 2007, Boston, podcast
By: Alyssa | Friday, October 26, 2007 at Friday, October 26, 2007 | |
So today is the first day of the World Series. The Colorado Rockies are here to play against the Red Sox. It might rain a little. People are camped out. Everyone is focused on the big game.
That means the city is mine. Maybe not all the city - I'll skip the areas around sports bars and Fenway, but the rest of the town should be quiet and peaceful.
I can shop or park or do whatever with relative ease. You might say, isn't that easy to do on a Wednesday anyway? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But I'm going to take advantage of the lull in activity to get some errands done.
This is a little trick I learned when I was a kid - I call it the Indy 500 effect. Regular readers may recall that I grew up in Indianapolis and every May we had a really big race. People flocked into town for the event and everyone crammed into like 8 square miles of space. The rest of the city was relatively empty.
No traffic jams, no jockeying for parking position and no lines inside the mall. One year I think I did a lot of Christmas shopping.
Anyway, I've got up to seven nights to take advantage of the luxuries of time and space as the good people of New England crowd around their TV sets. I'll make the most of it.
Labels: 2007, Boston, filler
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at Wednesday, October 24, 2007 | |
I'm not really a dog person or a cat person. I have owned all types of animals over the years and I don't really have a strong preference. Right now I have the vicious and temperamental tabby cat called Poopus.
Sometimes when I am out on a particularly nice day, like today, I think it would be great to have a dog to take out for long walks. Today I was strolling through the Public Garden on my way to work when a giant dog bounded out from behind a tree. He was chasing a squirrel.
Soon another joined him in his merry hunt. Two more dogs appeared on the scene. They all looked strangely similar.
Labradoodles.
And they came from four different owners who marveled at the coincidence. The dogs scampered about on the grass, darting around trees.
I don't have much else to say about this except that it probably isn't news that designer dogs have invaded Beacon Hill. Maybe we should alert the NYT Styles section.
Labels: 2007, Boston, filler
By: Alyssa | Monday, October 22, 2007 at Monday, October 22, 2007 | |
This year's
Podcamp Boston will be more awesome than last year's - if for no other reason than because Derek and I will be attending.
So if you're going to be there, keep an eye out for a tall fellow and his short, redhaired companion. Also - we'll be wearing t-shirts that say Big Red Podcast on them. Derek loves conventions. I love name badges. See how this works out?
Deeps, aka my husband, life and podcast partner, refuses to attend for reasons that are unknown. Well, they're known to me - sometimes he's a crank. Plus I think he wants to master Wii Golf. He'll be missed.
We're also going to be giving away delightful and probably delicious swag. And in helping to push the agenda that pop culture is actual culture we'll be giving away some books. I have a small collection of novels I read as part of the 50 book challenge. These are some of my favorite novels, and you could get your own new, unread copy. Enjoy!
In addition, I will be at
Blogtoberfest 2007 next week at the beautiful Pour House in Boston. You should say hello and then tell me how much you love the
Big Red Podcast. I might be persuaded to buy you a drink!
Labels: 2007, Boston, podcast
By: Alyssa | Saturday, October 20, 2007 at Saturday, October 20, 2007 | |
Last week I wrangled an invitation to brunch with some other bloggers - some I know virtually, some I've met in person before, and some I've met for the first time. They are a brain trust and if I'd had more time, I'd have picked their brains on lots of topics. But I had to insulate the basement.
Sure, it was 80 degrees on Saturday but winter could show up any time. I can never forget that we live in New England. The Red Sox t-shirts are another reminder.
Anyway, brunch was great and I had a fantastic time. Usually we record our podcast on Sunday after we have brunch. Our brunches at home are pretty lavish, but
Henrietta's Table is positively obscene. I think it's easy to say that you could eat yourself into oblivion at such a spread - what a way to go.
So who'd I meet? Well I met
Lisa,
Len,
C.C. and
Jeremiah for the first time. And I got to see
John and
Jenny after meeting them for the first time at last year's
Blogtoberfest. By the way, if you're in the area in a few weeks you should check out the event. The
Big Red Podcast is a sponsor, so you know it is quality.
What a great group of people. I don't usually try to crash in on events - especially when I don't really know people that well. But after listening to podcasts and reading blogs of some of the group for a while I didn't feel like these people were really strangers. It was pretty easy to push myself a bit outside of my comfort zone. I'm glad I did - the waffles and conversation were worth it.
Labels: 2007, Boston
By: Alyssa | Monday, October 08, 2007 at Monday, October 08, 2007 | |
I'm not a big baseball fan. I've lived in two big American cities - Chicago and Boston - with incredibly dedicated and frustrated fans.
A couple of days ago was the
first big playoff game for the Sox. As I made my way home I encountered dozens of fans. Their dead-eyed, grim determination was overwhelming as they pushed past bodily and in vehicles.
You don't look like you're having fun. Your team won the Division Title, they are doing well in the playoffs. Enjoy yourself a little. I promise, I won't tell.
Labels: 2007, Boston
By: Alyssa | Friday, October 05, 2007 at Friday, October 05, 2007 | |
Boston is apparently a
popular place to shoot movies - three different films are shooting (or about to shoot) in the metro area. For those who like to keep score the movies are
Bachelor No. 2, a remake of
The Women, and
Pink Panther 2.
America has really been clamoring for that last one.
Anyway, I spotted
The Women shooting while I walked home from the office a couple of days ago. Yesterday I was waiting in line to buy some yogurt at a little market on Charles St. when I overheard a well-dressed couple behind me discussing the action in the neighborhood.
She: I saw them shooting. I didn't see Meg Ryan.
He: What were they shooting?
She: Something on Newbury St. Except they had yellow cabs outside that said New York.
He: Really? So they are shooting Boston for New York.
She: I think so. That is just too bad.
He: I hate when they do that. That's just terrible.
She: It ruins the movie.
The 1939 version of
The Women is a
George Cukor classic about women, class, sex, and love. It's campy, it's funny, it's melodramatic, it has Joan Crawford.
Do you know who is playing the Joan Crawford - America's most terrifying actress - role in the update?
Eva Mendes.
If the movie is bad, I hardly think it will be the fault of shooting Boston for New York.
Labels: 2007, Boston, movies, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at Thursday, August 30, 2007 | |
Whenever it is hot, the best service you can hope for from the T is something that is not too hot. If you're lucky it isn't smelly either.
Tonight I skipped a packed train to wait for the next one. I threw a few elbows and made it aboard. Behind me a rather tall and attractive man climbed aboard. He stood near me and an amazing smell overwhelmed me.
Chicken McNuggets.
Then I looked over to see that he was indeed clutching a small McDonald's bag. He'd fished out a hot apple pie to snack on. I figured there were some McNuggets in the bag.
When he finished the first apple pie, he pulled out another and chowed down. Then he wadded up the empty bag.
Apple pies that smell like McNuggets. What will they think of next?
Labels: 2007, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at Wednesday, July 25, 2007 | |
A lot of people on the T were reading the latest Harry Potter book. In fact, I didn't really hear any discussion of the book in public yesterday. Instead, you'd hear these hushed tones and see conspiratorial looks.
Random Person: Did you read it yet?Me: Yes.
Random Person: Do you want to talk about it?Me: Sure! But why are you acting so weird?
Random Person: I don't know who has read it yet!Me: Right. That's very thoughtful of you.
I could make a joke about how I've never seen such sensitivity and care displayed to fellow Bostonians in years. But that seems cheap.
Random Person: So, what did you think about .....?
And it would continue from there. You'd think we were plotting to overthrow something or - better yet - throw a surprise party or something.
As it is now, I'm trying to recruit some people for a special Harry Potter podcast,
per Jacki's suggestion. That way we can make a podcast that covers more and is easy to skip if you haven't read the books yet.
Labels: 2007, books, Boston, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at Tuesday, July 24, 2007 | |
