Yesterday, I ticked off yet another year. It was an interesting one. I found out when I attempted to reserve a car via Zipcar.com, that my driver's license had just expired. Thinking I was clever, I zipped to the Registry of Motor Vehicles website to renew my license online. I was rejected because my photograph was more than nine years old. Now, you know you're a grown man (or woman) when the RMV tells you your current license photo is more than nine years old.
Since driving would mean breaking the law, I ended up taking the kids on the bus (for the first time) to a RMV branch at the local mall. God bless public transportation. When I arrived at the RMV, I saw a sign on the wall which read, happy birthday, andthe Registry no longer sends out license expiration reminders, so please checks your license.
The night before, I had gone through my old journals to read other interesting entries from (or around) prior birthdays. One birthday (also a Friday made famous by a movie) my wallet got stolen, and my present was minus $500 in my bank account. During another birthday, a good friend I hadn't seen in a few years because he was in Japan, blew into town unexpectedly and took me to a lovely brunch. Yesterday, was the first one I spent with my kids, very nice indeed.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
A Beat In Time Reminds Me of Mine
I was at a house party at my sisters' place for a friend of theirs, and the friend's husband was the D.J. This was the end to a day that had started at a low point and had been steadily improving.
A first, the music has mostly gone to waste, as the speakers on hand were more suited for an office desktop than a party. Then I returned with the D.J. to pick up his own, industrial strength (think rock concert) speakers. That changed everything. Once "Murder She Wrote" (an old reggae tune by Chaka Demus & Pliers) came on, everyone hit the dance floor. I even managed to pull my usually dance-shy wife on to the floor. As I sang along, she asked aloud to all how, I managed to know all the words.
I only smiled and told her it was an old tune. In my mind I drifted back to different summer. One of my youth. When I drove a burnt-sienna, 1978 Audi 5000, and a the tape deck had the same song playing. I remember driving at night past the front of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the way from work, with my hand tapping against the front of the sunroof. The stars were out, and the beat of the city filled the air.
Back at the party, I took my wife in my arms and pulled her closed and boggled to the swinging beat.
A first, the music has mostly gone to waste, as the speakers on hand were more suited for an office desktop than a party. Then I returned with the D.J. to pick up his own, industrial strength (think rock concert) speakers. That changed everything. Once "Murder She Wrote" (an old reggae tune by Chaka Demus & Pliers) came on, everyone hit the dance floor. I even managed to pull my usually dance-shy wife on to the floor. As I sang along, she asked aloud to all how, I managed to know all the words.
I only smiled and told her it was an old tune. In my mind I drifted back to different summer. One of my youth. When I drove a burnt-sienna, 1978 Audi 5000, and a the tape deck had the same song playing. I remember driving at night past the front of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the way from work, with my hand tapping against the front of the sunroof. The stars were out, and the beat of the city filled the air.
Back at the party, I took my wife in my arms and pulled her closed and boggled to the swinging beat.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Poor Chelsea
After holding on to a one goal lead (scored in the ninth minute) against Barcelona, Chelsea became the victim of a most tragic end. Barcelona scored the go-ahead goal to take them to the final against Manchester United on May 27, sending Chelsea packing. It's gives a whole new meaning to, it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Specter of the GOP
I didn't think anything could make me say WOW regarding the GOP after John McCain picked his running mate. Then Arlen Specter became a Democrat. I think that's right up there with Kobe Bryant all of a sudden playing for the Celtics.
On one hand it's a clever and shrewd political move. On the other hand, it's entirely possible that some in the Republican party may be believing stories of it's demise. I personally don't believe that, and as a Democrat, wouldn't want that. After all I wouldn't want the Obama Administration to slip into the same complacency that the Bush Administration did. I'm very wary of one party having all the cards at the table.
Still, I can't help but thinking it's more about the reality of politics than anything else. I think a lot of politician on both sides of the aisle would really like to bask in the Obama glow, regardless of whether they're Obamacans or Obama-can'ts. I think there might be more credulity in a life-long Republican who moves a bit more to the center, than a Republican who become a Democrat. Unless it's more of a statement to the Republicans, than inferred carte blanche for the Democrats. I suspect the Republicans have gotten the message loud and clear at this point.
On one hand it's a clever and shrewd political move. On the other hand, it's entirely possible that some in the Republican party may be believing stories of it's demise. I personally don't believe that, and as a Democrat, wouldn't want that. After all I wouldn't want the Obama Administration to slip into the same complacency that the Bush Administration did. I'm very wary of one party having all the cards at the table.
Still, I can't help but thinking it's more about the reality of politics than anything else. I think a lot of politician on both sides of the aisle would really like to bask in the Obama glow, regardless of whether they're Obamacans or Obama-can'ts. I think there might be more credulity in a life-long Republican who moves a bit more to the center, than a Republican who become a Democrat. Unless it's more of a statement to the Republicans, than inferred carte blanche for the Democrats. I suspect the Republicans have gotten the message loud and clear at this point.
Monday, May 4, 2009
And On The Fifth Day...
I got to day five with my A Complaint Free World.org bracelet on the same wrist. Then I got sucked into an argument. Sigh.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Connections
I love taking the MBTA (i.e. Boston's transit system)! I know, one of my employment recruiters said the same thing, "huh?" Well it's true. Especially when my jaunts involve going downtown. It's also one of the easiest way to get fresh air and exercise in the city.
What I enjoy most is the connections people make or the ones we are privy to, when we do take public transit. The other day, I made a trip down to Copley Square. The first leg of my trip was a bus ride which would lead to a connection to the subway.
On the bus, a woman looking to be in her mid-fifties, got on and immediately began blaring to the driver about what sounded like a retelling of another driver who wouldn't stop when a passenger was between stops.
Then from my initial subway ride on the Orange Line, I had to switch to the Green Line. When I boarded, two women about mid-to-late-twenties were dissecting the occupational virtues of (what sounded like) a subordinate of the woman doing most of the talking. She sounded fair in saying that while her subordinate was the nicest person in the world, she could improve her organizational skill and reduce her interoffice banter, to become a more effective worker.
On the ride home, I took the Green Line to the Red Line this time. Since it was the beginning of rush hour in Boston, my initial bus wouldn't serve so well on the return trip. In my Green Line car were a group of high school boys, all fifteen and sixteen. I know because that's what they discussed for my part of the ride. Everyone thought the tallest boy was sixteen and a junior. It turned out he was fifteen and a sophomore. The chucked it up to his maturity and who he hung out with at school.
Finally my Red Line ride led me to the bus connection home. On the bus ride home, a young woman looking early-to-mid-twenties, was almost knocked out cold by a guy with a large messenger bag. Luckily, only her glasses were rendered askew. The guy apologized as he disembarked. Once the bus resumed moving, the construction worker across from her joked that it happened to him all the time at work. They then transitioned into a friendly conversation about prospective home ownership in spite of the economic recession.
What I enjoy most is the connections people make or the ones we are privy to, when we do take public transit. The other day, I made a trip down to Copley Square. The first leg of my trip was a bus ride which would lead to a connection to the subway.
On the bus, a woman looking to be in her mid-fifties, got on and immediately began blaring to the driver about what sounded like a retelling of another driver who wouldn't stop when a passenger was between stops.
Then from my initial subway ride on the Orange Line, I had to switch to the Green Line. When I boarded, two women about mid-to-late-twenties were dissecting the occupational virtues of (what sounded like) a subordinate of the woman doing most of the talking. She sounded fair in saying that while her subordinate was the nicest person in the world, she could improve her organizational skill and reduce her interoffice banter, to become a more effective worker.
On the ride home, I took the Green Line to the Red Line this time. Since it was the beginning of rush hour in Boston, my initial bus wouldn't serve so well on the return trip. In my Green Line car were a group of high school boys, all fifteen and sixteen. I know because that's what they discussed for my part of the ride. Everyone thought the tallest boy was sixteen and a junior. It turned out he was fifteen and a sophomore. The chucked it up to his maturity and who he hung out with at school.
Finally my Red Line ride led me to the bus connection home. On the bus ride home, a young woman looking early-to-mid-twenties, was almost knocked out cold by a guy with a large messenger bag. Luckily, only her glasses were rendered askew. The guy apologized as he disembarked. Once the bus resumed moving, the construction worker across from her joked that it happened to him all the time at work. They then transitioned into a friendly conversation about prospective home ownership in spite of the economic recession.
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