No Kidding

Boston commuters have been saying this ever since it opened:

Big Dig Pushes Bottleneck Outward

Love it:

“The Big Dig was not some magic wand that was going to make traffic congestion all over metropolitan Boston disappear – that was never the claim,” said Larson, who says the overall traffic picture is improved.

But that’s what was promised as a by-product of your $22 BILLION. And now, Massachusetts, your tolls will be raised nearly double.

Don’t blame me. I voted YES on Question 1.

I’ve been saying it for years…

Boston City Hall tops ugliest-building list

Source: Boston Globe

Nothing says, “OPPRESSIVE Big Government” like the current city hall. Compare this building to it’s predecessors:

(L) 19th C; (R) 18th C

No comparison.

As Otis Is My Witness: A True Elevator Story

North Face Fashion

I paid my parking fee at Post Office Square Garage in Boston and walked over to the elevator. A woman, clothed in North Face fashion, was already in the elevator holding the doors for me. I smiled and said a quick thanks. My level was already selected so I stepped back to the opposite corner. North Face Woman said, “Anything for an Obama supporter.” My mind reeled in confusion until I realized she mistook my “NObama” pin for the real thing.

I recovered and said, “oh, yeah.” I was going to inform her of my Darth Vader ways until I realized I was in an enclosed space with no escape. North Face Woman replied, “I suppose I would have kept the door open for a McCain supporter, too.” Sliding my Eastern Mountain Sport bag with NObama pin safely out of view,  I nodded and smiled.

We both stepped out on Level 2. North Face Woman turned left and I turned right. (Seriously!) Walking toward my Matrix, I was dread stricken.

What if North Face Woman saw me driving with my McCain Palin bumper sticker? (Cue Psycho theme song.)

Faster than Ben Johnson on steroids, I was in the front seat putting as much pavement between me and North Face Woman.

 I’m sure NFW is a lovely person and an asset to her Cambridge/Groton/Northampton/Shelburne Falls community. I was taking no chances.

Mourning

I’ve worked in downtown Boston for the last 10 years and have seen my fair share of “scenes.” My (undisclosed) federal agency job requires me to interact with the public on a daily basis. Two years ago I was the first person to respond to a heroin overdose. I waited with the unconscious junkie, making sure he didn’t drown in his vomit until the EMTs arrived. Another time, a drunk, homeless person broke his nose and his blood was smeared everywhere. I did my best to calm him down until medical personnel could help.

But today I had a first.

Going to work around 8:10 am, I walked past the Irish Famine Memorial on Washington St. Beside the memorial, I noticed two Boston policemen, one of whom was interviewing a woman and the other was assisting a medical examiner. There was yellow police tape surrounding the memorial and then I saw it. Is it an ‘it’ or was it a ‘him?’ A white sheet covering the body. I stopped in my tracks. In my world this is what you see on t.v., not on the way to work on a Sunday morning. I quickly said, “Lord, have mercy on his soul” and continued on.

Who was he? She? Homeless? Does he have someone care about his fate?

Those of you reading, say a prayer for this soul mourned by God.