Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Red Line Adventures I
After a meeting in Waltham (job-related), and the joy of listening to WZBC in the car I parked at Alewife and jumped on the Red Line to Central Square.
At around 4:30 I was walking toward Phoenix Landing to meet Jay when I was hailed ("Hey fellow redhead!") by a trio of twenty-somethings, who turned out to be workers for the Red Cross. Since I didn't have to be there 'til 5:15, and the redhead (the stylish and vivaciously sexy Nia) was so beautiful, I spent the next half hour talking to them and listening to their pitch. It was quite fun, and they were a bit amazed at my recall (or prior knowledge) of all of their facts. I hated to let them down after all that, but obviously I do not have $10 a month to help out.
I got to Phoenix Landing, grabbed a table, and Jay walked in the door barely half a minute later - good timing! We ordered drinks and (half-price between 5-7 pm) appetizers. I had a Harpoon IPA and fried calamari and he had a shot of whiskey and a Sam Adams. We each had another round (and I had a kick-ass bacon & cheddar burger with amazing hand-cut fries) while we caught up on things, and around 6:30 Brian and Jay's friend Dave both walked in at the same time. Brian had a couple of Guinness, I had a 3rd IPA, and Jay & Dave racked up quite the bar tab, full of beers and whiskey shots. Our final bill came to $143 and change (my share was $27 before tip), and after misjudging the tip for our very cute waitress, Jay handed her another $20 before we all scattered. Dave had to catch the train back home to the Brockton area, Jay headed home, and Brian & I walked up the street to find another place for more beer. It was good to hang out with the guys and talk music, women, and other stuff.
We were going to go into Cantab Lounge, but I remembered that it has a lousy beer selection (though it's fun otherwise, with their live music stage and televisions), so we went to Tavern in the Square instead. It's a very nice place, wide and open, with big tvs everywhere, and a supremely attractive waitstaff. However, the central island where we sat, while being prime viewing area, was horribly uncomfortable, with no leg room, so I had to sit rather hunched at times. We each had a 23 ounce beer, and then decided to jump the T to Davis Square to see if either of our favorite bartenders was working at Joshua Tree. Neither hot girl was there, but there was plenty to see otherwise. We closed the place, and we got to enjoy the Miami Heat losing, dorks hitting on hotties, and a good beer I hadn't had before, Sam Adams Boston Brick Red. Good stuff! Anyway, we left to get to the T before the last trains were gone, but after we paid to go through the gate, the attendant informed us that we were too late, and upon inquiry, said she was unable to refund our money - WTF? We were going to hoof it to Alewife, but instead decided to take a cab, which was only 6 bucks, and spared us the indignity (and expense) of taking one later after most likely getting lost. Back to the garage, into my car, and a great drive home, accompanied once again by WZBC until I was out of range and then 89.7's late night jazz.
At around 4:30 I was walking toward Phoenix Landing to meet Jay when I was hailed ("Hey fellow redhead!") by a trio of twenty-somethings, who turned out to be workers for the Red Cross. Since I didn't have to be there 'til 5:15, and the redhead (the stylish and vivaciously sexy Nia) was so beautiful, I spent the next half hour talking to them and listening to their pitch. It was quite fun, and they were a bit amazed at my recall (or prior knowledge) of all of their facts. I hated to let them down after all that, but obviously I do not have $10 a month to help out.
I got to Phoenix Landing, grabbed a table, and Jay walked in the door barely half a minute later - good timing! We ordered drinks and (half-price between 5-7 pm) appetizers. I had a Harpoon IPA and fried calamari and he had a shot of whiskey and a Sam Adams. We each had another round (and I had a kick-ass bacon & cheddar burger with amazing hand-cut fries) while we caught up on things, and around 6:30 Brian and Jay's friend Dave both walked in at the same time. Brian had a couple of Guinness, I had a 3rd IPA, and Jay & Dave racked up quite the bar tab, full of beers and whiskey shots. Our final bill came to $143 and change (my share was $27 before tip), and after misjudging the tip for our very cute waitress, Jay handed her another $20 before we all scattered. Dave had to catch the train back home to the Brockton area, Jay headed home, and Brian & I walked up the street to find another place for more beer. It was good to hang out with the guys and talk music, women, and other stuff.
We were going to go into Cantab Lounge, but I remembered that it has a lousy beer selection (though it's fun otherwise, with their live music stage and televisions), so we went to Tavern in the Square instead. It's a very nice place, wide and open, with big tvs everywhere, and a supremely attractive waitstaff. However, the central island where we sat, while being prime viewing area, was horribly uncomfortable, with no leg room, so I had to sit rather hunched at times. We each had a 23 ounce beer, and then decided to jump the T to Davis Square to see if either of our favorite bartenders was working at Joshua Tree. Neither hot girl was there, but there was plenty to see otherwise. We closed the place, and we got to enjoy the Miami Heat losing, dorks hitting on hotties, and a good beer I hadn't had before, Sam Adams Boston Brick Red. Good stuff! Anyway, we left to get to the T before the last trains were gone, but after we paid to go through the gate, the attendant informed us that we were too late, and upon inquiry, said she was unable to refund our money - WTF? We were going to hoof it to Alewife, but instead decided to take a cab, which was only 6 bucks, and spared us the indignity (and expense) of taking one later after most likely getting lost. Back to the garage, into my car, and a great drive home, accompanied once again by WZBC until I was out of range and then 89.7's late night jazz.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Hercules
I also found some cool free music to spice up my iPod, a good mix of mellow and energetic. And of course I shared it with the world. I enjoy that blog, performing what small service I can for my musician friends, concert-going chums and random people who pass through.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Job Hunt
Okay, this is getting ridiculous. How do I not have the experience or job skills to manage a CVS? I have been managing movie theaters, bookstores and sports memorabilia stores for nearly fifteen years! I have been opening and closing locations for Blockbuster Video, Barnes & Noble and BC Sports Collectibles for seventeen years. It is absolutely insane that so many companies are taking a pass on my skills and experience. I guess America is undeniably in its slow decline (leaving the world for China to plunder as it sees fit), just like the Roman and British Empires of old, if paying kids a low salary to do a half-assed job is more important than hiring & paying a man of quality for his wide-ranging experience.
Looks like my future lies in heavy lifting or washing dishes...
Looks like my future lies in heavy lifting or washing dishes...
Friday, February 4, 2011
Musician Outreach
Needing to fill two more spots for this year's Wyman's Pond Music Fest, I decided to get to work, and I sent invitations to perform to the following:
- Tom Thumb - A local musician from Massachusetts, based out of Bourne. I saw him live at Toad with Jay and Brian last year, and his guitar/laptop combo would be a good addition to the festivities.
- Mark Zaleski - A local jazz musician, I saw the Mark Zaleski Band perform at Mechanics Hall in Worcester awhile back during its Brown Bag Concert series. They were phenomenal, and I think a set of jazz would add a cool variety to the festival.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Collateral Damage
This particular storm has cost me dearly (haha).
My poor 2002 Honda Civic has lost it's hood ornament, due to my having parked too close to a snowbank, and a plow pushing it against the front of the car. It snapped clean off, and I only realized this because I moved my car (to food shop, and use my $10 prize from my comic shop), and was shoveling the excess snow from the spot so I could park without worrying about being frozen in place over the next two nights. Oh well, it will go up on my cork board for posterity...
When I was at the comic shop I used my 'Superhero iPod Shuffle' award (my 3rd win in a little over a year!) to get the latest issues of iZombie (#10), Adventure Comics (#522), and Legion of Super-Heroes (#9), plus the "One-for-One" issue of Dark Horse's The Umbrella Academy. I also made some changes to my monthly pull, dropping all three of the (not as good as they could be) Avengers books, and adding Who is Jake Ellis?, Infinite Vacation, and Lorna, Relic Wrangler, plus a few miniseries from the upcoming DC Comics event "Flashpoint". I have noticed a slow yet steady migration away from superhero comics of The Big Two (DC and Marvel) toward more independent titles from various genres. There have been far too many 'event' upheavals, renumberings, and relaunches for my taste, and there is very little character development/growth, or satisfying continuity. Change is good, and if I am going to spend my money on comics, they'd better have both good art and good stories.
My poor 2002 Honda Civic has lost it's hood ornament, due to my having parked too close to a snowbank, and a plow pushing it against the front of the car. It snapped clean off, and I only realized this because I moved my car (to food shop, and use my $10 prize from my comic shop), and was shoveling the excess snow from the spot so I could park without worrying about being frozen in place over the next two nights. Oh well, it will go up on my cork board for posterity...
When I was at the comic shop I used my 'Superhero iPod Shuffle' award (my 3rd win in a little over a year!) to get the latest issues of iZombie (#10), Adventure Comics (#522), and Legion of Super-Heroes (#9), plus the "One-for-One" issue of Dark Horse's The Umbrella Academy. I also made some changes to my monthly pull, dropping all three of the (not as good as they could be) Avengers books, and adding Who is Jake Ellis?, Infinite Vacation, and Lorna, Relic Wrangler, plus a few miniseries from the upcoming DC Comics event "Flashpoint". I have noticed a slow yet steady migration away from superhero comics of The Big Two (DC and Marvel) toward more independent titles from various genres. There have been far too many 'event' upheavals, renumberings, and relaunches for my taste, and there is very little character development/growth, or satisfying continuity. Change is good, and if I am going to spend my money on comics, they'd better have both good art and good stories.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Snowmageddon 6.1
When I awoke randomly at 4 am, the second part (or second storm) of the 2-day snow attack hadn't yet begun, so I went back to sleep feeling encouraged. When I finally got out of bed at 9:30 (I'd read 'til 2 am), there was a fresh 6-inch coating of icy snow over the ground I'd spent so much time shoveling yesterday. C'est la vie! At least I have power and heat (for now). Since I can hear the freezing rain hitting the windows, I imagine it's only a matter of time before I lose one or the other, but I have my fingers crossed. So far the second (more ominous) storm is moving through the area pretty swiftly...In the photos, the one on the left is what I can see from directly in my doorway. You can't even see the steps! And the picture on the right is of the backyard of my neighbors, directly across from my front door. The fence is 6 feet high, and the pile on the left is where the plow deposits all of the driveway accumulation. I need sunshine, blue skies and open windows!!!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Snowmageddon 6
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)