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November 27, 2006
generalizations about people based on observation and not on stereotype
So Laura promised that I would write about generalizations that we thought up whilst journeying to Newbury Street on an uncharacteristically warm November night. Here we go:
-All airplane pilots are good-looking, clean-shaven, and have voices that even sound good-looking (know what I mean?)
-Related to that, all flight attendants are good-looking.
-All techies have reassuring voices and dispositions and speak in a sort of monotone (as in, "Nope, not a problem. Just a matter of using such-and-such type of adapter. You're all set.") They also inevitably have experienced the exact same problem that you are having at the moment.
-All taxi drivers believe that they have the right of way.
OK, I can't think of any others right now. Maybe I'll add some later if they come to mind.
Posted by heiders at 08:46 PM | Comments (5)
November 26, 2006
The Flight of the White Balloons
I thought the title of this entry would make a good short children's story. In fact, it was the final event of the convivial affair that was MC and Jon's wedding. When all was said and done, the children released the balloons into the black of night and we went home.
Actually, we didn't go home, we went to Infradig. Nonetheless, it would be a great ending to a story. The white balloons looked like stars that God had decided to add to the sky on this particular night. Or perhaps we sang them into existence with our continuous, deafening chord that preceded the sending off of the bride and groom.
The wedding was lovely, the reception set a new standard for Belz receptions, and the weekend overall was satisfying. I said hello to everyone and said goodbye to hardly anyone, which is how I prefer it.
Thanksgiving was relaxing and filled with tasty morsels of broccoli rabe and candied carrots and chestnuts with brussel sprouts and glag. Somehow my family gets more entertaining every time we get together. Perhaps we're all getting older and have more funny stories to tell.
I also went golfing and shot somewhere in the 80's. That was through nine holes. Yeah, I'm not THAT good. I loved it, though, and if it weren't so expensive I would do it more often. My best hole was a double bogey on a par 3. I also figured out how to crush my drives with a 2 wood. Oh, and it snowed while we were on the course.
Now we're back in Boston, it's 5:30 and dark, and out on the street kids are playing football and making funny noises with their mouths. The city is gearing up for Christmas. We just got a tree and it is pleasing to our living room.
Posted by heiders at 05:56 PM | Comments (3)
November 11, 2006
leavin' on a jet plane
I can't wait to go to Chatty next week. I don't know how many times I've said that in the past few days, but I think I've said it about as many times as the Cardinals used the word "unbelievable" after they won the World Series. Next weekend is Mary Catherine and Jon's wedding, and a big party it shall be. We are actually going to have dancing at a Belz wedding! Woohoo! I love living in Boston, because going to a family reunion will be even more sweet than usual.
Speaking of the Cardinals, I am proud to say that the Google ads on the bostonblogs portal STILL feature baseball stuff. Couple that with the Cards re-signing Jimmy Ballgame Edmonds for two more years, and that makes me happy.
The only thing affecting my happiness right now is all the freaking work I have to get done in the next week before we leave. I don't want to be saddled with stuff over Thanksgiving, especially since we plan to go golfing with brothers and Uncle Jim, and to visit Keri in Birmingham. So, I'm off to work on my 15-page paper. I'm also working on a fake brochure for the Roman Legion during the Empire. Grad school is awesome.
Posted by heiders at 12:23 PM | Comments (0)
November 05, 2006
teetering on the precipice and toying with death (a.k.a. driving in Boston)
I've already complained about the T, but the foibles of public transportation here are nothing, absolutely NOTHING, compared to the idiocy and recklessness of the drivers here. Whenever I want to change lanes, about 90% of the time no one will let me over, amd the other 10% of the time it's usually a "OK, I guess I'll let you over just this ONCE." I don't think the term "defensive driving" is even remotely on anyone's minds here. When someone is trying to get over into your lane, and they are using their turn signal, and there is enough room for them to get over, wouldn't you slow down a little so they could get over? Not so here! No, the rule here is to speed up! Unless, of course, someone is accidentally getting off at the wrong exit somewhere in the Big Dig and they swerve over and whoever is in that lane decides to COME TO A COMPLETE STOP so that the swerving car can get in front of them. THEN it seems to be okay to let the guy over. Never mind the cars behind you that must ALSO come to a complete stop, potentially causing a ten-car pileup.
All of this is to say that, when I am driving around Boston, I automatically assume that everyone else out there is stupid, and usually I am right.
Posted by heiders at 04:29 PM | Comments (3)