The fine lines of simplicity

My Monday

So I woke up this morning and realized that my head wasn't properly attached. My upward momentum out of my bed caused it to roll onto the floor when I went to shut off my alarm clock. I ran around for a bit headless and blind. I was stumbling and bumping into things before I accidentally unplugged my alarm clock. I found my thick skull when I kicked it and stubbed my big toe. After the panic had subsided I managed to pick it up and fasten it back on with some scotch tape.

Luckily I didn't lose much blood. The cold morning air coupled by my heat being turned down too low restricted my circulation. I had some difficulty fastening the scotch tape, but found that a couple of layers did the trick.


After the neurons figured out how to reconnect with my brain my body mechanically began its venture towards public transportation. I boarded the train along with the other cogs, pawns, and plebians, and basked in the collected misery of an over tired commute to launch a new week. Unfortunately it wasn't until I was boarding the train that I realized that I had no pants. Luckily the winter cold caused severe retreat and successfully prevented me from exposing any genitals.

My day went by slowly as I turned through the motions. I would have liked to accomplish more, however I did leave at 6:00. Six used to mean I stayed at work an extra half hour, now it means I've gotten to go home early.


I hope you enjoyed my stick cartoons. If you were in anyway offended by any of this, by all means, feel free to burn something down in my honor.

My Superbowl Sunday

Well, Superbowl Sunday has come and gone. A chili that I made was for the most part consumed. I had other goodies such as Wings & Whoopie Pies (Thanks Caps!). Scotty's dog Shadow did not kill me, which is always a good thing.

What did everyone think of the commercials? I think I liked the fed-ex commercial (with cave men) the best out of the ones I saw. The Pepsi "brown bubbly" campaign is irritating, horrible, and cheesy and I hope it dies off soon. There were a couple others that elicited laughs from me, such as the "Horse" football game with the sheep streaker.

The game was OK. I the Sea Hawks just couldn't seem to bring their drives to completion, otherwise it would have been much closer. A couple bad calls were likely made in the Steeler's favor, but overall Pittsburgh deserved to win the Championship.

I've decided that I really need to get a digital camera. It would be a source of entertainment to me, and would add to the long list of hobbies that I don't have the time or ambition to give proper attention to. Anyway, if nothing else, it would help me make this blog more amusing.

Well... I think this is going to draw my weekend summary to a close.

Good luck to all in the week to come!

A late evening in Central Square

Well.. My hectic week is taking a toll.

I fell asleep when I got home last night. I actually got in at midnight, yes you heard correctly. Of course this is in part not just due to work. I was at work, or I was actually working, I should say, until 9:00. I really had been looking forward to watching the State of the Union being the political junkie that I am. So realizing if I headed out, I'd miss it, I just watched it on my computer. So after the completion of W's harangue, I was hungry and realized quickly, that at 10:00 it probably would be 11:00 when I got back to Melrose with lack luster late evening train schedules.

So, I tried going to McDonald's, but it was closed (Weird right?). Next thought I was going to go to the lovely Pu Pu Hot pot. Hey I know the name sound funny but my tiny little Central square Chinese haunt has fabulous food at fantastic prices. The open sign turned off, just as I approached. Starved, and not wanting to go to Wendy's because its usually filled with the mentally ill, I went to Cinderella's. Actually the Pizza was delicious. I read some of my current Subway book "The Hotel New Hampshire" while waiting for my feast to be prepared.

I wolf down my pizza, and box up a couple slices. It is around 11:00 when I head out to the Subway station in Central square. The streets have a light dusting of snow, and the crisp air and glow of the halogen lights provide a placid evening atmosphere. The buildings of Mass Ave appear like tired sentinels watching the world weary stragglers find their way home. Part of me wants to rush home, yet another part of me feels strangely compelled to take my time.

I force myself to pick up the pace knowing I'll regret it later if I linger. Crossing the street on a icy winter's evening is a fantasy. Cars appear in the distance and you proceed at your own will.

Aside from a few groups of people in front of the Middle East and the Phoenix Landing, the gritty streets of Central square are nearly deserted. I continue to hurry and upon arriving at the stairs down to the train, I can hear the arrival of one of the MBTA's tin can processions. I make a mad dash through those nut-cracker turnstyles, only to find with repeated attempts that my card isn't working. I'm right there, the doors to the subway cars haven't even opened. Swearing I continue to try, and at this point, people are coming out of the train and through the turnstyles in the opposite direction, and so I must stand aside. "Are you using the wrong card?" No, its still f@#%ing January, I think to myself. None the less, out of options I try my February Charlie Card. At 11:10 on January 31st, my February T pass allows me through the gates. I continue cursing, now vocally, as the train has closed the doors coinciding with my arrival through the gate. I was going to be there likely for twenty minutes... and I wasn't happy. I watched some others on the opposite side of the tracks struggle with the same problem I just had. I yelled over to them the solution, but they just ignored me and continued trying to get through.

Anyway, I read quite a bit in "The Hotel New Hampshire" on Tuesday night, for obvious reasons. That book is so well written. It isn't often that a book goes beyond just intriguing me, and actually invokes emotions, but this one definitely does. The more of Irving that I read, the more I appreciate him.

Getting to Oak Grove, I enjoyed my walk back to the apartment. The snow was coated with a fine ice here, and the effect on the trees and pavement was nothing short of surreal. I leisurely walked along, and I had chosen Iron and Wine as my soundtrack. My feet left footprints in the virgin dusting of snow. Willow trees that stand majestically next to an old mill were glistening in the layer of frozen winter precipitation. Looking through the wispy branches at light on the mill, was like glimpsing a kaleidoscope of gold. The warmth of the light shined forming concentric circular formed from the branches. I can barely describe how these simple sights touched my inner being.

In light of everything, my lack of time, the stress or work, and the grind of life, in this moment I was truly content.

I know that I promised comments on the state of the Union, etc, however at this time I'm going to have to cut this off.

I'll try to give my take on W's 2006 agenda tomorrow.