Sightings:
Week of 07-10-00:
*Rode E-train, Red Line twice with Imette ('99), long time friend and fellow grad, in morning. Conversed with her.
07-15-00:
*Spotted Beth Scagnoli ('99) and Diane Connell ('99), former fellow classmates, on Lechmere-bound E-train.
Week of 07-17-00:
*Ran into Simone (II), old acquaintance from BLS Afrikan Kultural Society, and friends (II) at State Street Bank's Josiah Quincy shuttle stop. Chatted w/ her briefly.
*Spotted Jamie White ('99), old acquaintance, near NU Snell Library.
*Spotted someone looking like Shannon Boyce ('99), old acquaintance, on E-train near Northeastern.
* Ran into Amil Cook (I), long time acquaintance, on Heritage Dr. (State Street Bank Quincy Office Park). Chatted with him briefly.
*Ran into Andrew Graham (left '96), old friend, near Northeastern T station. Chatted with him briefly.
*Ran into Mike Connor ('99), old friend, near Northeastern T station. Chatted with him briefly.
07-22-00:
*Played b-ball with Si ('99), Ray Wu ('99), Gary Yung ('99), Bo Wang ('99, UMass Amherst '03), Jin ('99), Gary Woo ('98) and Dave Liu ('98, UMass Amherst '02), friends, former fellow members of BLS Table Tennis Society/Yo-Yo Club, at Science Park.
07-25-00:
*Rode Red Line with Simone and friends. Conversed with them.
07-26-00:
*Spotted Simone's friends on Alewife-bound Red Line train.
07-28-00:
*Spotted someone looking like Mr. Luis (teacher since '93) getting off Braintree-bound Red Line train at Park Street.
07-29-00:
*Ran into Imette and Claire :) ('99) , friends, in Mission Hill at Francis St. and St. Albans Rd. Chatted with them briefly.
08-02-00:
*Ran into Imette on Braintree-bound Red Line train. Exchanged greetings with her.
*Spotted Simone catching for State Street Quincy Complex Shuttle at Josiah Quincy stop.
08-05-00
*Played b-ball with Si, Ray, Gary Yung, Bo, Jin, Gary Woo, Dave, Sriram ('99, acquaintance, fellow member of Table Tennis Society/Yo-You Club), guy with BLS '98 Volleyball #7 shirt. (Also present who I know/knew: Than, Philip, Philip Ng, Triet, all O'Bryant '99, Si Lin, Farragut '92.)
08-10-00
*Rode E-train and Red Line with Imette. Coversed with her.
8-11-00
*Spotted Simone and friends catching State Street Quincy Complex Shuttle at Josiah Quincy stop.
8-15-00
*Ran into Amil on Braintree train both in morning and afternoon. Chatted with him briefly.
*Spotted someone looking like Frank Umeh's sister getting on E-train at Lechmere. Frank was a fellow grad ('99) and long time acquaintance.
8-17-00
*Ran into Simone and friend at North Quincy Station. Exchanged greetings with them.
8-19-00
*Played b-ball with Si, Ray, Gary Yung, Bo, Jim, Gary Woo, Dave, Sriram, another former BLS person. Ate with them afterward.
8-22-00
*Ran into Simone and friends on Alewife bound train, car 01884.conversed with her.
*Ran into Jamie on 39 bus 0176. Exchanged greetings with her.
8-24-00
*Spotted Simone and friends on Complex Shuttle at Josiah Quincy stop. Waved to them.
8-27-00
*Hung out with Jong Tommee ('99), friend. We walked the Southwest Corridor Path from Ruggles to Forest Hills, with a breather-stop for Jong at Jackson Square.
Summer 2000:
*From mid July through to the near-end of August, I worked in the same work area at State Street's Granite Ave./Milton Office with Sirrad Corbin (II).
1-10-01
*Ran into Ricardo Grandt ('99), friend, dropout of BLS Table Tennis Society, near Northeast Unversity Engineering Research Buidling next to Ruggles Station, chatted with him briefly.
5-30-01
*Ran into Ms. Wight at the MBTA D-line Fenway Station. Chatted with her briefly.
6-3-01
*Played tennis at Science Park with Ray Moy ('99). Moy got spanked 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, before going home to his mommy. Well that's what he did.
6-4-01
*Saw Alan McNamara ('99, UMass Amherst '03, acquaintance) holdin' it down in the Fenway Star Market. Apparently he's a supervisor there for the summer, cool.
6-13-01
*Played tennis at the Ruggles Station courts with Ray Moy. Moy got smoked 6-1, 6-2, but then came back with a 5-6 win, with me putting a very honorable fight considering it was already very dark by that time and while he has perfect vision, I have 16-18 and did not have my glasses on so I was handicapped, end of story.
6-14-01
*Ran into Dave, Jim, Si, Ray and Gary Yung while biking the Charles River. Shot around and chatted with them briefly before continuing my ride while they went off to eat at Cambrdigeside Galleria.
6-16-01
*Played b-ball at Science Park with Dave, Jim, Si, Ray, Bo and Gary Yung, as well as Gary's friend from Harvard, Gil, and two local boys, Mike and Eric. Thanh, Triet, Philip, Philip Ng and Si Lin also graced us with their presence. After that, the BLS group went on to Camgbridgeside Galleria to eat--they all pile into Dave's and Bo's cars, meanwhile I've got the Big Buick all to myself (they left me room for women, how generous). After that we all headed over to the Fenway Theaters to see "Tomb Raider." I got a call from George to chill on nearby Lansdowne Street, so I went home instead of going into General Cinema; and an hour later I was back down in the Kenmore area with this friend and another looking for a good club.
*Spotted Milad Chamo ('99) on Lansdowne Street while looking for take-their-time friends. I wouldn't have rushed you guys so much but with my freakin' curfew I had to get home!
6-19-01
*Went out w/ Ray Moy to try and go play some tennis, but after first checking the courts on Ruggles St, then the ones at Science Park, we give up and go home because it's getting dark. We could've played at the ones at Charles/MGH, but Lazy Boy, or is it Lazy Moy, can't park his car (or rather his parents') and walk more than 20 ft these days. Oh well, I just went out for a bike ride after that.
6-21-01
*Ok, I know people who are looking forward to this one. I ran into Nara ('98, acquaintance), Dave, Si, Gary Woo, Gary Yung and Jim playing b-ball at Science Park. I actually almost rode into Nara who was fetching a wild shot. Anyways, I talked to Dave and Gary Woo briefly, with Dave correcting me on the spelling of Gil's name from last weekend, appearing above. It's not "Gale," although Gary Yung's heavy Bostonian accent made it sound like such. So I've fixed it. If he ever went to jail, it'd be "Gale" :) Gary IM's me later that night about fixing it, oblivious to the fact that Dave had told me earlier. Good looking out, Gary. Sorry, Gil.
6-22-01
*I'm getting on the State Street Milton Shuttle bound for North Quincy Station and beyond and who's on board already: Charline O. Melon, '99, acquaintance. So I talked with her all the way to North Quincy Station. Then on the Red Line to Downtown Crosing. Then down Winter St to the INROADS office where she had a meeting. What a pleasant surprise.
*While walking down Winter St I ran into Norman Texeira, '99, acquaintance. I chatted with him briefly before continuing on to South Station. Sorry Norman, but I had a train to catch. Talk about a double-whammy!
6-23-01
*Spotted Alan McNamra in Fenway Start Market again.
6-24-01
*This afternoon I went to the bbq being held by Sandy Olivier (friend, left '97), which was supposed to be a reunion of sorts for her old friends and acquaintances from BLS, as well as a reunion of friends from Randolph High, where she had tranferred to an graduated, and above and beyond all that, a family cookout. Well I supposed to leave around 4:30, but I didn't get out 'til around 5:30 and got down to the get-together around 6:00. Tons of family were there, and several Randolph people were there, but BLS representin' was yet to be found, besides me and Sandy. So maybe it was good I didn't leave any earlier. Not even Illyitch Tabora ('99, friend) who sent out the invitational e-mail to people, including me, which I then forwarded to many people of the '99 class, showed up before 7:15. Olivia Thomson ('99, acquaintance) accompanied her. Jermaine Kidd ('99, acquaintance) was one of the RSVP-ers, but he was "rolling deep," as Sandy decribed it. Apparently, these days rollin' deep is synonymous with showing up over an hour and half late. Oh well. Woulda stayed longer, but I had to get on to Cape Cod and be where I had to be by nine. I waited until 7:45, 15 minutes later than projected. It was good seeing you Sandy, Olivia and Illyitch; too bad I didn't get to see more BLS people.
6-25-01
*Ok, this is the first non-actual spotting, but it was funny so I had to mention it. I was talking to Tina Gao, '99, acquaintace, who was telling me about her dorm selections for the upcoming year. Well, she rattled off the list and what immediately caught my eye was the word "Hamlin." What's comical about--Hamlin is the only all-male dorm on campus! Of course, there are plenty of unluckly freshman, as I was, who would be more than happy to let her take their spot and get placed elsewhere. She soon replaced Hamlin in the WISE Housing Selection Page.
*You know how it is when you randomly bump into people you'd never expect to. That was the deal with Amil that afternoon. He's back working at State Street, as I am. I'm chillin' minding my own biz, walking to the Red Line when I hear my name being called and turn to see him there. Had an intermittent convo with him all the way to Downtown Crossing, then on the Orange Line until my stop, Roxbury Crossing.
6-26-01
*Ray Moy was asking for more punishment, so he called me up to go play tennis. This was the first time I took my car out to meet him. After finally the Science Park courts more than packed, we headed off to BU, but he stayed on Storrow Drive, so I followed all the way out to the Arsenal Mall. We got a good 45 min. or so of play, would've been longer, as usual, except for the dang curfew. Moy fell 6-3 and 4-2 before we had to call it quits.
6-28-01
*This time I had to call Moy because his parents had the car (I got my own, haha). After unsuccessfully finding an open court at BU, but seeing some curvaceous ladies playing running the track and practicing for softball, we headed back out the Arsenal Mall. After a 1 game loss, I came back within a murdering 6-1 win for the set. The secong set was moer engaging. After a 2 game loss, I came back and tied him at 2,-2 3-3, and 4-4 before putting on the brute force to take the lead at 5-4. Not content with stopping even though I had to go, I asked to play the extra game, putting him away with the 6-4 set win. It almost seemed like he was impatient to go and didn't try in the last game, but so what, I got the set, his loss. While taking a shortcut to get home, I was able to shave off at least 2 min. from my travel time. And yes I did stay within the speed limit (well, no more than 12 over).
6-29-01
*Like deja vu, I'm biking on Thursday and happen upon Dave, Jim, Ray Wu and Gary Yung playing b-ball. After 5 layups in a row, 3 foul shots in a row and 2 3-point shots in a row, I reaffirmed my skills, talked with them briefly and headed home. Gary says Thursday evenings are like Saturdays--impromptu weekly b-ball. Ok, I'll keep that in mind for next week--be ready!
7-2-01
*Finally July, as if I'm rushing the summer. Today was one of those "not my day" kinda days, first going back to the ATM twice times to pay for a money order because 7 Eleven doesn't take debit card (time 1) and because the fee is $2, not $1 and I didn't have enough (time 2). Then, Crystal takes 5 min. to start up at when I have to run to the pos office, which I then did not find. Then, pulling teeth trying to get info out of people on IM, so I went up in the caf to get some o-rings and ran into Charline, and had lunch with somebody else for a change at work, which is both refreshing and calmed my nerves after the aforementioned quirks. She did finally make it to Sandy's party around 9--she was at a wedding earlier, which is understandable. Jermaine, Valery Danger, Drudys, Rebecca et al. ('99, acquaintances) did show up later, as well as a few people form the 2000 class; Norman and Daniel didn't make it. No word on why these people were so late other than "other obligations." Of course, by 9 I was getting off Exit 12 on Route 6. Thanks, Charline for that jumpstart to an ugly day.
7-3-01
*I rode the shuttle again in the afternoon with Charline; we talked intermittently on the way to North Quincy Station, then on the Red Line to JFK/Umass where she got off to go to her class. Hope it got out early, Happy 4th!
7-5-01
*You might think I should just say "I see Charline every day," like I did for Sirrad, but no, I don't see her every day. Where I run into her, though, is still various. Like today, I'm waiting for the 215 bus at Ashmont, the last leg of my commute via Ashmont, and she shows up, waiting for the bus as well. Needless to say, we talk intermiitently on our way into work. I later run into her again while I'm doing my normal rounds around the building delivering misdelivered mail. She just happened to be in the 3E mailroom when I got there. I was supposed to meet up with her for lunch later at the Adam Building--I'm so sorry, Charline. I was having computer problems, which were not corrected until around 12:30. By then it was a little late, considering I was leaving early to take the CDL class B test with passenger and air brake endorsements. Me brag? Heck ya! 95 questions and an hour and half of torture--both the wait and the 3 tests--I now possess the Class B permit with aforementioned endorsements.
7-11-01
*Ran into Amil Cook at the Wellness Fair over at State Street Bank's Adams Building. Also talked to one of my coworker Shauna's friends, Sean, who recently graduated from UMass Amherst's SOM department--right university, wrong college, oh well.
7-14-01
*Ran into Charline while doing the afternoon misdelivered mail around at the State Street Bank Milton building. Had a brief chat with her. I was looking forward to riding the usual part of the way home with her, but she was catching the 5:17 pm shuttle, whereas I was attempting to get out on the 4:17 (it's Friday for Chrissake! She didn't have much to do anyway). Anyway, the shuttle didn't show up until about 4:32 and after confirming my weekend training with UMass Transit Service over the phone, I saw from the second floor window the shuttle come in, so I made my usual dash to the shuttle, but it wasn't one of the regular drivers who waits for two minutes even when late--this driver left right away and didn't check for approaching passengers. Nor did he notice me out his left or right side view mirrors running frantically after the bus. Needless to say I missed it.
7-18-01
*Went down to the tennis courts at Boylston/Theater District to play with Ray Moy and Nguyen ('99, acquaintance)--definitely a change of pace. We first hit around, Nguyen and I versus Moy Boy and "Other Guy." Other Guy was good, but he didn't want to play an actual game. He left after a while and we played King of the Court. You knowI I dusted them-- 2-0 against Moy and 1-0 against Nguyen. Then Moy decided we should leave because there was a long line for the courts, even at 9:00 pm! That's what happen when you're at the only lit courts in the Greater Boston area. Arsenal Mall courts have lighting, but it's never turned on.
7-19-01
*Biked into (as opposed to ran into) Gary Woo heading south e Boston side of the Charles Bike Path. He had to wait up for Ray Wu's sister Nora ('98, acquaintance). I later caught up with all of them at Science Park where we played 21 by 1's with "Tall Dude" and then Dave and I got creamed 11-4 against Tall Dude and Wu in a 2-on-2. Dave was beat--Ray too, but much less. I was just warming up, but after they quick I went back to my biking.
7-21-01
*After a round-trip to Amherst for bus training, I still have enough energy left to go play b-ball at Science Park with Ray Wu, Gary Yung, Dave, Bo and Si. Congrads to Si and Grace on their new relationship; I met Grace there, Si you lucky dog. In the midly competitive game "Lightning", Grace showed off her deadly accuracy for free-throws, knocking Si out many a time.
In other "couple news," I'm single again, end of story, and since, according to my former significant other, I'm a complete loser, or so it's implied by what she's said, I guess I'll be single forever, or else hook back up with her because no other woman on this planet will ever want me. Woe is me, whatever am I to do?!
7-25-01
*I set popcorn popping in the floor's microwave and went upstairs to the caf to get some napkins when lo and behold I run into Charline. Needless to say, I'm not gonna leave her to eat her fries alone, so I order some myself and sit down with her for a nice 45 minute chat, off and on. It's a slow day so I figure wny not, plus I didn't take a real lunch break since I ate my soup at my desk. Charline, always good to see you and hear of your travels! Congrads on finishing up the chem class at UMB, best of luck with these last two weeks of English class at Quincy College!
7-26-01
*Tina's going in convulsions over relationship matters and I'm doing my best to cool her down, drawing examples from the rocky times of my recently-ended relationship. I hope hers doesn't end or at least ends more peacefully than mine!
*Charline went straight home today. I saw her, from a floor window, leaving the building, walking over to catch the MBTA 215 bus.
7-30-01
*Tina's relationship issues have subsided for a while, I'm happy to report. For privacy reasons, and general respect of a friend, I refuse to disclose any of the actions taken over the weekend to bring the relationship back to a more favorable state. Just congrads because it's nice to know that these days two people can still talk their problems out instead of keeping them to themselves and making quick decisions.
*Well it's practically the end of July and it's safe to say that Sirrad is not working here this summer. She is missed, especially by her favorite coworker here, Kelly. Best of luck, Sirrad, on entering a sucessful senior year at BLS!
*And in completely unrelated news other than the fact that Tina's out at UMass Amherst and this happened out there: I was coming down Eastman Lane on Sunday driving the Southbound Campus Shuttle Loops as part of UMTS Basic Training when I blew past the venerable Bernard J. Morzuch, professor of UMass's Resource Economics Department. Yes that guys does religiously get out there every day and run, can't say that of most people half his age! Go Bernie!
8-5-01
*I came back from a fam reunion in Miami Beach today--the Science Park Crew, except the Garys who stayed home and Si and Grace who to Washington state, went to Montreal. Montreal is cool...not as cool as Miami Beach. And not as hot either, neither temperature-wise or women-wise. What a way to get your mind off a nasty breakup! If it wasn't for Tropical Storm Barry I would've seen even more eye candy. And if it wasn't for my darn curfew Saturday night (thanks mom), I would've gotten even more dances in. What saved the night (well sorta) was meeting these two cuties from Jersey--yes Jersey does produce some cuties. Ok, I'm bragging, but hey it's my third home behind Boston and New York City and if I certain Zoomass "friends" would cough up money this year, maybe we'll go back for another Spring Break; and no we don't need a rental car, we'll stay on the beach this time. El Bus runs 'til 2-4 am anyway (depending on route), some of us could use the exercise, plus save some dough. Air Tran could use the money from our trip...I saw them, they're still flying!! They still beat Valu Jet, that's all that matters. With the fam, I fly "GUCCI," I fly US Airways. With friends, hey why not one more night in ATL Airport, or maybe not catch the last flight out, but that's what college is...a whole lotta learning experiences.
8-6-01 to 8-7-01
*It's the same senario, so why write it over twice. I came through Ashmont to work (Red Line to 215 bus) and ran into Charline and had intermitten convo with her all the way to work. On the 7th I spotted whom I believe was Imette passing by NU's Engineering Building near Ruggle Station, but I don't know if she' back from Hawaii yet, could've been her........................clone!
8-8-01
*No, didn't run into Charline today and no I'm not obsessed with her, or anybody else from BLS, Ms. Heather, that's the theme of the webage. I'm just reading from Tina over IM about her rosy relationship; and oh that's nice too bad for the rest of us who get stuck in bottoms-up relationships. And then there's Dave who actually took the time to classify women as cars ranging from pricy Lexuses to Pintos and everything in between and then rate popular female celebs. What's missing from this picture: how to get the women, I mean you know how to get a car, buy it, insurance, registration, etc., but women? Less staring, more caring, but it's more complex than that. I'm out.
8-15-01:
*Ran into Amil Cook at Brigham Circle, when exiting from 39 bus 8453.
10-17-01:
*It has been a while and there have been encounters with fellow BLS'ers since the last time, but alas, no time to put them down. Today, I saw Angela Holm ('99, acquaintance) in Worcester Dining Hall.
10-18-10:
*I'm trying to keep up with this, ok. Today I'm returning my car to the Purple Lot around 11:30 and after taking 5 min. to carefully back my car in (cuz that's what real men do, no wussy hey let's drive in front-first), who shows up in the wannabe rice-burner (a-k-a Camry), but Dave and Bo with three girls rammed in the back seat and one riding ***** (PG-13), which is like ouch cuz only American cars have "the bench." So Dave comes up and he's like "Hey Joe blah blah," and ends with "well we're off, and don't follow me." So I wasn't, but of course I had to after that, despite having to get up for an 8 'o clock. So I did and hmm, let's see, V-8 versus V-6, you get the picture. My only folly is cornering....and the fact that I got pulled over on Sat., didn't really feel like getting pulled over AGAIN. So I let him get away, but I wind up getting the lead and I lead them back to the garage because I remembered the 8 'o clock class. The kind folk even gave me a ride back to my dorm, thanks again. Two of the girls had had enough and were to be dropped off next. For the other two and Bo and Dave, the night was young. Freakin' non-engineers!
12-8-01
*Yah, so I give up on trying to incorporate BLS into every entry--it's more like a jounral. How about this--if it has a "*" in front of it, it has something to do w/ BLS, a "-" is for all other thoughts.
*Ok, here's a weak BLS connection--I went to the Transit Party and Jenn Bishop was there. Jen Bishop is a long-distance friend of....Justine Egan, an acquaintance and fellow grad. She had been up a few weeks ago visiting Carrie and stopped by so see Jen. It's a small world.Ok, for the record Dave "Santa Claus," the line was "and Joe F. get a pack of gum... 'cause he's from Boston." ?????
-I had an accident tonight in the first real snow of the season, took out a bus stop sign on 116. Car got a flat so I never made it to MHC to drop off my my friends who were going to a party there, nor to Smith to see Nicole :(. Heard the party stunk anyhoo, so it's not like they missed anything. But I missed her.
12-9-01:
-So I finally get back to UMass around 2 am--fun--and by the time I drive Route 39 at 9 am, the roads are fine, ain't that nice.
-Car's at Amherst Towing, won't be ready 'til tomorrow
12-10-01:
-Somehow it's going to take another 24 hours to put a working tire on my car--just give me the freakin' tire and let me do it myself, geesh.
12-11-01:
-Got distressing news this morning--my aunt died :(; and all I'm thinking is here's a third family member on my father's side to die before I really got to know him/her. For the sake of grievance, I won't go into any detail. The fam knows I love them all and am always there in spirit when I cannot be there in person.
12-12-01:
-Oh look, the sign's back up. Maybe sometime this year somebody will actually get on/off there.
12-14-01:
-It's truly a small world--Joao know this guy Jason who works at Umass Transit and whom I see in the DC and on the bus all the time who didn't talk to me and I didn't talk to him, well, just because, we didn't really know each other. But I run into him hanging out at the TOC watching AP2 with Jo, Christina and Nicole. He hangs out w/ us for a while--so now I know the dude. It truly is a small world.
12-15-01:
-As you might have guessed all the entries starting at 12-8-01 I've just put in, in between transpo studying and waiting on Jo and Nicole concerning brunch. What the heck they're doing up there--I don't know, Jo's has this cheesy "stepped out for a sec" away message for the last 30 minutes, although he still doesn't show up as idle. Christina's number Nicole doesn't have so I don't know if she's trying to contact her, all I know is I'm working on my webpage getting hungrier by the second. It's about 1:05 pm.
12-26-01:
-It's the day after Christmas. Christmas as cool, well as good as it always is.
-This page is a year and five months old, very nice.
*So I'm talking to "Vinny" Maroun who needs Steve Maiullo's number (both '99, acquaintances). Steve Maiullo? I'm no detective, sorry, dog.
1-2-02
-Happy New Year! first off. But let me cut to the chase since it's about 20 min. before I get cut off. You gotta wonder about a company that hires you, but gives you nothing etched in stone, nor makes you etch anything in stone. But let me start from the top. IT WAS AN AVERAGE DAY, well an average day for me, I guess. Went to see Harry Potter: The Socerer's Stone with moms and sis and I must say despite the cheesiest I used to associate with the Harry Potter series, I was quite impressed with the whole flick, including, of course, the train scenes, because I'm none other than The Train Mon, yah dog. Anyway, it was cool and afterward we wound up at BK where I complained about my sorry-behind (PG-13) life and how I haven't found a job yet; but this was after calling back Heath who had called during the flick originally. She razzed me about being unemployed and then we got into this argument over working corporate and somehow her all-great $15 suit is gonna make her CEO of Spacely Sprockets or whatever and ordinarily it wouldn't get to me, but at this point, after applying to about 5 jobs now, it KINDA STINKS that I couldn't have one take me on for Winter Break.
But anyways, later on today, or rather tonight, I finally broke down and called the "$18.75 Base--Appt" people like I said I never would and actually convinced my hard-nosed 'rents to let me go to a job interview TONIGHT. Of course I got a scolding even worse then what I expect my my report card rolls in next week, but what the hay, right? Right? So I went, and to be expected, it is the CHEESIEST of the cheese (but supposedly you make a lotta cheese :) I go search for clients (i.e. family, friends) and go to them selling Cutco brand knives. These things are really something, no doubt, it's the company that's STUPID, yes I said it STUPID. No offense, but $200 million in yearly sales is like what, lunch money for Bill Gates for a week?1-3-02
-Ok ok so I might wind up working for a little bit for these wackos (i.e. take my supposedly guarantedd $730/2 wks and run, hehe), but it's still worth making fun of them. Overnight I though of something else that's "only" $200 million. Several yards of the Big Dig, of course. At $200 million/yr it would take Vector 5 years just to construct 1 miles of the Big Dig--no wait the running total is about $15 mill for about 8 miles, I guess it would take Vector longer, oh well.
So I'm talking to my friend Nicole who says her her other friend Kathy recommended it for her as part of NH's program--up there they build robots! What the-...!!!??? (PG-13). Mass. sells knives, they build robots in Yahooser country, interesting. Supposedly her bro's friend did it for a year in Mass., even hit her fam up to buy knives, lololol. My fam, I think they'd try to stab me if I pitched to them--no, not really, but to be honest, we've had the same stank 'ol cutlery for the last, hmm, 20 years at least, minimal sharpening (i.e. once every 10 years). I mean who cares if "my knife cuts it in 3 strokes whereas the Cutco does it in .75 strokes," I mean whoop-de-do does that make your folks wanna go out and buy a brand new $161 set when they already have something perfectly working. I'll be up front with you, contrary to the Vector b.s., you can have wooden steak knives with the "half twang" that aren't "ergonomically designed for you maximum comfort," oh my god I think it hurt more typing that on my un-ergonomically designed keyboard, anyway those steak knives do last a while. In fact, we've only replace ONE cutting knife in the last 15 YEARS, and no it wasn't cuz the twang came apart of cuz one of the eyes fell out and it wasn't ergonomically pleasing to the eye anymore, it was simply LOST, that's right LOST. Ok, so maybe I'd rather get the Marshalls job, whatever, I'm losing it can't you tell. Look at me--I work on webs; freakin' recession, now I'm dissing blue-collar work that I desperately need. OH WELL! :)1-5-02:
-Ok so the grades were up online today as much-anticipated and I must say I did as well as or better than expected, except for a certain mech. engineering prof who screwed me over to the MAX (i.e. F), along with 70% of the rest of the class (based on figures produced by him after the third exam of student averages). What an #$^#^%^$ (you fill in the blank, it's PG-13)! Therefore I don't feel alone in my err--I'm the king of "misery loves company"--I just feel that I should've bailed out while there were still life rafts available, if you know what I mean. At most, I might be able to work it into an incomplete, but kinda hard considering I was able to bring up my grade satisfactorily in all my other classes. The class just stinks, case closed. I'm not a structural engineer, I'm just not. And this is the one hurdle that lessens me interest in civil engineering as a whole, the one hurdle that prevents me from graduating on time. It's a rough life.
1-10-02:
-Yep, it's offficial. I am NOT working for Vector; main reason being I'd be the laughing stock of the family, other reason being, as mentioned above, I just think it's a STUPID selling strategy (need I bring up the meager $200 mill/yr). Anyones, bye bye Vector, but I didn't simply say "I quit," nope, I actually left it so that I could come back if I wanted to at some point (NEVER) in the future. Don't ask me how--that's why I'm da man.
1-11-02:
*My dogged persistence in exploring my last-ditch effort, another Gov't Center temp agency, landed me a job for a day! And where else but... Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (hence the *). Ya ya, just for the day, but hey, it's work, money, you get the picture. Maybe if the guy I'm covering for still has the flu on Monday, I'll get to go back. Why so eager to step back into the halls of one BLS's rivals--because I had a fun day. First off, unless I was in the designated "minority" section of the school, CLRS definitely seems more diverse than ye old alma mater. The facilites are just as extensive, except there where BLS built up (3 stories), CLRS built like a college with separate 1- and 2-story auxilary buildings. Third, the career center/upper classmen guidance office, where I worked for the day is equally as entertaining as listening to the calls coming through UMass Transit Base. Everyrthing from girls getting suspended for going to school to guys hiding out because it's their b-day and their friends wanna beat them up. Can you say "lol," but that's reality. Plus, somebody actually pulled a firedrill. In talking with my colleagues, it happens, on average, five (5) times a week! GOD, we look like good-goodies compared to these students! Needless to say, thanks CLRS for the brief, but interesting employment, and hopefully, now being registered with two temp agencies will get me work at least three more days these Winter Break, that's all I'm hoping for. I'm out.
1-15-02:
-After a week of ranting and raving all is fairly quiet on the warfront. I'm on a week-long assignment at Mass. Dept. of Public Health and let me just say it's coooool to be a gov't employee :) Furthermore, this is the last of last pages under TrainMon to be updated for the new Navigation, so that's something to smile about :) Later!
1-25-02:
-Computer's dead, or just the portion that accesses the Web. I'm at my (sorta) engineering rival NU making webpage updates...interesting. I *should* be back online shortly, but somehow I think I'd have an easier time throwing the Ring back in the pit, if you know what I mean. Ok, people are looking at this computer like a dog looking at a fire hydrant, perhaps it's time to go...perhaps. But I love interfering with NU students' research, hehe :)
2-3-02
*And the Patriots win a Super Bowl!!!!!! And there was peace on Earth--yah right, maybe Hello froze over, but peace is a stretch. Speaking of, Southwest was anything but peaceful in the aftermath of the winning and you bet I was there, camera in hand to get a first-person view of the riots. Towards the end, I ran into Jonah Goldsteing ('99) and Dave O'Gara ('99), acquaintances, as well as an acquaintance ('00) from the Table Tennis Society/Yo-Yo Club who actually remembered me (or that I kicked everyone's butt, hey). BLS Represent!
2-6-02
*Speaking of Southwest, I spotted former resident Marianne Wong ('99), acquaintance, in Worcester Dining Commons's Oak Room. She was too engaged in conversation with friends to see me.
2-7-02
*Ran into the lovely Marianne Wong again in the Oak Room; I guess she and her buddies often eat there at night. I first ran into Marianne post-BLS at the Red Sox riots in Southwest freshman year. She moved to Northeast last year, I believe.
2-8-02
*Was driving down Frat Row towards Amherst Center and noticed Jonah Goldstein ('99, acquaintance) walking along--the other way--with yet another girl! And not bad looking either. Yo! I need to move to Gorman, it seems, find me some (or just one) honey, for real. Cheap SOB, he was supposed to hook me up with a past lady friend; I know you're keeping her as backup, punk :) Anyways, he even noticed the car (who can't) and waved back. Ya, dog, you got the hot women, but I got the fly pimp ride (wanna trade). Seriously, it's not doing me any good to hang around people (i.e.g guys) who think that going weekly to colleges that are 70% lesbian, i.e. Smith and Mount Holyoke, that something meaningful might actually develop (romantically, sorry Nicole).
2-10-02
*Ran into Dave L. and his rice-burner wannabe while picking up Crystal from the Secondary Lot 45. Sorry I couldn't stay longer, had to run (or drive) to work.
2-14-02
-I'm a semi-fatalist and as far as I'm concerned it was fate and not coincidence that I ran into the lovely goddess Sarah (engineering) on this day after not seeing her for over 5 months. Again, great seeing and talking with you Sarah.
2-16-02
-Andrea (acquaintance, civil engineering) reports 2-19 that Amherst is either number 1 or number 2 in the nation for redient complaints. Consistent with that is this ex-Catholic-turned-Jewish guy who rides Route 38 from Amherst to HC, then makes me wait up for him at HC to ride to MHC (even though 38 is going the same way), then he rides back thru HC to Noho, then back to HC. Quite an interesting character, a 50's-ish biker (pedal) and nationwide traveler, fed up with college students, especially his extra-rowdy neighbors and "a police force that does not work." Despite a seemingly gruff nature, he really knows his stuff.
2-20-02
*21 today, 'nuff said!!!! Went to the local liquor mart, the big one between S&S and Big Y and got a 6-pack of wine coolers, which I'm still nursing (3-4)--oh well just cuz I turn 21 doesn't mean I turn a drunk; and the family elders are smiling.
3-3-02
*Call it death of an era, but the guy affectionately known at Transit as "The Complainer," as I mentioned earlier (2-16) made his last trips on the bus today before heading off to New Jers, although he's supposedly not leaving 'til Thursday. "The last time on the Deerfield Drifter," he called it, as that was the route I was driving and there he was, white-socked-up-all-the-way-over-jeans and all wating at the Morrill bus stop to catch the Drifter out to South Deerfield, the Drifter being noticeably late, thanks to Henry, as he assigned the non-wheelchair-wooking 3045 to it and I had to switch 3041. Sad to see him go, I must say, and not just for being the blunt of Transit jokes like the "creepy crawly guy with clothes all over town hidden in bushes" and the "Mud People of North Village," but because the majority of what he says does make sense, even though it's nit-picking at a lifestyle that we as Americans live by, though so wrong. For instance, he gets off my bus at the end of the line, S.D. to post a route map for the FRTA, saying how badly one was needed and that a past one was actually removed from atop the PVTA schedule even though there was ample room for it. Furthermore, he posted a sign about bus safety, both as a passenger and driving alongside the buses.
4-15-02
*Today is Tax Day, as well as Patriots' Day and so much for patriotism cuz we can't blame Bin Laden for Americans no longer winning the Boston Marathon...anyway...
-Had brunch with Angela Holm after getting off my early-morning MHC/UMass via HC shift, nice, interesting converstaion that had to be the longest we've ever talked alone. See you around, Angela (and bring that hot friend w/ you :)
4-23-02
*Happy birthday, Dad, first and foremost!
*I'd first like to say that Charlie a-k-a "The Complainer" hasn't since I last wrote gone anywhere except moved from the regular apartment housing complex where he used to live to somewhat of an elderly folks complex (and no, Pete, he doesn't need your help to get him there :). I was down at Transit on Sunday reading a letter he had wrote giving in detail his revisions for the "Mount Holyoke Mistral" (38), "Holyoke Hopper" (39), "Deerfield Drifter" (46/31-Combo) and "Drug Special" (B43), but one of my most favorite was saying that the "Belchertown Blaster" (45/30-Combo) should be combined with the Gatehouse bus (32) so that it may "blast to Belchertown at a more leisurely pace."
4-24-02
*Spotted Marian Wong at the Oak Room tonight.
