For the record, having and using a Boston accent outside of Boston is a secret pleasure, particularly if you are meeting people for the first time. Sometimes you get a feeling that you are representing your hometown, and I am happy to represent Boston...every part of it. I also think I can do a much better job of it than, say, Ben Affleck or Rob Mariano.
You don't really notice how much of an accent you have until you travel, and sometimes being in other places subconsciously (and maybe even sometimes consciously) amplifies the phoenetics unique to your accent. At one point in a conversation tonight the perennial "I love your accent" comment was had. I of course loved the acknowledgment and smiled, but as soon as I was conscious of my "pahked cahs in Hahvid Yahd" I noticed them becoming even more pronounced, almost uncontrolably...I was in a rut for a few. This smacks of language cognition, and is worth more study....I'll put it on the list of shit to do.
It got me thinking about the Boston accent. I believe there to be various "dialects" specific maybe to region. North of Boston, south of Boston, even the classic Ted Kennedy / Mayor Quimby Beacon Hill "Brahmin" accent. What are the key differences? What do you look out for? How do you gather information? Why is it interesting to me at all?
Have you ever noticed that when you're flying in a plane, no other planes are in sight, ever? I'm not talking about the air traffic you might see when coming in for a landing...I'm talking about up in the air, thousands of feet up. To and from this last trip I had a window (and because the plane was so small it was also an aisle) seat, and I swear I looked and looked and not one plane could be seen. Exactly how many planes are in the air at a time? Maybe it's part of an elaborate set of safety precautions in the name of national defense; lawd knows there's a bunch of new procedures in place already. This is the first time I've flown in a while, and getting through security included everyone removing their shoes, electronics, even the testing of my laptop to make sure it was a computer (I guess). These aren't really complaints...more like observations. I like the idea of going through those motions, especially if it means a safer plane trip.
They did let me go by without ever taking off my hat, though. Who knows what I could have had in there?
I blame the President. Time to remove him from office, as he is clearly not the man for the task at hand...letting people get on planes with hats and all. How irresponsible!
There are lots of things in this world of which I can somewhat confidantly say I have no fear. Cruising at 33,000 feet above the ground strapped into the human equivalent of a sardine can is not one of them. Smaller planes only make matters worse, and as you realize there are only 20-some odd people on the plane, you realize that if you do crash on some remote island, the chances of having a doctor or a survivalist or even a former hobbit present aren't as good as those on a certain ABC sitcom. The older I get, the more I am aware of the fact that there is no ground underneath...or rather that the ground is a long way down. As the old man says: Gravity will always win.
 Nothing like 3 Super Bowls in 4 years...
What I still find surreal is the fact that Boston teams have been so successful of late. We just sandwiched a World Series title between two Super Bowls, becoming the second city ever in history to do so (Pittsburgh,78/79 I think). Amazing. You gotta understand, most cities never come close to experiencing the kind of sports fan euphoria in Boston right now. We as a city came close in the mid-eighties (1986 Pats lost, Celitcs won, Red Sox...well), but it was over a year pretty much, not over a bunch of years. Besides, I was only 10, so I really had no idea. It's had to put into words how good it feels to be here now, particularly after so many years of (sometimes gut-wrenching) heartbreak.
This is Title Town.
Another parade tomorrow.
AL-9000 Super Bowl XXXIX post
Bill Simmons Super Bowl Blog
Amidst all the junk and jokes one recieves in the mail, there are occasionally prizes. I found myself in a similar situation last week, which prompted this post:
A sign in the Bank Lobby reads: "Please note that this bank is installing new "Drive-through" teller machines. Customers using this new facility are requested to use the below outlined procedures when accessing their accounts. MALE & FEMALE procedures have been developed after months of careful research.
MALE PROCEDURE
1. Drive up to the cash machine.
2. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.
3. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.
4. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.
5. Drive off.
FEMALE PROCEDURE
1. Drive up to cash machine.
2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.
3. Set parking brake, put the window down
4. Find handbag; remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.
5. Turn the radio down.
6. Attempt to insert card into machine.
7. Open the car door to allow easy access to machine due to its excessive distance from the vehicle.
8. Insert card.
9. Reinsert card the right way up.
10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.
11. Enter PIN.
12. Press cancel and reenter correct PIN.
13. Enter amount of cash required.
14. Check make up in rear view mirror.
15. Retrieve cash and receipt.
16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.
17. Place receipt in back of checkbook.
18. Recheck make-up again.
19. Drive forward 2 feet.
20. Reverse back to cash machine.
21. Retrieve card.
22. Re-empty hand bag, locate cardholder, and place card into the slot provided.
23. Give appropriate one-fingered hand signal to irate male driver lined up behind you.
24. Restart stalled engine and pull away.
25. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.
26. Release Parking Brake
I came across this
...looks good. Will it take the title of "Best Comic Book Hero Movie"? Who has the title now? Spiderman?
Batman? Maybe you're more of a Captain America type?!?
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