Driving to Work

Number One Dad

2009-07-16T08:08:00.002-04:00

I saw a guy taking out his trash this morning. He was wearing a Bruins shirt with the slogan #1 Dad on the back.

I will need to verify my standing. I thought I was THE number one Dad.

Anyway, that guy is probably excited about the Bruins playing at Fenway.

I am.

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Departure Time: 7:07
Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny, a little humid this morning.
Shady Gas Price: $2.51
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

More Wildlife

2009-07-15T08:00:00.002-04:00

On my 'new' way to work, I saw a 4 footed creature trying to cross the street. I slowed down to make sure I didn't hit it. It backed away... I thought it might have been a small deer, but it was more dog-shaped.

It turned out to be a coyote. We had heard one outside our house in the winter...and here was another one (maybe the same one?) about 4 miles down the street.

We used to see them in Malden during the day...they have followed us.

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Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:31
Weather as I call it: Sunny, high 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.51 Going down
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Friday With Sun and Toast

2009-07-10T09:55:00.002-04:00

Stopped at Jessie's Place for breakfast. Not to be confused with Jessie's Girl. I like Rosie's Diner better.

You get a real sense of community at these places. The guys in there work on the roads and lay concrete. You hear their concerns for the town and their opinions on current events. They drink black coffee and eat dry toast. Not sure I fit in, but they don't seem to mind.

How about that sun?

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Departure Time: N/A
Arrival Time: N/A
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cool
Shady Gas Price: $2.55
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Through Late August

2009-07-07T07:59:00.000-04:00

I just found out that the construction that forcing me to find an alternate route is going to be in place until August. Late August.

Meh, the summer has been great so far. How could it get any worse?

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Departure Time: 7:10
Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Light rain, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $2.55
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Just Give Me 8 More Hours

2009-07-02T11:11:00.003-04:00

...then the long weekend starts. Then I can take a break from the wild turkeys and the deer and the rain and the construction and the police speeding traps.

Yes, that would be nice.

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Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:30
Weather as I call it: Rain. Heavy Rain.
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Road Construction

2009-07-01T08:39:00.002-04:00

I have dealing with some road construction on Route 4 in Chelmsford (also known as Boston Road for you locals).

The whole road is shut down from Mill Road to Rangeway Rd. I have to seek alternate routes as the sign told me.

I tried a few different ones, but the best route is Concord Rd. all the way into Carlise and then picking up Rte. 225 into Bedford.

I hope it doesn't last long. I had the same hope about the rain and look where that has placed us.

Boo!!

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Departure Time: 7:10
Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, misty, foggy. Did we do something wrong?
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nah

Rosie's Diner

2009-06-26T09:22:00.003-04:00

Stopped off at Rosie's Diner in my neighborhood this morning for an omelete and some coffee. Good meal and good people. I hope to stop by there again someday.

Some sun today. It was nice to see the road with the help of sunglasses rather than windshield wipers.

Have a good weekend everybody.

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Departure Time: 7:30
Arrival Time: 8:01
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny. 60s.
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

I Kinda Miss The Rain

2009-06-25T14:28:00.003-04:00

Just joking. I thought I would see some sun this morning. No dice.

I saw a wild turkey sitting on a parked car in someone's driveway on the way to work.

Those things are creepy.

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Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:29
Weather as I call it: Cloudy. Gray.
Shady Gas Price: $2.61
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

It Must Be Summer

2009-06-23T12:32:00.002-04:00

I don't think I saw any school buses today. Looking at my trip duration, the shortness supports a lack of school buses.

It must be summer even if the weather says "sorta".

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Departure Time: 7:00
Arrival Time: 7:28
Weather as I call it: Gray, misty rain
Shady Gas Price: $2.61 - I think it went down.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

I Am Not Going To Talk About The Rain

2009-06-22T12:17:00.002-04:00

There's no need. I think it's fine since I am in an office all day. I wish it were sunny on the weekend...but we had good times in the house.

The roads aren't slick.

The driving has been pretty good for the most part.

I am not going to talk about the rain.

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Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:33
Weather as I call it: Light rain. Damn, I talked about it.
Shady Gas Price: $2.63
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Nice Convertable

2009-06-17T14:46:00.001-04:00

This dude in some pretty cool looking convertable was behind me for a while today. I think peeps are going a little nuts for the sun.

This car didn't look like his everyday car. Probably one he drives on sunny summer days.

He probably wanted to make sure he used it this year!

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Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:34
Weather as I call it: Sunny and a bit cooler. 50F
Shady Gas Price: $2.61
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

3 Days of Dampness

2009-06-11T08:24:00.002-04:00

The dampness. It seeps into your bones and makes you cranky...maybe. I don't know. I think I am a little bummed out about the sky being overcast.

I want some sun.

It would be nice to put the old shades on again.

Feel the warmth on my face.

Soon.

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Departure Time: 7:09
Arrival Time: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cloudy and damp
Shady Gas Price: $2.58
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Vengeance!

2009-06-10T07:49:00.002-04:00

Eh, it's not really vengeance...I just being saucy today.

I was being nice and I let one person cut in front of me at a stop light in the center of Chelmsford. Well, somebody else (an additional somebody) took advantage of my kindness and she cut in before I could get rolling... She pulled the "if I don't make eye contact, it's okay if I pull out in front of you" move. I hate that move....even though I have been guilty of that move in the past.

It irked me for some reason that she got in front of me without my full consent.

Anyway, she pulled in front of me and was ahead of me for the rest of my drive...until...

We got to Bedford center and she tried to take a short cut...it turned out to be a long cut because I stayed on the main road and got in front of her. NICE!

I win!

You know...I think I need a hobby.

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Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:33
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, some misty rain.
Shady Gas Price: $2.53
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Looks Like We're In For A Few Days Like This One

2009-06-09T07:45:00.002-04:00

Cloudy, cool, rainy, damp...looks like it's going to be another long stretch of these kind of days.

Hopefully, this is just the precursor to many days of sun and good temperatures. Summer will be here soon....and it's better to be in the office when we have this weather than when it is sunny.

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Departure Time: 6:56
Arrival Time: 7:28
Weather as I call it: Cloudy and cool.
Shady Gas Price: $2.53
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

I Had A Tailgater

2009-06-08T07:34:00.002-04:00

Tailgating bring up thoughts of burgers and beer in the parking lot of some stadium. Not me. It's more like visions of dudes in mid-sized pickup trucks that like to ride my back bumper.

I took care of the sitch by speeding ahead. Then suddenly, he didn't want to be so near.

Tell me why I don't like Mondays?

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Departure Time: 6:47
Arrival Time: 7:19
Weather as I call it: Partly Sunny 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.53
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Deer Sighting

2009-06-04T09:14:00.001-04:00

On the way to work this morning, I saw a deer. It was eating grass in the front of the Job Lane House in Bedford. It appeared to be a young doe. It took off before I got a good look.

It was a good sight to see.

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Departure Time: 7:03
Arrival Time: 7:34
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny. 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.49
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Jardek's Doughnut & Breakfast Shop

2009-06-01T07:22:00.002-04:00

I had some dough burning in my pocket so I stopped at another local breakfast shop.

This time it was Jardek's Doughnut & Breakfast Shop. I got an egg and cheese sandwich on an English muffin, a medium coffee, and a Billerica Creme doughtnut.

The sandwich was good, the coffee was fine, but the doughnut was excellent.

I may need to stop in a few more times...

I saw a motorcycle with two wheels in the front this morning. It was like training wheels but worse.

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Departure Time: 6:41
Arrival Time: 7:06
Weather as I call it: Partly Sunny, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.49 Urgh.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

3 Construction Sites

2009-05-21T07:48:00.002-04:00

I met with three construction sites today. They were not long standing ones. These just popped up this morning. Suddenly all this work needs to be done.

I guess with the unofficial start of summer happening this weekend...summertime work is now starting...

Warm day today...a little chill in the air this morning...but still high 50s..

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Departure Time: 7:02
Arrival Time: 7:38
Weather as I call it: Sunny, warm
Shady Gas Price: $2.33
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: no

Chilling Reminder

2009-05-19T12:48:00.002-04:00

Just in time for prom season and graduation, there is a car that has been plunked down on the front lawn of a school entrance (I think it's a side entrance for the high school). The car appears to be in a horrible accident. It's all banged up and ruin. It's circled with police tape and it has a sign next to it that states, "Don't Drink and Drive."

Yeah, that kinda makes it clear.

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Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Sunny, mild, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.27
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Bikes and Scooters

2009-05-15T09:39:00.002-04:00

Lots of bikes and scooters on the road. It was sorta comical. They were in the way mostly...holding up traffic. Most of the riders had smiles on their faces as if they knew that they were in the way. They didn't care.

It's Friday!

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Departure Time: 7:02
Arrival Time: 7:33
Weather as I call it: Cloudy. A little muggy.
Shady Gas Price: $2.27 Blah
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

In My RearViewMirror

2009-05-14T10:26:00.000-04:00

Just a PJ reference for ya.

Now you gotta figure out what I mean by PJ.

Anyway, I was looking in my rearview mirror and I noticed that the same car followed me from the moment I pulled into the main road to Bedford Center. That's a stretch of 10 miles or so. Is it weird that sometimes people have the same paths...and it is only apparently when you by chance meet on the roadways.

We are more connected than we realize, I suppose.

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Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: &:38
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny, 40s.
Shady Gas Price: $2.23 ugh
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Today I Saw

2009-05-12T08:07:00.003-04:00

A girl who rode her bike and screamed down the hill.

The price of gas is still going up.

A car that pulled out in front of me and I restrained myself from getting angry.

Pockets of traffic that I wish would go away.

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Departure Time: 6:59
Arrival Time: 7:33
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, cool, high 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.19
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Sometimes It's True

2009-05-06T09:21:00.004-04:00

I have always liked the slippery when wet signs. The squiggly lines always looked cool. But I never really believed those signs...I always felt they exaggerated the peril.

Although the road I was driving on this morning didn't have a sign suggesting you should be careful when the roadway is wet, it should have.

I was behind a long line of cars...stopping frequently because of a school bus. When I braked, my rear wheels slid.

See! Slippery When Wet!

I had a scare that was about 1.3 seconds long...but enough to remind me that I need new tires.

Just add it to the list of things I need to buy.

Gas price is up again. Boo.

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Departure Time: 7:07
Arrival Time: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Light rain, wet roads, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.09
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Yeah.

Gas Prices On A Cloudy Day

2009-05-01T09:59:00.002-04:00

Finally the gas price went up. It was holding steady under 2 bucks for a while...

I think they finally had to give in.

Boo.

Happy Friday?

Fox 25 was broadcasting live from the town common today. It didn't cause too much of a ruckus. It didn't impede my driving.

I looked over but I couldn't see too much of what was going on. Meh.

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Departure Time: 7:03
Arrival Time: 7:32
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, a little humid, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.03
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Late April Driving

2009-04-30T17:11:00.002-04:00

If you are driving to work in late April like me, you get to see all the trees sprout their leaves again. You get to see the flowers and the grass.

It looks good. It looks like renewal.

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Departure Time: 7:10
Arrival Time: 7:43
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cool. Good day
Shady Gas Price: $1.99
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No