Helpful Tips for Using Public Transit

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We all know the basic rules of public transit (even if we don't always follow them): give your seat up for the elderly/disabled/pregnant, don't save a seat for your purse on a crowded train, let passengers off before you try to get in, etc.  But after the basics, people become confused and angry.  Should I leave my garbage in the train when I leave?  Should I complain in a loud voice about my distrust of certain races?  When does creeping on the stranger next to me become too creepy?  Luckily for you, I've been riding the T in Boston for the last four years, and I've compiled a list of helpful tips (which is certain to be the first of a very, very long series) to get you through your next commute.  Just follow this advice, and you won't have to fall back on the unseemly alternative of conducting yourself with basic human decency and respect.

Book Review - At Home: A Short History of Private Life

It's another book review!  I rented At Home: A Short History of Private Life, by Bill Bryson, digitally from the Boston Public Library.  Bill Bryson is one of my favorite authors generally, and probably one of my top two favorite non-fiction writers.  What sets Bryson apart from other non-fiction writers is his sense of humor.  Although his books are not usually laugh-out-loud funny (although, they can be), a tremendous amount of information is always provided through a steady stream of wit, and At Home is no exception.  Bryson, an American living in a 19th century English rectory, goes through his home, room by room, detailing the history of each room and each room's place in history.  This might sound boring to some, but it really was absolutely fascinating.  Our conception of history is so often split between the rote names/dates/places approach of high school textbooks and the (often) laughably inaccurate portrayal of the past in period films, that it was incredibly refreshing to read about how real people actually lived throughout history.

Book Review Time: A Vision of Fire

It's book review time! I received a copy of A Vision of Fire, by Gillian Anderson and Jeff Rovin, through the GoodReads First Reads program.  A Vision of Fire is a sci-fi thriller about a child psychologist named Caitlin O'Hara who has been called in to (discreetly) help a UN ambassador's daughter. The daughter, Maanik, witnessed an assassination attempt on her father and broke down shortly afterwards. The strange nature of Maanik's illness and the emergence of similar cases around the world, however, lead Caitlin to believe that this is more than just PTSD. There are some spoilers ahead, although I try to stay away from anything too big.  Just to be on the safe side: Read at your own risk.  Also, I felt a free book deserved a detailed review (i.e. - it’s pretty lengthy), so...read at your own risk?

Secret Red Wings Fan, Secret Red Wings Fan

Hello again!  I am officially off hiatus!  I found a job, and although it's not in my field, I really like the place and the people.  It also means that I am moving on up from a general, scavenger-like existence and can do a bit more exploring.  And my new employer, agreeing that I should get out more and do more blogworthy-type activities, raffled off Bruins vs. Red Wings tickets.  AND I WON!  Now, even though this is a blog about Boston, I have to admit that my heart will always be with Detroit sports teams, which is why I was so excited to win tickets to the preseason game against the Red Wings.  How did the night go?  Who won?  Did I need the bat that a co-worker recommended I bring to fight off angry Bruins fans?  Keep reading to find out...

Hiatus

Hello, everyone.

I know that I have been MIA for the last couple of months.  Mostly, this is due to the fact that my temporary fellowship has ended, and I am currently looking for permanent employment.  Money is a little tight right now, and I can't really afford to do a lot of exploring.  But, I promise, I will start blogging more consistently as soon as I have something to write about.

Until then,
~LHTB