Google Maps FAIL

I noticed a bit of hilarity today when Google Map-Stalking my college stomping grounds. I mean, when people are showing off on Google Maps obviously I had to show them a few places! However, this is a little odd.

Note the photo below of the intersection of Ormond & Highland:

Buster, my favorite Crustacean is sitting proudly on top of the Sole - his summer hangout.


Now, look at the photo if you click one step towards the Sole:



Where did Buster go!? Also, does anyone know when he'll be returning to Worcester for the summer?

Canal District/Roma

Let's take a moment to discuss the Canal District. As most of you know, there is in fact NO visible canal in Worcester, nor has there been for over 100 years. At one time, the Blackstone Canal linked Worcester, MA to Providence, RI, and in effect made the case for the Providence-Worcester rail line, which in turn actually created the Heart of the Commonwealth. Today, the Canal is buried deep under downtown, and actually serves as an integral part of the city's combined sewer overflow system (look that one up on Wikipedia). Basically, in an extreme weather situation, an amount of the "sewage" is allowed to be discharged into the water source without being treated. Fun Fact: Worcester is one of the few cities in the country to have an Environmental Protection Agency approval of their CSO- most others had to completely redo their sewer system. My roommate and I explained this in the parking lot of the Home Depot

Recently in Worcester, there has been a big movement to "Free the Blackstone" to celebrate the historical influence the canal had on the economy of the city. Let's keep in mind that the structure was interred in the city after several years of requests from citizens - it was dirty, it was disease ridden, it actually became an open river of sewage through the city. There are actually people who feel this would attract business and visitors.

Another option that gets tossed around would be to create a non-functional, yet water filled, replica of the canal. This is what I personally would rather dine next to, and what I'll assume the derelict sign I saw from the window of Roma saying "For Lease! Canal Front Property!" was referring to.

Anyway, scenery of Worcester aside, I tried Roma on Friday. The absolute first thing I noticed (and completely kicked myself for not researching before!) upon our 9:30 pm, fashionably late arrival, was that it was BYOB! How could I have missed this little tidbit?! Oh right. I usually only see it as a classier alternative when making what I like to call the "Run of Desperation" to Wings Over Worcester. Anyway, after I finally interrupted the hostess from her very complicated erasing, she decided perhaps she could seat us. We had the BBQ chicken pizza, sans onions. The sauce was very "tasty", and not too sugary. Sugar, I am told, is a main ingredient in almost all BBQ sauces according to Men's Health. And, it was much better than the close-to-caramel pizza we had at Uno's the week before. Service was quick, and the place was pretty bumpin' considering it was after 10 by the time we left with mental notes to return with booze. We followed the guy with the empty cooler and the wine bottle haning out of his jacket pocket. Don't worry, we let him have a head start. Good thing that Canal isn't there just yet.

A Gluttonous Weekend Winter Wonderland Atop Airport Hill

glut·ton·ous (gltn-s),adj.

1. Given to or marked by gluttony.

2. Indulging in something, such as an activity, to excess; voracious. See Synonyms at voracious.

Well, this evening, while struggling to recap our weekend of decadence, Eileen and I did see synonyms:

vo·ra·cious (vô-rshs, v-),adj.

1. Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.

2. Having or marked by an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit; greedy: a voracious reader.

But, let me start at the beginning. Rather than at the Ciao Bella takeout we are eating a few inches behind our laptops in front of the TV. In tandem.

Friday evening brought a failed attempt at the $5 bar menu at the Sole, followed by a failed attempt at the Boynton, followed by a walk of shame to full priced bar menu at the Sole. Yeah, I know it's a difference of a few dollars, but still. It's the principle. We followed that up with a blurry sharing experience involving winter warmers and family sized yellowtail, with none of us admitting defeat until trying to walk up the stairs.

By the time we recovered sufficiently to be interested in a meal other than Bud Light, it was about 3pm. The natural decision was Moe's, and a Moo-Moo and a Homewrecker later we were done for. A few hours later, it was all too easy to talk everyone into Blue Jeans. Sidenote: did you know you could order Blue Jeans online, just like Wings Over Worcester? The delivery guy visited the house twice in a span of about (2) hours, once with an "El Mexicano" (w/o olives), and then once again with a Buffalo Chicken. I think the driver probably thought we intentionally did that. I lost track of how many varieties of wine, beer, and liquor were present at this point, which probably explains why I got woken up (at 10:30 pm) with my jaw hanging open while sitting on the couch watching Independance Day. LOVE Will Smith, even if there was that business with the boys and the madam and such.

Sunday brought a wakeup call of 6.5" of snow, as well as Moe's 2.o, and (2) Shaws trips. One of those trips resulted in a pound of nachos, and the other in no less than three versions of carbonated beverages to later be mixed with no less than two brands of rum. What could be missing you ask? Why, Chinese food of course! By 8 pm, we had filled our kitchen table with Foodworks containers (clearly labeled "Chinese delicious food", just in case there was any confusion) and had played one round of "is it sesame chicken...or sesame pork?"Horrific.

We swapped to wine after finally giving in to trying Root Beer + Rum= cream soda, and munched on a few nachos before bedtime.

Another 4.3" of snow early this morning, but at least Eileen was able to get her car all the way up the hill. So, I'll again leave you to the mental imagery of us eating Ciao Bella, in front of the TV, with our laptops open.

...and I was in a hurry to finish school!

Due to Friday's ice storm, Worcester has no school for the rest of the week!

Can you imagine if you were in elementary school -- no school this week, and no school for December vacation next week and the following week? 

That's a whole lot of cartoons you could watch and games you could play!!! (Saved by the Bell reruns! Read: Huge crush on Zack Morris and his cellphone. So cool for 1992.) 

I'm a bit jealous!   I haven't had that much time on my hands since my bout with unemployment.  (...but that got me a chopped-up thumb, and is a story for another day.)

My Relationship with Mass Liquors

I am typing one-handed right now, while I enjoy my most recent purchase from my hands down (hah, get it?) favorite liquor store: Mass Liquors.

I first discovered Mass Liquors when I simultaneously moved to the west side and became gainfully employed. I just assumed they had a great selection of beer, wine and liquor because my previous financial situations hadn't really allowed for any real browsing¹ I just assumed that they took my Maine license because...why not? It's a legal ID. I just assumed that the staff was friendly and helpful in every neighborhood liquor store. I just assumed that every store carried the delicous beers I sampled throughout the city, a delectable assortment of wines under $15 AND Tanquery in the family sized portion². I guess I just assumed that was just one more prince charming in the fairy tale that is my adult life in Worcester.

Well, we allllll have heard about what happens when you assume. One day, I moved. I looked forward to getting to know my new local liquor store. I thought I was doing the mature thing, by switching to the new most convenient liquor store, in a strip mall, with no actual title. It just says "Liquor Store" above the door. Aside from the one hottie I saw working there on my first visit in, who lost his hott-ness when he refused to sell to my out of state id, even with the slammin photo, the staff there is horrible. The booze was SO overpriced, and in nothing larger than a liter. I politely inquired at what point we would be at the point in our relationship where we would be past all these "formalities" and they could just address me by name when I walked in wearing sweatpants a ball cap to buy a 30 of bud light. Not only did they say that would never happen, THEY DIDN'T EVEN CARRY 30's! I couldn' t believe that I had almost let go of something so wonderful, for something so awful.

So, I guess I realized who really cared about me: Mass Liquors. I'm willing to overcome the distance, to really make it work between us. Some of my favorite Mass Liquors stories include:

1. The time they entered the expiration dating on my old roomate's VT id and made a scene that it was a fake, then they gave her a free t-shirt

2. They put Saranac Summer Sampler 12's in the fridge for me, hidden. 12 packs of Michelob Ultra Fruit Infusions are also available.

3. An impressive array of hard liquor & beers- including foreign and domestic brews from too many places to name.

4. Each of the staff members, when looking at my ID for the first time, said "hey, that's where Shipyard is from!"

5. The double entendre of the title: MASSachusetts & MASS quantities!

So, we're back together. And I feel really good about it this time³.

__________________________________________
¹ With the exception of the occasional splurge during lucrative summer interships or special occasions, my staples were: Arbor Mist, Bud Light, and the Gallon o'Yellow Tail for a special occasion.
² Perhaps "Family Size" shouldn't be equated to a handle of alcohol.
³ It's probably inappropriate to compare my tumultuous relationship with a liquor store to an actual human relationship. I'll work on that in the future.