Mogwai's Big Day.

Mogwai made it big. She got a Tempurpedic bed. Here she is, breaking it in.



When I make it big, I will have one, too. I have Tempurpedic envy.

Duuuuude...Bob's got a job!

Here's a Pork Slap for you!



And a huge pile of meat.



You know you wish you moved here! But congrats on the new job!

The Way to a Woman's Heart...

...is through Battery Mart.

I came home after a very, very hellish day to see from the corner there was yet ANOTHER note taped to my door! I'm sure you all remember the prior anonymous note fiasco. So from the corner to my door I was wracking my brain, "What did I do this time?!? Who could I have possibly offended?" I was furious.

As I got closer, I saw it was a delivery sticker. Then I got even MORE furious, because I had specifically told the shipper of said item to make 100% sure no signature was required.

Then I got up close, and saw this:



Such an amazing delivery person! He/she was clearly concerned about leaving it, as my porch is wide open, so he/she secretly hid it around the corner so no one would steal it! BEST DELIVERY DRIVER EVER! I wish I knew who it was, I would send him/her chocolate oranges, even if he/she did get my name wrong on the form. I am neither "Dias" nor "Russel." Oh well. There was no denying it, though, the package was mine! All mine!

Dun dun dun!!! Here is the package. I was so excited, I had to take a photo.



So excited!!! So close to happiness!!! Just moments away!



Who knew happiness was SO heavy? It took me forever to get the package undone. But here it is!!! In all its glory! My happiness, and it only cost $93 including shipping!



Isn't it gorgeous? Isn't it lovely? I cried a tear. I really did. This is going to change my life! Suck it MBTA!

*Side note, Battery Mart is amazing. Everyone should shop there. Not only did they call to verify my identity and that I wasn't using a stolen card, they were extremely nice and courteous about it. Some red flags had popped up with the move and all. Then they packed this battery so carefully, and it arrived within two days of when they sent it. Plus, it was the exact battery I needed. Auto Zone had one that wasn't the one I needed (not AGM, and if you trunk mount a non-AGM battery your car will explode), but they said it was (but wouldn't agree to pay damages if my car exploded), and it was well over $100. Thank you Battery Mart!!

Thankfully I had gone to the hardware store and got these items, in line with Bob's very clear instructions. Bob has been very, very instrumental in me achieving my happiness, and I thank him profusely:



The last items I need to complete my project. In just a day or so's time, I will have a working automobile, and can drive to work, and avoid the heartbreak of my daily train ride.

Only one thing is missing.



I need a mumu.

X Marks The Spot

Ok, everyone knows I am a smoker. It is no secret. What everyone doesn't know is that I was used to paying less than $5 a pack in Texas. Before the $1 tax increase of 2006 or 2007, I paid about $3.50 a pack. Cigarettes are between $7.50 and $8.00 here. No joke.

AND there is no carton discount. In Texas, you might have paid about $5 a pack, but if you bought a carton, it was only about $38. $3.80 a pack. Here, a carton is $75 - $80.

I have gone everywhere near my house trying to find a discount. Everywhere. No one has them. I popped into this random gas station near the green line, and saw they had their promotional cigarettes right on display, so I decided it was time to stop being a brand snob, and do what I had to do. Smoke other premium brands, and pay less money.

The first experiment led me to Camel Lights, which wasn't a huge difference from Camel Wide Lights. They were on special 2 for 1, which meant only about $4 a pack. Very excited. I went back to this same place to get more several times, but eventually the promotion ended.

It was replaced with a promotion for Parliament lights, 3 packs for $15. Ok, $5 a pack. I can do that. And I did, the promotion never ended, it went on forever, and I stocked up at this same place every time I could.

I went there again for my trusty Parliament lights yesterday, and they were gone. I was devastated. I shamelessly made the clerk go through all his promotional cigarette deals to find one I could live with. They were all menthols, except for this:



That's right, PINK cigarettes. Dumbest thing ever. I think there was some controversy a few years back when these came out, you know, encouraging people to be trendy and smoke by offering pink cigarettes. Dumb. But they weren't Olympic Gold or whatever the unpremium brand offerings were, so I had no choice. Two for one, pink cigarettes.

Did I mention they are pink?

Anyway, so the clerk tells me, "So, what, you're like 17 then?"

"No, I'm 30."

"What?!? I say you must be 17 and you say no, I'm 30. I don't believe it."

"Yes, believe it. I am 30. How much will that be?"

He seems to be taking his time...

"So, how come you look so young then? What keeps you young?"

And I said, "Smoking." He didn't even bat an eye.

Then he started getting personal, "You got any kids?"

"No."

"Me neither, but I got a cat. You got a cat?"

"No. How much will that be?"

I pay the man, he gives me my change.

"When will you have the Parliaments again? Is that deal over?"

"No, they'll be here Thursday. They come every Thursday."

"Ok thanks, have a good night," I say, inching towards the door.

"So, where do you live?"

"Uhh....in Somerville."

"Where in Somerville?"

"Uhh just Somerville, I am new, I don't really know where."

"Oh where are you from?"

"Texas, thanks, have a good night!"

"Oh so you like the cold?"

Jesus Christ!!!

"No, not really. But I am getting used to it."

By this time I finally have gotten close enough to have my hand on the door.

"So, when are you coming back to see me?"

Fuck. I can never, ever, ever go there again. Ever. My discount cigarette haven is now off limits. One small sentence has made a huge dent in my life.

No Dunkin Donuts, no cheap cigarettes, what is left for me in this city?!?

Fine Jewelry, Rare Coins, and The Beantown Pub

I finally got to go where I have always, always wanted to go. The Beantown Pub. See the sign? The flashing lights? It makes me so happy!

The atmosphere was not bad, food not bad, beer selection pretty bad, but I had fun, and will go back. I really like the laid back, not so posh places. This place is not a dive bar by any means, but not quite so polished as most of the places in Beantown.



And this is what I saw when I was outside.



Falling ice? Really? Apparently. That's me in the shadow...yep! A shadow. It was nice and sunny yesterday, a big change. I never realized my bag was so huge. I should look into that.

Also, I finally figured out why Bob is too scared to move here:



And here is Mogs, breathing. You KNOW you miss her breathing noises.