Plano, TX

After a fairly long hiatus, the blog is back in action because I am back on the road. I will be in Plano, Texas for about a month. Plano begins with a clean slate, 0 points.

Stay tuned...

Boston, MA = +45 pts

It turns out that I'll be working from home this week, so my time in Boston is over... for now.

The points have been tallied, and Boston comes in at a presumably respectable +45 pts. But the points are arbitrary and there aren't any other cities to compare to so who really knows? It sounds respectable at least.

Highlights of the trip include some guy named Mafioni, a bagpipe parade, and the Freedom Trail.

Until next time Boston.

Cheers (+8 pts)

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Luckily, taking a break from all your worries sure can help a lot.

Last night we took a break from all our worries and ate at a "Cheers" replica bar. The set of the show was modeled after the Bull & Finch Pub which is in the Beacon Hill area of Boston. Unfortunately, there is no "Frasier" bar that spun off so we were not able to eat there. But the food was good.

Also, Ted Danson is a stud.

Cumulative Score:
Boston, MA = +45 pts

Mafio? (+4 pts)

I ordered some lunch at Au Bon Pain (The Good Bread as I call it) and the nice lady taking my order asked for my name. I, as you might have expected, said, "Matthew". As you may not have expected, she wrote down "Mafio". Life throws you curveballs some times. Make lemonade. (I had a Coke)

I guess if you say "Matthew" in a really funny accent it could sound like "Mafio" (I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt here Good Bread order-taker lady). More importantly, it is extremely close to "Mafioni" which is one of my favorite names of all time ever, so I was pretty excited.

Cumulative Score:
Boston, MA = +37 pts

Freedom Trail (+43 pts)

I had the morning off today, so I decided to do a little sight-seeing around Boston. In deference to the city's history, I felt that it would be appropriate to follow what is called "Freedom Trail", which is a path that takes visitors past some of the most important sites involved in the American Revolution and our country's founding. Places like Granary Burying Ground (where Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere are buried), the site of the Boston Massacre, the Old North Church (where Paul Revere hung two lanterns to warn of an impending British attack), and the Bunker Hill Monument.

I only got about halfway through the trail before lunch, because I have to read every single informational plaque that I come across in its entirety. My mildly OCD-esque tendencies make for slow going, but I do learn quite a bit and the history of the city is extremely fascinating. I'm going to attempt to finish off the rest of the trail this evening, but what I've seen so far has already made my time in Boston well worth it.

Cumulative Score:

Boston, MA = +33 pts

Grown man in a "Textually Active" shirt (-17 pts)

That's really all I need to say, but I'll add that there was also an emoticon smiley face on the shirt.

Cumulative Score:
Boston, MA = -10 pts

Bagpipe parade (+6 pts)

I was sitting in the office this morning when I heard the distant strains of a bagpipe, which it turns out is a much more soothing sound than the nearby strains of a bagpipe. I made my way to the window and saw that a group of about 30 bagpipe players (bagpipers?) was marching down the street, followed shortly by a drum line. I don't know what the parade was for, but I can only assume, as I do with all parades, that it was in my honor.

Cumulative Score:
Boston, MA = +7 pts