JimJ wrote: Â << I grew up outside of Boston...didn't pick up the accent, though. Go Sox >>
And you went public with that at VT? Â
 I mentioned to a friend who's a big Hokie fan (is there any other kind?) by marriage that my daughter would be at BC. My friend acted like I had said something socially inappropriate. I got the distinct impression that after BC rained on the Hokies' football parade in Lane Stadium, they're considered the enemy at Tech. (From what I read, BC is not considered a football threat this year.)
One thing different that I noticed about Boston is that there's no longer a huge amount of dog poop on the sidewalks or in the street. When I lived there, it was necessary to keep eyes down constantly and dance down the sidewalk. Think the city might have passed a dog ordinance that's actually being enforced? Otherwise, Alston/Brighton smells the same in late August as it did then. (Trash becomes really ripe from being on the curb several days.) Also, there's the sidewalk bazaar just before the universal lease turnover September 1. All the exiting students abandon unwanted furniture on the sidewalks, and incoming students (and thrifty locals) scavenge it. (My first year there, I found a solid maple apron-leaf dining table on the trash pile, refinished it, and used it proudly for a long time until I had to get rid of it a few years ago pursuant to a unilaterally-mandated furniture upgrade.) Mother had never seen anything like the disorder of lease-turnover week, and had a hard time dealing with the appearance of both the apartment and the street outside.
I went to grad school at BU (BC's arch-rival during hockey season, for benefit of members not familiar with the local culture). Daughter is living in the Allston/Brighton student ghetto, < 1/2 mile from where I used to live. Harvard Street north of Commonwealth Avenue hasn't changed in decades. South of Commonwealth in , it appears to be much more gentrified.
I really like Boston, but it's definitely an acquired taste, especially the drivers. We convoyed two cars on the trip; Mother, who drove car #2, was in shock at the end of the day. Daughter said there's no way she wants a car while she's there. I hadn't driven there in years, and it was an experience for me, too. IMO, Boston drivers win the prize for worst I've ever seen in the US. I moved from Germany (in the Army) directly to Boston. My impression at the time was that Boston drivers were as fast and aggressive as German drivers, but lacked both the skill (from very extensive & expensive driver training & examination) and concern for their own vehicles that German drivers have. About 20 years ago I read a nationally syndicated news article in a US newspaper with the title, "Even the Cops Drive Crazy in Boston." it contained a hilarious article about a two-car demolition derby in the former Foxboro Stadium (can't remember its present name) between a man and a woman after a Pats football game. The woman reportedly won by hooking her rear bumper inside the forward edge of the man's rear wheel well, hitting the gas hard, ripping sheet metal all the way to the front wheel well, then driving away triumphantly.
J_Hirst wrote: << check out Twin Valley Riders (
www.twinvalleyriders.com ) >>
I did, and I tried to register for the forum. Sorry for my ignorance, but does anyone know what's a VIP Code (required to register)? Joining TVR isn't required, but this code is. (I've sent an email to the site administrator, asking for advice.)
