Your Weekly Antics the Rat Walk Edition...7-26-24

Well kids, I decided to take a few days off to promote self-care. But let me ask you this, is there really any break from doing the work of the people? No, no there is not. If anything, it’s like everyone out there struggling who happens to be having an issue, tends to find us. Here’s what I’ve got…

1. Retirement plan option # 3, Self check in’s. In today’s world, no one goes to a medical appointment and checks in when they get there. We all get a link on our phone’s or our emails to complete the pre check in process prior to arriving for the appointment. I’ll admit, half the time I fail to get this process done and to avoid being scowled at upon arriving at any medical appt without prior check in, I tend to complete this process while sitting at the red lights on my way to said appointment. (shut it Angel, and Tyler, I don’t wanna hear it…) This goes for arriving to get blood work done at any Quest lab and having to use the Kiosk. Doesn’t matter which one I go to or who I’m with, we always arrive and find some person, average age at least 80, struggling to complete this process or who will explain to us as we sit down that the staff there must be running late, because the poor person has been sitting there for an hour. I’ll ask, did you use the kiosk to check in? They’ll tell me no, and off me and this stranger go to the kiosk to check them in. Here are some of my concerns about this. 1., these people don’t know who the hell I am, yet hand over all their personal information, usually their entire wallet, for me to get their info into the computer for them, and 2., was anyone who worked there going to notice some 80 year old guy had been sitting there all morning just hanging out, and ask him if he was all set? Probably not. 3., this could be the solution for people is search of cooling centers during the excessive heat in our cities. Go hang out at a local Quest, no one there is going to notice. You can sit there all day watching t.v, and keeping yourself cool. 4., If I don’t show up to work someday, maybe I’ve taken it upon myself to become the kiosk check-in person and I’ve set up a booth for myself at any local Quest.

2. Found ourselves in Boston a few times this week, driving about and perusing places like Fenway and Boston University. With nothing else to do and finding it entertaining to completely submerge ourselves in Boston traffic, we took the long way back and ended up driving through Harvard Square. Like many areas in our fine state, Harvard Square did not disappoint. Again, sitting at a red light we glance over and see what we thought was the victim of a pigeon attack. But alas no, this young woman was sitting amongst the pigeons feeding them who knows what, as they swarmed her like a bunch of honey bees to a hive. She sat there in shorts and a tshirt on a stone wall, happy as a clam, one with the birds. My thoughts on this…for crying out loud lady, you’re going to get some rare pigeon type disease because those are not homing pigeons, but are in fact, hood pigeons. And, it was 90 something humid degrees out, which tells me that this lady was happily and willingly tarring and feathering herself with nasty hood pigeon feathers. Talk about the heebie jeebies. Exhibit 1, my worst nightmare, swarms of birds.

3. Also while in Boston this week, we tried to hit up Beet, but being the world traveler that she is, she was in another state. I tried to kick the girls out for a photo op in front of her building, but after getting hung up in traffic and driving around in circles a dozen times, they were done with me and were having no part of that foolishness. Driving around recklessly in the streets of Boston is no fun to them, and they would not participate in my shenanigans. Next time Beet. Exhibit 2, was this photo taken outside of Beet's place, or not? She'll never know...

4. Top Golf. Top Golf was the place the youngest Kap kid decided we’d celebrate her birthday. What I’ll tell you about Top Golf is this…it was a great time had by all and I’ll definitely go back…and I don’t even golf. Despite all the warnings given by the staff there upon introduction to the set up, the yellow and red caution lines letting you know you’re getting to close to the edge, I decided Meri’s Birthday was not the day to start swinging a golf club. I had visions of being that person who didn’t know her own strength being the superior athlete that I am, and falling off the ledge, right into the net. Laugh it up kids, but you know I speak the truth. Exhibit 3, Birthday kid

5. Potential retirement plan #4 was concocted during my time at Top Golf people, check out Exhibit 4, what I’d like to call the golf ball picker upper Zamboni thing. This is what I want to do in retirement. I would sit in that thing all day long sipping my iced coffee, picking up golf balls and egging on those hitting them to try to peg me. Tell me this wouldn’t be a good time?

6. Here's another fun fact about Canton MA where Top Golf is located. Not only is it home to Top Golf and Trillium Beer, but I saw for the first time ever, a traffic calming circle as soon as we exited the highway to continue our travels to said destination. I'm not going to lie to you...just reading that lovely, decorated wood cut sign in green and gold, made me a little calmer. Kelley square is beyond help, but the death trap that is Newton Square may benefit from one of these delightful signs. Thank you, town of Canton. Exhibit 5, the calming circle

7.Looking for fun things to do in Boston and the surrounding towns in the next few weeks? How about a rat tour? Found on a lamp post while waiting to cross the street, this caught my eye...makes me want to take a ride back out in the next few weeks to participate. The way things are going, we may need this initiative in the Woo sooner than later. Taking a stand of can’t beat em, join em, the city of Boston has even named a summer arts festival after these pesky rodents. Exhibit 6, The Rat Walk. In the event you'd like more info on rat related events in Boston for yourself, or are asked by out of towners what there is to do in Boston, here's a link...

 Search Results | Boston.gov

8. I’m going to start my own tour and will call it Hoarders of the Woo. Stay tuned for the t-shirts.

 9. It seems redundant to make the statement, I can’t make this stuff up, but I can’t, so I’m saying it anyway…I was the lucky recipient of the best report ever this week kids, so don’t be jealous. This guy likes to climb trees, in his underwear, while drinking, swearing at the neighbors, while yielding a chain saw to cut down said trees he’s climbing. And let’s not forget, he likes to take in the local ladies of the night to watch this all play out. Have I gone to see this guy yet? No I haven’t. I’m saving this one so I can start my next work week off with a bang. Gotta save the best reports for last. I will tell you this though…if this guy is wearing tighty whitey’s while hanging from trees, I’m outta there mic drop style.

10. Bar Taco is one of our favorite restaurants in and around the Boston area, we hit them up this week for the youngest Kap kids birthday dinner. Casey made a huge discovery at this week’s visit…if your palette isn’t on board with some of the spicy flavors Bar Taco brings, you can order non spicey kid friendly items right off the kids menu...and, you don’t have to have a kid with you. We threw Casey under the bus and let her place her order first, to find out if she’d be shunned. After successfully receiving her kid menu meal, I took suit and did the same. We may never be able to go back to the regular adult Bar Taco menu again. Exhibit 7, Kids menu items.

And last but not least…we’re always looking for the strange and unusual out there people…if you run across anything good, send it our way!

Have a great weekend!