Please come to Boston in the Springtime...
So, I've forgotten to mention it but I've gone to Boston (well, Natick - 20 miles west) this week for work. Not sure I'll actually have time to see anything fun, but I might drive into the city tomorrow night for a couple hours. Any suggestions of "Must See" sights? NOTE: The sports arenas don't count in that. No offense.
The flight was fine, but I'd forgotten to install the proper codecs for watching AVIs on my laptop and thus, couldn't watch any of the stuff I'd loaded for just that purpose. To top it off, all my MP3s are on my external drive, which was in my backpack. Partially because it weighs 5 pounds, but mostly because it would probably look like C4 to the airport security. No body cavity searches for me, please!
When I got there, the concourse signs don't say "Rental car buses ->" or anything obvious, so I was a bit confused about where to go for the Hertz lot. No problem, there's a Hertz courtesy phone. After two phone calls and three attempts by them to rent a car to me even though I clearly stated I had a reservation and how do I get to it, I finally hung up and decided to follow the Enterprise bus that drove past the window. Lo and behold, there's a stop just like every other airport but it's labelled "Courtesy rides". That was confusing, because in Dallas, we took the "Courtesy Shuttle" to our connecting flight.
Anyhoo, got to Hertz eventually. The driver had Boston accent that was heavy unto comical, but appropos. Welcome to BAHston!
After I had tried on three cars and finally found one that worked, I hopped in an 08 Mustang just for fun on the way back to the office. They are amazingly good looking cars, but I never thought I'd fit; just wanted to confirm. Shockingly, not only did I fit, but it was very comfortable!
That was kind of worse: it always makes me a little frustrated and sad that my height precludes me from most of the stylish/fast/fun cars in the world even if I could afford them, but now I found out my current favorite one actually fits, but I'll never be able to afford it. Is this how the short people live every day? Agh. Sest la vigh, I guess.
Anywhoo some more, when I went in to tell them that the Pontiac I'd just tried was fine, but they could give me the Mustang if they wanted to. She laughed ironically with me (I'm sure they never hear jokes like that!) and they went in the back for Hertz Magic-TimeR or whatever it is they were doing.
20 minutes later, I could still hear snatches of "No, not like that," and "Wait, that's not the right way." Once in a while, one or the other would pop their head out and give me a sympathetic smile and a "Sorry." It was arranged through our corporate travel service, what could be so confusing?
Well, I don't know what was going on but when she came out, she gave me a different set of keys and said, here you go. I said, "Oh I'm not getting the Pontiac?" and she said "It's the Mustang. Have fun!" and smiled cheerily at me. I was as shocked as anyone to hear it, but my mouth said "Why?" She said "We're sorry about the wait and everything, hope you enjoy your upgrade at no charge."
I don't think the word "Thanks!" got to her from me before I was in that car and gone.
However, I was pretty sure that the guy who checks the paperwork at the exit gate was going to say something like "Oh sir, I'm sorry. This car is way out of your league. You just don't deserve it. Please go back and ask for a Kia or something more suited to you." Then there would have been a fight and tasing and Dateline would be reporting in 6 months about "Standoff at Hertz: Horror from MN" with grim looks and regretful tones, but happily he just waved me through.
So, pretty much here's what I've been driving for 2 days. It's a terribly sweet ride.
After I checked myself into the hotel after 20 minutes on The MassPike to Natick, I decided to test run the route to work. All in all it took about 3 hours. Okay, the route to work is actually only the first 5 minutes, but it's a freakin' Mustang! To use the local jargon, it is wicked AHsome!
Oh, and I still haven't heard from elaby or caitirin about possibly doing something. I'm available Tuesday or Wednesday if you're both well enough to come out to play. No pressure, of course! ;D
The flight was fine, but I'd forgotten to install the proper codecs for watching AVIs on my laptop and thus, couldn't watch any of the stuff I'd loaded for just that purpose. To top it off, all my MP3s are on my external drive, which was in my backpack. Partially because it weighs 5 pounds, but mostly because it would probably look like C4 to the airport security. No body cavity searches for me, please!
When I got there, the concourse signs don't say "Rental car buses ->" or anything obvious, so I was a bit confused about where to go for the Hertz lot. No problem, there's a Hertz courtesy phone. After two phone calls and three attempts by them to rent a car to me even though I clearly stated I had a reservation and how do I get to it, I finally hung up and decided to follow the Enterprise bus that drove past the window. Lo and behold, there's a stop just like every other airport but it's labelled "Courtesy rides". That was confusing, because in Dallas, we took the "Courtesy Shuttle" to our connecting flight.
Anyhoo, got to Hertz eventually. The driver had Boston accent that was heavy unto comical, but appropos. Welcome to BAHston!
After I had tried on three cars and finally found one that worked, I hopped in an 08 Mustang just for fun on the way back to the office. They are amazingly good looking cars, but I never thought I'd fit; just wanted to confirm. Shockingly, not only did I fit, but it was very comfortable!
That was kind of worse: it always makes me a little frustrated and sad that my height precludes me from most of the stylish/fast/fun cars in the world even if I could afford them, but now I found out my current favorite one actually fits, but I'll never be able to afford it. Is this how the short people live every day? Agh. Sest la vigh, I guess.
Anywhoo some more, when I went in to tell them that the Pontiac I'd just tried was fine, but they could give me the Mustang if they wanted to. She laughed ironically with me (I'm sure they never hear jokes like that!) and they went in the back for Hertz Magic-TimeR or whatever it is they were doing.
20 minutes later, I could still hear snatches of "No, not like that," and "Wait, that's not the right way." Once in a while, one or the other would pop their head out and give me a sympathetic smile and a "Sorry." It was arranged through our corporate travel service, what could be so confusing?
Well, I don't know what was going on but when she came out, she gave me a different set of keys and said, here you go. I said, "Oh I'm not getting the Pontiac?" and she said "It's the Mustang. Have fun!" and smiled cheerily at me. I was as shocked as anyone to hear it, but my mouth said "Why?" She said "We're sorry about the wait and everything, hope you enjoy your upgrade at no charge."
I don't think the word "Thanks!" got to her from me before I was in that car and gone.
However, I was pretty sure that the guy who checks the paperwork at the exit gate was going to say something like "Oh sir, I'm sorry. This car is way out of your league. You just don't deserve it. Please go back and ask for a Kia or something more suited to you." Then there would have been a fight and tasing and Dateline would be reporting in 6 months about "Standoff at Hertz: Horror from MN" with grim looks and regretful tones, but happily he just waved me through.
So, pretty much here's what I've been driving for 2 days. It's a terribly sweet ride.
After I checked myself into the hotel after 20 minutes on The MassPike to Natick, I decided to test run the route to work. All in all it took about 3 hours. Okay, the route to work is actually only the first 5 minutes, but it's a freakin' Mustang! To use the local jargon, it is wicked AHsome!
Oh, and I still haven't heard from elaby or caitirin about possibly doing something. I'm available Tuesday or Wednesday if you're both well enough to come out to play. No pressure, of course! ;D