it's never a smooth course

My plan for Monday:

1. Leave work at 5:00.

2. Get home around 6:00.

3. Do a much needed load of laundry.

4. Watch a movie/chill/go to bed early.


My actual Monday:

1. Leave work at 5:00.

2. Decide to stop at the convenience store on way home to get a 2 liter of Sprite Zero, as will probably be thirsty later.

3. Realize after leaving store that keys are not in purse and will be carrying around 2 liter of Sprite Zero for the immediate future.

4. Call friend with spare key to my apartment. Friend is unavailable.

5. Call 2nd friend who lives nearby to hang out until friend #1 gets message. Friend #2 unavailable.

6. Curse self for having been foolish enough to make a plan, then get on bus pulling up.

7. Wait at the station for a blue line train, which is running on a delay due to a broken train somewhere along the line.

8. Return to building 45 minutes later and track down maintenance guy to open office door.

9. Retrieve keys, thanking lucky stars that they're actually there and didn't fall out of purse somewhere, as feared.

10. Deposit 2 liter of Sprite Zero in office fridge as have no interest in carrying around anymore and figure will be thirsty at work on Tuesday.

11. Wait in Boston Common to meet friend #3 for dinner so trip back into town was not total waste.

12. Wander for what seems like hours to find a place to eat, until finally deciding the next place with umbrellas is the place.

13. Both order sangria at recommendation of waitress, to be told afterward that sangria only comes by the pitcher ($24).

14. Split said pitcher between the two of us.

15. Take long, sobering stroll to train station.

16. Make way back home, this time with keys in purse and 1/2 pitcher of sangria in stomach.

17. Realize this all boils down to being the laundry's fault.


Ah well, serves me right for having a plan and thinking it would get followed through on. And at least I was able to avoid eye contact with anyone on my way home. Unlike Saturday night when I decided to stop and buy my monthly pass then so I could avoid the crowds on Monday:

As I was walking away from the machine where you buy your pass (head down, with determination) a woman tapped me on the shoulder and asked in a very thick Russian accent if I could help her and her friend buy just one ride. Despite my aversion to people on the T I like to think I'm not a complete jerk, so I helped out. I turned to walk away again and the same woman tapped me on the shoulder saying, "Wait please. One more favor. My friend from Russia going to Wonderland. Where you going? You can help her?" I say ok (again, not a jerk, and not wanting to leave poor stranded woman in the middle of Government Center) so my new friend latches onto my side and heads down into the train with me. She didn't speak any English, so it was interesting to try and communicate with her that she needed to take the train to the last stop. She got it, and managed to ask me if I went to the same stop. I said no. Then I believe she tried to tell me that it was her first time in Boston and that she was either getting on a plane in 5 days or she got off the plane 5 days ago. That part remains unclear. But she was a very sweet little lady and she thanked me when I got off the train. I hope she managed to get wherever she was going ok (because let me tell you, aside from a really shady night club, there's not much going on at Wonderland Station).

When I told friend #3 about this at dinner yesterday, he said, "you know this sort of thing only happens to you."