March 4th, 2011

Brigham and Women's
Boston, MA

Every few weeks I visit the Brigham to pick up samples. Usually I take the train in, rather than opting for the shuttle. But the shuttles returns me safe and sound to work when its over. This is the view from the shuttle stop - a walkway linking buildings, outdated architecture towering above more recent renovations.

I always indulge at Au Bon Pain on these occasions. I grab some coffee and a pastry or oatmeal. I lean towards the oatmeal now that they have begun labeling pastries with calorie counts. There is only one item below 300 calories, just barely. The majority are between 450-800 calories per baked good. It's terrifying and guilt-inducing. Given that the ABP is in the hospital lobby itself, I'm rather grateful that someone finally demanded they disclose the truth of the massively unhealthy pastries being hawked to guests and workers. I rather suspect that business is down on those items too. The spinach and cheese croissant is the healthier pastry at 290 calories - however, I still cringe to imagine how much of that comes from fat.

February 2nd, 2011

Maverick Square Mural
East Boston, MA

I was waiting for my bus in Maverick Square, when I looked up to notice this mural overlooking the streets. As I tried to find a decent angle, an older gentleman started chatting with me. He introduced himself by way of explaining that he has a copy of that mural, which was actually painted from a turn-of-the-century postcard.

It turns out that he was an East Boston native, up visiting his daughter from Florida with his wife. He explained that there is an entire set of East Boston postcards from that era, which can often be found at local fleamarkets. He gave me some tips on where to find fleamarkets, and chatted a bit more about how the face of the square had changed over the years. He and his wife took off on the 116 bus a few minutes later and I was left wondering how hard it would be to locate one of these postcards when fleamarket attendees hardly have business pages documenting the goods they have for sale.

February 1st, 2011

Never ending snow
East Boston, MA

It's very difficult for me to snap photos on week days. The fact is, I'm usually in such a rush to get to work in the morning, that any am photography will have to take place between my kitchen and the train station. I am a creature of habit who takes nearly the same route each day, so I am not offered a variety of brilliant photographic moments.

Then I labor indoors at work all day. When I emerge, it is dark! I am again confined to photographing things at the gym, the supermarket or on my dark commute. Also a bit limited.

So this leaves me with photographs like this one, where I just demonstrate on how tedious all this snow is getting to be with a general, poorly lit image of the freshly cleared sidewalk. This will not be the last, I'm sure.

January 28th, 2011

Court Square
Boston, MA
January 28th, 2011

Heading through the deserted poorly lit streets by the Old City Hall after work.