Stolen pumpkin

Being a festive fella, I had a pumpkin on display on the front steps...until someone stole it. So my festive fall cabbages aren't worth stealing, too? Of course this means I get to buy a new one, which I'll carve up and illuminate for the Halloween treaters.

I haven't turned on my heat, yet.

It's that time of the year to stare the thermostat down with a mean grimace as one refuses to turn on the heat. See, in my mind, once it's on, then I know it's on until May. This means the vintage steam heat system in my drafty apartment will then make my entire body itch for the next 6 months, inducing what we'll call body lotion/humidifier season. I'm not a native up here, and I wonder if even those native, hardy New Englanders have a secret to the misery, or do we all suffer the same? (Maybe this is why they all have grandparents now living in Florida.)

And it does not help that my oil tank is near empty, so turning the heat on means that expense despite a blow to my own ego. And to make matters worse I'm driving up my electric bill using a small box heater to break the cold until I call up the folks at my oil supplier (who are all very nice and prompt, btw).

ADORE-chester!

Here is the Local Spice Top 5 things about Dorchester! I love this neighborhood! From the commute, the location, and yes, the atmosphere, the people, etc. It's a real neighborhood, and I feel very comfortable here, and I'm glad to share a brief list of 5 things I find interesting about my home.


My #1 best thing to say about Dorchester is that it's quite possibly the biggest melting pot of neighborhoods out of all areas in Boston. Despite what some may say or think, I consider Dorchester to be the real Boston, as it's where real Bostonians live, and it's quite the more authentic neighborhood than others. Not to throw dirt on anyone else, but I think Dorchester rocks because it's not like other 'hoods in Boston. From the Polish Triangle to Lower Mills, and all areas between, it's a mish-mash of different people all in this (neighborhood) together.












Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line





Clap Pear at Edward Everett Square

Click the link, there's a story behind it, plus it's a big huge pear in the middle of town. Thanks to partner-in-crime Tinkering with Urban Mechanics for the awesome pic.


McKenna's Cafe


It's the best breakfast/brunch place around. The staff rock the place, the coffee is always on, and the food is tasty. Prepare to wait in line on the weekend.


Malibu Beach

Don't let the name fool you, this is not exactly Dorchester meets Bay Watch, but it's still a great place. I love walking to the beach from my apartment, even if I get to listen to the symphony that is I-93 at the same time.

Check out these fellow Dorchester bloggers:


The Dottie Hottie http://www.dottiehottie.com
The Dot Matrix http://whaleheadking.blogspot.com
Dot Boston http://www.adampieniazek.com
The Dorchester Think Tank http://www.dorchesterthinktank.blogspot.com
Lower Dot http://www.lowerdot.com
Social Butterfly Experiment http://sbexperiment.wordpress.com
dotmass http://dotmass.blogspot.com
Greening of Dorchester http://greendorchester.blogspot.com

So, I live in a less desireable nabe, uh?

One commenter on one local Boston real estate blog exhibits the typical class-oriented attitude found here in Boston. Despite living in a "less desireable nabe," I will likely not move to the South End or Back Bay because I frankly have to no use to live near a Fire & Ice, the Nike Store, Urban Outfitters, Cheesecake Factory, or people like him. My neighborhood is great: pretty simple, established, relatively quiet, convenient for work and play, very neighborly, plus I can afford it. I'm not saying I won't ever move, either within Boston or away from here, but I like to think any 'hood I land in won't have any these guys.

Urban Mechanics

Check out Tinkering with Urban Mechanics, a new Boston-based blog any Hubber and fan from away may find interesting for local updates, news, and pictures.

Pot roast, please!

I just want to vent and state that I have found finding either a beef or pork roast for sale (not on sale, but for sale, at any price) increasingly difficult. A few weeks ago I was at a local Shaw's Supermarket, and there was nothing to cook besides chicken and steak. Even today, I went to Whole Foods and the choices were pathetic. So today I found one at Savenor's in Beacon Hill (went there on a whim, the weather was nice), and promptly took it home where it was seasoned, stuffed with garlic and crushed red pepper, braised, smothered with onions, and left to cook on very low heat until fabulously tender.

And the Patriots beat Buffalo!

MBTA Grammar Gestapo strikes again!