Odometer Rollover

Yes, I'm an old curmudgeon.

So yesterday I trotted into downtown Boston to do some shopping and generally enjoy the city. I took the train down to Government Center and had lunch at Quincy Market, one of the truly great food courts I've ever seen. Pizzeria Regina of the North End has terrific pizza, and although sadly the fried dough stand closed up shop a few years ago, but there's a decent pretzel shop there now.

I did a little shopping in the nearby Faneuil Hall Marketplace and picked up a nice photo of Red Sox slugger Ted Williams hitting a deep one on opening day of the 1947 season, as well as a Sox bumper sticker for my car. Then I headed out on my perambulations.

I walked over to Boston Common, stopping on the way to look in a couple of historic graveyards along the way that largely date from the 1700s, including many early mayors of Boston. (These yards are on the Freedom Trail in case you ever visit and want to see some tremendously old gravestones.) In the Common itself, of course, they were setting up for Boston's First Night celebration. They always have some lovely ice sculptures, and they had a big one this year, of Father Time ushering in the new year. (New century? New millennium? I generally refuse to get into the debate as to whether it is or not - hence today's entry's title. As a compromise, might I suggest we celebrate the new millennium at the end of the day on July 1 of this year?)

Walking through the Public Garden I saw people walking and skating on the ice of the famous duck pond. (Ever read the children's book Make Way for Ducklings? Well, that's where it occurs, as I recall.) Then I headed down Newbury Street, a major shopping district in Boston, although it's gotten considerably yuppified and does not appeal to me very much overall, although I always stop in the excellent book store Avenue Victor Hugo when I'm in town. But after Christmas I'm not in the market for many books, so I didn't find anything.

Finally, I went into Kenmore Square where I stopped at Comicopia, a comic book store which is heading in the direction of primarily stocking new comics and paperbacks and hardcovers, and few back issues. I found a few things I hadn't known were out, and chatted with Matt, the owner (no relation to the Matt I went to high school with), who worked at New England Comics way back when I was in high school, which was at the time my regular comics store. Sounds like he's got a definite strategy for wading through the comics industry's hard times.

Matt also told me that Boston University has bought a big section of buildings on the south side of Kenmore Square and kicked out the tenants (including some long-time businesses) as their leases ran out. They plan to knock down the buildings and build a big condo/apartment/hotel complex. Mom says that BU is not a particularly good neighbor these days. Boy, and Palo Alto residents get upset at Stanford's neighborly behavior out in California! That's nothing!

It was a long walk in 25 degree (or so) weather, but it was good to get out and hike around for a while.

With Godiva truffles we rang in the new year relatively quietly. I've been to a few New Year's parties in the past and have generally found them to be a little bittersweet - although, I admit, for a variety of peculiar reasons which probably shouldn't be an indictment of the parties themselves or the season. But, a quiet new year with my family just generally seems to work out better.

So, happy new year to all of you. Wonder what it will bring?