Dear Brett Favre,

Thank you for finally retiring. Now please go as far away as possible.

Thanks!
Angela

After ten years, three alone on this particular case, my boyfriend is finally, FINALLY off of probation! What a glorious day! No more biweekly visits to Salem District Court (or Boston Municipal, or Malden District, or Lynn District… dating a “bad boy” can be a chore sometimes), no more court dates, no more piss tests, no more knotted stomachs… yep, today is a good day.

I asked my boyfriend last week what one says to his or her probation officer on their last day. It’s sort of awkward, if you think about it. This person is literally in charge of your life for however many years and then, all of a sudden, they’re out of your life (hopefully) forever.

To say goodbye, my boyfriend got his probation officer a musical card that plays The Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited” when you open it. Mr. Probation Officer tried to play it off as nothing, saying for a minute he thought it was a bomb, but I know, in private, he laughed his ass off.

Hi, website! I missed you!

I’ve been preoccupied with my amazing new job that I almost forgot this was still here! Almost.

And I just realized I have never discussed my new job! Oh, and when I say it’s awesome, I mean it! I’m working as an administrative assistant at a hybrid biotech/pharma/non-profit/academic institution. I’ve never felt so lucky to be employed before. I’m working for literal geniuses, people so amazing and influential, it blows my mind. Sometimes I get starstruck in the elevator. And even though these people could easily get away with calling you stupid because in their realm, you are, they never do. That’s a breath of fresh air.

Incredible things are being discovered in there and although I’m not making scientific breakthroughs, I know that I am indirectly playing some part in these things and that makes my mostly clerical position feel rewarding.

It’s a lot different than when I started working at the newspaper. I went in thinking, “Wow, we can make a difference here!” I would assume many kids fresh out of J school would feel that way. That QUICKLY dissolved when I realized most of the newspaper industry is all about profits and advertising revenue. They’d intentionally fail to report on huge stories if it meant losing a couple hundred bucks in advertising. They’d blow up minor stories if it meant defaming a non-advertiser. It was soulless, uninspiring work.

Now, I work in a place that really does make a difference.

AND BEST OF ALL… my boss is AWESOME! She’s the POLAR OPPOSITE of Mean Boss! She’s such an amazing person and I want to work hard to make her happy! I’m so lucky, it’s almost scary!

Let’s run this down: I’m making more money, I’m happier, I get benefits like lunch breaks and overtime, I have co-workers, my boss doesn’t call me stupid, the bathroom floor isn’t covered in piss (yeah)…

If all the suffering I endured at the paper meant that I earned my position at this amazing place, I’d do it all over again. I now look like one of those freaky weirdos that walks around with a smile on his/her face. You know those people, you look at them and think, “what are they so fucking happy about?!” Yep, that’s me!

On the downside, without a job to endlessly complain about, it’s a lot harder find something to write about. I think I’ll deal.

I am slightly too young to truly remember Walter Cronkite as he was semi-retired by the time I was old enough to watch TV. But, I will vividly remember his narration of my favorite Disney World ride, Spaceship Earth.

Rest in peace, Walter.

I have discovered the awesomeness that is Cambridge’s EZ Ride. Why did it take me nearly five weeks to discover this gem?! Best of all, it allows me to avoid my most dreaded stop along the MBTA – Downtown Crossing. Wait, wait, wait. Actually, the best part is that I don’t have to pay for it thanks to my totally awesome job. THAT’s the best part.

Yesterday, I affixed my “EZ Ride” sticker to my ID and thought I’d give it a whirl. 15 Minutes later, I was at North Station, bypassing a train switchover, 20 minutes of waiting in a station that smells like a dirty public bathroom, and three stops that would force me to be smooshed like a sardine in a steamy Orange Line car. It’s also good to know that the Red Line was delayed like a mofo yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday’s adventure was so successful, I’m going to attempt the outbound line this morning.

*This counts as a blog post, right?