Friday Updates

Today marks the fifth day in a row that I have not received my Boston Herald. I'm not sure if this means that a) I have a Herald bandit living amongst me or b) My delivery guy went MIA this week. Either way, I've placed calls and they've been very nice until the next day....when I don't receive my Herald.

The thing is though, I don't really enjoy the Saturday paper anyhow. The Saturday newspaper is basically the literary equivalent of leftovers. Aside from shiny new car ads there is very little reported. The Sunday Herald is much better because they carry the Ask Carolyn column from the Washington Post. People can write in to Carolyn Hax and ask question like "My boyfriend treats me badly (lists all the ways that he's a jerk) and my friends say I should break up with him. What are your thoughts?". Then she confirms in writing that this guy is a doucebag and the letter writer should move on. Keep it up Carolyn - the world needs more people like you!

The Palm may have been a bust but I forgot to announce my new restaurant crush: Punjab Palace in Allston. My sister Pee Wee and I looove us some Indian food and have been looking for a new restaurant since our Indian place in Quincy Center closed last year. If spicy, ethnic food is your thing, I think you'll agree the Punjab Palace is just about perfect.

I am finally starting to really warm up to my sedan. It's hard to to replace a genuine sports car with a "sporty" sedan but I gotta admit that having all-wheel drive in this crap rainy weather definitely brings a smile to my face. Since it's one of the few cars in this country with an insane amount of after-market part options (think Honda Civic and the 1999-2005.5 VW Jetta), I am anxiously anticipating the installation of smoke tail lights I inherited from another motor enthusiast. After those are installed I'm probably going to get "angel eye" headlights as well. Unfortunately side skirts and a front spoiler doesn't make sense in New England. Just remember folks, when it comes to making pimpy upgrades to your ride you can take the girl outta Stoughton.....

I'm off to Toronto for a few days next week to watch the Jays beat the Yanks and the Sox beat the Jays. I've never been to T.O. but I hear it's basically a smaller version of Chicago with slightly less crime and slightly better shopping. Aside from the hockey of hall of fame (which I will not be going to), anyone got any suggestions on what to do while in Canada's largest city?

I fought town hall (kind of) and won. As most of you car-driving massholes know, each year the town levies an excise tax on each vehicle you own. I had paid mine in full back in March but got hit with another bill this week for the sedan I bought in May. I went down to town hall yesterday to pay the bill and asked if I was entitled to any sort of a refund from my March bill. It turns out I am and the "check is in the mail" so to speak. However, in order to get your refund you have to go down to the town disbursement office and actually ask for it in person. Good to know, folks, good to know....

Rumor has it that the Publick House in Washington Square is finally expanding. I was hanging out there last night with my favorite Jets fan and was surprised (as I generally am) at how packed this place is all the time. The Publick House only has one tiny TV tucked away behind the bar and they serve obscure European micro-brews that will have you reminiscing about that semester you spent in a tiny Bavarian village. Drinking there is a completely civilized experience - hooray for the anticipated upgrade!

Stop. raining.