Murder on the Fitchburg Express

Creepy things are afoot on the Boston T lately. This past week, three people were killed by a train on three consecutive days.

On Tuesday, a 15 year old boy got hit by a commuter rail train; on Wednesday, another man got hit by a commuter rail train - the one that stops at my station; and on Thursday a woman was hit by the Orange line in Sullivan Square.

Sadly, the man who was killed on Wednesday was actually one of Sarwar's favorite math professors at Clark. We were shocked and saddened to hear the news.

What's going on? Why has the MBTA suddenly become the most dangerous mode of transportation? Perhaps it's the phenomenon of the copy-cat crime coming into play. Sometimes all you need is the media to start buzzing around one kind of freak-accident tragedy, and then everyone else who wants to commit suicide decides that that would be a fantastic way to go.

In general, there has been way too much drama surrounding the T nowadays. A few weeks ago, a Green line train crashed into another one, killing the T driver. Then, there were two subway fires on the Red line in the span of a week, forcing half the stations on the line to shut down - which, along with construction delays, made that line painful to ride on. And just a few days ago, a Green Line operator was fired because a woman reported that she saw him asleep at the wheel of a train.

It's madness. It seems like every day you turn on the TV or go to Boston.com, and there is a new T-related tragedy to deal with. Next thing you know the ferries will start sinking, buses will begin self-combusting, and the Blue line (so far, the only train line to be spared) will come to a screeching halt, too.

When does it end?

Just Because.

The second saddest scene from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

Why this is sad:

- After years of waiting for him and pining for him - the perfect guy - he's finally in love with her.
- He's expressing it in a totally romantic fashion.. there's imaginary, magical music.. dancing.. bodies pressed close together in the rain.. *sigh*.. it's perfect (well.. *I* think it's perfect.. some of you loserly, unromantic types may disagree!)
- But then - BAM! She realizes that she now belongs to somebody else and can't have the love of her life.. because how would the other guy feel? But wait a minute, who cares what he feels? This is what she wants! But, then again, she can't hurt the other guy now, considering he's wanted her so long. So what if being with him is a compromise? But no - its not true love, it never has been! And now true love is knocking on her door and she can't open it! Dammit dammit dammit!

Now if that isn't sad, I don't know what is.

House of Mouse

This past weekend was spent quivering fearfully. Why? Sarwar's house was infested by.... a mouse!

I first saw it scurry into a corner behind the couch when we were playing Scrabble. In truth, I only saw a blur of black but I shrieked myself hoarse. I spent the whole day freaking out and imagining the ugly, disgusting creature showing up in my shoe, or in my bag. I thought I heard squeaking and every flicker of movement (usually my eyelashes fluttering as I blinked) was turned into the shivering of mouse whiskers. I was distraught with fear and goosebumps of disgust. Sarwar said he would get the exterminators in on Monday, but Monday was still 48 spine-tingling hours away.

Then, later that evening I saw it scurry past the island in the kitchen. Twice. Then, it stopped in front of the bedroom door, pausing as if to decide its next course of action (or, in my nightmare, to take a filthy, poisonous death-infested dump). Then, it scuttled off towards the bedrooms. Nightmare? Nope, this was real, baby.

I decided to take action. Having seen it make its way towards the small bedroom, I shut that door. I figured if it was inside, at least it was trapped. There was a gap beneath the door but it didn't look large enough for it to come out through. I also made plans about what I would do to trap it, should I encounter it in an obliging position. I made a mental note to use the kitchen plunger and cage it, since the suction cup would make it impossible for the evil thing to wriggle out.

Many hours later, I decided to take a look into the room. I opened the door... and shrieked again. It was right under the door - and dead. Must've gotten stuck trying to get out, suffocated and died an agonizing death (serves it right!). I brought my trusty plunger and jammed it on top of the corpse and grinned maniacally. In the war between man and rodent, once again, man had emerged victorious.

Mind you, it was only when it was dead that I noticed it was pretty small - about two inches long and an inch thick. The next day I noticed a rat warning outside posted by the Department of Disease and Pest Control, indicating the area had a rat infestation. I concluded it was a rat, but Sarwar still insists it was a mouse. Well whatever it was, it's now flushed down the toilet and rotting in a sewer someplace. Muwahahahaha!

Sarwar has offered to get a mop, a bucket and a bottle of disinfectant to scrub every nook and cranny of the house. I agree vociferously. God knows where the creature might have laid its poop and its eggs (yes I know mice don't lay eggs but still!).

Ugh. The mere thought is still making me shiver with disgust. Bloody rodents! I am going to take a protest out against all mice and rats except for Mickey, Minnie, Jerry, Dangermouse and the Sensei from TMNT.

Hmpft!