Clara Raubertas // Freelance Web Design, Web Development, and Web Consulting // Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts clara raubertas design. development. consulting.

After a meeting a couple weekends ago I found myself too tired to do much EXCEPT ride the T, so I hopped on the Orange Line and rode all the way out to the end. Sitting on the mostly-empty train, watching the city shade into suburbs and nursing the remains of a small hangover, was remarkably relaxing — an almost meditation-like escape from work and daily life.

I got off at Oak Grove and walked around, but the most exciting thing I could find within a few blocks of the T was a laundromat (I should have done some preparatory research!). I also wanted to find a bathroom, so I decided to search at the next T stop — Malden — where, much to my delight, there was a bathroom INSIDE THE STATION!! More and more T stops have this feature now — this is an awesome public service. Keep it up, MBTA!

Walking around Malden was a little more exciting than walking around Oak Grove, but by that point I wanted to transition back into getting some work done, so I didn’t spend much time there. I also declined to take the opportunity to visit Wellington, which is now the only stop on the northern branch of the Orange Line I haven’t been to yet — I’ll probably regret not going on this trip, since from the train it looks like Wellington is even more nothing-more-than-a-parking-lot than Oak Grove. Maybe some preliminary research will help me discover the secret exciting parts of the northern Orange Line?

The next day, I went with a couple folks to the historic Adams houses, adjacent to the Quincy Center T stop. For most of my childhood — well, actually, probably until as recently as a year or two ago — a guided tour of a historical person’s home seemed like the Most Boring Thing Possible. But when a friend proposed this trip, I looked forward to it all week. Maybe it’s my somewhat newfound interest in politics, or just a broadening of my interests as I get older? In any case, I enjoyed learning about the Adams family and seeing their homes — plus checking out historic Quincy!

Help! I’ve become totally addicted to pointless, trivial political coverage!

I thought it was bad during the primaries, but now that it’s convention season things have definitely gotten out of hand. It’s not even like I’m taking in new, useful information or perspectives — I’m just spending all day rereading different versions of the same irrelevant talking points. But it’s all so fascinating! There’s choice-based rhetoric from avowedly anti-choice candidates; there’s a well-delivered acceptance speech peppered with grade-school-esque put-downs and not exactly true statements; there’s flip-flopping and hypocrisy!

Palin’s speech last night seemed to indicate a focus on energizing the base rather than on drawing in independents (which either ticket needs to do to win), so as a Democrat I’m a little bit relieved. It seems to be the VP nominee’s role to give more partisan speeches, though, while the presidential candidate claims to have plans that transcend party lines — it will be interesting to see McCain’s response to Obama’s effective combination of inspiring rhetoric and specific policy proposals.

Hopefully I’ll be able to keep my mind on something other than the election for at least five minutes between now and November, but for the moment, I’m gearing up for tonight — drink when you hear “maverick”!