Ahh, Boston... Uh Oh, A Televised Rant?
Nov. 2nd, 2004 11:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrdreamjeansI love Boston. I love being here. I love the wonderful aura of the city. I like the bustling streets, the seventeen theatres, the Boston Common (1634), the sense of history in this cradle of liberty. I worship the original Filene’s Basement and the opportunity for bargain-hunting:) I relish the political awareness of the citizens. I welcome the chance to be here when John Kerry wins the race for president.
Our bus from Waterbury arrived 30 minutes early on Sunday. We checked in to the landmark Boston Park Plaza Hotel, though some of our group had to wait for rooms to be cleaned and available. The rooms are small, but tastefully appointed. It’s funny, the Holiday Inn Express in Waterbury offered more convenience and amenities such as free breakfast, free high-speed internet and king size beds, but staying at the Park Plaza is all about location, location, location. I love the location.
When we arrived, the bells of the nearby Unitarian Church were ringing; oddly enough, the tune was “When I Fall in Love.” Now there’s a church with a romantic soul:)! An hour after check-in, my fellow castmates Gia and Candy and I made our way to Filene’s Basement. We spent 2 1/2 hours in the store and then had a lovely dinner at PF Changs. (I could almost do vegetarian if all meals were as tasty as their vegetable/tofu lettuce wraps.) I showed the ladies where the Colonial Theatre is located and we stopped for a photo-op in front of an “Evita” marquee poster that says in big letters, “Entire Production Supervised by Harold Prince”. Yay!
After we returned from dinner, I walked a mile past Copely Square, the Berklee School of Music and other sights, remembering adventures as I strolled past the Fens, catching a glimpse of Fenway Park and reaching the Boston Ramrod, a leather bar about 10pm. I was there till midnight visiting with our wardrobe supervisor, Tony, and his assistant Nick who had preceded me to the night spot. A crowd never materialized. It was Halloween, slim pickings and no party to be found. The only attention I got was from a young bartender who insisted I come over and meet him. It was then I noticed his tattooed skull....
I spent most of Monday in my room catching up on paperwork and phone calls, but did stroll Boston Common in order to take more Autumn pictures and I ran a couple of errands. To my chagrin, my tendency to step up onto a political soap box, may have bitten me in the butt:) I stopped at Copely Square at the site of the Boston Public Library where they are constructing a platform for a Kerry victory (at least I hope so:) Several earnest volunteers were handing out flyers, so I asked three of them holding placards to pose for a picture. They obliged. Composition of the photo, viewed through the lens, felt like the staging for "A New Argentina", the final number of Act One of "Evita":) Placards, held by determined workers, posed in front of other partisan symbols....
As I was taking the picture, I struck up a conversation with an articulate, friendly young woman. I identified myself as a Texan who had already voted for Kerry and as an actor in town with “Evita”, a political musical. She ws really interesting to talk to; she had a lot to say and I was enjoying myself, the banter back and forth.
I did quite a bit of Bush-bashing (in a mostly humourous way), not realizing that our conversation was being filmed and recorded. It took a couple of minutes to dawn on me that the nearby camera was not pointed at the church behind me, but at me. I still blush at my comment that Bush could not have passed a pilot’s physical in the 1970s because he (allegedly:) had too much cocaine in his system, but I was on a roll...Before I get bashed from those who disagree with me politically, I know...I know... I should keep my opinions to myself:) Remember, I thought I was talking off-the-record.
As I came up for air, ready to make yet another vigorous point in our animated conversation, the logo on the van behind the young woman suddenly came into focus. It said CBS News. Oh dear, I thought... I hope I’m not a Dixie Chicks moment waiting to happen. I was speaking privately, or at least I thought so. I’m just weary of folks in other parts of the country not understanding that a lot of good patriotic Texans understand that we pawned a lousy governor off on the whole country... It’s not our fault that he was promoted upward to make hands-down the worst president in history. He wasn’t elected, but selected. We can thank the courts and cronyism for that.
I don’t know if anything I said will be aired, but I do know... just like the Dixie Chicks, I’m not anti-American, I’m just anti-Bush... and there are many Texans just like me. So my day may have gone from AH.... to Uh, Oh...., but it’s my story and I’m stickin to it!
This is Tuesday, Election Day, and I just came back from a breakfast in the historic Bay Village which is tucked in the shadows of skyscrapers. A narrow street lined with maple trees, charming brick homes with shutters, white green or black, uneven red-brick sidewalks, ... you get the picture... As I ate in a neighborhood cafe with just three small tables, I was heartened to hear a woman say that she went to vote at 6:45am and it took two hours as the lines were so long. I may not get the results I want in the presidential race, but I am thrilled that people are taking part in the election process.
One final thought - "Freedom of the mind leads to all other freedoms." This quotation is on a plaque in front of Arlington Church right off Boston Common. It is an inclusive Unitarian Church. I believe this message with all my heart!
Our bus from Waterbury arrived 30 minutes early on Sunday. We checked in to the landmark Boston Park Plaza Hotel, though some of our group had to wait for rooms to be cleaned and available. The rooms are small, but tastefully appointed. It’s funny, the Holiday Inn Express in Waterbury offered more convenience and amenities such as free breakfast, free high-speed internet and king size beds, but staying at the Park Plaza is all about location, location, location. I love the location.
When we arrived, the bells of the nearby Unitarian Church were ringing; oddly enough, the tune was “When I Fall in Love.” Now there’s a church with a romantic soul:)! An hour after check-in, my fellow castmates Gia and Candy and I made our way to Filene’s Basement. We spent 2 1/2 hours in the store and then had a lovely dinner at PF Changs. (I could almost do vegetarian if all meals were as tasty as their vegetable/tofu lettuce wraps.) I showed the ladies where the Colonial Theatre is located and we stopped for a photo-op in front of an “Evita” marquee poster that says in big letters, “Entire Production Supervised by Harold Prince”. Yay!
After we returned from dinner, I walked a mile past Copely Square, the Berklee School of Music and other sights, remembering adventures as I strolled past the Fens, catching a glimpse of Fenway Park and reaching the Boston Ramrod, a leather bar about 10pm. I was there till midnight visiting with our wardrobe supervisor, Tony, and his assistant Nick who had preceded me to the night spot. A crowd never materialized. It was Halloween, slim pickings and no party to be found. The only attention I got was from a young bartender who insisted I come over and meet him. It was then I noticed his tattooed skull....
I spent most of Monday in my room catching up on paperwork and phone calls, but did stroll Boston Common in order to take more Autumn pictures and I ran a couple of errands. To my chagrin, my tendency to step up onto a political soap box, may have bitten me in the butt:) I stopped at Copely Square at the site of the Boston Public Library where they are constructing a platform for a Kerry victory (at least I hope so:) Several earnest volunteers were handing out flyers, so I asked three of them holding placards to pose for a picture. They obliged. Composition of the photo, viewed through the lens, felt like the staging for "A New Argentina", the final number of Act One of "Evita":) Placards, held by determined workers, posed in front of other partisan symbols....
As I was taking the picture, I struck up a conversation with an articulate, friendly young woman. I identified myself as a Texan who had already voted for Kerry and as an actor in town with “Evita”, a political musical. She ws really interesting to talk to; she had a lot to say and I was enjoying myself, the banter back and forth.
I did quite a bit of Bush-bashing (in a mostly humourous way), not realizing that our conversation was being filmed and recorded. It took a couple of minutes to dawn on me that the nearby camera was not pointed at the church behind me, but at me. I still blush at my comment that Bush could not have passed a pilot’s physical in the 1970s because he (allegedly:) had too much cocaine in his system, but I was on a roll...Before I get bashed from those who disagree with me politically, I know...I know... I should keep my opinions to myself:) Remember, I thought I was talking off-the-record.
As I came up for air, ready to make yet another vigorous point in our animated conversation, the logo on the van behind the young woman suddenly came into focus. It said CBS News. Oh dear, I thought... I hope I’m not a Dixie Chicks moment waiting to happen. I was speaking privately, or at least I thought so. I’m just weary of folks in other parts of the country not understanding that a lot of good patriotic Texans understand that we pawned a lousy governor off on the whole country... It’s not our fault that he was promoted upward to make hands-down the worst president in history. He wasn’t elected, but selected. We can thank the courts and cronyism for that.
I don’t know if anything I said will be aired, but I do know... just like the Dixie Chicks, I’m not anti-American, I’m just anti-Bush... and there are many Texans just like me. So my day may have gone from AH.... to Uh, Oh...., but it’s my story and I’m stickin to it!
This is Tuesday, Election Day, and I just came back from a breakfast in the historic Bay Village which is tucked in the shadows of skyscrapers. A narrow street lined with maple trees, charming brick homes with shutters, white green or black, uneven red-brick sidewalks, ... you get the picture... As I ate in a neighborhood cafe with just three small tables, I was heartened to hear a woman say that she went to vote at 6:45am and it took two hours as the lines were so long. I may not get the results I want in the presidential race, but I am thrilled that people are taking part in the election process.
One final thought - "Freedom of the mind leads to all other freedoms." This quotation is on a plaque in front of Arlington Church right off Boston Common. It is an inclusive Unitarian Church. I believe this message with all my heart!
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