Latest Rant - pulling over for sirens and emergency vehicles

Driving through the center of town today, I heard and then saw a police car behind me so I carefully pulled over to the right to let them pass.  MOST of the other drivers also pulled over.  That was all pleasant and thoughtful.

However, when it came time for us to start driving again, don't you think you would do it in sequential order.  The first car in line pulls out, then the second, then the third?  That is not the case in my home state of Massachusetts.  The most impatient person pulls out first, cutting off the others ahead of her in line.  It causes absolute chaos, and is just plain rude.  

As this happened today I gave the two people the benefit of the doubt.  Maybe they did not think I was ready to drive yet.  My inching forward to try to take my turn getting out since I was in front of her could have been a clue.  Apparently she was in such a hurry, after all we had been stopped for less than 20 seconds.  To me this is just plain courtesy.  I was ahead of you before we pulled over, therefore I get to pull out first.

This behavior really pisses me off.  In my zen state of mind I tried to let it go and let her go in front of me, but I just do not understand it.  I have lived in Massachusetts since 1984 so you would think I would be used to it by now.  

The sirens and lights are a clue folks.  Pay attention, slow down and chillax.  

Restaurant Review - Asmara in Cambridge

Last night we were in Central Square in Cambridge to see "The Golden Door" at the Cambridge YMCA.  Who knew they had a theater at the Y?

We went a bit early to eat, because Central Square has lots of great restaurants.  We tried to get into an organic restaurant but decided not to wait in line and instead went a few doors down to Asmara.  It is Eritrean/ Ethiopian food and we were both really glad we decided to go there instead of the first one we walked into.

The food is all served communally on a large plate or platter.  Some of the tables are actually very low baskets that the platter fits into.  We sat at a regular table with the platter between us.

No utensils were on the table however, the meal was served on top of Injera, a bread made of teff grain, kind of like an Indian dosa.  As an aside, teff is grown in the US in Idaho which must have the same climate.  There was a table tent card describing this on our table.

They also served extra injera bread to eat the meal with.  Ours was an vegetarian variety of cabbage, lentils, sweat pea, and some spicy sauces.  These were all arranged in a circle.  In the middle of the platter was a very nice traditional tomato salad.

It was great to eat as they do in Eritrea and it was great to experience a different kind of food.  The waitress was very helpful explaining how the food would arrive, and explaining the menu.  She also warned us about the green peppers in the tomato salad.

After we left, I read Yelp reviews and I guess there are always bad experiences and some people love to complain.  We loved the meal and plan already to return with Bethany and Bryan, and probably others.

It is so interesting how Rod and I are.  Now that we know about this restaurant, and how great the experience was, when we are near Central Square it will be a regular destination.

I love NOT eating at chains, and I love experiencing a new ethnic food.  I also am a creature of habit and once I love a restaurant I am apt to want to go back there often.

"The Lunchbox" Wow, what a system

We saw the move "The Lunchbox" last night which really got me thinking a lot.  I just now finished reading about this incredible delivery system of lunch to workers in India.

It is amazing in this day and age that such a complex system still exists, and yet a simple system.  It is nice to know that people still appreciate home cooked meals, versus a restaurant meal.

I wonder how long this system will exist, and how long it will continue to be an effective delivery of lunch to office workers.  The movie quite accurately shows Mumbai and the collecting of the lunch boxes by bicycle, sorting to get on the right train, then unloading them and delivering them on the other end, again by bicycle, to the office workers.  And in the afternoon leg, the collecting of the lunch box to return it to the home.

I suppose it gives a job to the deliverers, and provides a home cooked meal to workers with a specific dietary requirement.

On one hand, I really love that this system of delivery has existed for over 100 years, and again I wonder how long it will last.

The story line was wonderful.  It is true, that we express in writing, things we would not otherwise express face to face.  Both main characters are lonely, and share of themselves in notes left in the lunch tins.  They share a lot in these notes in fact.

The only thing that I did not like was the ending.  It left me hanging and caused me to make up the ending, which is OK I guess.