random thoughts – Day 1,842 – (Wednesday) – wednesday walk

Working downtown today meant an afternoon walk downtown, and afternoon downtown walks sometimes mean seeing interesting things. Shortly before going out, I looked out the window to check the world outside. The high school had gotten out and the sidewalks were filled with students. Merrimack Street was filled with seven city buses waiting for the light to turn green.

There was a wait of a few minutes to let the students clear. When I went outside, wearing my leather jacket, after a colleague said it was “wicked nice out,” I was surprised at how chilly it was. There was a stiff breeze as I turned a corner and I wished I had gloves and a scarf. 

New doggy friend.

There was a quick pop-in at the new bakery, followed by a pop back out. There are no prices posted near any of the items and I hate asking. I'm not going to stand at the case asking the price of every item. After buying a loaf of rye bread at the grand opening that turned out to cost seven dollars, a transaction that likely wouldn’t have occurred had I known the price in advance, I’m leery of the sticker shock and potential personal loan that might result from a brownie or a slice of torte.

On the way back to the office, two older gents in fedoras sat in the window of Market Street Market. In a nearby doorway, a stocky and sturdy looking white and brown dog with shoulders about the same width as mine barked at me through a glass door. 

With each bark, both front paws bounced off the floor. It was loud-ish, but didn’t seem especially angry, as in, there was no teeth baring or growling. I was amused enough to take a picture of my doggy friend through the glass door separating us. 

Middle Street stoop party aftermath.

Around the corner and down the block on Middle Street, there was evidence of a picnic of some sort with food wrappers and packaging abandoned in a doorway. A few doors down there were signs of a stoop party, with two empty liquor bottles left on a step. Come on people, there are trash barrels all over downtown. 

On Palmer Street, closer to the office and outside one of our buildings, Heineken beer boxes sat on the sidewalk, presumably from the beer distributor truck parked in the alley on the other side of the street. Why were they in front of a bank building when the bar is across the street? Who knows. Whatever.

On the way to the garage after work, Merrimack Street filled with the wail and scream of sirens. Multiple firetrucks sped by from the station behind City Hall and more could be seen approaching from the other end of Merrimack and turning onto John Street. I was concerned the street might be closed and I’d have to walk another block to the next street and backtrack a block to get to the garage.

When I got to John street, there were several engine trucks, a couple ladder trucks, and a red SUV filling the length of John Street between Merrimack and Paige. The sidewalks were open and available and firefighters walked in the street. The cluster of fire trucks blocking the street meant that there was no traffic blocking my egress from the garage and it was quick getaway to home sweet home.