i took the bus to belmont this afternoon. i figured it'd be a nostalgic trip down memory lane since i used to take the 73 bus to work everyday when i still lived at home. unfortunately the bus i was riding on was so dirty i could barely see out the window. a mother pushing a stroller along with 3 kids was fishing for money to pay the fare, the whole time talking with a friend on a cellphone pressed to her shoulder. "mommy!" of her children called out. "hold on honey - shit!" the bus driver, not wishing to further delay the trip, waved the woman off, letting her ride for free. without even thanking the driver, she continued walking down the aisle, telling her friend, "can you believe they don't take bills on the bus?"

my mother, who was at home doing the laundry, was surprised to see me get home so fast. i let hailey out in the backyard. i threw her some snowballs, which she caught and ate as if they were treats. i had to bring her inside to get her to stop eating the snow but she kept on barking so i let her out again. later in the afternoon she took a nap. my parents made some chinese dumplings for dinner and i contributed with some haymarket-bought cherries.

getting a ride home back to cambridge, we saw my roommate riding the bicycle from his office. i got home before he did. my roommate made a mutton stew and gave me some to try. we talked about how scientists in china apply for government grants.