boston uncommon

I saw something that made me do a double-take while walking through Boston Common early this afternoon en route to work: a Christian revival tent. Not 'revival tent' as in the one full of paramedics at the end of the Boston Marathon, but 'revival tent' as in folding chairs and a cheesy P.A. system and fire and brinstone and Jesus died for your sins, Hallelujah Amen.

A Christian revival tent. On public property.

Now, I'm no lawyer (I have a modicum of self-respect, thank you very much ;-) . So I'm unclear as to the legality or illegality of a religious entity getting approval from City Hall (I'm assuming) to stage an event like this. I don't know where the 'separation of church and state' notion comes into play here. The whole thing just sort of struck me as odd. Something that wouldn't, I think, seem too out of place in, say, Orange County or Atlanta or Wichita (are these things legal there, too?).

But Boston? True blue Beantown?

Sure, Pope John Paul II held a mass at Yankee Stadium, but I think that's a privately-owned venue.

Now, maybe the notion of 'public property' (somewhat of an oxymoron, eh?) or 'public land' means 'open to all peoples and groups so long as they don't instigate a riot or pee on the rhododendrons.' I'm not qualified to make such a judgment. But it does give one pause. One being me.

---

We're celebrating our son's first birthday this weekend. My parents are driving to Boston to join us, and my in-laws will be here as well. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. I know Max won't quite understand all the hubbub, but it should be fun watching him play with his presents and attempt to eat cake. :-)

I can't believe the li'l bugger's almost a year old. Time flies... and yet it really drags too, sometimes.

---

It's not nearly as fucking muggy and hot as it's been for the past several days. It was hazy and sticky and in the 90s for what seemed like a week, only about two months too early for the 'dog days' of summer (picture Matthew Broderick in "Brighton Beach Memoirs," in his full army uniform, saying "This is Africa hot!"). Today's rain seems to have broken the cycle -- the temperature dropped about 20 degrees (Farenheit) and the humidity dropped as well. Which is a good thing. Max was having a hell of a time sleeping (just watching him sit there, sweating and bawling, broke my heart), as were his mommy and I. The window fans we bought helped, but we may have to go the closed windows and blankies route tonight!

---

The house deconstruction continues. I'll post pictures at some point.