On going to Boston

As promised I took notes, not many, I didn't have much time, but I took notes.

Friday night (December 28) we left Toronto at around 9:00. The traffic was modest and we made it to the US border with very little in the way of excitement.

Now Lesley is a permanent resident of Canada, not an actual citizen, not a citizen yet anyway. This means, it is legal for Lesley to be here, she can go as she wants, and as long as she does not break any major laws or remain outside of Canada for more than (I think) two years out of any 5 she can return to Canada. In order for Lesley to become a citizen she has to fill out some paper work, which we have started doing, but it takes time to get everything completed. But because Lesley is not a citizen her entry into the United States is complicated. First she must obtain a US Visitor's Visa (which she has, it expires in 2014) then she must get an entry card which expires six months after she gets it. In order to return to the United States she must turn over the entry card to a Canada Customs official prior to its expiration. (In other words, Lesley has to leave the United States within six months of her arrival, this to ensure she does not try to remain in America and work as a Lou Dobbs special.)

After waiting about an agonizing hour, and listening to one person who wanted entry after being expelled previously Lesley was finally granted entry in what was a pretty modest background check. (Somehow I suspect that Buffalo area retailers would go into open revolution if the DHS were to block Lesley, and more importantly, her Visa card, from entry into the great American market.)

Although I have to wonder, what did the expelled person do? Were they Iraqi and in the United States at the same time? Or maybe they were, dare I say the L word? A liberal? Or given that they were trying to re-enter after being expelled, just plain stupid. Guys, its the United States, George Walker Bush (a miserable failure) is president, did you honestly expect that due process still applies? This is the land of military tribunals and home of Haliburton, where the fear of terrorism's menaced glare, the bombs bursting in air, gives proof through the night, that the ideals of the United States just aren't there! O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave... Nah, it was burned to a crisp by John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales. Sorry I had to rant, but you know, it had to come out. Anyway one of these days I'll rewrite the entire Star-Spangled Banner, anyone who would dare to trash the ideals of Jefferson, Lincoln and all those that gave the last full measure of devotion are going to get it every which way I can give it to them.

After crossing the border we drove for about two hours East on Interstate 90, now I-90 is an interesting road, it runs from Logan Airport in Boston to Qwest Field in Seattle Washington, which if it were a slower road would probably make it a terrific route to see America on. As it is the scenery from about Utica, New York on East is worth bringing the digital camera out. (Sadly the camera was in the trunk.) In any case by the time we had crossed the border it was close to midnight, by 2:00 when we stopped it was late enough that I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. We spent the night in a specular motel, outside of Waterloo, New York, but at least the washroom was, well a shade less than disgusting, but just a shade.

The next day, Saturday December 29 I will describe tomorrow. As it is, I am tired and still have yet to do my elliptical training.