Graduations and Elevators

OK - two items for discussion today.

Graduations

OK - so I'm driving to work and traffic is pretty good for a Monday - I get past the Natick rest area and BOOM - traffic is at a dead stop. So - I flip to the wonderful AM world of WBZ - traffic on the 3's. I did this just as the nice traffic person is 'reminding' us that the BC graduation begins at 10am and traffic should be picking up as a result of that. Picking up? PICKING UP? YEAh - if picking up means SUCKING HARDER. So here's a few questions, why graduate on a Monday at 10am? Why not 12pm - then all the people will have gotten to work before the over-excited-parents, friends, etc. decide to descend upon the greater Newton area (Mass Pike, 95/128). Also, what's this 'reminding' BS? I can't help but think that this is an extension of the 'entitlement' attitude that surround MOST college students - especially those at the BCs, BUs, Harvards and MITs of the world. Now by NO MEANS am I saying that these students don't deserve a great grduation and all the pomp and circumstance that goes with it - but why does it have to hinder the people who LIVE here - all the time - and have to WORK for a living?

Elevators

So here's a brief poll... Do you talk to people you meet in the elevator where you work? Or anywhere you may be riding in an elevator or something. Like, if someone starts a coversation, do you talk to them or look at them like they have fifteen heads? Because this morning, there were four of us on our garage elevator. I commented on the traffic discussed above and one guy said something about the BC graduation and the other two women said nothing. Now, maybe they don't speak English - anything is possible. But one of them looked annoyed that I even spoke. So THEN she and I were alone on the elevator actually in my work building - where I stood at the back of the elevator and she stood in front of me with her back to me. Now, I am thinking WTF??? I don't get it - what is the big deal about a little harmless conversation about the TRAFFIC?? It's like talking about the weather. Why would you stand in a confined space and not converse back with someone if they put a thought out there?? It is so bizarre.

Just sayin'...