I cringed when I decided to live in the People’s Republic of Taxxachusetts after retiring from the Army. I grew up in New Hampshire where we considered our southern neighbor akin to a Soviet province. New Hampshire has changed over the subsequent years as many of those very liberal types moved to southern New Hampshire to escape the one-party rule only to bring many of their associated problems with them. We called them “tax refugees” and complained they were bringing those problems, associated with their political leanings, they were fleeing with them. The truth, of course, was a lot more nuanced, but it gave us something to complain about. In due course I grew up (well at least got older) and acquiesced to living in what I considered a benighted land.
In
a huge surprise it turned out I enjoyed living here. The taxes aren’t oppressive,
especially compared to New Hampshire property taxes, and they don’t tax my
military pension. I have made my peace at living in a one-party state and
seeing the inherent foolishness that sometimes produces, such as the political
quagmire that is the MBTA. I’ve generally been supportive and appreciative of
the Republican governor, Charlie Baker, over his term, except for his lack of
understanding about mass transit issues. That ended today when I experienced the
total and complete ineptitude of his administration on a scale that is hard to
fathom. 
Screenshot that Greeted Me This Morning
I
was pleasantly surprised to hear that I would become eligible for the Covid vaccine
today, along with about a million other state residents. The governor crowed
about the rollout and bragged that his website would be up to the task. I was
worried because he made a point of telling people the appointments would be
available at 8am this morning. I didn’t think that was especially smart since
that would cause immense demand at the same time. The governor was questioned about
this and told the cameras that they were prepared. They weren’t. I’ve been trying
to book an appointment for three hours now and while the sites have been up and
down all morning, more often than not I get a message that the site has
crashed. I compare this to what I’m hearing out of New Hampshire where a number
of my friends have successfully booked and received their vaccines. Living in the
People’s Republic has finally caught up with me. 
I Also Get This One a Lot
RECURRING CHARACTERS
BR3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first
granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best
Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman
– my son in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2
– friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend
– friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as
radical leftist to attract women; Kindergarten
Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high
school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions
once my wife got involved in planning; Maine
and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters,
my wife is the 3rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of
my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin
Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we
have lived & their spouses; Neighborhood
Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of
course); First Friday – celebrations
to mark the First Friday of the Week; Curbside
Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in
Brooklyn
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