Despite being the middle of winter, on Friday the entire Boston area ended up getting drenched in an unexpected deluge of rain. Yes, you read that right: rain. For a variety of reasons, this made me less than happy.
Snow, you see, I could have handled. After all, snow isn't only picturesque, and fun to play with (or in), it even can serve as a metaphor for life. (Who can argue with that?) And whenever I see those first flakes falling from the sky, I won't deny that I always took a certain pleasure in running around trying to taste a few. Which makes me sound like a fifth-grader, but it's true, so there you go.
Rain, on the other hand, just gets everybody wet. Including me. Normally, I wouldn't really mind a little rain, because like most people I kept a pretty good pair of rain boots in my dorm room, not to mention three (count 'em) umbrellas. In case you're curious, and I'm sure you are (not), I brought one from home, and I ended up buying the other two from LaVerde's - MIT's on-campus mini-mart, basically - during the fall term when it spontaneously started raining during the day. Unfortunately, my excess of umbrellas was of no help to me Friday, because I wasn't in my dorm room last night. Instead, I was at my fraternity.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out (for the parents' sake, if nothing else) that all MIT students live in dormitories for their entire freshman year, regardless of whether they join any particular fraternity, sorority, or other independent living group. And in spite of being part of MIT's exceptionally vibrant Greek community, I'm as proud to live in Simmons Hall as any other Sim - it's simply that I'm part of another living group in addition to Simmons. And because it's IAP, I decided to take advantage of all the free time (well, more free time than I'm used to, anyway) by spending a few nights over at the fraternity house.
Unfortunately, since it is supposedly the middle of winter, I didn't think to bring one of my umbrellas along with me. Even so, the rain ordinarily wouldn't have been a big deal, since MIT's tunnel system makes getting around campus while staying dry a pretty simple endeavor. Friday, however, was not an ordinary day - and my destination was somewhere even MIT's most distant tunnels couldn't reach.
While I could simply tell you my story in normal, everyday prose, I decided that it'd be far more amusing to do so in song. Accordingly, I've adapted the melody of "Chocolate Rain" by Tay Zonady to form yet another spoof - entitled, fittingly, "Boston Rain." (If you haven't seen or at least heard of "Chocolate Rain" - although you probably have, since according to Wikipedia it's the second most viral video in the world - well, you're missing out. So go watch it!)
Unfortunately, I'm not going to sing it for you. Sorry, but trust me, you're better off this way. So sit back, sing along to yourself, and enjoy. =P
(Un)original Cover By
PAUL BARANAY
Some stay dry while others feel the pain
Boston Rain
I got so wet I may never go outside again
Makes it hard to get where you want to go
Boston Rain
Come listen to my tale of woe
For my UROP is just one part of a collaboration
Boston Rain
Between several centers of science innovation
Although MIT is where I do most of my work
Boston Rain
Visiting MGH is a cool little perk
I woke up this morning eager to go
Boston Rain
Soon had me feeling pretty low
Is hard to handle sans umbrella
Boston Rain
I felt like a pretty miserable fella
All I wanted to do was take the T
Boston Rain
Who knew Mother Nature had other plans for me
Walking to Copley Station really was a pain
Boston Rain
But once inside I got dry again
Copley to Park Street went fairly well
Boston Rain
I transfered to the Red Line just swell
Couldn't touch me on the train
Boston Rain
Outside MGH, I soon got soaked again
Made finding my building slightly tough
Boston Rain
All in all my trip was rather rough
But I survived to tell the tale
Boston Rain
Next week I'll be back for more
Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)
Posted by: Justin on January 12, 2008
Posted by: BB on January 12, 2008
Did not know you had poetry skills. We should talk in rhymes on facebook ^^
So what is your UROP about ? You haven't told us yet ! We (I) am curious !
Posted by: Isshak on January 12, 2008
Posted by: Justin on January 12, 2008
But anyway, I like reading these blogs because they basically are exactly the weather that we're getting in Chicago, only a few days later. I suppose if I'm admitted, it will be like awkward jet lag that never quite wears off.
And, if you were a girl, you would have received an umbrella inside of your new purse for Christmas, bringing your umbrella count up to 4! How are the LaVerde's umbrellas, by the way? One of the other english tutors at my school and I have a long-running debate on whether or not a good umbrella can be purchased for under $25.
Posted by: Karen on January 12, 2008
Posted by: Manders on January 12, 2008
Much better than my "Hot Chocolate Rain" cover that I've been planning.
I think I might be the biggest Tay Zonday fan at MIT. I have all of his songs.
Posted by: Hank R. on January 12, 2008
Posted by: Teresa '11 on January 12, 2008
Oh, and I like rain. I like WEATHER. We don't get much of it in Los Angeles.
Posted by: Piper on January 12, 2008
Teresa - You're blowing the surprise!
Posted by: Paul on January 12, 2008
Posted by: Karen on January 12, 2008
Flu-es apart, have you ever considered to buy an pocket umbrella and leave it during winter in your bag? I bought one in the street for about $3 and it's been useful for about two seasons... just thinking aloud...
Posted by: PS on January 12, 2008
Posted by: John on January 12, 2008
Posted by: Jon on January 12, 2008
Posted by: Snively on January 12, 2008
Posted by: Jay on January 12, 2008
Posted by: Lauren '12 on January 12, 2008
My lab is at MGH. If you ever want to grab lunch, I'm there at basically all hours of the day and night.
Posted by: Mollie on January 12, 2008
Aww I hope you didn't catch a cold?
In a weird way, it's good you were drenched today (kind of) or else you wouldn't have been inspired to blog this post and write the song =)
WE SHOULD ALL SING IT TOGETHER AT THE CPW!
Posted by: Jing Jing on January 12, 2008
How was your experience for getting drenched in the rain? Your ribs must be tickling with cold until you reached MGH.
Posted by: Akshay on January 13, 2008
Nice parody.
~Donald Guy
Posted by: donaldGuy '12 on January 13, 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x2W12A8Qow
On the one hand, awesome that Tay is doing so well .. on the other.. to be cliché, umm .. sell out?
Peace, still,
~Donald
Posted by: donaldGuy '12 on January 13, 2008
Posted by: Star on January 13, 2008
I just finished singing it (poor Paul! btw I'll have to ask you about what you're studying at MGH some other time)
Posted by: Shamarah on January 13, 2008
Aw darn, I thought I'd be the biggest Zonday fan at MIT! Hmm, I could still hold the title as the biggest '12 TZ fan, I guess
So what's your favorite?
Posted by: Shamarah on January 13, 2008
Posted by: Chidinam Egbukichi '12 on January 13, 2008
Posted by: Alioth on January 14, 2008
Granted, Chicago's just as bad as Boston, if not worse. We win the awards for the craziest weather.
Posted by: Michelle on January 14, 2008
Oh, you should see how it rains around here in Malaysia, the original tropical rainforest. I love the rain here, it just pours down, sometimes to the point where visibility is as bad as English fog. At my hometown, I could just watch the rain with a cup of hot cocoa, listening to waves crash against the beach and the smell of the rain hitting the soil.
But if it's raining lightly like in the pictures I can see why you'd not like it. That kind of rain just gets everyone wet with no positive side effects
Posted by: Muz on January 15, 2008
Comments have been closed.