A Walk Down Memory Lane

Fenway Victory Gardens

Yesterday I drove past the Fenway Victory Gardens, something I used to walk through every day last summer when I first moved here. So today I decided to walk through my old neighborhood on my lunch break. I kind of miss living on Park Drive, and it would be a 10 minute walk to work if I still lived over there. So my understanding about these individual gardens is: people who live in Boston can join a non-profit, membership organization and if there is no waiting list, for a small fee, are given a plot of ground to plant seeds, flowers, veggies, herbs, etc. Living in the city is so hard when I'm used to planting a huge garden every spring and harvesting my fruits and veggies back in Cali. That's just something I can't do here, but the Victory Gardens (which are historical, going back to WWII era) is one way people get to dig in the dirt and still live in the city. Depending how Year 2 in Boston goes, I might look into having my own garden in the future. But for now, it is so peaceful and pretty to just stroll along the 500 different gardens, sometimes catching people tending to their gardens or relaxing to some music while sitting in their outdoor garden furniture.


Also in the photo is my favorite Boston landmark... the Prudential Center (which is simply referred to as "the Pru" by locals, something I learned real fast last year). I used this as my point of reference when I first moved here and didn't know the way of the land. As long as I could see it, I knew I would be ok. Today, it's a building that makes me smile. (If only it knew how important it was to me my first year here!) I love being able to see it from just about anywhere in the city and even when I cross over the "river" [that's the Charles for my friends back home, which separates Boston from Cambridge] or make my monthly Costco trip to the 'burbs. I just love being able to see it in the Boston skyline. The Pru is also a shopping mall and has offices in it, among other things. Some day (maybe when I have a nice boyfriend who treats me well and isn't a mass-hole) I hope to wine and dine at the top of the Pru; the view from up their must be amazing!

So to close, today was a big day for me on Facebook. I finally changed my relationship status from "it's complicated" (meaning I was still dealing with mattress boy) to "single" (meaning I'm finally done with mattress boy 100% and moving forward to bigger and better things!) Maybe I needed the worse week ever to get me to where I am now... b/c it looks like my luck has finally turned around and I'm feeling so much better! :)

Strike

Jillian's... Where I bowl on Sundays.

So today was a typical Sunday. Walked to church and then went bowling. It's been over a month since I rocked my cool bowling shoes and I wasn't as rusty as I thought I would be. I scored above the double digits in all 3 games which is my goal for practice games like these. League doesn't start until the Fall, but I think it's time to start bowling more often to get my scoring up and work on throwing consistently. I also need to work on bowling closer to a 300 so I can try getting myself a new car (thanks Uncle, but I think it's gonna be awhile before I do that, so don't worry too much).

It was another humid day with more passing thunder and lightning storms and was fortunate enough to not get caught outside in the downpours like a few days ago. I also hung out with a handful of guys, which is something I haven't done in months. Of course, this time around it was under very different circumstances [read= in a good way]. It was quite entertaining to say the least. Why is it that guys have no problem farting in front of other people? I just don't get it, lol. It was nice to meet a couple new people today out in the 'burbs and learn what guys talk about... kind of funny b/c I feel this weekend a few guys broke guy code by sharing things with me, but whatever. Now I have something to report on this week during girls night :)

Sleepy Day

So after rolling into bed at 4:30am, I slept until 12:30 today. It was hot and muggy and we were supposed to have passing thunderstorms so people changed their plans for the day, so it was one of those sit around and do nothing sort of days. I was well recovered from last night's Wine Club. I think I am learning how to drink so I don't get sick the morning after. Yay!

My day was "off" since I slept through most of it. Around 2 I met a couple girls from the neighborhood and we cooked a late lunch/early dinner and just hung out. It is so nice having friends now. I remember what it was like this time last year: not knowing anyone, doing stuff alone or not doing anything at all. That is one major different from Year 1 in Boston. Grilled squash and eggplant, cheese and french bread, ice sweet tea and lemonade. Then berries with homemade whipped cream. Before I knew it it was already 7 and headed home. I didn't hear any thunder today, so either we didn't get a thunderstorm or it passed so quickly that we didn't notice over the hum of the AC unit.

Of course, besides sleeping past noon, I noticed that it was much lighter out at 7pm, throwing off my sense of time even more today (I forget that it stays lighter longer up here in the North than it does in San Diego during summer). The photo I snapped at 8:45pm and it was still dusk (though it's hard to tell in the photo) as I waited for the T to meet another friend for a few games of pool. And as you can tell from this post, it's another late night and am hoping to get a good nights sleep.

Dunkin Donuts, Wine Club... oh what a night

So I remember this day last year, when Dunkin Donuts was giving away free donuts if you bought a drink. Growing up in Cali, Starbucks was what we had (sorry DD, but America does not run on Dunkin since So Cal didn't even have one!!). Well like last year, I decided to participate. Ice vanilla coffee with cream (no sugar b/c if you ask for sugar you are practically drinking sugar! Today I tried drinking it without sugar only to realize that they put so much sugar in it to mask the yucky flavor of their coffee (like I said, I'm a Starbucks girl), but I got the last chocolate donut with sprinkles (my favorite) and after putting a packet of sugar in my ice coffee, I was able to drink it down :)


So tonight was Wine Club and I had loads of fun with 15 of my friends who convinced me to go out to listen to a cover band at the Burren. I've never been and so since I was in the neighborhood, I went. I had fun, then went to an after party in Central Square where we partied on the the rooftop deck only to have Cambridge cops tell us to take it inside (2:30am, people were complaining). Then it started to rain and thunder and lightning. It was pretty cool to watch without having to swim in it like yesterday. Anyway, fun times were had, it's 4:09am east coast time and am dedicated to keep this blog a day going (even if I technically skipped Friday since it's not technically Saturday). Not sure what tomorrow may bring, but regardless, I know I will have fun. Now off to bed I go!

Nothing like swimming home from the gym

Well, today was a fun day. I get to work early b/c I was supposed to be in an all morning training class, but it was rescheduled. I felt funny since I had dressed down knowing I'd only be in the office for half the day, but then it turned out I was in the office all day. Thankfully as I logged into my computer the first email I saw notified us that we are now casual dress until Labor Day... bring on the flip flops and jeans, I no longer felt funny for dressing down!


So, I've been doing pretty well getting myself to the gym after work. And today I started lifting again. The weather called for thunderstorms as the temperature rose over the last few hours of the workday, and of course, the thunderstorms were expected to hit Boston after I got off work. Well, I made it to the gym without any problems. Of course, leaving the gym was a whole other story. (Photo above is as I walk out the building). Making sure I caught the bus home, I had no choice but to face this storm, and unlike the smarter people who opted to wait the storm out, I made the choice to head out in the rain (and got a free shower out of the deal!). And boy was pouring elephants! Not raining a lot... but torrential downpour with 4 inches of water flooding the streets. Thunder and lightning clapping overhead. I had an umbrella, but that did me no good. My feet (gym shoes and socks) were soaked, my purse and the items inside, drenched... my backpack with all my gym stuff, so wet that I left a puddle on the bus when I got off! Inside, my Fitness magazine completely ruined, my library books- soaked (hope I can dry them so I don't have to replace them!). You know the saying, when it rains it pours? Well, that pretty much sums up my life lately. If it's not one thing it's another. Things happening so frequently these days, that I can't help but laugh. And that's how I know I've grown. If this was the California me, I'd be so pissed off at the world and everyone around me, you'd be calling me a bitch with a capital B. But not now, I may complain, but at the end of the day, I just laugh and think to myself... I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!



Streets flooding with 4 inches of water rushing
down Longwood Ave.

Mmm Mmm Good!

Before I get to the description of the photo, what would a Bostonian Transplant blog be without another T story? Tonight it was my turn to cook dinner for my Boston best friend. I hit the gym after work and went to the bus stop to catch the 5:47 bus home. Well, 20 minutes later, no 5:47 bus, 10 minutes after that, no 6:07 bus, so I decided to walk home (which I should have done to begin with as it takes 25 minutes). So of course, I'm late for my own dinner. Anyway, it was a comfortable day, so it wasn't that big of a deal. But for those who are keeping count L=0 T=4 for the week.


I've never actually cooked for anyone, so I was looking forward to having my Boston best friend over. I made pasta pizza with corn on the cob as the side. And no meal (or get together for that matter) is ever complete without a bottle (or two) of wine. Since it was so nice outside today, we sat out on the back patio, which was actually cooler than inside the apartment for a change. I snapped this photo just as we were getting ready to eat. Tonight was very relaxing, catching up on things us girls talk about. THEN it was dessert time!! Now this is how I did it in Cali and being a Bostonian Transplant (read= city girl) I had to improvise when we made S'mores since there are no fire pits in the middle of the parking lot. [Kids, I don't recommend this by the way, always have an adult help you.] Large fork...check, graham crackers... check, chocolate bars...check, marshmallows... check, gas stove...check! Placed the marshmallow on the large fork and turned on the gas stove, placed the marshmallow over the flame and cook as you would over camp fire. They turned out oh so good! And that my friends is how I ended a perfect night with my Boston best friend...with yummy, gooey, Mmm Mmm good, chocolaty s'mores :)

I'm Just a Little Black Rain Cloud

Funny how when I was a kid watching Winnie the Pooh I used to love it when it rained. But, when it's hot and muggy and it rains, I'm not a happy camper. Oh, how I doubt when Pooh said "tut tut it looks like rain" to Christopher Robin was it 80° out and muggy. Today at work I couldn't help but think of Pooh Bear and his buddy Eeyore as I watched the passing thunder and lightning storm. I feel like the past few days I've been walking around with a rain cloud hanging over my head, and I'm not just talking about getting poured on Saturday with no umbrella either. Last night there was an awesome thunderstorm that kept me awake. I managed to reset my alarm, but forgot to turn the alarm clock on. So this morning my phone alarm (which I had set to alert me that I had to be out the door to make the T in time to make it to my 8am doctor's appointment) went off and woke me up. 5 minutes I was out of bed at waiting for the T. Of course it was muggy and I was soaking wet but I made it to my appointment, but no wonder my blood pressure was slightly elevated. I made it to work and was able to regroup. 60° in the office and I was not complaining. The morning did improve and it was relaxing to watch the afternoon thunder and lightning storm pass through. I snapped this photo just after it passed, instead of trying to snap one during the storm, for fear of being struck by lightning (with which the way things have been going, I wasn't taking any chances). So this is the "Quad" at work, my view every time I look out the window.