Long Day

Friday the 13th and boy did it feel like it! It was a very long day today; filled with crazy people at work, crazy people on the phone and weird things happening with stuff on the computer. I took 2 classes today at the gym and didn't get home until 9:30pm. I had to walk home, which was fine... there were others walking the route and the weather was nice, but I had to stopped by Trader Joe's to grab some items b/c I was starving. I decided instead of walking the rest of the way home (10 minutes), I'd wait for the T. Bad call! I should have known that I would be staring at the tracks for longer than what it would have taken me to walk home. It's been that kind of day. There wasn't even enough champagne in the fridge at work today for a mimosa to make the afternoon go better. Of course, I'm too tired to fix myself a drink now. Just gonna pop in a movie and call it a night.

The Fens

About 2 weeks away from my second Boston anniversary and what a ride it has been. It was a sad day today as I visited for the last time, one of the best gals I've met since moving here. I did my best to hold back the tears and refused to say goodbye since we will keep in touch. This photo taken this evening as I walked to say my "see you soon". When I first moved to Boston, almost 2 years ago, I lived on the other end of the Fens. I remember my first time visiting and being warned by my friend's dad to stay away from the Fens, especially the reedy area, at night. Not sure how well you can see the reeds, but they are there in the photo.

Walking around the city on Boylston tonight reminded me of my first month in Boston. Not knowing anyone, not having a job, not sure what I wanted or how long I'd be here, but for once I was living life. Now, I know quite a few people, I have a job, but I'm still not sure what I want or how long I'll be here and I'm not really living life like I used to. My first year here was figuring things out. Jobs, boys, friends, etc. This past year I've been focusing on doing stuff and experiencing more Boston firsts. I think year 3 will be focusing on living here. Something I haven't really come to terms with. Many in my inner circle know that I don't really feel like I live here. Yes, I have an apartment filled with stuff, but it doesn't feel like I'm settled and at any moment; I could leave if I wanted to. I still say I'm from California, but this year I've felt like more of a Bostonian Transplant than ever before, slowly changing favorite teams (Lakers out, Celtics in) and becoming a fan of a new team (Bruins). I've always tried to be different and go against the current, and still fight Boston ways. I will never accept the liquor laws, understand how an "r" can make an "h" sound or why the light switches are placed outside the bathroom instead of inside, but I do live here, pay state taxes here and have a job here, so maybe it's about the time that I start acting like I live here. All this reflection from looking across at the Fens tonight, bringing me back to when I first moved to Boston.

Drinking

This may look like OJ, but it's not. I mean it is, but it also contains champagne for an afternoon mimosa at work. It feels good to be able to drink alcohol (wine) at work after giving it up for lent and having to pass on it while attending various receptions and parties during the working hour. I'm a fan of alcohol in the work place, but only b/c I am not an abuser of it. I think one glass isn't going to hurt anyone or anything. In California I had to drive home, so I wouldn't drink. Here, I can walk or take the bus/T home, so I do drink. I also think it's ok to have a glass of wine or beer at lunch every now or then. It won't impair my judgement when it comes to taking phone calls and printing material out. So yes, it's not quite 5 o'clock and I'm drinking a yummy mimosa while working. Of course, since I have proven that I can abstain from alcohol, we know I'm not an alcoholic, but for those who are, or those who don't think they are alcoholics but can drink like no other (or like other alcoholics) then I do not advise having alcohol at any point during your working hours.

Futon

Well, not much to report today. It was a typical New England day. It was cold, cloudy, and started heavily misting on my way home from work today. I stopped into my friendly hardware store after work to return my extra pieces. The same guys who were in there yesterday helping me out were there tonight. They wanted to make sure I was successful at putting the futon together, which I was. It only took 3 trips to the hardware store, but I did it. So this photo may not look like it was a lot of work, but whatever. When I over think and find things out as I assemble, it was a learning experience for sure, but now it won’t fall backwards when someone sits down on it, and is no longer missing a screw so it’s safe to sit and lay on (not that it will get much use, but I’m a perfectionist so I had to fix it up).

I’m really getting tired of this rain. I really want to start walking along the dirt trail around the reservoir, but I don’t want to walk in the mud or rain. I’m kind of getting tired of hanging out in my apartment and rearranging stuff and decorating it. It costs money, I’m a shopaholic when it comes to home goods and I need to get out and interact with people outside my circle.

Hardware Store

Today I walked to and from work and had to stop at the hardware store on the way home. Yesterday felt like I moved. Suz is leaving and I took a bunch of stuff off her hands. It looks like I have a roommate moving in, but no...I don't. I thought I lost pieces to the futon so before going to work I grabbed pieces I thought I needed more of. Two trips to this hardware store and I manged to put the futon back together again. I have to return extra pieces that I ended up not needing tomorrow b/c they were closed by the time I got the thing put together. Poor guys working there; they were really helpful, but probably sick of me. First I brought the wrong screws (smaller ones for the back) when I really needed a large screw (for the front). Then I bought new screws and bolt like thingies b/c I thought I was missing the bolt like thingies and the screws that I did have for the front of the futon frame would not fit in the bolt like thingy b/c they were different cuts, so I had to buy new screws for the bolt like thingies. I come home and find that some of the bolt thingies were actually in the holes out of sight, so after all of that, I didn't need the screws or bolt thingies, other than the one that was always missing. So tomorrow I will walk to this hardware store to return the extra pieces (my third trip). Now, this is about a 30 minute walk from my apartment. I have a hardware store right cross the street from me but they close way too early (5:30/6) so there was no way I'd be able to get what I needed there. I guess besides successfully putting the futon together, I worked off my mocha coconut frapp I bought at Starbucks today for happy hour :)

Lilac Sunday

Every year on Mother's Day the Arnold Arboretum hosts Lilac Sunday where free tours are given explaining the various types of lilacs and for one day only they allow visitors to picnic in the Arboretum. I had arranged a meetup event to go today and then picnic after the walk. The rain scared everyone but one other person away, so I met a new person and enjoyed the nice weather as we walked 3 miles through the lilac garden, the vines/shrub gardens and the bonsai garden. Some lilac plants were more fragrant than others and this weekend didn't seem to be their peak weekend. I learned a lot about lilacs (a flower I wasn't too familiar with). This was definitely a Boston experience and I'm glad I went this year after hearing about it after the fact last year. We didn't do the picnic b/c of the weather, but I am glad that I went. It may have taken me nearly 2 years to finally step in to the Arboretum, but I can now say that I have been.

Thunderstorms

Ahhh. I think I finally caught up on the sleep I lost the other night. It felt so good to sleep in. However, since I got a late start the nice weather turned to stormy weather by the time I was ready to head out and run errands. I was caught in the rain a couple times today. It opened up just as I got to Haymarket, nothing like shopping for produce during a thunder and lightning storm. I managed to get home without melting and kept my back door open so I could listen to the rain as I rinsed the produce and cooked. This video I took outside on my patio... I tried to capture a video of the rain/lightning/thunder from my back porch...I love a good thunderstorm and we had quite a few throughout the day. This week has been one wet week! Never have I ever been caught in so many downpours than I did this week. This is why I prefer snow to rain...you get less wet with the white stuff. Anyway, it's spring...rain is expected. I'm not complaining too much b.c we didn't get too much rain in CA, and always remembered liking rain. I just wish I didn't have to be outside when it rains and that I had better views of the lightning storms.