Walking

Today was a beautiful day. Reminded me of the weather back home. No humidity, mid 70s, nice breeze. Perfect day for walking, which I did a lot of! I went and walked on my lunch break around the HMS Quad with a co-worker and after work I hit the gym. I actually caught the bus home today and then walked to the store and back (this photo was snapped walking back from the store, it's right next to the store and I always think about a castle when I walk by) and then went to the Sprint store and walked back and forth two times. 2 hours later I have my phone back, everything is up-to-date and it's like I have a brand new phone with all the new bells and whistles they added in this major update that was needed. So no more picture text issues!! AND I found out that I can text for free while in Montreal this weekend (just no internet or phone calls b/c I don't want to give Sprint anymore of my money). Also, apparently my call dropping issues is HUGE in my neck of the woods. Some others were in there for that very reason and the store can't do anything about it. Learned a lot about the technology (but wont bore you with details) but it's a tower issue and now I need to call and request a technician to come out to my area to check that out, and one guy got a credit on his bill because of this issue, so I'm for sure going to give it a shot! I figure if enough of us call, something might be done. ANYWAY, of course the whole phone thing turned my quiet early night into a late night walk-a-thon and I didn't get to finish up packing for Montreal like I had hoped (or chill and watch a movie). This just means tomorrow I must finish packing! One of these days I will have nothing to do but just relax, but something tells me, it's going to be awhile!

Reflection

Long Wharf where I had reflected on things last summer

A year ago today I started my first job in Boston working for an IT firm (ended being temporary obviously). I've been thinking about my first few months in Boston. It's those familiar smells, the way the wind hits me, the way the light reflects off certain buildings. I was single then, just like I am now. I had an awesome roommate who I miss, because she was great and we hung out quite a bit. Of course, this time last year wasn't nearly has hot as it is this year. I didn't have to rely on a bus to get me to work, just hopped on the T or walked. Speaking of buses, they just changed the bus schedule for the summer and I laugh because the new published times are the times the buses were actually picking us up before the summer schedule went into effect. So, basically what they did was just adjust the times to make the "late" buses actually be "on time" at least for the morning route. The evening one they totally messed up on b/c now I have to walk home if I go to the gym after work b/c I miss the bus by 5 minutes! Grrr.

So I'm single, working and have a solid group of friends. Now I have proven that I don't need a man. I'm perfectly capable of doing anything and everything without a guy giving me a hand. HOWEVER, that does not mean that I do not want a man. In fact, I am ready to have a nice man in my life. Someone I can go have a picnic dinner with in the park while watching the free summer movies; someone to walk along the wharf and stop off for some dinner seaside; someone who will actually take ME out on a date and not hit on anyone else while doing so. It's nice having extra hands around too, even if I don't always admit it. I'm ready to get my ass kicked at pool and talk sports. To sit around on lazy days and play games. I miss the companionship, talking on the phone or catching up (via one of the many modes of communication) on days I don't see him. Of course, I will have to change some things in order for me to land me someone special. For starters, I'm going to have to start making myself available to meet him. Which means, I need to cut back on my social life. I hardly have enough time for myself these days! I also need to really work hard at the gym. I like being in shape and have unfortunately fallen victim to the "freshman 15". When I'm healthier and happier with my body, I know I send off good vibes, vibes I know guys also pick up on. So this is something I'm going to work on for the month of July.

Hot HOt HOT!

What a hot one it is today! Woke up and it was already 80°. Heat index above 100° this afternoon w/ humidity. The AC wasn't working as good b/c of water cooling issues (probably b/c everyone was using the AC to try cooling their offices down). Threats of thunderstorms, but so far nothing has rolled in. The apartment is a toasty 83°. I'm not feeling that great, kind of blah and just want to sleep. Had dinner with my best friend down the street at a Tapas place (though we opted for the Stimulus 3 course meal special). I think I have over booked myself lately and just haven't had any me time to get organized and my sh!t together. I've been quite forgetful lately, kind of moody and just "off". I dunno what it is, probably the heat and always being on the go. So sorry if I've hurt anyone's feelings lately, or haven't been the best friend or sister or daughter. I just need to get through this next weekend and I'm done committing myself to anything major for a while. Anyway, I wasn't in a good mood to really try taking a photo that goes along with my complaint about the heat, so I decided to use this photo of these beautiful flowers I see every morning walking to work. I can't remember their name at the moment, but they are so pretty... I love the colors: they are peaceful, cool, calming and make me smile every morning when I pass them. I'd plant these in my garden (if I had one) along with Gerbera Daisies, Roses and Carnations. I need more flowers in my life right now to uplift my mood. I did put my bouquet I caught at Kristin's wedding in water and have the centerpiece in the apartment, but I'm not here enough to enjoy them... I think I will bring one into work so I can smile throughout my day. Just by looking at them will lift my mood (and remind me of an awesome wedding reception!).

To Health

Well, today was a productive day, despite getting up "early" and having to deal with heat (80° in apartment). After seeing myself in a swim suit last weekend, and the fact that I'm seeing doctors nearly weekly (and getting weighed every time) I told myself that today I would start my health kick. First, I unpacked my ottoman set. I've been eying this sucker at Bed Bath and Beyond for months now, so I took advantage of having a car and picked it up. There's 4 small ones that collapse and can be stored in the larger one and all 5 can hold stuff. Now I can read and relax while sitting on the love seat whenever I'm at my apartment. Relaxing is really something I need to focus on again. Second, I did yoga for the first time in probably a month. I've noticed a huge difference in how my body feels since quitting my morning yoga practice, especially since I've been working out at the gym an not really stretching. I need to gradually get back into my morning routine. Third, I cooked some meals for the week and have decided on days when I'm not meeting friends for dinner, I will have my protein shake for dinner and eat my larger meal at lunch time. Fourth, I took an hour of my evening to get lost in my guilty Vampire pleasure "TrueBlood" while using my new ottoman. Fifth, I drank a lot of water today. I have been feeling dehydrated lately and noticed when I fill my water bottle up, I tend to drink more than I do if I only have water in a glass. Sixth, I caught up with my best friend, my sister, and my mom today. I feel like I can finally breathe again after a crazy couple of weeks, but I know it will be short lived as I have more weekend trips ahead. Hopefully I can stick to my plan and get healthy again!

Wedding

Recovering from the whole Bouquet/Garter toss
I think I love weddings. Tonight was so much fun! I danced all night long. I missed the ceremony and I did get lost a bit even with the GPS and printed map/directions. But I was at the reception (which really is all that matters... plus the ceremony from what I hear was short and to the point). I love Kristin and Matt. I love their friends and family. It was so much fun seeing parts of her family I remember meeting when I was in elementary school (who still live in Cali). It was fun seeing all the guys I hung out with on my trips to MA before I ended up moving here. We played this centerpiece game and I won a dollar, but the guy who's dollar it was won the centerpiece and let me have both. I danced like crazy tonight. I wasn't even drunk! Their friends are so much fun!! My old roommate was in the bridal party and it was so nice catching up with her, I so miss her!


Then it was time for the bouquet... all the single ladies... yup that would be me (and about 15 other friends and family members). So guess who caught her first bouquet ever? Yup! It was me! Then Matt had to throw the garter 3 times b/c the first 2 times, the guys that caught it were either getting married in 2 weeks are engaged! So, what happened with the single guy who caught the garter? Well, I had to sit on the chair Kristin sat in when Matt took it off her and Patrick (the single guy) had to put the garter on me!! In front of everyone!!! I probably turned 10 shades of red. I had never met this friend of Matt's, so we had a brief introduction. He kept apologizing, which was cute. So he put it on my leg, but then the DJ was like, "it's on the wrong leg". So Patrick had to take the garter off my leg and then put it on the other leg. WOW!! He then bought me a shot which I got to choose (vodka!). Then I danced, danced, danced...sang sang sang... went Country (most of the songs were Country songs). At the end of the night, an older guy came up to me and asked who I was. Kristin told him I used to baby-sit her when she lived in Cali and he gave me a hug then said "my son had his hands up your dress". I probably turned red yet again! But it was so much fun, I drank nearly 3/4 of a bottle of wine all by myself and am in love with the idea of being in love.

Italiano

So, I first need to ask the question "why do Italian men have chicken legs and smoke?"... it bothers me!

Dinner in the North End... yummy Italian food. Met Angela (my Boston Best Friend) at North Station and Google Maps directed us to Charlestown. An 11 minute walk, across the bridge stumbling into Charlestown and jay walking across 6 lanes of traffic, only to find another couple looking at their phone completely lost like us. We ended up calling Nebo (the restaurant) and found out that the directions and maps are wrong (something they should fix if they were smart). So we took a nice like walk before dinner. Crossed back over the bridge into Boston and found the place. Two of our other friends were already there waiting for us, they were lucky enough to see a sign pointing them in the right direction. The food was ok, Angela's was rather bland so we will not go back there again. It was a nice night out so we decided to walk to Mike's Pastry, only we weren't thinking b/c I hate crowds and Mike's is such a tourist spot, there were long lines and no one believed me that we didn't have to wait in line (locals know to walk right in and wait over by the pastries on the left side) but whatev! I decided I wasn't in the mood for dessert and the people were driving me nuts, so Angela and I left our two friends at Mike's to wait in line and we left. I was tired and had a 45 minute T ride home and Angela was going to make some blueberry cobbler... so it all ended well. Today was much cooler than yesterday and it was pleasant walking around the North End.

Game Night

Kim miming to her team as Angela sits admiring her acting skills
Wow! After having a rough night (nightmares and restlessness) it was a rather hot day today and had to finish cleaning the apartment for Game Night. I sat at my desk watching the temperature rise a degree an hour. It was 80 when I woke up and as I left work at 4:45, it was 94. Of course it had to be hot for Game Night. I did my best to cool the place down which was 84 when I got home. But we were still sweaty. I actually went to work without makeup on today b/c I knew it would be a lost cause. At Game Night we figured out that the new ceiling fan was set on winter mode, so it wasn't blowing air down... clearly I have a problem understanding the difference between counterclockwise and clockwise, b/c I thought it was going the wrong way Monday night when I was sleeping out there, but then it looked to me like it was going the right way. Anyway, not that it mattered b/c it was still hot. I love my Game Night friends. We always have snacks and drinks and really have a blast. We played Apples to Apples (my first time ever playing that game) and the Guesstures. So much fun!