Goodbye

Today my mom left to go back home. I went to work and took her suitcase with me, then we met up at Government Center where we took the blue line to the airport. I helped her with her bags b/c Gov't Center doesn't have elevators or escalators going down and she had a hard enough time walking down stairs with her bad ankle. We got to the airport and hung out for a bit (I took an extended lunch) and then said goodbye. I'm gonna miss her. It was so fun showing her around and having her meet my friends and co-workers. It was nice sitting at my dining room table talking and eating with someone in person (vs. on the phone with numerous dropped calls to carry on just a simple conversation!) Now the apartment is lonely and dark. I'm sitting in my room with the AC on not knowing what to do with myself since this is the earliest I've been home for the past week. I am looking forward to resting and settling into my place though. It's a funny feeling having family visit and saying goodbye, b/c now it's real... this is where I live, this is where I'm starting a new life like I wanted when I decided to move to Boston. The adults in my life are quite proud of me for where I am in my life, moving to Boston and actually "making it". I don't think of it as anything special, maybe that's just how I was built. It's just something I put my mind to and did it. It's funny with my mom being here, I didn't even notice that this past weekend was my one year anniversary of moving into this apartment, an apartment which is now all mine. I was reminded of that today when I saw all these moving vans and people loading and unloading their trucks as they moved in and out, remembering that it was hot this time last year too! Funny how things change and work themselves out. I am so blessed to be doing what I am doing here in Boston and building the type of friendships I've always wanted but could never find in California and hosting parties to bring all my friends together for fun times! I'm loving Boston and am so glad my mom was able to visit me.

Harvard Sq and Dinner Party

Today wasn't too bad. Started off bright an early for a painful dental appointment, wow! Then it got hot and I took my mom on the T so she could ride on the last line to complete Boston T travel (Green, Blue, Red, Orange). We went over to Cambridge and walked around Harvard and Harvard Sq. Where I ran into the ex who I never would have recognized (b/c he looked horrible with long hair, grubby looking) except I am all too familiar with his eyes. I totally just gave him a smile, didn't do or say anything. It definitely got me shaking though, and yet, made me laugh at the same time because he had to do a like 4 double takes as he walked past me (as my mom and I walked into Chipotle). After forcing myself to eat lunch, we caught the bus back to Coolidge Corner and grabbed a few remaining items for my dinner party with my closest friends to meet my mom. I got to use my new table and serving platters. We had red and sweet red wine, bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, spinach salad with feta, avocado, blueberries and strawberries and spaghetti pizza as the main dish. Then we had dessert...ice cream in my ice cream cone glasses. It was really nice and fun to have my friends meet my mom. She approves of everyone :p I just wish that it would stop being so freakin hot every time I decide to have a bunch of people over! It really never fails. But, it was fun, many laughs were had (some at my own expense) and it was good food, great company and now all the dishes are cleaned and I am ready for bed. What a crazy busy week it has been.

Relaxin' Outside in the Country

Today was a day of rest. I am so thankful I decided to do all the running around stuff Thursday, Friday and Saturday because today was hot. We walked to church this morning and got a little sweaty. From church we headed to North Station to catch the train to North Billerica for our friends surprise birthday party up in Groton. It's so nice being out of the city. My mom got to see where our friends live and see where I go to escape the city and feel like I'm home. It was nice doing nothing today (as in not running around all over the city to do this or that or see this or that). Sitting on the back patio overlooking the forest while sipping on some sun tea was just what the doctor ordered! I never had sun tea before, probably because up until recently, I wasn't a tea drinker, but adding a couple scoops of sugar and I was sold. We then had pizza, chips and dip, beer, cake and ice cream with our friends and their neighbors and friends. It was fun. On the train back the train ticket guy didn't collect our tickets saying to use them for a rainy day. At first I was like maybe he thinks I'm cute, but he was being nice to everyone since it was the last train from Lowell. So almost back home, might be the earliest we've gotten home since my mom arrived. Then some cleaning before going to bed b/c I made a stupid dentist appointment for bright and early tomorrow morning, meaning I have to get up before I would even get up if I were going to work tomorrow.

Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise

Today was another busy day. After air mattress continued to deflate on me after using the plug, I got up early and went to Haymarket to buy some fruits and veggies for Monday's dinner. Then my mom and I had brunch at Paris Creperie down the street from me. I have never been and have wanted to try some crepes here, so I had a yummy and rich S'mores crepe which I should have split but ate the entire thing myself. My tummy was so full. We split a butter and brown sugar one and then my mom had a bacon and eggs one. We then went shopping on Boylston and in the Downtown Crossing area. We managed to come home and eat a salad for lunch before getting ready to head to the Wharf for our Boston Sunset Harbor Cruise. I've never done that either and it was fun to see Boston from sea. I took some good photos of the downtown skyline and must admit, Boston beats San Diego in sooo many ways! The cannons went off at sunset on the US Constitution (which is the one thing I have yet to see by foot- via the Freedom Trail) and enjoyed the 90 minute cruise around the Harbor. We docked at 8:30 and wanted to get some seafood. My mom's foot was really bothering her today, so I didn't want to walk too far. A lot of negative reviews were for the few places I could think of before it hit me. Irish pubs have seafood! So we walked 500 feet to The Black Rose where my mom had some Clam Chowdah and we both had some Fish 'n Chips. While eating dinner we saw the fireworks good off at the Harbor, my mom really did picked the best time to come visit Boston! We then made our way back into Brookline, where we stopped at Finales for some dessert. My mom ordered a Merlot and we split the 9 dessert sampler. Of course, my mom made me eat more than half of it b/c she got full, but we did have to take some home b/c I refuse to let a good dessert go to waste. Another busy busy day and was reminded why I don't have cable. I'm never home to watch it! We haven't even been home long enough to put on a movie or even an episode of NCIS. We've done so much these past few days, always on the go (just like it is when no one is here visiting me) but tomorrow will be a nice day of rest since we will be going out of the city for a surprise birthday party up in Groton.

Museum and North End

Today my mom and I slept in and then went to the Museum of Science for Free Friday. I've never been and this was a perfect time for my mom to visit. The human body, math, eye straining art, weather, baby chicks hatching...it was packed with kids, but I'm glad to cross this off my Boston to do list. On our way from the T station to the museum we got stuck at the draw bridge, which I didn't even know we had those here. Thankfully the watch tower told us all that were on the bridge to scoot back behind the gate (we were almost halfway across the bridge when the alarms sounded) otherwise, we would have had the bridge in our faces. Later on we met friends up in the North End. It's been probably 10 years since my mom saw them last, so we had a fine Italian dinner with a couple glasses of Merlot. They are having the Saint Anthony's Feast this weekend, so while eating dinner we were able to see the parade and then later walked through the streets packed with food, merchandise and game vendors. Of course we were so full from dinner that we had no room for the many desserts and Italian foods, but that didn't stop us from stopping at Maria's for some Cannolis to go. We then continued to walk to Faneuil Hall. After walking our friends to the T station, my mom and I walked to Beacon Hill where I picked up the plug for the air mattress (leather couches are not the best for sleeping on- in case you ever wonder and are looking for a couch, keep that in mind). I gave her a brief tour of Beacon Hill and we cut through the Public Garden to hop on the T to go back home. We were out and about for nearly 12 hours today (mostly on our feet) and were so glad to sit down with some coffee and cannolis before calling it a night.

Giving Mom the Tour

Today I went to work and had my mom hang out and wait for the washer repair guy and for my table to be delivered. I came home at noon and waited for the bus to go back to work. And of course the bus was late, so I really got to show my mom a day in the life of me. I ordered my favorite pizza from Penguin Pizza in Brigham Circle and at in the Dean's office where my mom got to meet my boss and coworker. Then I gave her the tour of Gordon Hall, the Countway Library (and the museum on the 5th floor which wasn't smart after eating lunch). Then we walked through the basement to the TMEC building, walked down Longwood, stopped to get an ice coffee from McDonald's. We then walked down Brookline Ave towards Landmark Center, where I showed her my old apartment in Fenway and then walked to Fenway Park and hopped the T at Kenmore to take her to Christmas Tree Shops and Costco. We bought some things at Christmas Tree Shops (where I slipped on the floor again hitting my bad knee). We then walked back to the T stop, got home and ate burritos. I used this stupid cheese grinder that clogged with the cheese and stupid me and knives, used my sharp knife to scrape out the cheese. Didn't think anything of it until I was half way through my burrito and my mom took a bite of her's and had a plastic shaving...which came from the stupid cheese bowl I ground up. After thinking about it, it probably wasn't from the knife b/c these plastic pieces were small and curled like the cheese, so I probably put too much pressure on the plastic thing as I was grinding. Ugh, so after consuming half a burrito with plastic, I dissected what was left and fished out quite a few pieces of plastic (which was hard to do since I had used sour cream which the plastic blended into). So if I die, it's the plastic's fault! Now we are resting our feet. Will probably play a game or two before going to bed. Another fun and busy day planned for tomorrow.

RDU to BOS

I don't know what it is with flying from RDU to BOS, but it sucks! My mom's flights were all delayed today because of weather in NY that rolled into Boston... stupid fog! It poured today and was glad that it started to die down this evening. I for sure thought I would have to find Noah or build myself an Arc. Anyway, in the time it took me to get from Central Square to my apartment to drop off some items and get to the airport, my mom flew from NC to BOS. Amazing! So after a few hours of delays, I gave her a brief tour via the T and my hood as we ordered Chinese food from across the street (my first time ordering there after it was recommended numerous times by my boss) and ate at home. The food was so yummy, but it was a late dinner- 9pm. Then I blew up the air mattress and it was missing the plug so I had to stuff a sock in it...hopefully that will hold for tonight, otherwise I might wake up on the floor. I'll be going to work in the morning for a few hours while my mom waits for the washer repair guy and for my table to be delivered. It was so good seeing her and am looking forward to spending time with her.