Subtle Glow

Ok, so tomorrow morning we trek home - EARLY! Our flight leaves at 8:15.

So today, we walked all to hell and back throughout Boston. I must admit it was fun. But uhhmmm, question. Where are all the liquor stores?!! I asked a couple people “is there a market or god forbid a GROCERY STORE around here - somewhere that might sell beer or WINE?!” What we wanted was a place to get a bottle of wine to take back to the room and drink with dinner. You should have seen the looks people gave me. Like to grocery shop was something dirty.

We finally found a store… although it took getting off at just about every OTHER stop on the way home and scouting out the surrounding area before we finally struck the payload. And strike it we did! We got the extra “lahge bahttle” because it would have been an hour long trek if we had to go out again for more. The store was great though - wine bottles as far as the eye could see. And we were even smart enough to get a bottle opener, too. We SOOOO have this Boston thing down!! I don’t think I could live here, but damned if I couldn’t come back and have another kick ass time.

I’m glad to be going home - I miss my kiddo and as a result, I just want to buy more for him everywhere I go. Not to mention, I’m no longer interested in Bostonian stuff - I just spend my time pointing out all the stuff I recognize from home: Barnes and Noble, Cingular Wireless, P.F. Changs, Bennigans, Cold Stone Ice Cream, and Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks. I swear I don’t feel like a normal person until I’ve had a shot or two of that crack.

I’ll be in touch soon, wish me a safe flight HOME!!! *muah*

Woohoo! Feeling much better today. Made it through the last day of class - YAY!! I thought the class was great - but I won’t bug you with the details, as it’s all boring stuff for work.

We got out of class early so after making a quick stop at the hotel, then went out to Harvard Square. Just a note here - Oh MY, that train was so stifling HOT!!!

Anyway, we stopped at the Charles Hotel and had a snack and some drinks at this really cool place called Henrietta’s Table. Oh - they had the BEST Sangria ever!! Full of fruit. I am so trying the recipe when I get home!

Here is what they had written on the board for the ingredients:

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Light Rum
• White Wine
• Cranberry juice
• Orange juice
• Sugar
• Sparkling wine

I don’t know what proportions of which ingredients, but it should be pretty fun to keep trying to make batches until I get it right. Anyone want to come over and help out? I need taste testers!! Who’s in?

After that, we went and walked through part of Harvard Yard - checked out the big huge library and the John Harvard statue. Way cool! From there we walked down to the Charles River and out onto the foot bridge and snapped a few pictures. One of my tasks tonight is to try and upload some the pictures so far and post them. Hmmm. Maybe tomorrow. My feet hurt and I am worn out from walking around.

We got rained on a little on our way back to the T - and I have to say it felt pretty good. The weather here got really hot and sticky as the storm moved in. Got to see a bit of lightning and hear a few rumbles of thunder but nothing major.

Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow, but we’re in for the night - I’m beat!!!

Ok - one quick update (I am on the right). Picture

Sorry if it is a huge pic… I don’t have a way to resize it from this computer!

Ooooooohhhhh. bleeeeecchhhhh.

Today - I am broken. I don’t know HOW I made it through class today. OY. I could barely stay awake during the morning part of class. Dawn didn’t make it through the first 30 minutes and went back to the hotel. She really did have an allergy attack… but still no fair she got to crawl back in bed and stay there all day.

Somehow I made it through the whole day. Went back to the hotel, parked it on the bed, ordered room service and stared at the tube for awhile before going to sleep. I’m too old and worn out to be partying like a rock star until 4am.

Ok, well - actually - no, I’m not. I’m just old enough now to really pay for it the next day. UGH!!!

Day 3 started out like any other. Had we known then the adventure we would eventually take… we might have insisted on Starbucks! Yes, friends - So far we have gone about 65 hours without any really GOOD coffee. Oh yeah, no wonder people get so snippy here. Hey - just a suggestion: Hail the almighty bean! And no I don’t mean the baked beans. You would be amazed at how well the world looks after a couple of shots of that magical mixture.

Moving on. We decided we would go to the game at Fenway, despite the fact that we have no tickets, and no prospects for said tickets. Stopped off for dinner at the Globe - this great little place down near Boston Commons. Good food. Better yet, more of my new favorite beer. Had a few pints of Summer Ale and ate another bowl of chowder. Dawn had the pleasure of dining on - take a guess. Chicken Fingers. It is fast becoming her standard fare. As is the chowder for me. heh.

Ok - dinner’s done and we head back up to Fenway. The streets around there are packed. Security is tight. It didn’t look like we had much of a chance of going in at all.

And then.

We found a security gate that was inundated with people going out - while security tried feverishly to keep others from going IN. Apparently there is no re-entry to these games.

Lame. But whatever.

Little by little we inched our way closer to the inside with each passing wave of exiting fans. It was the bottom of the ninth, but hey - it was Fenway. We wanted in.

Just when I thought we were going to have to bolt and make a run for it… it was there. A huge gaping path with the security guard thoroughly distracted on the other end. We beelined into the stadium, only to find we were directly behind HOME PLATE!!! Yes, folks, we snuck in and made it right behind home plate, just in time to see the last couple of plays of the game. Red Sox won, by the way. We were snapping pictures left and right and giggling like idiots. I don’t even care much about baseball. heh heh. I think it was just the thrill of sneaking in that made me all bubbly in parts.

Afterwards we went out and bought some shiznit from the stands on the outer side of the stadium. At which point Dawn decides to make friends with one of the guys in the shop. Next thing I know… I’m wrapping up my shopping spree and she’s telling me we’re leaving with these people to go out. Wha? Huh?! I was not very excited about this plan. At ALL. I mean - what was I supposed to do? Leave her to go with them alone? And so, I went.

Despite my worries, we did end up having a great night. Lots of fun - and we made it back home perfectly safe. At 3 am. With an 8am shuttle to the training center. OY. But - that brings us into Day 4. More updates soon!

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Ok… so there is a “Starbucks” that is the saddest excuse in this hotel for a Starbucks I have ever seen.

We took “the T” into town tonight and hung around Government Square. Pretty cool. We ended up at this little bar and had a few drinks before heading back home. Quite an adventure!!! Tomorrow we plan to go to Fenway and catch a game and a few more drinks. We also arranged for our driver to take us by the REAL Starbucks in the morning before we hit the training center. Yes, we managed to find the only real Starbucks within a 10-mile radius, thank GAWD!!!

Anyhow - we’ve had much to drink and I’m short on sleep so correcting the typos is getting annoying. I’m signing off for now. More updates to follow…

We finally arrived in Boston last night - after about 8 hours of travel. So far, it is cold wet and a little rainy - and I have yet to find the Starbucks. My suitcase showed up - thank goodness - however it was missing the wheels on it, not to mention being a lot worse for wear. So…. the airlines gave me a voucher and told me they’ll either fix it or replace it. Gee - how fabulous. Oh - the best part is, they’ll give me a bag at the airport to put my stuff in while they keep it and try to make said repairs.

Sorry - but I have this intense fear of checking my bags to begin with - I’m am sure any day now I will have all my dirty panties tripping along the baggage claim belt on my return home. Or, better yet - get stopped for a security screening on the return flight - so someone can actually rifle through my dirty panties. FAB-ulous!! So, uh, NO - I don’t think I’ll willingly empty out my luggage and shove it all in a bag on the way home, thanksverymuch. I plan to do a little shopping, I suppose a new bag is in order.

Anyway - we arrive at the airport, after a bumpy flight - did I mention I am traveling with a friend/co-worker who is terrified to fly?? Add the turbulence and it calls for some serious drinks my friends. Arrive at the airport, collect the tattered remnants of our bags, grab the shuttle to the hotel. All the while DRAGGING my bag along. Lovely. Get to the hotel, get all checked in, and head off to dinner. Mind you we’re STARVING. The waiter, Nate - was an extremely SLOOOOOOW talking gentleman - which we suspect was him trying to make his accent easier to understand. Whatever, dude - like I give a crap what hundred specials there are today… much less how many you have tried and how well you liked each one. WE need some food! And drinks… keep the drinks coming!

Get up to the rooms - can’t get the piece of crap laptop IT loaner to work without dialup. After about an hour, we called it a night and went to bed. Oh - right - first we had to call housekeeping… twice. Once to bring some NON-feather down pillows and blankets for Dawn, who is highly allergic and took specific measures when making the reservation to indicate such allergies and request other bedding items. The second time was to bring the missing high speed internet cables to her room.

Mood so far… a little anxious to see how the rest of the week goes. Definitely worried there won’t be a Starbucks.

I’ll update day 2 in a bit. For now lunch is over and I’ve got to get back to work.

I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to post while I am away this next week. Then again, I have no idea how I am going to go 7 days with NO internet access. Not possible!

I have way too much stuff to do tomorrow - laundry, packing, hair color, etc. The usual. Got a CUTE haircut today. I lurve it!! woo woo!

I wish I would have brought my damn camera today. I went to a barbecue and there were quite a few characters there. The house alone was amazing. Would have made for some great shots. Alas I am a loser. My camera WILL be going to Boston with me.

See ya!!

Next Monday I’ll be on my way to Boston. I’m training for more work stuff and I’ll be there all week, plus the following weekend. I am super excited because I have never been to Boston before. In fact I’ve never been to the East Coast before! Let me know if there are any ‘must see’ things I should do while I’m there. All I know is I’m going to Fenway for a game, but other than that… I don’t have any idea. I’m sure I’ll figure it out. Maybe I’ll find me some man-candy ala Good Will Hunting. Wa-hooo!

Another bonus - I won’t be going alone. My co-worker and fabulous friend will also be going with me. Look out Boston!!! Things have been really nutso for her lately at work, and she wasn’t sure if she would be able to go or not until today. I still would have had a great time by myself, but it’s going to be a total fucking blast now.

Other than that, I am in the depths of money woes these days. Seems I don’t have much, and yet there are a ton of people who want some from me. My cash flow is seriously crap this week. Every time I turn around there’s another cute little reminder email that I owe yet another utility or whatever. Oh well, better next week I hope. In the meantime I am scrounging up as much OT as possible. Not to mention begging and borrowing from one place or another.

I got a call from a recruiter today wanting me to call and talk to her about some possible opportunities. Changing jobs is a pain in the ass, but seriously I need to do something, or else quit bitching about the cash flow problems. Let’s hope for a sweet deal that doesn’t involve an hour long commute each way. Call me picky but I have too much to do than sit in traffic with all the other working stiffs around here. Besides, they are handing out bonuses again this year - I so want in on that. I’m up for a hefty raise in December - or at least I have earned a hefty raise, we’ll see if they actually come through on that. If not, I’ll probably take advantage of the holiday break and this year’s 401k employer match and come January I’m hitting the job hunt with a mission and a vengeance.

Hopefully they’ll just make everyone’s life easier and pay up, hehehe. Then we don’t have to worry about all this nasty job hunting business.