While David was in Boston working and had a place to stay that was being paid for by his program, I figured this was the best opportunity to get to see my husband, and of course get to see Boston. So, I flew out to Boston for David's last week of work there.
I decided, if we end up in Boston for a few years, I wouldn't mind a bit. What an awesome city! There is soooo much to do. I think I walked the entire city during my trip which is probably a good thing since I also enjoyed a lot of great food. Since David was working during the days, I went out exploring by myself. I'll just include a few highlights from the trip that include fun, lots of history and delicious food.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Boston
I started off by walking the Freedom Trail.
State House
Senate Chamber
Fun Fact: The chairs in this room are all different heights. This is so that when all the state senators are seated, they are all the same height to represent that they are all equals.
Fun Fact: Each of the senators can have their portrait done however they would like, so they are all different. One of the senators is outside wearing blue jeans, one is a side profile picture, and then Mitt Romney's is the only portrait that has a portrait within in a portrait. He has a picture of his wife on the table behind him. I loved this!
Before I came into town David had told me about the Holocaust Memorial, so I made sure to stop by and see it.
My favorite part was the following quote:
"Ilse, a childhood friend of mine, once found a raspberry in the camp and carried it in her pocket all day to present to me that night on a leaf.
Imagine a world in which your entire possession is one raspberry and you give it to your friend." -Gerda Weissman Klein, Holocaust Survivor
After the Holocaust Memorial we headed to the North End to the Italian district for some yummy food and dessert. We had been told by several people to go to Mike's Pastry to get a Cannoli. This place was packed, but I could have stayed there for hours looking at all the pastries and drooling. It was such a yummy looking bakery.
We also visited the First Church of Christ Scientist headquarters. They have a huge reflecting pool outside (that I wanted to swim in) and the headquarters building was beautiful, so we took the quick 20 min tour which really just talked about the design and architecture of the building. But, it was just long enough for David to ask questions that I'm sure the tour guide was not expecting.
David: So, when did you join the church and how did you join?
The tour guide rambled on about a few things and then finally answered the question after David asked it 3 times. She finally said she had been sick, was healed and then filled out an application to join the church.
David: How many people apply each year and how many get accepted?
Tour Guide: We don't know numbers. Mary Baker Eddy, founder, did not believe that the membership numbers should be published.
David: Is there a baptism or do you just fill out an application for membership.
Tour Guide: There is no baptism. Individuals fill out an application and they can apply to either be a member of the "mother" church, the smaller branches or both.
This is where other individuals started whispering. "They don't baptize? Wasn't that Christ's most important thing?"
Leave it to David to stir the pot a bit :).
Outside the church headquarters we found an interesting sign:
But, it didn't say anywhere that grown men can not enjoy the fountain fully dressed!
Fenway Park Tour- This is a must if you are in Boston. It was one of our favorite things we did and neither of us are baseball fans. There were no games while we were in town, so this was the next best thing and quite honestly, I think it was better! Fun Fact: Did you know that Babe Ruth originally played for the Boston Red Sox (otherwise known as the Boston Red Stockings). He was sold to the New York Yankees for $125,000. The manager of the Red Sox was more interested in getting money for his broadway theatre production than in the baseball team.
I got to run across the Boston Marathon Finish Line (who cares that it was while wearing a skirt and flip-flops).
David was post call during a day of our outings and me, being the mean wife that I am, didn't let him sleep enough before we headed out, so I caught him doing this:
This is just a short, if you can call it that, recap of our awesome Boston experience.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Missing Husband
I have been deliquent on posting, so I have lots to catch up on, but first and foremost, my missing husband.
So while he has been gone, I've been keeping myself busy, but not too busy that I don't have time to travel to Boston this week to visit.
I spent the last week of July and the first two weeks of August house and dog sitting in Lake Oswego, and all I can say is holy crap, literally. Who knew that two dogs could poop so much in one day. David and I have always laughed at people that walk around picking up their dog's poop and I guess I was getting what I deserved. This dog sitting has reconfirmed my decision to never have a dog. Sorry to all you dog lovers out there, it's just not for me. I am a little too clean freak anal. I would say the perks of being in Lake Oswego were getting to take a canoe out on the lake and taking a ski boat out to tour all the cool homes surrounding the lake on our way to dinner across the lake. As we were driving across the lake, I turned to David and told him I was born to have a boat. Maybe someday, but unfortunately not anytime in the near future.
He is somewhere in Boston saving more babies. He was blessed with the opportunity to travel across the country to work in one of the best cardiac ICUs at Boston Children's Hospital.
So while he has been gone, I've been keeping myself busy, but not too busy that I don't have time to travel to Boston this week to visit.
Once I got back to my home in NE Portland, I enjoyed the Fremont Festival in Beaumont Village, the Twilight Criterium in downtown Portland, where I saw too many men that thought it was okay to walk around in biker shorts just because they were at a bike race. And mind you, some of their shorts were baggy in all the wrong places :) . It's kind of sad when you are that skinny that a pair of biker shorts doesn't fit right.
I also worked on some craft projects. I finished my first ever knitting project and began a second one. And, I made my first rag quilt. An adorable, easy project, just the kind I like.
And most importantly, I began taking care of our newest house guest, Trunks. Our teeny, tiny red-eared slider turtle. A couple of our friends just moved back in town and gave him to us as a gift.
Goodbyes and Hellos
In July, David's cousin Derek passed away. We packed up our bags and flew to Arizona to be there for the funeral. I have not been back to Arizona in quite a while, so it was good to see all of David's family, including extended family. I actually met some relatives of his that I had never met before. I'm not sure I will ever meet them all.
The funeral was so uplifting. Derek was one of those people that always did what was right. He served and loved in a way that inspired those around him to do the same. I knew Derek briefly, but after being there, I feel like I knew him so much more.
During our short trip we played with the family and I was able to see an old friend, Paul, from St. Louis and his cute family. Unfortunately I didn't take very many photos of the trip.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Young Women
Our YW are a little spoiled since there are not many of them and we get to go on lots of fun outings. This past month we went to the zoo and took a camping trip up to Timothy Lake.
Isn't this just what it looks like when the guys go camping? Theme, cups hanging up nicely so we can reuse them and a fancy dinner.
I only went up with the girls for one night but it was worth it. The location was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The first morning another leader and I, Heidi, managed to start the campfire all by ourselves. We were pretty proud of ourselves. Heidi's husband, Joe, had showed us how to make a 1 match fire the night before, so we were confident that we could do it. Unfortunately we didn't do it with 1 match, but it only took us 3 matches so we were satisfied.
Karmen, Gabi and Lacie
Lacie, Christina and Gabi
Timothy Lake
Isn't this just what it looks like when the guys go camping? Theme, cups hanging up nicely so we can reuse them and a fancy dinner.
I only went up with the girls for one night but it was worth it. The location was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The first morning another leader and I, Heidi, managed to start the campfire all by ourselves. We were pretty proud of ourselves. Heidi's husband, Joe, had showed us how to make a 1 match fire the night before, so we were confident that we could do it. Unfortunately we didn't do it with 1 match, but it only took us 3 matches so we were satisfied.Bulls, Running and the 4th Weekend
David and I went to St. Paul, OR for the Pro-Bull riding Tour. I haven't been to see bull riding since we were dating. The rodeo clown was awesome. A lot of times I think they are annoying, but this guy was genuinely funny.
For the Fourth, we went to a BBQ at our friends after church. I had the most massive burger I have ever eaten in my life, but somehow I managed to eat the whole thing. Go figure. It was definitely a low key 4th, but we did get to see a few fireworks.
The hot cowboy.
We did see a lot of this.
July 3rd we headed to Eugene for the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field. We are trying to get in all the top track meets before we leave Portland. This meet is by invitation only, so we knew we would be seeing the best in the world and we were not disappointed. There were 20 guys that ran the mile under 4:00. Sick.
Tyson Gay...does that name sound familiar?
I had just happened to park by Pre's Rock, so after the meet we stopped by where Prefontaine died. Coincidentally some graduate students were working on a documentary about folklores and they interviewed David about why we stopped by the rock. So, who knows, maybe someday David will be in the documentary.
On our way back from the meet we stopped by to help David's co-worker pack for her move. I was in charge of entertaining her son, so I managed to do that by having him "help" me mow the backyard. I know you're jealous about the black socks and shoes with shorts. Don't be. I obviously was not prepared to be mowing a lawn and had only brought flip flops.
For the Fourth, we went to a BBQ at our friends after church. I had the most massive burger I have ever eaten in my life, but somehow I managed to eat the whole thing. Go figure. It was definitely a low key 4th, but we did get to see a few fireworks.
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