America's Hometown: Thanksgiving Parade

In 1620, there was a group of social outcasts who set out in search of a land where they wouldn't be made fun of for speaking in tongues.  They landed at the tip of Cape Cod, but quickly decided that area was full of oddly dressed people, so they moved a little north and found a big rock thus founding Plimoth Colony.  Due to some piss poor planning, most of the Pilgrims died in that first year.  


"On March 16, 1621, the first formal contact with the Native Americans occurred. A Native American named Samoset, originally from Pemaquid Point in modern Maine, walked boldly into the midst of the settlement and proclaimed, "Welcome, Englishmen!" He had learned some English from fishermen who worked off the coast of Maine and gave them a brief introduction to the region's history and geography. It was during this meeting that the Pilgrims found out that the previous residents of the Native American village, Patuxet, had probably died of smallpox. They also discovered that the supreme leader of the region was a Wampanoag Native American sachem (chief) by the name of Massasoit"


The Pilgrims were so psyched to have someone who spoke their language, literally, that they held a 3 day fall harvest celebration with their new friends.  They later started killing their friends, but that's a story for another time.  The point is, they invented Thanksgiving.  Naturally, the town that held the first Thanksgiving goes nuts around that time of the year throwing a parade, food festival, and having reinactors pretending to be 400 years old.  My friend Meghan's friend (and now my friend too!) Jess lives in Plymouth and invited me down to celebrate.  We went to the parade then a food festival where we had about 15 different kinds of chowdah.  After the food festival, we talked to a pirate, entered some contests, Jess petted a horse while I stood as far back as possible.  Then we went to see what I think is the best Harry Potter movie yet.  It was a great way to kick off the Thanksgiving week and I can't wait to go back to explore Plymouth more!

Jess and Pete getting cold waiting for the parade to start

A soldier, looking serious...

  

Creepy Balloons!

Phallic Corn 

Jess wearing the Turkey Hat

Backstory: We were at the end of the parade route, so we decided to walk up the road to find the food festival.  I saw a panda bear and said "Look guys, it's a panda!"  Jess and Pete both thought I was hallucinating, until 5 minutes later, they also saw the panda.  When I saw the guy later, I had to get a picture with him!

 We had to get pictures with the pilgrims!

This pirate tried to get our booty!!

Flying Flag

Exploring Hull

Today, I had the day off, so I decided to go off and explore a little.  First, I needed to return something at Ikea, and next door to Ikea, there is a furniture store with huge signs about "Polar Express in 4-D!" and "The Enchanted Village!"  Apparently, in downtown Boston, there used to be a huge holiday display at the Jordan Marsh's Department Store. According to news reports: 

"The holiday display entertained people for decades at the downtown Jordan Marsh department store and then on Boston's City Hall Plaza. It features 59 handmade electromechanical animated adult and children figures, together with bears, dogs, cats and horses. The average figure is 4 feet 8 inches tall.  Store owner Eliot Tatelman said when he heard the display was for sale, he had to make a bid.  "Think about it -- it was at Jordan Marsh, and now it is with Jordan's Furniture. It's just natural. It fits with everything we've done. It fits with our local company, and we are very excited about it," he said."

It was actually rather creepy, but I can see how it would be a tradition.  The little figures reminded me of the creepy dolls from the 1950's.  I kinda buzzed right through it, but it seems like it might be something my mother would like, so maybe we'll go.

After Ikea, I decided to take a drive around my hood.  I had heard of a little island called Nantasket and wanted to see if I could find it.  Of course, this wouldn't be my blog without a history lesson!


The Nantasket Penninsula is a series of islands connected by sandbars.  

The native tribe, the Wampanoags, gave Nantasket it's name which means "at the straight" or "low tide place".  In 1621, the Pilgrims established a trading post on the island for trading with the Wampanoags.  The town of Hull was settled in 1622 but incorporated in 1644.  


Hull features Nantasket Beach, with fine, light gray sand—generally considered one of the finest beaches in New England.  Beginning the community's development as a tourist resort, in 1825 Paul Worrick established the Sportsman Hotel on Nantasket Avenue. More hotels were built, and by 1840, steamboats made 3 trips a day between the town and Boston.  Following the crowds onto the boardwalks were gamblers, pickpockets and confidence men, so Paragon Park was built as a safe place for those seeking amusement. Called a "marvel of fantasy," it once featured a ride based on the Johnstown Flood. The complex closed in 1984 when the property was sold for condominium development. Today, the only surviving remnants of Paragon Park on the boardwalk are the historic carousel and clock tower.


I didn't realize that was a carousel, so I didn't take pics, but I will when I go back to go to the beach!!


Here are some pictures I took from today's adventure:

Taken across the street from the carousel...Notice the rainbow on the right upper corner

Boston skyline from Hull High School

Looking towards the Atlantic

Sunset over Fort Andrew

Steps to the Beach

Looking up to a wind turbine at the point

Hull was very cool and I definitely look forward to going back to explore some more!

A Better View

This is a better view from the window....

The Apartment

I'd like to take you on a tour of my apartment!

First, here's the floorplan:

Now for the tour!  Welcome!

 

The Hallway

Sliding glass door leading out to the balcony

Living Room

Looking into the kitchen from the living room

Bathroom

My door

Layout of my room

Computer Desk

Dresser

Shoes under my bed

Bed and Night Stand

Window and Shoe Rack

Closet

Wardrobe

Behind my door

And now for the views!

From the Balcony

Boston Skyline (Sorry it was foggy yesterday!)

Water view from my room

I hope you enjoyed seeing my house.  Now, as they say on MTV's cribs, get out!!  :o)

A Fresh Start....Again

Right after I found myself out of a relationship in 2008, I started making plans for myself.  I wanted to move to Boston, summer on the Cape, meet a Harvard Hottie, and go to grad school at BU.  I took a detour and ended up in Los Angeles, but now things are getting back on track.  I'm just moved to Boston, and I finally feel settled for the first time in a long time.  


As things tend to do in my life, my move to Boston came suddenly.  I interviewed for a job on Thursday and on Friday, the company called back to say that they wanted me as a temp a week from that day.  It was a difficult decision with a lot of options to consider.  Long story short, I decided to take the temp opportunity but a week later than they wanted me, found a roommate and was moving in October 24th.   


The temp opportunity didn't last, but it's going to be ok.  The situation was crappy, but I've grown accustomed to that happening and decided that rather than get frustrated, I would just roll with it.  I sent out a ton of applications for retail and waitressing jobs and was offered 3 jobs - The Disney Store, Victoria's Secret and a restaurant called Papa-Razzi.  I took the job at Papa-Razzi. It's on Newbury Street in Boston:

• Newbury Street is located in the Back Bay area of Boston, Massachusetts. It runs roughly from the Boston Public Garden to Massachusetts Ave. It is lined with historic 19th-century brownstones that contain hundreds of shops and restaurants, making it a popular destination for tourists and locals. The most expensive boutiques are located near the Boston Public Garden end of Newbury Street. The shops gradually become slightly less expensive and more bohemian toward Massachusetts Avenue. 

Papa-Razzi is a moderately priced restaurant.  There are branches in Georgetown in Washington DC, Short Hills, NJ, etc.  I start tomorrow, so I'll let you know how it goes!


My roommate's name is Monica.  She's from Kenya and completely awesome.  She is already planning my trip to Kenya and is trying to get me involved in some volunteer work with refugees.  She is a registered nurse and a professor at Boston University.  I am so lucky to have found such a great roommate.


Quincy is a great area.  I no longer have to worry about gang violence or pay for parking.  The worst thing that's happened is that the students at the middle school across the street wrote "Hi!" in the dew on my car windows.  I'm a very quick 10 minute walk to the T station, although I'm still getting used to the T.  I got lost in both Mission Hill and Harvard Square on separate occasions.  


A little history?  Sure!  don't mind if I do!
Quincy, MA was first founded as Mount Wollaston in 1625, named after Captain Wollaston from England.  Captain Wollaston soon moved to Virginia and left the colony in the care of Thomas Morton.  The settlement proceeded to gain a reputation for debauchery with native women and drunkenness.  Morton renamed the settlement Ma-re-Mount ("Hill by the Sea") and later wrote in reference to the conservative separatists of Plymouth Colony to the south who disapproved of his libertine practices that they were "threatening to make it a woefull mount and not a merry mount". In 1627 Morton was arrested by Standish for violating the code of conduct in a way harmful to the colony and was sent back to England, only to return and be arrested by Puritans the next year.  In 1630, Quincy was incorporated as a part of Dorchester and was briefly annexed by Boston in 1634.  In 1640, it was organized as a part of Braintree.  Following the American Revolution in 1792, Quincy was incorporated as a separate town and named Quincy after John Quincy.  It was made a city in 1888.   


Of some note, Howard Johnson's and Dunkin Donuts were founded and started in Quincy, and the celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys got its start in Wollaston. Quincy is also home to the United States' longest running Flag Day Parade, a tradition that began in 1952 under Richard Koch a former director of Parks and Recreation, who started the "Koch Club" sports organization for kids and had an annual parade with flags.


I'm still exploring the area, but have found the beach which is all I need to see!

  Quincy Beach and Yacht Club

Quincy Beach with views of Boston way way back there...

There have been a few events that have happened in the last few weeks:
The first weekend here, I went to a party on Friday night with my friend from college, Meghan.  Her friend Jess was having a party in Plymouth and they welcomed me with open arms.  I had a wonderful time and thought that Meghan's Big Bird Costume was the absolute best costume I have ever seen.  Jess's friends gave me some Mass living tips - watch out for the "Massholes" on the turnpike, Worchester is pronounced "Wooster" not "Worchester" but Dorchester is pronounced "Doorchester", I'd better love "The Sawx"...I had a wonderful time and Jess and I already have plans to hang out again.

Meghan and Me

The next day, my awesome parents brought up my furniture from Maryland.  I was able to get everything into my room.  It's a little crowded for some people, maybe, but it's cozy to me.


The day after that was Halloween.  Kerry and Boz only live about an hour from me, so I went down for the day.  They bought a pumpkin for me to carve and I handed out candy while they took Reagan trick or treating.  Reagan was so cute in her Minnie Mouse costume!

My Pumpkin Monster

The Cutest Minnie Mouse Ever!

Thursday, after I found out I no longer had a job, my cousins Lynn and Mark and their two girls, Jenna and Julia were in the area looking at colleges.  They took me out to a place in Quincy called "Grumpy White's".  I tasted fish for the first time that I actually liked.  I was so excited.  This was a great place and I'm definitely taking others here when they come.  They came back up 2 days later to see Jeffrey in an ultimate Frisbee tournament at University of Rhode Island.  I met them down there and we hung out with Kerry and Boz also.  It was freeeeeezing.  I couldn't believe how cold it got.  I asked my parents that night to send up my coats!  That night, we all went to dinner together and I stayed at Kerry and Boz's. 

Standing and watching Jeffrey play Ultimate Frisbee

This past weekend, I went to Kerry and Boz's again.  Kerry and I had plans to have a girl's night on Friday.  We made cupcakes and watched a chick flick.  Then she showed me around Newport.  It was amazing!  She showed me Bellevue Avenue with all of the amazing mansions, Ocean Drive, and Brenton Point.  I loved seeing the place she is going to be living for the next year!

Brenton Point, the best place for kite flying, apparently

Today, we went to Plymouth Rock to see the beginnings of America.  I had been warned by several people that the rock is underwhelming and I kinda agree, but it was still cool since I realized the magnitude of where I was.  We toured the Mayflower, walked up a big hill, had lunch then went home.  It was a nice outing.  Kerry mentioned having more outings like this so that we all can explore the awesome things New England has to offer.  

So far, I feel settled and even though the job situation isn't quite what I'd like it to be I see nothing but good things coming my way!