Catching up!

It's been a few weeks, but I promise that I've had a good excuse.

Several weeks ago, I went into Papa Razzi for my second follow shift, the second of three which would get me on the floor as a server.  The manager called me into her office and told me that she just didn't have the shifts for me to continue working there, so she was going to have to let me go.  I was really bummed, especially since I had just spent the last of my money on men's oxford shirts, T fare, and spent 3 weeks in classes with very little pay, and I wasn't even being given the chance to get on the floor.  Luckily, I found another job at a place called Hingham Beer Works (http://www.beerworks.net/home/index.html) and started training 4 days after losing the job at Papa Razzi.  I must have done something really bad to someone, somewhere, because this never-ending string of bad job luck is killing me!  I'm still training at Beer Works, and should be on the floor as a server early next week.  Hopefully.

On the other job front, this past week, I was offered (and accepted) a part time freelance gig with an advertising agency.  They just had their media budget quadrupled and need help until the launch of their campaign.  I'll be negotiating rates, organizing contracts, securing deadlines, all stuff I love to do (and am really good at!)  The client is an international alternative energy producer out of Shanghai.  My main points of contact will be in China, Korea, Germany...all international business.  I'm very excited for the opportunity and the awesome addition to my resume.

As for fun events the last few weeks, I attended a cookie party and met Kerry and Reagan to see Santa.  Otherwise, I've been very quiet.

My friend Jess threw a cookie party a couple of weekends ago.  We started off the evening by playing Monopoly on the Wii.  I started playing, but Pete ended up playing my turn while I made pepperoni bread for dinner.  We all baked cookies, made dirty shapes out of sugar cookie dough, drank chocolate wine (http://chocovine.com/welcome.htm) (so so yummy!) and Grinch martinis and ate Jess's amazing meatballs and chicken stew.  I brought a recipe for Russian Tea Cookies and Jess insisted on keeping my finished product (see Kerry, SOMEONE likes my baking!)  It was a wonderful night and I love Jess's friends.

Some of the cookie party attendees (after the obligatory beer bottle drop!)

This past Saturday, I met Kerry and Reagan for some female bonding (and getting them out of Boz's hair so he could write a paper).  We decided to meet in Providence since it's almost exactly 45 minutes from both of us.  The mall we met at was kind of a dud (had a Tiffany's but not a Hallmark), but we had a great time anyway.  Reagan sat on Santa's lap.  Santa was really great, very gentle and soft spoken.  You could tell he was enjoying his job.  Reagan told him that she wanted a baby doll.  We then walked around the mall a little and finally ate lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.  Reagan was adorable, as always, and we really had a wonderful time!  I'm trying really hard not to think about what I'm going to do when they move next year.  I've gotten so used to being around my sister's family, that I'm going to fiercely miss them when they go to their next spot.  

Reagan with Santa

Reagan and Kerry at lunch!  Yum!

I'm working a lot this week, but next week should be good - Christmas updates!  Hooray!

Exploring Boston - The Freedom Trail

When I started hanging out with Jess, she told me that whatever touristy stuff I wanted to do, she would be more than happy to explore with me.  Yesterday, I made her do something that she has done already, but that I thought was cool.  We explored Boston's Freedom Trail.

"The Freedom Trail is a red (mostly brick) path through downtown Boston, Massachusetts that leads to 16 significant historic sites. It is a 2.5-mile walk from Boston Common to Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown with simple ground markers, graveyards, notable churches and other buildings, and a historic naval frigate along the way." (Wikipedia)

I'm not sure how much I learned along the way, but it was a great way to spend the day, walking around Boston, seeing the sights.

 The Beginning

 The Current State House

Jess and Me in front of the modern State House

Just an artistic shot...

Fat Squirrel

Park Street Congregational Church - Built in 1809

Graves in Granary Burying Ground, Boston's 3rd oldest cemetery

Paul Revere's Grave, Granary Burying Ground

Samuel Adams' Grave, Granary Burying Ground

Cool graves at King's Chapel Burying Ground

The picture I want on my grave.  It will scare away the bad people.

Jessica, trying to find guidance on how to turn a historic church into a bar...

Meditating in King's Chapel, originally built in 1688 as the first Anglican 

church in New England.  It was situated on a public burying ground because no resident 

would sell land for a non-Puritan church.  The modern structure was completed in 1754.  

 

Jess posing on the donkey

Going against my values to pose on the ass...but....

This is right in front of the donkey statue!  Too funny!

The Old South Meeting House, built 1729.  Famed for being the

 place where the Boston Tea Party was organized

Faneuil Hall - the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis, and others 

encouraging independence from Great Britain

Statue of Paul Revere - I wished so badly that it was lower because I 

desperately wanted to give him a "High Five"!

Steeple of the Old North Church...

"Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.

He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,--
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm.""

~Paul Revere's Ride Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Ask my sister to recite this poem for you sometime.  For some reason, she still knows it from beginning to end. 

Thanksgiving and All That Jazz

Since I figured I was going to have to work for Thanksgiving, I was going to stay here and do something small by myself.  My sister and mother wouldn't hear of it, so Kerry, Boz, and Reagan stayed in Newport and Kerry selflessly made the whole spread: Turkey, Corn Pudding, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Watergate Salad, Pie.  She really went all out!

I had to work Wednesday afternoon and decided not to tempt the traffic, so I left early Thursday morning.  I figured I would get a soda on the road.  That's when I found out about Massachusetts and Rhode Island's Blue Laws.  Toto, I'm not in California anymore.  A blue law is a law which puts restrictions on stores for religious purposes.  For example, most states have a law that states that alcohol cannot be sold on Sundays.  Massachusetts has a law which prohibits most sales on holidays.  The only exceptions are drug stores and grocery stores.  I went into a CVS to get a drink and they could literally only sell about 20 items in the store.  A girl in front of me in line wanted to buy barrettes for her hair and the clerk told her that she could not legally be sold the barrettes.  I was kinda shocked.  Damn Pilgrims.  They're the reason I couldn't find an open McDonald's to get a soda!

Anyway, went to the Bosworth's house, watched the parade, took a nap, ate a super yummy dinner...

Friday, Kerry wanted to decorate their house, so we put up the tree.  Reagan was a huge helper!  I'm sorry if you've already seen these pics, but we shared a camera that weekend!

Reagan helping Daddy with the tree skirt

Reagan helping Mommy arrange the ornaments

Fenway wishing she had opposable thumbs so she could help too!

That night, we went to the Newport Boat Parade.  We crowded around a tiny dock watching the lit boats float by.  It was a lot of fun, if not cold.  I'm still not used to this cold weather!!!

One! One Lit Boat

Two!  Two Lit Boats!

Three!  Three smiling people!

The next day (Saturday), I went home for a few hours.  The Bosworths drove to Massachusetts to visit a place Kerry had read about called EdaVille.  I met them there.  They have a great light display and some cute rides for kids.  It was free-eee-eee-zing but we had a great time despite the cold.  Kerry and I rode the Scrambler and laughed so hard we couldn't breathe.  It's funny, but I actually like hanging out with my sis, bro, and niece!  My roommate actually commented about how she could never hang out with her sister as much as I hang out with mine.  I think it's great that we get along so well.  

Some of the fun lights!

Reagan liked stuffing her face with popcorn!

She also loved riding the Turtles...

 ...and making Daddy squeeze into the teeny train...

...and riding the elephants with Mommy....

...while Aunt Di played with a dangerous hippo.

The next day, Sunday, I found out that there is a huge holiday parade in Quincy.  Maybe I should start reading the newspaper.  The good news is I could see it from my window.  It wasn't quite the same as being there, but I saw all of the floats and heard all of the bands (which was fun when I was trying to ward off a migraine).

  Fun Thanksgiving Day Parade in my new town!