it's a beautiful day in boston!
so beautiful, in fact, that i crawled out of bed (admittedly difficult) this morning and went for a run! albeit a short 20 minute run, but what a great feeling to wake up with the sun shining through the windows and blue skies from all angles! today i put away my down jacket and even wore my sunglasses on my walk to work. i think spring is around the corner!
anna and vicky tell me they went for a 3 1/2 hour run on sunday - AND this with a hangover. i wish my body would let me do things like that. (run, that is, i can do hangovers quite well) but i didn't seem to inherit the athletic gene from either side of the family. the motivation is just not there. it's enough so that i don't blimp into a couch potato - but not enough to make me a marathon runner. ah well - it's bad for the knees anyway!
and speaking of friends, those of you who know my friend ruth will be very happy to hear that she is ENGAGED to her wonderful boyfriend, now fiance, charlie!! hooray for ruth!! i haven't heard when the wedding will be, but likely sometime later this year or early 2007! can't wait!
on a random note, i've joined netflix - so if anyone has any movie suggestions - let's hear them!
this week is busy for me at work - so i must get back to it - visiting colleagues from other offices, all interviewing students for summer term. tonight we're out for a work night out - and will attempt a trivia night at a local bar, with half price apps and $1.00 coors before 7. (you can imagine we'll be out the door at 5!)
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
march madness in boston
i don't think i've ever watched so much college basketball. in fact, let me rephrase, i have NEVER watched college basketball. thankfully (or not) north carolina went out as of last week and that is AG's team - so now i'm going in on a pool for the sweet sixteen. alex says i need to pick my brackets. i don't know what that means - so i'm just going to guess - and see if i win anything. it's ten dollars, and winner takes all. go team. (any help by 6pm tonight would be appreciated!)
just wanted to throw in a quick pic of my new flat for everyone to see. it's so lovely. hardwood floors, one bedroom for me, a living room and kitchen and bathroom. it's perfect. it's about a twenty minute walk from work (whereas before i had it down to about 6 minutes) but i think it's a much nicer part of town to be in. more lively, more to do, more around, more community feel. beacon street is amazing - but somewhat stuffy. i'm in the south end. (the up-and-coming neighborhood here).
can't seem to get the picture to load, so you'll have to imagine!
i bought myself a mini cuisinart chopper - so i feel like my kitchen is complete. i can make the dishes i love and don't need to limit myself to pasta and tomato sauce - much as i'd grown to love the trader joe's three cheese. i'm going to attempt some adventure again in the kitchen. i've already made an amazing stir fry sauce (peanuts, cilantro, chilis, sesame oil, soy sauce, fish sauce) and a delicous mexican salsa - though i think whizzing the tomatoes was a bad idea as it turned into a bit of a slush. still delicious, but next time i'll chop them by hand.
it's nice to be back in boston. i went out with cousin anna last night, and am meeting more friends tonight and tomorrow night - which is a nice reminder that i AM able to make new friends and survive in a new city. i think keeping myself busy is going to be relatively important for my sanity. although some alone time is good too. i'm looking into volunteering. they have scrabble and trivia nights with some old folks, which i think sounds like great fun. boston is a great town for philanthropists, as i think i've mentioned. can't wait for the weekend. the sun is lovely when it shines through the windows of the apartment, so i'm looking forward to a peaceful saturday with joni mitchell in the background.
one can only take so much march madness!
just wanted to throw in a quick pic of my new flat for everyone to see. it's so lovely. hardwood floors, one bedroom for me, a living room and kitchen and bathroom. it's perfect. it's about a twenty minute walk from work (whereas before i had it down to about 6 minutes) but i think it's a much nicer part of town to be in. more lively, more to do, more around, more community feel. beacon street is amazing - but somewhat stuffy. i'm in the south end. (the up-and-coming neighborhood here).
can't seem to get the picture to load, so you'll have to imagine!
i bought myself a mini cuisinart chopper - so i feel like my kitchen is complete. i can make the dishes i love and don't need to limit myself to pasta and tomato sauce - much as i'd grown to love the trader joe's three cheese. i'm going to attempt some adventure again in the kitchen. i've already made an amazing stir fry sauce (peanuts, cilantro, chilis, sesame oil, soy sauce, fish sauce) and a delicous mexican salsa - though i think whizzing the tomatoes was a bad idea as it turned into a bit of a slush. still delicious, but next time i'll chop them by hand.
it's nice to be back in boston. i went out with cousin anna last night, and am meeting more friends tonight and tomorrow night - which is a nice reminder that i AM able to make new friends and survive in a new city. i think keeping myself busy is going to be relatively important for my sanity. although some alone time is good too. i'm looking into volunteering. they have scrabble and trivia nights with some old folks, which i think sounds like great fun. boston is a great town for philanthropists, as i think i've mentioned. can't wait for the weekend. the sun is lovely when it shines through the windows of the apartment, so i'm looking forward to a peaceful saturday with joni mitchell in the background.
one can only take so much march madness!
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
my sister ... the blonde bombshell
i'm sitting in a walkway/alcove in LAX watching the people. a gaggle of paris hilton's cousins have just walked by, silver box cases in tow with their velour pink tracksuits and heels. really, who flies like this? one girl's shirt said 'take me to miami' so i'm guessing they're returning home to south beach.
in SF at the weekend, we had an afternoon 'discussion' that was facilitated by one of molly's friend's boyfriend's mother who is an ex-hippy (though the 'ex' is questionable) from berkeley working on a dance performance piece for her thesis at a nearby university. it's a piece about the media's influence on body image and self-esteem and her basic hypothesis is that it's all the media's fault we are so concerned with being skinny and beautiful. well, yes, duh, but still slightly simplistic if you ask me. can we play the victim card forever here ladies? when do women have to start taking responsibility? ANYWAY. it was interesting to hear my sister talk about her own body image, and how she's struggled with it since junior high. and SO frustrating to hear that she has not ALWAYS felt the beautiful woman that she is (and always has been). and particularly frustrating because we come from the same family, and i don't really have too many of those same issues.
sure i'd love it if i could crunch my way to a washboard stomach , or if my thighs were a little smaller. (thanks to aunt suzen's comment when i was eleven that i had thighs like a horse ... well-intentioned, horses have beautiful legs, but try telling that to a pre-pubescent middle schooler. luckily i bear no grudges there!) but for some reason, i just don't care that much. (YET anyway ... things aren't sagging yet.) maybe it's age. maybe when molly is thirty, she'll look back at her insecurities and laugh, chalking them up to adolescence and naivety. i hope so. you should see her now, she DOES have a washboard stomach - and she's got legs and an ass that rival the hottest hip hop divas. (and here i am trying to get rid of mine!) but what she's left with is a strange inability to appreciate what she now has. perhaps from the years of hating the excess, when more was definitely not better. she said she finds it difficult to accept compliments, and is quick to dismiss them with rolled eyes when they do land at her feet. (which, btw, happens ALL the time these days - especially in SF where blonde, blue-eyed bombshells - especially NATURAL blondes - are NOT the norm).
she's growing into her beauty though. and i think (and hope) that underneath the humble and modest exterior she's grown so used to portraying (the thanks-but-you-don't-have-to-say-that-because-i-know-you-can't-mean-it, apologetic beauty) - i hope that she is finding her inner-beauty and comfort with what she has. and i hope she finds that from the inside out, and not simply because people now whistle at her from the cars - because they'll continue to do that forever.
you really should see her, she's gorgeous!
in SF at the weekend, we had an afternoon 'discussion' that was facilitated by one of molly's friend's boyfriend's mother who is an ex-hippy (though the 'ex' is questionable) from berkeley working on a dance performance piece for her thesis at a nearby university. it's a piece about the media's influence on body image and self-esteem and her basic hypothesis is that it's all the media's fault we are so concerned with being skinny and beautiful. well, yes, duh, but still slightly simplistic if you ask me. can we play the victim card forever here ladies? when do women have to start taking responsibility? ANYWAY. it was interesting to hear my sister talk about her own body image, and how she's struggled with it since junior high. and SO frustrating to hear that she has not ALWAYS felt the beautiful woman that she is (and always has been). and particularly frustrating because we come from the same family, and i don't really have too many of those same issues.
sure i'd love it if i could crunch my way to a washboard stomach , or if my thighs were a little smaller. (thanks to aunt suzen's comment when i was eleven that i had thighs like a horse ... well-intentioned, horses have beautiful legs, but try telling that to a pre-pubescent middle schooler. luckily i bear no grudges there!) but for some reason, i just don't care that much. (YET anyway ... things aren't sagging yet.) maybe it's age. maybe when molly is thirty, she'll look back at her insecurities and laugh, chalking them up to adolescence and naivety. i hope so. you should see her now, she DOES have a washboard stomach - and she's got legs and an ass that rival the hottest hip hop divas. (and here i am trying to get rid of mine!) but what she's left with is a strange inability to appreciate what she now has. perhaps from the years of hating the excess, when more was definitely not better. she said she finds it difficult to accept compliments, and is quick to dismiss them with rolled eyes when they do land at her feet. (which, btw, happens ALL the time these days - especially in SF where blonde, blue-eyed bombshells - especially NATURAL blondes - are NOT the norm).
she's growing into her beauty though. and i think (and hope) that underneath the humble and modest exterior she's grown so used to portraying (the thanks-but-you-don't-have-to-say-that-because-i-know-you-can't-mean-it, apologetic beauty) - i hope that she is finding her inner-beauty and comfort with what she has. and i hope she finds that from the inside out, and not simply because people now whistle at her from the cars - because they'll continue to do that forever.
you really should see her, she's gorgeous!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
why i love the job ...
having just spent the last two days interviewing thirty 21 year olds who are coming to london this summer, i'm reminded why i do actually enjoy what i do. how exciting to be 21 again. (not that 30 is that far off, mind you, but 21 seems such a long time ago - i was just moving back to england with brent after college graduation when i was that age - and LOOK what has happened since!). they were so excited about the opportunities awaiting them in londontown. most had NO idea of what they wanted to do - some had ideas, but nothing concrete, and a few knew exactly what they wanted. but by in large, i was able to sway them into areas that would be much more interesting and fun for an 8 week internship in the summer. (and areas easier for us to place!) i must say i gave quite possibly my best orientation ever - nearly 2 hours - but by now i can do this in my sleep.
one girl reminded me very much of my sister. she written an essay about wanting to work in marketing or PR, and inspired by her sister who was a diamond buyer for macy's. we talked quite a bit about her interests and i told her we actually did have some buying placements in london with some fashion labels and would she be interested in doing what her sister did? she thought about it for a long time and then said, 'no, you know, i love what she does and she's inspired me, but i think i want to try out my own path.'
good girl, i thought.
so now i'm off for a weekend in san francisco with the family! can't wait to see everyone again and just chill out! (and perhaps a bit of shopping - the hotel is just across from macy's in union square and i want a bathrobe for boston!) i'm still slightly jetlagged and my body doesn't quite know which time zone to choose - but i'm getting there.
tonight i'm out for drinks with an old high school friend who i haven't seen since graduation day (that i can remember) - so it should be a laugh! he emailed me out of the blue after getting my details off another old friend i'd just bumped into last time i was in santa cruz. it's a small world. i think he's a lawyer somewhere in LA. i wonder what he'll look like 13 years on? i wonder if i look like what he'll be expecting!?
what a trip!
one girl reminded me very much of my sister. she written an essay about wanting to work in marketing or PR, and inspired by her sister who was a diamond buyer for macy's. we talked quite a bit about her interests and i told her we actually did have some buying placements in london with some fashion labels and would she be interested in doing what her sister did? she thought about it for a long time and then said, 'no, you know, i love what she does and she's inspired me, but i think i want to try out my own path.'
good girl, i thought.
so now i'm off for a weekend in san francisco with the family! can't wait to see everyone again and just chill out! (and perhaps a bit of shopping - the hotel is just across from macy's in union square and i want a bathrobe for boston!) i'm still slightly jetlagged and my body doesn't quite know which time zone to choose - but i'm getting there.
tonight i'm out for drinks with an old high school friend who i haven't seen since graduation day (that i can remember) - so it should be a laugh! he emailed me out of the blue after getting my details off another old friend i'd just bumped into last time i was in santa cruz. it's a small world. i think he's a lawyer somewhere in LA. i wonder what he'll look like 13 years on? i wonder if i look like what he'll be expecting!?
what a trip!
Friday, March 03, 2006
i can read COSMO again!
i love the hairdressers for the time it affords me to read through the glossy mags and catch up on my celebrity gossip. i can't stand the small talk that hairdressers attempt to make, so i'm always quick to grab a few magazines and sink into the chair with my head down deep in the cover of OK or Heat or other such rubbish that only hairdressers seem to have aplenty.
but yesterday i reached for a Cosmo!
not that i would be an avid Cosmo reader under any circumstance, but i've been avoiding them for years now - not wanting to read about '30 most romantic ways to spend a night with your lover' or 'what HE really wants you to do under the covers but is too afraid to ask' or 'how to spot a marriage proposal from miles away' etc etc etc.
i'm sure the singletons out there can relate. there are always the token 'how to snare a boyfriend' pages and horoscopes that reveal just how likely you are to find mr. right this year or the quasi-feminist articles on how wonderful it is to be single and shouldn't we all try it at least once for a spell. whaaateeevvvaaa.
anyway, it was great fun to read last night while waiting for the bleach to take - not because i'm actually going to scatter rose petals, soak in bubblebath or dress in lingerie from agent provocateur (tips 14, 20, 29 respectively for ways to make him open up and say AHHH) - but because i can at least THINK about it now.
my ideas however, are much more original than Cosmo, and sadly, cannot be revealed on this blog, as i'm sure you'll understand dear readers.
i'm off to boston on sunday so this may be the last blog from the shores of the united kingdom.
happy friday!
but yesterday i reached for a Cosmo!
not that i would be an avid Cosmo reader under any circumstance, but i've been avoiding them for years now - not wanting to read about '30 most romantic ways to spend a night with your lover' or 'what HE really wants you to do under the covers but is too afraid to ask' or 'how to spot a marriage proposal from miles away' etc etc etc.
i'm sure the singletons out there can relate. there are always the token 'how to snare a boyfriend' pages and horoscopes that reveal just how likely you are to find mr. right this year or the quasi-feminist articles on how wonderful it is to be single and shouldn't we all try it at least once for a spell. whaaateeevvvaaa.
anyway, it was great fun to read last night while waiting for the bleach to take - not because i'm actually going to scatter rose petals, soak in bubblebath or dress in lingerie from agent provocateur (tips 14, 20, 29 respectively for ways to make him open up and say AHHH) - but because i can at least THINK about it now.
my ideas however, are much more original than Cosmo, and sadly, cannot be revealed on this blog, as i'm sure you'll understand dear readers.
i'm off to boston on sunday so this may be the last blog from the shores of the united kingdom.
happy friday!
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