we woke this morning to a winter wonderland. snow flurries and peaceful white streets. lovely. and not too cold for walking. tomorrow it will be painfully frustrating with ice and grey slush, but today it is beautiful. it's supposed to snow for the next few days ... it appears winter arrived late this year.
i had a very very lazy weekend. the only reason i got off the couch yesterday was to get to the store to buy ingredients for dinner. i made a thai green curry paste from scratch. (delicious) otherwise, we just lounged around, flipping between college basketball and crap sunday afternoon tv (mrs doubtfire, pros vs joes, etc). though of course, sat through the entire academy awards ceremony - despite not having seen half the movies this year. (but did you SEE gwenyth paltrow's dress? gorgeous). still, it's nice having lazy sundays. and we've taken to cooking a nice meal as well - something that requires opening a cookbook and that (usually) doesn't involve pasta. alex got the joy of cooking for christmas and i'm rediscovering cookbooks without pictures.
happy monday to all!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
letters from inmates
i spent last night at a volunteer project called books for prisoners. it took me 45 minutes to get out to quincy after work to find a unitarian parish church that has a library of used books in its basement. to call it a library is too grand. a hot, stuffy, windowless room full of shelves and boxes of books hastily organized into sections: westerns, romance, classic fiction, hobbies, psychology, self-help, new, dictionaries, sci-fi, GLBT, black history, native american history, US history, religion, the occult, etc etc.
every day they get dozens and dozens (if not hundreds) of letters from inmates around the country asking for books to be delivered. some of the requests vague: the first letter i read said 'i like historical romance and westerns' to very specific requests: 'i would like the 'The Miseducation of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson' ... hardly ever would they have a perfect match - but often could get somewhat close. one of the only letters from a woman i received said she liked anything by mary higgins clark - and thankfully, there were two on the shelf. she got them both.
so the first two hours we spent reading letters and chosing books - getting as close as we could to their requests. and the final hour i spent packing the books. they get a postcard first, so that they know exactly what to look for in the post. the books are sent 3rd class, so come a few weeks later.
it was a shame that we couldn't write any personal messages, but i suppose there were just too many books to pack to be personal. and perhaps there are rules against it. i don't know.
the man who requested historical romance novels i sent lolita - but wondered whether that was the sort of romance he spoke of. (actually, he also mentioned erotica ... so i thought, what the heck!) i desperately wanted to stick a note in there that said something like 'stick with it ... it takes awhile but you'll love it' or something of the sort.
the jails had all sorts of rules as well. some inmates could only get paperbacks, some had to be brand new books, others weren't allowed dictionaries (apparently the jails have some kind of profiteering going on with the dictionary industry), others could only have 2 books, others had to include an invoice so the could track exactly what should have been in there, others couldn't contain wire or spiral bound books - for obvious reasons.
the books, i suppose, are donated from all sorts of places and people - because there really were all sorts of books. no bibles - as apparently there is another organization that gives strictly bibles. but other free books from buddhists and other religious groups. there was a spanish version of a course in miracles that i was tempted to give away to one of the inmates looking to learn spanish ... but it's hard enough to grasp in english. i wasn't sure the spanish version would help.
and i wondered how long 'do what you love and the money will follow' would sit on the shelf. hard to imagine a request for that from an inmate.
it was inspiring yet sad. but nice to work on a project with such tangible results. knowing that in 3 weeks, someone will be reading himself to sleep with lolita because of me. (perhaps he'll hate me for that one!)
in any case, it made me think of how many books i have sitting on my shelf (or had in the UK) that i had absolutely no need for. and what a great way to get rid of them. think about it if you've got some books on your shelf!
every day they get dozens and dozens (if not hundreds) of letters from inmates around the country asking for books to be delivered. some of the requests vague: the first letter i read said 'i like historical romance and westerns' to very specific requests: 'i would like the 'The Miseducation of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson' ... hardly ever would they have a perfect match - but often could get somewhat close. one of the only letters from a woman i received said she liked anything by mary higgins clark - and thankfully, there were two on the shelf. she got them both.
so the first two hours we spent reading letters and chosing books - getting as close as we could to their requests. and the final hour i spent packing the books. they get a postcard first, so that they know exactly what to look for in the post. the books are sent 3rd class, so come a few weeks later.
it was a shame that we couldn't write any personal messages, but i suppose there were just too many books to pack to be personal. and perhaps there are rules against it. i don't know.
the man who requested historical romance novels i sent lolita - but wondered whether that was the sort of romance he spoke of. (actually, he also mentioned erotica ... so i thought, what the heck!) i desperately wanted to stick a note in there that said something like 'stick with it ... it takes awhile but you'll love it' or something of the sort.
the jails had all sorts of rules as well. some inmates could only get paperbacks, some had to be brand new books, others weren't allowed dictionaries (apparently the jails have some kind of profiteering going on with the dictionary industry), others could only have 2 books, others had to include an invoice so the could track exactly what should have been in there, others couldn't contain wire or spiral bound books - for obvious reasons.
the books, i suppose, are donated from all sorts of places and people - because there really were all sorts of books. no bibles - as apparently there is another organization that gives strictly bibles. but other free books from buddhists and other religious groups. there was a spanish version of a course in miracles that i was tempted to give away to one of the inmates looking to learn spanish ... but it's hard enough to grasp in english. i wasn't sure the spanish version would help.
and i wondered how long 'do what you love and the money will follow' would sit on the shelf. hard to imagine a request for that from an inmate.
it was inspiring yet sad. but nice to work on a project with such tangible results. knowing that in 3 weeks, someone will be reading himself to sleep with lolita because of me. (perhaps he'll hate me for that one!)
in any case, it made me think of how many books i have sitting on my shelf (or had in the UK) that i had absolutely no need for. and what a great way to get rid of them. think about it if you've got some books on your shelf!
Monday, February 12, 2007
check it out!
OK - i've made a video of our new apartment and put it up on my podcast page. it's a small little window into life in cambridge!
i've got the week off - so i'm catching up on ALL the random things i've been meaning to do for AGES. (if i owe you something - a letter, an email, a phone call - now's the time to let me know!) equally, it would be a great time to call me to catch up! what are you waiting for?
alex and i went for a really long walk yesterday which was great - through central square to harvard square. i really like living on this side of the river. and hopefully i'll have some time to explore this week as well. might even pop down to the science museum - just at the end of the street!
hope all are well!
i've got the week off - so i'm catching up on ALL the random things i've been meaning to do for AGES. (if i owe you something - a letter, an email, a phone call - now's the time to let me know!) equally, it would be a great time to call me to catch up! what are you waiting for?
alex and i went for a really long walk yesterday which was great - through central square to harvard square. i really like living on this side of the river. and hopefully i'll have some time to explore this week as well. might even pop down to the science museum - just at the end of the street!
hope all are well!
Friday, February 09, 2007
TGIF
another week come and gone - how fast they are moving these days! not such a bad thing i suppose if warmer weather is around the corner. for the last three days in a row i've worn nylons under my pants (trousers) to work. yuck yuck yuck. i hate them. i hate to feel so restricted. but it's too cold to let it all hang out!
i am taking next week off work ... as a continuation of the christmas holiday i didn't really take. we usually get 3 weeks off, i only took about a week and a half. i'm going to laze around boston, get a massage, finish fixing up the house (though really, it's nearly finished), and most importantly, sort out my finances once and for all. i've got the month of feb to get myself back into the US system with taxes, etc etc. boring, but necessary work.
alex and i went to see pan's labyrinth last night - great great movie - highly recommended. it was described at a sci-fi fantasy - my two least favorite genres - or so i thought - but it was a fantastic spanish movie, around the time of franco. brilliantly shot.
and now i must get to work for 8 more hours until the holiday begins!
i am taking next week off work ... as a continuation of the christmas holiday i didn't really take. we usually get 3 weeks off, i only took about a week and a half. i'm going to laze around boston, get a massage, finish fixing up the house (though really, it's nearly finished), and most importantly, sort out my finances once and for all. i've got the month of feb to get myself back into the US system with taxes, etc etc. boring, but necessary work.
alex and i went to see pan's labyrinth last night - great great movie - highly recommended. it was described at a sci-fi fantasy - my two least favorite genres - or so i thought - but it was a fantastic spanish movie, around the time of franco. brilliantly shot.
and now i must get to work for 8 more hours until the holiday begins!
Monday, February 05, 2007
whole lotta nothing ... and fixing up!
didn't do much at all this weekend.
which was perfectly fine by me. it means the apartment looks great and everything is in its place. we were given a coffee table and a TV stand, and we went back to ikea (urgh-enough!) for a chair to go in the living room and a bookshelf for the office. so now, the only thing we really need is a dresser. we'll find one soon enough, and then we'll pretty much be sorted here. everything is coming together very nicely. getting cozier by the day. really, someone should come visit!
went to a celtics game on friday and watched the guys lose from the nosebleed section. apparently their 14th straight loss - the worst in the league. but nevermind, the fans were excited. we chatted with a older woman and her granddaughter after the game, waiting for the T, who had been coming to the garden for 42 years to watch them play. her granddaughter seemed poised to carry the tradition.
and i went to a kickboxing class at my new gym which was great - i could see myself getting back into classes (finally) after a year and a half hiatus. and i also went to church - but obviously picked the wrong mass to go to because there were only about 40 people in the building, clearly the catholic church is in decline (or everyone is dying) and pretty dull music. i'll try the 9am mass next time, though that means getting up early on a sunday.
and that's all for my weekend report. one more week of work and then i'm taking some time off. mainly to sort through finances and make some important decisions about what i'm doing (selling up in london, renting, paying taxes, etc etc)
fun.
hope you're well wherever you're at!
which was perfectly fine by me. it means the apartment looks great and everything is in its place. we were given a coffee table and a TV stand, and we went back to ikea (urgh-enough!) for a chair to go in the living room and a bookshelf for the office. so now, the only thing we really need is a dresser. we'll find one soon enough, and then we'll pretty much be sorted here. everything is coming together very nicely. getting cozier by the day. really, someone should come visit!
went to a celtics game on friday and watched the guys lose from the nosebleed section. apparently their 14th straight loss - the worst in the league. but nevermind, the fans were excited. we chatted with a older woman and her granddaughter after the game, waiting for the T, who had been coming to the garden for 42 years to watch them play. her granddaughter seemed poised to carry the tradition.
and i went to a kickboxing class at my new gym which was great - i could see myself getting back into classes (finally) after a year and a half hiatus. and i also went to church - but obviously picked the wrong mass to go to because there were only about 40 people in the building, clearly the catholic church is in decline (or everyone is dying) and pretty dull music. i'll try the 9am mass next time, though that means getting up early on a sunday.
and that's all for my weekend report. one more week of work and then i'm taking some time off. mainly to sort through finances and make some important decisions about what i'm doing (selling up in london, renting, paying taxes, etc etc)
fun.
hope you're well wherever you're at!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
i love convenience
is that terrible? (or terribly american?)
i don't mind. i have a grocery store (a nice one) at the end of my street. 3 blocks away. nearby i also have a gold's gym, which i joined yesterday (i know what you're thinking - yuck - no-necked muscle men. but wait - they have a women's only section which i will use and some great classes which i will attempt AND what's more, it's 39 dollars/month with NO joining fee and NO contract. how could i refuse?) there is also a pharmacy, a marshalls (east coast ross?), a supercuts, a liquor store, a dollar store, a bar at the end of the street (only 1 block) - full of great east boston locals, a wonderful bakery that makes really fancy quinceniera cakes and the like, a fresh fish store, a butcher, and several small convenience stores. i love it. this is a great neighborhood. very different from the posh south end or beacon hill i was at before. but very cool.
really, you should come visit! there's a spot on the couch!
i don't mind. i have a grocery store (a nice one) at the end of my street. 3 blocks away. nearby i also have a gold's gym, which i joined yesterday (i know what you're thinking - yuck - no-necked muscle men. but wait - they have a women's only section which i will use and some great classes which i will attempt AND what's more, it's 39 dollars/month with NO joining fee and NO contract. how could i refuse?) there is also a pharmacy, a marshalls (east coast ross?), a supercuts, a liquor store, a dollar store, a bar at the end of the street (only 1 block) - full of great east boston locals, a wonderful bakery that makes really fancy quinceniera cakes and the like, a fresh fish store, a butcher, and several small convenience stores. i love it. this is a great neighborhood. very different from the posh south end or beacon hill i was at before. but very cool.
really, you should come visit! there's a spot on the couch!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
