27 October 2010

Scary Things

So far, I have liked pretty much everything about Boston. Sure, sports games are on late, and I couldn't imagine driving here, but overall, it's pretty damn fantastic.

Except for:

1. Revolving Doors. I get that they are eco-green or whatever. The fact is, they scare the bejeebus out of me. I mean, completely. Did I get stuck in one as a child? Knowing my brother, this is a real possibility. But...why do they have to put big signs on the non-revolvers, so it looks like if you open them the emergency bells will sound, when, in fact, they will not.

2. Auto-toilets. These drive me irrationally crazy. They never seem to work well. I still have to touch the flush button have the time. And, unless they have auto-everything else (sink, soap dispenser, paper towel dispenser....), there is nothing more sanitary about it.

But the revolving doors...it's almost embarrassing.

26 October 2010

Boston in Fall

After 6+ months of not being more than 2 hours away from my home, the time finally came for me to hop on a plane and go far away.

I will admit to being a little stressed about this trip. Yes, I am stressed about everything these days, and one little thing can set me down a crazy path, but in this case it was somewhat justified. I am going straight from a work trip to a fun trip, and trying to cram it all (10 days) into a carry on suitcase. Gulp.

I arrived here in the lovely city of Boston last Friday. Flew on a red eye...I am not quite sure why I always think those are a good idea. I try to remind myself I am not 24 anymore and can't function that well on no sleep, but I am a glutton for punishment, I guess.

I arrived to a crisp fall day, complete with leaves turning orange and falling around me. Off to a meeting in a nearby town, then back to the City and a quick crash. Oops....night one, gone!

And, let me just say...bravo Westin. The Heavenly Bed is indeed that, and this may be the quietest room in which I've ever stayed. The bathroom here is a little small (though it has the same granite as my home), but I can overlook that due to the humongous bed and lovely view. (and flat screen, HDTV!)

So...morning #1 got off to a slow start thanks to this comfy bed. I finally rolled out and took a run down the Charles. I guess this weekend is Head of the Charles, a huge race...while they didn't come all the way down to where I was running, I could see the many crew boats out there ready to race. It also explained the fifty bazillion people all over the place! The run was not one of my best. I am not used to the cold, for sure!

After that I walked around Back Bay for quite some time. What a cool place. Apart from the extreme crowds, and their extreme inability to walk any faster than very slow or walk less than 3 people across, this area is awesome. I am not a huge shopper, but spent the day perusing all the different shops I could find on this one street. There weren't a lot of chains, and there were a bunch of stores we don't have in SF. What a nice change of pace! There is also this very cool mall, across the street from my hotel, full of shops we don't have at home. And some we do, which was also good, as I had forgotten a few things (like anything to wear during the day while in Boston or NOLA). After a full day of walking, it was time for a beer and some ball.

I can't believe how late national sports start here on the East Coast. Last night's game didn't start until 8pm (which means, at a minimum, it wouldn't be over until 10pm, but in actuality didn't end until midnight). On a weekend this isn't the biggest deal, but imagine on a weeknight. Eek. Today's football didn't even air until 1pm. 1pm!!! Where is the laziness in that?! I'll take my rolling out of bed, doing a quick walk with the poochie, and rolling back onto the couch to watch ball all day.

Anyway, today was another lovely fall day in Boston...complete with a little rain. I walked up to Public Garden and Boston Commons. All this walking reminds me of what I love most about traveling -- just wandering and getting lost in where I am. It could not have come at a more perfect time in my life, when getting lost is the only thing that makes some sense.

If it weren't for the cold (Luca would hate the little booties he'd need to wear), I think I could get used to this place.


24 October 2010

Ok, Baseball Season, Enough Now

When did the baseball season go so late into the year? If this Series goes all 7 games, that means it won't end until November.

November? Growing up, it was always done by or on my cousin's birthday, in late October...

Now, as you know, I love baseball. Love. Adore. Unicorns and rainbows and all that jazz.

But this year, this year it just reminds me what's gone. I am hoping I can get back to a good
place with it, but, right now it just reminds me that the one person I talked to about baseball constantly is no longer accessible to me. That I can't just pick up the phone and talk to him about how not happy I am about the Giants making the World Series, and I can't hear him telling me I need to get over it and be happy a team from the Bay Area is on the team. The past few weeks I have gone to the phone several times to make that call, only to realize I can't.

So while all my friends are celebrating, and, I'm happy for them, these last few weeks have just made me incredibly sad. I can't wait for it all to be over.

17 October 2010

Following the Rules

One of the great things about living in San Francisco is the abundance of activities available to us for celebrations or just general fun.

Last night, I got to take advantage of one of those activities -- a boozy trolley car ride. This one was for my friend J's bday, and was themed "Hot Trolley Time Machine," with all of us ordered to dress as they did in the era of our choice. I am not huge on costumes, but here in SF, if you are going to do it, you have to do it as right as possible. I went as a 50s girl, with big flippy hair and saddle shoes. It was awesome that everyone was really into it, with costumes ranging from a gladiator to Snooki.

But what really cracked me up were the rules we were told before we got on the trolley, which included, but not limited to:
- Do not hand anyone off the trolley any drinks from the trolley
- Do not bring any booze from the bar onto the trolley
- Do not hang from/try any acrobatics on the hand straps
and, the best one...
- No peeing from the trolley

There were a bunch more, but these were particularly funny, because it meant that they have all happened enough times that they had to make it a formal rule that you CANNOT do these things. None of them surprise me, and I could see a few people I know doing one, if not all of these things...but, really? Like it wouldn't be common sense not to do them? It's illegal to carry a drink out of the bar...it's illegal to pee in public. It just made me laugh, for a good long while, that they had to make these formal rules and relate them to a bunch of 30+ year old adults!

(That's a pic of me while on the crawl. I had one simple goal: to make the Devo hat this one guy was wearing mine. Goal achieved...annie FTW)

12 October 2010

Baseball

Postseason baseball...there is hardly a better time in sports.

No, my team didn't make it this year, but they gave a valiant effort towards the end (and early in the year), and hopefully they'll pull their heads out and content next year.

This weekend brings the team in the town I live -- the Giants -- vs. the team that I grew up loving -- the Phillies.

Yes, the Phillies.

This may seem strange...why would a girl out on the west coast love the Phillies? Why ever would she root for them (and I will be rooting FOR them, not just against the Giants. Sorry friends!)?

I don't think many people would believe this about the Phillies, but it is true. Growing up, my cousin LOVED Mike Schmidt. Because he was the oldest of our little crew, we often had to like what he liked, and, as such, all loved Schmit and his fabulous mustache, too. We wished the A's would play the Phillies just to see him -- remember, in those days there was none of this interleague play, only the World Series and maybe an exhibition pre-season game, and Candlestick was far and not easy to get to, so we couldn't go cheer him on versus the Giants.

At any rate, we always loved the Phillies. And, as such, that love extended to the city of Philidelphia, which...none of us had ever visited, and I would frankly have been surprised if we even really knew where it is located (age check: we were all probably under 10; doubtful that geography was a strength of ours). But, this didn't deter us one bit. No, instead...we had dreams, all based on the following: Mike Schmidt, the Phillies, Philadelphia, and baseball cards.

In short...our dream was to live in a trailer, which would be located by the baseball stadium, and make Mike Schmidt baseball cards. As we had families, we would just add on trailers, all which would connect to the main baseball card-making hub. See, we planned ahead!

The best part? At no time did our parents discourage us. They were seemingly on board with us living this dream, as long as they could have a nearby trailer as well. No problem!

So, you see, my childhood dreams all tie to the Phillies. Yes, we were all A's fans first and most, but, you just couldn't say no to the Schmidt 'stache.

So...go Phillies!