OC girl in MA

Ahhhhhh, finally the weekend.  Too bad it came and went before I really had time to enjoy it.

Naturally, I like to sleep in on the weekends.  Apparently, rest wasn’t in the cards for me as I had a rude awakening Saturday morning when construction started on my building at 7:oo am!!!!  Seriously…it’s the weekend…construction at 7 in the morning???  And of course, once I woke up, I couldn’t fall back asleep.  At least I wasn’t the only one upset, as I could hear people yelling out of their windows.  I have to admit though, it was pretty amusing at the same time!  I feel like it’s always one thing or another not allowing me to sleep, whether it’s construction, a fire alarm, loud neighbors, a phone call or the annoying fan outside.  Apparently, I’m not meant to sleep.

Anyhow, I got out of bed and started making use of my day.  I had a massage in the afternoon…it was a Christmas gift from a friend.  I have been pretty stressed lately, so I was looking forward to a relaxing massage.  So much for that!!!  I think the masseuse thought I was a human pretzel.  Rather than actually giving me a massage, she was moving my joints around. 

Aren’t you supposed to be relaxed during a relaxation massage? My neck is still hurting!!!

I’ve managed to go through two umbrellas during my time in Boston. 

The first was my navy blue umbrella.  It was small enough to stuff in my bag when it wasn’t in use.  That was until the day I had to head out for an interview in a rainstorm.  I had to get off at the JFK/UMass  “T” stop.  Keep in mind this was the first time I was getting off there.  And for those of you who have been there, you know how confusing it can be. 

Anyhow, I arrived at the “T” stop but didn’t know which exit I was supposed to take.  I had to get to Morrissey Blvd., but there were no signs pointing to it.  So, I got off on the wrong side of the tracks.  Did I mention that this was in the middle of one of the worst rainstorms? So bad, to the point that my umbrella flipped (more than once) and then was of no more use to me. 

So, I was on the wrong side of the tracks, there was no way to get back in, I was caught in a rainstorm, I had no idea where I was, I had an interview to be at, and there was no one on the street.  I have never been on a street like this one …it just kept going and going and going with no side streets or anything.  By the time I reached a cross street, I was at the Savin Hill “T” stop…yep…I walked all the way from the JFK/UMass stop to the Savin Hill “T” stop, and when I finally saw someone on the street to ask for directions, I realized that I was in the completely opposite direction of where I had to be. 

After walking in the rain for 45 minutes, I made it to my interview, looking like a wet poodle, dripping on the floor.  And although my umbrella failed me, I did get the position…thank God they didn’t base it on the first impression!

So, the other day I was walking on Boylston and got caught in an unbelieveably bad wind tunnel.  Not even my  bubble umbrella could help me this time, and actually failed what I thought it could stand up against.  Since the wind was so strong and pushing against me, I basically got trapped in the bubble and couldn’t move.  It was another situation where the wind and I were battling, and the wind won…this time taking down my umbrella.  I’m going to have to start getting umbrella insurance.

Now, on to umbrella number three!!!

So yesterday was Marathon Monday.  Or as my friend and I like to call it, Stroller Parade Day. 

Let me start off by telling you that we initially had plans to eat at Bamboo in Brighton. But due to road blocks, we couldn’t make our way over there.  So, we decided to get away from the city and head into Chestnut Hill.

My friend and I decided to grab lunch at Bertucci’s in the Atrium Mall.  We had to wait twice before getting onto an elevator because there were so many strollers going in and out.  My feet almost got run over…twice!  But we finally made our way onto the elevator, and surprise…more strollers.

I honestly don’t notice strollers as much back home.  If anything, maybe during the holiday season since all the kids want to get their picture taken with Santa (yes, he still exists).  So needless to say, it was definitely stroller shock for me. 

So we finally arrived at Bertucci’s.  Let’s just say that there were more kids present than there were adults.  Is Bertucci’s the new Chuck-E-Cheese’s?  I mean I know they both serve pizza, but come on now.  With the exception of the table my friend and I were seated at, there were no tables (or booths) that didn’t have children drawing on menus or flicking straws.  And it was like everyone knew to go at the same time:  Strollers ready?  Go!!!!

I honestly could not believe how many strollers were there when we arrived.  I don’t know if it was because families were taking a break from supporting marathon runners, or because parents had the day off from work and were spending quality time with the kids, but there were definitely more strollers (and kids) than usual.  Everywhere we turned, bam…a stroller.

We were grabbing a late lunch, so we thought we’d miss the lunch rush.  So much for that!  It was 1:30pm and the place was still packed.  Around 2:30pm, they all began to participate in what we call the stroller parade, departing at the same time, one after another in an orderly fashion.

Maybe next time we’ll just aim for an early dinner!

Make that five fire alarms!!!

I was just sitting at my computer, doing my work, when I heard the dreaded “Eehhh, eehhh, eehhh!!!” So naturally, my heart started palpitating and my hands started trembling, to the point that I was having difficulty getting my shoes on. But I got them on, grabbed my coat, keys and umbrella, and made way down the flights of stairs. 

Fortunately this time, there was no actual fire.  Just a lot of smoke which triggered the alarm.  Somebody was removing tile and somehow it created enough smoke to trigger the main alarm, causing everyone else to evacuate.  And of course this all happened when it was pouring rain outside. So rather than waiting in the cold rain, we gathered in the lobby.  This time it was entertaining however as everyone’s dogs/puppies started befriending each other. 

Two firemen from the Boston Fire Department soon arrived with axes in hand.  After making their way up the elevator, and soonafter returning back down, they ensured us that everything was okay and we could head back up.  

This time, it only took about 20 minutes.  But the trembling still hasn’t stopped.

I thought I could leave Boston with only having to evacuate four times, but no, five it is.  Unless of course the alarm goes off again before I leave.

It’s Boston Marathon weekend, and the streets are filled with runners and fans.  

As I was walking around the city earlier this morning, I could literally see the city transform because of the big event.  Roads were being blocked off, streets were full of runners, athletic vendors were lining the streets, and even parts of the Common were fenced off.  With so many runners on the streets, I felt like I needed to throw on a pair of running shoes and join in.  Too bad my shin splints keep me from doing so. 

Last year was the first time I attended the Boston Marathon. It was really great to see so many people participate…runners and supporters. The streets were so alive, and as I stood by the finish line, it was exciting to watch runners cross through the finish line after training so hard.  I even witnessed a proposal! 

The most similar event back home woud have to be the Los Angeles Marathon.  But I’ve never actually attended the L.A. marathon.  Considering I live about an hour from L.A., it’s pretty easy not be involved.  If I didn’t check the website, I wouldn’t even know when it was.  Being in Boston is different however.  You can’t live in this city and NOT know about the marathon.  It’s only natural to immerse yourself in all of the excitement and participate.  

Seeing as how this is the last time I’ll get to watch the Boston Marathon (in person that is), I really want to make it down to the finish line and cheer on runners as they finish.  And although the weather forecast says wind, rain and low temperatures, I’m still hopeful that the weather will be nice.  It’s hard to believe that temperatures were in the 80s for the marathon just a few years ago!

I have to admit that I’m not used to all these neighborhood “ma and pa” shops.  Back home, for the most part, everything is a chain.  

Due to all of the damage the winter has caused to my shoes, I had to drop off a pair at the local shoe repair.  These are the same boots I mentioned in an earlier post…the ones that were initially black but have now changed to gray.  In addition to the discoloration, the heels have completely worn down…I’m talking nail exposed to the pavement, and the tips of my boots are completely scuffed.  And since this is one of my only comfortable pair of shoes (ladies, you know how hard those are to find), I had to fix them.  Not to mention the fact that boots aren’t sold anymore since it’s sandal season…or so we wish!

So, I dropped off my shoes at the shoe repair shop.  And when I went to pick them up yesterday, there was a sign on the door reading:  Closed, 4/08 – 4/20. 

Help…my shoes are in captivity!!! You’d think they would tell their customers they’re going to “close up shop” for a couple weeks!  Needless to say, I won’t be getting my shoes back until the end of April, which (cross your fingers) is when I won’t need them anymore because it will be warm and I can pack up the boots and pull out the flip-flops. 

That’s one incident.  The other (and these both happened within a minute of each other mind you) was my visit to the local dry cleaner.  I dropped off some clothes the same day I dropped off my shoes.  So naturally, I went to pick them up on the same day.  Well, I was 0 for 2, as the dry cleaner ONLY accepted cash.  Well, I did have cash…just not enough unfortunately. Come on now people, conform!!!

What a waste of a trip.  There I was…no shoes and no clothes. 

With the exception of my grade school fire drills, and one false alarm when I lived in California, I’ve been lucky enough to get by without having to evacuate a building or inhale any smoke.  Well, that was until I moved to Boston.  Since my arrival in this city, I’ve had to evacuate four times as a result of fire alarms.  And none of them were false…there was smoke along with each one.

The first time an alarm went off was when I first moved here.  I hadn’t even been in the city for two weeks.  But the best part, is that it was in my apartment!  Yeah.  My toaster decided to spontaneously catch fire.  When I got into my apartment and couldn’t see across the way of my 150 square foot living room, my heart was palpitating and my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.  I honestly could not believe what had happened.  Fortunately the fire put itself out and didn’t spread, but there was enough smoke that it filtered out into the hall and triggered the main alarm, causing everyone to evacuate…well, those that took the alarm seriously.  The firemen couldn’t even believe that so much smoke was caused by a fire from a small toaster.  And the smoke lingered in my apartment for two weeks after.  Just as a side note, it took me two months before I purchased another toaster.  And the first day I used it, my alarm went off…I guess I’m not meant to toast.  

So all in all, there have been three fires in my apartment building and one at my workplace.  Four alarms!!!  And all within a year.  The best was probably the one that occurred at 3:3o in the morning…on a Thursday…in the dead of winter!  After standing out in the cold for an hour to wait for the firemen to go in and put it out, I turned into a human icicle.

The most recent of these fires occurred this past week while I was just about to leave work.  The fire alarm went on, followed by an emergency evacuation message.  The most amusing part however, was that no one – not one single person – flinched.  Whenever I heard those alarms in grade school, and the fire chief spoke to us, he told us to always take alarms seriously.  So naturally, I took this alarm seriously.  I followed routine procedure and went to the nearest exit.  As I was making my way down the stairs, the lower I got, the more smoke there was.  I was honestly in smoke for maybe one minute, but my hair and my clothes reaked of smoke for the remainder of the day.

You’d think that by the fourth fire alarm, it wouldn’t phase me, but my heart still palpitates and my hands start shaking.  Fortunately none of these fires have been too serious, but still, they’ve shaken me up. 

Not to say that iPods or mp3 players don’t exist back home, but they’re definitetly more noticeable walking around Boston.  Not only is Boston a walking city, it’s a major hub of education, with students walking in every which direction.  And with so many students, it’s very uncommon to see someone walking without headphones in their ears.

Just this morning, I got into my elevator where a girl was listening to her iPod.  A few floors down, another girl entered and she pulled out her iPod.  And while I don’t own an iPod, I do have a different music player…and no it’s not a walkman. 

So anyhow, I was just as guilty as the other two since I was also listening to my music, shutting out anyone and anything around me. I’ve conformed to the lifestyle, where as soon as we exit our doors, we put on headphones, and hit play. 

What happened before the iPod? Not having lived in a city, I don’t know what people were doing as they roamed the streets.  Were they toting around walkmans and portable cd players? Or were they actually listening to the events taking place around them and interacting/smiling to people on occasion? I mean seriously…talk about breaking off from the world.  It’s like putting on an invisible suit: “if I wear these headphones, then no one will see me.”

Since I usually commute in my car back home, (as opposed to by my feet here) the only people I typically see sporting an iPod or mp3 player are runners and walkers.  Needless to say, I was in shock to find myself as one of only a few people roaming the streets of Boston not listening to music when I first arrived here. Now however, I can’t seem to leave my apartment without my music.