Boston in the Fall

I love Fall. I love the cooler weather. I love the wardrobe change. I love the colors of the leaves and the crunching sound they make beneath my feet. I love the pumpkins and apples and fresh cider. I love that it triggers the idea that Thanksgiving is coming, and then Christmas is right around the corner.

We all have different dreams or aspirations, and one of mine has been to be in Boston in the Fall. I had really wanted a travel assignment there, but there wasn't one open so visiting for a weekend would have to suffice...and boy did it!

One of my best friends, Mihoko, has been living in Boston for about 2 years now. Sadly it's been over a year since I last saw her when she visited me in DC. It's been hard to keep in touch with people while living in CA, but she's that constant friend that can jump in right where we left off as if we didn't miss a beat. I was so excited about moving to NY since she'd only be a 4 hr. bus ride away! She was so kind to switch her schedule so that we could have a solid few days together, and that means the world to me! We had both worked the previous night shift and were a bit tired but managed to be awake long enough for a delicious dinner at Grappas, an Italian restaurant literally in some lady's living room. It was SO good! We went home, watched some tv, talked, etc. It was just so nice to be together.

That evening my back was starting to hurt, but I assumed it was b/c I'd slept in a funny position on the bus. Bell, Mihoko's bf was kind enough to give me a massage. Now yes, for those who know me, that was a bit awkward! I'd only known the guy for a few hours and it's a little different when you go to a spa for a massage than getting one from your friend's bf! However, he is highly qualified and trained in the family business of acupuncture and gives massages and treatments daily so I agreed. I felt so much better, and much more relaxed. Needless to say I slept great that night, but when Friday morning came I could barely even move without bringing tears to my eyes. It was so weird, I've never had back pain like this before and it was really scary! Mihoko was so great about it, we laid low, watched a movie, she gave me a massage, we tried a heating pad, hot shower, etc. Eventually I got to the point where I could move w/o tears, but still had some very painful spots. Bell came home from work early to see if he could help me feel better and was so kind to bring lunch straight from Chinatown! He knew that I liked pork buns and brought me 2 different kinds! He really earned some brownie points! He was so gracious with his services and gave me another massage and acupuncture tx and I feel much better!

Since I'd already been to Boston before we didn't have to hit all the tourist highlights. Friday afternoon we ventured down to Newbury St. to do some shopping and get our nails done. We headed over to Prudential Center Mall and I picked up a few items at Michael Kors. I'd been wanting one of his signature, gold men's inspired watches for the past year and I finally took the plunge and bought one. I like to call it my "incentive pay" watch as I'd worked an OT shift and it had an incentive bonus which covered the cost of the watch. It's definitely a statement piece, and something I'll have for years!

That evening we grabbed dinner at a local brewery then headed across the street to the House of Blues for a sold out Mat Kearney concert. I think this is the 4th time I've seen him, and it always amazes me how well he sounds in person! Mihoko and I used to be concert buddies and it'd been years since we'd last been to one with each other. I forgot how much fun she and I have singing along and being silly! So thankful we both share good taste in music :) We even made a few friends who conveniently were really tall so they took a few pics for me when MK came out into the crowd. After the concert we headed home and played the new Dance Central with some of Bell's friends. This was a bit of a stretch for me as I am NOT a dancer, so to do this in front of 6 Chinese people that I just met...it was literally a foreign experience ;)

I <3 MK!

Bestie Concert Buddies

Can you see the floating blueberries? Also,
check out the ginormous watch!!!

MK's in the crowd!!!

is she not the cutest?

Saturday we went to Harvard Square and brunched at Tory Row, then wandered the streets popping in and out of shops. I'd heard that there was an Urban Outfitter's bargain basement and it's literally just the basement of the regular UO. While I'm not hip enough for their clothes, I did pick up a few fun presents for my sister. (Em, if you're reading this don't worry, I'm not posting pics!). We visited the Tannery which is a fabulous shoe store and I think I've finally found a pair of waterproof boots for this winter season! Of course I didn't buy them there since I found them on Amazon cheaper, but now I know what size to order! We even wondered onto Harvard's campus and took some pretty pics.  

the entrance gate to Harvard

 



By mid-afternoon we'd exhausted Harvard Square and took the T to the North End to get some delicacies from Modern Pastry. Jenn just raved and raved about how we had to get a Lobster Tail from there, so we did! The line was long, but definitely worth the wait!

Afterwards we caught a cab over to Prudential where we were able to grab dinner at Top of the Hub with my old college roomie Sarah. (I visited her last in Austin, she's now traveling in NH). She and her friend had come down for the ballet and it just all worked out perfectly to get together! I'm so glad we got to catch up as she and I'd been exchanging schedules but couldn't find a wkd that worked to visit each other. Check out these great views of Boston from the restaurant.

me & Sarah @ Top of the Hub

Mihoko and I headed home, attempted to eat the Lobster Tail (filled with vanilla custard, creme, and who knows what other goodness!) but failed! It's so rich I think we're both diabetic now. In our sugar coma we somehow managed to get to the movies to see Like Crazy. If you've seen commercials and are thinking about going just ask yourself this question, "Am I ok with unresolved endings?". Hope that helps your decision making. When we got home we facetimed our friend Jenn out in Cali and it's the first time the 3 of us ex-Dukies have all been "together" at the same time. It was so fun for all of us to catch up and it just reminded me of how blessed I've been in regards to my friendships. I'm so thankful for all the quality girl time I had with Mihoko, but also for the time spent with her boyfriend. I'm always so happy when my girls end up with good guys, and I could definitely leave town feeling that she was in good hands.

Mihoko modeling our Lobster
Tail, I think it weighed
a few pounds...and we tried
several times to finish it!

Sunday morning Mihoko dropped me off at my friend Karoline's house. When looking at the bus schedule home I wasn't going to make it in time for church, and Mihoko had to work Sunday night and I wanted her to get some sleep and have some personal time so I msg'd Karoline and it all worked out perfect. I'd get to go to church, see a friend, and still get a ride to the bus station! Karoline and I both attended Providence when we lived in NC, and she's been in Boston for about 3 years going to grad school as Boston College. We didn't really know each other well in NC but have several mutual friends, and plus, we're sisters in Christ...outgoing sisters to boot! She was so sweet to let me join her, church was a blessing, and her friends were so sweet to welcome me and include me in their lunch plans. We walked a block to this cute (and super cheap) Thai restaurant called Sugar & Spice and I successfully ordered something non-spicy so I didn't cry...but I almost cried from laughing so hard. Two other friends joined us late and we had one of the most entertaining and lighthearted lunches ever! None of us were particularly close, especially me since I'd just met everyone but Karoline, but it was just so comfortable. We openly picked on each other about being public transportation snobs, my ridiculous hiccups, a principle who dresses up like Dr. Seuss, and we even brought up various sermon points in good humor (now that's the ultimate post church luncheon). It's times like this that make me want to stay somewhere so I can experience friendships like this on a daily basis. Everyone was so nice, and I really do hope that I get to visit them again...or take a travel assignment in Boston soon!

me with new friends from Hope @ Sugar & Spice:
Grant, me, Karoline, Bryan, and Kimberly

Unfortunately we had such a great time at lunch that I missed by bus by a few minutes, but was able to take a later one without penalty so it all worked out! All of our lunchtime fun was definitely worth missing the bus! I've decided I can't go another year without seeing Mihoko so I better start planning another trip North!