Gainful (if temporary) employment!!!

It's only for a month, but I have a job! Starting Monday, I'll be working at the Harvard Medical Center. I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm just glad to be working again. And this could lead to something else with the medical center, or at Harvard's main campus. I've been targeting universities in my job hunt, so this is definitely a step in the right direction. Mind you, it will be difficult to break my habit of sleeping until 8:30am, reading for awhile, then lounging with my laptop, but it's a welcome change. And Billy, that stinker, just sleeps all day, so he shouldn't miss me too much.

With a little Woolite and a lot of elbow grease

When my things arrived by truck, you may recall that several things were damaged. I finally got around to attempting to hand wash some of the grit out, and most of the clothing pieces were saved! This first shirt is still too stained to wear, but look at the improvement! Before:
Yikes! And after:
Yes, that's the same shirt (plus Billy). Impressed? I'm bummed I couldn't save it, but I sure gave it a good effort. There were 21 articles of clothing that were soiled, and I wasn't sure if it was greasy dirt, and how washable it all was. The dirt looked really ground in. But after what felt like hours of scrubbing and soaking, 16 of the 21 pieces are now clean and wearable again.
Pink skirt: saved! That huge black smudge is gone.
This sweater is another of the casualties. I got a lot of the dirt out, but it's still pretty stained, and it's torn in several places. It's clean now, though, so I suppose if I need to do any yard work or painting this fall when it's cooler, I have something perfect to wear!

Ah, cooler.

Whew, it finally cooled off! Yesterday it was fair, and today it's been cool and rainy. No lightning or thunder, but plenty of chilled rain. What relief. It's been up to 83.5 degrees and muggy in my apartment, and now it's just in the mid-70s. It may seem warm to you, but it's oh so pleasant to me.
Here's part of the harbor.

Ooh, the lightning and thunder came later tonight. It's 11pm and they both keep erupting from the skies. I love it!

Hidden Treasures

On an evening stroll last night, I wove between streets just a couple over from my own. I found rows of brick homes - row houses, brownstones; whatever you'd like to call them. They're lovely. Steep steps up to front doors, balconies, ornate architectural features I don't know the names of.

Large shade trees planted long ago between sidewalk and curb, but also in the middle of the street. There were several streets with a long island running the length in the middle, almost like a miniature version of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. There's a lane to drive in one direction, with parking on the right side, and with trees, flower beds, and the occasional small fountain on the left. On the other side of the trees, another lane of traffic, in the opposite direction. Above, a fountain and some people visiting on the stoop.
And the alleys - Susan you'd love them. Very similar to the movie Rear Window. Most people have back balconies. It's not clear how much the apartments have been divided. In my building, the apartments are quite small, so that there is a front apartment and a back one. But in these buildings, I get the impression that each floor may be its own apartment, from front to back.
The back balconies are primarily seen by your neighbors, rather than passers-by. They're filled with potted plants and flowers. There's additional parking back here, too (again, I'm so glad to be carless). There are rooftop trees and lounge chairs. And brick walks - no cement. It was quiet and calm, and so enjoyable to walk through these alleys and streets. And though I didn't get any good photos of it, there's also a neighborhood park in this area. There's a walking corridor that isn't on my maps. There's a sign for it on the main street, but it's tucked away nicely. There is a playground with a jungle gym and swings, basketball and tennis courts, a grassy area, an enclosed leash-free dog area, and several communal gardens. It's a perfect place for neighbors to come together, bring their kids, play with their dogs, and enjoy the summer evenings. I saw a man playing catch with his son, several old guys visiting on a stoop, a guy sitting with his baby daughter on a blanket. This area is well-used without being crowded. And for all of the people there, it wasn't loud. It was idyllic. They could film a movie here. In this very park. On this very street.

A Rich History

I had lunch yesterday with an old, dear friend. He's on a cruise ship going back and forth from Boston to Bermuda. That was my first cruise ship itinerary, and the one I met this friend on. It was great to see him, and now we have a standing Sunday lunch date, so I have another friend here! As I left to go home, I happened upon the King's Chapel Burial Ground (1630) and the Granary Burying Ground (1660, built across the street to prevent overcrowding in the King's one). I love that about Boston: There's so much rich history, you can just fall into something like this.

"Here lyes [sic] buried the body of Mr. Abraham How who deceased February 12, 1740, aged 61 years."

The date on this gravestone is 1678!
Paul Revere and I have the same birthday.

John Hancock, first governor to Massachusetts. Large signature on the Declaration of Independence, and large, interestingly-shaped head stone.

Sam Adams is one of my favorite Founding Fathers. With these flowers and flags, I guess he's a popular guy with others as well.

The Frog Pond in the Public Garden has wading in the summer and ice skating in the winter. This fountain in the middle rises and lowers without an obvious pattern. It starts out at water level, and when it rises up, the children squeal with delight. You can see in the further away shot that it gets well above their heads.

George Washington and I have the same initials.

Davis Square

I love this house.


They love their churches here. There are hundreds of them around.
This is a little side project I've been working on.

Beacon Street Houses

Yesterday I toured the Gibson House. It was one of the first houses built in the Back Bay, around 1860. The Back Bay was a marshy bog until it was filled in. It took around 40 years, but now some of the most expensive homes in Boston are there. The house is on Beacon Street, as are these other buildings. Commonwealth Avenue is parallel, two blocks over.