Just woke from a nap. I used to be really good at the whole jetlag thing. Not so good anymore. Got two posts to do - maybe three - over the next couple of days to wrap the whole Boston thing. Maybe four, actually. I took a lot of notes. I want to get them typed up. There's laughter, there's tears, there are more photos to come. To give you a heads up, two of the posts are on little plane observations, one of them's about food and the other is about the wedding. But then there's one that I wanted to do on life. So that's five. Not the tastiest previews ever. If they were trailers, you wouldn't see the movie. Or at least, I wouldn't.
I'm going to order myself a curry. The food was awesome in Boston, but there's no beating a good curry when you get home. Curry, beer and The Goonies - is there a better night in that doesn't involve sex? Nope.
01 June 2006
30 May 2006
79p
Bought My Hometown on iTunes just so I could listen to it while I'm in Boston. I have it on my computer at home and on CD. I am a big, nostalgic sap. But there are worse ways to spend 79p.
some boston pics
Just a few pics from my home town. My photography hasn't been that inspired of late - though I did get a few good wedding shots, to be posted soon. But I like these.
The footbridge at the Public Gardens.
Otis Place, from in front of my building, which still boasts my old curtains.
Lime St.
The New England Life building on Newbury St.
The Meeting House on Beacon Hill.
The Meeting House on Beacon Hill.
The footbridge at the Public Gardens.
Otis Place, from in front of my building, which still boasts my old curtains.
Lime St.
curtains
So much comes back.
My parents refurbed our apartment in Boston in the mid 80's. I think I was around 8. My mom asked what colours I wanted my new room to be decorated. New room. I couldn't believe I was getting a new room, and it was going to be huge. So big they were going to split my bunkbed - I had that much room. My favourite colour varied in those days - it was either fire engine red or navy blue depending on my mood, or which crayon was less of a stump. I think my final decision was that I wanted the entire room to be red. Bright red. Red curtains, red carpet, red walls - the works. Fortunately for the retinas of my guests, mom overruled a bit. The walls were painted white, but I did get a red carpet and red curtains. The latter had diagonal white pinstripes. My mother made them. I think this was 21 years ago. The curtains coincided with that rite of passage known as getting rid of the nightlight. So extreme was the change that from needing the small glow in the corner I couldn't stand any light in the room at all if I was trying to sleep. Hence the curtains would be pulled down before bed, giving off an eerie red glow as the streetlight outside tried to get in. The red glow didn't bother me so much and as the next few years passed I slept later, and the curtains would stay down longer.
I wandered around the old neighbourhood on my birthday, looking up at the old apartment and looking to feel something. Expectations were low. I don't even know if they were expectations. Maybe I was looking for something, I really don't know. We left Boston 17 years ago and sold the house 12 years ago. For the 5 years we still owned it, the house was rented.
So I turn the corner onto Otis Place and stare up at the windows to my old room. They're just windows. I never looked at them when I lived there, and they're nondescript from the outside. At first I thought I was hallucinating. So I took a picture. Whoever lives there now kept my curtains. Curtains designed for a hyper little boy whose favourite colour was red. I've been trying to make sense of it. Prodding it in my brain, seeking some deeper meaning. Hoping there's some prophetic lesson to be learned. Meaning in curtains? I don't know, but with all that's going on and how quickly life is moving, it's nice that there's an inadvertent monument to my childhood somewhere. Even if it's only a set of curtains.
My parents refurbed our apartment in Boston in the mid 80's. I think I was around 8. My mom asked what colours I wanted my new room to be decorated. New room. I couldn't believe I was getting a new room, and it was going to be huge. So big they were going to split my bunkbed - I had that much room. My favourite colour varied in those days - it was either fire engine red or navy blue depending on my mood, or which crayon was less of a stump. I think my final decision was that I wanted the entire room to be red. Bright red. Red curtains, red carpet, red walls - the works. Fortunately for the retinas of my guests, mom overruled a bit. The walls were painted white, but I did get a red carpet and red curtains. The latter had diagonal white pinstripes. My mother made them. I think this was 21 years ago. The curtains coincided with that rite of passage known as getting rid of the nightlight. So extreme was the change that from needing the small glow in the corner I couldn't stand any light in the room at all if I was trying to sleep. Hence the curtains would be pulled down before bed, giving off an eerie red glow as the streetlight outside tried to get in. The red glow didn't bother me so much and as the next few years passed I slept later, and the curtains would stay down longer.
I wandered around the old neighbourhood on my birthday, looking up at the old apartment and looking to feel something. Expectations were low. I don't even know if they were expectations. Maybe I was looking for something, I really don't know. We left Boston 17 years ago and sold the house 12 years ago. For the 5 years we still owned it, the house was rented.
So I turn the corner onto Otis Place and stare up at the windows to my old room. They're just windows. I never looked at them when I lived there, and they're nondescript from the outside. At first I thought I was hallucinating. So I took a picture. Whoever lives there now kept my curtains. Curtains designed for a hyper little boy whose favourite colour was red. I've been trying to make sense of it. Prodding it in my brain, seeking some deeper meaning. Hoping there's some prophetic lesson to be learned. Meaning in curtains? I don't know, but with all that's going on and how quickly life is moving, it's nice that there's an inadvertent monument to my childhood somewhere. Even if it's only a set of curtains.
27 May 2006
missing music
There's something to be said for the big iPods. I've had a craving for Bruce Springsteen's My Hometown since I got here on Wednesday night (very late on Wednesday night I might add) but it's not on my wee nano. Struggling through a trial such as this make me a better person.
I'm not sure what to write. I'm 30. I'm sitting almost 2 1/2 miles away from the hospital that I performed my first gig. Boston's good. Good food, nice people and aside from a couple of thunderstorms yesterday, beautiful weather. I've been taking pictures like a tourist. I've been able to watch Sox games as opposed to just checking the results online. There's other stuff too, but I'm not quite sure how to write it without whining about nostalgia and all that. I'll work it out and post some pics as well. Later.
I'm not sure what to write. I'm 30. I'm sitting almost 2 1/2 miles away from the hospital that I performed my first gig. Boston's good. Good food, nice people and aside from a couple of thunderstorms yesterday, beautiful weather. I've been taking pictures like a tourist. I've been able to watch Sox games as opposed to just checking the results online. There's other stuff too, but I'm not quite sure how to write it without whining about nostalgia and all that. I'll work it out and post some pics as well. Later.
sorry
I want to write something, I really do, but I'm exhausted, still on UK time and need to get some sleep.
And I'm 30. I've been 30 for 12 minutes (Boston time, 5hrs 12 minutes London time) and no one's said happy birthday to me yet. Well, they've pre-empted quite a few times, but no chat on the day. So far. There's 23 hrs and 46 minutes to go.
And I'm 30. I've been 30 for 12 minutes (Boston time, 5hrs 12 minutes London time) and no one's said happy birthday to me yet. Well, they've pre-empted quite a few times, but no chat on the day. So far. There's 23 hrs and 46 minutes to go.
24 May 2006
Boston-bound
I fly to Boston this afternoon, a year and a day since my last visit. I've already got a boarding pass, thanks to the miracle of the internet and me not losing my booking reference. I haven't packed yet. I'm dreading it. Packing. The trip is warming on me. I love Boston. I've got some free time and no money, so I'll get a lot of writing done, take some pics as well. If I'm real lucky, I'll get my godfather to give me one of his season tickets to Fenway on Saturday. If I'm luckier there'll be scores of attractive single women at the wedding on Sunday.
I've not decided whether I'm bringing the laptop or not, but there'll be some posts no doubt.
Dinner last night was lovely. I failed to have a bad time, in spite of a brooding and grumpy day beforehand. It was sort of a birthday party. I got presents and everything.
I've not decided whether I'm bringing the laptop or not, but there'll be some posts no doubt.
Dinner last night was lovely. I failed to have a bad time, in spite of a brooding and grumpy day beforehand. It was sort of a birthday party. I got presents and everything.
23 May 2006
sometimes
Sometimes you get home and even reading Calvin & Hobbes doesn't make you feel better.
Well, maybe a little better.
Well, maybe a little better.
22 May 2006
new numbers
13.8mm
Diameter of my iris
41
The age my brother turns today
12
The age my niece turned on Friday
5
Days until my birthday
30
Years-old on Saturday
3,272.45
Miles from home I'll be on my birthday
2.44
Miles from where I was born I'll be on my birthday
2000
Minimum number of words I'll write today.
1
Times I want to be married
10
Years before I start really worrying about not being married
1
Wedding I can't go to but wish that I could.
1
Wedding I'm going to and can't really work out why.
209.45
Pounds Stirling overdrawn from my UK Bank account.
2752.54
Dollars on my Visa card
752.54
Dollars over the limit on my Visa card
90
Pairs of disposable contact lenses purchased today
4
Times my t-shirt made me smile today.
My t-shirt has a picture of a smiling sun on it, underneath it just says 'shine on'. It's pouring with rain today.
Diameter of my iris
41
The age my brother turns today
12
The age my niece turned on Friday
5
Days until my birthday
30
Years-old on Saturday
3,272.45
Miles from home I'll be on my birthday
2.44
Miles from where I was born I'll be on my birthday
2000
Minimum number of words I'll write today.
1
Times I want to be married
10
Years before I start really worrying about not being married
1
Wedding I can't go to but wish that I could.
1
Wedding I'm going to and can't really work out why.
209.45
Pounds Stirling overdrawn from my UK Bank account.
2752.54
Dollars on my Visa card
752.54
Dollars over the limit on my Visa card
90
Pairs of disposable contact lenses purchased today
4
Times my t-shirt made me smile today.
My t-shirt has a picture of a smiling sun on it, underneath it just says 'shine on'. It's pouring with rain today.
21 May 2006
?
What was I going to write?
It was something. Either about sleep, bad weather or BBQ's, but I can't for the life of me remember which. I went out last night and a good time in spite of fiscal issues.
Only six pints and I felt pretty rubbish today.
More and more friends are coming to crossroads and I wish I had a better map to lend them. But I don't. And, to be honest, I'm not far enough down the road myself. Yet.
Hangovers and more sloppy metaphors: typical Sunday. Go. Do something. Laugh.
It was something. Either about sleep, bad weather or BBQ's, but I can't for the life of me remember which. I went out last night and a good time in spite of fiscal issues.
Only six pints and I felt pretty rubbish today.
More and more friends are coming to crossroads and I wish I had a better map to lend them. But I don't. And, to be honest, I'm not far enough down the road myself. Yet.
Hangovers and more sloppy metaphors: typical Sunday. Go. Do something. Laugh.
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