Where in the World Wednesday

It's Wednesday, which means that not only is the week nearly half-way done, but it's time for Classy in Philadelphia's weekly feature: Where in the World Wednesday.

As I've said countless times before (and will probably continue to say each week), the idea behind WITWW is to post a picture of you someplace in the world. It doesn't have to be someplace foreign or tropical, just somewhere that you consider traveling. In fact, this can be your hometown, it can be somewhere you've never been but are dying to visit or it can even be a repeat destination with fresh, new photos. You get to call the shots, folks!

And, if you do decide to participate, please feel free to steal Feris' button and also remember to link up your post with Jess so we can all "travel" with each other.

Today I am headed to...

BOSTON'S MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

(yes, that's a creepy baby's head sculpture...there were 2 of them and I was intrigued)

I could spend all day just wandering through this lovely museum, getting lost in the Impressionists wing and well, just getting lost in general... A new wing is going in and it looks like it's going to be spectacular! I cannot wait to visit again.

Where in the World Wednesday

After missing out on Classy in Philadelphia's Where in the World Wednesday for the past 2 weeks, I certainly am not going to forget today! In fact, I've been thinking about this all week and am quite excited!

As always, the idea behind WITWW is to post a picture of you someplace in the world. It doesn't have to be somewhere foreign or tropical, just somewhere you consider traveling. In fact, it could even be in your own hometown! And, as a new twist, you can even post a picture or two of someplace you wish to travel to. Ahhh, the possibilities...

If you do decide to participate, please feel free to use Feris' button, and remember to link back up with Jess so we can all follow each other's travels!

Today I am heading back to Boston to what has been referred by some as my Mecca:

FENWAY PARK!

Yep, you heard me, I am a Red Sox fan, and I finally made it to Fenway. It was freezing and windy as all get out this day (definite downside to being in a city on the water) but I was almost too excited to notice. My Uncle kindly let me walk all around the Park (off season, so it was closed) and graciously stopped every few feet so I could take yet another picture. I was in heaven!

Where in the World Wednesday

Can you believe it is already Wednesday?! I feel like the past 2 days have gone by extremely fast...not that I'm complaining or anything.

Since it is already the middle of the week that means it's time for Classy in Philadelphia's Where in the World Wednesday feature!

The idea behind WITWW is to post a picture of you someplace in the world...it doesn't have to be somewhere foreign or tropical; just somewhere that you consider traveling. It could even be in your hometown!

If you decide to participate, please use Feris' button, and share a link to your post with Jess.

Today, I'm off to Boston...waiting for the T at the Science Park station. Don't let the gorgeous blue skies, sunshine and my lack of a coat fool you, it was a chilly February day! But, obviously, a lovely day. And yes, that's my favorite: the Zakim Bridge.

Where in the world are you today?!

Boston, Day 1...finally

I don't know what's up with me, but I just haven't been overly inspired to blog the past couple of days. I know I'm not typically a daily blogger, but I usually have lovely ideas of things that I want to blog about daily...but not the past few days. Meh, oh well!

So, rather than babble at you all too much, I'll leave you with just a few pictures from my first evening in Boston. I know, I know, I've been back for 3 weeks and I haven't truly blogged about my trip once, so here's hoping this post motivates me to blog about days 2, 3 and 4 as well!

Since the majority of my first day was spent sitting on an airplane, reading Accounting homework and sporadically dozing, I do not have very many pictures. Plus, it was starting to get dark by the time I landed, and I am not an overly skilled nightime photographer. Ha! Nonetheless, I did take several pictures to remember Day 1 by:

Southwest Airlines was in the Valentine's Day spirit! I loved the festive streamers and balloons that helped to distract me from my flying-solo nerves.

Zakim Bridge. Probably one of Boston's more well-known pieces of architecture, this bridge is one of my favorites and always makes me smile because if I'm driving past it, that means I'm in BOSTON!

We ate at the Barking Crab (red and yellow striped awning in the bottom, left of the picture on the right), which was right on the water and insanely cool inside. The crab cakes were to die for, the beer was cold and refreshing and I tried my very first scallop...yum!

Don't you just love the crabbing pots filled with fairy lights?! Such fun!

My Uncle's original plan was to eat in The North End, but due to it being dinner time and a busy part of the city, parking was nearly non-existent. But, that's ok because just driving through one of my favorite parts of the city and passing by the Old North Church were more than enough to make me sigh with happiness.

I was in Boston, and therefore, I was in heaven...

I finally have...

...table pics!

For those of you who are already friends with me on Facebook, these will be a repeat, but for my blog land friends, here is my new table:

So far I have had a real sit-down meal here, have spent 2 hours working on homework here (on Sunday..ugh) and have loved how it completes my apartment!

Now all I need to do is find some more artwork for the dining room. This is on my to-purchase list (but will probably end up in the guest room):

I'm back!

(source)

Still trying to get back into the swing of things, and attempting to catch up on everyone's blogs...once I upload pictures and get my head back on straight, I'll post about my little Massachussetts trip. It was lovely!

Fill in the Blank Friday...

Because I feel like blogging again today, but I really don't think anyone needs to read more of my whining about how I'm OCD and apparently a nervous solo-flyer, I thought I'd give the little things we do...'s Fill in the Blank Friday a try:

1. I'm hoping my Valentine's day this year includes East Coast amazingness! Preferably some seafood and a Sam Adams, along with some quirky conversations with my Uncle, whom I'll be visiting in Boston. I'm certainly not complaing about being single this year!

2. My biggest guilty pleasure is (are) used books.

3. I am most proud of how well my parents handle life's curve balls that get thrown at them, and how they always strive to disrupt my life as little as possible with said curve balls.

4. If I could choose one outfit to live in it would be black yoga pants, a soft tee and a cozy cardi!

5. People are often baffling, and therefore, fun to study

(I have a Psych degree so I can't help it).

6. I would rather wander through a city than lay-out on a beach.

7. I love my best friends more than I love used books, coffee and wine combined!

An interesting revelation

Tomorrow morning I leave for Boston!! And, while I cannot be more excited to head East, I did have a mini meltdown on the phone with my mom this morning. Nothing serious, just the realization that I pretty much always have an annoying mini meltdown the day before I fly...interesting. I swear, I am not afraid to fly! I'm more afraid to forget something important, plus I get quite nervous when I fly alone. I'll be calmer the day of my flight, but it wont be until the plane is in the air that my pulse slows a bit. I don't get this way when I fly with my friends or family; and considering the fact that I've been flying alone since I was 12 years old, I find all of this to be so strange! I blame my reaction on my control-freak ways. There is something about flying alone that makes me feel like I'm not entirely in control, which always bothers me. Probably because flight delays, other passengers' misshaps and general airport chaos are all things that are completely out of my control, yet these are things that can make flying a pain in the butt! Ack...


So, to help calm my nerves I made a very detailed list of everything I need to pack, both in my suitcase and in my carry-on. I felt instantaneously better after making this list, and after talking it all out with my mom. Thank goodness she knows me so well, or my morning meltdown could've started her day off on the wrong foot.

I've got my suitcase laid out in the guest room and I started gathering up outfits this morning. Getting a little headstart always makes me feel more in control, and therefore so much better! Packing will be a breeze tonight, I plan on checking in online in about an hour so I can get a good seat (and have one less thing to worry about tomorrow) and so long as my hair cooperates in the morning, everything should go smoothly!


And now I feel even better having typed all of this out! Sometimes I just find myself and my reactions to be quite odd.

Where in the World Wednesday

Me: Hello, Wednesday, it's lovely to see you!
WITWW: So, where are we headed to today?
Me: It's so nice of you to ask; today we're off to Massachussetts!
WITWW: Fabulous!

Yep, you read that right, I just had an imaginary conversation with Classy in Philadelphia's Where in the World Wednesday. It's truly a wonder that I have friends...haha!

Anyway, as I'm assuming you picked up on it is once again Wednesday, which means it's time for Where in the World Wednesday! The idea of WITWW is to post a picture of you someplace in the world...it doesn't have to be somewhere foreign or tropical. Just a picture of you somewhere that you consider traveling. It might even be somewhere in your hometown! Feel free to use Feris' button and share your post link with Jess!

Chances are quite good that you'll be seeing quite a few more WITWW posts involving MA, NH, RI and maybe even ME in the following weeks (I am, afterall, going out there in 2 weeks), but I love MA, so I feel like going there today. :-)

*all 3 of these pictures were taken in October 2007*

Boston, here I come!

I am excited to announce that I will be Boston-bound in February!!!

Thank you to everyone who kept their fingers crossed for me yesterday. I emailed my Uncle as to whether or not a quick visit would be feasible and his response was:
"Get your ass out here, girl! You are welcome anytime."
I love my family...

So, with his seal of approval, a quick check to my work calendar (perfect time to travel!) and a little Annual Leave calculation I was all set to hunt for cheap airfare. And, just as I was hoping I would, I found a great deal through Southwest! After double-checking the dates with my Mom (as any good daughter does) I excitedly hit the "Purchase" button. Woohoo! It's just a quick 5 day trip, but it's exactly what I need right now: a little break from my day-to-day life in Colorado and some East Coast excitement.

Considering how fast January seems to be going, I can only imagine that the next 4.5 weeks will fly by!

I'm ready to pack my bag and hop on a plane...maybe?

I'm so very antsy today! Not antsy in a bad way, but just in that I-could-really-go-for-a-quick-out-of-town-trip kind of way. It's times like this that I so appreciate having friends and family scattered all over the Midwest and East Coast who enjoy having visitors. It makes it very easy for me to match up schedules with someone, find reasonable airfare and just get out of town for a long weekend. I'm madly in love with Colorado, but even this creature of habit, no big changes without first consulting me, gal likes to get away!

And, you might ask, where is my current desired destination? Well, it just so happens to be: BOSTON! Ahhh, I'm all smiles just thinking about it. I have an Uncle who lives in the Boston area and is usually quite receptive to hosting me for visits. Plus, he recently bought a new house that I'm dying to see, and he's a wonderful host and tour guide! I love having opportunities to visit my Uncle.

So, I'm off to search for a cheap flight (Southwest is now flying to the Boston Logan Airport and I just bet I can find a smokin' deal!), play around with my work schedule and annual leave, mentally plan out a few things I'd love to do and wait to hear back from my Uncle as to whether or not this trip could become a reality.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Boston day-dreaming...

Today is a Boston-in-the-Fall kind of day in my world...aka, as much as I love Colorado, I'd rather be back in Boston right now.

There was something about the way the air smelled and felt this morning that reminded me of Boston. I really can't describe it other than to say it was cool and crisp, and smelled like Autumn in Boston. It took me back to standing in my uncle's bathroom, putting on my make-up with the window open just enough to fill the room with that deliciously chilly air. Thank goodness for slippers on cold tile floors!

*Boston Commons*

October is my favorite month, and Boston in October is simply beautiful. The trees and bushes look like they've been lit on fire and give the entire city a kind of glow. The streets and highways are lined with red and orange foliage, and every scene around you feels like it could be a postcard. Now, I know I am probably painting a more "perfect-Fall-in-the-city" picture than actually exists, but Boston is one of those ultimate places for me, so in my head, it really is this perfect...just bear with me. :-)

Today, I'd like to start my day off with a steaming cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee (Vanilla Spice, please!), and then hop in the car and head out of the city. I'd like to take roads off of the beaten path, where the cars will be fewer in number and the trees and fallen leaves will get thicker as I go. I want to find a place to pull off, throw on my hiking boots and do a little exploring. I'd inevitably take far too many pictures in my attempt to document the changing of the seasons and the beauty that is an East Coast Autumn. Then, I'd like to head back into Boston, grab a quick lunch with my Uncle and head over to the Library. I want to see what the current displays are, grab a new read (or an old, weathered favorite) off of the shelf and settle into the Reading Room for an hour or two. Nothing screams library like bookshelf-lined walls, barrel-vaulted ceilings and green and brass reading lights...ahh, heaven!

I want to top off my perfect day with lobster ravioli and a glass of cabernet sauvignon at a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant in the North End, and then indulge in a fresh cannoli while wandering through the lively streets of my favorite city neighborhood. I want the perfect Boston day that is circling through my mind right now.