Still a Draft!

Wednesday Kira and I arrived into Boston’s Logan Airport and viola! the sun comes out.

Thursday we set out on our walking tour of the city.  Around the Cambridge/Harvard area, down through MIT, past Washington Park, and across the bridge into the Back Bay.  We walked past Boston University and then down to Berklee School of Music.  Here is where I’d perviously found my ukulele.

Alas, times change, and the Boston music store where Dan and I had previously found our $40 uke’s no longer carried them.  Instead we found a Horner brand that was a bit more dough and I opted out.  Sadly, we walked out of the store with no ukulele.  Purposeless, we wandered down to the Prudential building and sat to watch folks walk by.  The sun set and the wind picked up and the concrete beneath our seats became a block of ice.  We bought some chocolate covered almonds and then hurried home with sore feet.

Friday the sky was a bit grey and the sun tried, to no avail to peek through.  We woke up and scurried downtown to meet Stephanie.  Finding her among a crowd of Harvard band members striking up a tune, we walked to Boston Commons, enjoyed a short history from our friendly tour guide, popped into the Boston Library, and finally sought out and found the famous Freedom Trail.  A red line that courses through the streets of Boston and leads to a slew of remarkably historical places.

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Friday night we came home a bit loosened by some collection of Bostonian elixars and via video chat demand Jon Clark to get on a plane the following morning and fly out here for the weekend.  He complies.  Saturday, a bit taxed by our engagements the previous night, we accomplished a little more than a brief tour of the Taza chocolate factory.  It was unique and delicious chocolate and we picked up a couple of bars, so perhaps if you’re nice we’ll share.

Saturday night we enjoyed the first snow of the winter here.  So, naturally, we woke up Sunday morning to run a 10 mi. qualifier for joining the Tufts Team for the Boston Marathon through the fresh wet snow and bitter morning frost.  Of ~250 I was able to run with a group that finished ~ top 20.  Not bad.  Sun is out now and its time for a nice post-snow walk to the bay.  Hoorah.

Then what happened….??…

Monday Jon, Kira, and I ventured out on the Orange Line and found the Saumel Adams Brewery.  It was informational, but they only served 3 tastes.  Boo.  From there Jon left for Kansas City and we two remaining returned to the apartment where we waited for Andrew’s plane to arrive.

Tuesday Andrew, Kira, and I ventured out south east to the Harpoon Brewery.  It was not very informational, but they had a full hour tasting session that included as many drinks as you could put down, within reason.

Then….?

Wednesday through Friday we were in Philly!
300 miles of driving straight through NYC. I think I’d like to never make that drive again unless we spent some time enjoying the bright new-spring days that we were driving through. As it was a timed drive and in the beginning of the New England winter, it was just a chore. However, we arrived comfortably and were warmly greeted by Christopher.

The following day we woke up to start our one day tour of the city. Starting with a visit to our favorite chocolate factory, John&Kira’s.  However good their chocolate it, it’s very good, their factory was reminiscent of our visit to Dogoba in southern Oregon several years ago, except this time it excluded the illegal invitation in to see the working machines and chocolate lined up.  Instead it was an awkward phone call wich led to a representative meeting us outside to hand us a catalogue and illicit an order (at a discounted price).  So we took our photo, bought some chocolates, and laughed as we drove away from their brown door in the frigid Philly air.

Then we ventured to the grandiose Philadelphia Art Museum and took refuge for many hours, gawking at the magnificence of the displays.  It was fantastic.

Cheese-steak, Home Made Dinner, Sleep, – School, Independence Hall, Drive East.

Saturday put’s us back in Boston again…and it’s really frigid… and thus Sunday is colder and comes with rain.

PPRR Fall Series, Race IV

Hey-O. The last race of the series and sure enough it’s snowing. Fortunately, The Springs is an environmentally excitable place that holds true to it’s mild climate. So, even though the wind was blowing and snow was falling, the brisk air became a welcome addition to the morning’s inclined and rocky run. Unfortunately, due to snowy conditions, about two thirds through the race it became evident, as we looked down the ridge below us, that we and the other individuals within our running pack where no longer on the correct trail. As we went up, up, up, the rest of the race were running down, far below us on flat paved road. It made the going even slower when we could see the water stops and photographers lining the trail far below. However, as we rounded the trail at the top of the hill, we were rewarded to find a pack of runners and a collection of orange streamers hanging from trees, blue arrows in the snow, and a generally well trodden path. However, to our dissatisfaction, young children and a collection of slow pokes filled the trail ahead of us. It was clear our times were going to be severely effected as it was probable that our distance was extended.

In the end, we ran about five and a half miles in fifty minutes, finishing behind about one hundred and twenty other individuals. Depressing. But, hey, at least the views were spectacular.

Today’s Results
# 164 overall. # 19/22 in my age group, shux

Series Results
# 68 overall, # 7/10 in my age group. Damn.

I guess, now I know. As Bernie says.. “good for you, no matter what.”

PPRR Fall Series IV – Palmer Park

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Snow continues to fall throughout the day leaving a beautiful white layer across the otherwise grey footed city. Here’s a short view of snow falling after we accomplish our shopping tasks for the day. Tomorrow we begin our training with Matthew.

concise – enjoy

VIDEO CONTAINS ERRORS :( – We’re currently working on the issue.

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Yesterday we enjoyed our first day of classroom time. It was observations with a bit of interaction and ranged from 5 year-olds to adults. It was interesting to see the techniques for forcing language down someone’s throat in hopes that it will come back up within moments. The whole day was quite informational and gave Dan and I a good amount to chew on before starting our teaching next week. I finally picked up a cell phone and sim-card and now I can leave the nest without fear of never seeing anyone again. Though it’s quite difficult to return to the standard black and white candy bar phone after using a smart phone for the past year and a half. Especially since it’s in Chinese… at least until I changed the language settings. I’m not really sure what I’m charged for, but if anyone needs to get a hold of me – 150……….. I’ll get it to you later. This morning, bright and early, a rally woke me up. It was refreshing. A peek out the window showed no crowds but lovely falling snow. I guess it’s going to be a cold one today.

Cold.

I suppose growing up in Southern California and then moving to Arid Arizona, ice, snow, and cold weather in general is quite a striking environmental condition. The novelty ranks with such greats as bacon on ice cream and getting a job. Through out our stay in Harbin, this naiveté helped to make the weekend stay significantly brighter in my mind and experiences. Even though a step outside wreaked havoc on your nose, the warm blood rushing to my face for large smiles and laughter made up for it all.

Snow – it’s still a funny thing.