Back Again

Copley Square

This is quite possibly my favorite spot in all of Boston.
And it's getting harder to leave every time.

A Magical Place

My amazing friend Lindsay Brown moved to Plymouth last month for a new job. She invited me to spend the day with her yesterday, and we had a rockin' time.

I took the commuter rail from South Station to Plymouth.

And I got an entire bench to myself.

Hello, Plymouth!

Lindsay picked me up at the commuter rail station and we hit the town. Plymouth is darling. Lindsay's house is literally minutes from the water (also from the rock). We went into a bunch of cute shops, got fantastic smoothies at a smoothie shack, and perused a British import store that had some great Cadbury chocolate and FLAKES. Like we had in Jerusalem! So so exciting.

Flakes. Amazing.

After lunch at home we headed to Scusset Beach on Cape Cod. The most beautiful ocean I've ever seen over there. So blue and so clear.

There was a lighthouse and sail boats.

Good grief, it was gorgeous.

After the beach we went home, got dressed a little fancy, and went out to dinner at T bones. And maybe ate more food than I normally do in a week. Two appetizers, a half rack of ribs, and two sides (including the most delicious peach BBQ beans I have ever tasted).

Potato skins and buffalo chicken dip. Yum.

So so much food.

And after dinner we may have gotten ice cream. Oof. And then fell asleep watching An Ideal Husband. Love Oscar Wilde. Love Plymouth. Love Lindsay.

Proof for James

Dear roommate Jamie doesn't think I'd really go camping. (Let's be honest, her skepticism is totally founded.) So I had Miss McCall send me the only photos that were taken of me during said camping trip, and I am posting a few here. For you, James. (Feel so special, pictures from old roommates twice in the same week!)

Please admire my poodle-hipster bun.

Burning things is fun.

Oh hello, super awesome fire.

People Like Lists

Two (count them) people have suggested that I make a list of things that I want to do in Boston this summer. "If you write them down you're more likely to do them!" says my mother. So, this is a post full of summer lists.

Because who doesn't like lists?

Boston Summer Fun List

• SAIL. Because, good grief, it still hasn't happened. But it will, darn it. 
• Visit the JFK Library and Museum. Shocking I haven't done this yet, no?
• Traipse around the USS Constitution.
• Wander through the Boston Athenaeum. This might never happen. We've planned it a bajillion times. (UPDATE since starting this list: it is happening today! In roughly an hour!)
• See the exhibit on printmaking at the BPL. Seriously! (UPDATE: happened. See two weeks ago.)
• Go to a Red Sox game.
• Go to John Adams's house. I hear the library is stunning.
• Play with Lindsay in Plymouth.
• Go to Salem. Witches. Nathaniel Hawthorne. How is this not a good idea?
• Drink another peach-mango smoothie in the North End. oh goodness. (Dan, you'll vouch, they are amazing, aren't they?)
• Attend the Coldplay concert with McCall (woohoo!).

East Coast Summer Fun List

• See the Hannah Duston statue in New Hampshire. I'm so close. How can I not go?
• Go to Maine! And eat lobster! And figure out why I've been in love with it for years (with Maine, not lobster. I've never tried lobster.).
• Wander to Prince Edward Island? Oh that would be awesome.
• Meet Miranda in Providence. Might turn into NYC/Boston/DC (we don't know yet).
• Visit Michelle's family in New York again.
• See DC one more time. Man, I'll miss that city.
• Play tour guide for Kait and Erik when they come down, yay!

Summer Reading List

• Anna Karenina (UPDATE: I was told to avoid the Russians this summer because of how much what I read affects my mood.)
• The Problem of Pain
• Howards End
• Imagine
• The Lost World
• Les Miserables
• Crime and Punishment OR The Brothers Karamazov (UPDATE: see Anna Karenina.)
• Midnight's Children
• Dandelion Wine
• The Sun Also Rises
• Persuasion
• Eve and the Choice Made in Eden
• Anthem

That's it for now. But we all know I'll make more lists. I love lists. So, suggestions?

Edith + Norman + Jackie O.

What do Edith Wharton, Norman Rockwell, and the Kennedys have in common?

Image source here.

The Berkshires.

I'm not entirely sure if the Kennedys actually vacationed in the Berkshires. But they lived in Boston and, well, they're the Kennedys. So I imagine they must have.


I will be spending this three-day weekend in a cabin in the Berkshires. Exploring tiny New England Villages. Snowshoeing in the mountains. Reading The Age of Innocence while the snow falls outside. Because what could be better than reading Edith Wharton in the Berkshires? Nothing, that's what.

If only I could drink hot chocolate, the homage to Edith would be perfect. So it goes.


Happy weekend.

Clark Gable Is the Only Attractive Mustached Man: Repost

So I went to New York and Connec ticut.

Apparently I have become one of those people who only takes pictures on their phone. Most of those people also know how to get the pictures off their phone, though. Not me. No siree Bob.

I really need to learn how to do that.


Anyway, I went to New York last weekend and got to play with Michael, Susie, Eli, and baby Nate (SO CUTE). It was fun. We saw some of Brooklyn and some of Manhattan; we listened to a lot of Beatles; we had delicious milkshakes twice (go to Brgr on 7th and I think 29th and get a black and white; you will not regret it); we sang a Simon & Garfunkel song; we watched Hellboy; we played at a park under the Manhattan Bridge; and we sent Megan texts all weekend about the things she was missing. So great.

Then on Saturday Dema, Austin, Calvin, and I road tripped to Southport, Connec ticut. It was a gorgeous little town. But before we discuss Connec ticut, we must discuss my amazing car skillz. That's right, I said skillz.

Observe the diagram:

We had to take Jenny's car to pick up the rental, and (with Dema's excellent directions on par with orange vest-wearing airport workers) I managed to get out of the driveway WITHOUT Molly moving her car.

Thank you, thank you. I know I'm great. It's because I graduated.

Anyway, we had great road trip snacks (grapes, wheat thins and hummus, peanut butter m&ms that Calvin ate all of), great road trip music (can you say Jimmy Eat World?), great road trip rain (really, pouring cats and dogs, you couldn't see two cars ahead), and a great road trip car (huge fan of the Hyundai Sonata).

Southport was adorable. I want to live there. The houses were gorgeous, the trees were blooming, there was a beautiful Episcopal (?) church, and the library. THE LIBRARY. Oh. I loved it.

They had the typed manuscript for the last four chapters of Gone with the Wind. We saw parts of all four, including Rhett Butler's famous line, "My dear, I don't give a damn," and Scarlett's mantra, "Tomorrow is another day." I loved seeing it typed with editorial marks on the pages. So cool. They also had several foreign covers, which were really awesome to see. A lot of them did color illustration based of the movie, and several had very good likenesses of Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.

After loving GWTW, getting hopped up on bunny love (they had a rabbit at the library), and annoying other patrons, we drove in a circle three times before getting pizza for lunch. Then we drove in a few more circles (stupid GPS) until we found the ocean. Walked, skipped rocks (sort of), Austin went on a run (??) before we headed back to Boston.

Best part of the trip? Aside from GWTW and wearing my boat shoes to the ocean, very possibly a photo of Calvin asleep in the library. Alas, I do not know how to extract it from my phone.



UPDATE: Thanks to Miss Miranda-pan (a Connec ticutian herself), I can now get photos off my phone. So without further ado, I give you

Gone with the Wind in Hebrew and Arabic.

The bunny.

Sleeping Calvin.

Yeah baby.

Travel Bug

Okay, remember the teaser post? Well, this is (one of) the follow-up.

In a span of six weeks I will have been in six states: Massachusetts (duh), Rhode Island, Virginia, New Hampshire, New York, and Connecticut.

Why, Allison, you say, You are such an East Coast traveler.

Heck yes I am.

Not really. I’ve just had a lot of awesome opportunities lately. Really bad time considering work and school are trying to kill me, but these have just been too good to pass up.

First, Rhode Island:

As you may recall, my friend Calvin had his appendix removed several weeks ago. I was able to go with him, his lovely mother, and Mel to Newport, Rhode Island to see the mansions. Holy goodness, the MANSIONS. But first, Newport is darling! I love coastal towns. We went to this little diner called Annie’s for lunch before touring, and they had the best food and best service. So cute. If ever you go to Newport, eat at Annie’s.

During the winter they only have three mansions open, so we were able to see the Elms (not like my old Elms in any way, shape, or form, and I’d take the Newport Elms over the Provo Elms any day), Marble House, and the biggest and grandest, the Breakers. Description really can’t do them justice: the Breakers had two rooms constructed in France, dismantled, shipped to the United States, and then put together again in the house. Who does that? People with money, apparently. And these were the summer homes they used for six weeks. Man.

The Breakers

Also, we discovered that Anderson Cooper is a Vanderbilt. Amazing.

Second, Virginia:

‘Twas Tualatin’s Spring Break in March, so my family headed out to visit Ryan and Karen in Leesburg. I was able to spend (almost) 48 hours with them, and it was so fun. We went to both the Spy Museum and the Newseum, which are so cool. We spent I think three hours in the Spy Museum and learned about everything from secret codes to disguises to weapons. Super interesting, and a lot of fun. The Newseum is also amazing, and I have to go back: among other things, they have an exhibit on the First Amendment, a room full of all the Pulitzer Prize-winning photos since 1950, an original printing press and newspapers since the 1600s (including one that discusses Blackbeard the pirate), and a very powerful 9/11 memorial.  

Newspapers from 9/11

Jessie made the same faces as the animals at the Natural History Museum

JIMMER!

Also, I am hands down Ava Rose’s favorite extended family member, although she did like Mom quite a bit. Quite pleased with this accomplishment, if I do say so myself. And Carter G is still as adorable as ever.

Third, New Hampshire:

Last Friday (maybe Thursday?) Mel invited me to go with her and some other friends up to Mason, New Hampshire to go sugar mapling. So bright and early Saturday morning we went to pick up Calvin, Nathan, and Katie to head out. Okay, maple syrup is cool. And a freaking huge process. 40 gallons of sap from a maple tree makes only 1 gallon of syrup when it’s boiled down. ONE. And the later in the season it is, the higher the ratio goes. They’re also not allowed to add any flavors or sugar to it. Our guide was awesome; he was super snobby about syrup (kind of like me and cheese or ice cream or pitas) and said, “There’s a special place for people who add things to maple syrup…” Our assumption, of course, was that the special place is hell. Nope. “Prison.” So they really do jail you for tampering with maple syrup. For seals.

They had a restaurant, which we had to go to, and I had a delicious waffle with delicious maple syrup. Then we frequented the gift shop and sampled maple jelly beans (really mapley, wow), maple donuts (always delicious), and Mel bought some maple cream soda because it sounded so intriguing (it was intriguing; it really did taste like maple). The sun was shining, we didn’t lose Flat Stanley, and Mel’s car didn’t die like it will very soon. Great day.  

Me, Mel, Katie, Calvin, Nathan eating real maple syrup

Tomorrow I’m heading down to New York to play with Michael, Susie, Eli, and baby Nate. (Yay!) Then the next weekend we’re heading down to Southport, Connecticut for this. So totally jazzed about that one.

Stay tuned for those Eastern reports. They’ll rock. 

I suppose I should say that I have traveled a bit in Massachusetts too, to Lynnfield, Lynn, and . . . wherever the Red Robin was. Now I've forgotten. So it goes. Also, the Rhode Island picture was stolen from the great Calvin Olsen; the New Hampshire photo stolen from the lovely Katie Thornton. I did not take my camera to either state. I did take my phone, but I have no idea how to get the photos off of that. 

Too much, too much

Teaser post:

Mansions, maple trees, music, and maps.


And a text from Andrew Kennedy:

we are envying your adventure with a capitol Y.

You will be too. 

Why am I blogging this late at night?

Because tonight was the first time since August that I had Little Caesars $5 Hot and Ready pizza. It was so good. But the crust was different. And they ran out of the amazing Italian cheesy bread.

I guess that's what happens when you get there at 10:00p.m. But we did travel all the way to Lynn, Massachusetts to get it.


I missed you, Melis.

Week End

MFA American Wing = So worth the wait.

Although they only had one Norman Rockwell. Sad day.


Tomorrow I'm heading to Rhode Island to see the mansions (hopefully including the one where they filmed The Great Gatsby). Also hopefully I get home in time to finish my taxes and do laundry.

Pray for Japan, and tune into the Mountain West Conference championship game tomorrow night at 4:00p.m. Pacific Time. BYU should totally rock it again.

Thanksgiving Recap + Christmas Beginning

I'm back in my brick Boston house. I like my house and Boston, but I do miss Leesburg. Why?

• I shared a delicious Thanksgiving meal with some great people.
• I saw Christmas lights with four very excited little kids.
• I played trains and ate fishies with the cutest baby.
• I watched How To Train A Dragon---three times.
• I went to Mount Vernon and the Natural History Museum.
• I browsed the best antique shops with my awesome aunt.
• I discovered some really cute books.
• I helped decorate for Christmas.
• I ate the most amazing molasses cookies. 

Summary? Good trip. Always. I'll have to think of a reason to go back.

Standing in front of a gingerbread Mount Vernon

I did, however, have some exciting Christmas mail waiting for me when I got home last night. Thanks, Mom and Dad! Christmas is officially here.

A Little Shadow

I have a little shadow and her name is Ava Rose;
She chatters to me all day and goes everywhere I goes.
We read Dr. Seuss and princess books, see pandas in a "zoo",
We got the same ice cream cones at the old McDonald's, too.
She likes to wear my shoes around and pet my curly hair;
She lets me choose which jammies in the night time she will wear.
I love my little shadow, though I'm never left alone.
I'll miss her little piggy feet when I return back home.

Perspective on Thanksgiving

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I too am thankful for avoiding smallpox.


But also, I'm thankful that I get time off from school and that I'll be traveling down to Virginia where there are fun cousins, good food, and marginally warmer weather.

I'm Leaving Today

Finale de DC

I'm blogging in the Baltimore airport. How cool am I?

I really should be working on my small presentation for my Copyediting class tonight (AP Stylebook's views on rules starting with the letter C . . . you know you're intrigued), but I can't do that without bragging about my family a little. Besides, I just spent a while actually copyediting; I need a break.

Saturday afternoon I met up with Bruce and Ryan and family at the National Air and Space Museum near the Dulles Airport. So, so cool. Pictures to follow (I don't have my camera cord here in Baltimore), but we saw some sweet planes including Tyler's favorite Concord, the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, and the space shuttle Enterprise. The kids loved the planes. So did the adults. Shoot, everyone loves planes.

We had a delicious dinner before the boys had a campfire with s'mores while Karen and I went to the Relief Society broadcast. It was great, particularly President Monson. And then the lesson in the third hour on Sunday was on judging as well. I think it was all summed up nicely in this idea:

If attitudes, deeds, and compassion were reflected in physical features, what would I look like?

Church on Sunday was fun. I hadn't been in Sacrament meeting with little kids for a long time; Ava and I enjoyed reading her Quiet Book. We also had fun at the house reading stories, playing Zingo, and just chatting away (she was doing most of the chatting). Ryan gave us a driving tour of Leesburg (very beautiful place) and Karen and I watched The Blind Side, so I finally saw the end. Good movie. Good weekend. I think the highlight may have been Relief Society on Sunday though---Carter came with me since Karen was doing Primary and Ryan was teaching the High Priests. He was so tired and quickly fell asleep on my lap. There's nothing like holding a sleeping baby. It was so calming. 

I'm thinking that Ryan and Karen will become my replacement Todd and Allison. Thanksgiving, maybe?

DC Day Dos

This whole humidity thing is not so fun. Maybe the Universe hates me; they say it's been really nice up until I got here.

But even with the humidity, yesterday was a good day. Worked on some publishing stuff in the morning and the Andy played hooky and went into the city with me to meet up with uncles Ryan and Land Baron Bruce. (He didn't really play hooky, he just got shingles and his principal didn't want him teaching a bunch of kindergarten girls. Haha.)

We saw some pretty cool stuff, and it was a great group to be with to do so. Our first stop was the Department of Treasury where we got to take a tour to see how money is made. It is made very similarly to Nike signage and gift card packaging; I felt a little like I was out on the floor at WG&D/PC. It was amazing to see all that money and all the stuff they do to try to secure it. We also got to see the new 100 bill, which should be coming out on 10 February 2011, although the security guard in the gift shop said they might have to delay it a bit.

Next stops, two more museums. This has been a museum-filled week. Smaller ones that none of us had seen before, the Freer and the Hishhorn, which contained a lot of Asian artwork and pottery and then a bunch of modern art. The Freer had a tiny Egypt room as well, but it sadly does not compare to the MFA. I think one of our favorite Hishhorn pieces was probably this one:

We could touch it and didn't set off any alarms. Although that's probably still frowned upon.

After parting ways Andy and I walked around the mall a little bit (not the shopping, the historical one) before heading back to his apartment to meet up with his roommate for dinner. We took the metro to Alexandria and wandered around before they forced me to make a decision on the restaurant ("You chose to visit, you have to decide. If this were your last meal, you'll be executed in a few hours . . ."). We went to a Spanish place and ordered tapas. Some of them were really good, others not so much. The salmon and asparagus were particularly delicious. But I really liked Alexandria, Kevin called it quaint; lots of brick buildings, trees, a lot of small shops, everything felt older. It was nice. We also talked a lot about the Masons, and apparently we know very little.

Andy and I spent the rest of the night watching TV, eating Ben&Jerry's Chubby Hubby ice cream (so, so good), and talking about important things in his life, and in mine. It was relaxing, and it was nice to actually have a real conversation in person. We usually only see each other for a brief time at Christmas.

DC Day 1

So I ended up being so exhausted during the flight that I slept the entire way from Boston to Baltimore. I never do that. Which means I read about three pages of the book that I took, which did end up being The Meaning of Everything. But Heather, thanks for the comment. I have read Gurnsey and loved it. I also really liked The Glass Castle even if it was sad. The ending isn't sad, just the middle part. And there are a lot of happy things in it too. I have no idea if that convinced you, but you should still read it.

So I was picked up by an old Jerusalem friend and we went to meet another Jerusalem friend at the Georgetown law campus, where he goes to school. In honor of our Jerusalem friendship we ate falafel for lunch. Sadly, not anywhere close to the falafel in Israel.

I got to explore my second museum for the week (I'm suspecting there will be more) . . . the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It was pretty cool. I'm not as familiar with American art as I am with European (like I'm really that familiar with any art at all, ha), but there were a lot of portraits of pretty important people in our history. There was also an amazing Norman Rockwell exhibit; if you're in DC anytime between now and 2 January 2011, go see it. I had no idea how much I like him.

In the evening I came to Andy's snazzy new apartment that doesn't have any furniture except beach chairs. He gave me a tour, cooked me a lovely dinner (because really, when do I cook lovely dinners?), and even blew up the air mattress for me. I'm very impressed (and not at all surprised) at his hosting abilities. Although he did let me make my own toast for breakfast this morning.


And this has nothing to do with DC, but happy Sukkot this week.