The Boston

We flew in on Friday and after checking into the hotel in Cambridge next to M*T we walked over to B*ston U and caught the T to C*pley. After searching for some time we found some food and did a little people watching. Students were back and everywhere with their books and their luggage and their hipness. Some were trying too hard, others didn't seem to give one shit one way or the other. I kept thinking how crazy it was to have to lug your luggage on a train to get to where you wanted to go.


Back on the train to Kenm*re and a short walk to Fenw@y. We were starting to figure out the T and got ourselves a Chahlie Cahrd (aka Charlie Card) for our T travels.

It seems the R*d Sox fans are hard core and start their game day festivities early because we found all these little bars around the stadium packed at 3:30 in the afternoon. We marveled and the difference in the fans, all decked out in their gear, and their loyalty to their team.

After partaking in some adult beverages at a local bahr (aka bar) we headed to the stadium past the Green M*nster. Our seats were in the outfield and as far as I can tell, they were good seats. But what do I know. The thing I enjoyed most was seeing how much SP got out of seeing the stadium for the first time. I know he will always remember this trip and his first time to just stand in the walkway of the stadium and take it all in.

I tried to get us seats here, but damn they are pricey. I think I liked it better being able to see the guy run out with his ladder and his numbers and change the score board.


After the game we headed back with all the locals on the T and ended up back at our hotel for a very, very expensive after game "snack" that left me quite drunk off my $11 Mai Tai. Yummy.


What would our trip be without a ridiculous tongue shot. We got up at about 10 on Saturday and headed to F@neuil Hall. We had lunch at the Cheers Cafe and drinks at Dicks...totally tourists but what the hell.

We aren't big history buffs so we didn't partake in any tours, boat trips or ghost and goblin hunts that were offered. Instead we just took a leisurely stroll around the market and the wharf just taking it all in. In this picture we had just had a good laugh at the expense of some gentleman walking around blasting Apple B*ttom Jeans on his "ghetto blaster" that seriously was bigger than Miss C.


More of the market...I never claimed to be a photographer.

After getting quite tipsy at Dicks Last Res*rt we headed back to the hotel where I napped and SP watched football. The best of both worlds I must say. We then decided to just hang out in Cambridge for dinner. That proved to be an interesting adventure that had us walking down a deserted road behind the institute of technology. We saw about 5 people our entire 15 minute walk and speculated as to where in the hell people who attended that school ate.

We finally stumbled upon an Irish bar that was a perfect fit for us and when the 8 piece band came in, despite being exhausted, we hung out for a few tunes. The band was great and the food and seasonal brew were also a hit. I seriously look like someone punched me in the eyes in this picture and I only had one drink. Shockingly, when we left the area was buzzing with activity that only a couple hours before had been eerily missing.

Boston was a nice town. Very active with people walking, rowing, running and riding bikes at all hours of the day and night. SP would love to live there, I on the other hand will go not go any more North than we already are. Still, it was exactly what we needed and I am glad we went.

First Miss C

Mighty Mighty Bahston

The night before we left I sobbed profusely over independence lost, overspending to fill some void I could not name, my sense of failure at being the best mom, wife, employee, friend imaginable and the guilt that came from feeling any one of these things. My brain felt like a coiled mess of insecurities, sadness of being away from home, drama over my perception of aloneness and who exactly I was supposed to be and this tugging feeling that no matter how hard I tried I would never be able to uncoil this self inflicted mess.

We were up until after 1. We woke up to leave at 7. My eyes ached from the crying. We both walked like zombies to the airport pushing through the sludgey remnants of the previous nights discussions. Neither of us quite sure how to fill the huge void that my professions had left between us.

I think we left it all behind at some point along the Charles River somewhere between Cambridge and Y@wkey Way. It was the silent dance of forgiveness and togetherness that I needed for myself and we needed for each other.

SP would never speak of any struggle, it is not in his nature and I would only speak of it after the fact. It's too real to speak of it while living it and too personal to lay out there until the wound is healing. And it's healing, thanks to Boston.

More to come...

The long and the short of it

• Been a little busy trying to get things squared away for our weekend in Boston.
• Had my girls weekend at the lake last weekend. What can I say, I have good girlfriends who make me laugh and cry and feel pretty normal.
• I know I need that time because laughter is the best medicine and girlfriends well, the good ones, love you regardless of your imperfections and actually may even love you more because of them.
• Overall last weekend was a weekend of friends...lunch with friends, coffee with a friend, the lake with friends. All of which I needed more than words can convey.
• I also started my writing group back up this week. The dynamics of the group have changed but the principals have not.
• I spent some of my free time today writing. It felt good. Now if I could just stop writing about myself.
• Trying to shed those last few baby pounds. I know it's possible, I am just struggling a bit with how to incorporate Miss C into my exercise routine.
• We did buy one of those things you hook up to the bike that she can ride in, it just makes me a little nervous so we haven't done a full fledged ride yet.
• And honestly, it just looks like a lot of effort to go and ride my bike which is my RELAXING time. So, need to get over that too.
• This weekend is our trip to Boston that I planned while pregnant. We are going to a baseball game and then well, we need to do a rekindling of the love life and mending of our marriage.
• It's not that we are heading off to divorce court, far from it, but we have been very baby focused for the last 6 months and now need to recharge our relationship batteries and have some one-on-one time.
• Miss C is with her grandparents this weekend getting spoiled rotten and her mom is being teased with the idea of feeding soft serve to a 6 month old and late night parties in her crib.
• SP and I are both struggling a bit with our first out of town trip away from our girl. It feels different since we won't be just a couple hours up the road.
• I think some cocktails will lessen that anxiety a bit.
• Miss C waves, spins around in circles on her belly and we believe is/was experiencing a bit of a growth spurt this week that had her consuming mass quantities of formula, cereal and veggies.
• Her teeth are slowly coming in and are now clearly visable.
• It looks like she will be a brunette or maybe a redhead. Right now it depends on the light.
• She still does not look like me...bummer.
• I think that's it for now.
• Happy Labor Day!

6 Month Stats

We took Miss C to the doctor on Thursday for her 6 Month appointment. She was 15.15 pounds, 25 3/4 inches and in the 50th percentile for both height and weight. There are 2 teeth that have broken through her gums and she got 4 shots while we were there.

The doctor said we can now move forward with regularly feeding her solid foods and we tried sweet peas this weekend which she LOVED so much she grabbed the spoon to shove them in her mouth. The new feeding routine is bottle for breakfast, bottle and cereal for lunch, bottle and veggie for 4 PM feeding and then her "cluster" feedings at 7 and 9. She's putting back a whopping 30 - 35 ounces of formula a day plus the food.

It seems like in the last week she has sat up (literally) and said, "hey I am 6 months old and will do new things now" whether we were prepared for it or not. She sits all on her own now and plays with very little falling over. Last night I sat her up in her bathtub and let her play with the new stackable cups I bought her. She liked pouring the water out and the sticking the cups in her mouth.

We go to Boston next weekend and I am a little freaked out about being so far away but I know she will have a great time with her grandparents.

Pictures

Miss C with a new toy.



Hanging out with Dad in the morning and sitting like a pro.



Chillin' with Granny at lunch during her visit.