Sometimes You Want To Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name

*Tap, Tap*

Is this thing on?

Can you hear me out there?

Ahem, so, how's it going?  Good?  Good, glad to hear it.  Me?  Oh, I'm doing alright, you know...  Boston was fantastic, thanks for asking!  I definitely left my camera at home though, so no pictures, sadly enough.  Actually, that's not true, two things in Boston warranted dragging out the crappy iPhone camera (leaps and bounds better than the Razr, but still, no flash and no zoom makes for limited photo ops).

That right there is the headstone that supposedly inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne to write one of the great classics of American literature, The Scarlet Letter.  Doesn't just looking at it make you want to go have a torrid affair with your town reverend?

And of course, I can't pass up a funny sign, particularly when it's dog related--this one was taken on the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway.

It was really great to see my family--there were two uncles, one aunt, a mom, a dad, a great uncle, two cousins, as well as a cousin once removed (or possibly a second cousin--haven't really determined the difference), and the birthday girl, my 90 year old grandmother in attendance.  I certainly enjoyed her birthday party, celebrating with a lobster swimming in melted butter, New England clam chowder, a tasty salad, Jolly Rancher martini, and grape nut custard for dessert (as in the no grapes, no nuts cereal--surprisingly delicious in custard form!).  I swore I would never eat again, but promptly changed my mind when we had lunch in the North End of Boston at a little Italian restaurant, followed up by a Boston Cream Puff from the amazing Mike's Pastry (I love how out of date their website is...).  My uncle took us on a phenomenal tour of Boston's historical landmarks, my favorite stop being the Old North Church of "one if by land, two if by sea" fame.

I arrived home late Tuesday night and went back to work Wednesday morning, where I was informed that my hours are being drastically cut through the end of the year for budgetary reasons.  My multi-site director is working with me to find hours at other nearby elementary schools, and supposedly beginning on January 1st, I'll be back to my 25ish or so hours a week, but until then, grumble, grumble.  I pink puffy heart my job and my adorable kids, but if my hours don't go back up as of the 1st, I'll be seeking employment elsewhere.  Sigh.

This week marks the final week of my second Master's class, and I begin my next one on the following Monday with no break to catch my breath.  Maybe that'll be a good thing though, since I won't have time to lose my momentum and fall out of the school habit.  Last night I finally got around to remedying the horrifying roots situation going on with my hair and chopping off a couple of annoying inches, and today I went on a chocolate tour in Seattle with some of my good girlfriends.  Here is pictorial evidence of both of these events combined:

New hair displayed on left, world's most delicious drinking chocolate (aka "Adult Hot Chocolate") on right, at Fran's Chocolates

And all of us girls with our chocolate haul--and another version of a slightly less delicious, but still amazing drinking chocolate at The Chocolate Box.  I swear, some of the chocolate sampled on the tour WAS chewable!

So, anyway, it's been a good week, and the fun will continue tonight with a trip BACK into Seattle to see Spring Awakening and do a little window shopping.  Because, hey, those Christmas/Birthday/Anniversary wish lists are not going to make themselves!!

Comments

[Gretchen]

Ooh, you get to see Spring Awakening? I've heard so many good things about that.
Also, your hair looks very fab!

[Anonymous G]

Your Boston trip sounds fab! And the chocolate tour? Wow, what decadence!

You and your hair look lovely...

Sorry about the budget cuts. I hope you get your hours and your sweet little kiddos back so your pink puffy heart can be full!

xoxo

p.s. ygm!

[E.P.]

Wow. The birthday party with your fam sounds excellent! And that chocolate tour? So jealous.

I hope your hours go up at the job, and I hope you've been having a great weekend!

[RisibleGirl]

Your hair looks fab. I really like that color and cut on you!

You know what's weird? Some of my feeds (yours is one)are acting funny on bloglines. It'll look like you've not posted anything in a good long while then POOF 3 postings at the same time. The same thing is happening with several other of my reads which makes me wonder what's going on.

I'm sorry about the work thing. Why does work have to be such a downer these days? Well, TG for chocolate, I say.

xo

[Jessica]

That is so nice of the dog park to translate signs into dog language. More places should do that! So unfair to the dogs.

[CurlySue]

Oh goodness, Christmas is coming. I have no idea what I want and I have really no money to buy what I want. I don't take a second job, ever, because I like my time and around the holidays with the fam. It's a cycle I can't break.

[katelin]

aw sounds like a great weekend. and a chocolate tour? that just sounds dangerous...and delicious :)

[La Petite Chic]

Oooh, your hair looks gorgeous!! Also, is it weird that I love that headstone? The engravings on it are so cool!

[Larissa]

Cute hair! And did you say chocolate tour?! Oh. My. God.