It's been too long

It's been too long since my last post that I'm not sure I'll recap everything but here are the biggies:

My first week back at Hall's, I found out that the Merchandising Assistant for Couture and Fine Jewelry position was vacant.  Holy cow did I jump on that!  I talked my buyer's ear off daily, I interviewed, and found out Wednesday I got the job!  YES!!!  I am so excited to start though I don't know when that will be.

Wednesday morning I flew to Boston for opening night of the Boston Symphony.  Was everyone dressed to the nines!  I wore my black recital dress with a red wrap loaned to me by Lisa.  I attended the cocktail hour before and when I went to pick up my ticket I couldn't believe the price: $1000!!  And, it was FREE!  I walked around the room sipping champagne and viewing the historic instruments.  During the course of the evening about a half dozen ladies complimented the wrap and thought it was gorgeous!  Thanks, Lisa!

The concert was amazing.  When James Levine came out, the audience gave him a standing ovation!  The orchestra began with a Glinka overture (which I played a transcription of at ESM horn choir), a beautiful Tchaikovsky aria, and then Pictures at an Exhibition.  Oh my goodness was that principle tuba AMAZING!  I've never heard the tuba solo played like that; it was great!  After the concert Michael and I met up and rode a trolley over to this fancy-shmancy Boston hotel for a post concert dinner.  The ballroom set with tables was something from out of the movies.  It too was dressed to the nines.  The three course meal was sumptuous, the people at our table were very pleasant to visit with, plus we got a party favor of a crystal votive with color applied Faberge.  What a great souvenir.  Michael was even recognized as one of the new members of the orchestra and was introduced to many contributors.  How nice of the BSO to show their appreciation and respect for him.

I was so pleased to be able to be a part of the beginning of a new success for him.  It was sad to leave on Thursday, but when I got there on Wednesday he asked me to stay.  Perhaps one day I will.

Home.

Boston was a lot of fun.  My favorite parts of the trip were: 1. Michael, 2. Red Sox game, and 3. A shared cannoli from Mike's.  Since I left Boston, "Sweet Caroline" has been running through my head non stop from that baseball game.  It seems like there's so much tradition with Red Sox fans, it was so fun to immediately feel a part of it.  Whenever the Red Sox would score, everyone would be high-fiving!  The boys that kept having Michael and me stand up to get out of the aisle to either get more beer or pee were really nice.  Every time I'd pass money down from the vendors, people would smile.  There was just so many people smiling!  Even when the Sox were down, people sitting around us were friendly and still smiling.  I'm sure it's not always like that, but I'd like to think that it is.

My 6 a.m. Sunday morning flight home was really tiring.  Plus, when I got to my Dad's, we couldn't find Molly for a really, really long time.  At least an hour passed.  I was scared, stressed, and got a headache.  We finally found her; glad she was safe and healthy.

Even though I enjoyed my few days in Boston, I didn't love it like I remembered.  I thought that I was more of a city girl, but my heart's in the midwest and especially the prairie.  When I was a little girl, my grandmother gave me a light blue tee shirt with wheat on it that said, "Prairie Person."  'Suppose that's me.

BOSTON

I arrived here in Boston Wednesday afternoon.  Wasn't able to do much around the city because Michael had a rehearsal and performance for some corporate gig, and I was totally exhausted from getting up at 4am.

Yesterday was a busy day.  We went to Flour for a sticky bun and coffee.  The brownstone neighborhoods are really beautiful and there are moms everywhere with their carriages and kids, people walking all kinds of dogs, and the urban joggers.  Michael and I walked all the way to the east end of Newbury Street, stopping in consignment shops, and then having a great lunch at Kashmir, an Indian restaurant.

After walking for a chunk of the day, I suggested that since it was rush hour, we walk to the South Bay Target.  I was totally pumped for the adventure, since we saved $8 on public transportation and ten minutes in transit.  However, when we got to the Target--it was totally ghetto.  It was massive, a wreck, and they were so low on stock.  We walked the 1.7 miles home, got in the car and drove about 30 minutes to IKEA.  I love that store, but Michael gets frustrated, feels super contained and then has to get out of there.  We drove from there to the North End for Italian, but the restaurant he wanted to take me to was totally full, and the kitchen was done!  We had some not-so-special food, but then went to Mike's for an awesome cannoli.  We were totally exhausted, and our feet were hurting but we slept hard.

This morning while at Whole Foods, we got a call from Michael's new friend, Henry.  He invited us to his restaurant for breakfast with two tickets to the Red Sox v. Bluejays game tomorrow night!  SCORE!  We'd been wanting to go to a game, but not spend a fortune.  Well, Henry did it for us!  He's had these season tickets since the '70s, in the fourth row, between 3rd base and home plate!  WOW!!  We're totally pumped.

We had planned to eat at the top of the Prudential building tomorrow night for Michael's birthday, but since we've got the tickets, we're going to an Afgan restaurant, Helmand, for his birthday dinner, compliments of big brother, Jonathan.  I've viewed the menu online and it looks amazing!

There are so many things that Boston has to offer, but I'm finding myself a little homesick.  I definitely miss, "The Little Girl" (Molly).

priceline.com

Who doesn't love priceline.com when it saves you $299.53 on a flight for a last minute trip to Boston?  I couldn't believe the savings.  When I put in my first bid and it was so far away from the actual prices, I thought that there was no way I'd get the flight but I did!  So now I have something to do all week and I'll get to spend Michael's birthday with him.  I can't wait to get back to Boston.

So I was on the phone with my friend Emily last night and we were talking about shopping.  Thanks to Michael, I have learned the skills of research, negotiation, and as I like to call it, "treasure hunting."  Yesterday I did a bit of hunting at Re Runs in Westport.  I found a beautiful gold bracelet with leaves and pearls and two handkerchiefs.  I can definitely wear the bracelet for opening night of the BSO later this month.  Score!

I love my "prayer plant."

Saturday was my last day at Burberry.  YES!  I can't wait to get back to the great, supportive family at Hall's.

Grandma and I were going to go on a road trip together to visit my great aunt Ann in Milwaukee, swing by Chicago and visit Emily, Leslie, and Dario.  I got a call from Grandma this afternoon and this morning she fell and broke her wrist and the trip's off.  I couldn't believe what she was telling me.  I might still have a childish trait, thinking my grandparents are invincible.  We were both really looking forward to our trip and are bummed it's not going to work out.

Went to church with Dad for the first time in months and it was great to see my friends there.  It's just incredibly hard to work, spend time with a friend on a Saturday night, then get up at 6:30 to shower, and then drive half an hour to meet Dad for the 8:15am service.  I wish St. Andrew was closer to downtown.

Molly is such a naughty kitty!  She has been chewing my "prayer plant" and it really makes me mad!  She started doing it the last Saturday, the day before Michael left for Boston and she hasn't let up.  Last week I bought wheat grass seeds and planted grass for her.  It's out, next to her favorite spot, and I even sprinkled cat nip on and around it to make it extra attractive.  That little stinker chews on the grass but is still wanting the "prayer plant."  Guess the next step is to find a spray for the plant that will make it taste bad to her.  If that doesn't work, I'll need some suggestions.  That "prayer plant" is just so sentimental to me and I can't have her wrecking it!

Hump Day

Yesterday evening I got to see Brian, Madely, and Elliot in their new house!  Wow!  I am so happy for the three of them (almost four of them).  Madelyn is a beautiful pregnant person and Elliot is chattering up a storm!  That little kid is pretty spectacular.  Dinner was awesome too--I need some lessons from her.

Worked all day then spent the evening with Dad.  He picked me up after work and we had dinner at Bo Ling's off the Plaza.  I really, really like that Bo Ling's location.  It reminds me of Chinese restaurants of my childhood.  Everything is red and I love the "tucked in" feeling of those booths.

We went to hear the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Trombones.  Saw Roger and Ilan there and met the new bass trombonist and his wife: Graeme and Brandee.  It was nice to see people and the quartet was fun too.  Glad to switch it up a bit.

Planning a road trip with Grandma to visit a great aunt in Milwaukee.  Four days in the car with Grandma should prove to inspire some interesting blog entries. 

Alone.

Yesterday I quit my job at Burberry.  What a relief.  I'm glad to be going back to Halls in two weeks.  I receive incredible support there, but I need to find something that's more stimulating.  Yesterday I felt motivated and energized and this evening I feel stressed out with a headache.

It wasn't fun working; missing the Labor Day parties.  Michael's in Boston now and I feel totally alone and empty without him.  I knew this would be hard.