3rd House Journal

Halloween

[Bottled spirits, at Black Ink, Charles St, Boston; 10/30/11]

The unseasonable Halloween snowstorm swirled outside our windows in Boston on Saturday night, but left only an inch or two of snow by morning. Alas, it was heavy enough to bring down trees and cause power outtages throughout the state. One of the friends I was supposed to see on Sunday (plans were cancelled) had a huge tree fall across her yard and lost power there. Out where my condo is, mid-state, they had about 20 inches of snow, while towns farther west had up to 30 inches.

In the city, Sunday's bright sunshine quickly melted the little snow we had. We bundled up and went out for a walk around noon and, so long as we were out of the wind, it was reasonably comfortable. It's been such a weird fall. Because of the prolonged warm weather, the leaves remain green on most trees instead of turning bright yellow and red and falling. In the suddenly cold November weather, the swans and ducks in the Public Garden were paddling around the lagoon surrounded by bedraggled looking green-ish trees. I carried my camera in hand as usual, but saw nothing I cared to capture. It wasn't until we walked down Charles Street that I found something worth sharing.

[In the window at Black Ink, Charles St]

Fall

[Windowbox, Back Bay, Boston; 10/23/11]

We've had an unusually warm fall -- until this week when temperatures plunged. I woke up to a coating of snow on my car roof yesterday morning, and they're predicting 1 to 3 inches of snow overnight in the city and up to a foot west of here from an unusually early nor'easter. Going from late summer directly into winter is jarring. My muscles clench and won't release unless steeped in a hot bath. Even with the heat on, and flannel sheets on the bed, my body recoils at the sudden change. But, I grew up in New Hampshire and I've lived through 53 long winters. I'll adjust.

Meanwhile, there are the joys of fall to savor. The brightness of fall foliage and pumpkins ease the transition to the muted tones of leafless late fall before bright snow and stark winter. The smells of baking apples and tastes of rich stews welcome us indoors once again.

Alas, this morning's sunshine has already been snuffed out like damp wood that won't catch fire. My inspiration likewise sputters. Time to get moving, pack up to go to D's in the city overnight, with plans to meet up with friends tomorrow afternoon unless the storm intervenes. Henceforth, all schedules subject to Mother Nature's whims.

Rivers and Bridges

[St Johns River, Jacksonville, FL; 10/21/11]

 Last week I flew to Florida for a professional conference, spending most of Wednesday traveling (paying for myself, so flying cheap meant no nonstops). I did opt to shell out $20 extra per night for a riverview room, and it was well worth it. A bit creepy that the 15th floor sliding glass windows opened all the way, with just a little railing across, but it made for great views of the river and a few of its 7 bridges. The guy doling out wine at the hospitality suite that night told me that Jackonville is the largest city in the US area-wise, although well under a million in population. I also found out that nobody walks in this city. In Boston, New York, other Northeast cities, everyone walks everywhere, but in a sprawling place like Jacksonville FL, everyone drives.  I noticed almost a complete absence of people when I took a walk along the lovely Riverwalk from the hotel on Thursday afternoon, though a few more were out on Friday at lunchtime when I strolled down again - a handful of people in the cafes at Jacksonville Landing and a few more walking, though mostly those were visitors on break from the conference.

[Bridges, Jacksonville, FL]

I arrived back in Boston on Friday night and D drove over to pick me up at the airport. I'm still wondering about this woman I met fixing her makeup in the ladies room at the airport who nervously confessed to me that after 25 years of (apparently failed) marriage she'd just flown 500 miles to meet some stranger she met on the Internet. Alas, D was waiting and stalling an airport cop trying to hustle him off, so I didn't have time to watch the scene unfold.

It was good to be home. We hung around the city on Saturday, then took the T out to Jamaica Plain for a party at friends' new place followed by a trek over to the JP Lantern Festival (Universal Hub picked up my photo). And then Sunday was the Head of the Charles Regatta, which somehow I've missed for one reason or another every year. Unfortunately, the weather suddenly turned quite chilly on Sunday, so we only got as far upriver as the start of the race, but not to where the exciting finish happens 3 miles further upstream near Harvard Square. We had no idea what was going on, but it was fun anyway.

You can see more photos of Jacksonville here and more from the Head of the Charles here.

[Charles River, Boston, MA; 10/23/11]

[Rowers, train bridge and BU bridge, Boston/Cambridge]

As for the conference, it was fun and informative and I came back buzzing with ideas and new contacts, but I'm still unsure of my direction. I guess to some extent I'll have to float and see which way the currents take me. But in the meantime I have committed to work on a certificate from the professional organization, with one credit under my belt from a workshop I took at the conference. It's something.

[Note these 3 teams are all headed in the same direction]

Up in the Air

[Fort Point, Boston; 10/15/11]

The skies were beautiful on Saturday just before dusk -- heavy clouds bluffing more than threatening, blown eastward out to sea while the sun headed downward to the west. The sky as future, as possibility, unsettled and dynamic, up in the air, inscrutable. Later this week, I'll fly above the clouds to spend a couple of days at a conference, a little professional development and networking. More ideas to toss around. And in between, air time, perspective.

We drove over to the Fort Point Arts Open Studios (driving because we were coming from my place, but we should have parked at D's and taken the T - between an unexpected Occupy Boston march and the Boston Book Festival, we couldn't get back across the city, sigh). We didn't stay long, stopped to visit friends and popped into a few studios to see some interesting work. It occurs to me now that good contemporary art is just as unsettling and disruptive and inscrutable as that sky. It's why I go, to shake up my brain, see where the pieces land and make new connections.

 
[Parking lot art]

[Crossroads, Summer St and Congress St - Fort Point]

In the meantime, here on earth, there's all the preparation and anxiety, trying to nail control what can be controlled before turning it all over to the great Whatever Happens.

Not a Young Pup

[Bulldog puppy outside Stephanie's cafe on Newbury St, Boston; 10/10/11]

I simply can't keep up. I imagine a dozen or so cups filling up, grabbing one here and there while all the others overflow. We had layoffs at my company last week, though none in the writing group (in fact, I just saw a job posting that we're looking for an oncology writer). But that got me scrambling to look at my career options, reading up on the divergent paths I could take, the extra training I might need, etc. I had an opportunity to pursue work with a former colleague, but the more I thought of it the more I realized I'd be bored out of my mind, with no creative aspect at all and even less interaction with people, albeit less stress.

On Tuesday night, I went to a social event my alumnae association put on in Boston, rather rare "school night" socializing for me -- and it was enjoyable, all the lively young pups just out of school and just a few of us old bitches dogs. The venue was spectacular -- rooftop deck alongside the Public Garden with a 360-degree view of city lights, full moon presiding -- at the home of a wealthy alum. Next week, I'm going to a conference to do some networking, and I have lots of preparation to do for that, plus umpteen loose ends to tie up at work and at home. It's rather exhausting.

And now I'm running out of time to get ready for work. Another cup's pouring over...

Gifts from the Garden

[Figs from my landlady's garden; 10/4/11]

My landlords came by while I was at work yesterday to give me the screens for the two windows I've had air conditioners in all summer. They left the screens in my front hall, along with two brown paper bags full of goodies -- figs from their fig tree and lovely misshapen, delicious tomatoes from their garden. They'd brought me some two years ago, but last year's excessive summer heat yielded very little from either. I guess this mostly mild summer was kinder.

I'm not sure yet what to do with the figs -- any ideas? I saw a nice recipe for a fig gallette online, though I don't have a lot of figs I guess I could make a small gallette. And maybe save a few for a pork loin dinner? The tomatoes I can use to make a little sauce for pasta.

Harvest

[Sugar pumpkins, Deluca's on Newbury St, Boston; 10/1/11]