Scenes from the Weekend

[Witch hazel, South End, Boston; 3/3/13]

The snow from the blizzard last month is mostly gone. Two feet of snow takes awhile to melt, and we had some added inches and cold weather throughout February keeping it in place. Now there are only dirty, lumpy remains of former snow banks and patches where the sun's warm rays can't quite reach, like an itch in the mid upper back. Soon there will be shoots of crocuses and daffodils everywhere, but for now it's witch hazel heralding the coming of spring. Next weekend, we'll set the clocks ahead and our days will begin to stretch their creaky muscles.

[Birds line up outside Back Bay Station; 3/3/13]

[Crow atop the chimney pots]

On Saturday, I went to a "Tea" that my alumnae club hosted at L'Espalier, one of Boston's fanciest restaurants. The event had been postponed from the day of the blizzard. I'm never entirely comfortable at these things, not close to anyone in the club, but I usually meet interesting people when I do go and end up glad I went. And this time I didn't want to miss out on going to L'Espalier, which I'd never been to and am unlikely to afford otherwise. Plus it's just two blocks from D's place.

The dining room itself was understated if not underwhelming, but the food was excellent and the staff extremely solicitous. It was tea, so there were all the little tea sandwiches -- cucumber and watercress, smoked salmon and creme, a deviled egg -- followed by plates of little fancy pastries. The menu was not for the diabetic! Which I'm not, but I knew all that white flour and sugar would make me light-headed. Anyway, the piece de resistance was a little "roasted guinea hen profiterole with garlic aioli" shaped like, well, more like a swan I think. See photo below.

[Individual pastry plate at L'Espalier's tea party]

I went back to D's wired up from sweets and caffeine which, added to all the stress adreline I've been dealing with lately, rather wiped me out. We napped, then cooked some Trader Joe's salmon dinner and frozen vegetables instead of going out. It may have been frozen dinners, but it was fish and veggies and, along with some good beer, it helped anchor me back on earth. I'd brought my Netflix dvd of Woody Allen's To Rome With Love, which was silly fluff but a nice armchair travel movie.

We got out for brunch on Sunday, and then, since it was reasonably warm (or at least, mostly devoid of chilling wind) we had a nice walk over to the South End and back. Brunch was delicious - we both had the breakfast burrito at the Met Back Bay.

[Breakfast burrito with hash brown potatoes, Met Back Bay]

I seem to be in a space of heightened sensitivity these days, and all too much prey to insecurities, both real (and there are so many real uncertainties in my work and financial life right now) and imagined. I realized this weekend it would probably be wise to start meditating again to have some centering, particularly in this time of flux. My physiatrist, who I'm seeing for painfully overused neck muscles (all that computer work, mainly), recommended it as well -- particularly classes rather than just on my own. Will have to look into it...

Comments

[mm]

Good luck with the hunt for a meditation class. Meditation is the hardest thing to do at the very time we need it most (in my experience). Having group support has to be a good thing.

[Leslee]

Thanks, mm. Trying to do it on my own for the meantime. And you're right, hardest to do when we need it most.

[Sky]

what about yoga? the stretching and breathing can be relaxing during stressful times. hoping some interesting work projects soon begin to surface. i'm betting on it, leslee!

[Leslee]

Sky: Yoga's a good idea, but I've had a hard time finding a good yoga teacher, and I have a lot of physical issues that complicate things. I'm going to a physiatrist and physical therapist currently. Maybe when I have these issues sorted I could try yoga again. Anyway, thanks for the good wishes. :-)