Paradise

[Paradise Pond, Smith College campus, Northampton; 10/07/06]

I drove out to Northampton yesterday to meet up with Lorianne, ostensibly to do some shopping and wander around downtown. But the weather was too nice to stay indoors, so we walked up Main Street to campus at my alma mater, stopping to take in the sights of Paradise Pond and the college's botanic gardens. We took a path halfway around the pond that I used to take sometimes on my way to classes from my dorm in "the quad," but instead of turning up to the street, we continued on as the path winds along the Mill River. We came across several others strolling the path, of both the 2-footed and 4-footed variety, and it seems to be a good place for the locals to take their pooches.

[Smith College Boat House on Paradise Pond; 10/07/06]

I was just happy to be on my feet and moving, since I spend so much time sitting now at work and on my commutes. This past week I went on a short business trip with a couple of others from my company and it went well. Travel was pretty smooth as we all had carry-on's only. TSA seems to have down their farce system of examining your zip-lock baggies of 3-oz. liquid toiletries, and were unfazed by my 4-oz. contact lens solution, simply marking an X on the bag and noting it on their list. We got back to the office by cab from the airport Thursday afternoon at 4:30 and, though my two good-doobie colleagues went into the building, I got in my car and high-tailed it home before the traffic - and also made it to my salsa class at 6:30 (speaking of moving).

Friday night after work I met friends in the South End for dinner and theatre, which was fun, though by the end of the night I could feel myself nearing depletion. However, the evening in town was apparently a good plan because I just heard that holiday weekend traffic that night was backed up on the Mass Pike from the I-84 (to NY) interchange all the way back to Boston, 60 miles. Yeesh.

[Lyman Plant House and Smith College Botanic Gardens; 10/07/06]

It looks like another beautiful fall day here, so I'm going to get out for a walk and eventually get around to laundry, groceries and cleaning up around the house. Maybe I'll have time at some point to crack open the Sunday NY Times. It's been an intense week and my introvert side is screaming for time alone, and also for creating some order out of the chaos of my unkempt house. I don't get Columbus Day off, so this is my one day to myself. Unfortunately (or otherwise, we'll see) I set up a blind date for sometime around dinnertime. At least I insisted on making it local for me so I don't have much of a drive. I have a good 7 hours or so to recenter. Paradise.

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Change of plans, postponement. Entire day to myself - woo hoo! Hope you're all having a lovely fall weekend!

Comments

[marja-leena]

Thanks for the update on how you're doing - sounds like you've had some good times. Love your photos! Hope you are enjoying some quiet introverted time today and have a good date this evening. Take care, Leslee.

[Lorianne]

Given the title of "Paradise," I thought for sure you'd show a pic of me swilling a martini in the Tunnel Bar. Or is that the opposite of Paradise...???

[MB]

Lovely reflections — that top one is arresting! Sounds like you are adjusting to life in the faster lane... as long as there are rest stops along the way? Enjoy your day to yourself!

[leslee]

Thanks, Marja-Leena. I'm trying. :-)

Lori: Ha! At the very least, the Tunnel Bar is the passageway in the wrong direction!

MB: Thanks. I'm trying to adjust - yes, rest stops are an absolute requirement. (Martinis in the Tunnel Bar aren't a bad refresher either!)

[Keith]

Great pics. Oh to be out on a canoe in the water, although probably a bit chillier up north.

PS. Your two colleagues are insane, or trying to hard to brownnose.

[Rhea]

I saw "1776," too. Did you like it? What a gorgeous weekend here in Boston!

[leslee]

Keith: It was about 80 degrees yesterday! I think the water is still warm, too - I drove by Walden Pond on the way home and there were people in swimming. (One colleague was actually a senior manager. But another manager told me it was perfectly acceptable for me to have gone home.)

Rhea: Yes, 1776 was excellent, although a bit long. Of course it had been a long week and we ate a lot at dinner just before the play!

[Pica]

I'm really enjoying these photos, Leslee...

[Beth]

Wow - that top photo really does look like my idea of Paradise. Glad you had a good weekend and some serious time to unwind and regenerate, Leslee.

[leslee]

Thanks, Pica and Beth. It was a beautiful day.

[patry]

Paradise Pond is one of my favorite spots on earth. Your photos capture it well.

[leslee]

Thanks, Patry. I'm just remembered that you said you used to live out there. Smith is lucky to have it - it makes for a highlight for many a prospective student's visit.