Fall in Boston area
Trip Start
Sep 29, 2011
1
Trip End
Oct 25, 2011
Boston, Massachusetts
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sept 30-Friday- A fairly blue day and we are heading to the beach- As you can see the weather changes abruptly here! No one on the beach that we knew so started our 3 mile walk Met up with Paul H and then a guy named Kevin (a Calif surfer type) that had told Phil he wanted to meat Hurley came by on his bike, so Phil got them together and they talked hockey and scores and participants till Phil and I moved on! Further down met up with Angie and Tony and their daughter and husband. Got some clam chowder from Kelly’s (tasted alright but I think it had straight milk, no thickening, in it so I need to remember to not order it again. I like my chowder THICK! Finished our walk and back home for a bit. We are meeting Kevin (his birthday) and a friend of his, Helen, at the Brothers for dinner and we decided it was such a good night we would walk- about 1/2 mile. I stopped at CVS for a bit of needed shopping and on to dinner. Kevin is always early so they were already there. Got our dinners - I had a Greek Salad and Phil had a HUGE spinach wrapped thing, and enjoyed our talking and spent a long time there. We walked back home, it is marginal warm but nice for the walk. Wine and music, our usual evening thing and then bed.
October 1st-Saturday. We had intentions of getting up early and go to the Home Show- it is now almost 1 and Phil is showering. Maybe we will get there?? It is very overcast today and rained a bit on our way home. We will relax and then go across the street where we have been invited to a neighborhood dinner and a show. OUTSIDE! We are the only ones invited from our condo because we are the only ones that interact with the neighborhood. A fun time- about 22 of the neighbors and one other guy from our condo and us. John and wife Joy made burgers and hot dogs, I took some salmon dip and someone brought potato and cole slaw salads (bought and tasteless). After dinner we watched the movie ‘The Band” on his Big outside blow up screen and projection projector. He had spent the day covering the parking area with a huge tarp. The house is an old 3 family that he owns, and the back yard is great including a koi pond. We had a great time and nice to meet more of the neighbors. As we left we learned that it was Johns birthday. The movie was good and the people were fun. It did not rain during this event! A good way to spend an evening.
Oct 2-Sunday-Another blustery day so we decided to go to the Home Show in Wilmington. We did get there - After one wrong turn (or did not turn is more what happened) we arrived and enjoyed a rather small home show. it was not as big as I had expected but we enjoyed walking around and we ran into a guy that used to work for Phil- remember Bluto (I think that was his name) in the Popeye cartoon? Well, this guy Simone would have given him a run for the money! Mostly about gutters and leaky basements! A highlight was buying cannolis that we will eat this evening.
Oct 3rd-Monday - Up to lousy weather and it had rained overnight, not sure what today will bring. Sunday is a bacon and eggs day. The TV sound is screwed up and Phil spent at least an hour messing with it. It is tied into his Bose sound system and that seems to have stopped functioning. He is able to get sound on the set itself but it takes 2 remotes to do it! There is a bit of blue sky out there this morning - not sure what the day will bring. We stayed home-Phil worked on the TV for hours and it will work, but only without the Bose sound system! I spent the day on Section 3 of his book-one more to go but it is as large as the 1st 3 sections together! Showered and we will meet Butch and AnneMarie for dinner at Mt Vernon. We had a good time at Mt Vernon.
Oct 4th-Tuesday - I have no idea what we did today-maybe I will remember it later--I have not written in this since the 2nd! The TV still will not work and each time we mess with it it gets worse. I have been spending a lot of time on the proofreading of Phils book! Dinner at Felicia’s in Stoneham. Much food, as always, but very good. The owner gave us an appetizer and the waitress always brings us a creamed limocello drink for dessert.
Oct 5th-Wed - We drove into town, parked at the YMCA and walked about 3 miles to find the Boston Protesters (Occupy Wall Street). Phil wanted to check them out, as he did in the ‘60s during the student revolutions. We found them to be a calm and intelligent group- about 40 small dome tents and the were within the area they had been given. Police were around and no problems. There was a march by the nursing group of about 100 while we were there. Leaving there I bought a Charlie Card for riding the trolly, underground, train, all the ‘in town’ public transportation. We used it to get back to the car as the sun had disappeared and it was getting cool and windy. Actually the wind had been very strong all day. So back home in rush hour where I fixed us leftovers from last night.
Oct 6th-Thur. I had wanted to go into Wakefield to buy a skirt that I had seen in the window before and not had time, so we walked down this morning and it was sold but I got a pair of black slacks with the wide legs. Of course they were about 7 inches too long so I had to hem them-with no pins to pin it up - I used all the needles I could find - and finished in time to get dressed and head out. We are going to a cocktail party that is honoring a friend of Phils. It is at the Museum of Fine Arts in the upscale Bravo Room. We had gone early because this was the opening night of the Degas collection of his nudes. This covered about 6 large room and we really did enjoy it. We were there about 2 hours and then found our way to the second floor where we enjoyed the evening. It was in the back of the room for privacy (there were diners in the other part of the room) and was very nice. Wine and a beautiful layout of snacks! We knew several person there and sat with Phil’s friend Nick T. Later we shared our table with Kitty and Michael Dukakis - yes, that Dukakis! Former Governor of MA and former Presidential hopeful. Phil knew him when they both taught at Northeaster, and he is still teaching there and in LA in the summer. He is a great guy and she is very attractive and friendly. What an evening. We walked back to the Y where our car was parked and home, in the rush hour, again. We had eaten almost enough there, but had some pizza in the freezer that we shared. Busy, fun and informative day.
Oct 7th-Friday- We just stayed home and did nothing this morning and finally showered, etc by noon and good thing too, because Phils cousin Irene was arriving at 1pm. We talked here at the house and ate salmon dip and crackers and then on to The Brothers for lunch. We called Kevin and he joined us. We all talked a long time and finally back home where we talked more. Talk got around to their past relatives and they talked about a farm their grandfather had in early 1900s. Irene thought it might still be around so I did a quick search and it is - Volante Farms in Needham MA, so we are going to look it up when possible. It is run by a Don or Dan Volante and neither Phil or Irene know who that is. We stayed home and had hot dogs and beans and listened to music and talked. And, this morning I fixed the ailing TV! I decided to unplug everything, after 3 guys have been here and tried to fix it! After a few minutes we turned it on and ----ta-da---- everything is working normally again!
Oct 8th- Saturday- Up late and at 11:30 we were still reading the paper. It is nice out, and warm today. Out for a walk-it was up to 83 during the day. A drive to about a mile from Wright pond and then walk to it. Walked around it to a favorite place where Phil took a swim (illegal here!). Walked on from there back to the road and onto the trail at Spot Pond with a stop at a big rock that he used to jump off into the lake (also illegal)! A bit further we called to Tony and he came out of his hiding place to visit for a bit. I took him a canolli and some smoked salmon (thank you Don) and he had never heard of it. Curious to see him next time to find what he though of it. Now we needed to rush home to shower and dress to head to Bernadette and Gabes place for dinner. Also had to make wine and cigar stops on the way but we were there by 5:30. The kids are so cute-Veronica is going to be 6 in Nov and Shamus was 2 recently. Lots of teeth and walking and can say ‘thank you papa’ to Phil. We took the kids some bouncy balls that light up and change colors when bounced! The loved them and we think they are indestructible--needed with Shamus around! He is the one that was 1 1/2 lbs at birth! Left there and home where we could enjoy music again, since ‘repairing’ the TV and sound system! So wine and dancing again tonight. We talk and dance most evenings! We actually went to bed an hour earlier, hope to do that from now on but I suspect it will not happen!
Oct 9th-Sunday - So we were up an hour earlier than usual-and that is good! Weather is supposed to be record breaking high today so we are headed to the beach! It is a beautiful blue day- very little wind- actually a perfect day! During the time we were there ALL of our ‘gang’ showed up and we enjoyed talking with all. A bonus was Phil’s brother in law and his sister and husband! Really enjoyed finally meeting Ed H. Phil is always talking about what a great guy he is, and he really is! He and Jeanette no longer live together but Phil does not see her anyway- she is estranged from all the family. She is actually his cousin, but after Phils mom died, when he was 12, her twin sister raised him and Jeanette was her child. So it was a very good day. Marie came down just as we were ready to leave and gave us a big bowl of her spaghetti sauce (called gravy here) and meatballs. We made arrangements to take her out on Tue evening. Had to put the spaghetti in the freezer cause we have plans for dinner the next few nights. He has changed his mind 4 times today but I think we are going to the Continental for dinner. Really good to see everyone because they may not be on the beach again till next summer and that is the only time they do see each other. I only have 2 weeks and 2 days left here this time--hate to think about leaving, but will have my cataract surgery as soon as I get home--well, a week later cause cousin Becky will be with me the first week. We went to the Continental for dinner and while dinner was good and the setting very regal and plush, we had a waitress who really did’nt care if we had a good experience! Back home for wine and dancing and then bed.
Record heat today for this date in history--87 degrees!
October 10th-Monday Columbus Day. We had a busy day. Up early, for us, and off to Boston town! We drove to the YMCA and then walked to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I had head about this at the cocktail party and wanted to visit it. gardnermuseum.org And it was well worth the visit! In fact, we bought a membership so we can go anytime. NO photos allowed so nothing to show you but it is described as a castle where Isabella lived on the top floor and the other 3 floors were her private museum only open to a very few public persons during the year. It would have been an interesting place to have lived. It is the kind of place you can go back to many times and always see different treasures. We spent a lot of time there and also listening to the music being played in the garden area in the middle of the ‘home’. Just a fantastic treasure in Boston. Leaving there we walked to the Museum of Fine Art to catch a trolly to downtown Boston where we spent a couple more hours walking and looking. Many police staging near the protesters and Phil feels they are going at it wrong - this is what he did in his career- assess political and protest groups for best ways to handle them (all in his soon to be published book). Walked to North End and had a treat of gelata, eating it at a bench by the Paul Revere Statue. A lot more walking and then back to the bus station. We needed to catch the E train and Phil told me to get on one so we did. Suddenly we realized we were arriving at Boston Univ! We were on the wrong train (the B train) and at least a mile from our destination of our car at the Y! Catch a train back or walk?? That was the question. We opted to walk and took off on the winding and twisting streets finally arriving at Fenway Park (Boston Red Socks) where we talked with a policeman--and learned that his father, also a cop, was well known and had worked with Phil and they had a great time talking! We walked along the Muddy River in the Fens, saw the large area of the Victory gardens, nice homes and lots of interesting things and places I had not seen in the past. Finally arrived at the YMCA, talked with a few people there and then headed to The Mt Vernon for dinner. Some where during the day I lost my camera case! I never used to like using one but this one was very handy and easy to use! I miss it already but will get a new one! Our usually evening and off to bed. Oh, record heat again today!
Oct 11, Tuesday - Up early again. Hope this keeps up cause I like to start the day early. Today the heat is only 60 and may stay that way all day. We changed our minds at least 15 times today and finally did some driving chores, back to the condo to make some roast beef sandwiches (left over meat from last night) and took them to the Stone Zoo, but instead of visiting the zoo took a very short trail from he parking lot and had our lunch by Spot Pond. A cooler but very nice day! We then drove on to the deserted hospital and planned to hike behind it to one of our favorite hikes- but not to be--someone has bought all the land in front of that section of the Fells and have gated and fenced ALL of it and there is no way into a place where people have been hiking for many years! Very upsetting! From there to the wine store, and then to Revere to meet Marie whom we are taking to dinner tonight. Went to Antonia’s at Revere for the senior specials. ($9.99 a meal!). Phil and Marie had the haddock and neither liked it- undercooked and not browned. I had Chicken Parm and it was delicious! They tried mine and liked it! We spent a long time there visiting and finally followed her home to make sure she made it ok. Back home where we forgot to stop for cigars, so around the block and did that. Then into the garage and decided to go back and pick up Phil’s laundry--while I went on up to the house. Another fun and busy day!
Oct 12-Wednesday- A day looking like rain and we will stay home. I have lots of catching up to do to get computer stuff done, pictures downloaded, listening to all the stuff I have been sent, working on Phil’s book! Now I have a hair cut appt this afternoon. We drove to Stoneham for my haircut, Phil’s place and I love the ladies there-An Italian mother and daughter. Cut cost me over $50 but it is good. Back home where we read, did computer and stuff all afternoon. I had thawed out the spaghetti sauce and slowly cooked it. A couple of lemocellos, Phil had to run to the store for a new bottle as we had run out! Drank these while watching our favorite movie-Rango! By then the sauce was ready so made the spaghetti and we enjoyed a great dinner. This is by far the best sauce I have ever had! Thank you Marie! Some Fox TV and some wine and off to bed. We had planned on an early evening but it will not happen! Doesn’t make any difference--going to storm, much rain and flooding in the area tomorrow. We have to go shopping for groceries, go to a movie and dinner at Melissa’s!
Oct 13th- Thur--A blustery and rainy day! Phil did not wake up until well after 10 this morning - he rarely sleeps this long! Finally had ‘brunch’ instead of breakfast and spent till afternoon reading the paper. I had spent time this morning putting more pictures on his small electronic photo screen which he will see tonight. Ready to head to the ‘talking picture show’ now and then dinner at Melissa’s. It stormed and rained throughout the day. A stop for cigars and then off through rush hour traffic to the movie. We saw ‘The Thing’. Well done but gory! Good ‘effects’. Back to town for a Bank stop-need money-and then to Somerville for the $15 twin lobsters for Phil and a hearty beef stew for me at Mt Vernon. Ellis is usually our server but tonight we had my fav-Michael. Back home for our usual evening. Earlier I had gotten the coffee ready for tomorrow and we were sitting at the table talking when I heard a noise - and the coffee had perked and was just finishing! We DID NOT turn it on! I thought we were finished with those strange goings on!!
Oct 14th-Friday-hung around the house today. Had to remake the coffee this morning. That was strange last night! I worked on the book most of the day and Phil did a bike ride and a workout.
Oct 15th-Saturday. It is only 60 degrees today but the sun is out, at least for now. Hope it stays out as we are going to NH for Tommys’ last football game of the season this afternoon. We headed to Salem, NH for Tommys football game. He is in the 4th grade and they play in uniforms, team jackets, the works!! As we arrived and looked for parking-this is big time with the parents!!-we saw a gal walking towards the farthest out parking lot, where we were headed, and it turned out to be Robbie, Phils grandson, girlfriend Amelia! We parked and walked back with her and good thing as we would have never found the right playing field. It was cool and windy and I had worn my winter coat but Phil only a wind breaker-He finally grabbed the sweatshirt I had left in the car this summer for him-it is a Pacific Shores one and way too big for me! On to the game where we met up with his daughter Kimberly, Robbie and a few of his cousins. It was half time at the game, but it soon resumed. Score was 25 to 7 - Tommys team was winning. Tommy scored the next touchdown and then his team had one more giving them a win. They have been top team last 3 years. We left as soon as it was over- Kim had family waiting at her house-Today was they day they had buried the ashes of her mother in law and everyone was meeting back at her place. We drove home on Route 28, the old road, and through interesting towns though it was too dark to see much. In Laurence we went through an area I would not want to walk through at night alone! A stop in Andover for fish dinner and a stop at Walmart for a couple of things and home.
Oct 16th- Sunday-We went to bed earlier than usual and managed to sleep till 9 this morning. One pair of jeans that Phil bought yesterday was the wrong size so will take it back today. A sort of blue day but cold! Fall has arrived. As we stepped into the hall here we encountered Doris’s cat! Knocked on her door and she did not know it had slipped out when she carried some things in! Talked with her and Karole for a bit, then off for a walk. First stop was at WalMart to return the wrong size jean - accidentally got Phil one pair just right and one much larger! From there a ride to a campground that is closed for a walk to see the fall colors - they are just getting started around here and were nice today. Met some geocachers and talked for a bit, looked for the cache that I didn’t find in the snow last Jan, but without my GPS it was not possible. A drive around the countryside and back to town with a stop at Dunkin’ Donut for a hot chocolate. And home where we will have hotdogs and beans tonight.
Oct 17th-Monday--Not much doing today- We walked Quanipowitt Lake - 3 miles - and later met Andy at Polcari’s for Pizza. www.reginapizzeria.com/ The weather was blah for the day!
Oct 18th-Tuesday-French Toast for breakfast. We have found that the pop-overs from The Mt Vernon, sliced, make great French Toast! Phil had an eye doctor appt. I rode with him to the center of Wakefield and he left me there. I wanted to shop at the clothing store where I bought the black pants a couple of weeks ago. Really a fun place to shop- small and intimate place. I found a pair of slacks - I only have one tan and one black, and a pair of ‘high water’ blue jeans with me--and after 3 months am tired of them!! Tonight we are going next door to Doris’s for a shared dinner for the residents on this floor and a few people from the upper floors. This is my time to see everyone and say goodbye till my next visit. I took the salmon dip and crackers and Phil took wine-what else!! Doris, Karole, Bob and Uta, Lynn and Phil and I had a great time- Snacking and drinking, then eating a lobster combo, a recipe from Uta who is from Thai or Vietnam, served over rice and more wine. Later still snacking and listening to music and then dancing and since there were only 2 guys they were popular and busy dancing! Bob was playing the ‘spoons’ so Phil went home to get his tambourine and they entertained us! Lots of laughs and I have no idea what time we went home, but no problem as it was next door here in the condo! Finally off to bed! Lots of photos as everyone was using my camera, so will have to check it in the morning. The evening reminded me of dorm living. We were in each others units during the evening--talking in the hall, and no one to bother as all of us were there.
Oct 19th-Wednesday - Up after 9am and Phil can’t remember last night! It looks like it will rain today. Not sure what we will do today. We stayed home. Phil did go out once to pick up his laundry. It rained most of the day and windy and blustery out. A good day to stay home. We did get a lot of little things around the house taken care of and then I fixed the last of Maries spaghetti and meatballs for supper.
Oct 20th-Thursday- Up early and did the grocery shopping. Out for a busy day. First was through Boston to the New Balance Shoe outlet place where I was able to get 2 pair of shoes for me, 1 pair for Phil and a pair of the cutest size three infants tennies for Kyle’s fist Christmas for $112. !! Leaving there we drove to Phills aunt’s home, a three family home. She is in her 80‘s and what a character!. Leaving there it was too late to go to the movies as planned so drove to the YMCA where we park when in town, and Phil paid his annual dues - being a 50 year member gets him free membership and he only has to pay half for the extras, like parking, and his health insurance gives him $150 for belonging to a health club, making his yearly cost $60!! Then out for a walk to Commonwealth Ave where the extravagant back bay homes are situated. Our goal was to visit Nick T so I could see his home. W walked about a mile and the weather, which had been stormy and wet this morning, was now warm and balmy, perfect for a walk. We woke Nick from a nap but he graciously invited us in and gave us a tour. He bought his brownstone around 1972 for the extravagant price of $140.000 and it is now valued at $7 Million! He has subdivided it and has 7 one bedroom rentals, at $2,300 a month each! His two floors are magnificent- it's like being in an Italian museum. I really enjoyed the tour and he is a special guy-He and Phil have been friends for over 30 years. There is a new brownstone going up in a spot where fire destroyed one years ago, and it will be built, including underground garage, for a total price of --gasp--$37 MILLION! Leaving there we walked back to the Y, taking a strange route, but finally arriving at our car. From there on to The Mt Vernon for dinner and then home.
Oct 21st- Friday - We had hiking plans for the day but ended up staying here as I was on the last few pages of his book. The main proof-reading is done. Now just have to do the clean-up of punctuation and spacing, a tedious job but has to be done! We think we have settled on a self publishing place and so, may not be too long till it is complete! Later showered and headed out to meet Kevin and another girlfriend, Carol, at Melissa’s. And she turned out to be a fun gal, even lived in same neighborhood as Phil, in Somerville, when they were children. A good dinner and good conversation. A nice night.
Oct 22nd- Saturday- We took the train into Boston - The Wakefield station is just 4 minutes from our condo - and the ride into town in 22 minutes. Leaving North Station we turned the wrong way and did some extra walking but no problem. We were heading for the Charles River to walk to the Nautical Crew Races, but we were not sure where on the river it was being held. We walked an hour and finally could see them---but they were leaving the river. It was over! Oh well, you really could not see much anyways as the river is very wide there. So we walked back. Probably a total of 4 1/2 to 5 miles. It was cool today and there was a threat of rain but it did not happen. We arrived at North Station, which is also the sports stadium, an hour early for our train so walked around. There is a Bruins Hockey game tonight and people were arriving for it, making the area crowded. Inside to wait for our train to be announced, and very crowded. Finally on the train and home. It was dark as we walked from station back to home. We had hot dogs and beans for dinner, talked and off to bed.
Oct 23rd-Sunday--Up and a bacon and egg breakfast. Read the Sunday paper and then showered. We are going to South Boston, Randolph, today to have lunch with the gang from Somerville. This is an annual reunion of the ‘kids’ that lived in Somerville in the 40s and 50s. We had a great time. I also went to this last year. This year was a sit-down full Italian dinner, last year was buffet. We talked with everyone and some even remembered me. Phil ‘second best’ childhood pal was there this year and they had a great time catching up! Food was good and really enjoyed the people! Back home with one stop for wine and then I started packing!! I leave here Tues morning and I will be sad to go!
Oct 24th Monday- Up early and Phil had a ‘slight’ hangover! French toast breakfast and hung around here till noon so I could go next door to Doris’s to print my boarding pass. I am almost packed . We packed a lunch of BLT and headed for The Fells for a hike around Long Lake. Beautiful walk and we found a perfect place to stop for lunch. Only about 2 miles but enjoyed it. Met a lady on our way back that was very engaging and spent a lot of time with her. Stopped to buy CD disk so I can get the book onto it so not to risk losing anything on the computer, right now our only copy! On home for a bit, and I copied the book onto the disk, with some extra copies! Dressed for dinner and headed out---- and the place we had planned on was closed on Monday!! Considered several places and then I remembered a new Italian place on Main street we had visited last year, just before it was opened. It was crowded for a Monday night--and we now know why! The food is great! Sabatine's was the name and we do recommend it, and even with drinks the price was low! Back home where I finished packing and will be ready when I am picked up at 9:30 tomorrow morning. I am sad to go, but will be back before long and I have much planned at home so the time will, I hope, just fly by!
Oct 25th-Tuesday morning-We were up at 7am - at least I was. Dressed and had breakfast, did a bit on the computer, Karole and Doris came by to say goodbye and suddenly it was time to head out the door. Kevin, our driver, was already there and waiting for me soooooo said our goodbyes and I was whisked away to the airport where I still had almost 2 hours after clearing the security line. Woman in front of me was searched very thoroughly and they dumped her stuff out and were going through it when I left! I had a call from ‘our publisher’, paid the bill and we are on officially on our way to publishing "The Passage"! Finally onto the plane and on my way back to Arizona for a few weeks!
