Beantown or Bust!

Photo: Carol and Ali
Location: Boston, MA 2006

Like a silly fool I stepped off the plane Friday morning and schlepped all my luggage on the T instead of taking a cab. After climbing many stinky stairs at the Arlington stop on the green line, I enjoyed one of my favorite benches in the public gardens and called Scott to gloat just a little. Not half a block from old Liberty I got caught in a massive downpour with no umbrella, so poor Carol had to hug me sopping wet.

A change of pants and shoes five minutes later and I got to catch up with my old LM homies. We ate lunch at Flash's across the street -- turkey burger hold the bun for me.

Anne was kind enough to offer me a ride up to NH later in the day. I'm not sure how I missed a photo op with her, after all I was her intern and she trained me how to photograph every person at all functions. Go figure. I had a nice dinner with the in-laws and went up to stay at Kanes in Milton. It was a good day.

Photo: Larry and Ali
Location: Boston, MA 2006

Photo: George and Ali
Location: Boston, MA 2006

Photo: Nick and Ali
Location: Boston, MA 2006

Just as an FYI, it was Nick who taught the Pixies to play guitar. I am not lying. Now his 11-year-old daughter has picked up the guitar. I wonder what band she'll be fronting in six years? Hmmmm....

Photo: Matt and Ali
Location: Dover, NH 2006

Saturday I got to catch up with Mattie. I haven't seen him in several years. He's going on tour with his band in Europe in a few weeks. I keep trying to get him to play here, but we'll see if he can swing it. I got to see some of his art and admire the cleanest bachelor bathroom I have ever been in.

Photo: Shelby, Ali, Mike, and Deb
Location: Barrington, NH 2006

After brunch with Mattie I got to hang with my old friends the Pouliots. They made me a fantastic lunch and were courteous enough to listen to me jabber on as a walking advertisement for North Carolina. I think I may have them convinced to at least check it out. I was fortunate to see them all at church the next day. Going back to my old Ward was a fun and very interesting experience. They all miss my parents, A LOT!

Photo: Sarah B. and Ali
Location: Gonic, NH 2006

Photo: Sarah B.
Location: Portsmouth, NH 2006

Oh Sarah B.! Hanging out with Sarah B. instantly turns us both into giggly 14-year-olds. We walked around Portsmouth (what we did most weekends in our youth), ate sushi, and giggled some more at Nubble light in York, ME. I got caught up on all the fun things she is doing right now and took many back roads neither of us had been on in years. As a side note, Sarah collects Yeagleys in the same way that I collect Sarah Bs.

Photo: Lucien, Pauline, Ali, Anne, and Ray
Location: Lebanon, ME 2006

Sunday I had a really nice visit with Scott's grandparents and Aunties and Uncles. They surprised me with really great graduation presents, which I was not expecting. Ray rearranged his flights from Hong Kong and went without sleep just to make it back in time to see me. That was really nice of him and hopefully it was worth the trip.

He and Auntie Anne were the first to be subjected to my video interview. They did great and told an excellent story about Scott and cousin Matt chasing greased pigs in Nebraska as kids. Also, I learned that their first date was at a Three Dog Night concert. The genealogy and family stories and photos I got while I was here were amazing and Scott was very pleased when I got home.

Photo: Pauline

Location: Lebanon, ME 2006

Memere really surprised me during she and Pep's interview. She doesn't say too much normally, but came out with great stories about meeting and falling in love with Pep and the birth of her children. Scott was tickled pink when we watched the video when I came home. Pepere was a good sport despite his dislike of being on film and also gave us some great stories.

Photo: Anne
Location: Lebanon, ME 2006

Photo: Irene and Ali
Location: Lebanon, ME 2006

This is my favorite picture from the whole trip because the color schemes and patterns are really fun. I'm such an art geek sometimes.

Photo: Val and Ali
Location: Lebanon, ME 2006

Photo: Pauline and Ray
Location: Lebanon, ME 2006

My apologies to Memere and Uncle Ray for this picture. I was only testing the flash, but I found the serenity of the lake where they spend their summers irresistible. Scott and I were married here seven years ago and it was a perfect day. The sunset was stunning and there was a rainbow in the sky even though we hadn't had any rain that day. Truly miraculous!

Photo: The Woodstove
Location: Lebanon, ME 2006

I know it may seem odd that I would feature a woodstove, but poor Pep has been teased by all of us for years for keeping a fire going all summer long. I wanted Scott to have a picture of it so we can sit back and have a good laugh now and again. In Pep's defense, the fire feels great when you come in from swimming or when the temperatures drop in the evenings.

Photo: Ben and Ali
Location: Portsmouth, NH 2006

Monday morning I caught up with my good friend Ben who grew up across the street from me. We lost touch for ten years and found each other on the supernet about two months ago. Turns out he's been hiding out in Colorado until his return in October. He's all beefcakey now and insisted that those ten-minute abs he's got are how he can get dates. I laughed and told him the abs were only good for about two dates, and then he would have to come up with more than that. He did tell me a truly embarrassing incident regarding his abs and a photo that circulated his office. His co-workers call him Calvin now. He'll have to keep me posted on how his girl-getting abs work out long term. ; )

I did introduce him to really good chocolate. As we were walking into Byrne & Carlson I told him that anything he bought there would make him a hero at Mothers day, but he quickly corrected me and assured me that he was more interested in keeping his own taste buds happy with their delicious chocolate. Needless to say we both binged on chocolaty goodness. Venezuelan chocolate ice cream, mmmmm. Of course he made me eat most of it. My hips don't need it thanks (maybe that's the secret to the abs).

Photo: Ben
Location: Portsmouth, NH 2006

Photo: Ben
Location: Portsmouth, NH 2006

Photo: Amy, Linette, Dave, and Ali
Location: Rochester, NH 2006

First of all I failed to tell Amy, how much I love her hair this way, so I'm pretty sure that makes me a bad friend. She was kind enough to take time off work to indulge my need to wander around the Christmas Dove and drool over all the overpriced one-of-a-kind Christmas ornaments. I walked out of the store with four. We also went to Calef's and sampled the fancy cheese. Here's the thing, she did all this with me a week after her dad's quadruple bi-pass surgery with David Letterman's doctor.

He's home and he looks great. I got to see him and say hi to Linette as well. Linette even made Scott cookies. For years now he has looked forward to her goody-filled care packages. She has been taking a much deserved break from care packages for the last year or so. One of these days we'll get off our duffs and send care packages her way. Anyway, thanks to Amy for hanging with me despite the circumstances and to Dave and Linette for letting me come visit during recovery time. Yay Dave!

Photo: Ali and Santa
Location: Barrington, NH 2006

Santa is 3-D, but in this picture he looks 2-D.

Photo: Ali, Tom, Donald, Bob, Laurette, Gauge, and Tracey
Location: Rochester, NH 2006

Tuesday I got to spend with the Carriers. I surprised Grammy with flowers from Studley's and we all went to Lone Oak, FINALLY! I was in NH for three days before I got to eat Lone Oak. Phil, Emily, and April worked there and it is the standard by which we hold all other frozen treats, its just that good. I had a nice visit and subjected several others to my video interviews. They did great. I have lots of editing ahead of me.

Photo: Gauge and Tracey
Location: Rochester, NH 2006

Tracey's baby, Gauge, is just as adorable as Bob said, and then some. He is really good to. He took in everything and pointed out all the trucks, cars, and mowers. Very fun.

Photo: Ali, Tom, Donald, and Leslie
Location: Melrose, MA 2006

Leslie is birthday girl for a week. I took way more pictures than this, but I edited them a bit. I had lots of fun with the uncles and Les of course. We always do. We had a slumber party in our jammies and I modeled all of Donald's latest jewelry. The necklace in this picture is the one he let me keep. Turns out it matches ME perfectly. It was accessory fate.

Also kudos to Donald for noticing my pedicure and designer purse!

Photo: Leslie
Location: Melrose, MA 2006

Photo: Donald
Location: Melrose, MA 2006

Photo: Meditation Spot
Location: Melrose, MA 2006

This is Donald's meditation spot in Melrose. I can't remember the name of it, but a lady who died left it to the city as a park. It has rock formations left from glaciers and it is a great little nature spot in the middle of the city. Who knew you could actually hike in the city.

Photo: Lily Pads
Location: Melrose, MA 2006

Photo: Bill, Ali, and Avis
Location: Revere, MA 2006

Poor Bill and Avis got lost on the way to lunch, so we met them in Revere. Avis is as beautiful as ever and Bill looks great too. Bill showed me some of his woodworking projects (truly amazing) and gave me this kaleidoscope he made. I was more impressed by all the inlay than anything else. Bill is so talented. If any of you come to see me, ask to look at it, you'll be impressed too.

Photo: Bill's Kaleidoscope

Photo: Michelle, Chris, Rachel, and Ali
Location: Leominster, MA 2006

My dear friend Michelle came and picked me up and finally was able to introduce me to her daughter Rachel. She was married to Chris on my 29th birthday in the Boston Temple. I got to be there and it was a really nice experience. I was so happy to spend time with her and her family. I especially enjoyed watching her be a mom. She's so good at it.

Photo: Rachel and Michelle
Location: Leominster, MA 2006

Rachel is so cute. She is the happiest baby. She laughed and smiled the whole time I was with her. We had a great time looking at leaves, tree bark, and grass. She seems to love everyone and she is interested in everything, much like her mother. She went to Uncle Tom and I right away and smiled up a storm. I don't think I ever heard her cry. She's a very good baby. Also, she liked licking my watch and that was a little gross.

Photo: Rachel
Location: Leominster, MA 2006

~

All in all, this was a wonderful trip. The weather was fantastic. I wore pants most days, which is something I haven't done in August since I moved here. The only downside was all the salad I ate all week -- me and my crazy food issues. At least I came home five pounds lighter instead of heavier. : ) I only had about 40 minutes of delay at the airport with all the new security and I lost one bottle of anti-bacterial gel. No big loss.

Much thanks to the Kanes, the Uncles, and Michelle for room, board, and transportation.

I'm home now catching up on things before Scott and I head out for Asheville on Monday morning. Scott definitely missed me, but it was pretty clear the cat missed me more.