"The best things in life are free. The second best are e-x-p-e-n-s-i-v-e."

Piece of mind is currently on sale at Target for $99.

Yesterday I bit the bullet and upgraded from my TomTom One. Yes, that's actually it's name- TomTom One. Because it really was the first one. I had been trying to avoid it with the idea that if I could get accustomed to the roads with my ancient friend then I wouldn't really need one anymore slash also sort of hoping that whenever I get a new car it might be fancy enough to have one built in.

Anyway, after yesterday's rant I decided it was time to consider upgrading from this bad boy:

To this city slickah:

Mmmmm...Hello, lovah.

I had to be at work at 9:00 today and considering it's taken me over an hour to get home during rush hour, I had no idea how bad it would be in the morning so I gave myself an hour and a half to be safe. I am thrilled to say that I took a 40 minute nap in the parking lot. It was glorious! I did not have to turn 17 times and I didn't hate my life once! On the way home the "traffic" feature wasn't as impressive and I ended sitting for a little while but still made it back in about an hour.

So all in all, if things continue on this path I will be a very happy girl!

"Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead. "

I was talking to my grandma on the phone the other day and while I was telling her all about my new city she asked me if there was anything I didn't love about Boston and I definitely had an answer- my commute.

I'm not sure there is really an adequate way to describe it so I will attempt by giving you a sampling of the thoughts I have on an average day.

"Ok, maybe today won't be too bad.
OH MY GOSH, GPS TURN ON TURN ON I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU.
Ok. We're ok. We're good.
OH MY GOSH, GPS FIND A FREAKING SIGNAL I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU.
Ok. We're good.
Ugh. Who thought talk radio was a good idea.
Oh good, here's some music.
Ugh. Who thought Nickelback was a good idea.
I will never get sick of this Adele song.
WHICH ROAD DO I TURN ON? WHICH ONE WHICH ONE? OH. That one back there. Great. Aaaand we're turning around.
Here we go, back on track, this isn't so bad. Clipping along.
Well that was a speedy mile and a half. And we're stopped.
Okay lady, sure, make your own lane. WHAT IF WE ALL DID THAT?
No. No no no. Nonononononononononono I will not let you in. Your car is nicer than mine. Try it.
I wish these bikers would stop passing me.
I wonder if it'd be faster to bike to work.
How sweaty would I be after a 20 mile bike ride?
Are you allowed to bike on the highway?
Music by The Fray does not have an expiration date.
I never know what the heck The Fray is talking about.
Ah yes, buddy, lets slow down every time we pass a parked car.
Oh look at that, we're going five now. FIVE.
Ok, self, calm down. Things could be much worse. You are not dying.
Think positively.
I HATE TRAFFIC.
But it's BOSTON traffic. How cool is that?
Boston is so cool.
Dee dee dee life is good, I heart Boston.
WHY ARE WE STOPPING?
GREEN GREEN GREEN GREEN. GOOOOO IT'S GREEEEEEN.
I wonder how much of my life will be wasted sitting in traffic.
Do they still make books on tape?
Maybe I can learn a language while I commute.
Hmm what langauge would I like to learn...
YOU SAW THE LANE CLOSED SIGN THE SAME TIME I DID PAL. NOW YOU WAIT."

So you get the idea...

I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.”

Here's a little tour of my apartment for inquiring minds! Please don't stalk me.

"Unless you try doing something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow."

Today was my first day of work!

Overall, I would definitely say it went really well. I certainly feel like I have a TON to learn but all of the people I worked with were really great. Unfortunately I don't have many pictures to spice this post up but here's one of me before I left for my first day!

Wooo! Here I come, Geoffrey! 

My official title is Human Resource Department Supervisor which was news to me but actually sounds pretty neat. As I said though, it seems like I'm going to have a lot of responsibility and I sense they're going to want me to take much of it on sooner rather than later so hopefully I can pick up on things quickly. My manager is such a great guy and everyone had really great things to say about him so I'm looking forward to working with him! 

The commute on the way to work wasn't bad except when I almost killed myself and the guy behind me when I realized I was in the wrong toll lane which brings me to my next point...Tolls. Ew. I'm going to try a different way tomorrow that doesn't have tolls because $5 a day is redonk and I'd rather spend that on cupcakes. And by cupcakes I obviously mean running gear. The way I'm trying has 17 turns in 17 miles. Thanks a lot, historical buildings. Who's idea was it to found America anyway? Could we not have taken the long way and started in California? Where was I... Ah yes, the commute home was a bit more challenging due in part to my dear Red Sox who once again chose not to consult my schedule when planning their game time. I'm hoping the 17 turn route will help alleviate some of those issues too since the exit I take now is the same one used to get to Fenway.

I'm proud to report that I did convince myself to go for a run when I got home though! More on that harebrained idea in another post... Just learned its harebrained and not hairbrained..thank you for the lesson, spell-check.

"Not all who wander are lost"

Sorry in advance but this blog is pretty much about walking. I'll post one about my first day too for a little bit of substance but for now, let us mosey. I officially love walking! I really enjoy that Boston is such a walking town. I'm already developing the mindset that if something is a mile and a half away, you don't just hop in the car, you go for a little stroll. Granted, that's also probably because Boston driving is a sport in itself but it's so nice to just slow down a little bit and let my mind wander.

Yesterday I went and scoped out Kyle's future residence just so I could explore a new area and also perhaps warn him if he was about to rent a room in a brothel. Not the case, as far as I could tell.  Anyhow, it was about a 4 mile walk in total and the weather was PERFECT. It put me in the best mood and I actually started taking pictures of random flowers I found along the way. Who am I?? Here they are just in case any of you have also recently become aspiring horticulturists. They aren't greatest quality but I did manage to remain aware of how I looked to the people who own the lawns I was documenting so I was a little hasty.

 These were the coolest colored hydrangeas which you can't really see.

 Some sort of massive flowering bush that I stopped and sniffed for an awkwardly long time.

These cute things were growing on a tree.

Ok, I get this is a blog about walking and flowers so I'm going to wrap it up but I just wanted to share my new-found love of walks. I don't imagine I'll feel the same way in December. Fun fact, I was sitting here trying to think what you would call someone who loves walks and I tapped into my 6th grade Latin studies and thought "hmm...ped is relating to the foot and phile is relating to love sooo...." :-/

"You never know when you're making a memory."

I came to Boston at the right time. I also ended up with awesome roommates, one of whom has shown me two amazing nights. The Bruins were in the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday so I went out with Tricia and her friends to watch the game at a bar near The Garden and had SUCH a fun time. I can't say I'd ever been much into hockey but everyone here will turn you into a huge fan quickly. It was so fun watching the game with such an excited crowd.

 New roomie!

 

Awesome new friends!

 Madness in the streets!

The next night we ended up seeing the Bruins twice which was also pretty awesome! We got to talk to a few of them a little bit and touch the Stanley Cup...so cool!

Mark Recchi and the cup!

I'm going to need Boston to wait a few weeks before they win any more major sporting events...my wallet and I both need some recovery time. And to reassure my family, there will be no support from this girl for New England football...blech.

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. "

I'm here!!

So many things to share but I'll start by saying that I love Boston!

My dad and I left Sunday morning with our massive moving truck and Geo in tow. We made it to Utica, New York before stopping for the night which left just about five hours to drive on Monday. It was so great to get to spend so much time with my dad. He's a pretty cool guy. I also have no idea how I would have gotten anything done without his help. Our initial welcome to Boston wasn't terribly pleasant because we had a miserable time trying to get the moving truck back but eventually we worked it out. For the next two days we worked hard getting my room as much in order as we could.

To say progress has slowed since he left would be a drastic understatement. I promise to put up more pictures when I get my room in some sort of order but until then here is one of my cute bed. You can see the purple walls my dad and I worked hard painting too!

We finished up his visit with dinner at the original Cheers so that he could experience something Boston-y. I think I could eat their Bacon Blue Burger every day. My dad was a champ and had a turkey sandwich for dinner and then realized he should have ordered a burger so he had one for dessert.

 On the T heading to Cheers! I can't stop calling the T the tube thanks to London...I'll need to work on that.

Cheers Set Bar

 Ducks in the park with Bruins jerseys

How cute is that?

"I think I'll go to Boston..."

Hi friends, family and perhaps some friendly strangers!

I'm moving to Boston Sunday! I'll be keeping this as updated as possible with the good, the bad and the unexpected that will inevitably come with this new journey.

I've been feeling plenty of emotions these past few days. As most of you know, I've been through some major changes over the last six months. I've realized that what I have been left with is an amazing family and a group of friends who are just as much family. When I think about that, I get sad to leave because I love being around these incredible people who have blown me away with love and support. However, I am also beyond excited. I'm ready to be on my own and figure out what that's like.

Some hopes I have for myself in this next stage:

1. Figure out how to get out of my own head all the time.
2. Be okay with being bored once in awhile.
3. Learn new things.
4. Enjoy myself.
5. Find a church.
6. Read more.
7. Exercise...regularly.
8. Choose to be positive.
9. Cook a little more and microwave a little less.
10. Have patience.

I don't think these are things magically awaiting me in Boston but I do think that I can make a conscious decision to do/think/feel as such and if I want to look at Boston as a fresh start then I need to make it one.

I have plenty of other hopes for myself and this move but I also want to continue to be okay with not necessarily knowing everything that's ahead...but it's looking good so far.