New in New England

As of tomorrow I will officially have been in the states for one month. Crazy how fast the time goes by. In my attempt to keep the world at large my few friends and followers updated here is the scoop.

My grandmother's health continues to decline. It is unfortunate, though expected, and all parties here are doing their best to ensure she is comfortable and well cared for. I didn't think someone could look so cute in a shower cap sans teeth.

On a happier note I have had the opportunity to take in some of the city and surrounding areas. Harvard Square, Davis Square, Cambridge. I'm still uncertain why one would name their restaurant Tavern in the Square, TITS was an inevitable nickname. Bonus: It is a chain!

Friday evening was a trek into downtown Boston. Thank god I was with someone from around here as this infographic does a pretty good job of describing the complicated road system.

My aunt, uncle and I had a lovely if not loud dinner at Fire & Ice a wicked cool place where you pick the food and then they fry it up on a giant circular grill in the middle of the restaurant. We lost track of how many birthdays were being celebrated at 5. Then it was off to Cheers for a pint and some 90's Canadian music. I'm not lying, Alanis and Barenaked Ladies, we were only there about 20 minutes.

Yesterday was my first trip to Salem. Anyone who knows me, knows my love of Harry Potter. So it should come as no surprise that I was excited to take in the historic mecca of witchcraft. Our first stop was the cemetery. 

These benches serve as graves for the hanged witches, who were never given a proper burial

We got our nerd/dork on with a segway tour of the city.

 

House of Seven Gables

At the Peabody Essex Museum there were a ton of interesting artistic pieces bit none more fun than Nick Cave's Soundsuit.

All in all I would categorize things in a "so far so good" manner. This weekend I am off to Florida(also a first). Hopefully I will remember to take some photos and will have more stories to share. 

xoxo Bec

 

New adventures: Life, Time, and Family

Hello again! Much has happened in the past few months. I will attempt to document and bring y'all up to date. My last post was in June so a 3 month hiatus is actually not that bad for me. Alas here we go, the nitty gritty(note this post does not include fishing in the dark).

I once again attended Bluesfest this year. Scratching Bjork, B.B King and a couple of others off my list. The most exciting show was Yukon Blonde though. It was about 40 degrees(Celsius) outside and we were cooking. Luckily festival organizers had the forethought to have staff hosing down the crowd. A good friend was able to boost me on his shoulders and I got drenched! It was exhilarating and all together a fantastic weekend culminating in a birthday bash for one of my besties. I just used the word "besties". Not sure how to feel about that...

My sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. My nephew Adrian is the cutest little thing. I know, I know everyone says that about the new baby in their lives but he just has the pudgiest little lips and long fingers and toes. I was fortunate enough to get down to see him at just one day old.

  Discalimer: Not one day old in this photo, but look at that face!

Beginning of August hit and my aunt was generous enough to fly me down to Boston for a visit. Flying sucks. By which I mean airports are the worst. I manage to always have delays. My experience has been that driving is often faster.

The trip was a really nice break away from work for a few days, though came with some emotional baggage. My grandmother has advanced vascular dementia which has been compounded by a variety of other health issues. I saw her every day of my trip and cried more than I have in the last 6 months. It is just so difficult to see someone you love and have such fond memories of deteriorate. It is especially difficult for me to feel like I have no control.

So fast-forward. To now. Nana has moved into my aunt's home. So have I. I have left my job, my friends, my life and am taking in life as an American for a while. It involves a lot of being in the same three rooms talking to someone who can't talk back. It is hard. I am coping. The wonderful world of the internet at least allows me to keep in touch with everything I left behind.

Plus there are positives! I am all about the positives. I get to spend valuable time that I can't ever get back with my grandmother. I also get to have time and build stronger relationships with my aunts, uncles and cousins who live here.

Its Boston(read:Bawwsten) baby. I get to learn how to speak without the letter "R"! I went to a house party last weekend and tried it out a little bit. I'm not there just yet. The party was a hoot though. Drunk twenty year-olds trying to play football, a fire pit, this song and getting asked to determine who had the best breasts. All in all one for the win column.

I still have a variety of things to do and explore. The aquarium, the Science Museum, Faneuil Hall, Harvard Square and more! I may even get to take in a super intimate and awesome Living room show put on by Julia Nunes.

So those are the updates. I have a fair bit of free time so if you have suggestions as to what I should be doing, reading, listening to etc. leave me a comment or hit me up. Apologies if my stream of consciousness writing style is hard to follow. MISS YOU ALL IN CANADA!!

Talking without talking

I am writing this as a sort of response to my brother who posted this earlier this week. I find it inspiring that he is willing to share so much of himself to what has the potential to be a completely unknown audience. Even if the only people who read it are close friends and family, he’s got guts. And so I will call on a behaviour I locked onto as a child, If he can do it damned if I can’t too!.

This has been a really great week for me. I was able to discuss a few issues related to my job with my boss and I felt well received. I was instrumental in the running of a major event here in the capital. I had some really great back and forth with family. AND I found out I GET TO SEE PAUL MCCARTNEY!! So it’s fair to say my spirits are high.

But this isn’t always the case. I know it is “normal” to have ups and downs and I can accept that about myself and of others around me. What I’m not so great at is admitting when I may be a little down. Or admitting anything about myself that goes much deeper than skin.

I like to think that I am great at making friends. Realistically I think I am great at making acquaintances. Without puffing my chest up too much, I’m pretty awesome, people like me, and that’s fantastic. I wouldn’t want it any other way. What I would like is to have a few more meaningful relationships in my life. People that I can view as a priority that view me in the same light. A partner in crime and in bed isn’t too much to expect is it?

If this post goes unread I can look at it as an exercise. How to be open without actually having to say anything out loud. And for me that is a step in the right direction, I think.

Brian dabbled in his recent sexual exploits; I don’t have any to report. So sorry? If you were hoping for tales of sexy times on the beach read his blog not mine.

Ultimately though I’d like to talk a little bit about mental health. I have seen family members and close friends struggle with various metal health issues, problems, things, (why can’t I come up with a term that has a more positive connotation?) over the years. I feel stable but that doesn’t mean I am free from trapping myself in my own head from time to time. READ: pretty much daily. Even writing this I am second guessing what is “OK” to put down and what is taboo.

It is PRIDE month, well everywhere except Ottawa. I am single. That upsets me. Though not as much as the idea of finding someone terrifies me. I know I need to get some things sorted with me before I become part of a we. I just find I come back around to a familiar thought.         

To be a teenager again! I feel like that is a strange sentiment. And maybe it is for someone approaching their mid-twenties. Yet I find myself thinking about how easy things were. Get up. Go to school. Sports practice or after school job. 

My life now is not so different. Get up. Go to work. After work drinks at the pub. Browse the internet. I’m not even sad that my life can be broken down so simply. But what does it mean? Does my life show signs of personal growth? Would it be so bad to experience the day to day knowing someone is thinking of me? Someone I can think about too? I think not. For now I will settle on being pretty happy which is ultimately what is most important. Right?