They Came to Boston

Disclaimer: I wrote this at a BK in the Cleveland airport and I’m very, very tired. ☺

FOR BOSTON, FOR BOSTON!

There sure was a lot of rain for it being summer time in Boston. Apparently, within the last two weeks Boston received 18 inches of rain. That’s 50% of the ANNUAL precipitation! Or so my row mate on my flight there told me. I was excited all the same. I knew it would clear up eventually. And if not...a little (or lot) of rain wasn’t going to stop me!

This would be an incredibly long blog if I relayed what exactly went on, so I’ll just give the highlights (like sports on TV!).

Thursday night, I was welcomed into Boston. I flew in late, but no biggy. I was still the first girl in. Chris came in next; her flight had been delayed as well. Rachel and Angie came in about 11:30, 12:00. Rachel had worked over night and still managed to function. It was cute, we stayed up till almost 4am chitchatting and catching up with everybody’s lives. It was fantastic! We were loud and giggly.

Friday morning we were introduced to the T (the subway system). We had things pretty well planned out with directions and the like, so we weren’t worried about getting lost. Well, at least I wasn’t! Not necessarily sure if the other girls were as confident about my map reading abilities, but initially, Chris and I were tag-teaming getting around. Rachel and Angie were comfortable with everything very quickly as well. We started our tour out with the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail goes all over downtown Boston stopping at all the “important” places of history. This would include: Paul Revere’s house, the Old State House, the State House, the North Church, the Old Meeting Place, and a few others that I can’t think of right now. We didn’t do all these on Friday. We spread it out.

The State House is the current State Capital building. The governor wasn’t in (was he out campaigning for Presidency?) and we were given a private tour of the building. It was really nice. Our guide was a super sweet lady and she helped us out by giving the tour without the massive mob of school kids. I thought it was cool how she kept enforcing the fact that we were seeing and learning about Massachusetts history, not the US’s history. Even though they are practically one and the same, it’s MA’s history first, then the US’s. We heard that at a few different places as well.

And I’m breaking my word about being long winded! So…we saw lots of cool old places, you could feel the greatness of the past citizens resonating through the streets (or it was the subway), and we went to a Red Sox game!

The Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers and we didn’t get rained on because we were sitting under a balcony! So yea for us. The fans were great. The field was beautiful. We sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Sweet Caroline”. I think “Sweet Caroline” was definitely a high point for me. That was so cool! EVERYBODY was singing! They cut the music out at the “ba ba bas” and everybody fills it in by singing/shouting the part. Super great time. The subway ride home was fun too. Everybody was happy and wet.

Saturday greeted us with a big, wet kiss. It rained literally all day till about 7pm. Saturday took us back to the Freedom Trail to pick up where we had left off the day before. But since it was raining, we were slowed down a bit. And we had to get to the hotel to change for the evening activity, so we didn’t have that much time. All worth it. We went to the Old State House and saw the balcony where the Constitution was read to the people for the first time. We walked through the rooms that John Hancock and Sam Adams worked in. We could see through the windows to the exact spot where the Boston Massacre occurred. My imagination was going crazy seeing all the men there. Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market were also visited that day. Neat places. Basically just large markets. Had the feel of a Farmer’s Market about it, but without the vegetables.

But, like I wrote above, we had to haul it to get back to the hotel and get changed. We had to be at the Mystery Café by 7 or they’d give our seats away. Or so I was told. I got a bit upset because we were running behind schedule, which meant we were still standing in the subway, waiting for a train, after 7 o’clock. Honestly, I was a bit crazed. We got there and our salads were waiting for us. We were good. Obviously, I apologized. I think most of the people reading this know how I get about being on time and doing what I’m told☺. I think we all had a fun night. It was a casual dinner theatre place. There was no stage and the actors walked through the aisles of tables and interacted with the audience. It was more along the lines of loose-improv. They had a script, but deviated at will. I thought they were very funny. Definitely recommend it to people heading out that way. (mysterycafe.com)

Sunday was definitely an easier day. Again, headed to the Freedom Trail to finish that up. Learned some things about Paul Revere’s ride that I’d never heard before. For instance, I was told that the ride was to warn of the British coming (true), but what I didn’t know was that it wasn’t to warn of an attack. It was to warn of the British coming to arrest Hancock and Adams for treason. The ride was successful. The men weren’t arrested. But, Revere and the gentleman who hung the lamp were. They were later released for lack of evidence.

The Museum of Fine Arts was also one of our stops. Nice, but a teensy-bit disappointing. I was just expecting more, better. I think that the museum in Chicago is my favorite so far.

The best part of Sunday was walking across the harbor and seeing the USS Constitution, aka “Old Ironsides”. It’s just incredible that it’s undefeated and that it is still an active vessel in the Navy. This hundreds of years old ship can still go into battle! I think that’s very cool. I’ve seen movies with ships similar to this one, but it was great going onto one. Seeing how cramped the quarters really are and disbelieving that people lived that way for months at a time. Unbelievable.

While in Charlestown we saw part of a parade celebrating Bunker Hill Day; and back walking in Boston we came across a processional for St. Anthony in Little Italy. I really liked Little Italy. It felt like the real Boston. At least more real than what we had been experiencing. We met up with Chris at the Long Wharf (we had separated earlier, on purpose☺) and decided to head into Cambridge and check out Harvard. It was nothing special. They had laundry rooms just like any other dorm. I don’t know if we saw all of campus, but it seemed small. Sadly, the library was closed. It looked huge though.

For dinner we went back to the wharf. Rachel and I each had a 1 lb. lobster. Chris and Angie lived life on the wild side and went with steak and chicken (respectively). Kidding. You don’t like seafood? You don’t like seafood. It was great though trying to eat that crustacean. Rachel and I definitely made the majority of the entertainment that evening. I danced my “staring” lobster over at Angie and Rachel had to break the antennas off of hers. We ate the legs first (I did very well getting the meat out in single pieces) then went to the tail. That’s where the fun really started! I pulled my tail off first and saw it. Green poop. I just started laughing and then Rachel opened hers. I thought she was going to die! She couldn’t believe that there was poop inside her lobster! We were all laughing so hard over her reaction I’m surprised we didn’t pass out or get thrown out. She DID it though! I’m very proud of her. The lobster impressed neither of us and Rachel says she’s sticking with crab legs. It was a priceless experience all the same. Okay, not really. The lobster had a price tag, but her face? Priceless. Loved it. Chris and Angie enjoyed their meals as well.

We couldn’t find a place open that late on a Sunday night for dessert so we headed back to the hotel and called it an early night. Rachel and Angie were passed out by 11. Chris and I had been laughing over the weekend that Rachel and Angie were always the first asleep and the last to wake up. Sleepy girls.

Chris left first. I left about 2. The SD girls left about 6. The three of us headed back toward the Boston Commons for the morning and I was able to make it to the Boston Athenaeum. It’s just the oldest independent library in the nation. My main reason for liking it (besides the library part) was that it was built for everybody. They said that reading was for the masses, not just the rich. Oddly enough, only members are allowed past the first floor. Whatever. It was kinda neat going in there.

And that’s the story. I hopped my plane and headed home. It was a beautiful weekend. Only one question though. Where to next?

Team Prairie Dust

Had my first Ultimate Frisbee game today! It's a summer league that's fun, yet hardcore. My team won both of our games tonight. Everybody was really nice and helpful when they found out I'd never played organized before. I think I picked it up pretty quick though. I definitely need to wear my cleats next time though. Every time I needed to do a quick turn or I was trying to make a quick run for a toss, I would slide or fall.

Had a blast:)

I leave for Boston tomorrow morning!!!! So check back in a few days for some Boston words:)

The Pink Ladies

A few of the ladies from my outdoor team decided to get together to play at the SI KickIt 3v3 tourney this weekend. None of us had ever played a real 3v3 game, so we were definitely excited! We didn't do to bad. We finally got the hang of things by our final game on Sunday. So while we didn't play great, we didn't do to bad. We got 4th! We also decided to try and play in a few more tournaments this summer.

I scored two goals which were not allowed since I was on the wrong half of the field. You can only score on the offensive side and I was standing out our goal. I almost had an assist, but my girl hit the ball too hard and missed. It would've been a beautiful play if she had made the goal.

I was trying to avoid a collision b/t my teammate and the other team's girl when the other girl (already on the ground) reached out and grabbed my ankle, pulling me down. I called her a pansy. :) She apologized after the game. She admitted that it was childish.

All in all, it was a great weekend. Got to watch some other teams play and it was new soccer experience! Oooo, plus, I got a Tshirt!! Always a good thing.

I went for a swim today.

I went kayaking early this afternoon at a pond in Greeley. The pond is along one of my favorite parts of the Poudre River Trail. Not many people are usually there during the week. A few bikers, walkers, and maybe some fishers. But, I tend to have the place to myself. THANK GOODNESS!!! I would've been insanely embarrassed if I had known that somebody saw me. And here's why.

The pond is small. It's a pond. So I usually just paddle around it a few times. I'll pick up trash in the water, watch for fish and turtles. I'll sometimes even see a heron in the cat tails. Today was no different. I picked up few bits of trash, scared a turtle, and was startled myself by some unknown creature (I actually yelped). I thought I saw a snake or other creature skirting across the water going after bugs, but when I came up closer it was a caught fish being reeled in. I thought the thing had jumped out of the water of its own accord! Needless to say, I was feeling a bit skiddish.

On my final pass round the pond, as I was pulling up to the area where I like to get out, I was on a head-on collision course with a BEHEMOTH of a dragonfly. The thing was so huge that it was carrying something. (The something looked like a small mouse.) It continued on its path towards me and I was still gliding in the water. We did the "which way are you going" dance and still, we were headed right for each other. I dodged left, I dodged right, and as I dodged left again I started to roll. I wasn't able to counteract the roll left so I pitched over. I was in the water. My kayak was upside down. The stupid dragonfly was nowhere to be seen. As I got myself together (treading water), I took inventory. The trash was still strapped to my kayak, my paddle was floating, my favorite water bottle was inside the kayak. Excellent. I was unable to roll the kayak back over so I started pulling it and my paddle towards shore. I then realized that I was missing my hat. I looked back and there it was, floating. So I continued to shore, dropped things off and swam back for my hat.

The water felt awesome. It's not very clean, but it was nice. I sat on the shore drenched, laughing. I couldn't belive this happened to me! All because of a blasted dragonfly!! I thought about bringing my camera with me today. Thank goodness I didn't! I couldn't imagine explaning this one to the insurance company. And yes, I did have a lifevest. I wasn't wearing it, but it was in the craft with me. City law requires I have one, but how am I suppossed to get a nice tan wearing it?!?

Moral of the story: Take swimming lessons, they may come in handy.

<>< :)

Cub Lake-Rocky Mountain Ntl. Park

Shawn's been crying about a new post...so here it is!

Today, I went hiking with two of my friends to Cub Lake in RMNP in Estes Park. It was a great day for it. Neither Julie or Mike had ever been there before. But, if a pregnant woman and a two year old could do the hike, I was sure these two could handle it!

Nothing exciting or out of the ordinary. We did see a yellow-bellied marmot and a blue grouse though. Elk were out, but they were way out yonder. Ducks and chipmunks were climbing our rock at the lake to eat our food. The chipmunk stole my banana peel.

Beautiful Day.

The Unexplainables of Life

What is the point of a sauna? I used the one at the gym today. It was hot and stuffy. That's it. I didn't find it all that relaxing, there's nothing to do (I didn't know to bring reading material), and it sorta smells bad.

The sauna at the gym doesn't have separate ones for men and women so when I came in there was a gentleman in there reading the paper. And boy was he sweating up a storm! Fine, no big deal. But then another gentleman came in (who also had reading material) and took a seat. It's at this point that I started becoming a smidge uncomforable. It's a small room. I stayed a while longer trying to figure out what the draw of this place was. I got nothin' then and I got nothin' now.

So if anybody knows the point, please let me know!

Tomorrow...the Steam Room!

Joga Bonita

My outdoor soccer team was expected to place first this year. So far we're 0-3. They've been great games though. Not easy wins for the other teams.

The first game of the season I received two massive bruises above my shinguard (glad I was wearing them?). The second game I got an elbow to the ribs. This third game (today) I got a nice finger-jab to the eye. No worries, he didn't get too far with the ball. A gal on my team, Nicola, received a black eye last year. She's predicting that I get it this year:)

At 1:00 when I was driving to the game it was 71. At 3:30 it was 81. IT'S EARLY APRIL!!!! It is funny though that both teams were wishing for some wind. It's funny because during the last two games we had massive wind storms and still played our games. I think it's going to be a rough summer.

We lost, I bruise like we a peach, we had fun. It was a beautiful day:)

Never take friendship personal

The weather here has been fantastic...for the most part. At soccer on Sunday, the wind was blowing so strongly that it would stop you as you were running! we lost :( Hopefully we'll play better when the wind stops!

Went hiking near Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins on Monday with my friend Mikey and his dog Mina. It wa a very nice, easy walk. The only bad thing is that we got fined $20 for not paying the $6 State Park fee. bummer.

Tuesday brought me down to Denver for the Tooth and Nail Tour. I had a great time. Some really good bands are on the way out! If you haven't already, you need to check out Emery. They're rock/alternative with screamo mixed in. Couldn't hear much of the lyrics, but the sound was great. Another band to keep an eye out for is Far-Less. They'll have their album out in May I think. I got back sorta late, so it was great getting up this morning for work:) Well worth it.

Peace out and keep rockin'!

The Rite of Spring

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let's go fly a kite
And send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite
Let's go fly a kite!

24+1=old?

I'm 25.

I am 25.

I am not young anymore. Or am I? Isn't youth a state of mind? True, my body is getting older and wearing down, but I still do and enjoy things that I did and enjoyed as a youngster. I offer the picture of forking as evidence of that. (Don't worry, the fella who lives there deserved it:) ) Obviously the people you hang out with also help in that arena. When you are around happy people you are happy. Around sad people, you are sad. So if you hang out with people that act young and fun, then by default you are young and fun loving!

I think my quarter-life crisis is just about over though. I don't know if I'll be alone for the rest of my life or if I'll have someone to share things with. I don't know if I'll be a peon in my careers or if I'll end up a CEO. What I DO know is that God has a plan for me. I do know that'll I'll always have an adventurous spirit. I do know that I'll find happiness on whatever path I end up on. I know that there are people that love me, cheer for me, and encourage me. I know that my life is pretty good.

I am 25. My car insurance rates are going down! I'm a quarter of a century old! I can rent a car, I can mentor kids, I can go on vacations without having to check in with anybody, I can do anything. I am 25!

What did I do on my b-day? I went geocaching in the morning and had some great history lessons. I joined a new gym where the $100 enrollment fee was waived. Some friends took me out to dinner where I had to stand on a chair and be sung to. I saw a funny movie and had great conversations. I forked a friend's yard. I talked to lots of friends and family on the phone. I had a great day.

Happy Trails.
CF

More Sledding Pics

Ode to Sledding

Ode to Sledding

Round sled
Long sled
Plastic sled
Wood sled
You all bring me joy
I'm glad I'm not a boy.

Yesterday, Greeley recieved a few inches of awesome dry snow. Perfect for snowballs, snowmen, and SLEDDING!! I wasn't able to make it out though until today. Stupid Colorado and its stupid sun started melting the snow mid-morning today. I had to make a move and it had to be soon if I wanted to get my sledding in.

I had sent out a sled-invite yesterday evening and only had one taker. So we hit the single, solitary hill in Greeley this afternoon. As the pics show ya, there was a good deal of grass. Not so great for sledding, but we made due.

So a big THANKS to Angela for hanging out with me today. We need to find her a sled though. Tupperware lids, boxes, and just plain, old-fashioned rolling down the hill aren't as great as having a sled.

Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Okay, so I didn’t think I would type on this blog as much as I have already.

Today was just a flying day then off to work. Nothing special or out of the ordinary. Right? Well…Starting in Rochester, NWA was trying to get all the people whose flights were canceled yesterday off into the wild blue this morning. My 8:40 flight was pushed to 9 and the people who were supposed to leave at 7:55 were still at the gate waiting to board. So the counter clerk was trying as best she could (with passengers breathing down her neck) to get everybody onto this one plane because the flight crew for the 8:40 flight was missing. Four of us were in no big hurry, so we offered to wait for the flight crew for the other plane. The said missing crew shows up as the last passengers are getting on the first plane. One more passenger shows up for the second plane. The five of us are having a great time already chatting and getting ready for a party on the plane. We start to board when the gal at the ticket desk starts yelling on her radio that the first plane cannot take off yet because she wasn’t done clearing everybody. We’re all hooting and having a great time at the other plane’s expense, of course. We’re allowed to sit any on the plane that we want. I got made fun of because I took a seat further back than everybody else. I tried explaining “that’s where the cool kids sit”, but they weren’t going for it. Later in the 20min. flight one of the gentlemen turned and asked why I wasn’t talking, that he’d almost forgotten about me, and started laughing because he figured out that I was the Sky Marshal. ☺ This gave everybody a good laugh. We landed safely (Although, the stewardess almost didn’t make it to her seat before we touched down. It was her 2nd or 3rd flight ever.) unloaded very quickly, and headed out. Three of us went in the same direction and talked some more. Turned out that one fella is in the airline industry and now works for Delta. He was just a little information booth within himself!

Next, whilst walking around looking for things to do I noticed an Apple computer at Chili’s. I then noticed that the user of said computer was wearing A LOT of USA Roots clothing and that his laptop had a USA Luge sticker on it. Now, I think anybody who puts a sticker on a laptop is pretty hard-core for whatever the sticker is about. I think this guy was on the USA Luge team! How exciting!!!!

But, my lunch is finished (I ate at Chili’s) and I still need to find my gate. It’s not posted on any of the screens and the Info lady could only get me in the general area. My flight doesn’t have an actual gate yet apparently. So once again into the wild blue towards the purple mountains majesty.

Final Note: There are some things one never wants to hear when getting ready to fly. These are the one’s I’ve heard and enjoyed. Pilot: “I refuse to fly this plane.” Airport Ticket Agent: “Has anybody seen the DC-9 Crew?”

Ah the Beautiful Snow!

I should be writing this post from my home in Greeley, but I'm not. I had everything packed, celebrated an early B-day, said my good-byes to my folks, and was finishing some errands for Shel and Shawn when an automated NWA attendant called and told me my flight was cancelled. My flight shoud've left Rochester at 6:14 and I was called about 4:45. Turned out to be a good thing b/c Lucas and I were kinda meandering around Target. It also gave me some more time with the crew. So, sorry work people and ya for me!

Yesterday though Shel had some craziness. Shel, the Boys and I were at the mall and stopped at a Beauty Salon, whose name is to be withheld, to visit one of their friends. Shel used the opportunity to go change Jonas' diaper in an open conference room. While in there, Jonas peed the most pee he has ever peed before. Shel tried to "deal" with the situation the best she could to keep pee from going everywhere. (Dealing includes pinching and covering.) After removing Jonas' soaked onesie he decided to poop. He's pooping while on his back so the poop is just squishing and oozing out into this HUGE puddle of pee! At this time Lucas tells Shel that he wants to come find me in the waiting area and just takes off. Shel grabs a semi-clothed Jonas (leaving this urine/feces mess on the table) and finds me to pass the Boys off. The good person that Shel is, she goes back to wipe up the mess with baby blankets.

The Final Note: I love snow and if you ever go to a meeting at the unnamed beauty salon in Rochester, be sure to bring some Antiseptic Hand Cleanser!!

Roch

So here's how the story goes. There was a bit of a snow storm last Sunday and Monday. The highways from Rochester to Minneapolis were closed, so the Fagan family wasn't able to go up. But, Lucas, my nephew, ended up in ditch. The crazy part is, he's not quite three. Apparently he was out driving, went into a ditch, and got salt in his eyes. He's a VERY imaginative little boy. Later on Monday, Lucas (L-Dog to his friends) and I went on a trip to Egypt. We went hiking, surfing, canoeing, rode camels, and climbed a few mountains along the way. I've never been to Egypt, so I was definitely excited.

Rochester, MN is a great place to visit...in the Spring time. Check out Whistle Binkie's if you're in the area.