March 12th, 2011

Dryers at nameless laundromat
East Boston, MA

Another morning at the laundromat. It's become a comfortable routine. I get to talk with my mom on the phone outside, or sit catching up on The Economist or a book. In this case I was reading The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry. It's a book about a women who loses her job, takes her savings and moves to Paris to attend Le Cordon Bleu, and her experience there.

Hub Glass Services
Somerville, MA

Waiting for the bus. I went to Somerville in order to pick up my bib for the upcoming Ras na hEirrean 5k on Sunday. Getting out there is quite a task these days. I'd almost forgotten how unreliable the buses could be, given my near subway-only existence. The trip to Winter Hill takes three trains and a bus, or two trains and a bus. All of this to get a bib for a race that I wasn't going to be able to run due to my foot problems. But I paid the expensive registration fee, so I was definitely going to at least get the t-shirt that I was probably never going to wear anyway!

This whole thing involved a lot of walking, but after picking up the bib, I went to Cambridge. I was finally able to get the sponge holder that was supposed to have been in stock since last June. Then I returned to Boston to catch the final closing sale at the downtown Borders Books. Overall great day, outside of the fact my foot swelled up like crazy from all the walking and traveling.

March 11th, 2011

Daniel's Mocha Cheesecake

Some time last summer, Daniel asked me to help him out with a study that he was setting up. It involved getting into the hospital at 7am and laying dead still in an MRI for an hour. I'm a really good friend, so I agree. Well, I agreed if he brought me Chobani greek yogurt, a banana and some coffee when I arrived. I removed my piercings, which was the most annoying part, since I couldn't get the earring in my cartilage back in without profuse bleeding.

In any case, he also promised to bake me something really delicious. It took him six months, but finally, two weeks after I went on a diet, he decides to come through. And I only think it happened because he talked all of my other coworkers into participating in his study once it was running and they got paid $100 each for a much shorter period of time in the MRI. I kindly pointed out how I got that shaft AND didn't even get the promised cake. So he finally did it. I asked for coffee. I ended up with essentially rich chocolate under the guise of "mocha". I hate chocolate. But for chocolate cheese cake, it was pretty delicious. The consistency was well done.

March 10th, 2011

Bodice Rippers

My secret vice. I'm always a bit worried that reality will never live up to the ideas that have been engrained in my head since my teen years. I don't ask for anything so fantastical as these stories, but I do believe in fiery passion, enduring love and happily ever after.

March 7th, 2011

Golden Plum

I ate a Golden Plum. It was delicious.

March 6th, 2011

Constitution Beach
East Boston, MA

I went to the beach today. It's was warm, breezy and deserted. The sands weren't combed since it wasn't swimming season, and the waterline was caked with drying froth. Freshly harvested clam shells littered the beach as well. Beautiful, peaceful and I was nearly alone for my walk.

March 5th, 2011

Reese's Double Peanut Butter Cup

That's right. Double peanut butter! As in, the top is peanut butter too!

Except that it was a huge disappointment. The peanut better on top was made smooth so that it would set properly and tastes more like Reese's pieces than the delicious PB filling. I felt like the smooth PB also detracted from the filling, overwhelmed the flavor, and thus ruined the magic of peanut butter on peanut butter.

March 4th, 2011

Brigham and Women's
Boston, MA

Every few weeks I visit the Brigham to pick up samples. Usually I take the train in, rather than opting for the shuttle. But the shuttles returns me safe and sound to work when its over. This is the view from the shuttle stop - a walkway linking buildings, outdated architecture towering above more recent renovations.

I always indulge at Au Bon Pain on these occasions. I grab some coffee and a pastry or oatmeal. I lean towards the oatmeal now that they have begun labeling pastries with calorie counts. There is only one item below 300 calories, just barely. The majority are between 450-800 calories per baked good. It's terrifying and guilt-inducing. Given that the ABP is in the hospital lobby itself, I'm rather grateful that someone finally demanded they disclose the truth of the massively unhealthy pastries being hawked to guests and workers. I rather suspect that business is down on those items too. The spinach and cheese croissant is the healthier pastry at 290 calories - however, I still cringe to imagine how much of that comes from fat.