The Best "Welcome to Boston" Gift EVER!

I know that Jim has reiterated that this is NOT A BASEBALL BLOG!
But on this day, in this place, how can I not write a something about how it feels to be surrounded by people who are a little bit happier, kinder, who walk with a lightness of step and who, despite being severely sleep-deprived, feel refreshed and, dare I say, normal?
The Sox normalized all of us, their fans last night; this World Series win feels different, less like there was something to prove and more like our team was the best team, wire to wire. I didn't even cry at all - even when cancer-survivor Mike Lowell won the Series MVP. (SIGN HIM!)
I am cognizant that I'm stepping near Ken Burns and George F. Will territory here as I glorously opine about the national pastime and that C.T. is going to give me an unending ration of shit for being so emotional about a game.
Instead I'll let one of our nation's best poets, Walt Whitman, speak for me:
I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will...be a blessing to us.
Amen, Walt. Amen.

Sox at home A-OK with virtual bartender

It would seem that ticket prices for the red sox are out of our league, and therefore we will be watching the world series at home (or in a crowded, sox-loving tavern - probably a little of both). It turns out that won't be so bad, especially since we've set up an official booze cart, with only the finest booze.




Of course, no home bar would be complete without a virtual bartender. He's a great listener, he never tells you that you've had too much, and the best part - at least with ours - is that he encourages me to sleep with his sister.

Thanks C.T. Wood, I think I will have another....

I BELIEVE!

My World Series prediction: Sox in 6. This isn't hubris; this is faith.
Now off to bed - I start my new job tomorrow.

Officially Moved

We are now officially moved.

Dear God - hear our prayers

Love, BoSox Siobhan

Fiona's new home

A co-worker of mine said hs parents had a cat who died about a year ago. They were looking for a mature, good-natured cat to lounge around their large, country house.

I nervously headed over to their house at 7:00 in the morning with the goods. During the drive I steeled myself and prepared to off them if the deal went sour.

Actually, they were a very nice, loving couple, and Fiona immediately took to her new surroundings. The moment I opened the box she popped out and started poking around. Here is a picture of her as she jogged from room to room, taking stock.



The little old lady and the little old man had very different reactions to the cat. The old lady followed her from room to room, eager to pet her and even once tried to hold her for a moment.



The little old man just sat and bided his time, waiting for Fiona to come to him. Eventually, after staking out her territory IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM, she jumped up on the couch next to him.


Of course I am sure that, as cats are wont to do, she will soon be ignoring them both and turning her attention to the big bay window in front of the bird feeders.

p.s. Laura's web browser history indicates an increase of late in pages on canines...

Warren Tavern

I just want to reiterate what Jay said about the Warren Tavern. It is a great spot to hang out and drink, eat and (in my case) watch football.
I checked out the history of the place and it has had some really notable folks belly up to the bar, including Paul Revere and George Washington.
It's named for Dr. Joseph Warren who was a real Patriot - present at the Boston Tea Party and felled by the British at Bunker Hill, mere steps from the establishment.
I love when my drinking outings become exercises in historical learning.
DC people - take a lesson from Dr. Warren - not the dying part but the protesting part - get out there and make a stink about your own "Taxation Without Representation!"

I'll Be Glad to Start my Job

I have to admit, I'm getting a bit bored with all this staying home and doing housework nonsense. I make a shitty housewife; I can't wait to get back to work. This girl in the picture here sums it up perfectly.
We put Jay on the T last night and he said his room has a great view - it's not too far from the Prudential Center where we had our first cocktails (of many, obvs) on Saturday.
Life update:
Fiona is doing well in her new home, I paid off one of my student loans, the apartment feels like it's really our home, the Sox are tied 1-1 in the ALCS and I start work in one week. All in all, things are looking up here in the land of Wood-Barkley.
It's about time.

What-a-fun-time-but-I-might-be-dead, or Jay's visit, day 2

What a fun day yesterday! We fiddled around with technology until noon (with Laura's coffee & donut reinforcements) and then headed downtown for some fun. First, we bummed around Chinatown and then had some deeeeeee-licious treats at the Grand Chau Chow. We all shared some spicy eggplant, a sizzling seafood hotpot, some dry-fried squid, and some crispy aromatic shrimp.




We made our way to the Boston Common and the Boston Gardens (Note proper use of plural).




Then we all went shopping as we made our way to the Prudential Center, which is a 52-story building from which you can see Vermont. Jay, Lori and Jim all bought some new duds.













In the tower, we all had grown-up drinks like Martinis and Manhattans, and Laura got a great shot of Fenway Park. Even though this blog is not about baseball I will post it.







Now things start to get a bit dicey. We went to a bar, called The Rattlesnake, for drinks, and where I will later consume ten mini-tacos. I will let the pictures do the talking.



Nice pic of me (taken from Laura's cute, pink, new camera)







Jay and I engaging in Frottage (ask Hector, if you don't know what this means).







I'll spare you the debauchery of the camera wars, but lets say there was tequila involved, as you can see from Jay's pucker. Please note the annoyed Bostonian with hand over face.

All hell broke loose, Jay and I crashed a bridal party (I'm sure you'll see video footage on his blog), and somehow we made our way home. This is not the end, Jay's after-hours blogging reveals a chilling tale of self-betrayal.

The morning times, as predicted, resulted in sentiments like "Pray for Mojo." Also, you lucky readers now get to see another pic of Laura and p.j.'s. Though it may seem like she's in pain in this picture, Jay is conspicuously absent and I am taking a rape shower.





























Come on Mojo, do your happy dance

Jay's visit, day 1

Well, if last night was any indication, by Sunday things should be looking about like this... "now he just lies there, struggling to breathe!"

Now we are off to be terrorists - I mean, tourists - in Boston MA.

Fiona Update

I just put Fiona in the car with Jim to go to her new house. I'm emotionally ruined over the whole thing but I know both she and Jim will be better off now. She's going to live with the retired parents of one of Jim's colleagues and they will love on her all the time, I know.
I spent her last night here with her, camped out on the futon in the spare bedroom.
Damn, I'm gonna miss that girl.
Update: Jim just called. Miss Fiona seems to be liking her new home. The people are really nice and she's poking around, getting to know everything. Thank God.

Yay Sawx!

In between sightseeing, drinking beer, eating seafood and interviewing, I have (not surprisingly) found time to watch all the Sox games since I got here. It's a totally new experience for me to be sitting somewhere and see people milling around who are supporting the same team I am. Maybe it'll get old after a while and maybe I'll start to hate the college kids who wear their "B" hats backwards, but right now it feels pretty cool to be here, in Boston, while the Red Sox play in October...with home field advantage the whole way through! It's too much for me to even hope that maybe they (we?) could win 2 World Series titles in 4 years after waiting so long for the 2004 title. Until they're done, I'll be glued to the TV wherever I am, as Fenway tickets are impossible to get.
And even Jim is getting into post-season baseball these days. I was watching the Indians and the Yankees last night to which he commented, "Oh, the Yankees won last (Sunday) night?" For most people, this isn't a very big statement, but my beloved resolutely loathes team sports. For him to know who was playing whom and how the series was still going on is a huge deal. I swear, I'll make a Red Sox fan out of him yet.
Jay - be warned. Friday's game starts at 7:10 and Saturday's at 8:21. You may end up in a bar watching it with a bunch of Massholes, unless Jim can save you from me.

Farewell to an Old Friend

The word is back from the doc and we have to get rid of Fiona. Jim is so allergic to cats that there is no way he can live in the same space with her. As it is now, she's locked up the our spare bedroom, which isn't very nice for her either. I was sad and mad for a while but now have resigned myself to saying goodbye to her. It's for the best for everyone. So, if you know someone in the Boston area who would like an amazing feline companion, let us know. I don't want to have to resort to dropping her off at the pound.

Old German Beer Hall

We started Saturday's bar crawl at a very nice place I discovered via Gridskipper.
It's called Jacob Wirth and is best described as a German Beer Hall with upscale treats.
I had some amazing nachos with a bleu cheese bechamel sauce. Heavenly. Jim indulged in Jaeger Schnitzel made with veal. It seemed, well, mighty hearty to me.
The restaurant is situated between Chinatown (a real Chinatown. Huzzah!) and the Theatre District, within walking distance of Boston Common (editor's note - Boston Common = singular. The Public Gardens = plural. This knowledge courtesy of my favorite MassHole). It's Boston's 2nd oldest restaurant, bested only by Union Oyster House, where, as it turns out, we snacked and watched the Red Sox on Sunday.
Jim took this super cool picture of the clock in front of the restaurant; I think I'm going to push him to print and frame this so we can put it somewhere in our new apartment.

A Real City?

Now, I'm not saying that Washington DC *isn't* a real city, but here are a few things you can't find in Washington ...




A real chinatown ...







Tall buildings ??


... and Laura Wood

My Favorite MASS-Hole

She made it up to beantown and is already decked out in Boston gear. Many great posts to come, but they all start right here, with this MASS-Hole.