My vacation so far can roughly be divided into three categories: seeing friends, cooking food, and wedding planning. Well, that and playing some of Sam's incredibly addictive PlayStation games.
Wedding stuff seems under control.
- Photographer is hired
- Flowers seem to be taken care of
- Have a dress ordered
- Have a stylist lined up
- Been to Bloomies and Crate and Barrel for registry research
- Don't have a hotel block reserved yet, but have been calling around
- Am meeting with the rabbi tonight
In other words, I'm in good shape, though I'll have to come back in March for fittings and such.
As for cooking, I've taken the opportunity (and the use of my brother's old food processor) to cook up a storm. I can't wait until I have a full kitchen at my hands!
Paris seems to have an odd fascination with bags.
The statue of John Harvard
Sam is pretty sure his mom took this exact same shot when they came to Boston on a family vacation many moons ago.
Most of Saturday was spent walking around Cambridge and Boston - from Poter Square to Harvard Square, then from Newbury Street to the North End. Sadly I forgot to charge my camera battery, so there are only a few shots of the lovely day.
The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, which now finally feeds a tunnel.
Once upon a time, this view would have been of the supports for I-93. It is amazing how much lighter it is now.
Finals are done, and lets just say the flight home was a perfect way to end a hellish week and leave it at that. But I came home to dinner on the stove and my kitties waiting. Enough to make me forget I ever left! The first weekend back has been packed, but you can see that for yourself.
A long Friday night
Santacon hits Amsterdam Ave.
Santas raid The Gin Mill...
And they get carded at Jake's...
Down to a different Jake's, Thompson had a very comfortable napping spot.
Shannan and Thompson
And today, my first Christmas tree!
Yesterday (Tuesday) was a beautiful day, despite some rain early on. I sat in the quad eating my Thai food and reading up for the paper I have to write tomorrow. I had not fully realized the extent of the hell I would be feeling today, trying to work on my Hydrodynamics final.
Today was rainy and miserable, which was a perfect complement to my mood. In fact, I would probably venture to call today among the worst in my life. All because of that horrible take home exam. I didn't care whether I got the answers right (I'm taking the class pass/fail). I just wanted to get any answer at all. And I did. For the most part. After working on it for ~12 hrs, if you subtract eating/errands time.
Tomorrow will be a better day. Sure I have to write a 10 page paper for Open-Channel Flow, but at least I'll be able to turn in my exam and never think about it again.
And then New York City, here I come!
Last night, I had my fist experience with Miyake, the infamous sushi joint in Palo Alto. As one of my friends commented, it seems a bit contradictory - usually Japanese restaurants are all about zen, not disco balls and techno music. Sadly, we didn't partake in the famous sake bombs (finals, you know), which may have made the long wait for our sushi more bareable, or the food taste better.
It's a tossup as to what was the highlight of the evening.
- the lights going down, the strobe lights turning on, the techno music getting louder, and the eight year old girl getting on to her table to start dancing
or
- the birthday girl from the table next to us getting the traditional Miyake treatment of shots from the staff while standing on her chair. the girls all had braces. (I later found out it was Sprite)
I didn't do "what am I thankful for at Thanksgiving" post, because last week I wasn't feeling so thankful. Sure, I was thankful that Sam was hauling out here yet again to see me, but feeling decidely not thankful about how much work I had to do. But now I'm mucho thankful because:
- My professor for that midterm that I was sure I failed let me take it over as a midterm and I rocked it. Awesome.
- I managed to hand in the two problems sets and final paper all by noon on Tuesday and actually sleep more than 4 hours Monday night.
- Two of my classes are totally done. Three to go.
- Only one class left of the quarter.
- In eight days, I'll be on a plane home and won't have to think about classes for three (and 1/2) whole weeks!