And some urban trees were out there and consequently it smelled like heaven

[sovay]

Today was gorgeous. The weather still thinks it's July, which is stickier than I would like and faintly disturbing for the second day of spring, but I spent most of it at the Museum of Science with derspatchel, admiring geckos and discovering what had become of the exhibits we remembered from our childhood, and then we crossed the highway (and under the last elevated piece of the Green Line, which is vaulted over the water like a Venetian ruin) to the North Point Park, which is full of cattails and daffodils, and split a freeze-dried ice cream sandwich while watching the afternoon glitter off the Charles and trains come and go from North Station. The commuter rail has an ear-filling hum, but the Amtrak Downeaster just rattles. There were cormorants roosting on the old pilings, some hopeful geese swimming around beneath. There will be a footbridge over the tracks, twisting now behind its chain-link like a helical echo of the Zakim Bridge. For dinner, we walked up into the North End (he showed me the Spite House and the site of the 1919 Molasses Flood) and I hope I am remembering correctly that the restaurant we eventually settled on was called Pellino's, because it had the sort of tagliatelle bolognese for which one would consider selling at least a moderately priced relative. I do not usually eat entire plates of pasta. We got dessert from Modern Pastry. We wandered in the general direction of one subway and then another; I was introduced to the ghost of the Howard Athenæum—known the world over as The Old Howard, Boston's home of burlesque. We were both quite tired by the time a train was actually achieved.

And then I came home and realized I have not gone a day since the beginning of this month without some form of serious social interaction—oh, God, I just double-checked the calendar, it's every day since the seventh of February—and I cannot keep this up and not blow a gasket. Evidently I've been making up a deficit: it's just topped out. No wonder I've felt slightly weird the last couple of nights. Tomorrow night I am going to see a movie, and then I am going to hibernate. And that will also make me happy.

Comments

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Where e'er her body sleeps or wakes...

There ought to be a carol for days like this. With a descant by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Nine

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking that too. I have been making an effort to see people and keep in touch with friends because I have gone too many weeks staying inside (had a 10 page assignment to write on Monday so that was a killer of social interaction) but damn, I am feeling tired of it.

I think I can be ok with the fact that I am an introvert. I mean I am an introvert and while that means that I tend to be shy around new people and I feel lonely, I think it's better to be lonely when I'm alone rather than around people (oh wait that's a different matter altogether - that's the "Tim, we don't understand what you're talking about. Ok, let's go back to this utterly boring conversation of what Jewish camp we attended or some crap like that" factor)

At least Pesach is coming. Since my family is not Jewish, I don't have to go home for the holidays. Instead I'm visiting a friend in Pennsylvania, staying in Newtown (really small town with a lot of plaques) and mostly avoiding the Chabad (although the Chabad is much more civilized outside of Brooklyn - I lived in Crown Heights for a month and a half and only later did I realize that people usually don't call themselves misnagdim.) so that's a lot of walking around in the country.

[ashlyme.livejournal.com]

Spite House; Molasses Flood. Wow. Very evocative.

What movie are you going to watch?

I hope you enjoy the hibernation; I have to ration my own extroversion, as it comes and goes without warning.

[snowy-owlet.livejournal.com]

What sorts of supplies do you lay in for a hibernation?

(I like: good bread, sharp cheese, eggs, plenty of wine, and milk for tea. Plus, this time of year, salad greens. 'Tis spring, and my thoughts turn to salad and hard-boiled eggs.)

[csecooney.livejournal.com]

Wow! If I have to do more than three social things a week, I refuse to answer the phone for another week! (And that's only slightly hyperbolized!)

[schreibergasse.livejournal.com]

Yay social life! Yay lack of crises!
[Molasses Flood! I mean, I'd heard of it of course, but still: Molasses flood!]
Have a good hibernation.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I must find that park! The north station T stop is one I've visited fairly frequently in my life. I'd love to wander around in a hidden park down underneath that elevated section.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

I'm glad for your gorgeous day, especially in despite of the weather thinking it's July.

I hope you enjoy the movie.

Happy hibernation!