Well Catherine won another visit because she once again was the only contest entry form I received. People, I make lots of money and live in a very inexpensive place and no wife and no baby Jacobs running around; Ive got money to spend on airplane tickets and I fit on most couches. Just re-throwing that out there.
Because Arizona doesn't participate in DST it takes all damn day to get to the east coast. I left Tucson at 9am and didn't get to Boston until 7pm. I landed at the airport about 740 but because we had to wait for a plane to leave our gate didn't get out until 810. This stuff doesn't bother me though, I've almost flown 100k miles this year, I'm used to it and it's not really a big deal. Catherine's best friend made dinner for us that night; it was some shrimp, spinach, pasta concoction. I had two big bowls. Immediately after I got off the plane Catherine demanded story time, so I just talked and talked about everything and everyone. Talked through dinner and talked late into the night. Although, I had to stop so we could watch the news. Who watches network news still? Well evidently Catherine and Meredith, and I just found out Escobar does too, ehh, just read the Internet. I brought spoils from my trips, wine and chocolate for both Meredith and Catherine. Instant brownie points!
Friday morning I kindly demanded French Toast and I got it. 4 giant slabs, it was super delicious for her first time. Since I had done all there is to do in Boston the last time, I just wanted to chill. Which can be very hard for a host because I was indifferent and complacent with everything we did. Every suggestion got a shrug. So, first thing Friday we went to the aquarium. It is a very nice aquarium, but the penguin exhibit was being rebuilt so we had to check out the penguins in a modified bath tub. They were still cute as hell. They had sharks, barracudas, turtles, eels, crabs, very enjoyable.
Next it was time to feed me so we went back to Legals seafood. Had some kick ass clam chowder. Soft shell crabs are not in season so I had to resort to a Salmon sandwich. I've come to the conclusion that I don't like salmon. As good as it is for you, I just don't enjoy the taste. Afterwards we paid homage to the new HRC, it's now in Faneuil Hall, it used to be in Copley Square. Nice place, good pin selection, bumping beats, Tricky by Run DMC was playing. Like all trips once we get pins, the trip is now deemed a success. Everything after that is just icing on the cake. Since we were so close to the North Side we went to Little Italy, I think I'm the only one that calls it that, but that's what it is, just a bunch of restaurants and café and pastry shops, all Italian themed. Seems appropriate to me, but they call it North. Well we stopped into one place to get some cannolis and some black & white cookies. After that we walked around and to my surprise, but not Catherine's, we came upon the old North Church. (Kudo points to the host for that, I love me some history and culture) We jumped into a tour already going on and learned some interesting history and facts about the church and big names involved around the Revolution times.
Afterwards we walked through Boston Commons; it's just their way of saying park. Very nice, skating rink, statues, trees, loved it. By this time we had walked around greater Boston so it was time to get back to her place.
I took a nap because I needed some energy for the Boston Celtics game. They were playing the Jazz. They no longer play at the Garden, but it was still great. They ended up losing which I didn't mind. I'm a big fan of the Western Conference. Jerry Sloan got a technical which is always enjoyable to see. My favorite part of the game was the montages they played. For every possible play or outcome or situation, the Celtics have a movie montage to get the crowd pumped up. Whether they need some more defense or some more energy. Made great use of Carmina Burana, Last of the Mohicans theme, Animal house, fantastic.
After the game we walked to her friends Adam and Heaters apartment, she is one of Catherine's sorority sisters. There I met some more sisters, Meghan, Danielle, and Nicole. We went to Beacon Hill Pub. Very much a t-shirt and jeans bar. Had lots of good beer. Talked with someone's girlfriend for a long time, but I didn't realize it and neither did he. Once he knew, he came back over and took charge and took his girlfriend away. Oh well. Went back home and bundled up to go to bed. I don't know if it's because I was sleeping near a window, or just because it's cold, or because the thermostat was low, but if was very cold in the house. I slept with socks, pants, sweatshirt, in the desert I sleep in my underwear. I'm just saying.
Saturday I didn't get up until post meridiem, but luckily brunch goes until 3pm. Went to some restaurant where we met Joanna, another sister. She bought my breakfast, oh yeah. I also brought her some spoils from my trips. After we talked with her for awhile we went back to Heather and Adams place and went to the bars. St. Patricks Day is very big in Boston and although they don't need a reason to drink, they do it even bigger when they have a reason. Everyone was wearing green and the only music playing was Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly. Which is good by me. Adam and I had bet going to see how many girls we would see who have those Ugz boots, the big brown ones, tucked into their jeans. Evidently this is the fashion statement regnant. I guessed we would see 68, Adam guess 108, I think it was more like 18. Which is a damn lot. After we had some beer at the purple shamrock we went to Cheers. We were able to find a table and I chatted with Yates for most of the time. Sitting next to us were a couple from Australia and they were surprised at how full the bars were. "My goodness they like to party here," I guess they don't have St. Patrick's Day in Australia.
After Cheers we went to the Clark Street Bar or Clarks, Im not sure which. We were there for about 6 hours. Drank some good beer, the girls played a drinking game, similar to Kings Cup without the cup. I had some really good sliders. I was able to see Duke lose on tv, always enjoyable. We left about 9 and went back to Yates apartment and everyone got ready to go to a house party in Southie. That's not the same as South Boston. I haven't been able to grasp all the nomenclature of the area. I wasn't feeling a house party so we went back to Catherines to eat some dessert and watch a movie. I went to bed relatively early, but was awoken when Meredith came home at 3. She went to the house party and obviously when you mix Irish, beer, and St. Patricks day, there will be a fight. On her way home, she had the taxi ride from hell. He charged her incorrectly and he made other stops and picked up other people.
Sunday morning got up and went to the airport. Got there a LITTLE too early so just sat in the Admirals lounge. Luckily I was upgraded because that is a 4 hour flight. So I was fed, and was able to recline and sleep nicely. I always feel like I don't belong in first class. I'm not old or white or rich, and I always seem to get ugly looks, as if I won some award. I've tried getting on the plane late, so I wouldn't have to watch the entire coach class walk past me, but it sucks waiting on the gangway; plus I miss the first round of cocktails. So they can suck it, because 95% of the time, Im in row 21 with the rest of you. Flights were okay, had a two hour layover in Dallas which sucked, but I survived. So, that's my Boston trip. Thanks to all my new Boston friends, it was a pleasure.
Many o f you may be wondering where the section on Senor Trevino is. Unfortunately it's easier to hang out when we both go home as opposed to seeing him in his new city. Its admissions time and obviously he's swamped. Our scheduled meet up was for Saturday night, but we were on opposite sides of the city and it just wasn't that feasible. But we had a pretty good chat and got caught back up.
See, the fun you are missing. Just tell me when your couch is free and I'll be there.
Jacob
