Something miraculous has happened this week!! And I am serious about this. Some of you may know that I have a significant phobia regarding swimming - I am talking major - breaking-out-in-hives-hyperventilating-ohmygod-I-am-going-to-die kind of phobia. I like swimming (in particular in ponds and lakes), but the neurosis kicks in when I swim in a pool, and have to put my head under water. Can't do it. Just can't. Fear that I can't breathe, and start sweating bullets. Big time. Well, I have now for some time approached conquering this fear of mine, and in order to really do it right, recently purchased a pair of extremely stylish goggles (http://www.trisports.com/tyrfetelme.html) and one of them lovely Speedo silicone swim caps (blue, of course). I looked hot man!! Wednesday night, after a few awkward and angst-laden minutes, I eased my way into it, and just did it! I was so excited, I did not want to leave the pool, ever!! By the time I got out I had webbed toes and was shriveled up like a prune. I thought it was the most divine thing ever to look underneath the surface of the water!! A whole new world opened up!! This is so cool!! I came home a proud little swimmer, and if I can now focus on not drinking half of the pool water when I swim, there may still be hope.
In other exciting news the new Liberty Hotel right next to MGH opened this week - http://www.libertyhotel.com/ - this is of particular interest since the building used to be the Charles Street Jail, which was fully operational from 1851 to 1990. If you talk to any long-time MGHers, they can tell you story or two on how the prisoners either jumped out the window (to break a leg and then spent a few cozy days in the hospital) or just waltzed over directly to the emergency room masquerading as patients. Stephanie, Tom, some of their colleagues and I went over there to check out the scene, and we were quite impressed. The bars are aptly named "Clink" and "Alibi", the lobby is the former exercise hall for the prisoners, and some of the hotel rooms used to be jail cells. The hotel is completely wireless and totally high tech - my favorite being the mini-bars which have an instructional program that shows you how to mix cocktails. My kind of place (aside from the somewhat steep prices that do start at 325$ a night)! Monday was a holiday and since I cannot run or hike at present due to that wretched right heel of mine, I focused on my other passion - cooking. I futzed around in the kitchen all day, went shopping and served a nice little meal where that lovely $40 Pinot Noir from our friends at the Lemelson Vineyard was killed off. That stuff went down good, let me tell you and was chased by my new favorite Scottish whiskey Bunnahabhain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunnahabhain). Of course, the more you drink of the really good wine, the less you believe that that stuff is really worth it (but then again, it may have been the booze talking....).
Tuesday it was time to celebrate my friend Emily's birthday with a lovely backyard BBQ event - where dozens of people gathered around a big wooden table, ate all kinds of goodies and sang happy birthday while Em was trying to blow out candles that were perched atop of what can only be described as a monolith of ice cream. The nice thing about this event was that it was just three blocks from my house, and I could saunter over on foot. I try to make use of every even tiny opportunity for exercise - since I have been taken out of commission with the plantar fasciitis, a few nasty little bumps have snuck onto that body of mine that were not there before. Note to self: Must adjust portion size (of course it does not help if one eats first a Lean Cuisine dinner and then chases it down with ice cream..... I know, I am weak....)Another positive note: three of my photographs will be shown at the MGH Cancer Center's Illuminations exhibit this fall (I have attached copies of the three) - two from my trip to Brookfield, Connecticut - pictures of a blacksmith barn, and the third a rigging shed at Salem Harbor. I will keep the Boston contingent informed as to when the opening reception will take place so you an come and admire my work (or snicker behind my back, whichever you prefer...)
And a little bit of news from work - starting next week, I will spent one half day a week as a lab rat - trying to understand a bit better what our researchers work on and how I can help them acquire exciting new compounds from industry to work with. I am excited, but also a bit terrified, and if the lab director knew anything of my history in a chem lab, he would be a bit more ill-at-ease with this whole proposal. I promise to be careful, so hopefully you won't hear about me on the 6'o clock news because I burned down a building.
So, time to head home and put my feet up. Tomorrow I will be joining the Community Runners (on my bike) for a Saturday Fun Run on the Minuteman Bikeway - I will be the mobile water support. There is a toga-less toga party at Renee's, and Sunday morning I will volunteer at the registration table for the Run for Hope, a 5 K race that benefits the MGH Cancer Center. Tuesday my friend Caroline from the UK is coming for a few days of fun in Boston (oohooo!!) and next Saturday/ Sunday is the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire.
Everyone have a nice weekend!!!
pet:)
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