Never Say Never and/or Yes That's Right

When I wrapped up my last assignment in Massachusetts - I didn't exactly say Mass and I were thru but it felt like it was the end of an era.  I said my goodbyes I made plans to not return but rendezvous with my friends outside of New England.   I left knowing my next big assignment would take me elsewhere - it was a done deal.  Well hah! Sometimes that's not how it works.  And sure enough I am back although it's a different project,  different tool, different faces, a different experience.  When I first found out I was disappointed (I'm not really sure why) but I'm not anymore - it's supposed to be a short stay here  and I've already made 10 new friends and seen another 10+ of my old friends.   So it's been good. 

As much as I was fighting it I think this assignment is exactly what God wanted for me.  I wasn't supposed to take that other job.  This is exactly the right amount of challenge, with exactly the right amount of fun.  My passion for being on the road is renewed and I look forward to enjoying the next few weeks in the Boston Area.  
(PS the photos were all taken on my iPhone the last two weeks I took a handful of others that I might have accidentally deleted although all my photos are sorted funny so maybe not).

The Chandler Travis Philharmonic

 Sometimes you plan to have dinner in a diner and you find a gem like the The Chandler Travis Philharmonic. I must admit I was a little confused when we walked in and found a crew of people in their pajamas hanging out in the diner.   And then they started playing and doing their thing and I was impressed.    It was a great way to return to Boston.   If I am still having 1/2 as much fun as they are when I'm in my 60's then I will have had a blessed and awesome life.   If you are interested you can check out some of there music here.

Goodbye Massachusetts

This week I said goodbye to Massachusetts - it was my last week traveling there for my current project and yes I know that later this afternoon or in two weeks my boss can still call me and tell me that my next assignment is in Mass (and it's highly likely with my luck).  But I really feel as though I'm coming to an end of the Mass Chapter in my life and I'm ready to move onto new assignments in new cities with new faces.  Although I will miss all my friends there and my team and the city of Boston.   I'll keep you posted on what's in store next.

Nauset Beach

This week I got to spend some time in the Cape - Hyannis, Nauset, Brewster. Not as much as I would have liked because well it's a long haul from western MA and well I was there for work.  But still the beach is the beach even if it's foggy when you get up early to jog or when you return at dusk and the sun is setting.  The water was icy cold and the sand was equally as cold but who cares.  The place was entirely empty and I spent some time there meditating and praying and it was so peaceful.  And a good reminder about how truly blessed I am to have this job where I can live in mid-america but get sent to amazing places.  Sometimes I need to be more grateful for these moments and spend less time being annoyed by the 3 hour delayed flights.

Weekend with Michele

So I stayed in New England last week and hung out with my friend Michele and her family and got together with some other friends as well as worked on making new friends.  Hurricane Irene put a damper on our big pool party plans but you know we made the most of it and had a good time anyhow.  Anyhow some of the highlights included...

• Karaoke pre-weekend festivities
• Several trips to Duncan Donuts (yes true new englanders go at least once a day) 
• Reporting live from the beach pre-hurricane
• Shopping in the Shoppity Shops in Newburyport
• Scoring the record "Scandalous Songs for Nice Girls"
• Big Man Fred telling Michele he was "leaving a knife since he didn't have a handgun" and then demonstrating how we could attack any looters
• Jackie's apartment party
• Meeting new BFFs (one who's a life is good model)
• Swimming post hurricane
• Getting to wear a hunting light on around in the power outage
• Massive quantities of game playing
• Candle light pizza
• Imparting my Katieness on Michele's boys and miss jordan
• And more...

Anyhow here are some snaps for some reason all those taken in portrait will not appear as such even though I edited them and saved them that way.  Oh well.

From one of our many trips to duncan for coffee/tea

Proof of the awesome Record that is now in my possession.  PS we were shopping in Newburyport, MA if you get the chance to go there - DO it's a great little place to visit. 

Me high-fiving this awesome hand chair.

Look at my rubber chicken change purse.  You know you want one.

Beers at Thirsty Whale.

Hurricane was making everyone close down.

We wandered around in ponchos and got people to take our photos even though it wasn't raining.

They we went to the ocean. (stay tuned to our "live report" from Plum Island)

Not sure if you can read the sign on this house.  But it says "test me irene"

We even got the kids to wear ponchos everywhere even though it wasn't raining.

Some of the damage done in the hurricane.

Notice all the debris in the pool. 

Proof the that living by candle-light must have been dreadful back in the day.

But it does allow us to rock cool headgear. 

While Michele's area was not really hit hard by the hurricane. My heart goes out to those in the coastal areas that were. Oh and Plum Island apparently was minor damage only.