I’m baaaaack!
The Torontonians are now all thinking of that subway ad with the Levitra/Viagra-poppin’ guy who declares his return in bright red letters. Well, stop it. I’m young and don’t have a penis. No libido problems either. 😛
I’m back in the T-dot after a blissful 10 days in the Boston area with my honey. Love is good.
Since Dave is among the most hardworking people I have ever met, I thought it would be easy to study (*cough* catch up *cough*) during my school sancitoned “Reading Week.” I even dedicated one suitcase to study materials!
Unfortunately, Dave contracted a mean case of the flu and I spent a good chunk of the week playing Martha with heart. I’m definitely not complaining since you all know that I love that cuddly domestic goddess stuff. Just this evening I baked some raisin bran muffins and fantasized of a life as a super yummy mummy. *sigh*
I’m not going to get into the whole nature vs. nuture thing, but I can say with confidence that I can match my mother’s legendary “Jewish penicillin”-making. I guess not even a feverish haze can keep me from observing my mother in the kitchen! If you are wondering, the secret is entirely in the bones. You cannot make a good chicken soup without bones. And don’t even think about opening a can or dissolving a bouillon cube!
Aside from the soup, I also made chili con carne; potstickers (guo tie); and peanut and panko chicken fingers. That obviously means many other meals were eaten out. Even better, these meals were shared with extraordinary company!
I didn’t get to see everyone I care about in the Boston area, but I did meet up with some of the finest!
First on Saturday morning, at S&S, I ran into two high school acquaintances–Matt and Kasia. I had spotted Matt when I had gotten up to visit the ladies’ room and decided that I had to say something since I had not seen him in at least 6 years. When Dave and I were about to leave–stomachs full of Jewish American deli brunch goodness, I turned to Matt and muttered something about going to elementary school together. He finished my sentence by mentioning our high school. His blonde companion, who is not only a fellow alumna of our tiny private high school but also a current student at my law school, whipped her head around and we all laughed. Turns out Matt is in the same PhD program at Harvard as two other alumni from our high school: Alex from M and K’s year and my co-valedictorian from the Class of 2000, who also happens to be called Matt.
On Sunday, after some work at the Media Lab, Dave and I trekked over the the North End to meet some more of my high school friends: my girl Tina and my long-lost buddy Alim. We dined at the swanky and cozy (yes, those two adjectives can describe the same place) Carmen. The meal was divine, but I suspect I would have enjoyed it even more if Dave and I hadn’t naughtily stuffed our faces with scrumptious cannoli from the famous Mike’s Pastry beforehand. Ultimately, the best part had to be the conversation and company. It was so fabulous to be reunited with good friends over good food and wine. I hadn’t seen Alim since his Yale undergrad days. He’s now got a Master’s from LSE and is working as a consultant in Boston. Daaaaang. What is up with my old classmates making me feel both old and unaccomplished?!
I hooked up with the lovely Tina several more times as she and I both needed the girl time. It was so great to just hang out. It almost made us forget that we were both stressed to the max and bound to be separated for all the years Tina will be working her buns off towards her Hahvahd doctorate. I loved how she’d try to dumb down her astrophysics talk for me. I think my eyes would glaze over and I’d imagine a chocolate bar every time she said, “The milky way.”
I also met the fabulous Reesie in person for the first time. We clicked like Dorothy’s heels. It was marvelous to finally put the living, breathing vixen to the words and images I love so much. You can read more about our meeting over on Reese’s page. Hello and welcome to all visitors popping in from there too!
On Friday I finally saw sweet, sweet Surabhi who drove out all the way from the boonies to spend an evening with Dave and me. We ate at Spice and Rice, a local Asian fusion joint and talked about our adventures in soul-searching. Minority bonding over identity crises and fusion cuisine. Nice.
There’s more to tell and few photos too, but I imagine that’s a lot to take in after such a long absence. Are your eyes burning yet?
Time for my bedtime chat with Dave. Hope you’re off to something equally lovely. Good night, moon.
reesie Says:
So lovely to meet you A! Sounds like you had a great trip to Boston! Have you had many click throughs from my page? Haha…
Surabhi Says:
I made the blog! 😉
Chilling with you and Dave was 100% fabulous, can’t wait til next time.
mintchoco Says:
Hehe…u shoulda met up with Penis Paly who happens to be down there…
Jules Says:
Mike’s Pastry — mmmmm!!! My mouth is watering as I write this.
tina Says:
i know this reply is hella late – but it was fantastic chillin with you at cafes in cambridge .. and it was just like you wrote – a few hours where we forgot how stressed out our lives were. i need more moments like that. … till next time.