A Canoeing Adventure

On Friday afternoon this past weekend, jumper boy came out to Worcester to hang with me. I had been sitting at a desk all day so I immediately decided we needed to go for a canoe ride. We started at my dock in the cove (bottom star) and made our way up to the vicinity of Lake Park (about halfway down the lake).


I'm certain it's because I had jumper boy with me that we were able to go so far. I have tried to go so far previously, but never made it either due to winds or darkness.


We took a couple pictures because even though it was grey out because of the storm we were expecting, it was still nice to be out moving. We had loads of fun.


We explored a couple coves. One of the "islands" we came across had this cute little bridge connecting it, but the poor little plot of land looks like it caught fire at some point this summer. So sad.

Dave took great pains to position the boat perfectly so you can see the fall foliage behind me. Turned out ok!

West Boylston Massachusetts in the Fall

God did the work. I took the picture. Need I say more?

Sunday's Accomplishments

Today was a snowy day. I had wanted to do some work on my talk that I'm giving on Tuesday, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. Instead I did a bunch of stuff around the house... after a trip to Walmart and the making of a three-bean soup.

I painted my ugly green yucky $5 yard sale table. I thought it was black... but it was clearance pre-tinted Walmart paint and it ended up being more of a midnight blue. The good news is that it's dark. That's what I wanted. And for $3, I'm happy with the result.


While waiting for the first coat of paint to dry on the table, I constructed a cabinet for my bathroom AND I even hung it by myself. It's level and everything. I'm amazing. Of course after all the construction there was vacuuming and cleaning required... the list grows and grows...


Then I made chocolate cupcakes with Penuche Filling. "Penuche" comes from a Mexican word meaning "raw sugar" or "brown sugar". It is used to describe a fudgelike candy made from brown sugar, butter, milk and vanilla. (It has a caramel taste to it). I made them for my friend Laura's birthday. It was Saturday, but I figured we could have some cake on Monday to celebrate. She's the lab manager of our lab and always remembers everyone's birthday. I totally flaked on her day, so hopefully it will be OK that we're celebrating after the fact instead of the Friday before... oops!


My chairs in the kitchen have been rough getting in and out of when I eat there in the mornings. So I put some sliders on the bottoms of all 4 chairs and the table too. Busy work...


I got a lot done. I'm ready to focus on my seminar and grant writing this week...

Snowy Sunday on the Lake in Worcester

It's Sunday. I've got loads of work to do at home. I am doing it because Ultimate Frisbee was canceled due to inclement weather. It is snowing. I'm making soup in a slow cooker. I'm working on my seminar that I'm giving on Tuesday and I'm painting the ugly $5 yard sale table that I bought. I'm a serious multitasker!

New Apartment

Hi All- the new apartment is fully unpacked and painted and ready to be lived in. I love it. I picked a yellow for the living area (I thought it was going to be a lighter color, but oh well), a light green for the kitchen and a light pink for the bathroom. Yes. Pink. For those of you who don't know me, although I'm a bit of a wild child and adventurous and come from a family of boys, I am very feminine and girlie. I figured this will be the only time in my life I can have a pink room... once you're married you can't be having a pink bathroom... Enjoy!

When I need a Pick-Me-Up

Recently, when I need a pick-me-up because I'm feeling sad or lonely or stressed, I pull up this picture of my nephew Corbin who only just turned 4 months old... isn't he the cutest!?! But then of course I feel the need to go onto Facebook and go through all the pictures of this little guy... just warms my heart right up.

I haven't even met him. He's in CA and I"m in MA. He was born in May and I'll see him for the first time around Christmas. Honest truth though, I didn't even know this kind of love existed. I look at my brother's kid and am so filled with love I can't even believe it. Let me make myself clear, I don't feel this way about all babies... but this one belongs to my brother... he's special... and I love him... and he makes me smile.

Dog Bite Update

The pain is gone (unless you touch it). The bruise is fading. I believe that I am ready to meet jumper boy's dog again... under the assumption of course that jumper boy will act as a human shield if the dog decides that I'm yummy a second time. Of course.

A Dusk Kayak Adventure

Today I got home at a reasonable hour. I decided that the lake looked too inviting for me to not go out on a kayak. My upstairs house-mate Court said that I was more than welcome to take his kayak out because the canoe is heavy for just one person. I took him up on it and as the sun was going down, I embarked. It was so peaceful out there on the water. I got wet, but I didn't care. It was perfect! I was out for about 30 minutes before I decided it was much too dark for me to be out there. So I paddled on back. It got confusing because the reflections of light on the water made it difficult to tell what was what. But I made it! I think this will be a regular outing for me. It's good for the soul.
Here's more pictures of my lake (and swans) that I took when it was still light out:



And of course, the little red canoe:

Move Update

So here's the new news on the move. Turns out my former landlord is completely unaware of MA law about tenancy. She told me although she felt sorry about my situation of the move, I needed to be out by Saturday because someone else was moving in. Seriously?!? Ok, so called up the people who had showed me the "alternate" apartment that they were renting. I said I'd take it, I called up jumper boy, and the move was on for Friday (it was anticipated to pour down rain all weekend, so I took Friday off work to move).

I got a futon, coffee table and lamp from a friend who is moving to Germany in December. I had some things. I am inheriting a dresser from another guy moving to Germany this month. And, I am so blessed, some friends of mine (more like family really) took me to a place where they sell unfinished furniture and bought me a cabinet and table for my kitchen (with chairs). I was not expecting that at all!! So nice!!

It took some getting used to, but I love my new place. It's right on Lake Quinsigamond on the Shrewsbury side (bonus- the Shrewsbury address lowers my car insurance!!) But literally, ten steps outside my door is a dock, with a kayak and a canoe. It's a basement "apartment" (without a stove/oven) in a duplex condo. It's basically a studio apartment with a mini-kitchen and it's own bathroom. I have access to the kitchen upstairs and the guys living there seem friendly. There is a door separating the kitchen & bathroom from the living area/bedroom

I scrubbed the apartment like crazy the night before (only hours after the previous tenant moved out). The apartment is getting painted soon. I picked out some colors already (landlords let me pick the paint!). I was told it's getting painted on Saturday, but I'm not sure it will be finished by then. However, there is a funky smell in the bathroom. We are going to figure it out though... not sure if it's mold or just icky...

Today I rode my bike 3.54 miles (one-way) to work and back. No major hills like my previous 5.2 mile commute that killed! I think this will be a good arrangement. A lovely ride...

I'll get up some pictures of the inside once it's not so crazy in here!.