Storm of Thoughts

My Day as a Tourist

When I first came to Boston, it was a big deal to visit all of the tourist destinations - check out Fenway Park, go to the top of the Prudential Building, skate on the Frog Pond, etc., etc. But, having lived here for several years now, I’m much less likely to head out and stand in crowds in Faneuil Hall, midday on a sunny Saturday, just to “see the sights.” (In fact, without a reason for being there, that’s downright crazy. It would take an act of God to get you through the food court crowds in under an hour.) But, occasionally, there is a reason to stand in a line two blocks long to visit one of Boston’s “must-see” spots. And, with my parents visiting, we had the perfect excuse to head downtown with the Memorial Day crowds and visit the New England Aquarium. The aquarium itself is not big, but it makes for a great day trip, especially if you pair it with a visit to the IMAX theater, which we did. (We saw Under the Sea, and the images were amazing. Granted, I still prefer Planet Earth, but the IMAX theater experience itself is worth the trip.)

One of the major exhibits at the aquarium is the penguin habitat, which we spent practically half of our time watching.

As you can see, Pete was especially mesmerized by the penguins.

We also walked through the pathways full of tanks, with sea dragons, crabs, a “petting zoo” area, and all kinds of fish. But the aquarium’s major draw is the huge, circular tank, which stretches up for several stories.

At the top, they give presentations while you watch fish, rays, sharks, and turtles swim by.

Here’s Myrtle the Turtle trying to eat a head of lettuce.

But watching the “show” from one of the windows down below is just as much fun.

Outside, they even had a tank full of seals.

Sure, we won’t need to go again for awhile. But it was certainly worth the visit. It’s usually fun when people take the time to act like tourists in their own city. (And with cameras constantly snapping, we always play the part well.)

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Wordless Wednesday: Photos From One Year Ago

I can’t believe that I’ve been in this house for a year.

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A Memorial Day (Food) Recap

For many, Memorial Day means barbecues (amongst so many other things). To kick off the upcoming summer season - and a long weekend of beautiful weather - Pete and I figured we, too, should head out to the grill.

Our meal was captured in photos (as our meals often are, much to Pete’s chagrin when he’s trying to eat).

Instead of hotdogs and hamburgers, we opted for sausages for our inaugural barbecue.

We also had spinach and artichoke pasta salad:

and broccoli salad:

Which was the perfect Memorial Day dinner.

The best part, though, was the homemade ice cream, made in several steps throughout the day. The French Vanilla ice cream (which churned in the morning):

was mixed with chocolate “chips” (made by drizzling melted chocolate into the just-frozen ice cream) and peanut butter pieces.

And, (un)fortunately, you can’t just churn enough for one night, so there is plenty of ice cream for the rest of the week. It’s definitely starting to feel like summer!

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Wordless Wednesday: A Quiet Spot

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The Joy of a Sale

My mom and I both love shopping. The only thing better than shopping, in fact, is finding a sale. Which is why we especially look forward to going outlet shopping, something we do several times a year - and generally in at least a couple of different states. (In fact, one of the outlet centers even has a cemetery right next door, which is where we imagine other bargain lovers like us have chosen to spend eternity.)

Recently, I needed to travel to get my car inspected, which worked out perfectly since there is an outlet center nearby. (It’s almost like we planned it that way.) Regardless of whether or not we find sales, this is always the beginning of a good day. But, still, you always hope it’s going to be one of those days where things just work out. Where you go into a store, find a shirt you love and that fits perfectly for 60% off, and buy one in every color. Or when you find a medium-sized coach purse for $50 (a feat we’ve achieved twice.) And then, of course, there are those days where you might as well have just gone to the mall.

This, however, was more like the former. With clothing, we did well. Cooking “gadgets”? Even better. But the best luck of all came when we entered the shoe store. We needed shoes to go with new outfits, which we immediately found (and at a great price). But then I started browsing the clearance rack. Rows and rows of shoes on sale, many of them in my size. Suddenly, I spotted the perfect pair. Dark red. Suede. I won’t wear them until the fall, but when you see the perfect pair on sale, there’s no waiting. (As my dad would say, “Make your money on the buy.” Of course, he wasn’t thinking of outlet shopping at the time, but I feel free to take creative license with his many words of wisdom.)

The excitement started to build as I searched for the new price. Originally, the shoes were $79. But this WAS the clearance rack. Finally, I spotted it: the round red sticker. What did it mean?? It was a few more minutes before I found the (somewhat poorly located) sign, indicating which sticker went with which discount. Yellow dot, 30% off. Green dot, 40% off. I continued to scan, growing more excited as I failed to spot the red dot among the lower discounts. Finally, there it was, at the very bottom: red dot, 80% off. Every shopper’s dream. Which is how I got my $79 pair of shoes for just over $15.

Ah, the joy of a sale. Sure, it was a small victory. But nice weather, shopping with my mom, and a great find? Those are the makings of a very fun day.

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Recipe: Easy BLT Pasta

This recipe is one of my favorite stand-by pasta recipes because it’s light, quick, and doesn’t require too many ingredients. It’s the perfect spring or summer pasta!

1 pound pasta of your choice (I usually use spaghetti or linguine)
up to 1 cup chicken broth (or 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1/2 cup white wine)
1 container cherry tomatoes
1 bag of fresh baby spinach
1 package bacon (you can use as much or as little as you want or even substitute turkey bacon)
Ricotta salada, optional, to crumble on top (you can also use feta or grated parmensan)

After you start the pasta, fry the bacon in a large frying pan. When done, remove and drain on paper towels. Remove most, but not all, of the grease left in the pan and cook the cherry tomatoes in the same pan over medium-low heat until warm and starting to get soft. Add the bag of spinach (if it won’t hold all of it, start with half, then add the rest and cook until wilted. Pour in the broth or wine and simmer until the pasta is done. Drain the pasta in a colander and then place into the pan with the spinach and tomatoes. Crumble the bacon back into the pan, mix everything together, and top with cheese to serve.

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Wordless Wednesday: The House That Screams Spring

Every time I drive by, I admire the colors!

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Happy Mother’s Day!

Unfortunately, I wasn’t home this weekend to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mom. (Although I did send a package, which she opened while I was on the phone, so it was a little like I was there!) My dad took good care of her, though, and I know they both enjoyed a nice dinner out with my grandma. But, still, it would have been nice to be home!

We are holiday people in our family. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, birthdays - all a big deal. And Mother’s Day is no different! Because, while parents (at least mine) always reminded us that “every day is kids’ day,” there are too few days to celebrate them.

And my mom deserves a lot of celebrating.

In honor of the occasion, I thought I would share a few lines from a book my mom once gave me, “Why a Daughter Needs a Mom.” (Of course, I could come up with several hundred reasons on my own!)

A daughter needs a mom who is never more than a phone call away.
A daughter needs a mom to tell her that beauty never fades if you look in the right places.
A daughter needs a mom to teach her that you cannot make someone love you, but you can be someone who can be loved.
A daughter needs a mom to tell her not to be afraid to seize the moment.
A daughter needs a mom to carry her when she is tired.
A daughter needs a mom to teach her to laugh at herself.
A daughter needs a mom to read to her.
A daughter needs a mom to show her how to put a little love in everything she does.
A daughter needs a mom who shares with her the wisdom of generations.
A daughter needs a mom to teach her that the path taken means as much as the destination.
A daughter needs a mom who never grows tired of holding hands.
A daughter needs a mom who will sing along with her when her favorite song comes on the radio.
A daughter needs a mom to teach her that she is responsible for her own happiness.
A daughter needs a mom to remind her to say nice things when she talks to herself.
A daughter needs a mom to assure her that she always has a place to come home.

Thanks, Mom, for all of that and more!

I hope everyone had a nice Mother’s Day!

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Wordless Wednesday: Gloucester Revisited

Courtesy of Luci.

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Overbooked (And a Trip a Gloucester)

This weekend, and much of last week, was busy - to say the least. Between lots (and lots) of visits from both family and friends (including two visitors who lived with us from Wednesday morning until Saturday night) and all of the activities that went along with that, I’m ready for a nap. A long one. For several days, my life consisted of racing between commitments in Boston to work and back, entertaining guests at home, heading out for dinners, and visiting with old friends. Which, of course, was all very fun. But even now that the apartment has been empty for two days, I’m still finding myself exhausted.

Over the course of the weekend, though, I also got to see my parents (albeit briefly!), which is always fun, and the three of us had time for a short day trip to Gloucester. And while I have been to surrounding beaches and towns, I had never before been in Gloucester itself. Although now I would love to go back. Here are some highlights:

The day went from cloudy to sunny and warm, which was great for this couple. (Beautiful spot for a wedding!)

I love lighthouses.

A really great memorial for the wives of the fishermen.

And one for the fishermen themselves lost at sea.

Surrounding this are plaques inscribed with names that (incredibly) go as far back as 1716. Being a fishing-loving family (my dad used to charter his own boat!), we were especially interested in the crew from the Andrea Gail (immortalized in the movie “The Perfect Storm”).

We also saw plenty of old lobster traps. (And new ones, of course.)

And lots of hungry seagulls as the boats came in.

One of the most exciting moments, which I did not capture on film (though my mom did), was seeing the Gorton’s Fisherman. (Well, the buildings, at least.)

It turned out to be a beautiful day and a really nice visit. Definitely worth another day trip this summer! But, really…time for a nap.

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