Training-week 14 (last run in Cambridge)

I ran my last run in Cambridge the other day. It was my Sunday run, but since I am currently driving home, I had to run it early. I ran 8 miles at a 11 minute pace. I ran around Fresh Pond 3 times. It was awesome! I soaked up every moment of it. I am really going to miss the running environment here.

A brief hijacking

Please allow me a few moments to give you a view of Boston from another point of view. This is Jake, Carrie's husband, writing my first and likely last blog. I mean really, I'm not the blogging type. What follows is my reflection on our time in Boston and a brief list of the places and experiences I saw as defining our time here.

Here they are, in no particular order, my favorite things about Boston...

Children's Hospital of Boston

This was the reason we came here. Reportedly the best pediatric hospital in the nation. The place to go if you want to become an expert in anything pediatric. It didn't disappoint. CHB and I formed a true love/hate relationship. It soaked up my time, made me sleep deprived, made me want to tear my hair out. It also gave me a set of skills, knowledge, and confidence I simply couldn't have obtained anywhere else. It was an experience I'm glad I had and one I'm glad is over.

Red Sox Nation

I thought I'd go to a game at Fenway, see what the fuss was about. I ended up going to 5 over the year, buying 2 hats, a jacket, a shirt, nearly wearing out my first hat, dragging anyone who visited by Fenway as an excuse to go myself. Owen loves Big Papi. Pedroia is my favorite. Allie likes the Monster. No city loves a team more than Boston loves theirs and now I see why. Go Sox, Yankees suck.

Snow

I kind of enjoyed it, kind of...

Michael's Deli

The food in Boston is incredible. Best food of any city I've spent considerable time in. Michael's stands out even here. Michael is a grumpy guy. He doesn't take checks or cards. He doesn't split sandwiches. He's been known to throw people out for texting in line. He also gives Owen free cookies and asks how I'm doing every time I come in. He makes the best tuna melt around and serves it with an old school pickle wrapped up in butcher paper. If you're in town, stop by, you'll be glad you did.

Running Culture

You'll see guys like this running here. You'll see beginners running here. You'll see lots and lots of people running here. Up and down the Charles. At Harvard Stadium. Around Fresh Pond. I may miss this part the most.

Carrie

When we started this adventure, I told my wife I wanted to move our family out of our big new house, cut my pay to 1/4 what it was, and work twice the hours so I could better understand how to take care of other people's kids in the operating room. Can you believe she said OK? There's only one Carrie and I'm lucky to have found her. Always optimistic. Better organized than anyone you know. She made this possible and made it fun. Then she started training for a marathon, in her spare time.

I'm leaving out so much. There's no mention of the Museum of Fine Arts, the freaks in Harvard Square, chowder, Bruins, I could go on and on. I'll stop here, thanks for allowing the interruption, the next post will have cute pictures of the kids, I promise.

Now you see it...

Angle 1 (before)

Angle 2 (before)

Angle 3 (before)

Now you DON'T! That's right! The movers came today. I was quite impressed with how everything of importance didn't even fill the living room. It took the 2 men less than 45 minutes to load it, fill out paper work and chit-chat. Boy, does our apartment look BIG!

Angle 1 (after)

Angle 2 (after)

We will be "camping" in our apartment until Saturday morning. Owen still has school until Thursday. Jake works until Friday. So Saturday morning, we are getting up and hitting the road.

There's NO PLACE like home!

"Best Father's Day, EVER!"

The title was the text I received from Jake at the end of our afternoon. To tell you the truth, it was a pretty great day! We ended up not doing anything extra cool (like we were planning). I did my run, we ate lunch in Coolidge Corner and then that is when it got exciting!

As we were leaving Panera, we decided to go buy some water balloons and find a spray park. We were walking down the street (that was deserted because of being blocked off for a running race earlier) and suddenly heard music. Allie looked at me and said, "It's A PARADE!" And she was right. That's where we stopped and enjoyed a Brookline Parade (candy too!).

My crew

Owen liked these guys!

They played "Amazing Grace". It was AMAZING!!!

This was a drum club.

YEAH, that was loud!!

Allie loved their boots!

Ironically, I saw one of these the other night!

The band that wrapped up the parade.

By now, the kids were very ready for some water fun. We drove to Dana Park (by Owen's school) and let the kids have fun!

Daddy filling up some water balloons.

Daddy's little girl.

Daddy's little man.

It hasn't been lavish, but it has been a wonderful day.

Training-week 13

Today I ran my last run on the treadmill at BSC (Boston Sports Club). I had to run 6 Yassos. I wanted to get them done quick, so we could start our "family Fun-day Sunday" Father's Day! The run was great! I felt good. I think I could do 8 and still feel pretty solid. I'm scheduled to get up to 14 before the marathon. We will see how that goes. :)

Harvard Graduation

Last night ALMOST DIDN'T HAPPEN! Allow me to explain.

We got this in the mail about 3 weeks ago.

Jake's graduation invitation.

I had already bought a dress and I even scheduled to have my makeup done at Sephora.

After my makeup session.

Allie went with me, so I bought her some makeup at Claire's for little girls. Which she applied HERSELF!

She's beautiful!

I had arranged for the Beans to watch the kids for the evening. They were expecting us at around 5:30. So I bathed the kids and dressed them in p.j.'s to make the night easier. However, I received a phone call during this time from Jake at the hospital. He was STUCK! (Not to mention a little mad.) They were having him start a case and finish it. It was 5:00! I wasn't going to let this ruin our evening. I took called the residency to inform them that we wouldn't be attending. Loaded the kids in the car and took them to the Beans. My thought was that regardless of WHERE, Jake and I were going to go out to celebrate after he got off work.

I am standing in the Beans living room when me phone rings. It's Jake! He is getting out. His plan is for me to go by the apartment and get his clothes then swing by the hospital to pick him up. GREAT! Did I mention I wasn't dressed? I kissed the kids, thanked the Beans (John loaned us a tie, Jake didn't have one here) and drove home as fast as I could. I ran into the apartment NASCAR style! I striped, threw on my dress, grabbed his stuff and my shoes/band aids. I was back in the car heading his way at 6:01!

Traffic was typical Boston for a Friday night. I picked him up at 6:20. He changed his clothes in the car while giving me driving directions to the Harvard Club. (Did I mention it was DOWNTOWN???) Over the past 10 months my driving skills have "improved". I will spare most of the crazy details, but highlight that I pulled a 3-point turn in the middle of a street in front of a bus because I missed our street (it had a different name than what iPhone map said) and we parked at 6:45!!! I was putting my shoes on in the elevator up to the club, but we made it!

We MADE IT!

The 3 fellows that have been together all year.

Jake, Tony and Kevin

Even my water glass is classy!

The view from the club on the 38th floor.

You can see out in all directions.

Boston is so beautiful.

The "good guy" who showed me the views.

The power point presentation.

Jake being congratulated.

He received an awesome writing pen from Tiffany's.

This guy was one of Jake's oral exam directors several years ago.

Notice the tie is gone, we are heading home. LATE NIGHT!

Author Readings

Today the first graders held an "Author Reading" for parents. As part of their writing curriculum, the students had to write an original story, illustrate, edit, publish and read aloud for reviews. It was so cute. Allie and I started at Owen's station.

Owen and his book.

Owen reading his book.

The dedication page. He is so sweet!

The cover of his book.

Then we went around the room listening and writing reviews on several other first graders stories. There are some very talented writers here! I got a pic of our two buddies reading their stories.

A.J. reading his story.

Jonas reading his story.

Farewell Play Date

Tonight we hosted a play date with our favorite families in Cambridge. The Beans and the Fortners. It was so much FUN!!! We even had a bonus friend. Last night Owen met a boy in the courtyard named Emochay. He and his dad are visiting his aunt, who as luck would have it, will be moving into OUR APARTMENT in July!!! I gave his aunt a tour of the place. They are so nice. It's a shame we are just now meeting them.

Back to the play date. The kids had so much fun. I was only able to catch a few good shots of the kids. I promise to post some more tomorrow.

Allie pre-play date.

Owen and Emochay

(He told us it means "a king is born". Those are some high standards!)

John talking to the kids about eating on the wall carefully.

The "trio" launching a stomp rocket with their butt!

Lance rescuing a rocket from the roof.

Allie's sidewalk art.

Yellow sun, blue sky, white clouds, green grass and a rainbow!