Sunday Afternoon Tea

We've made a reservation for afternoon tea at the Four Seasons... we have a birthday to celebrate on this sunny, windy Sunday. We each order tea (sencha green for me) and we catch up... I'm impatient waiting for the scones. They're the best part of afternoon tea and I carefully smear proportionate amounts of lemon curd and Devonshire cream on each bite.

The tea sandwiches and petits fours win points for cuteness. We sit for several hours, refilling our tea cups, and we slip our winter coats back on when it's time to leave. The sun is just beginning to fade and Boylston Street is blustery.

The Rain Began

Wednesday morning, I run laps around the Boston Common, pulling off my fleece jacket as I get warmer. A flock of birds take off, their black silhouettes a startling contrast against the pale October sky. I veer behind Park Plaza and, as I wait to cross the street, a light, chilly rain begins. I raise my face to the rain... and I slip my jacket back on.

Thursday, I'm walking home from the T. The spine of my umbrella is broken and, tossing it in a trashcan, I pull my raincoat around myself more tightly. I'm chilled and wet, but I have "Daylight" by Matt & Kim on repeat and I truly wish everyone around me could hear it as well. I want to take a running start and jump into a puddle. Or dance.

And then there's the remix.

Later that night, rain turns to snow.

Home

The Red Line is pulling out of the Kendall/MIT stop and rolling over the Longfellow Bridge as I pull out my iPhone and open up Pandora -- because, when I'm underground, I'm just counting down the seconds until I have reception again. I'm facing the river, "Coming Home" comes up, and suddenly I'm treated to a view of downtown Boston at night.

It's one of those moments when there is synergy among every one of my senses. I'm blown away. And I exhale sharply because it's just so overwhelming... in the best possible way.

Sake To Me: Sake Bomb Night at Uni

Who says Tuesdays can't be delicious?

Sake Bomb Night at Uni ($35 for four courses and a sake bomb) is an upscale take on sake bombing and, at a quiet table just off the elegant Clio dining room, L and I sipped our sake and enjoyed four small plates.

Kicking things off with tuna, seaweed, sesame, sweet onions, and bean sprouts

Scottish salmon with black bean tapenade and ginger

Rock shrimp tempura...  a little spicy and totally addictive

Chocolate cremeux, cashew butter, and banana ice cream... sweet, salty, nutty, creamy

TGIF

I walk out of my apartment and bump into a neighbor -- I ask how she is and she replies, "Life is good. It's a fantastic day."

At 6:30, it's a dark, misty, drizzly morning... puddles and patches of fog. I don't mind at all. It's actually perfect.

.... running into Cambridge, the bridges and sidewalks are empty and there's a moment or two when I feel like the only runner in the world

..... looking back to Boston, the fog is so thick that the Citgo sign is only the faintest glow

..... drops of sweat mixing with the mist, my forehead is damp

..... knowing that breakfast is waiting for me at home, that it's almost the weekend, that there will be celebrations and friends and maybe a little sunshine

.... running in a straight line, my watch hits 22:30 and I call that my destination, turning around

It's Friday. Life is good. It's a fantastic day.

Summer in October

It was 86 degrees Sunday and 80 on Monday. I put aside my boots and sweaters. I pulled out my bikini, flip flops, my tennis racket, tank tops and shorts....

I hope you went out and played. Because I did. 

Running Like I Mean It

I'm running fast, maybe faster than I should, following streets to their end. I see one neighborhood fade into the next. Actually, I'm running so fast that that the neighborhoods glide together, like the pages of a flip book. There's just the faintest chill, so girls are in trenches and guys are wearing sweaters. And me? I'm warm, so just a tank top and shorts will do. I sprint through clusters of commuters, almost colliding,  and I have no patience for stop lights, so I take unexpected turns if I don't have the light. Before I know it, I'm almost outside of Boston. I turn around, but I don't slow down.