How was everyone's time off?

How did the vacations, time off and apartment hunting go?
"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be."
Douglas Adams
Edited by: kmmath  at: 4/30/02 8:54:17 am

Welllll... Once we arrived at Logan Airport it was a nightmare getting out of the place. We ended up driving north of the airport in a truly scary part of town for a good hour and a half through sleet and rush hour traffic. This was AFTER the airline lost my suitcase (containing all of my clothes and the baby's clothes) and AFTER our car rental reservation got all screwed up. So, we finally made it to the hotel - supposedly a really great hotel in Boston - NOT! We ended up in a closet-size hotel room (literally nine feet wide!) and were paying $75/night on the "deal" that my brother-in-law got us (in the hotel industry). Parking was $30/day!!! It was an absolute nightmare! On top of that, downtown Boston is decidedly ugly and CROWDED. I felt like I was in the middle of a swarm of cockroaches all piled up on the same tiny crumb. I finally understood that I really do like open spaces. Anyway, that night on the phone I told my mother "We are moving to Hades, Mom." I think I really worried her!



Well, there was only one way to go from there - up. Things improved greatly the next day. The airline found my luggage and sent it to the hotel, we decided to stay for cheap on the Air Force base ($30/night for a suite with a kitchen), and the sun came out. In addition, we got out of the city of Boston. The area surrounding the city is MUCH nicer - I felt like I could breathe again. We spent the next days just driving all over the place west and south of the city. Our church has an excellent network for this type of thing (ie house hunting when you are relocating halfway across the country - or even the world). So, we got in touch with our contacts and found a place that fit us! The best part of it is that the streat we'll be living on has LOTS of kids the same age as my children and full-time moms as well! The weird thing about the place is everyone is a POOR professional - ie several medical residents, an orthodontist, and a professional opera singer all reside within a few yards of each other on this very humble street! I guess sky-high housing costs is the great equalizer. (I found out while in Boston that the Boston area has the second highest cost of living in the country - right behind San Francisco).



All in all it was a productive trip - even enjoyable at the end - and I am very pleased. In addition to finding a home we made some friends (with little kids) and got the "lay of the land". I'd say it was a success.



Jennifer

[DCJenn]

We had a great time! My parents stayed at a B & B right down the street from us which was very convenient. (We don't have any place for guests to sleep since I pitched the Futon!)



Fiesta is such a fun time- the city just goes nuts- everyone dresses up in funky clothes and plays. It's like Mardi Gras without the breast showing. It's more of a family event- not that there aren't crazy things happening- but since there are about 100 events to choose from, people can select everything from a tour through the botanical gardens to the carnival to the huge parades to listening to the blues on a hill downtown. It can be as mellow or as exciting as you want it to be!



We went to the little parade in my neighborhood and the Fair afterward, we went to Cornyation, which is men in drag making fun of local and national politics- and they were hilarious. I thought my dad was going to have heart failure he was laughing so hard. We took a cheesy boat tour and we took them to several of our favorite restaurants.



All in all it was a fabulous time. Next year everyone is planning on coming for the whole week. Rick is going to put in for leave, since chances are we won't be here for at least a few years after next. (How odd, to think we only have one more year of residency!)



Hope everyone had a great time!



Jenn



PS- its now officially summer- 92 degrees and HUMID. So, now you all that are starting you nice pretty springs, you can make fun of me. It won't be 70 degrees again until October!

Jenn, we went from 45F in Boston yesterday morning to 80F in Dallas yesterday afternoon - it was quite a temperature swing!!! It's definitely summer in TX.



Jennifer

It sounds like you both had a great time....once your luggage arrived and you found a cheap place to stay, Jennifer.....You guys have all put me in a mood to get out and have some kind of a vacation...I'm busy planning!



If it makes you all feel any better...it SNOWED here on Saturday I am dying for Summer to come!





kris


"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be."
Douglas Adams

Glad to hear everyone's vacations and trips were wonderful! (or turned out that way in the end! ) My trip was great. Thesis-wise, nothing was accomplished unfortunately. My committee could NOT get their act together before we left for my sister's wedding. Her wedding was beautiful, absolutely beautiful. My hubby was able to fly in for four days and hang out with everyone and it was such a wonderful time. Ironically but of course, my committee now wants me to defend next week. Lovely.

[Amiens]

Jen,

Matt had interviews at Brigham Women's and Mass Gen for anesthesia last year, and after driving out of the airport, he started thinking that he wanted to cancel his interviews with them. Well he ended up cancelling them. Anyway driving back to Logan, Matt said he was glad he did that.



I glad you guys found a place.



Crystal

[houseelf]

Claudia,



Isn't that a fun way to come back from vacation...good luck!



Kelly

Hey, Crystal, I emailed you - I hope you got it. We had friends who didn't even apply anywhere on the East Coast because they didn't want to potentially put their families through that by ranking somewhere there and then actually getting a slot (and we had a few friends that would've been shoe-in's for Boston and Maryland). Jon and I knew to a very slight degree what we were getting ourselves into - we actually made a conscious decision to opt for a "scary" adventure I guess! Well, there's waaaaaay more to it than that - I'll tell you the entire story sometime - you'll find it very interesting coming from the same background that I do....



Jennifer