Farewell, Flora

On my way to work yesterday, I noticed that the "check engine" light was illuminated on my car. And after last week's fiasco with the tire, I figured it was time to think about a new car. And now was as good a time as any since I hadn't yet registered Flora the Explorer in Massachusetts yet - another fee, for sure.

Twelve years ago, after a long day of car shopping with my pops, I brought Flora home and committed to a snappy green Ford Explorer Sport. Later that summer, Flora joined me in Washington DC, where she basically sat in a garage for several years. She would take me to swim practice a few times a week, but otherwise, I didn't do much driving.

Four years later, Flora took me cross-country back to California in a three-day zip across America. And for two years, Flora took me to grad school every day as I pursued a more marketable degree.

Then for six years, Flora basically sat on the street, moving occasionally to avoid street cleaning tickets and taking me to my parents' house from time to time. In San Francisco, I really didn't need a car, but I kept Flora anyway.

So, it wasn't very surprising when folks at the car dealership were shocked at how low Flora's mileage was. Sadly, it didn't help much in increasing her value when I traded her in yesterday. Adios, trusty gal!

Movie note: Young Frankenstein

FOUR STARS

Not as funny as I remember, but still a classic! I miss Madeline Kahn.

Thanksgiving in April

Our company cafe has decided to offer daily special sandwiches of the "gourmet" variety. Today, Wednesday, I decided to opt for the special - something called "The Pilgrim."

I read over the description - turkey, blah, blah, cranberry, blah - quickly and ordered my lunch. When I returned to my desk, $6.30 poorer, I discovered that the sandwich had stuffing in it. Inside the sandwich! It's like the day after Thanksgiving, except in April!

Movie note: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

TWO STARS

Quite possibly the dullest night in NYC ever committed to celluloid.

Play dates

Yesterday I visited Flabs, her husband and her two daughters (one of whom is a mere two weeks old!). All my friends in Boston seem to have kids, so instead of going out and carousing with my pals, I've been catching up during the day, when the kids are between naps.

We packed the car, went a few blocks away and ended up at a neighborhood playground, where toddlers ran amok, crawling all over the jungle gym, pushing cars around, throwing sand in the air and generally running around. Flabs and I basically sat on a bench and ate sandwiches, getting crumbs all over the new baby.

And later in the day, on my way home from the gym, I stopped by another playground where Reebs, her husband and their daughter were enjoying the great outdoors. Reebs was with several of her mommy friends and again, I watched toddlers run around, play on the monkey bars and scream at each other.

My life in Boston is very different than the life I led in San Francisco.

Enchilada fiesta

The other night, Puppy's friend Velma invited a bunch of folks over to enjoy his mother's enchilada feast. We traveled outside the city and ended up at their place, a beautiful condo that none of us could afford if it were in Boston.

It was a mellow night where we mostly ate a lot, sat on couches, looked at photos and played with the three chihuahuas.

One of Velma's friends brought a date - a skinny little 21-year-old who stayed silent throughout the night and went by the nickname "Tiger Lotus." That was weird.

Travel by train

This morning's commute finds me taking Amtrak's Acela train to New York for meetings. I've never taken a train out of Boston, so it was sort of confusing for me to arrivve at the station this morning. Company policy is for us to travel first class between Boston and New York, so of course I alighted the train at the wrong end and had to make my way through the entire thing to the first-class cabin, where I'm now comfortably seated, enjoying wi-fi and coffee and waiting for my apple stuffed pancakes!