Boston!

In early May we took a trip to Boston for a friend's wedding. It was definitely spring out and it was beautiful! Here are a few pictures from the Boston Public Garden.

Xavier and I out in the tulips (with the towering city back drop).

Xavier loves his sticks! ...oy! Poor birds.

I'm gonna get you pigeons! Xavier loves to chase the pigeons!

"Weeeee" exclaims Xavier as he plays on the mama duck of the "Make Way for Ducklings" statue.

A beautiful Swan and a gorgeous bridge in the Public Garden.

Spencer and Xavier loving each other on the Boston Common. --My favorite people in the world!

Scouting around the city we came across a couple of old old grave yards. This one houses the remains of Benjamin Franklin's parents and Paul Revere (just to name a few of the early patriots...). Amazing!

Life is Better with the Internet

Yes, this goes without saying, but there have been a few salient examples over the last two days.

On the way to New York, Cherry somehow got on a different route and ended up on I-95 through the middle of Philadelphia instead of bypassing it on the New Jersey Turnpike. In heavy traffic and without passenger big enough to read the map (we're training him, don't worry, Dad!) she made a quick call to me at work, who with the help of Google Maps was able to get her the most direct route back. I could follow her every step of the way, check out rest areas in advance, nearest banks, etc. I could pull up Street View to see the strange intersection where a wrong turn inadvertently turned her in a circle.

If remote navigation is awesome, then financial management may be even better. So you say a situation at Costco (too asinine to describe here) required use of the debit card, but we don't keep a large pad in the checking account? No problem, I can log in and instantly transfer funds from savings while you're on the phone so that your card won't get declined. Oh, and since everything is tracked using Mint, those transactions will all automatically be categorized and show up in a combined view with all our disparate accounts in one place. Though we're 300 miles apart right now, each of us can see in real-time what the other is spending and where our financial position stands. Budgeting, analysis and asset management all made fast and simple.

In my high school US History class I remember learning about the remarkable advances that were enabled when communication was separated from transportation (i.e. with a telegraph, no one had to physically carry the message from point A to point B). Separating transportation from action (i.e. now I don't have to physically go anywhere to see what's happening or to make something happen) is another remarkable development, for which I am certainly grateful. Yet this doesn't mean we don't go places - in fact it enables us to go even more places - but just the ones we want to.

Off to New York

Cherry and Xavier are working their way to New York City right now to spend a few days exploring the Big Apple, seeing old friends and leaving me with fewer excuses for not making more headway on my major papers. I'll miss them, but I suppose it's good.

Xavier's at a stage where he really wants to spend more time with me and notices how much I'm gone, and after two years of school I'm at the stage where I'm finding it harder to be away.

One more month, one more final push and we'll be through.

On a related note, after several months without movement, Xavier's visited state count just jumped with Delaware, New Jersey & New York. With a friend's upcoming wedding in two & a half weeks we'll add in some of New England as well.

Xavier's not the only one getting around though: On my way to work today the odometer on my bike clicked past 2,000 miles! That's equivalent to about four round-trips DC to NYC, or peddling from DC to Salt Lake City. Not bad for a year's worth of going back and forth to work, school, play & home again.

Global Harmony

Back in December Xavier and I participated in a caroling event with a local non-profit, Global Harmony Through Personal Excellence, where I have recently started volunteering. We had such a great time and really enjoyed ourselves. Anyway, I wanted to post a link to the pictures from the day. Xavier is such a cutie!

A Boy and his Dog

Xavier loves dogs! His first words, and only "words" at this point, are "Woof, Woof!" It is so adorable! He has a little stuffed dog that he LOVEs, and every time we pass a dog in the stroller he cranes his head to follow it until he can't possibly turn his head anymore. Though sometimes people out walking their dogs will stop and let him pet their dogs briefly, Xavier has never really had a chance to play with a dog until today. Arlen and Tashina brought their dog, Remy, to my parent's house. Xavier LOVED it! He played and played!

J'aime Skype

With Cherry & Xavier off adventuring in Idaho for 10 days the house feels rather empty. It's amazing what a boost it is to see her though, even if it's only virtually. Skype might just be one of the greatest things ever invented for bridging distances. Talking on the phone isn't nearly as rich as actually being able to see.

Xavier, like many kids, doesn't particularly understand speakerphone yet, but pull up my voice and image on the screen and suddenly you get this:

He's watching me, playing gleefully and just being adorable. When I call out, "Xavier, Je t'aime!" his face lights up even more.

He recognizes me and that I'm talking to him! And hopefully he knows what is more important: that even from over 2,000 miles away, I love him dearly.

I've had a good day, but this is by far the highlight.

Back in the Saddle

Yesterday I had my long-awaited 6-week post-surgery follow-up appointment. (How's that for a string of hyphenated words!) Ever since my operation I've been under restriction to lift no more than 15 lbs (Xavier excepted) and to avoid bending, twisting and among other things, biking. This means that I'd rejoined the masses on the Metro, which isn't bad, really, and there was a certain novelty to it.

Each day I'd pass my bicycle coming and going from the house. Sitting at the table from inside I would sometimes see it through the glass, idle and forlorn. In six weeks I'd settled into a new routine and it was easy to forget my former exhilaration racing down Connecticut Avenue. But following this last appointment my restrictions were lifted and at last I could pick up cycling again!

It was a bit strange at first, I'll admit it, getting dressed back up in my tights, jersey and reflective gear. I had to charge my headlight, oil my chain and pump up my wheels a little to get going, but I did. Soon, instinct took back over and I was on my way as usual.

Except that while my SmarTrip card has been getting a lot of exercise recently, my legs have not, despite climbing the escalator each day and walking more. It was almost like my first day biking in, and I was shocked that I was just a tiny bit winded after my generally downhill ride to work. My speed was a few MPH slower going and coming, and my gearing lower. I'm supposed to be slowly ramping back up, so this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it was an stark reminder that, yes, our bodies change slowly and exercise really does make a difference.

The 32 degree temperature when I left was also a sharp reminder that time has passed and Fall is rapidly descending into Winter. Classes are finishing up and exams are nearly here. Yesterday I dropped Cherry and Xavier off to Idaho for 10 days, and when they return Christmas will be nigh. It's hard to believe the semester and the year are coming to a close, but I'm excited.

Excited for new beginnings. Excited to have my health and activities back. Excited to be alive.