New York to Boston and everywhere inbetween

SO, it's been a while sense I last "Blogged." I guess this is in the same category as journal writing for me. I have very good intentions to write frequently... and weeks and then months pass by and I haven't written a thing! We can chalk that up to laziness or some other really bad habit that I have. :-) But enough ragging on myself, here's a little bit about what I've been up to!

I am now a resident of New York State. Now that's cool. Yes I know it's a long ways from home... from everyone and every thing that I care about and know... but when you feel good about something, and the Lord says go for it... there really isn't much more to do than to go! Has that meant feeling lonely? Feeling out of place? Feeling lost? (sometimes quite literally) Even feeling wrong about where I am? The same answer comes up for each of these questions. YES! I have and do feel lonely. Out of place? Especially when there are few of us mormones living anywhere near here. Have I gotten lost? Ya a nice jog turned into a 2 hour run because of a silly assumption and a wrong turn. This of course was taking place at dusk, so the fireflies were out in full force, and three young cults (horses) pranced by me as I ran along the roadside to the middle of nowhere and back again. Now I guess that's two beautiful positives for one negative, dusk... not so cool, but fireflies and cults... awesome! If I hadn't been worried about turning into road kill like that deer I almost hit while talking on my bluetooth the first night I got here,(another story... another time) it would have been one pretty amazing run.
Work! Work is good. Of course it's different than going to school, but it also means I get paid. And I get to learn new things everyday! Some cool, some bureaucratic, but new things everyday. I'm on a schedule that allows me to take very other friday off. Which means that this past friday I went to Boston. Only a 3 hour drive to go to the temple. Nothing like the 5 minutes it took from Provo, but I can't complain. My priesthood lesson was on not being in a hurry, and listening more. I've always been one to drive without any music and to use that time to think. So that three hour temple drive (no the radio wasn't off all the time) was the prefect moment to just listen to my heart and my head. I heard many things. I understood even more. I miss the temple. I wish I could go more than just once a month, but that will be hard enough given where I live now. A sacrifice that is well worth it. More than worth it. It seems that every time I look inside there is always something more I can do better. The list must grow faster than I have time to think about them! We aren't going there. I don't want to splash my foibles all over the internet. Suffice it to say that I am working on being the best I can be. For friends, for my family, for my coworkers, for my best friend. That's a lot! ;-) And I do love the temple. I could have just laid under a tree and read all day at the base of the temple... but then what would Boston have said? It just might slip into the sea before I make it back next time! ;)

Boston was cool! Lonely all by myself, which was actually one of the reasons I went. I have always wanted to know what it would be like to go on a trip with just myself. Would I send more time a the museums? Or just people watching down by the wharf? Without others to offer suggestions, what would I do with my day?

Now that I've built it up, I really didn't do it a whole lot differently. Just with a whole lot less talking. hahaha. I visited Harvard (cool old architecture, but still an air of yuppie.) I found History! The USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned Naval ship, from the revolutionary war, and Bunker hill were favorites of mine. Parking tickets and Parking garages were one of my least favorites. I did meet two fun Auzzies who were touring the US. I got to take their picture for them. I also wandered down North market and see the funniest little boy who reminded me of me! A large crowd had stopped to watch a performer. I got there just in time for his finale, he was going to juggle three knifes while balancing a plate on a stick from his mouth all while on a tight rope. A little boy was holding his knifes and stick, with the performers (metal) plate on his head. The performer gets up and asks for his things, the boy hands him the first knife, but by looking up he losses the plate off his head. He spends the time to put the plate back on his head before handing the performer the second knife... which caused the plate to once again fall from his head. He diligently puts the plate back on his head before handing up the third and final knife. Once again dropping the plate. By the point the performer who is doing one impressive balancing act... just wants his stuff! Get on with the show! But of course little junior slowly puts the plate back on his head and then passes up the stick and finally the plate to the performer. The act went off without any other hitches, but the little blond haired boy just reminded me of me. I could see myself doing exactly that! taking the time to put back the plate each and every time! Trying so hard to keep it on, but the harder I tried, the faster is would fall off! Silly I know, but oh well. Good thoughts.

Ok, enough with the essay. I enjoyed Boston. Since I don't drink and was friendless that day, it did get rather lonely, but what can I do besides smile and make the best of it?? I refuse to sit at home and feel sorry to myself. I have never been one to do that,(at least for long periods of time) and I'm not about to start now.