Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Random Pictures

This isn't really an update, just some random photos I've gotten from others that I wanted to post....enjoy!!

Dick's Food, Duck's, Party Bikes, Sleep

The weekend was yet another busy one for everyone. Friday night we celebrated Beth's Birthday at Dick's Last Resort. Here' a few photos from dinner...



Saturday morning we all had to get up bright and early for our Duck Tour around the city. We rode around town on an authentic, renovated World War II amphibious landing vehicle. The tour went through Boston on land for about 45 minutes, and then we literally dove into the water in the same vehicle for a water tour on the Charles River. It was a beautiful sunny day, but the breeze even on land was quite chilly at 10am!








Splashing down in the River....arms up!


Andre, Angela and Chas driving the boat...
Lizzy drove too but my pictures of her didn't turn out well.



After the Duck Tour we had lunch at the Prudential Center food court and did some window shopping. We met shortly after a few blocks away to get ready for our party bikes scavenger hunt. The bikes each had 5 people on them, plus the driver that came with it. You sit in a circle and all pedal at your own pace to move the bike. Contrary to what some think, the bikes are NOT motorized at all. I think all will agree that 2 1/2, and nearly 3 hours for some on the bikes was a lot of work!


The gang hanging out in the park waiting for our bikes




Task: Imitate the Make Way For Ducklings statue


The colonial man assured Angela we'd get bonus points for kissing him!


Task: Have team members participating with a street performer


Katherine and the Sailors... :)

I know there are a ton of pictures out there from each of the 4 bikes, but I haven't seen them surface on Facebook from everyone yet! In other words, sorry I don't have some from each group!



After the Scavenger Hunt people went off their own ways and in smaller groups. I know many people opted to come back to the house and sleep...some until the next morning! It was a long day with a lot of activity.

Sunday was a day of shopping. Many people ventured down Newbury Street where all the top-end shops are. There are also places like the Gap but many of the places located are local places.

Monday evening the majority of the group went out to dinner for Erin's Birthday. I haven't downloaded those photos yet and frankly, I am too lazy to go upstairs to get my camera right now so they will have to wait for the next post...

Until next time-

Stephanie

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Another Week Already?!?!

NOTE: There are lots of photos in this post, remember you can click on them to see them bigger!

It's hard to believe that another week, almost two, have gone by since I last updated! To be honest, there has been so much happening I just haven't had the time or energy. This long span between post will teach me to stay on top of things better!! Now, where to start...

First to start off the week, we had yet another Birthday!! The gang celebrated with a card, small token of our affection to Andre, along with a fabulous chocolate cupcake from Mike's Pastries.



Most of the students seem to be enjoying class, and on Thursday Professor Cadigan took the class on a walking tour through some of the town. We started in Copley Square, then walked through the Public Garden and up Beacon Hill in the Boston Common by the State House. In Copley Square after exploring the inside of the public library for a bit we walked out to see cotton-like fluffs floating all over. We couldn't figure out what on earth it was, until one of the students spotted the fountain across the Square...someone had put a large amount of soap in it so there were bubbles everywhere!

^^^fun in the bubbles.... ^^^


^^^The tortoise and the hare... ^^^


^^^In the Public Garden


The photo above with a bunch of students is of them sitting on duckling statues. Jessica is the "Mother Duck" and all her ducklings are following. If you don't know, here's a little Boston trivia for you...the statues are made after a book called "Make Way for Ducklings". The book is sold all over the city and is a children's book about Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, ducks who are trying to find a place to settle. They eventually end up in the public garden. Each year Boston hold a make way for Ducklings parade where little kids can dress up as ducks and parade through the Boston Common and Garden. I really like the picture of everyone. [From front to back: Jessica, Angela, Stevie, Megan, Sam, Krysta, Ashley, Beth and Katherine]

Now, I can't forget to mention our Friday morning drama...So, I will admit to everyone that I don't set an alarm most mornings, nor do I get up while the students are still getting ready in the morning-- there's no point since I don't have to be anywhere by a certain time usually. So here it is, Friday at approximately 7:50am. I had slightly heard the girls on my floor getting ready but rolled over and fell back asleep. Then I heard a loud beeping, which many of us thought was a truck backing up outside. It then hit me that it was the fire alarm. So me, in my lovely pajamas, grabbed my keys and cell phones and went downstairs. I called the BU Police department to report the alarm. Here's a transcript of the conversation:
BU Police Guy: "Hello. BU Police..."
ME: "Hi, I'm at 184 and 186 Bay State Road and we have fir...."
BU Police Guy: "Ya, your alarms are going off....we're on it already..."
ME: "Ok...so are you just testing them again or what's going on here??"
BU Police Guy: "Umm...No, you'd better all vacate the building and the fire department should arrive shortly."
ME: "Ok...!?!? Goodbye"
So here we are standing on the sidewalk...some of us in pajamas, some in dress clothes nearly ready to go to work, and others half in pajamas, half in dress clothes. 5 minutes later a police car and 2 fire trucks roll up. The firemen jump out of the truck in their gear with these ax-claw like things and go in the house. They come out a couple minutes later, get in the truck and drive off...not saying a word. Well, one of the firemen wave us back into the house as the truck is pulling away. All this time I am asking people if they were cooking breakfast or anything...after talking to the maintenance guy for a bit I confirmed it was a shower that set the alarm off. There was rumor it was us third floor girls that set it off, but it was actually the guys! They won't live that one down...they took such a long hot and steamy shower that it set the fire alarm off! All is well though and it is a story that I'm sure we'll keep for the summer.



Friday evening I got about 14 of 23 people to go out and try Ethiopian food. I think there are mixed feelings on it...some liked it, some hated it. Here's a couple photos from the evening.:


Saturday morning, bright and early at 9:30am, the majority of the group headed out to start the Freedom Trail. For those who don't know, the Freedom Trail is a path that leads you to 16 historical sites throughout the city. The trail is on pretty much any map of the area you pick up. It is also outlined on the sidewalk throughout the city with either a thick red painted line or a brick path. It's really kind of neat how it is laid out. Most of us saw the first 11 sites with a great colonial tour guide, a couple continued with the tour guide for another tour of the North End site, while others of us finished on our own.


One serious and one Funny pose in front of the State House



One serious and one Funny pose with the Tour Guide

Here are a few other photos from throughout the day...


Pre-Walk Breakfast at Finagle-a-Bagel


The State House and Park Street Church


The Graveyard where Sam Adams, Mother Goose and others are buried


Jessica, Stevie, Andre, Brandon....CLASSIC tourists!


Ashley, Sam and Megan...on the Freedom Trail


USS Constitution


TIRED, after a loooong day of walking! We were too lazy to
walk to the T, so we waited for the bus to take us home...

A few people left the Freedom Trail after our tour ended and headed to the Museum of Science. I've put a few pictures below that I got from those who went. Unfortunately since I wasn't there I can't say much about the place, but they look like they had a good time!

Andre.....................................Angela, Toni, Erine


Brandon...being himself :)

Saturday evening the group kind of all went their own ways and did a little of everything from relaxing to dinner out to walking through the city some more and exploring. A few people in the group even took a road trip!

Sunday was officially named "Do As You Wish Day". In other words, I told everyone to do the things they needed to get done, catch up on any missed sleep, explore museums they've been wanting to...whatever their heart desired. I know many opted to us the day for some sleep catch up and laundry time (many doing laundry for the first time since arriving!).

Monday quite a few people had the day off because it was a State Holiday: Bunker Hill Day. Some of us ventured out to Bunker Hill since we didn't have the strength on Saturday to do so. We thought there might be things going on but it was actually pretty quite up there. The 4 of us climbed all 294 stairs to get to the top of the monument. Let me just tell you...those 294 stairs seemed like they would never end! The circular stairs kept going and going and going and going...you get my drift! Upon making it to the top, the view was totally worth it! If it was a gloomy day it wouldn't have been the same. Here's a few photos...


from the ground...then at the top!


taken from one of the tiny windows that was on the way up the stairs...


the view from the top...

After dinner I took the girls to the Vietnamese Restaurant some others and I ate at a couple weeks ago for dinner. I still love the fact that we go to Chinatown for Vietnamese food.

Wednesday after people got out of work so of us met at Cheers' for Half Off Appetizers for dinner. Though, the funny part is less than half of those who came actually took advantage of the 1/2 off food and they ordered a burger or something else.

Sam was STARVING after working so hard!!! .... Chas, Krysta, Megan and Erin try to order


Yummy Nachos!


Beth and Juli.....and Chas and David

To end this one, I'll put in our group photo out front of Cheers'!



Here it is Thursday evening...the gang is back from class and most are relaxing after a long day. We have a very busy weekend ahead that will include a Birthday party for Beth, the Duck Tour Saturday morning then our Party Bike Scavenger Hunt in the afternoon, and who knows what else. I've heard rumor of some people going to Salsa dancing lessons Saturday evening! What Sunday will hold....who knows! I'll try to update early next week so I don't have to do such a long post!

Until next time...

Stephanie