I’m just a few short days away from officially being a homeowner, and less than two weeks from moving into my new condo, so I figure it’s high time I made a real dent in my packing.
But first, some purging.
Lots and lots of purging.
It’ll definitely help the cause if I have less to pack. Continue reading
Farry and Barrah took me to a new brunch place this morning (at least, a new one to me), and all I can say is “mmmmmmm…” Mel’s Commonwealth Cafe is located on Rte. 30 as you’re going from Waltham to Natick, and man, is it ever worth the drive. It’s a nice place, and sure, it was Easter, but it wasn’t overly crowded at 11:30 on a Sunday morning. I wasn’t able to have what I wanted — Fried Dough French Toast, which sounded so good, because they’d just run out minutes earlier — so Plan B was a dish called Country Inn French Toast, which was a moist, sweet French Toast made with a cinnamon swirl bread. Mmmmmmm … I’d have shared it, but I just couldn’t bear to part with a single piece. Barry had a Philly Cheese Steak Omelette, and that too looked good, as did the Yogurt Waffle that Farrah had. (I mention what we all had not to rat anyone out, but to show some of the yummy options because two of these three are not on the online menu.) I’m definitely going back to Mel’s, and I hope I do so soon. It’s nice to have another great brunch option besides Johnny’s. Mmmmmmm …!!
Random graffiti of the day:
I saw this right off Gardner St., the street that runs parallel to Comm Ave. near Shaw’s, in Allston. It was on the wall behind the T-Mobile store.
Some neighborhoods have gang-related graffiti, others have large artwork. My neighborhood has film criticism. Hmmmmm …
Great news! After an extended absence, the flute playing next door has returned. So clearly, even though my neighbors were spoken to not once but twice by my building management company about their incessant, annoying violin playing, the message didn’t get through about how they should be practicing at their school and not in the building. As if I needed another reason to be happy that I’m moving in less than two weeks. I really hope these two girls in apartment 28 get a new neighbor who is less patient than I have been.
Just a short note to mark the passing of Anthony Minghella, who wrote and directed one of my all-time favorite movies, The Talented Mr. Ripley. Minghella also directed The English Patient and Cold Mountain, among other films, but for me, Ripley will stand as his greatest achievement. This film, alternately a thriller and a sad meditation on identity, always affects me when I see it. Matt Damon gives his best performance to date, and Minghella filmed it all beautifully, creating a virtual postcard of Italy that makes me long to visit. The ending is particularly well shot and edited nicely, and the score throughout is one of my favorites. If you’ve never seen Ripley, now is as good a time as any to rent or buy it. Do it as a tribute to Anthony Minghella, who will surely be missed.
As a soon-to-be homeowner, I certainly have a different way of reading real estate news and articles pertaining to the best neighborhoods, etc. For example, in yesterday’s Boston Globe Magazine I saw that my new zip code — 02467 — was listed as the third-best ZIP code in Massachusetts (within I-495, that is) because of the jump in single-family home prices and the abundance of retail stores. For me, that’s a jump from seventh place, where my current ZIP code is listed. Now, of course, I can’t claim any real personal investment in 02446 because currently I only rent, but it’s nice to know my choice of a new home is a step up in the right direction.
If you saw Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago, you know she declared “Bitch is the new black.” Well, last night Tracy Jordan aired a response. And since I actually have a favorite candidate in this election, I thought I’d post the clip here. Enjoy.
http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/47dda2ec7a021864
’90s nostalgia comes in two flavors: welcomed and unwelcomed. The New Kids reunion? Unwelcomed. A new Beverly Hills 90210? Very much welcomed.
That’s right, kids. The CW is developing a “contemporary spinoff” of 90210 to be written by Rob Thomas, the creator of Veronica Mars. No word yet on which former cast members will appear in the show, but apparently it’s been “fast tracked” and if all goes well, it could be on the air later this year. I just hope the show is more like the original series’ first five seasons (through sophomore year of college) and not the later ones.
As promised, here is a link to many of my pics from my trip to Florida, where I went to three spring training games: Dodgers vs Cardinals on Friday in Vero Beach, Orioles vs Mets on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, and Orioles vs Dodgers on Monday in Fort Lauderdale. Plenty of Nomar, Millar, Torre, Juan Pierre, and other players — if that’s what you’re into. And if it is, click here to see the photos.
I touched down at Logan Tuesday night happy to be home. Happy to be out of the sun, and happy to let my sunburn fade and peel off. And of course, I have much to look forward to in the next couple weeks with my new condo. But I have to say, all that aside, few things made me happier to be home than to get off the plane and hear James Taylor’s soothing, dulcet voice singing “You’ve Got a Friend” over the airport PA system. I’m sure it was just a coincidence, but what a nice thing to get off the plane and hear music from a Boston-based artist. I’m not saying I would have had the same reaction if I’d heard, oh, “More than a Feeling” or “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” so I guess this was just the right song at the right time. It made the fact that a great vacation was over feel that much easier.
Martin's Musings 
