First Night
Jan. 1st, 2003 10:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jim_pWe had a lovely New Year's Eve
Now that we have a "home base" in Boston (Tam's studio), we decided we'd like to spend New Year's Eve in "the big city". So Tam and I and a friend (Cat) drive into Boston and offload a bunch more Stuff into the studio (Tam's collection of artwork has been gradually migrating its way there).
After we park the car in a spot that miraculously appeared on Mass. Ave, Tam goes and checks her mail, only to find a huge package addressed to her sitting in the lobby. This turns out to be the flat file unit that she had ordered in November, whose delivery was pushed off to December, which she was then informed wouldn't arrive until February. Oh, and of course nobody told her it was on its way early so she could maybe be there when it arrived... oh no! At home we call this the "package ringing the doorbell all by itself" -- you're minding your own business, then "bing-bong" the doorbell rings. You open the door and there's a package sitting there and NO sign of the UPS guy or even his truck, that's how fast he took off...
Earlier in the day I had prepped some items to be cooked in the studio's meager kitchen facilities for dinner; truffled pork tenderloin and some Hollandaise sauce for asparagus. Once we got everything in I started cooking only to discover that the markings have worn off the oven dial *and* there's no thermometer, though I brought a meat thermometer just in case. I set off the smoke alarm twice in the course of roasting the pork and baking the potatoes. Still, everything came out perfect and we crowded around her little kitchen peninsula enjoying ourselves.
Did I mention this studio is *small*? It's around 300 square feet overall, divided into two rooms and a bathroom. The front room has the "kitchen" and a small living/work area. The back room has her drafting table, storage, computer, and sleeping loft. The space is okay for one person puttering around doing painting and the like; it's rather cramped for three people dining and spending the night, though.
After dinner we puttered around framing a few paintings, then decided to check out the First Night festivities. We wandered up Beacon Street and oo'ed an aah'ed the ice sculptures and entertainments at Copley Square, then continued up to the Common. The ice sculptures were fantastic. Next year we'll have to come by the previous day and watch them actually being carved.
Gradually we wandered back towards the studio, which is right on the corner of Mass. Ave. and Beacon Street. We overshot and wandered halfway across the Mass. Ave. bridge to see the fireworks at midnight. It was a great show, and it's interesting to see how the technology of fireworks has gradually changed over the years. Fireworks manufacturers are always trying for new shapes and colors. Then it was back to the studio to toast the new year with a glass of champagne. I then went off to assemble Tam's flat file wile she and Cat watched TV and chatted. An hour later, it was done and Tam had more much-needed storage. Then it was off to bed. All in all one of the more pleasant New Years we had spent in a long time.
Now that we have a "home base" in Boston (Tam's studio), we decided we'd like to spend New Year's Eve in "the big city". So Tam and I and a friend (Cat) drive into Boston and offload a bunch more Stuff into the studio (Tam's collection of artwork has been gradually migrating its way there).
After we park the car in a spot that miraculously appeared on Mass. Ave, Tam goes and checks her mail, only to find a huge package addressed to her sitting in the lobby. This turns out to be the flat file unit that she had ordered in November, whose delivery was pushed off to December, which she was then informed wouldn't arrive until February. Oh, and of course nobody told her it was on its way early so she could maybe be there when it arrived... oh no! At home we call this the "package ringing the doorbell all by itself" -- you're minding your own business, then "bing-bong" the doorbell rings. You open the door and there's a package sitting there and NO sign of the UPS guy or even his truck, that's how fast he took off...
Earlier in the day I had prepped some items to be cooked in the studio's meager kitchen facilities for dinner; truffled pork tenderloin and some Hollandaise sauce for asparagus. Once we got everything in I started cooking only to discover that the markings have worn off the oven dial *and* there's no thermometer, though I brought a meat thermometer just in case. I set off the smoke alarm twice in the course of roasting the pork and baking the potatoes. Still, everything came out perfect and we crowded around her little kitchen peninsula enjoying ourselves.
Did I mention this studio is *small*? It's around 300 square feet overall, divided into two rooms and a bathroom. The front room has the "kitchen" and a small living/work area. The back room has her drafting table, storage, computer, and sleeping loft. The space is okay for one person puttering around doing painting and the like; it's rather cramped for three people dining and spending the night, though.
After dinner we puttered around framing a few paintings, then decided to check out the First Night festivities. We wandered up Beacon Street and oo'ed an aah'ed the ice sculptures and entertainments at Copley Square, then continued up to the Common. The ice sculptures were fantastic. Next year we'll have to come by the previous day and watch them actually being carved.
Gradually we wandered back towards the studio, which is right on the corner of Mass. Ave. and Beacon Street. We overshot and wandered halfway across the Mass. Ave. bridge to see the fireworks at midnight. It was a great show, and it's interesting to see how the technology of fireworks has gradually changed over the years. Fireworks manufacturers are always trying for new shapes and colors. Then it was back to the studio to toast the new year with a glass of champagne. I then went off to assemble Tam's flat file wile she and Cat watched TV and chatted. An hour later, it was done and Tam had more much-needed storage. Then it was off to bed. All in all one of the more pleasant New Years we had spent in a long time.
