1. Warm, sunny weather is my life force.
2. A trench coat is not a coat.
3. People stare. At the airport, walking down Newbury Street, running errands, everywhere. (Booger? Spinach in the teeth?) While having lunch at Zaftigs, the woman seated next to us literally turned her chair towards us and stared the entire meal, completely ignoring her lunch companion. I’m going to hold a seminar on my next visit entitled, Quick Sideways Glance: learn it, live it, love it.
4. I met the lovely Miguelina for coffee. What is the DEAL with all of the East Coast soul sistahs I’ve encountered? Why aren’t these types of women living in Orange County? (Wait. Don’t answer that.)
5. I couldn’t help but pretend I was Ali McGraw while visiting my brother-in-law’s school. Of course, my superstition got the best of me and stopped thinking that, because um, she DIES in that movie.
6. The stoplights in Boston must not employ sensors, but use timers lengthy enough to allow drivers to take a quick snooze (and possibly prepare an omelet) before getting the green light.
7. Strong headwinds will make your flight home quite lengthy. As in, Very. Long. (6 1/2 hours, to be exact.)
8. While watching BBC on said flight, I encountered a show where a dietitian actually trifles through people’s poop. In tupperware. A family of four stood around while this woman dissected their poop IN FRONT OF THEM. This has crossed some sort of television-viewing boundary, and yet, I am intrigued.
9. Fresh baby head smells really good. Yet, not good enough to persuade me to have another baby right now.
10. I will enjoy the beach today with renewed fervor. Flip flops! Sand in my toes! Warm sun on my face! YES YES YES!
Boston, you and I will meet again, my bipolar friend. Preferably in the spring.
Miguelina
March 18, 2008 at 8:16 amYou went to Zaftig’s? Go you!
People stare. And then they will ask you point blank – “Where are you from? Because you’re not from HEAH.” You get used to it.
Loved meeting you!
Kristin
March 18, 2008 at 7:38 amThe show must have been “You are what you eat” right?
jonniker
March 18, 2008 at 7:38 amYeah, people do stare. I’ve grown so used to it, I don’t even notice it anymore. In a strange way — and this just reveals how East Coast/New England I really am, I guess — I find it comforting. At least I KNOW they’re looking at me, whereas in other areas, I have to play the, “Is she looking at me? Is there a problem? Did I see her look at me sideways?”
I love the directness of the East Coast. I love that in the workplace, if they’re coming after you, they are all up in your face all, “I AM COMING AFTER YOU, YO.” My last job was packed with Minnesota-nice, and I couldn’t handle it — they were coming after me, but faking it with smiles. I missed the staring and the semi-rudeness.
Also, I used to live up the street from Zaftigs and ate there three times a week. God, I would give ANYTHING for their stuffed cabbage and a knish right now. ANY. THING.
I think it has everything to do with where you grew up and what you are exposed to from the get-go. I was taught that staring is rude, but I was also raised in the Bible Belt, with PLENTY of its own problems. ;)
I appreciate the differences, but I guess I’m just a “nice” Western girl through and through.
Jen
March 18, 2008 at 7:48 amI’ll be in Boston next week for work (only my second time in the city), so this guide of sorts is quite helpful. Thank you for the heads up on the staring. How very weird! Do you think it’s because you’re such a handsome-looking family? Or they really indiscriminately stare at random people like that?
Good question – I have no idea, but honestly, it was UNCOMFORTABLE at times.
Anna
March 18, 2008 at 7:51 amSounds like an interesting trip. :-) I love the hat you’re wearing in that picture. And I had no idea about the East Coast directness thing. But it makes sense, as I think about the East Coasters I know.
sizzle
March 18, 2008 at 7:54 amI am kind of grateful to the internet for introducing me to so many East Coast soul sisters. More people to visit! :)
Bethany
March 18, 2008 at 7:58 amhaha… people stare because your little family is so stylish and good-looking! Thats why most of us love snooping on your blog I think : ) Oh… and you have a great personality!
Abbie
March 18, 2008 at 8:27 amI am guilty of the staring. I’ve always attributed it to some combination of my own social awkwardness and the fact that my parents do it, but now I know I can blame it on where I’m from!
Perfect!
ashley
March 18, 2008 at 8:33 amI LOVE sunshine and warm weather.
I grew up in tropical countries near the equator and, in college, spent a semester in Hawaii. The ocean flows through my veins. I THRIVE in sunshine.
And yet. I love my family SO much I live in Ohio.
Yep. That’s love, right there.
Also? Poop on TV? I just can’t believe you. That’s insane, I tell you. Reality TV’s gone too far.
kate
March 18, 2008 at 8:40 amI’ll tell you right now why people stare at you: because you and your husband look like freakin’ super-models. Seriously, they probably think you’re on TV or something. And the east-coast thing causes them to not care one damn bit if you see them staring; they need to discern WHICH tv show they’ve seen you on so they can tell their friends and family.
“Boston, my bipolar friend!” ha!!! I love your writing, Whoorlie.
Danielle
March 18, 2008 at 8:51 amHoly hot husband! They had to have been trying to figure out which superstars you were….!
Not enough babies to be Angelina and Brad- too many babies to be Demi and Ashton. Or something like that.
Beautiful family!
Question: Wito- is it like “widow” or like “wee-toe” and is that a blog name? Like ” ‘Whoorl’ makes off spring and names him’?’ …”
Just curious. Sorry for staring. :)
Yes, it’s his blog name. I called him Whoorlito while I was pregnant and shortened it after he was born, so you can pronounce it however you want! :)
Nothing But Bonfires
March 18, 2008 at 8:53 amYes! You Are What You Eat! Isn’t it AWFUL? Isn’t the woman on it GHASTLY? I very innocently watched it for the first time while eating my lunch, which was a terrible idea. Unless you’re their doctor or their parent, you should NEVER have to see another person’s poop. Especially on television, right when you’re least expecting it.
At least they blur it out. GAH.
Loralee
March 18, 2008 at 8:54 amHot Whoorl (Channeling Ali McGraw)
+
Hot Husband (With scarf charmingly tied in same fashion as Hot Whoorl)
+
Adorable offspring of the two “Hot’s”
+
Human nature that renders people unable to look away from hotness
= STARING.
Seems simple enough to me.
Erin
March 18, 2008 at 8:54 amHaha! We DO stare! Like Miguelina said, we can tell when you’re not from HEAH! As a lifelong Bostonian I will attest to that. You should probably come back in the fall, September/October. The weather is pleasant, still relatively warm but without the gross summertime oppressive humidity.
Angella
March 18, 2008 at 9:38 amThey were staring because the three of you are too beautiful for most people to handle.
People only stare at me when I trip over my own two feet or have my kids’ snot trails on my shirt :)