That’s What We Have to Deal With

“We need to go to brunch while I’m here.” Ryan made a non-demanding statement about the food he wanted to consume while he was visiting Boston. What could be wrong with brunch? We only had to walk across to the street to enjoy some of the best brunch food I have ever eaten. Our crew was standing around waiting for one of its members to return from the bathroom afterward. It was a breezy day as we stood outside when we all experienced something new. Crazy Peace Guy came over and started to yell his crazy language at us.

He started by asking for cigarettes, when none of us had any to offer he explained that his girlfriend is an angel and something about heaven. Soon his words soon became just noise. It seemed never ending. That’s when I did the most inappropriate thing. A giggle started. First I tried to pass it off as a cough, but the giggling didn’t stop. I soon began to have great belly laughs that were never ending. He was still yelling at us I tried to turn around and hide myself. We were trapped; maybe that’s why I was laughing. We couldn’t leave because a member of our party was in the bathroom, but we couldn’t go back in to the packed diner.

Soon our group had become whole again so Michael offered a peace sign and we left. We all felt awkward. “That’s what we have to deal with from time to time,” Adrianne offered. When we got home my stomach still hurt from laughing so hard.

Laundry Day

When I was a freshmen in college and experiencing coin laundry machine for the first time I laughed at the idea of converting more then a few one dollar bills to change for the machine. I would wonder how could anyone need more then $5 to do laundry?

I am now one of the people who bring a ten dollar bill with me to do laundry. Scrubs, sheets, towels, clothes all need to be wash and the washer is already at capacity. Other people stared at me as ten dollars in quarters rushed at me from the change machine. The only thing I can think to say is “I won!”

Someone Became an Adult

Aaron got engaged. Congratulations to him and Holly!

All Roads Lead Home

When I first moved here I was so excited to meet new people who had no knowledge of Minnesota, or more specifically St. Lois Park. The first week I was here I was at a gig my cousin was playing at and started talking to one of his friends. Bert was a nice guy, a struggling musican in Boston. He had only been to Minnesota once, and it was because his mom had graduated from some school there. St. Lois Park High.

Last night I had dinner with Charles whose girlfriend is from a different area of the United States all together. Her grandparents are from Minnesota, more specifically St. Louis Park.

Who knew people actually get out of that town?

Not a habit

Addictions are weird things and tend you make you do even more bizarre things. My addictions are confined to coffee and chocolate, pretty mundane as far as addictions go.

Last night I saw a man pick up a lit cigarette butt out of a storm drain and continue to smoke it after the previous owner discarded it. I think it was the grossest thing I have seen in awhile.

The City That Has Two Faces

When I first moved to Boston it was filled with young twenty somethings who were job oriented. I felt like it was an age group that I could maybe fit into one day. Most people I saw were wearing business clothing and looked like they went out and drank cosmopolitans after work.

Then September first came and the city turned into a college town. I live near a college campus and for the first week of September there seemed to always be a kegger going on somewhere on my street. The block became one large episode of TRL with people screaming “woooooooo” any time of the day or night. Down town no longer seemed classy due to the fact that people were beer bonging on corners while I was trying to get money out of the ATM. The T is now full with young co-eds yelling drunkenly to each other as they make their way back to their dorms.

I don’t know if it is just because I lived in Rochester for two years but I don’t feel like I am like these college kids. I feel more mature then that and mostly I feel annoyed by them. I guess I do fit in with the hip twenty somethings after all.

Wish I Was Somewhere Else

I really am beginning to like my life in Boston. I’m now have daily routines both for days I work and days I don’t. It’s nice. But every once and awhile I get home sick. Or rather friend sick.

Dana and Becca just moved into their apartment in Chicago. When I call either one of them I will always end up talking to the other. I miss them both very much and wish that I could live down the road and could see them more. However, I’m glad that I was able to move out of the Midwest and try something new for awhile.

I guess this is one of those trade off situations.

Back to School Shopping

“Hey do you want to go back to school shopping after work?” Adrianne asked me a few days ago, and yes I did want to go. I use to love going back to school shopping with my mom when I was in grade school. We use to always go to Southdale and wonder the various shops so that I could pick out new outfits and try to look trendy. We would end up with multiple bags filled my new attempts at inventing myself. My mom would then take me for french-fries and milk shakes.

My shopping adventure with Adrianne did not turn out quiet the same. When we got of the train at down town crossing we stood out amongst the teens that probably were really going back to school shopping. We made our way into H&M and looked around. I was turned off to trying on clothing by the long line to get to the dressing room I decided to only get something only if I could try it on while standing in the store. We stalked around the store for almost an hour and came away with nothing more then a belt and two necklaces between us.

As we entered the next store I became discouraged. There didn’t seem to be a section for people in their twenties. There is the old woman Lizz Claybore collection then the skanky skinny teen section. I don’t feel I fit in to either. We quickly left.

On the way home we stopped at the grocery store. I ended up spending more there then when I was downtown.

Registered Nurse

I know it’s a bit nerdy but I still get excited when I sign my name “Maria E. Hansen R.N.” on charts. I feel like I actually accomplished something very important.

When I worked at Mayo I would be slightly jealous of the nurses who had R.N on their name tag. I would think “yeah, one day I will have the R.N. behind my name too.” Now I do. It’s weird that a name tag can make you feel proud.

Family Ties

When I was a kid I use to be jealous of people who had large families. They could go to the family gathering and play with other kids their age and have lots of fun. They would know their family members well and get to see them all the time. I only had 2 cousins and they lived in New York. I usually would only see them during the summer. I use to pretend that I had a big family, but I always thought that the only way I would be able to be part of a tight family circle would be to marry some guy with a lot of brothers and sisters.

But now that I live on the East Coast I get to see this family a lot more. I spent last weekend with my aunt and uncle in Rochester New York. It was great, we talked, we ate, we watched movies. It was like going home and spending time with my parents but differnt. It took some of the edge off of my home sickness.

Not only that but now I live in the same city as ,Paulmy cousin. I love it! I hang out with him, his girlfriend and him come over for dinner, he gives me advice about living in the big city, and how to deal with being home sick. Best of all he has a nice big minivan that is handy for hauling large furniture.

Midwest?

I’ve heard conflicting arguments and am still confused about what constitutes a Midwest state. This is something Ms. Bohnsak never taught us.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

My living room is a hodge-podge of furniture. The dinning room table from my grandparent’s old apartment, the futon I bought when I was in college, a coffee table Adrianne and Michael found on the side of the road. All things that are no longer wanted or left behind by their former owner. The newest addition is a large grey plether chair.

I acquired this chair while hanging out with my cousin. He got a call from his friend who is going through a very sad break up and consequently must move. There is no room at his new pad so the chair had to go. He offered it to Paul but seeing how Paul’s apartment is bursting with stuff I got it by default.

So last night Adam and Paul hauled a bulky chair up 3 flights of stairs to our apartment. “This is one comfy chair” Paul boasted. “I’ve gotten drunk in it many a time.”

Based on Paul’s statements I think our new chair will fit in just fine.