Fall is almost here...

It's almost fall, y'all! I'm so excited. My A/C gets turned off sometime this week (I only pay for summer months and then she turns it off). It's been upper 70s/lower 80s so I think I'll be okay. This humidity can hit the road, though. I'm not a fan! Speaking of fans, Nury (landlord) bought us 2 and Daniel installed them. They help a lot. We're going to stay here awhile so we're starting to plan things to do to the place... knobs on the cabinets and new blinds and maybe some paint. Definitely some paint. Everything is so very stark white; except the living room, which is yellow. I'm keeping that b/c it's sunny. 

I think it's going to start to cool off by the end of this week. The forecast says less humid (YAY) and low to upper 60s in the evening and mornings. The days are getting shorter, too. Well, you know what I mean: the daylight. This time last year I was driving around exploring with Kevin, having just gotten here the night before. It was lovely. If I recall correctly, it was warm but not humid until about mid September; then it was Fall. I'm hoping it's like that this year, too. Fall in New England is gorgeous. 

Since Red Cross/AmeriCorp ended, I've been on Daniel's Friday runs with him a couple times. It's relaxing to ride through eastern & southern Massachusetts. His job is a pain in the rear sometimes. If he has a delivery appointment and he's late, they can make him wait hours and/or charge him. If he's early or on time they can still make him wait HOURS. It's so unprofessional and well, rude. Frustrating, especially when he has other appointments afterwards. It throws everything off kilter.

Fall River Battleship

Patriots Place

The Patriots released Tim Tebow yesterday. I knew it was going to happen but it's still sad. He's a really nice person and a hard worker and motivator. However, he's really not an NFL Quarterback. I hope he finds something. Still, it would've been cool to be able to root for him. I'm still not quite into the Boston teams yet. I don't want to be "that girl" who roots for her former home town all the time. I'll still love my Bucs and Lightning and to some extent, The Rays.  I think once hockey starts again I can get into The Bruins. I'm still meh on The Pats and Sox. I've always liked The Celtics and since there's not a team in Tampa to which I was attached...voila! Go Celtics. LOL

The job hunt continues:

View 1 from my office

I'm working with a couple placement agencies for temp, long term contract and permanent positions. I am currently placed with a Public Relations firm in Downtown Boston. I'm posting social media updates for clients and recording/editing podcasts and vodcasts for them. It's pretty interesting. They like my recorded voice. I only had three days to learn the systems & software they use and that is not enough so I'll be watching tutorials later today to see if I can get it. The main part of the job is really not my cup of tea. I send out emails to companies and follow up to set up appointments. It's sales and strict quotas (no excuses) and I'm neither comfortable with it nor am I remotely good at it. I think that the VP (my supervisor) knows this and realizes my personality because she discussed maybe giving that stuff to someone else and leaving me with the podcasts/vodcasts, social media and putting me with a public relations team. I don't know what that entails. We'll see. I'm also in the very back of the office away from everyone. As it is, I only talk to people if they call me to ask for something. It's a bit isolated for this social butterfly. Oh well. It's a 2 month temp contract and I'm networking and learning new things. I'm determined to turn all things into positive experiences. Make it so!

View 2 from my office

I really liked the lady whom I'm replacing. Unfortunately, she's moved out of Boston back to Maine. After January she's going to Tanzania to work at an orphanage. I envy people who can do that. I mean, I'm pretty adventurous about new possibilities but I need toilets and running water and air conditioning. My friend, Kelly did a two year stint with The Peace Corps in (I think) Uganda. She loved it. Again: toilets, running water, a/c...and roads. Roads are good.

I have a big interview on Friday and am very excited about it. I can't really publicly talk about it right now but needless to say, it'll be good if I get in!  I'll be interview prep and company research all week. Fingers crossed. I promise I'll post about it asap!

Since we're on a crazy budget, I've been cooking all during the week and sending leftovers with Daniel for his weekly meals. He has a fridge and microwave in his truck. That saves a lot of money and is way convenient for him as well as giving him variety beyond McDonalds, Wendy's, Subway and the same stuff they serve at every truck stop diner. Plus, you know how I love to cook. It's cathartic for me. If Sandra Lee hadn't already created a multi-billion dollar empire with her "Semi Home Made," I'd so be the Queen of that. We all know how much I love Julie and Julia, the movie based on a couple books about Julie Powell's blog adventure with Julia Child's, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and about Julia and Paul's life in France. Well, I made Lobster Thermador Saturday night. OMG. Yeah. No words. Well, this is a blog so I'll find the words:

Sometimes Daniel can get super cheap or free food from his deliveries. If a box is damaged (not even the merchandise) this can happen. I've gotten chicken breasts and pot pies and recently: LOBSTER MEAT! So, I decided that I'd cook a fancy meal since he was home Saturday (not ever!). Although I didn't have the whole lobsters like the recipe says, I prepared the boiling water with the wine and herbs...and then steamed the lobster meat in it (instead of having the whole lobsters boil in it). I did everything else like the recipe said...no cognac, though. That's way expensive. Anyway, OMG it was so good. Very rich and fattening. I swear there is a pound of butter in that recipe. I served it with blanched asparagus (evoo and lemon juice) and a London broil cut of steak. I haven't mastered the art of cooking good beef yet. I need a George Foreman grill!

MMM - So so good!

That's about it from Boston (Roxbury). I'm just job hunting and settling in with plans for the apartment...and hanging with my boo, Prince getting ready for Fall!! 

Prince says, "hi" and he's glad to live with me full time

Brooklynn already cutting coupons!

Much love and everyone have a great couple of weeks! Oh yeah: GO GATORS!!!

~Jini