You don't seem to have done too badly after the Revolution...
This week was partially back on the Revolutionary trail, but then this is Boston- so how can it be avoid, especially when tourist activities are the main aim of the day.
I have to say, that while Saturday was particularly busy this week, Sunday consisted of a calm and relaxed afternoon. Then again, it could be that Sunday just consisted of a casual waste of time… very nearly my favorite waste of time- as I turned on Sims 3… it has been a while since I last loaded this game up, and I have now remembered why. I do turn back into a grunting teenager the second I start playing. I think the only reason I stopped was because I realized I had a bit of a headache starting, not surprising after sitting in front of a computer screen for 2 ½ hours, not having had a drink and completely engrossed in the mini me running around. Who knew I could become even more self- absorbed than I usually am? I would say I would put it on hold for a while, but now I have remembered how much fun it is, I’m quite sure I won’t. If anything it will actually be a pleasant surprise if I turn up for work tomorrow.
I may have teenage morphed my way through one afternoon, but Saturday was actually fairly productive. I did eventually, after weeks of moving appointments and changing my mind, finally manage to get into the hairdresser. Today I think I may be totally in love with my hairdresser. He has worked miracles and I LOVE my hair. Tomorrow, when I have to style it after a night sleeping on it and having washed it myself, it could be an entirely different story, but today, it is freaking awesome! The only instructions I gave were it must be longer than my shoulders still, and the bangs need to stay longish. Not only did he comply with both requests, I was a little concerned as 4/5” at a time seemed to be hitting the floor, but it is still a few inches below my shoulders, swooshes and swings and generally looks great. In fact so much so, that three random strangers complimented me on it on my way home.
So, with confidence levels high I set out for a Cheesecake Factory lunch and one of the infamous Duck Tours! Having heard about how much fun these are, and also having seen them on “Undercover Boss” (yeah, I know- I need to get out more) I was intrigued by this. It was a little different from most of the regular tours in that you don’t hop on and hop off, well actually I don’t really do that so much anyway, but it does include a driving and river part of the tour, all in one, without having to move out of your seat.
The DUCKs all have different names linked to various parts of Boston and the drivers all have varying personas… all a little kooky and all a little of the regular beat. I’m still not 100% sure if this adds to the experience or if it is just a little scary. In case you have never experienced anything like this before the fun begins as soon as you board your DUCK, a WW III style amphibious landing vehicle, or a DUKW. Although these originally came from WW II they are now gradually being replaced by modified and more updated versions, meaning the seating is all now more enclosed, and the seating area is slightly larger. Given the breeze I was certainly appreciative of the enclosed nature of the DUCK. The ConDUCKtor (feel free to roll your eyes) was a little more animated than usually found on these tours, he did insist on random quacks and some kind of finger wiggle salute at various points on the tour. Possibly, he should have been a little more concerned with the state of the traffic than how many people were wiggling their fingers at him!
Sgt. Meatball (you can see from the names this may be different to usual) did however, make a good job of narrating the tour. While not the packed with facts you usually get, he did point out all the places of note, from the golden-domed State House to Bunker Hill, Boston Common, Copley Square, Government Center and my personal favorite, Newbury Street, and Quincy Market. He took us along the Charles, pointed out the Hancock Towers, with all the glass panels in place, and the Cambridge institutions of Harvard and MIT, all while reminding us that Boston was the birthplace of the Revolution and a city of firsts…
My personal first was that this was the first city tour I have ever been on in which the operator has driven into another vehicle. If like us you happen to be in a WWII bomb proof amphibious truck, this is not so much of an issue. I’m not sure the owner of the BMW would agree. Although I’m sure his insurance report, rear-ended by a duck, would make for great reading. I am also sure that it is at moments like this that the driver wished he wasn’t wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt, a camouflage kilt and some form of fancy dress Sgt’s hat.
I have also decided that another first this week will be baking, and to that end I have made corn bread, and cookies! I am now far too scared to eat them tho. That first may well have to wait until tomorrow! Me, baking! What is the world coming to?
This week was partially back on the Revolutionary trail, but then this is Boston- so how can it be avoid, especially when tourist activities are the main aim of the day.
I have to say, that while Saturday was particularly busy this week, Sunday consisted of a calm and relaxed afternoon. Then again, it could be that Sunday just consisted of a casual waste of time… very nearly my favorite waste of time- as I turned on Sims 3… it has been a while since I last loaded this game up, and I have now remembered why. I do turn back into a grunting teenager the second I start playing. I think the only reason I stopped was because I realized I had a bit of a headache starting, not surprising after sitting in front of a computer screen for 2 ½ hours, not having had a drink and completely engrossed in the mini me running around. Who knew I could become even more self- absorbed than I usually am? I would say I would put it on hold for a while, but now I have remembered how much fun it is, I’m quite sure I won’t. If anything it will actually be a pleasant surprise if I turn up for work tomorrow.
I may have teenage morphed my way through one afternoon, but Saturday was actually fairly productive. I did eventually, after weeks of moving appointments and changing my mind, finally manage to get into the hairdresser. Today I think I may be totally in love with my hairdresser. He has worked miracles and I LOVE my hair. Tomorrow, when I have to style it after a night sleeping on it and having washed it myself, it could be an entirely different story, but today, it is freaking awesome! The only instructions I gave were it must be longer than my shoulders still, and the bangs need to stay longish. Not only did he comply with both requests, I was a little concerned as 4/5” at a time seemed to be hitting the floor, but it is still a few inches below my shoulders, swooshes and swings and generally looks great. In fact so much so, that three random strangers complimented me on it on my way home.
So, with confidence levels high I set out for a Cheesecake Factory lunch and one of the infamous Duck Tours! Having heard about how much fun these are, and also having seen them on “Undercover Boss” (yeah, I know- I need to get out more) I was intrigued by this. It was a little different from most of the regular tours in that you don’t hop on and hop off, well actually I don’t really do that so much anyway, but it does include a driving and river part of the tour, all in one, without having to move out of your seat.
The DUCKs all have different names linked to various parts of Boston and the drivers all have varying personas… all a little kooky and all a little of the regular beat. I’m still not 100% sure if this adds to the experience or if it is just a little scary. In case you have never experienced anything like this before the fun begins as soon as you board your DUCK, a WW III style amphibious landing vehicle, or a DUKW. Although these originally came from WW II they are now gradually being replaced by modified and more updated versions, meaning the seating is all now more enclosed, and the seating area is slightly larger. Given the breeze I was certainly appreciative of the enclosed nature of the DUCK. The ConDUCKtor (feel free to roll your eyes) was a little more animated than usually found on these tours, he did insist on random quacks and some kind of finger wiggle salute at various points on the tour. Possibly, he should have been a little more concerned with the state of the traffic than how many people were wiggling their fingers at him!
Sgt. Meatball (you can see from the names this may be different to usual) did however, make a good job of narrating the tour. While not the packed with facts you usually get, he did point out all the places of note, from the golden-domed State House to Bunker Hill, Boston Common, Copley Square, Government Center and my personal favorite, Newbury Street, and Quincy Market. He took us along the Charles, pointed out the Hancock Towers, with all the glass panels in place, and the Cambridge institutions of Harvard and MIT, all while reminding us that Boston was the birthplace of the Revolution and a city of firsts…
My personal first was that this was the first city tour I have ever been on in which the operator has driven into another vehicle. If like us you happen to be in a WWII bomb proof amphibious truck, this is not so much of an issue. I’m not sure the owner of the BMW would agree. Although I’m sure his insurance report, rear-ended by a duck, would make for great reading. I am also sure that it is at moments like this that the driver wished he wasn’t wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt, a camouflage kilt and some form of fancy dress Sgt’s hat.
I have also decided that another first this week will be baking, and to that end I have made corn bread, and cookies! I am now far too scared to eat them tho. That first may well have to wait until tomorrow! Me, baking! What is the world coming to?
P.S. I nearly forgot the geraniums!
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